Trade Deadline Primer: Florida Panthers
With the All-Star break in the rear-view, the trade deadline looms large and is now just a month away. Where does each team stand, and what moves should they be looking to make? We continue our look around the league with the Florida Panthers.
The Florida Panthers have been an impressive team for a couple of seasons now and are once again having a terrific season. Many thought that they might take a step back this season after losing in the Stanley Cup Finals last spring, however, the club was able to overcome several injuries to key contributors early on and now have their full complement of impact players in the lineup. Panthers’ general manager Bill Zito hasn’t been afraid of pulling off blockbuster trades in recent seasons having made the move for Matthew Tkachuk and another move two years ago at the trade deadline for Claude Giroux. While the Giroux move didn’t work out, the Tkachuk trade has turned out great for the Panthers. All that being said, the Panthers don’t have the cap space or the assets to swing for the fences at this trade deadline, but that being said Zito will likely evaluate every option when it comes to improving his group. The Panthers will be a tough team to play in the playoffs as they are well-built and have finally figured out how to win in the playoffs. It will make for an interesting deadline in Florida.
Record
33-15-4, 2 in the Atlantic
Deadline Status
Buyer
Deadline Cap Space
$5.72MM on deadline day, 0/3 retention slots used, 45/50 contracts used, per CapFriendly.
Upcoming Draft Picks
2024: FLA 3rd, FLA 4th, FLA 5th, PHI 5th, FLA 6th, FLA 7th
2025: FLA 2nd, FLA 3rd, FLA 4th, CAL 4th*, FLA 5th, SJ 5, FLA 6th, FLA 7th
* If the 2025 1st RD pick that Florida sent to Calgary is a lottery pick resulting in Calgary receiving Florida’s 2026 1st RD pick instead, then the 2025 4th RD pick that Calgary sent to Florida also slides to 2026.
Trade Chips
Florida has ten players on their current roster who will be unrestricted free agents this offseason. Despite the amount of turnover that will happen this summer, Zito probably isn’t looking to move much off of the NHL roster in any trade deadline moves. However, they will likely need to shed some salary to acquire any high-priced talent. The Panthers’ big moves for Tkachuk and others have certainly paid off, but it also came with a high cost. They don’t have a first-round pick in either of the next two drafts and don’t have a second-round pick this year. While a lack of picks might keep them out of the running for some of the top available names at the deadline, they still possess all of their mid-round picks and should still be able to make some smaller moves.
The Panthers’ farm system also leaves a lot to be desired as they are ranked near the bottom third of the league in terms of prospect pipelines. The Panthers do have some decent draft picks from previous seasons that could entice teams to part with a bigger name.
Gracyn Sawchyn is an intriguing player for a number of reasons. He was drafted in the second round last summer and plays a very simple game that relies on speed and physicality. He could have been a higher pick but is undersized and doesn’t possess the offensive abilities of some of his peers chosen before him. That being said, he is 19 and has a lot of upside to his game that teams will covet.
Mackie Samoskevich is another name that the Panthers could float in a potential trade. He has dressed in seven NHL games this season and was the Panthers’ first-round pick in 2021. Samoskevich is in his first full season of professional hockey and has produced decent offensive numbers in the AHL with 12 goals and 17 assists in 37 games. Samoskevich has a high hockey IQ and should be able to translate that and his other skillset into a career in the NHL, it just remains to be seen if that will happen in Florida or if he will be dealt at the deadline.
Other Potential Trade Chips: D Ludvig Jansson, D Kasper Puutio, D Michael Benning
Team Needs
1) Top-9 Forward: The Panthers haven’t gotten what they need out of the third line and would probably like to add some scoring punch to it. They recently moved Evan Rodrigues there and elevated Nick Cousins to the top 6, but in a perfect world, they would acquire another forward and push Cousins onto the fourth line. The Panthers had this balance previously with Anthony Duclair but shipped him off to San Jose last summer. The Panthers likely won’t be able to make a Jake Guentzel-type addition, but a solid scorer with some speed might go a long way to helping them get back to the Stanley Cup Finals. A reunion with Duclair might be an option given how good of a fit he has been previously.
2) Depth Defenseman: Florida is the second-best defensive team this season and has done so without two of their top defensemen for a good portion of the season. That being said, their current alignment relies on two veteran defensemen in their bottom pairing group who could wear down during a long playoff drive. Oliver Ekman-Larsson is averaging almost 19 minutes a night and Dmitry Kulikov is playing 16:33 per game. Both veterans could stand to either play a little bit less or get some nights off leading into the playoffs. A depth defenseman could allow Florida to put their veterans in a spot where they are the likeliest to succeed and give them a chance to get back to the Stanley Cup Finals.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Salary Cap Deep Dive: Pittsburgh Penguins
Navigating the salary cap is one of the more important tasks for any GM. Teams that can avoid total cap chaos by walking the tightrope of inking players to deals that match their value (or compensate for future value without breaking the bank) remain successful. Those that don’t see struggles and front office changes.
PHR will look at every NHL team and give a thorough look at their cap situation for the 2023-24 season. This will focus more on players who are regulars on the roster versus those who may find themselves shuttling between the AHL and NHL. All cap figures are courtesy of CapFriendly.
Pittsburgh Penguins
Current Cap Hit: $84,629,281 (over the $83.5MM Upper Limit)
Entry-Level Contracts
None on the active roster.
Signed Through 2023-24, Non-Entry-Level
F Jeff Carter ($3.125MM, UFA)
F Jake Guentzel ($6MM, UFA)
F Jansen Harkins ($850K, UFA)
D Pierre-Olivier Joseph ($850K, RFA)
G Alex Nedeljkovic ($1.5MM, UFA)
D Chad Ruhwedel ($800K, UFA)
Guentzel’s situation is well-known at this point. There haven’t been any substantive discussions about a new deal but the 29-year-old is set to be one of the top forwards available in free agency this summer and will be eyeing a multi-million-dollar raise on a long-term agreement. That will still be the case whether it’s Pittsburgh or someone else giving it to him. Whoever has him on their roster after the trade deadline will be the only team that can offer the max-term eight-year deal; everyone else will be limited to seven.
Carter did well in his first year and a bit with the Penguins, earning this extension as a reward. But on this contract, he has struggled considerably, especially this season. Now 39, it’s fair to wonder if this will be his final year. If it’s not, he’ll be looking at a deal worth close to the league minimum with perhaps some small incentives. Harkins came over in October as a waiver claim before clearing waivers less than three weeks later. Despite that, he has spent most of the season in the NHL on the fourth line. That gives him a chance at securing another one-way contract but it’s also likely to be at or very close to the $775K minimum salary.
Joseph has battled injuries this season and hasn’t played a lot when he’s healthy. While his qualifying offer is for just under $900K, tendering it would give him arbitration eligibility. With over 100 NHL games under his belt, the potential award could be more than what Pittsburgh would want to pay him. If they can reach a deal beforehand, it should come in close to the $1MM mark. Ruhwedel has been a serviceable depth piece for several years now and being a right-shot player certainly helps his value. Another one-way contract close to this one should be doable.
