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NHL Notes: St. Louis Arena, Kane, Wennberg

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The city of St. Louis is a target of a lawsuit over the upgrades to the Blues’ arena, according to TSN. The $64 million publically-funded renovation of the Scottrade Center is being accused of being unconstitutional.

According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, three St. Louis residents, including Alderwoman Cara Spencer have filed a lawsuit, naming the city, the Blues and the Blues ownership group, Kiel Center Partners. The lawsuit states that public money to pay for the upgrades is unconstitutional and the city was mislead in February when they approved the renovation. They were told that the Scottrade Center was owned by the city and the city should pay for the renovations. Coupled with the interest, the city of St. Louis would have been expected to pay $105 million over the course of 30 years.

However, according to an old lease, if the city pays for renovations, it is expected to be paid back by the owner in a rent increase. The Blues owner currently pays $1 a year in rent. The Blues have not commented on the situation publically.

  • Darren Dreger of TSN reports that trade talk has been quiet over the last few weeks in regards to Buffalo Sabres’ Evander Kane. The veteran forward has been thrown about in trade rumors all offseason. Dreger says that most teams are still interested, but are now likely to wait and see how Kane begins the season in Buffalo. With his track record, many teams may want to see how he handles his offseason. “It sounds like, in the limited research that I’ve done, that he’s worked pretty hard and he’s motivated going into the contract year.” While a in-season trade is very possible, there is also the possibility that both sides will decide to stay together and sign a long-term extension.
  • While forward Columbus Blue Jackets’ Alexander Wennberg remains a restricted free agent, Fanrag’s Adam Gretz writes that Wennberg is intrigued at the possibility of being paired with newly acquired Artemi Panarin. Having been among the top productive players with the Blackhawks for the past two years, Wennberg claims that playing on the same line with Panarin would be thrilling and could take his game to a new level. “That would be incredible to play with (Panarin),” Wennberg said to NHL.com. “He’s a heck of a player. To see the plays he made with Kane, he’s one of the best players in the league. So, if I get a chance to play with him, that would be incredible.”

 

A Quiet 2017 Off-Season

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By the time August rolls around each year, it seems like the off-season is dragging on. The July 1st free agent frenzy is long behind us and it’s been weeks since the last major signing. Fans are struggling to get their hockey fill and counting the days until the puck drops on preseason hockey. In 2017, fans have all the more reason to be sick of the off-season. When compared with the summer of 2016, this off-season has simply been boring. It was expected to be as such, but no one could have predicted just how quiet this summer could be.

As of today, August 6th, 2017, there have only been two unrestricted free agents signed to contracts worth more than $6MM per year: Kevin Shattenkirk to the New York Rangers (as predicted) and Alexander Radulov to the Dallas Stars. In contrast, there were four such deals signed on July 1st, 2016 alone. Drop that mark down to contracts worth more than $4MM annually, and you get uninspiring names this year like Evgeni Dadonov, Dmitry Kulikov, Nick Bonino, Karl Alzner, Martin Hanzal, and Steve Mason added to the list; hardly a superstar among them. 2016 saw high-profile players like Milan Lucic, David Backes, Loui Eriksson, Kyle Okposo, and Andrew Ladd all find new homes. Those signings came on the heels of the P.K. Subban – Shea Weber and Taylor Hall – Adam Larsson trades as well. The best swaps 2017 has to offer so far are Travis Hamonic or Marcus Johansson being dealt for draft picks. There have simply been a lack of franchise-altering moves made this summer.

Then you have the timeline of when deals got done. By August last year, the best unsigned free agents were Antoine Vermette, Jiri Hudler, and Jhonas Enroth. The year before, Cody Franson and David Schlemko highlighted the August market. In both cases, NHL teams got their deals done in July, filling the month with exciting signing news. This year? Not so much. Legendary players like Jaromir Jagr, Jarome Iginla, and Shane Doan remain available, alongside other able-bodied contributors like Thomas Vanek, Drew Stafford, and Daniel Winnik. That’s in addition to Franson and Hudler as well. Teams are simply waiting around on this market for reasons unknown. Could it end up as an exciting run of signing in August? Maybe, but don’t count on it.

