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Free Agent Focus: Philadelphia Flyers

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Free agency is now just a month away and teams are looking ahead to when it opens.  There will be several impact players set to hit the open market in July while many teams have key restricted free agents to re-sign as well.  We continue our look around the NHL with an overview of the free agent situation for the Flyers.

Key Restricted Free Agents

F Bobby Brink – Brink finally found consistent playing time in the NHL, dressing in 57 games, potting 11 goals and 12 assists. The former second-round pick competes hard despite being an undersized, below-average skater and has good hands and vision around the net. Brink showed he can be part of the Flyers core going forward and is a good bet to get a bridge contract for 2-3 years with an AAV between $1MM-$2M.

G Carter Hart – Carter Hart is owed a $4.479MM qualifying offer and given his legal status it is unlikely that he will receive an offer, which the league hasn’t yet. The Flyers already have Samuel Ersson and Ivan Fedotov under contract for next season, and it was reported in April that Hart’s trial likely won’t begin until the end of 2025.

D Yegor Zamula – Zamula enjoyed his first full season in the NHL in 2023-24 after spending parts of the previous three years with the Flyers. The 24-year-old showed good mobility and poise in the defensive zone and moves the puck well with a confident first pass, however, he is not an offensive playmaker and lacks consistency. He will also need to find a way to use his 6’3” frame more effectively when defending the net. Zamula also figures to receive a bridge contract from the Flyers in the range of $1MM – $2MM.

Other RFAs:  D Adam Ginning, D Mason Millman, D Will Zmolek

Key Unrestricted Free Agents

F Denis Gurianov – Gurianov is an intriguing free agent as he has a good pedigree having been drafted 12th overall back in 2015, however, the 27-year-old hasn’t been able to put his skillset together at the NHL despite being given ample opportunities. He played just four games for the Flyers last season after coming over in a mid-season trade from Nashville and posted zero points while dominating on the possession front (60% CF% as per Hockey Reference). Gurianov has a 20-season to his credit but has bounced between four organizations the last two years and seems destined for a new one this summer.

D Erik Johnson – Johnson is a former first-overall pick that brings almost no offense but handles his duty in the defensive zone with physicality. There is no flash to Johnson’s game, but he can still provide a good safety blanket if paired on a third pairing with an offensively-minded defensive partner. Johnson made $3.25MM last season on a one-year deal but is unlikely to duplicate that number this offseason. Another one-year contract is in order for the 36-year-old, but it seems unlikely that the Flyers will be a fit for him.

D Marc Staal –Staal is nearing the end of his career, but he remains an NHL player at this stage, albeit in the role of a sixth or seventh defenseman. The Thunder Bay, Ontario native remains a good shot blocker and battler along the boards and in front of his own net, but he is very limited with his skating and the puck on his stick. Staal has trouble playing against teams with speed as he has issues containing the puck carrier and finding space to make plays with the puck. Staal is likely to get another one-year contract in the $1MM range, although it seems unlikely it will be with the Flyers.

Other UFAs: C Adam Brooks, F Tanner Laczynski, F Cooper Marody, D Victor Mete, G Felix Sandstrom

Projected Cap Space

The Flyers have precious little in the way of cap space as they head into the offseason. As of right now, they have just a tick above $500K in room under the cap. That number will grow closer to $7MM when the club accounts for LTIR candidates. Philadelphia has a laundry list of needs and very little room to maneuver which is why the team is considering buyouts for several overpriced veterans. The Flyers will also have the pending free agency of Travis Konecny to consider as he is just a year away from unrestricted free agency. The team will need to get creative if they want to address some of their needs which could make for a busy summer for general manager Daniel Briere.

Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.  Contract information courtesy of CapFriendly.

2024 NHL Offseason Trades

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Pro Hockey Rumors will track all of the trades made this offseason until the start of the 2024-25 season, updating this post with each transaction. This article can be found anytime throughout the offseason in our mobile menu under the Flame icon.

Trades are listed here in reverse chronological order, with the latest on top. So, if a player has been traded multiple times, the first team listed as having acquired him is the one that ended up with him. If a trade has not yet been formally finalized, it will be listed in italics.

Click on the date above each trade for our full story. We’ll continue to update this list with the latest specific details on picks and other compensation as they’re reported.

Here’s the full list of the NHL’s 2024 offseason trades:

2024-25 League Year

August 23

If the Golden Knights’ pick falls in the top 10 of the 2025 draft, the Sharks have the option to send their own first-round pick instead.

August 22

August 20

  • Oilers acquire the signing rights to D Paul Fischer and the Blues’ 2028 third-round pick.
  • Blues acquire future considerations.

August 19

August 18

  • Oilers acquire D Ty Emberson.
  • Sharks acquire D Cody Ceci and the Oilers’ 2025 third-round pick.

August 18

  • Oilers acquire F Vasily Podkolzin.
  • Canucks acquire the Senators’ 2025 fourth-round pick.

August 14

  • Penguins acquire F Cody Glass, the Wild’s 2025 third-round pick and the Predators’ 2026 sixth-round pick.
  • Predators acquire F Jordan Frasca.

August 14

  • Blues re-acquire their 2025 second-round pick and the Penguins’ 2026 fifth-round pick.
  • Penguins acquire the Blues’ 2026 second-round pick and the Senators’ 2025 third-round pick.

July 15

  • Avalanche acquire signing rights to G Kevin Mandolese and the Senators’ 2026 seventh-round pick.
  • Senators acquire the Avalanche’s 2026 sixth-round pick.

July 15

July 6

  • Jets acquire signing rights to D Dylan Coghlan.
  • Hurricanes receive future considerations.

July 5

July 3

  • Ducks acquire F Robby Fabbri and a conditional 2025 fourth-round pick.
  • Red Wings acquire G Gage Alexander.

The Ducks will receive the earlier of the Red Wings’ own 2025 fourth-round pick or the Bruins’ 2025 fourth-round pick.