After a particularly rough showing last season with Detroit, Nedeljkovic has bounced back quite nicely with his best performance since his breakout stretch in 2020-21. If teams feel this level of play is sustainable, then he could conceivably double this on the open market. But with the year-to-year volatility, something closer to the $2.75MM range may be more realistic.
Signed Through 2024-25
F Sidney Crosby ($8.7MM, UFA)
F Lars Eller ($2.45MM, UFA)
D John Ludvig ($775K, RFA)
F Matt Nieto ($900K, UFA)
F Drew O’Connor ($925K, UFA)
D Marcus Pettersson ($4.025MM, UFA)
F Jesse Puljujarvi ($800K, UFA)
F Reilly Smith ($5MM, UFA)
Crosby has been a Penguin for his entire 19-year NHL career and while some have openly speculated about him being traded, that doesn’t seem like a probable outcome at this point. He will have just turned 38 when the 2025-26 season gets underway so another multi-year agreement (between two and four years) isn’t entirely unrealistic. For Pittsburgh, the longer the term of the offer, the lower the cap hit would be, similar to some of the other deals their long-term veterans have received. Considering how he has performed this season, there’s a chance that his next contract could carry the same cap charge as this one and the one that preceded it.
Smith came over from Vegas in a cap-dumping move but he’s still a capable middle-six player. However, this price point is on the high side for someone in that role based on his usage with the Penguins. If he winds up being in the 40-point range (compared to the 56 he had in his final year with the Golden Knights), Smith may need to take a small pay cut heading into his age-34 campaign in 2025. Eller is still a serviceable third-line center for now but he’ll be 36 when his next contract starts. Assuming he slows down a bit more, he’ll likely have to go year-to-year with a price tag a bit below this one.
O’Connor had been more of a role player until this season where he’s averaging nearly 15 minutes a night while setting career highs offensively. If that usage and production hold next season, he could at least double his current price tag on his next deal. Nieto has battled injuries this year but, when healthy, has been a regular on the fourth line, a role he is used to holding. This has been his price range for the last two contracts and it’s unlikely that will change on his next one. Puljujarvi’s market was recently set with the winger finally signing earlier this month. Unless he can establish himself as a top-nine regular, he’ll continue to be on the fringes, keeping his price tag close to the minimum.
Pettersson had a couple of rough seasons but turned things around last year and has been even better in 2023-24, showing he can still be a top-half defender on a depth chart. However, his lack of offensive output most years will limit his earnings upside. Still, another long-term agreement and at least a small raise should be doable, an outcome that would have been surprising just a couple of years ago. Ludvig was a waiver claim but an early-season concussion has limited him thus far. If he can stick around as even a seventh defenseman, however, he could land at least a mild raise a couple of years from now.
Signed Through 2025-26
F Noel Acciari ($2MM, UFA)
F Evgeni Malkin ($6.1MM, UFA)
Malkin has certainly slowed down this season but at 37, that’s to be expected. He’s still producing at a top-six rate so for now, they’re getting a good return. As he ages, however, the value of this contract will drop. Similar to the Crosby discussion, that’s the trade-off for getting an AAV that’s lower than what his market value would have been otherwise. Acciari has shown flashes of third-line production over the year (he even had a 20-goal campaign) but is best utilized as a fourth liner with some extra faceoff utility. This contract is a bit pricey for someone with that profile but it’s not a significant overpayment either.
Trade Deadline Primer: Edmonton Oilers
With the All-Star break in the rear-view, the trade deadline looms large and is now less than a month away. Where does each team stand, and what moves should they be looking to make? We continue our look around the league with the Edmonton Oilers.
For the second consecutive season, the Oilers started slowly. The team started so poorly this season that it resulted in the firing of head coach Jay Woodcroft after just 13 games. Since their 3-9-1 start to the season, Edmonton has rebounded under Kris Knoblauch with a 27-7 record that includes a near-record 16-game winning streak. The Oilers now once again look like a legitimate Stanley Cup contender and will no doubt be looking to add to their lineup at the trade deadline. The club has already been linked to Pittsburgh Penguins forward Jake Guentzel and will surely be in on some of the other big names in the upcoming weeks. The Oilers don’t have much in the way of cap space and will need to get creative to fill in some of the remaining holes on their roster. But with the uncertainty around the futures of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, they are likely to do everything they can to add to an already formidable lineup.
Record
30-16-1, 3rd in the Pacific
Deadline Status
Buyer
Deadline Cap Space
$2.374MM on deadline day, 0/3 retention slots used, 46/50 contracts used, per CapFriendly.
Upcoming Draft Picks
2024: EDM 1st, EDM 2nd, EDM 5th, EDM 6th, NASH 6th
2025: EDM 1st, EDM 3rd, EDM 4th, EDM 5th, EDM 6th, EDM 7th
Trade Chips
Edmonton probably isn’t looking to move much off of their NHL roster to facilitate a trade, however, they will likely need to shed some salary to acquire any high-priced talent. There have been rumors in recent weeks that they would like to shed Cody Ceci and his $3.25MM cap hit, and they also have Jack Campbell toiling in the AHL with his $5MM cap hit, but if Edmonton wanted to move on from either player it would require a sizeable asset to move the money out.
The Oilers do have some assets if they want to make a big move, as they still possess their first-round pick in the next few drafts and have most of their other draft capital as well. There will also be interest in defenseman Philip Broberg despite his lack of NHL success. The 22-year-old hasn’t exactly had a seamless transition to professional hockey, but he is having a strong season in the AHL.
Edmonton has one of the worst farm systems in the NHL, but it isn’t without a couple of intriguing players. Xavier Bourgault is not having the type of season he or the Oilers were hoping for with just six goals and 10 assists in 39 AHL games. The 2021 first-round pick is ranked by many as the Oilers’ top prospect and has shown that he is a great special teams player, but his scoring just isn’t there at even strength. He along with Broberg could be pieces of a bigger package to acquire a big-name player. But if they are the central pieces, it might require the Oilers to give up multiple first-round picks.
Another Oilers prospect is Raphael Lavoie whose size will certainly be alluring to teams who are looking for a big center with untapped potential. Lavoie is having a decent season in the AHL with 15 goals and 11 assists in 33 games, but at 23 years of age, it is hard to consider him a prospect at this point, especially one that can fetch to top-6 forward such as Guentzel.
If Edmonton does want to make a splash, it may require moving out young forward Dylan Holloway, who hasn’t found his offensive game in the NHL but does have good underlying numbers and will almost certainly be an NHL player. Holloway has posted good offensive numbers in the AHL but hasn’t spent of ton of time playing in Edmonton’s top-9 and could find that side of his game if given a chance.
One other intriguing prospect who could draw some interest is Matvei Petrov. The 20-year-old has had a slow start to his professional career with Bakersfield this season, and had a terrific, albeit brief OHL career with the North Bay Battalion. The former sixth-round pick has just five goals and three assists in 30 AHL games with the Condors but had 67 goals and 116 assists in 128 career OHL games. Petrov has good vision and hockey sense but is on the lighter side at the moment and could become much stronger on the puck if he could fill out his 6’2” frame.