The weak 2017 free agent market coupled with the challenge of preparing for June’s Expansion Draft has simply resulted in one of quietest off-seasons in recent memory. Several teams still have needs and spots to fill and signings and trades remain possible, but at this point the summer is a lost cause. Time to look forward to next season and even next summer when we *hope* to see the likes of John Tavares, Rick Nash, Evander Kane, James Neal, James van Riemsdyk, Paul Stastny, Mikko Koivu, Cam Atkinson, Jonathan Marchessault, Daniel and Henrik Sedin, Mike Green, Jack Johnson, Calvin de Haan, and Antti Raanta all hit the open market. Hopefully that list is enough excitement to get you through the rest of this one.

Kane Might Stay In Buffalo For Now

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Just a month ago, rumors were circulating that the Buffalo Sabres new general manager Jason Botterill was considering trading goal-scoring wing Evander Kane, but wouldn’t make a decision until the team hired their new head coach. However, the general belief is held that while the controversial star forward put together a strong season for the Sabres this past year, he may not be in the team’s long-term plans as he has just one year remaining on his contract. However, despite that fact, Kane’s name has barely surfaced in the rumor mill this past month and he remains on the Sabres roster, looking more and more like he will stay there. In fact, TSN’s Darren Dreger recently said on a radio show that he envisions Kane being on the Sabres roster when the season starts.

The Hockey News’ Lyle Richardson writes that is likely the case, but it’s still too early to make that type of prediction. There are several teams that fell short of nabbing a big-name scorer this offseason and Kane’s name could begin to resurface as a possible trade acquisition for one of those franchises. Richardson cites two teams who could be likely possibilities, including the Anaheim Ducks and the San Jose Sharks. However, both have their detractors as well. The Ducks could use Kane and might be a perfect fit, but after the team lost Shea Theodore to the Vegas Golden Knights in the expansion draft, they might not want to move another defenseman right now. The Sharks, who lost Patrick Marleau last week to Toronto, would be the perfect team to go after Kane, but might not have the defensive assets that Buffalo would be looking for. Other teams in the past have shown interest in Kane, and while a handful of free agent scorers still remain available on the market, those options are dwindling quickly.

However, it’s also quite possible, the team wants to see what exactly it has in the 25-year-old physical wing. The former fourth-overall pick in 2009, Kane has always had a tremendous amount of potential, but has rarely put together that big season. He only has one 30-goal season, back in the 2011-12 season with Winnipeg. However, last year’s 28-goal output was his second best season and it could have been even better, but Kane struggled at the start of the season, not scoring a goal until his 13th game of the year. Throw in several run-ins with the police and other legal troubles, there are a lot of questions surrounding him which might be undercutting his value. Perhaps, keeping him around and making a decision on him nearer to the trade deadline next year would make more sense and could provide a bigger payday than moving him now while many of those questions about him still linger.

Will The San Jose Sharks Make A Move?

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It’s hard to make an argument for any other team in the NHL as having a less exciting start to the 2017 off-season than the San Jose Sharks. Yes, the Sharks are just a year removed from a Stanley Cup appearance and have re-signed Norris Trophy-winner Brent Burns as well as Marc-Edouard Vlasic, Joe Thornton, and Martin Jones since then. You can get excited about new deals for Ryan Carpenter and Tim Heed last month too if you like. Yet, other than re-signing their own players, what have the Sharks added to their 2017-18 squad?

We know what they’ve lost. Patrick Marleau, a career-Shark and the franchise leader in goals (power play, short-handed, and even strength), points, and games played, is now a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs. David Schlemko, a 2016 free agency addition, was selected by the Vegas Golden Knights in the Expansion Draft and then flipped to the Montreal Canadiens. Micheal Haley (Florida Panthers) and Buddy Robinson (Winnipeg Jets) are also gone.

The only additions for San Jose thus far, as they look to plug the holes formed by lost free agents as well as improve upon their 2016-17 performance: left wing Brandon Bollig and goaltender Antoine Bibeau. Bollig, 30, is a physical, fourth-line caliber forward, but doesn’t produce enough on a consistent basis to be a regular player. Bollig hit his career-high in points in 2013-14 with the Chicago Blackhawks when he scored 14 points in 82 games. Soon after, he was traded to the Calgary Flames, where he scored just nine points in 116 games over two seasons before being buried in the AHL for the entirety of the 2016-17 season. The big winger posted 11 goals and 11 assists in 60 games for the AHL’s Stockton Heat, but still brings little to the the table for the Sharks other than grit and experience. As for Bibeau, the 23-year-old keeper was not tendered a qualifying offer by the Toronto Maple Leafs after a disappointing season. Bibeau had an .894 save percentage and 3.08 GAA in 32 regular season appearances for the AHL’s Toronto Marlies and performed even worse in his one playoff game. Bibeau had clearly fallen behind Garret Sparks and Kasimir Kaskisuo to fifth in the Leafs’ organizational depth chart, and so he was not retained. In San Jose, Bibeau will be no greater than fourth behind Jones, Aaron Dell, and Troy Grosenick and may never get another NHL start.