July 3

July 2

  • Ducks acquire D Brian Dumoulin.
  • Kraken acquire the Ducks’ 2026 fourth-round pick.

July 2

  • Blues acquire F Mathieu Joseph and the Senators’ 2025 third-round pick.
  • Senators acquire future considerations.

July 2

  • Blues acquire F Radek Faksa.
  • Stars acquire future considerations.

July 1

  • Rangers acquire F Reilly Smith (25% retained).
  • Penguins acquire the Rangers’ 2025 fifth-round pick and 2027 second-round pick.

The Penguins will receive the lower of the two fifth-round picks the Rangers own (their own or the Wild’s).

July 1

2023-24 League Year

June 30

The pick will be the highest of the three fourth-round round picks that the Devils own (Devils, Jets, Stars).

June 30

  • Penguins acquire F Bennett MacArthur.
  • Lightning acquire F Lukas Svejkovsky.

June 30

  • Lightning acquire signing rights to F Jake Guentzel.
  • Hurricanes acquire the Lightning’s 2025 third-round pick.

June 29

  • Maple Leafs acquire signing rights to D Chris Tanev.
  • Stars acquire signing rights to F Max Ellis and the Maple Leafs’ 2026 seventh-round pick.

June 29

  • Capitals acquire the Golden Knights’ 2024 seventh-round pick (No. 212 – F Miroslav Šatan).
  • Golden Knights acquire the Capitals’ 2025 sixth-round pick.

June 29

June 29

June 29

June 29

  • Rangers acquire the Predators’ 2024 fourth-round pick (No. 119 – F Raoul Boilard).
  • Predators acquire the Rangers’ 2024 fourth-round pick (No. 127 – F Viktor Nörringer) and 2026 seventh-round pick.

June 29

June 29

  • Jets acquire the Flyers’ 2024 fourth-round pick (No. 109 – F Kevin He).
  • Sabres acquire the Jets’ 2024 fifth-round pick (No. 123 – D Simon-Pier Brunet) and seventh-round pick (No. 219 – G Ryerson Leenders).

June 29

  • Flyers acquire the Devils’ 2024 fourth-round pick (No. 107 – F Heikki Ruohonen).
  • Flames acquire the Kings’ 2024 fifth-round pick (No. 150 – F Luke Misa) and the Blues’ 2024 sixth-round pick (No. 177 – D Eric Jamieson).

June 29

  • Blackhawks acquire the Hurricanes’ 2024 third-round pick (No. 92 – F Jack Pridham).
  • Hurricanes acquire the Blackhawks’ 2025 third-round pick.

June 29

  • Sharks acquire the Capitals’ 2024 third-round pick (No. 82 – F Carson Wetsch).
  • Devils acquire the Lightning’s 2024 third-round pick (No. 85 – F Kasper Pikkarainen) and the Sharks’ 2025 sixth-round pick.

June 29

  • Capitals acquire the Devils’ 2024 third-round pick (No. 75 – F Ilya Protas).
  • Devils acquire the Capitals’ 2024 third-round pick (No. 82 – F Carson Wetsch) and 2024 fifth-round pick (No. 146 – G Veeti Louhivaara).

June 29

  • Sabres acquire Utah’s 2024 third-round pick (No. 71 – F Brodie Ziemer).
  • Avalanche acquire the Sabres’ 2024 third-round pick (No. 76 – F William Zellers) and the Panthers’ 2024 fifth-round pick (No. 161 – F Maxmilian Curran).

June 29

  • Capitals acquire G Logan Thompson.
  • Golden Knights acquire Islanders’ 2024 third-round pick (No. 83 – G Pavel Moysevich) and the Capitals’ 2025 third-round pick.

June 29

  • Penguins acquire F Kevin Hayes and the Blues’ 2025 second-round pick.
  • Blues acquire future considerations.

June 29

  • Blue Jackets acquire the Hurricanes’ 2024 second-round pick (No. 60 – G Evan Gardner).
  • Hurricanes acquire the Blue Jackets’ 2024 third-round pick (No. 69 – D Noel Fransén) and 2024 fifth-round pick (No. 133 – F Oskar Vuollet).

June 29

  • Flyers acquire the Jets’ 2024 second-round pick (No. 59 – D Spencer Gill).
  • Predators acquire the Flyers’ 2024 third-round pick (No. 77 – D Viggo Gustafsson) and the Wild’s 2025 third-round pick.

June 29

  • Panthers acquire the Bruins’ 2024 second-round pick (No. 58 – F Linus Eriksson).
  • Maple Leafs acquire the Panthers’ 2025 second-round pick and 2024 seventh-round pick (No. 225 – D Nathan Mayes).

June 29

  • Kings acquire F Tanner Jeannot.
  • Lightning acquire the Kings’ 2025 second-round pick and 2024 fourth-round pick (No. 118 – D Jan Goličič).

June 29

  • Utah acquires D John Marino and the Avalanche’s 2024 fifth-round pick (No. 153 – D Aleš Čech).
  • Devils acquire the Capitals’ 2024 second-round pick (No. 49 – G Mikhail Yegorov) and the Oilers’ 2025 second-round pick.

June 29

June 29

  • Sabres acquire signing rights to F Beck Malenstyn.
  • Capitals acquire the Sabres’ 2024 second-round pick (No. 43 – D Cole Hutson).

June 28

  • Oilers acquire the Panthers’ 2024 first-round pick (No. 32 – F Sam O’Reilly).
  • Flyers acquire the Oilers’ 2025 OR 2026 first-round pick.

If the Oilers’ 2025 1st is top 12, the Flyers will receive an unprotected 2026 first-round pick. If the Oilers choose to trade the 2026 first-round pick, then the Flyers will receive an unprotected 2025 first-round pick.