Other Potential Trade Chips: D Beau Akey, F Maxim Berezkin
Team Needs
1) Top-6 Forward: The Oilers shuffled their lines yesterday and moved Corey Perry onto their second line. While Perry still has a role in the NHL, his days of being a top-6 forward are well behind him. The Oilers have a considerable gap between their top five forwards and all the remaining ones. Therein lies the need for another top-six winger. The Oilers would probably love to get a right shot forward, however, the market may force them to look at the left side which is why Guentzel’s name is being thrown around. If Edmonton can’t land a top-six forward, they could opt for a top-9 forward as a fallback option. Something they thought they were getting last summer when they signed Connor Brown.
2) A Reliable Second Goaltender: An argument could be made for an additional defender, but goaltending has been problematic for the Oilers for quite some time, which is why they signed Campbell two summers ago. Stuart Skinner has performed admirably for the Oilers and has earned the starter net. However, Edmonton would do well to find a solid backup who could take the net if Skinner were to falter or be dealt an injury. Alex Nedeljkovic out of Pittsburgh could be a good option should the Penguins falter and opt to sell at the deadline. The Vegas Golden Knights showed last year that a team can never have too much reliable goaltending, and while the Oilers have three goaltenders who can play in the NHL, two of the three have a history of seeing their play fall off considerably. Something the Oilers can’t have as their contention window gets smaller and smaller.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Trade Deadline Primer: Detroit Red Wings
With the All-Star break in the rearview, the trade deadline looms large and is now just a month away. Where does each team stand, and what moves should they be looking to make? We continue our look around the league with the Detroit Red Wings.
The Detroit Red Wings season has gone as well as they could have hoped for. The team hasn’t had overwhelming success, but they are in the heat of the Eastern Conference Wild Card race and are averaging their highest goals-per-game total since the 2008-09 season. Detroit has 12 different skaters with over 20 points through their first 50 games and has finally found a goaltender to lead them forward thanks to Alex Lyon‘s breakout year. Things are coming together for the Motor City and, with a fruitful trade deadline, the team could be poised for their first playoff trip in eight years.
Record
26-18-6, 5th in the Atlantic
Deadline Status
Conservative Buyers
Deadline Cap Space
$12.6 MM on deadline day, 1/3 retention slots used, 47/50 contracts used, per CapFriendly.
Upcoming Draft Picks
2024: DET 1st*, DET 2nd, DET 3rd, DAL 4th, DET 5th, DET 6th, DET 7th
2025: DET 1st, DET 2nd, DET 3rd, BOS 4th, DET 5th, DET 6th, DET 7th, STL 7th
* Detroit has the option to send either Boston’s 2024 1st Round pick or their own to the Ottawa Senators as a part of the trade package to acquire Alex DeBrincat.
Trade Chips
The Red Wings are approaching the deadline with plenty of flexibility. They could serve in their usual role as a moderate seller, sending off depth pieces and extra contracts to teams looking to gear up for the Spring. But Detroit has spent nearly the last decade building out a robust prospect pool that now features top names like Nate Danielson, Marco Kasper, and Simon Edvinsson. They’re at a position where they can begin betting on the present, which could mean draft picks are the hottest commodity Detroit possesses. The team has held on to their top three picks in each of the next three drafts – and all three are
projected to be strong classes. A first round pick has been the focal piece of both the Elias Lindholm and Sean Monahan trades, and is rumored to be the asking price for many other players currently on the open market. With Detroit boasting such a deep prospect pool, being willing to part with draft capital – and maybe even a prospect or two – could give them a major leg-up in any trade negotiations.
Of course, that’s if Detroit decides to buy. It seems just as likely they could prepare to sell off some more pieces – a luxury they’re afforded thanks to a forward group with an average age of just 26.5. The Wings are getting everything they could want from their young talents, and they could decide to lean into that this deadline. They certainly have the pieces to move – including veteran defenders like Olli Määttä and Justin Holl. Or they could try and bank on a hot goaltending market by moving one of their many NHL-quality backups, including Ville Husso, James Reimer, and Michael Hutchinson.
But if Detroit really does lean into the seller’s approach, it’s likely that Patrick Kane could find himself back on the move. Kane has scored 16 points in his 19 games with the Red Wings, proving the potency he can bring when healthy. The future Hall-of-Famer knew that trade rumors might surround him as the deadline approaches, with TSN’s Chris Johnston speaking to the likelihood back in December. Now, Kane has since faced an injury that’s held him out of the team’s last seven games – and the Red Wings’ 9-2-2 record since the start of January certainly has them focused on the present. Both of those facts could dissuade the Wings from selling any part of their lineup – though, if they do, Kane’s name will surely be at the top of the list.
Team Needs
1) Younger Defensemen: In a season of positives, one negative has dragged on in Detroit. It’s become very clear that Moritz Seider, as capable as he may
be, is simply being relied on too much. The 22-year-old is averaging over 22 minutes a game, over two minutes more than anyone else on the roster. He’s in one of the top-10 hardest roles among NHL defensemen, according to Evolving Hockey’s Quality of Competition statistic (requires subscription) which argues that Seider’s role is comparable to top defenders like Noah Hanifin and Adam Pelech. Seider has taken it on with no hesitation, but the only teammate able to keep up with him has been Jake Walman. He’s otherwise receiving inconsistent help from the likes of Ben Chiarot or Jeff Petry. There’s a near three-year gap between the average age of Detroit’s forwards (26.5) and their defenders (29.7), and it’s beginning to create a rift between Detroit’s speedy youngsters and their slower old guard. If the Wings are eyeing a deep playoff push, they should also be eyeing younger defensemen that can better match the pace of their lineup. There’s no shortage of names on the market, with Hanifin recently topping Daily Faceoff’s Trade Board. Detroit could also go after Jakob Chychrun, who the team has previously expressed interest in but never landed. Both players would bring a significant boost to a Red Wings defense that’s been largely commanded by one 22-year-old German. Both players play on the left side and could provide a significant boost to Seider’s already-strong play.
2) Depth Scoring: Detroit is in a lucky position of not needing too much more depth. They have plenty of goaltending, healthy scratches like Klim Kostin and Justin Holl provide strong immediate relief, and minor leaguers like Zach Aston-Reese and Simon Edvinsson could realistically provide a spark if needed. But the Red Wings shouldn’t turn their nose up to the chance to add even more scoring to their lineup. There’s been speculation that Pavel Buchnevich could be made available by one of Detroit’s favorite trade partners in the St. Louis Blues. That could be a tremendous addition, with Buchnevich’s 182 points in 183 games with the Blues proving his capability to thrive in a confused lineup. Detroit could also target a player like Vladimir Tarasenko, who has 13 goals and 33 points in 45 games this season despite operating on Ottawa’s third line. Tarasenko would be significantly cheaper to acquire than Buchnevich, and is a pending free agent where Buchnevich has one more season left on his contract. Other options could include Anthony Mantha or Anthony Duclair, two more pending free agents with seemingly more to offer. It’ll be an exciting deadline for the Red Wings, who have the cap space, the assets, and the successful lineup to seemingly choose whatever path forward they would like.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Trade Deadline Primer: Dallas Stars
With the All-Star break in the rearview, the trade deadline looms large and is now just a month away. Where does each team stand, and what moves should they be looking to make? We continue our look around the league with the Dallas Stars.