Bollig and Bibeau, two players destined for the AHL, are not exactly an inspiring pair, which begs the question: will the Sharks make another move? The team is far from perfect and could use some help. Jones and Dell proved to be a solid duo last season and the blue line is as deep as any in the NHL, but San Jose is not without needs up front. The Sharks ranked just 19th in scoring last season, and also boasted on of the worst power play’s in the NHL, below average face-off numbers, and poor possession stats. Burns (a defenseman) was the team’s leading scorer last year and tied for the team lead in goals, while the since-departed Marleau was fifth in scoring and third in goals. The rest of the top five scorers –  Joe Pavelski, Logan Couture, and Joe Thornton – will return, but the 38-year-old Thornton is recovering from a torn ACL and MCL, an injury that occurred after he scored all *seven* of his goals. Beyond those three forwards, the production dropped way off in 2016-17 to the likes of disappointments such as Mikkel Boedker and Joel Ward and young, developing players like Chris Tierney and Tomas Hertl. The Sharks have a clear need for secondary scoring, especially with Marleau gone, and could use a power play catalyst as well. Brandon Bollig is not going to cut it and a full season of Jannik Hansen, acquired at the Trade Deadline, likely won’t either.

Top options for the Sharks include Thomas Vanek, Drew Stafford, and Jiri Hudler, while taking a waiver on a veteran like Jaromir Jagr, Jarome Iginla, P.A. Parenteau, or Mike Ribeiro or on a younger player like Alex Chiasson or Brandon Pirri could work as well. Given the Sharks’ scoring needs, their sufficient cap space, and the complete dullness of their off-season to this point, perhaps maybe two of those players could find their way to San Jose. If not, the Sharks do have pieces to make a move to acquire a scorer, potentially a Matt Duchene or Evander Kane, if they so choose. One way or another, GM Doug Wilson needs to do something, and quick, or not only will he have a team that has surely gotten worse since the end of the season, but he will have a disappointed fan base on his hands as well.

Snapshots: Eakin, Gusev, Kane

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The rumblings over who will be selected in tonight’s expansion draft are coming fast and furious, and though many are highly speculative Jim Toth of TSN 1290 is reporting that Cody Eakin will be the selection from the Dallas Stars. While it’s not clear who Toth’s sources are, Eakin would make sense as the Dallas selection. Not only did he show that he’s capable of putting up 35-40 points before this season but he’s only 26-years old and was drafted by new Vegas GM George McPhee back in Washington.

We projected Eakin as the selection out of Dallas in our mock expansion draft, mostly because of the lack of exciting options available among their exposed players. Eakin is coming off a disastrous season in which he scored just 12 points despite spending substantial time with the Stars’ big guns up front. His faceoffs improved and he could still be a valuable piece, but there is no guarantee he’ll ever get back to the highs earlier in his career.

  • Joe Smith of the Tampa Bay Times thinks that Nikita Gusev may be part of any trade with the Vegas Golden Knights to either protect young defensemen or move Jason Garrison’s hefty contract. Gusev was a linemate of Vadim Shipachyov last season in the KHL and has shown that he can be an incredible offensive performer despite his relatively small stature. The 24-year old still has one year remaining on his contract with SKA St. Petersburg, meaning it would just be a deal of negotiating rights to the Golden Knights. Gusev could also work out a mutual termination or buyout of his KHL contract and come to North America right away, though the interest in that option is unclear.
  • Darren Dreger of TSN gave us an update on Evander Kane trade talks amid all the expansion news, reporting that there are still ongoing discussions with teams in “win now” mode. While those teams aren’t clear, there is likely quite a bit of interest in the 28-goal man who may have turned a corner after his recent legal drama. Kane was by all accounts a much more consistent teammate this season, and showed it on the scoresheet with his best season since 2011-12. Amazingly still just 25-years old, Kane has one year left on his contract and could be among next summer’s top free agents with a repeat performance.