June 28

  • Blackhawks acquire the Hurricanes’ 2024 first-round pick (No. 27 – F Marek Vanacker).
  • Hurricanes acquire the Blackhawks’ 2024 second-round pick (No. 34 – D Dominik Badinka) and the Islanders’ 2024 second-round pick (No. 50 – F Nikita Artamonov).

June 28

  • Utah acquires the Avalanche’s 2024 first-round pick (No. 24 – F Cole Beaudoin).
  • Avalanche acquire Utah’s 2024 second-round pick (No. 38 – G Ilya Nabokov), 2024 third-round pick (No. 71) and the Rangers’ 2025 second-round pick.

June 28

  • Ducks acquire the Maple Leafs’ 2024 first-round pick (No. 23 – D Stian Solberg)
  • Maple Leafs acquire the Oilers’ 2024 first-round pick (No. 31 – D Ben Danford) and the Bruins’ 2024 second-round pick (No. 58).

June 28

  • Wild acquire the Flyers’ 2024 first-round pick (No. 12 – D Zeev Buium)
  • Flyers acquire the Wild’s 2024 first-round pick (No. 13 – F Jett Luchanko) and 2025 third-round pick.

June 28

  • Blues acquire signing rights to F Alexandre Texier (signed two-year, $4.2MM extension).
  • Blue Jackets acquire the Blues’ 2025 fourth-round pick.

June 28

  • Canadiens acquire the Kings’ 2024 first-round pick (No. 21 – F Michael Hage).
  • Kings acquire the Jets’ 2024 first-round pick (No. 26 – F Liam Greentree), the Avalanche’s 2024 second-round pick (No. 57 – G Carter George) and the Canadiens’ 2024 seventh-round pick (No. 198 – F James Reeder).

June 27

  • Capitals acquire F Andrew Mangiapane.
  • Flames acquire the Avalanche’s 2025 second-round pick.

June 27

June 27

  • Sharks acquire the Sabres’ 2024 first-round pick (No. 11 – D Sam Dickinson).
  • Sabres acquire the Penguins’ 2024 first-round pick (No. 14 – F Konsta Helenius) and the Devils’ 2024 second-round pick (No. 42 – D Adam Kleber).

June 26

  • Blackhawks acquire F Ilya Mikheyev (15% retained), signing rights to F Sam Lafferty and the Canucks’ 2027 second-round pick.
  • Canucks acquire the Blackhawks’ 2027 fourth-round pick.

June 25

  • Sharks acquire D Jake Walman and the Lightning’s 2024 second-round pick (No. 53 – D Leo Sahlin Wallenius).
  • Red Wings acquire future considerations.

June 25

June 24

June 23

June 21

June 19

June 19

  • Sharks acquire signing rights to F Ty Dellandrea.
  • Stars acquire the Jets’ 2025 fourth-round pick.

June 19

  • Devils acquire G Jacob Markström (31.25% retained).
  • Flames acquire D Kevin Bahl and the Devils’ 2025 first-round pick (top 10 protected).

If the Devils’ 2025 first-round pick falls within the top 10, it defers to an unprotected 2026 first-round pick.

May 24

  • Blackhawks acquire the Islanders’ 2024 first-round pick (No. 18 – F Sacha Boisvert) and 2024 second-round pick (No. 50 – F Nikita Artamonov).
  • Islanders acquire the Lightning’s 2024 first-round pick (No. 20 – F Cole Eiserman), the Kings’ 2024 second-round pick (No. 54 – D Jesse Pulkkinen) and the Canucks’ 2024 second-round pick (No. 61 – F Kamil Bednarik).

May 21

  • Lightning acquire D Ryan McDonagh and the Oilers’ 2024 fourth-round pick.
  • Predators acquire the Lightning’s 2024 seventh-round pick (No. 213 – F Erik Påhlsson) and 2025 second-round pick.

Free Agent Focus: Pittsburgh Penguins

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Free agency is now just a month away and teams are looking ahead to when it opens.  There will be several impact players set to hit the open market in July while many teams have key restricted free agents to re-sign as well.  We continue our look around the NHL with an overview of the free agent situation for the Penguins.

Key Restricted Free Agents

F Emil Bemstrom – Bemstrom had an up-and-down season last year splitting time between the Penguins and Columbus Blue Jackets. The 25-year-old was placed on waivers early in the season and went unclaimed before eventually getting dealt to the Penguins in February for Alexander Nylander and a conditional sixth-round pick. The trade was a gamble for the Penguins who were hoping for a bounce back in Pittsburgh but unfortunately for them and Bemstrom, he struggled and was a healthy scratch on multiple occasions. The Nykoping, Sweden native posted just three goals and two assists in 24 games, playing primarily on the team’s fourth line. Bemstrom has shown glimpses of being an effective passer with a good shot, however, they are overshadowed by long stretches where he doesn’t appear engaged and struggles in his own zone. Bemstrom might get a qualifying offer from the Penguins for $945K, but it also wouldn’t be surprising if the team cuts their losses and lets the forward become an unrestricted free agent.

D Pierre-Olivier Joseph – POJ looked like a non-tender candidate for much of last season until the last six weeks of the regular season. The former first-round pick was a healthy scratch for a big portion of the season and appeared to lose the trust of Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan. However, injuries and the poor play of fellow defenseman Ryan Graves forced Pittsburgh to reinsert Joseph into the lineup alongside Kris Letang and the results were quite impressive, albeit in a limited sample size. While he has not been able to put all his tools together at the NHL level, Joseph is very capable offensively and can lead the rush as well. He will likely have an opportunity on a low-risk bridge contract to show the Penguins that he belongs in the NHL and can play in their defensive unit.