Things have gone mostly according to plan for the Stars this season. They’re among the top-scoring teams in the NHL and have been in a battle for the top spot in the Central Division for the majority of the season. However, they’ve been a bit shakier on the defensive side of things so if GM Jim Nill is able to add to his roster, the back end could very well be the area he tries to shore up in the coming weeks. However, with very limited cap space, they may be limited in what they’re able to accomplish on the trade front.
Record
31-14-6, 1st in the Central
Deadline Status
Buyer
Deadline Cap Space
$1.924MM on deadline day, 0/3 retention slots used, 44/50 contracts used, per CapFriendly.
Upcoming Draft Picks
2024: DAL 1st, DAL 2nd, DAL 5th, DAL 7th
2025: DAL 1st, DAL 3rd*, DAL 5th, NJ 5th DAL 6th, DAL 7th
*-If Nils Lundkvist gets 55 total points between 2022-23 and 2023-24, the Rangers would get this pick instead of Dallas’ 2025 fourth-rounder. Lundkvist has 30 points in a Dallas uniform heading into tonight’s action so this condition is unlikely to be met but the pick will be encumbered for trade purposes.
Trade Chips
As a team that won’t be intent on moving impactful pieces off its roster, Dallas will undoubtedly be fielding inquiries about Logan Stankoven and Mavrik Bourque. They are the top two scorers in the AHL but have yet to see NHL action so far given the depth that the Stars have up front. If it’s only a depth move that they’re able to make, these two won’t be in play but if Nill wants to make a significant upgrade, one of these two could help yield Dallas a strong roster player.
If Dallas does look to make a move to add a piece on the back end, Lundkvist could also be someone who generates some interest. The 23-year-old has basically been limited to full-time third-pairing duty at even strength while seeing some secondary power play time. Accordingly, the points weren’t exactly piling up as the Stars hoped when they traded for him in 2022. That said, Lundkvist is still on his entry-level deal and he’d likely be of interest to quite a few rebuilding teams although his $925K cap hit doesn’t help much when it comes to matching money. It’s unlikely Nill would move him for a rental player but if they could get an impact blueliner with some salary retention signed beyond this season, Lundkvist could conceivably be part of the package heading the other way.
In terms of other depth players who could go to help match money in a trade, Craig Smith and Sam Steel come to mind. Both forwards (who are pending free agents) have fared relatively well on the fourth line but could slip out of the lineup should an upgrade be acquired. Smith makes a bit more at $1MM while Steel is a little cheaper ($850K) but has one more year of team control though it comes with arbitration eligibility. Neither player has much trade value directly but as pieces to help make the finances work, they’re candidates to be moved.
If they look to bring in someone with a bigger contract, the money-matcher going the other way could very well be Radek Faksa. The 30-year-old is a strong defensive player but his offense simply hasn’t come around. At $3.25MM through next season, he might be a luxury they can no longer afford if they add a bigger-ticket player.
One prospect who isn’t quite at Bourque and Stankoven’s level offensively in the minors but should draw some interest is Matej Blumel. The 23-year-old is coming to the end of his entry-level deal and has 77 points in 99 career AHL games with Texas. He also has six games of NHL experience under his belt. Blumel will still have another year of waiver exemption after this one, giving him some extra value in a move.
Other Potential Trade Chips: F Oskar Back, F Nicholas Caamano, F Riley Damiani
Team Needs
1) Defensive Upgrade: There’s a definite gap between Dallas’ top three defensemen and the rest. Getting a proven second-pairing option would certainly give that unit a boost while also hedging against injuries. If the player happens to be a right-handed shot, that would be even more beneficial although, as always, impact right-defenders are in short supply and high demand. If they can’t land a top-four player, adding some extra depth to hedge against injuries would be beneficial and affordable in their cap structure.
2) Experienced Third Goaltender: When Jake Oettinger missed time earlier this season, they leaned heavily on Scott Wedgewood with third-string option Matt Murray having very limited NHL experience. If Dallas isn’t comfortable using Murray at this point, it would be worth trying to find a veteran third option, one who could be stashed in the minors and come up if one of Oettinger or Wedgewood go down. This is the type of move where one of their AHL skaters could be on the move as the return for that insurance policy between the pipes.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Trade Deadline Primer: Columbus Blue Jackets
With the All-Star break in the rearview, the trade deadline looms large and is about a month away. Where does each team stand, and what moves should they be looking to make? We continue our look around the league with the Columbus Blue Jackets.
The Columbus Blue Jackets are in the midst of a disastrous season. The walls started crumbling before the first puck drop of the season when Columbus parted ways with veteran coach Mike Babcock, who the team was looking to bring back from an unceremonious end to his career in the 2019-20 season.
But the problems have persisted in Columbus, with star winger Patrik Laine facing healthy scratches and personal absences, starting goaltender Elvis Merzlikins requesting a trade, top defense prospect David Jiricek expressing frustration with his NHL role, and star rookie Adam Fantilli now out for two months with a lower-body injury. When it rains, it storms – and it is storming heavily in Ohio. And while the upcoming trade deadline won’t remedy the challenges they’re facing, it could give Columbus a chance to kickstart a much-needed reset.
Record
16-24-10, 8th in the Metropolitan
Deadline Status
Seller
Deadline Cap Space
$18.525MM on deadline day, 0/3 retention slots used, 44/50 contracts used, per CapFriendly.
Upcoming Draft Picks
2024: CBJ 1st, CBJ 3rd, LAK 3rd, CBJ 4th, CBJ 5th, CBJ 6th
2025: CBJ 1st, CBJ 2nd, CBJ 3rd, CBJ 4th, CBJ 5th, CBJ 6th, CBJ 7th, VGK 7th
Trade Chips
Top goaltender Elvis Merzlikins is Columbus’ most likely option to be moved this Spring. The 29-year-old netminder requested a trade from the team, following a near total decline in his role. Merzlikins has only been iced in five of the team’s last 13 games, despite leading the team with nine wins and a .903 save percentage in 28 games this season. The Blue Jackets have instead leaned on Daniil Tarasov and Jet Greaves, a pair of goalies that are both much younger than Merzlikins. Columbus may be looking to find their goaltender for the next generation, something that the aging and expensive Merzlikins might not be around for.
But a Merzlikins deal may need a sweetener to go through. The 178-game veteran of the league is currently the 11th-most expensive goaltender in the NHL, with a $5.4MM cap hit until the end of the 2026-27 season – his age-32 season. That contract would be a significant commitment, even for a team desperate for goaltending help.