Free Agent Focus: Buffalo Sabres

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The free agent period is now less than one month away from opening up and there are several prominent players set to hit the open market while many teams have key restricted free agents to re-sign.  Here is a breakdown of Buffalo’s free agent situation.

Key Restricted Free Agents:

F Marcus Foligno – At just 25 years old, Foligno will enter his seventh season with the Sabres organization in 2017-18. While his development has been slow, it’s also been steady, finishing each passing season with more points than the year before. Foligno isn’t the player who showed flashes of as a rookie in 2011-12, scoring 13 points in 14 games, but he’s carved out an important role in Buffalo as a reliable top-nine winger. 2016-17 marked a career-high 13 goals for Foligno, helped along by a team-best 13.4% shooting percentage, as well as his first 80+ game season. As always though, Foligno’s true value comes in his physical two-way game, where he had a career-best and team-leading 279 hits, career-high 57 blocked shots, which led all Buffalo forwards, and was a vital member of the penalty kill. Las year, the Sabres signed Foligno to just a one-year, $2.25MM contract, but after again proving his worth as a defensive forward and top-nine contributor, new Buffalo GM Jason Botterill should have no problem giving the homegrown product a multi-year deal worth $2.5-$3MM annually. Even with fellow priority RFA’s Zemgus Girgensons and Johan Larsson in need of raises, the Sabres have plenty of cap space and will give Foligno what he’s worth.

G Robin Lehner –  The Sabres have no interest in letting Lehner go, but this off-season they need to either commit to the 25-year-old as their surefire starter or establish that they feel he is just a timeshare goalie at this point. Just two years ago, Buffalo traded a first-round pick to acquire Lehner from the Ottawa Senators. In his first year with the Sabres, he was excellent, posting a .924 save percentage and 2.47 GAA… but in only 21 games. Injuries limited Lehner to only a brief showing in 2015-16, but this past season he was able to see action in 59 games and again played well with a .920 save percentage and 2.68 GAA. With Chad Johnson gone, many expected that Lehner would play more this past season though. However, trade acquisition Anders Nilsson routinely outplayed Lehner all season long. The margin between the two wasn’t wide, but enough so that Nilsson managed to make 26 appearances, including 23 starts. The team has nonetheless stated that Lehner is their guy, but actions speak louder than words. The value and more so the term of Lehner’s contract this summer, as well as their negotiations with Nilsson, will speak volumes about their commitment to their supposed #1.

Other RFAs: F Zemgus Girgensons, F Johan Larsson, F Justin Kea, F Jean Dupuy, F Evan Rodrigues, D Brady Austin, G Linus Ullmark

Key Unrestricted Free Agents:

F Brian Gionta – The Buffalo captain may be 38 years old and have over 1000 NHL games under his belt, but he also just completed a full 82-game season and seventh on the team in scoring. At this point in his career, Gionta is not looking to re-locate and perhaps no team could use his veteran leadership and hockey intelligence more than the Sabres, who have few forwards over 30 and certain players in need of mentoring (i.e. Evander Kane). The Sabres have plenty of cap space to play with and are expected to fill holes throughout the roster via free agency, but they’ll have room to bring back their captain who is still capable of scoring 30-40 points and can play in all situations. He probably won’t get another three-year, $12.75MM contract, but if Gionta wants to be back, he will be.

G Anders Nilsson – The flip side of the situation with Lehner is that of Nilsson. Just a little over a year older than Lehner, Nilsson was finally given legitimate responsibility for the first time in his NHL career in 2016-17 and he flourished. His .923 save percentage and .267 GAA were just marginally better than Lehner, but a major step up from his previous performances. Perhaps the Sabres, who truly do need to commit to Lehner or not, are afraid that re-signing Nilsson would send the wrong message, but he has definitely earned that consideration. If the Sabres don’t bring back Nilsson, they’ll have to search for a veteran backup to the oft-injured Lehner anyway. It’s not a simple problem and how Boterill solves it will impact his start with the organization.