Other RFAs:  F Corey Andonovski, F Maxim Cajkovic, F Dillon Hamaliuk

Key Unrestricted Free Agents

F Jansen Harkins – Harkins was a waiver wire pickup for the Penguins, coming over from the Winnipeg Jets. He quickly earned the trust of head coach Mike Sullivan who repeatedly plugged Harkins into the lineup despite his offensive shortcomings. Harkins would be demoted to the AHL at one point during the season before resurfacing on the team’s fourth line, as Sullivan liked his speed and physicality at the bottom of the lineup. The 27-year-old had just four assists in 45 games but started over 80% of his shifts in the defensive zone. Given his struggles offensively, Harkins is likely a 13th forward at best, but he can give a team minutes on the fourth line in a defensive role. He should be able to find a one-way contract for next season that will come in below $1MM.

G Alex Nedeljkovic – The Penguins gambled when they signed goaltender Nedeljkovic, hoping they were getting the player he was with the Carolina Hurricanes and not the version that struggled in Detroit the previous two seasons. He rewarded the Penguins with strong play down the stretch, nearly willing the team into the playoffs after wrestling the starters’ role from Tristan Jarry. The 28-year-old’s performance likely priced him out of Pittsburgh, but the Penguins have shown an interest in re-signing him. Teams could be scared off by Nedeljkovic’s wildly inconsistent play from year to year, but he should be able to find a short-term deal at nearly double the $1.5MM he made last season with Pittsburgh.

D Ryan Shea – Shea was finally able to crack an NHL lineup, dressing in 31 games last season for the Penguins. Injuries forced Pittsburgh to utilize Shea more frequently down the stretch and he rewarded the team as he formed a solid third pairing with Jack St. Ivany. Shea’s possession numbers weren’t great with a CF% of 49.2% at even strength, but he did start nearly 60% of his shifts in the defensive zone and was solid in his own end. Shea won’t find his way onto the scoresheet very often but will likely only command league minimum on a short-term deal. If the Penguins are looking to save cap room to address other needs, Shea is a good option for their sixth defenseman.

F Radim Zohorna – Zohorna had a terrific training camp with the Penguins and looked like a good bet to make the starting lineup. However, he was sent to the AHL to start the year and eventually earned a call-up. Once he was brought back to the NHL he made an impact in his first few games, forming a solid third line with Drew O’Connor and Lars Eller. However, after a few games, Zohorna disappeared for a long stretch and was eventually a healthy scratch before being demoted to the AHL once again. He finished the season with four goals and three assists in 33 games and is likely looking at another two-way contract with a league-minimum salary at the NHL level. Zohorna has good hands and passing, and stands 6’6”, however, he has never been a player who engages physically and doesn’t play like a power forward.

Other UFAs: D Taylor Fedun, F Vinnie Hinostroza, D Jack Rathbone, D Dmitri Samorukov

Projected Cap Space

The Penguins will enter the offseason with a shade under $13MM in available cap room which will limit their ability to make major roster improvements unless they can move out one of the many undesirable contracts on their books. The Penguins could move Reilly Smith which would open up an additional $5MM to pursue help in the top six or add some scoring to the bottom of their lineup. The Penguins could also try and move a player like Rickard Rakell for another underperforming player, but that would be a tough trade to make as he has four years remaining on his deal. Penguins’ fans would likely want to see defenseman Graves moved on, but with five years left on his deal at $4.5MM per year, it is highly unlikely that the contract can be traded without significant retention.

Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.  Contract information courtesy of CapFriendly.

Current NHL Free Agents

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Pro Hockey Rumors’ up-to-date list of current free agents is below. These are players who are free agents during the 2024-25 season. The player’s 2024 age is in parentheses.

This list includes players who played at least 10 games in 2023-24 or finished the season on a roster. It also includes players who appeared in at least one game in 2024-25. It will continue to be updated throughout the season.

You can access this list anytime under the “Pro Hockey Rumors Features” menu on the right sidebar on our desktop site or in the Flame menu on our mobile site. If you have any corrections or omissions, please contact us.

Updated 12/19/24 (10:59am CT)

Unrestricted Free Agents

Centers

Left Wingers

Right Wingers

Defensemen

Goaltenders

Offseason Checklist: Los Angeles Kings

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The offseason has arrived for all but the two teams who are still taking part in the playoffs.  For the rest, it’s time to examine what they will need to accomplish over the coming months.  Next up is a look at Los Angeles.

After swinging a big trade in the offseason to bring in Pierre-Luc Dubois, expectations were high for the Kings heading into the season.  However, they struggled out of the gate, eventually leading to a coaching change.  While they were able to make it into the playoffs, they went out quickly in the first round, failing to meet those summer hopes.  They checked one item off their to-do list when the interim tag was lifted off head coach Jim Hiller but GM Rob Blake will still have some things to accomplish this summer.

Add A Starting Goalie

The decision to add Dubois forced the Kings to not try to re-sign Joonas Korpisalo who impressed after being acquired at the 2023 deadline and instead go quite cheap at the goaltending position.  Pheonix Copley was in place as a low-cost backup while Cam Talbot came on a one-year deal where he accepted $1MM in bonuses (which will count against their books this season) and they hoped a duo with a combined cap hit of $2.5MM could get the job done.

Talbot fared pretty well in his 50 appearances so that part worked out as well as they could have reasonably hoped.  But Copley struggled before being injured with David Rittich coming up in the second half to serve as the backup.  Rittich is already back on a low-cost one-year deal but can they afford to run it back with the same tandem?  It’s not that Talbot hasn’t earned another contract but after trying to go cheap lately at that position, getting a more proven option on a longer-term agreement seems like it might be the better way to go.

However, the free agent class doesn’t have any true starters available.  There are some platoon options with some question marks (including Talbot) and then some pure backups from there.  Accordingly, if they’re going to add a true starter, it’ll have to come on the trade front.

The good news is that this looks like a year that could see some veteran netminders moved.  Los Angeles is believed to have made a real run at Linus Ullmark before the trade deadline while many expect Jacob Markstrom could be in play again.  Others like John Gibson and perhaps Tristan Jarry have been suggested as possible trade candidates as well.  Getting a capable veteran who can stabilize things for a few years between the pipes should take away a big question mark that has been around for them in recent years.