There’s no doubt that teams around the league will be eyeing top young players like Kent Johnson or David Jiricek as said “sweeteners”, though they’d certainly require a hefty return. Both options have yet to find their ideal role with the Blue Jackets. Johnson has just 15 points through 34 games this season, on pace for just 14 goals and 36 points, a step down from the 16 goals and 40 points he managed in 79 games last season. He’s also gone without a power-play point through 75 minutes this season – despite scoring 12 points on the man advantage last year. And while Johnson is being confined to the bottom-six, Jiricek is being confined to the minor leagues. The 20-year-old defenseman, who the team took sixth-overall in the 2022 NHL Draft, has averaged the lowest ice time of any Blue Jackets defenseman, playing under 15 minutes a night through 36 games this season and not yet touching special teams at all. He’s managed nine points and 20 penalty minutes in spite of the role, and is vocally at odds with the team’s brass about what ice time he should be receiving.
It seems Columbus is at their length’s end, forced to decide which players to lean into on a roster where 13 different players are averaging between 13 and 15 minutes of ice time. While it doesn’t make sense for one of the league’s lowest-ranked teams to sell the future, their pedigree as being strong in the draft could make any necessary deals easier to stomach.
Luckily, the Blue Jackets won’t be out of the trade market if they choose not to part with their top prospects, or if they can’t find a suitor for Merzlikins’ pricey deal. The team still has centerman Jack Roslovic receiving plenty of trade interest, with teams eager to add the consistent, all-situations role that Roslovic provides. The 27-year-old has just 10 points through 27 games this season, but managed 45 and 44 points across the last two seasons respectively. He’s become a reliable option down the middle and could be the perfect fit for any playoff team looking to play into the Summer. Columbus could also part with Justin Danforth or Sean Kuraly – two aging depth forwards that play a strong role with the Blue Jackets. Danforth could be a particularly interesting option, as the 30-year-old carries just a $975K cap hit over the next two seasons and has a strong 36 points through 101 career NHL games. He could be a cheap and lucrative add for teams looking for a boost in their bottom-six. It’s likely that the return for any veteran forward would be heavily based around draft picks, especially after Sean Monahan fetched a first-round pick in his move from the Montreal Canadiens to the Winnipeg Jets.
Team Needs
1) Build Around Fantilli: In a season of struggles, Columbus is able to rest their hat on one supreme bright spot – Adam Fantilli. The third-overall selectio
n in last year’s draft, Fantilli has burst onto the scene, managing 12 goals and 27 points through 49 games despite a role that’s held him to an average under 16 minutes of ice time each game. What’s worse, Fantilli has spent at least 30 minutes of ice time with 10 different linemates over the first half of his rookie season. That is far from the ideal setting for a top young player. For perspective, #1-overall pick Connor Bedard has only had six linemates on a Blackhawks team devastated by injuries, while #2-overall pick Leo Carlsson has had just four linemates in Anaheim. Columbus is not giving Fantilli a chance to build consistent chemistry with his linemates, likely significantly holding him back from even more success in his rookie season. No matter if it’s because they don’t have the right players in the room, or just don’t know what configuration works best – the Blue Jackets need to use this trade deadline to get the player they’re hoping can lead the franchise into a more comfortable role.
2) Take What You Can Get: The Blue Jackets won’t be making the playoffs this year. And, pending a 2020 run, likely won’t make it next season either. But fans shouldn’t lose hope. Fantilli offers great promise for the future and he’s backed by really exciting prospects like Gavin Brindley – Fantilli’s old teammate – as well as top defense prospect Denton Mateychuk and high-scoring forward Jordan Dumais. That’s only scratching the surface of what is a really deep Blue Jackets prospect pool. Columbus doesn’t need to focus on their depth in the same way as the Anaheim Ducks or Minnesota Wild – and thus don’t have a need to try and stretch any trades. In a year of turmoil, general manager Jarmo Kekäläinen needs to be more focused on building a cohesive roster than saving face. If there’s a chance for him to relieve some of the tension in the Blue Jackets lineup, or find a way to lighten the load on rookie head coach Pascal Vincent, it may be best to act first and worry about long-term upside second.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports.
Trade Deadline Primer: Colorado Avalanche
With the All-Star break in the rearview, the trade deadline looms large and is about a month away. Where does each team stand, and what moves should they be looking to make? We continue our look around the league with the Colorado Avalanche.
The Avalanche are near the top of most people’s lists of Stanley Cup favorites in 2024. It’s understandable – Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar playing like the best players in the world at their respective positions heading out of the All-Star break. This core is also less than two years removed from one of the most dominant championship runs in recent memory.
However, they also boast one of the most flawed rosters on paper in this year’s contending class. They lack a true second-line center behind MacKinnon, no active forward outside the top line has cracked 30 points, and their goaltending has been only slightly above average. Alexandar Georgiev ranks 14th out of 32 starters in goals saved above expected, per MoneyPuck. Their forward depth could be buoyed by the returns of captain Gabriel Landeskog from a knee cartilage replacement that was previously thought to be season-ending and Valeri Nichushkin, who is receiving treatment in the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program, but both players still have a muddy path to a return with no clear timeline. Assuming at least one of Landeskog or Nichushkin returns in time for postseason play, does GM Chris MacFarland believe this team is a top-six center and a backup goaltender away from winning their second championship in three years?
Record
32-14-13, 1st in the Central
Deadline Status
Buyer
Deadline Cap Space
$1.24MM on deadline day, 0/3 retention slots used, 47/50 contracts used, per CapFriendly.
Upcoming Draft Picks
2024: COL 1st, COL 4th, SEA 5th, COL 6th, COL 7th
2025: COL 1st, COL 3rd, COL 4th, COL 5th, COL 6th, COL 7th
Trade Chips
Colorado’s cap space and draft pick cupboard are typical of a team that’s been in contention for a half-decade. However, their cap situation is likely to improve dramatically by March 8. The team isn’t accumulating any space with Landeskog and backup netminder Pavel Francouz on LTIR for a combined $9MM in relief, but Nichushkin’s $6.125MM cap hit still counts while he’s in the PAP and is taking a significant chunk out of their LTIR pool. Nichushkin is eligible for LTIR if he’s expected to meet the minimum absence requirements of 10 games and 24 days, which he will satisfy if he doesn’t return by Feb. 8 against the Hurricanes. If the Avalanche expect him to remain in treatment through the deadline, they could add him to LTIR and have nearly $7.4MM in space on deadline day, enough to execute any move they’d like.
That could be a tricky dance, though, as Nichushkin could return before the end of the regular season. The Avalanche would still need space to activate him from LTIR when he’s ready to go. Landeskog being ready to play before the postseason is much less likely, but as he’s begun on-ice work in his return from knee surgeries that have kept him out of the lineup for almost 20 months, it’s not impossible.