Other UFAs: D Cody Franson, D Dmitry Kulikov, D Taylor Fedun, D Erik Burgdoerfer, D Mat Bodie, F Derek Grant, F Cole Schneider, F Cal O’Reilly

Projected Cap Space: The Sabres currently have only $50.2MM committed to 2017-18 contracts by way of 11 forwards and five defensemen. (CapFriendly) The extensions for RFA’s Lehner, Foligno, Girgensons, and Larsson, all of whom will be safe from expansion, as well as roster hopefuls Alexander Nylander and Brady Austin will eat up some of that space. However, even if the cap ceiling remains at $73MM, Buffalo has nearly $23MM of space to work with and if Matt Moulson is an expansion casualty, as has been rumored, there’s another $5MM in relief. That should give them more than enough space to accommodate those young players, re-sign Gionta, extend or replace Nilsson, and still have the flexibility to explore the free agent market for better fits on the blue line than Franson or Kulikov and a game-changer up front.

Latest On Evander Kane Trade Talks

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While this weekend was interesting from a Stanley Cup playoff perspective, ears in Buffalo also perked up when Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet spoke about some rumblings he’d heard surrounding Evander Kane and the Los Angeles Kings. TSN Insider Bob McKenzie weighed in on the subject today on Montreal radio, saying that he believes “Kane will likely be traded by the Buffalo Sabres.”

McKenzie points out that Kane is on the final year of his current contract and “may not fit into the long-term vision” of Jason Botterill and the new front office. Botterill of course took over earlier this spring from the fired Tim Murray, and will likely want to put his stamp on the team as soon as possible. McKenzie also brings up Robin Lehner, who is arbitration eligible and should earn a heft contract this summer as a restricted free agent.

We’ve heard rumors surrounding Kane before, going all the way back to his Atlanta Thrasher days as a youngster. The 25-year old has tremendous goal scoring talent, but has still yet to put it all together for a truly outstanding season. This year, it took him 13 games to register his first goal before blazing through the middle of the season and finishing with 28 on the year, the second highest mark of his career. Capable of logging huge minutes and providing a physical presence, teams would covet him among the top forwards in the league if it weren’t for his inconsistency and off-ice problems.

Kane has been embroiled in several incidents involving police and other legal troubles, making him a risk to any franchise looking to add his talent on the ice. The fact that he would basically be a rental with only one year on his contract and the chance to hit the open market at just 26 next summer makes it tough to gauge the return Buffalo could be expecting. Friedman, following up on his weekend report this morning mentioned he’s heard conflicting reports on whether or not the Anaheim Ducks would be interested.

L.A. Kings Frontrunners For Evander Kane Trade?

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While the Buffalo Sabres have made no indication on what their plans are for embattled wing Evander Kane, who has one year remaining on his contract, it is likely the 25-year-old goal scorer would be highly coveted by a number of teams if the team want to trade him. Yahoo Sports’ Justin Cuthbert writes the Kings could be the favorite to acquire Kane if the Sabres choose to move him.

Whether or not the Sabres move him is up for debate. The Hockey News’ Lyle Richardson wrote last week that Buffalo general manager Jason Botterill will allow the new head coach to have a say on whether the team wants to send off Kane, who is coming off his best season (on the ice) after scoring 28 goals, the most he’s netted in five seasons. The Sabres, who have yet to hire a head coach are awaiting the opportunity to interview Nashville assistant coach Phil Housley after the Stanley Cup Finals conclude. However, with Kane’s offensive success on the ice, this might be the best time to move on from Kane and get something for him before he becomes an unrestricted free agent next season.

Cuthbert writes that Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet hinted Saturday that Los Angeles might have the edge on acquiring Kane, “… the word is that the L.A. Kings are one of the teams that’s interested, and I think the Sabres are willing to do it if L.A. and them can strike a deal.”

The Kings, now under new management with general manager Rob Blake taking over, want to springboard the franchise back to its former glory. Adding a bona-fide scorer in Kane would fix the Kings’ biggest issue, which was scoring. The Kings are just one of seven teams that failed to score 200 goals last season. Kane put up huge numbers after he healed from a broken ribs injury on opening night. From December on, he put up those 28 goals in 59 games.

The down-side to Kane is his off-ice issues, which stem from two separate legal incidents in 2016, which include multiple charges as well as his ugly departure with Winnipeg Jets’ management two years ago. Those issues makes him a liability if he doesn’t get his act together. His $5.25MM contract, even if it’s just for one more year, is another obstacle for the Kings, who have limited cap space and still need to strike a deal with restricted free agent Tyler Toffoli. What the Kings might have to trade away to get Kane is another question, although Richardson said the Sabres might be looking for a second-round pick and a player in exchange for him.