Re-Sign Byfield

It took some time but Quinton Byfield took a big step forward this season, becoming an impactful top-six producer with 20 goals and 35 assists.  The timing for the jump was certainly ideal as he was in the final year of his entry-level deal in 2023-24, meaning he’ll be a restricted free agent on July 1st.  He is by far their most prominent player to re-sign.

The challenge here will be finding the balance between risk on both sides.  It’s possible that one side will want a bridge contract to get a better sense of what’s to come.  If Blake and the Kings aren’t sold this is repeatable, they may not want to pony up on a long-term agreement right away.  On the flip side, if Byfield’s camp feels that the 21-year-old has another gear or two in him, they may prefer the short-term agreement now to potentially set him up for a more lucrative one when he has arbitration rights down the road.  In that scenario, something in the $3.75MM range might fit, potentially back-loaded to up the qualifying offer upon expiration.

Now, if both sides are open to a long-term pact that buys out some UFA years, then there’s going to be some shared risk.  For it to make sense for Byfield, a long-term agreement likely has to come in somewhere closer to double the bridge amount.  For someone who came into this season with eight goals in 93 career NHL games, the Kings would certainly be taking a leap of faith.  However, there is some potential upside as if Byfield is on that contract and becomes a legitimate top liner, that price tag would change to a team-friendly one quite quickly.

The other factor to consider here is what else Blake has planned for the summer.  If the plan is to add multiple key veterans, they’d be hard-pressed to work out a long-term agreement with Byfield.  Accordingly, if they’re big spenders early into free agency, Byfield’s path could be charted to a bridge by default.  On the flip side, if they aren’t as active, then it suggests they could be open to the long-term agreement and pivot to fill another hole if they ultimately have to settle on a bridge agreement.

RFA Depth Decisions

Quite a few teams around the league have some decisions to make on the qualifying offer front and the Kings are no exception.  They have some depth pieces up front that have filled regular roles in recent years but could be a bit too pricey for what they can afford which makes them potential non-tender candidates.

The first of those is Blake Lizotte.  In 2022-23, he had 34 points, a pretty good return on a $1.675MM cap hit.  The second and final year of that contract didn’t go so well as he dropped to seven goals and eight assists in 62 games.  While he is a serviceable bottom-six forward who can play down the middle or on the wing, he also has arbitration eligibility where his 34-point output will play a factor and likely push his price tag past $2MM.  Would they be better off seeing what depth options come available in free agency and put the difference in salary towards filling another opening?

Then there’s Carl Grundstrom.  When healthy, he’s a capable fourth liner who plays with an edge and can chip in with a few goals.  There’s a role for that type of player but is there a role for one who would earn more than his $1.3MM qualifying offer through salary arbitration?  Fourth liners can be had for less on the open market so again, are they better off going with someone cheaper (either a free agent or a younger option like Akil Thomas or Alex Turcotte, both waiver-eligible going into 2024-25) and using the savings elsewhere?

The other RFA with a question mark is Arthur Kaliyev, albeit with a different question than the other two.  For him, it shouldn’t be a question of tender or not but rather should they be moving him even though his value is probably the lowest it has been in several years?  Kaliyev has reportedly made it known he wouldn’t mind moving on while Los Angeles was believed to be open to moving him at the trade deadline but clearly, a move never materialized.  Do they give him one more shot or take what they can get for him?  Either way, whoever he’s signing his next contract with, it’s probably going to be a low-cost one-year agreement.

Add Top Six Winger

There was a piece missing from the offense for most of this season with Viktor Arvidsson being limited to just 18 games due to multiple injuries, particularly his back.  He did well when he was in the lineup, notching 15 points but it seems likely that he’s going to move on.

This season, the Kings were a team in the middle of the pack offensively and probably could have landed a few spots higher than 16th with a healthy Arvidsson or Dubois not struggling as much as he did.  They should be able to try to do something to augment the attack in the coming weeks.  While they’re expected to talk about an extension with Matt Roy soon according to The Fourth Period’s Dennis Bernstein (Twitter link), they could opt to instead fill that spot on the back end internally with Brandt Clarke.  That in turn should give them enough money to add a top-six winger while adding a goalie and keeping their options open with Byfield in terms of what type of contract they’ll want to offer him.

With the other spots they have to fill, it’s likely that they’ll be priced out of the top free agents next month.  However, there are plenty of other options.  If they’re looking for a medium-term addition, Jonathan Marchessault could be an intriguing candidate if he doesn’t work out a deal to remain in Vegas.  Matt Duchene (who would likely be moved to the wing), Vladimir Tarasenko, and former King Tyler Toffoli all could work.  Jake DeBrusk and Teuvo Teravainen will command longer-term agreements but could be in their price range as well.  Adding one of those players could push the Kings a few spots higher in next season’s goal totals which could help them avoid having to squeak into the playoffs as they did this year.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Free Agent Focus: San Jose Sharks

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Free agency is now just a month away and teams are looking ahead to when it opens.  There will be several impact players set to hit the open market in July while many teams have key restricted free agents to re-sign as well.  We continue our look around the NHL with an overview of the free agent situation for the Sharks.

Key Unrestricted Free Agents

F Alexander Barabanov – Barabanov isn’t expected to return to San Jose this summer, instead set on testing free agency after what was a turbulent season. Barabanov played in just 46 games, missing time with a menagerie of injuries – from a broken finger in October, to illness in December, and then a season-ending ankle injury in late March. And he wasn’t particularly effective on the ice, posting just four goals and 13 points to go with 12 penalty minutes and a -24. It was a disappointing encore to Barabanov’s strong 2022-23, when he scored 15 goals and 47 points in 68 games. But he’ll enter the open market with the confidence that teams are at least interested in his services. The Sharks reportedly had a Trade Deadline move that would have sent Barabanov to the New York Rangers shutdown due to complications with salary retention. He’ll get a chance to connect with New York one-on-one on July 1st.