Colorado’s bottom six is fine for what it is. It’s the top nine that needs some fiddling, so they could stand to make a money-in, money-out move with some draft picks attached to necessitate an upgrade. That puts Ryan Johansen and his half-off cap hit of $4MM at the top of the Avs’ trade bait list. The 31-year-old’s stint in Denver hasn’t worked out, recording 11 goals and seven assists for 18 points in 49 games. He has below-team-average possession metrics and is now averaging less than 14 minutes per game. Nothing about his stat line this season is representative of a second-line center on a contending team, although he would carry value in a trade to a rebuilding team as a nearly 900-game veteran with years of top-six experience in his past. His deal expires at the end of the 2024-25 season, so he wouldn’t saddle a rebuilder with a long-term cap commitment if they anticipate spending big soon.
It’s a seller’s market on centers this year, as evidenced by the Canadiens recouping a first-round pick for the services of Sean Monahan as a rental from the Jets. That will require Colorado to attach one of their upcoming first-round picks in a deal, especially given they’ve traded away their upcoming second-round picks in back-to-back deadline deals for Artturi Lehkonen (2022) and Lars Eller (2023).
Team Needs
1) Second-Line Center: The gaping void down the middle behind MacKinnon’s electric performance (84 points in 49 games at the All-Star break) is perhaps the most glaring need for any contender in the league. If Johansen’s contract is going the other way to facilitate a swap, and the team has first-round picks (and some other lesser assets) to spare, is there a fit with the Ducks as a trade partner for Adam Henrique? The 33-year-old veteran is third on the Ducks on scoring with 15 goals and 33 points in 49 games and is one of the best options left on the market with Monahan and Elias Lindholm already off to new teams.
2) Experienced Backup: The Avalanche are no stranger to injuries between the pipes. Their 2022 Stanley Cup win wouldn’t have happened without the services of Francouz, who stepped in admirably when then-starter Darcy Kuemper was out for stretches of the First Round and Conference Final. After waiving Ivan Prosvetov last weekend, 23-year-old Justus Annunen and his five games of NHL experience are now firmly ensconced as Georgiev’s backup for the stretch run. His numbers aren’t great – a .871 SV% and 3.94 GAA over the past three seasons – but he has a respectable .908 SV% and 2.65 GAA in 23 minor-league showings with AHL Colorado this year. Still, MacFarland and head coach Jared Bednar would surely prefer a lower-risk option at the most important time of the year should Georgiev exit the lineup.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports.
Trade Deadline Primer: Chicago Blackhawks
With the All-Star break approaching, the trade deadline looms large and is about a month and a half away. Where does each team stand, and what moves should they be looking to make? We continue our look around the league with the Chicago Blackhawks.
After completely tearing down the team over the last several years, there was no question that the Blackhawks would be one of the lower-tier teams entering this season. After drafting Connor Bedard with the first overall selection last summer, the team attempted to put veteran players such as Taylor Hall, Nick Foligno, and Corey Perry around the young phenom to help his transition into the NHL; but even that plan has not entirely gone to plan. Outside of injury, Bedard has been exactly as advertised for Chicago, but a slew of injuries has prohibited the organization from taking any noticeable steps forward this season.
Record
14-34-2, 8th in the Central
Deadline Status
Seller
Deadline Cap Space
$41.8MM on deadline day, 1/3 retention slots used, 45/50 contracts used, per CapFriendly.
Upcoming Draft Picks
2024: CHI 1st, TB 1st*, CHI 2nd, VAN 2nd, LA 2nd, CHI 3rd, OTT 3rd, CHI 6th
2025: CHI 1st, TOR 1st**, CHI 2nd, DAL 2nd, CHI 3rd***, CHI 4th, NYR 4th, CHI 5th***, CHI 6th, CHI 7th
* If the Tampa Bay Lightning’s 2024 first-round pick falls within the top 10, they will not need to move the draft pick to the Blackhawks.
** If the Toronto Maple Leafs’ 2025 first-round pick falls within the top 10, they will not need to move the draft pick to the Blackhawks.
*** If Jake McCabe plays in less than 50% of Toronto’s 2023 Playoff games OR less than 25% of Toronto’s 2023-24 regular season games, Chicago will transfer their 2025 3rd round pick instead of their 2025 5th round pick.
Trade Chips
Chicago has already taken several trade chips off the board, signing Jason Dickinson, Petr Mrazek, and Foligno each to two-year extensions. The team may look to peddle veteran forwards such as Tyler Johnson and Anthony Beauvillier; but with both currently on the team’s injured reserve, the Blackhawks could be very limited in what they can move this trade deadline season.
If the team does end up trading any of their pending unrestricted or restricted free agents, they will most certainly need to retain salary in any move considering the team is currently only $5.3MM above the salary cap floor. With $29MM currently on the team’s injured reserve, one of the biggest trade chips Chicago has to offer is their available cap space and roster space.
Outside of Beauvillier and Johnson, the Blackhawks simply do not have that much to offer teams outside of cap space at this year’s deadline. With one sizeable trade already out of the way with Elias Lindholm heading to the Vancouver Canucks, look for Chicago to be a salary broker in any future trade involving a cash-strapped buyer in the future.
Team Needs
1) Star Next To Bedard: With Bedard already penciled into the Blackhawks’ long-term plans, it is now time to find another player that he can rely on for much of his career. Nearly a month ago, Chicago missed out on budding star Cutter Gauthier, whom the Philadelphia Flyers moved to the Anaheim Ducks. While no other players similar to Gauthier have been brought up in any trade conversation; he is the right kind of player that Chicago should be targeting if any become available at the deadline. Nevertheless, with having the projected number one overall selection for the second year in a row, the Blackhawks could certainly fill this void with Macklin Celebrini in the upcoming draft.
2) Thin Out The Herd: By design, Chicago has 11 players set to hit unrestricted free agency this summer, while a whopping 14 players will become restricted free agents. Appearing to be somewhat of a crossroads for the franchise, the organization will have to determine which players are worth investing in for the future of the franchise. As things currently stand, Chicago has a roster full of bubble players, and more ice time will have to be allocated to players that the team is convinced should be around for the future. Without any chance of competing for this year’s playoffs, the Blackhawks simply have nothing to lose by giving unofficial tryouts to several of these bubble players throughout the last stretch of the season.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports.
PHR Mailbag: Sabres, Kane, Henrique, Flyers, Ruff
Topics in this edition of the PHR Mailbag include Buffalo’s disappointing first half of the season, Patrick Kane’s future with Detroit, and more. If your question doesn’t appear here, check back in last weekend’s column.
YzerPlan19: What happened to the Buffalo Sabres?! Did the lofty expectations for this season crush them?
I was certainly among those who had Buffalo at least being in the playoff mix this season. I had them being in a close battle for a Wild Card spot and they currently sit 10 points out which isn’t exactly a close battle. They’ve certainly underachieved.
I’m not sure it’s the lofty expectations (being a possible playoff team isn’t exactly a huge bar to clear) that have hurt them. Instead, I think it’s the byproduct of an overly young roster with veterans who haven’t been able to step up to cover for the youngsters’ inconsistency.
