2023-07-01 02:11:56
All players who could become autonomous without compensation will officially be as of Saturday noon.
READ ALSO: The best restricted free agents
At the same time, the transaction market is likely to make a lot of waves, perhaps even more than that of autonomy.
Several questions are waiting to be answered in the coming days. Here are 10:
Will the free agent market be more hectic than usual?
July 1 is always a busy day in the NHL. There will be movement of personnel. Unrestricted free agents will sign new agreements. Some will be bargains, others will be products of one-upmanship and will be considered exaggerated by many.
But this year, the market could operate in slow motion. Several teams are still trying, somehow, to adapt to a salary cap that will be $83.5 million, an increase of only $1 million from 2022-23.
“Five years ago, general managers practically went on a fishing trip on July 2. This year, with the constraints of the low salary cap increase, signings could be extended over a longer period,” Toronto Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving said.
Several general managers are of the opinion that the market this year leans more towards transactions than possible signings. So far, some have acted accordingly.
“Our deal is better than waiting for the free range market to open,” Pittsburgh Penguins interim GM Kyle Dubas said after acquiring Reilly Smith from the Vegas Golden Knights on Wednesday.
St. Louis Blues GM Doug Armstrong echoed that on Tuesday after acquiring Kevin Hayes from the Philadelphia Flyers.
“Usually things go fast on July 1st. So we took the lead,” he said.
So, to answer the original question, the free agent market is not likely to be more hectic than usual this year.
Will Adin Hill continue his association with the Golden Knights?
Hill will likely trade his success in the past playoffs when he helped the Golden Knights lift their first Stanley Cup. He may well decide to stay with the team and exit the market before it even opens on July 1.
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported earlier this week that Hill and Vegas are negotiating a two-year deal that will net the goaltender $4.9 million annually.
Golden Knights general manager Kelly McCrimmon confirmed Wednesday that he was trying to sign Hill. Ideally, the whole thing would be done by Saturday, as Hill could generate a lot of interest if he is made available to other teams.
Video: FLA@VGK, #5: Hill robs Duclair with the mitt
Are Hellebuyck and Scheifele near the exit door?
The Winnipeg Jets are in the midst of a series of changes. After trading Pierre-Luc Dubois to the Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday, they put Blake Wheeler’s name on waivers Friday in a bid to buy out the final year of his contract. The Jets could step up the process by getting rid of other core players to rejuvenate themselves.
Goaltender Connor Hellebuyck and forward Mark Scheifele each have one year left on their contracts and it’s possible the Jets could trade them one way or another.
Hellebuyck ($6.166 million/season) and Scheifele ($6.125 million/season) are two potential candidates for a trade with a team looking for a center for its first two lines or a No. 1 goaltender.
In the event that the Jets divest one of these players by Saturday, they will have the salary flexibility necessary to meet several needs.
Where will former teammates Vladimir Tarasenko and Ryan O’Reilly end up?
Tarasenko and O’Reilly are two of the biggest names on the free agent market, four years after they won the Stanley Cup together with the Blues.
They were both traded by St. Louis before the latest trade deadline; O’Reilly to the Maple Leafs and Tarasenko to the New York Rangers. But it does not seem that the latter will retain the services of their respective player.
The two forwards will likely try to sign a deal where they have a chance to win a second Stanley Cup next year.
Taransenko, 31, had 50 points (18 goals, 32 assists) in 69 games in 2022-23. His career high is 82 points (34 goals, 48 assists) in 75 games with the Blues in 2021-22.
O’Reilly, 32, has 30 points (16 goals, 14 assists) in 53 games this season. In 2021-22, he had 58 points (21 goals, 37 assists) in 78 games in St. Louis.
Will Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci be back with the Bruins?
We should not have the answer to this question on Saturday, nor in the next few days. Bergeron and Krejci have each just completed a one-year agreement and are contemplating the future.
If they return to the NHL next season, it will be with the Boston Bruins. The latter give them time to mature their decision, while preparing for 2023-24 as if they were not going to be able to count on the two center players.
Last summer, we had to wait until August 8 before seeing them agree with the Bruins. It could be as long, or even longer, this summer.