F Mike Hoffman – The extent to which any of San Jose’s depth players were impactful this season is hard to gauge. Hoffman wasn’t spared from the tough year, posting a career-low 10 goals and 23 points this season, though he still outpaced many of his bottom-six peers in scoring. Hoffman was serviceable, and his $4.5MM cap hit went a long way towards helping the Sharks reach the cap floor. He’ll be set for a deal much closer to league minimum this summer, though the chance to secure cheap, veteran experience in what’s bound to be a very young lineup could be tempting for San Jose.

F Kevin Labanc – Labanc is also expected to move on from the Sharks this summer after a fall-out with Sharks head coach David Quinn. He was a healthy scratch for much of the year, ultimately appearing in just 46 games and recording nine points. Labanc has fallen a long way from his breakout 2018-19 season, when he posted 17 goals and 56 points in 82 regular-season games, then added nine points in 20 playoff games. But he hasn’t been able to rediscover that scoring, with his 15 goals and 33 points last year the closest he’s come. Labanc has a modest 82 goals and 225 points across 478 career games, all coming in San Jose. That stat line should be enough to earn him a low-stakes contract on the open market, from a team hoping a change of scenery can rekindle Labanc’s scoring potential.

G Devin Cooley – The Sharks acquired Cooley in a last-minute trade at the Trade Deadline, sending the Buffalo Sabres a 2025 seventh-round pick to bolster their goaltending corps after moving Kaapo Kahkonen. And while certainly a minor move, a string of injuries would force Cooley into the NHL lineup near the end of the season. He played in the first six games of his NHL career, posting two wins and saving 167 of the 192 shots he faced, good for an .870 save percentage. They were noteworthy performances, especially when juxtaposed by Mackenzie Blackwood’s five-game losing streak and .890 save percentage to end the season. Cooley hasn’t played himself into a lineup role just yet but he was strong when called upon, even beating out Magnus Chrona for the team’s backup role. San Jose is almost certain to bring in more depth this summer, after having to lean on five different goaltenders this season. That’ll leave no shortage of competition for minor league minutes, though Cooley should enter next season as a favorite to start for the AHL’s San Jose Barracuda.

Other UFAs: F Justin Bailey, F Ryan Carpenter, F Brandon Coe, F Jacob Peterson, D Jacob MacDonald, G Eetu Makniemi

Key Restricted Free Agents

F Luke Kunin – Kunin established himself as a core member of the Sharks this season, while serving in his first season as one of the team’s alternate captains. While not his best year statistically, Kunin was one of San Jose’s few spark plugs – ready with a deserved goal, heavy hit, or scrappy fight any time the team needed a boost. And while his performance only amounted to 11 goals and 18 points on the year, his intangibles were enough to earn a spot at the 2024 World Championship with Team USA, where he added three points in seven games. His benefits in San Jose know no bounds per David Quinn, who told Erika Towne of Fear The Fin, “I can’t say enough about that guy. I would go to war with him any day. You want him on your team every day. He’s always the guy doing it. So it’s just who he is; it’s who he’s been his whole career.” And while Quinn’s time in San Jose has ended, his sentiment remains – Kunin is popular. The Sharks will likely look to lock up Kunin for as long as they can this summer.

F Filip Zadina – Zadina was one of San Jose’s few beacons of hope this season, posting the most goals and points of the team’s bottom-six – though that only amounted to 13 goals and 23 points in 72 games. Still, he was one short of the career-high 14 goals and 24 points he posted with the Detroit Red Wings last season, and seemed to look a bit more comfortable making individual plays in the San Jose system. The team signed him to a one-year, $1.1MM contract last summer, hoping his play would earn him much more of a payday this year. That hasn’t entirely panned out, though Zadina’s season was likely enough of a lateral step to warrant a new deal. He’ll look to breakout on that deal, supported by San Jose’s influx of top end prospects Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith.

D Calen Addison – The Sharks acquired Addison in one of the first trades of the season, sending Adam Raska and a 2026 fifth-round pick back to the Minnesota Wild. And San Jose was clearly excited about the addition, awarding Addison roughly 20 minutes of ice time each night through his first 11 games. But his play didn’t keep up and Addison ultimately found his everyday role on the team’s bottom-pair. He posted just 12 points in 60 games with the Sharks while searching for that role, and while his play was enough to warrant minutes over fringe lineup piece Marc-Edouard Vlasic  and the oft-injured Ty Emberson. Addison still has potential, though he’s running out of time to prove it. The Sharks will be laying out his leash with the price and term of his deal this summer.

Other RFAs: F Thomas Bordeleau, F Jack Studnicka, D Henry Thrun, D Ty Emberson

Cap Space

The Sharks have a very busy summer ahead, with a total of 17 players facing the open market. But they’ll have more than enough room to both bring back their choices of the bunch and search for major additions on the open market, boasting $37.22MM in cap space, the second-most in the league. They aren’t likely to spend that full amount, though the additions of Celebrini and Smith could be enough to sway a few notable free agents to the lineup. San Jose will hope that’s the case, as they look to give their next generation of stars the best platform to start their career from.

Photos courtesy of USA Today Network.

Offseason Checklist: Winnipeg Jets

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The offseason has arrived for all but a handful of teams who are still taking part in the playoffs.  Accordingly, it’s now time to examine what they will need to accomplish over the coming months.  Next up is a look at the Jets.

The Jets entered the season on a high note, knowing that franchise cornerstones Connor Hellebuyck and Mark Scheifele would be around long-term after signing matching seven-year, $59.5MM extensions. That excitement translated to their second-best season in franchise history, ending the season on an eight-game tear to match their record 52 wins set in the 2017-18 season.