When you look at the young talent they have, the tendency is to look at the year they just had and expect that they’ll be able to improve on it. Thus, several core players each take a step or two forward and there are a bunch of internal gains that move them up in the standings. It’s great in theory but in hindsight, expecting all of those players to take a leap forward was probably asking too much.
Not to single out the goaltending but hopes were quite high for Devon Levi based on how he finished last season. But we’re talking about a stretch of barely two weeks. Expecting him to stay at that level just might have been too much, too soon for him. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen has been inconsistent which is to be expected for a young goalie while Eric Comrie couldn’t pick up the slack which is why he cleared waivers earlier this season. Improved goaltending was a big reason for the higher expectations but the hopes were too high, too fast.
Similar statements could be made for several forwards as well, particularly Tage Thompson, Dylan Cozens, and even Alex Tuch to a lesser extent. The hope was they’d maintain or beat their production from last season but they’ve all taken a step back. Kyle Okposo and Victor Olofsson aren’t picking up the slack either, unfortunately. If a couple of the youngsters are producing like they were last year, they probably have a few more wins and are at least in a realistic battle for a Wild Card spot in the stretch run.
I still think there’s a pretty good core here for Buffalo to work with. The goaltending should get better as Levi and Luukkonen get more seasoned. Bounce-back performances from some forwards can definitely happen as well. I think they’ll be in good shape in the long run but it appears their playoff drought is going to last a little longer.
Millville Meteor: Adam Henrique is having a good season. I expect the Ducks to trade him. What kind of return can we expect for him?
Anaheim GM Pat Verbeek must be thrilled at the way things have played out. Calgary moved Elias Lindholm earlier than expected, pushing Henrique up a rung on the talent list. Lindholm’s removal from the market then boosted Sean Monahan’s market, resulting in Montreal pulling the trigger on a trade early. Now Henrique is the top rental option available. That can only help his market.
Having said that, I’m skeptical that the Ducks will be able to get a first-round pick like the Flames and Canadiens did in their moves. Henrique’s numbers are quite comparable to the other two but Lindholm has the stronger reputation while Monahan’s contract is much more affordable. With Henrique making $5.825MM, that’s a price tag that few teams can afford, let alone few contending teams. They’re going to need retention and quite likely a second team to retain another chunk which could dilute the return Anaheim gets. I’ll say he fetches the Ducks a second-round pick and maybe a lesser asset (a late-round pick, a fringe prospect, or salary ballast) while the acquiring team will flip a fourth-rounder to whoever retains the second chunk.
rule78.1: Regarding Patrick Kane, the Red Wings, and the trade deadline. Keep him or trade him? If a trade is made, what expected return would the Red Wings receive?
First things first, he needs to show he’s healthy. He didn’t make it back before the All-Star break as they hoped he might be able to so he needs to clear any lingering doubts about his health. And with what he’s coming back from with his hip surgery, any injury is going to give teams some hesitance.
As of today, Detroit sits tied for the top Wild Card spot with Toronto. All things considered, that’s a bit better than I expected. It’s particularly impressive considering the spotty goaltending they had early in the year, resulting in third-stringer Alex Lyon taking over the number one job and running with it. Unless their place in the standings craters over the next month, I’d be inclined to hold onto Kane. Yes, there’s a risk of missing the playoffs and potentially losing him for nothing but it’s not like they gave up anything to get him. And with the Red Wings not being in any sort of meaningful playoff race since 2016, there’s some inherent value in just keeping their group together and giving their younger players a taste of a tight stretch run.
But if they were to move him, the return isn’t going to be quite as high as it was a year ago when he yielded a second and a fourth-round pick to Chicago (plus a third to Arizona for retaining another 25%). He’s having a good year but we’re talking about a 19-game sample size, lingering issues about his hip in his first post-surgery campaign, and a lower-body issue that has cost him three weeks already. Accordingly, I could see a second-rounder on its own being the ceiling for what Kane would bring back in return if Detroit decided to trade him.
Black Ace57: Who do you think on the Flyers is likely to get traded now? Atkinson? Walker? I’ve heard with Seeler that they want to see if they can agree on an extension. Do you think there’s a chance Frost still gets traded after the rumors earlier?
Sean Walker certainly seems like a good bet to be dealt. He’s having a nice bounce-back year after his playing time getting limited with Los Angeles and at $2.65MM, his contract is affordable, particularly if Philadelphia pays it down. The fact he’s a right-shot defender certainly helps as he might be the most coveted option once Chris Tanev is moved. For someone who was acquired at least in part as salary ballast, the Flyers are well-positioned to get some value for him. If a team wants extra depth, maybe there’s a late-round pick somewhere for Marc Staal as well. And if Nick Seeler signs an extension – it seems like they’re trying to hammer one out – then he’s off the list of options to trade.
I doubt there’s a strong market for Cam Atkinson. He has been decent this season coming back from neck surgery that cost him an entire season but it’s that injury and the fact he has a $5.875MM AAV through next season that will scare teams off now. In the summer, if Philadelphia is willing to pay down the contract and take a light return, then there should be a small market at least. One forward to keep an eye on is Scott Laughton. With the center market being so light, if GM Daniel Briere decides to make him available, he could command a quality return with two years left after this one at a below-market $3MM price tag.
Morgan Frost feels like he could be an offseason trade more than an in-season one at this point. A trade involving him might be a player-player swap of players that are of a similar age or team control. It might be more appealing to rebuilding teams but they generally aren’t looking to do those moves until the summer.
SpeakOfTheDevils: Assuming Ruff is fired after the season, who will be the next coach of the Devils???
First, I’m not certain that Lindy Ruff is going anywhere. Extending a coach to a multi-year deal and then firing him soon after doesn’t happen a lot (periodically, but not often). How much of New Jersey’s struggles are coaching-related compared to their injuries (Jack Hughes, Dougie Hamilton, Nico Hischier, and Timo Meier have all missed double-digit games)? And is it the fault of the head coach when the goaltending falls off the proverbial cliff? I’m not absolving Ruff of any responsibility here but certainly all the blame can’t be laid at his feet either.
But I’ll play along with the premise. If Ruff is gone, I don’t think GM Tom Fitzgerald will be looking for a first-time head coach; this is a team built to win now. If we look at who’s out there with some NHL head coaching experience, Craig Berube comes to mind as someone who might try to get this Devils team to play a bit more structured. I also could see them turning to Jay Woodcroft who had lots of early success with Edmonton and could bring a newer approach after having a long-term veteran in Ruff. Those are who I’d lean towards predicting if Ruff is let go but again, I’m not sure that scenario is going to happen just yet.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Salary Cap Deep Dive: Philadelphia Flyers
Navigating the salary cap is one of the more important tasks for any GM. Teams that can avoid total cap chaos by walking the tightrope of inking players to deals that match their value (or compensate for future value without breaking the bank) remain successful. Those that don’t see struggles and front office changes.