In the meantime, Boston had to give itself a little salary maneuver to prepare for their return, if it happens. Taylor Hall’s trade to the Chicago Blackhawks on Monday freed up $6 million in payroll.
Forwards Tyler Bertuzzi, Tomas Nosek and Garnet Hathaway, as well as defensemen Dmitry Orlov and Connor Clifton could all become unrestricted free agents on Saturday. Goaltender Jeremy Swayman will be a restricted free agent. This season’s Vezina Trophy winner, Linus Ullmark, could be traded to leave the reins to Swayman in goal.
Who will get wet in the Karlsson file?
Erik Karlsson has been very clear about his desire to be traded from the San Jose Sharks to a team that is aiming for top honors by the end of his contract in 2026-27.
His deal includes a no-move clause, but Karlsson said Sunday he still hasn’t submitted a list of teams he’d like to be traded to.
The Swede has just won the Norris Trophy, awarded to the best defenseman in the NHL, after completing the first 100-point season by a guard since Brian Leetch in 1991-92.
Sharks general manager Mike Grier said he was trying to trade Karlsson and there was interest in him elsewhere in the NHL. While it’s unclear when such a deal will close, teams interested in Karlsson will likely want to acquire him before the free agent market opens.
What next for Alex DeBrincat?
This is as much a trade market issue as it is a free agent market issue, as the 25-year-old forward will become a restricted free agent and has no intention of signing with the Ottawa Senators long-term. . This means he will be traded to a team that wants to sign him – probably for eight years.
DeBrincat’s age (25), experience (450 games) and production (373 points) since the start of his career make him an interesting player for many teams, whether they are rebuilding or just watching. on the Stanley Cup.
The Senators won’t trade him for the sake of trading him. They should be greedy in their demands of other teams. If they don’t get what they want, they can go to arbitration to bring him back for one more season in the Canadian capital.
Video: TBL@OTT: DeBrincat ouvre la marque
What will the Penguins do with their goaltenders?
Everything indicates that Tristan Jarry will test the free agent market on Saturday, meaning the Penguins will be looking for a new trusted goaltender. Jarry is coming to the end of a three-year contract worth a total of $10.5 million. His assistant this season, Casey DeSmith, has one year remaining on his deal ($1.8 million).
Kyle Dubas hasn’t ruled out the option of bringing Jarry home next season, but neither has he shown any encouraging signs regarding the negotiation between the two parties.
The president of hockey operations and interim GM could turn to the free agent market to find a replacement for him, or even conclude a transaction as was the case to acquire Reilly Smith on Wednesday.
Ullmark could be an option for the Penguins depending on the Bruins’ demands for his services. The Swedish goalkeeper has two seasons remaining on his contract, which earns him $5 million annually.
Laurent Brossoit, Cam Talbot and Semyon Varlamov are options on the free agent market.
What awaits Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane?
The two Chicago Blackhawks franchise icons, three-time Stanley Cup champions, will not be with the team in 2023-24.
Kane was traded to Rangers before the trade deadline this season, ending his career with the Blackhawks. Late in the season, general manager Kyle Davidson announced that he would not be offering Toews a new contract.
Their next destination is unknown at this time.
Kane is recovering from hip surgery on June 1 and is unlikely to be ready for the start of next season. It would therefore be rather surprising if he signed a contract with a team on Saturday.
Toews finds himself in a position similar to that of Bergeron, where he must first decide if he wishes to continue playing. If so, there are sure to be teams looking for depth and experience at the center.
Video: PHI@CHI: Toews dévie le tir d’Athanasiou
What more will Barry Trotz do to revive the Predators?
Trotz will officially become the new GM of the Predators on Saturday. He was appointed as David Poile’s successor on February 26, but the change will take effect on July 1.
Trotz has already had a say in some decisions, however, as he was involved in the hiring of Andrew Brunette as head coach to replace John Hynes and the deal that brought forward Ryan Johansen in Nashville on Saturday.
The Predators have wiggle room under the salary cap and have several needs to fill. They are not rebuilding, but rather in some sort of reset. So it is possible that they are busy in the free agent market or in the transaction market.
Nashville is definitely one of the teams to watch.
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