However, they were the only team with home-ice advantage in the first round to lose their series, bowing out in five games to the Avalanche. With new head coach Scott Arniel in place after Rick Bowness announced his retirement, Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff has some other big-ticket items to check off his list this summer to keep the Jets in contention.

Make A Call On Ehlers

28-year-old Dane Nikolaj Ehlers is heading into the final season of his $6MM AAV contract. After his worst regular-season offensive showing in five years and going without a goal in the playoffs, his trade (and extension) value is lower than in past summers.

That leaves Cheveldayoff in a pickle about whether to trade the longtime top-six fixture or work on keeping him in Winnipeg through his prime. Murat Ates of The Athletic reported last month that Cheveldayoff would at least explore moving the winger as the 2024 NHL Draft nears.

While his 2023-24 season may not have been up to his recent standards, by no means did Ehlers have a bad year. In fact, he’s routinely given the Jets great value for his $6MM cap hit over the life of his contract, which began back in 2018-19. Despite not seeing heavy power-play usage, keeping his average ice time under 16 minutes per game for a second straight season, he still managed 25 goals, 61 points and a +27 rating while playing in all 82 games.

His even-strength possession play has long been among the best on the Jets. He’s never had a season with a negative relative shot attempt share to his teammates, consistently tilting the ice in Winnipeg’s favor.

But for a team looking to be Stanley Cup contenders after a 110-point season, his poor playoff history is a rightful cause for concern. The 2014 ninth-overall pick has just four goals and 14 points in 37 postseason contests in Winnipeg with a -9 rating. None of those four goals came during this year’s first-round elimination.

As with any future UFA entering a contract year, the Jets have three options: trade him now, work on an extension when he’s eligible to sign one starting July 1 or play the waiting game. But his trade value won’t be as high in-season if they decide to move him as a rental – an acquiring team would certainly be willing to pay more for a full season of his services plus a longer window to discuss an extension.

Winnipeg has forward help coming in the form of recent first-round picks Colby Barlow and Rutger McGroarty, but not as soon as next season. Trading Ehlers leaves a major hole in their top nine as they attempt to reshape their roster, and it’s unlikely they’d be able to find a better value proposition to replace his role on the open market.

Re-Sign Monahan

One clear hole on the Jets’ depth chart is their second-line center. It’s unlikely that the organization trusts 22-year-old Cole Perfetti, who averaged fewer than 14 minutes per game last year and was a healthy scratch for most of their brief playoff run, to take over that role come opening night.

It was an issue last year, too, but the Jets addressed it weeks before the deadline by acquiring Sean Monahan from the Canadiens. Like many others, the 29-year-old struggled to produce in the playoffs, but he did end the regular season with 13 goals in 34 games for the Jets. Injuries have troubled him in the past, but he managed to stay healthy for all 83 games he was eligible to play in thanks to the trade and scored 59 points, his most in five years.

There aren’t many options on the open market considerably better than Monahan, especially for the money. Signing him in the next few weeks to keep him from becoming a UFA would likely result in a mid-term deal in the $5MM range annually.

That’ll likely be significantly cheaper than the top option on the market, Elias Lindholm, who’s coming off a steady decline in production over the past three seasons and scored fewer points per game than Monahan this year. Bringing Monahan back allows Arniel to keep deploying captain Adam Lowry in a comfortable third-line shutdown role, too, instead of forcing him to be more of a factor offensively.

Revamp Defense

Three defenders who logged significant time on the Winnipeg blue line last season – Dylan DeMelo, Brenden Dillon and Colin Miller – are set to become UFAs next month. They may engage in more aggressive extension discussions with DeMelo and Miller, but reports last month indicated Dillon is unlikely to be back with the Jets.

If at all possible, the Jets should be taking the DeMelo negotiations down to the wire. He grew into a top-pairing role as a serviceable partner to Josh Morrissey this season, putting up 31 points in 82 games while logging 21:44 per night. His +46 rating is almost certainly inflated due to his quality of teammates (and the quality of his goaltender), but the Jets have still controlled 51.2% of expected goals with DeMelo on the ice since his acquisition from the Senators in 2020.

That still leaves more than a couple of spots up for grabs, though, especially considering 32-year-old Nate Schmidt and his $5.95MM cap hit appears to be a strong buyout candidate as he enters the final season of his deal. One of them will likely be earmarked for 2019 first-round pick Ville Heinola, who’s primed for more extended NHL minutes next season after three years of quality top-pairing play for their AHL affiliate. Outside of Morrissey, Neal Pionk and Dylan Samberg also project to be regulars, with Logan Stanley in the mix as well, although the hulking 26-year-old was a healthy scratch for most of last season.

If they can’t extend DeMelo, that leaves a hole alongside Morrissey that will need to be filled either via free agency or via an Ehlers trade. Other than Pionk, they don’t have any other NHL-ready right-shot defenders, and he’s not suited for top-pairing duties. Brandon Montour, Brett Pesce and Matt Roy are the top right-shot options on the UFA market. Expect Cheveldayoff to engage with most, if not all of them, if they still have a vacancy along Morrissey come July 1.

Back-Up Hellebuyck

The Jets don’t need to worry much about “the other guy” when Hellebuyck is consistently throwing up save percentages north of .920 while starting 60-plus games, even as the league average for both dwindles. But Winnipeg has also been able to bank a few extra points in the standings each season thanks to strong play from Hellebuyck’s backups, which have been a rotating cast of Laurent Brossoit, Eric Comrie and David Rittich over the past few seasons.

Brossoit has done so with the most consistency lately, returning to the organization in free agency last summer after a brief stop (and a Stanley Cup win) in Vegas. He was excellent in his limited action this season, posting a 15-5-2 record with a .927 SV% in 22 starts and one relief appearance. He’s unlikely to return as he searches for a chance at more starts on the open market this summer, though.