 

 

Chris Drury Rejects Sabres Interview

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The Buffalo Sabres are apparently still struggling to woo a capable general manager, according to Elliotte Friedman. The New York Rangers Assistant GM – and former Sabre co-captain – Chris Drury, rejected the franchise’s attempts to interview him for the position. Drury had been in charge of player development prior to promotion to AGM, and continuing acting as a liaison for prospects and younger players. His efforts have been widely praised league-wide, as the Rangers acquired and developed wonderful college players over the years, such as Jimmy Vesey and Kevin Hayes. Bill Guerin has already been interviewed by the Sabres, and other candidates will certainly be willing to sit down with Buffalo ownership, considering that only 31 head management positions exist in the league. But this rejection cannot be perceived as a positive sign for an organization that has struggled to find strong, capable leadership. After the Jack Eichel  end-of-season presser, rumors surfaced that the phenom did not want to play next season for  head coach Dan Bylsma (an allegation which was adamantly denied by his agent). The rumor was lent some credibility when both the coaching and general manager were quickly dismissed thereafter.

Owner Terry Pegula will now be hunting for his 5th different coach since taking ownership of the franchise in 2011 – coincidentally, the same year that Buffalo last made the playoffs. Buffalo has struggled to attract high end talent, whether it be players or staff. The organization had been rejected by Mike Babcock in favor of Toronto when they offered the legendary coach an opportunity. Bylsma was in essence a consolation prize, and his poor overall record in Bufffalo did nothing to alleviate the memory of the faulty hiring process in the minds of fans. With regards to the GM search, we’ve heard very little chatter around the recently fired Kings’ GM Dean Lombardi in connection to Buffalo, which might be cause for concern. Especially in light of Pegula’s re-assurances that any hires would bring a wealth of experience, it seems as though Pegula is content looking to recently retired NHLers to guide the ship. Although Guerin and Drury have both undoubtedly helped their franchises in different respects (both the Penguins and Rangers are consistent playoff contenders), it seems possible that again Pegula is having to settle for second and third choices.

Whichever GM takes over for the Sabres, they will have their work cut out for them. Although the forward corps is stocked with Eichel, Ryan O’Reilly, Kyle Okposo, Sam Reinhart, and Evander Kane, they still have a need for depth that plays up to capability. Goaltending was no longer at fault this season, and coaches have been swapped out like air filters. If success doesn’t come soon, scrutiny will start to fall more heavily upon ownership. Fans can only endure a rebuild for so long before they expect results.

Snapshots: Boedker, Kane, Point

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Mikkel Boedker will be a healthy scratch again for the San Jose Sharks tonight according to Kevin Kurz of NBC, marking the third time this season. He was put in the press box back in January because of his consistency, and sat out game 3 of this series on Sunday night.

Boedker was signed to a four-year, $16MM deal on July 1st last summer, and hasn’t come close to living up to it at this point. His 26 points were the lowest total he’s registered since 2011-12 when he was just 22, and are almost exactly half of the 51 he recorded last season. He may be an early candidate for a buyout at some point, if he can’t return to the solid 40+ point player he looked like in Arizona. The Sharks have several raises to hand out to their young RFAs over the next few years, and may need an extra couple of million to fit them all in.

  • Evander Kane put up his best season offensively since 2011-12, and with it has regained some of his trade value according to Bill Hoppe of the Buffalo Hockey Beat. There were constant rumors last year about his availability, but now the Sabres could likely get a real asset in trade. That is, unless they want to extend the young power forward, as he has just one season left on his current deal. At just 25-years old, Kane will be talked about a lot this summer and next season should he stay in Buffalo. If they do hold on to him, he would likely be one of the top prizes at next year’s trade deadline, whether the Sabres are involved in a playoff hunt or not.
  • The Tampa Bay Lightning weren’t expecting the breakout of Brayden Point, but as Bryan Burns of NHL.com writes, they’ll take it. His emergence as a top-six center is crucial to the Lightning’s immediate future, due to the exceptionally low cap-hit he’ll cause the next two seasons. For a team that will be hard-pressed to fit in new deals for Ondrej Palat, Tyler Johnson and Jonathan Drouin even with the great work they did at the trade deadline, Point’s cheap contract will come in handy. He may even make Johnson expendable, and give the Lightning another impressive trade chip this summer.

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