PHR will look at every NHL team and give a thorough look at their cap situation for the 2023-24 season. This will focus more on players who are regulars on the roster versus those who may find themselves shuttling between the AHL and NHL. All cap figures are courtesy of CapFriendly.
Philadelphia Flyers
Current Cap Hit: $83,322,620 (under the $83.5MM Upper Limit)
Entry-Level Contracts
G Samuel Ersson ($859K this season)
F Tyson Foerster (two years, $863K)
Potential Bonuses
Ersson $32.5K
Foerster impressed in limited action last season and has become a full-time regular this year. That said, he’s more of a secondary player at this point which likely has him heading for a short-term second contract, especially with the limited action as a rookie. If he finds another gear offensively next season and pushes into the 40-point-pace range, he could surpass the $2MM mark on that agreement.
Ersson has already signed his second contract so we’ll look at that in more detail shortly but it’s worth noting his bonuses are based on games played. The exact number needed isn’t known but the lower end of a games played bonus is usually around 20. If that’s the case here, he has already reached it.
Signed Through 2023-24, Non-Entry-Level
G Carter Hart ($3.979MM, RFA)
D Nick Seeler ($775K, UFA)
D Marc Staal ($1.1MM, UFA)
D Sean Walker ($2.65MM, UFA)
D Yegor Zamula ($775K, RFA)
Walker was picked up from the Kings in the summer with his inclusion appearing to primarily be for cap purposes. However, the 29-year-old has rebuilt his value nicely, spending a lot of time on the second pairing. Now, instead of a likely pay cut had this season gone like last year, Walker is set up to potentially land a small raise on a multi-year agreement. In the meantime, he is a speculative trade candidate as is Seeler. Seeler has become a regular with the Flyers over the last year and a half after being a player on the fringes of the roster. His playing time is still somewhat limited as he’s a full-time part of the third pairing. Philadelphia is believed to be interested in an extension, one that should push into the $1.25MM to the $1.5MM range.
Staal signed with the Flyers early in free agency to give them a bridge veteran, allowing them to keep some of their youngsters in AHL Lehigh Valley a little longer. He has missed time with injuries and has been scratched at times as well. Accordingly, while it’s possible he lands another deal to fill that type of role, it’s likely to come in closer to the league minimum. As for Zamula, he hasn’t been in the lineup every night but he has more than held his own and is even seeing time on the second power play unit at times. Doubling his current AAV on a two-year bridge deal could be achievable for the 23-year-old.
Hart had been performing at a level similar to last season which had him on track to be qualified at just under $4.5MM. However, his leave of absence pertaining to the sexual assault charge as part of the 2018 investigation into Canada’s World Junior team now has that outcome looking doubtful. Now, a non-tender looks likely.
Signed Through 2024-25
F Cam Atkinson ($5.85MM, UFA)
F Morgan Frost ($2.1MM, RFA)
F Noah Cates ($2.65MM, RFA)
F Garnet Hathaway ($2.375MM, UFA)
F Travis Konecny ($5.5MM, UFA)
G Cal Petersen ($5MM, UFA)
D Cam York ($1.6MM, RFA)
After missing all of last season due to a herniated disk in his neck, Atkinson has been healthy all season long and is producing at close to a 50-point pace. That’s on the high side for this price tag but that was likely expected when he signed this deal back with Columbus in 2017. His next contract should check in closer to the $4MM mark if he can stay at that pace for another year and a half.
Konecny’s future with the Flyers has been speculated about for a while. First, he looked like a long-term core piece but then when he took a step back in 2020-21 and then followed it up with just 16 goals the following year, some questioned if he was going to be part of those plans much longer. Since then, he has authored a year and a half of top-line production and now, the idea of an extension is very much on the table. If it happens, Philadelphia will be paying him off two career platform years which certainly will carry some risk while likely upping the price tag close to the $8MM mark. But after leading the team in scoring last season and for most of this year, there’s a strong case to make to keep him around.
Cates has had a year to forget. A broken foot kept him out for the better part of two months and in between, he has struggled mightily, sitting on just one goal in 28 games. This AAV will be his qualifying offer in 2025 and he’ll have arbitration rights again at that time. There’s plenty of time to turn his fortunes around but at this point, a non-tender could be on the table if his struggles continue.
Hathaway signed a surprisingly high contract for someone who is best deployed on the fourth line but the Flyers put extra value in trying to fill his particular role. It would be surprising to see another raise coming but in a more favorable cap environment, it’s not out of the realm of possibility either. Frost had a breakout year last season, earning a nice bridge deal for his troubles but he has struggled somewhat this season while John Tortorella has scratched him frequently, leading to trade speculation. At this point, a one-year deal after this one that basically works as a second bridge might be the most likely outcome; that contract would check in a bit higher than his $2.4MM qualifying offer if his production stays in its current range.
York is also on his bridge contract and while the offensive potential he showed in the US National Team Development Program and in college hasn’t quite translated to big point totals yet, he’s logging heavy minutes. That alone could help him double this price tag in 2025 and if the production comes, the cost of a long-term agreement will go up quite quickly.
Petersen was acquired as salary ballast in the Ivan Provorov three-way trade last summer and has spent most of the last year and a half in the minors. With Hart’s absence, that should change but his struggles in his limited NHL action make this a steep overpayment. If this continues, he’ll be closer to the $1MM territory as a free agent.
Signed Through 2025-26
F Nicolas Deslauriers ($1.75MM, UFA)
G Samuel Ersson ($1.4MM in 2024-25 and 2025-26, RFA)
D Jamie Drysdale ($2.3MM, RFA)
F Scott Laughton ($3MM, UFA)
F Ryan Poehling ($1.4MM this season, $1.9MM in 2024-25 and 2025-26, UFA)
Laughton has shown he can play in the top six but is likely best utilized as a third-line middleman. This price tag is certainly quite fair for that role which is why teams are starting to call about his potential availability. With a 43-point season under his belt, there’s room for his price tag to grow if he’s able to produce near that level with any type of consistency; doing so could push him into the $4MM range.
Deslauriers is another player they willingly gave more than market value to in order to have their desired grit on the fourth line. While he has had some success offensively in the past, he is starting to slow down on that front. Another contract is definitely achievable (even at 35 which he’ll be when this deal ends) but it should come in closer to the minimum next time. Poehling has held his own in a bottom-six role and inked his new deal recently, a nice outcome for someone who was non-tendered last summer. He’ll need to become more productive to have a chance at getting third center money.
Drysdale was acquired less than a month ago and has fit in nicely so far. Injuries have limited him significantly the last two seasons which hasn’t helped to firm up where his expected long-term deal after this one will land. If he lives up to his upside and stays healthy, he should become Philadelphia’s top-paid blueliner. But if the injury trouble continues, that will certainly scale that price tag down.
Ersson impressed down the stretch last year, landing this extension before the 2023-24 campaign started. It’s a move that looks better now as he had pushed his way into more playing time early on and is now their likely starter the rest of the way. He’ll have that time to show if he’s a legitimate number one or more of a backup with the range of outcomes money-wise stretching past a few million per season depending on how he plays.