Winnipeg doesn’t have any young internal options ready for promotion yet, so that means they’ll be hunting for Hellebuyck’s backup on the UFA market for the third summer in a row. Casey DeSmith, Kevin Lankinen and Scott Wedgewood are the best/most consistent options with experience that would likely settle for 20-25 starts next year.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports.

Poll: Who Will Win The Stanley Cup Final?

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After a pair of conference championship-clinching games over the weekend, the 2024 Stanley Cup Final is set. The Oilers will play the Panthers in Sunrise, Florida, for Game 1 on Saturday night.

The storyline for Florida is clear – avenge last season’s defeat. Unlike last year, when they upset their way to the Final to meet with the Golden Knights, the Panthers have home-ice advantage after a 110-point regular season and an Atlantic Division title.

They’ve brought a deeper roster back to the dance compared to last year’s squad, but perhaps more importantly, they’ve brought a healthier contingent (for now). Top-four stalwarts Aaron Ekblad and Brandon Montour played through shoulder injuries for most of last year’s playoffs (as well as a foot injury for Ekblad), but there’s no indication any key players are playing through major ailments this time around.

Florida also comes back with the knowledge of what not to do. Last year’s series against Vegas wasn’t particularly close – they were outscored 26-12 in a five-game loss and allowed five or more goals in all three road games. That’ll be an important learning experience as they try to overcome their existing 1-8 franchise record in Stanley Cup Final games, including a sweep at the hands of the Avalanche in 1996.

For the second year in a row, Matthew Tkachuk leads the Cats in playoff scoring. He hasn’t scored goals at the torrid pace he did in 2023, but his 14 assists and 19 points in 17 games are the most on the team. Aleksander Barkov and Carter Verhaeghe are also producing at a point per game through 17 contests, and top pending unrestricted free agent Sam Reinhart is second on the team in goals behind Verhaeghe with eight.

And while he hasn’t been quite as dominant as last year’s Cinderella run, future Hall of Fame candidate Sergei Bobrovsky gives Florida an unquestionable advantage between the pipes. The two-time Vezina Trophy winner is again putting together an above-average postseason showing for the Cats, logging a .908 SV%, 2.20 GAA, and one shutout with a 12-5 record. He’s been the only goalie to take the ice for the Panthers through three rounds and has stopped 1.3 goals above average, continuing to undo the narrative created by his past postseason collapses with the Blue Jackets and Flyers.

Oilers netminder Stuart Skinner is coming off the best game of his life, stopping 34 of 35 shots last night in Edmonton to send his team to their first Final in 18 years, but is that enough to give him the benefit of the doubt? He’s certainly entering the championship series on a hot streak, putting up a .923 SV% in six games against the Stars, but his numbers on the whole this postseason (.897 SV%, -3.1 GSAA) are still inferior.

As they did against Dallas, the Oilers will need their generational stars to erase their major depth-scoring disadvantage. Their big three of Evan Bouchard, Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid are truly putting together the runs of legends, with Bouchard’s 27 points and +14 rating in 18 games from the blue line likely putting him in the Conn Smythe conversation.

Like in the regular season, McDavid isn’t scoring goals at a breakneck pace, but his raucous 26 assists in 18 games give him 31 points and the league lead in playoff scoring. That’s not to discount his ability to put the puck in the net, which he universally reminded everyone of with a highlight-reel goal to open the scoring in last night’s Game 6 win (video link).

So, with the matchups set and the entire week to file your official predictions away, who do you think will finish the season with the Stanley Cup lifted over their heads? Tell us in the poll below, and discuss in the comments.

Mobile users, click here to vote!

Featured images courtesy of USA Today Sports.

2024 Key Offseason Dates

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With free agency now set to open within a month, it’s time to look at the flowchart for another extremely compact offseason. Below are some notable dates and deadlines to watch for as all but the Oilers and Panthers begin their offseason preparations in earnest.

June 3 – June 8

NHL Scouting Combine

June 8

Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final.

June 24

The last possible day of the Stanley Cup Final.

48 hours after Stanley Cup Final ends

The first buyout window (and the only buyout window for teams without any arbitration filings) opens. Teams can spread out two-thirds of their remaining base salary over twice the remaining length of their deal for players 26 and older and one-third for players 25 and younger. The players must first be placed on unconditional waivers before being bought out unless they have a no-move clause.

This also marks the deadline for the first club-elected salary arbitration window. If a team elects for arbitration with an eligible pending restricted free agent in this window, it serves as a qualifying offer.

June 27

2024 NHL Awards

June 28

Round 1 of the 2024 NHL Draft

June 29

Rounds 2-7 of the 2024 NHL Draft

June 30, 4 p.m. CT

Deadline for teams to tender qualifying offers to their pending RFAs. Those who don’t receive QOs will become unrestricted free agents the following day.

This is also the end of the first buyout window afforded to teams. Clubs dealing with arbitration filings will have a second buyout window lasting 48 hours beginning three days after the later of the settlement of the team’s final arbitration case or the receipt of the team’s last arbitration award. In this window, a buyout can only be performed on a player who was on the team’s reserve list at 2 p.m. CT on March 8 (trade deadline day) and has a cap hit of at least $4MM in the 2024 offseason.

July 1, 11 a.m. CT

The new league year begins, and players on expiring contracts officially become restricted/unrestricted free agents.

July 5, 4 p.m. CT

Deadline for eligible RFAs to file for salary arbitration.

July 5, 4:01 p.m. CT – July 6, 4 p.m. CT

The second window for clubs to file for salary arbitration with eligible RFAs.

July 15, 4 p.m. CT

Qualifying offers expire unless extended in writing by the team. Even if unsigned, teams retain qualified players’ signing rights.

July 20 – August 4

Salary arbitration hearings are held.

August 15, 4 p.m. CT

Exclusive signing rights for unsigned graduated college-drafted players expire.

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