Emily Kaplan, ESPNJun 28, 2024, 07:55 AM ET
CloseEmily Kaplan is ESPN’s national NHL reporter.
Draft day is here (7 p.m. ET on ESPN) and this year, more than in years past, people around the league are preparing for fireworks. I’ve had four general managers tell me they’re open to moving their first-round picks, and they’re not alone, though it seems prices are steep to move into the top 10. Blockbuster trades involving NHL players could go down.
As one GM said: “I’d be shocked if we got through Friday without something shocking.”
Then free agency opens on July 1, and with the biggest single-season salary cap jump in NHL history ($4.5 million), teams are ready to spend.
Here’s the latest of what I’m hearing could go down in the NHL this week.
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IT’S NEVER EASY to keep the band together after winning a Stanley Cup. The Lightning struggled with this mightily because of salary cap constraints. Now their in-state rivals, the Panthers, will feel the same pain. Florida has 11 unrestricted free agents, including half of their defense (Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Brandon Montour, Dmitry Kulikov) and seven forwards, headlined by 57-goal scorer Sam Reinhart.
Talking to people around the league, the expectation is Montour will get a bigger payday elsewhere. The expectation is that Reinhart will re-sign, but it has been a slow process. Reinhart’s camp and the Panthers had stayed in communication all season, and there was mutual interest to get something done. There wasn’t a rush, I’m told, especially from Reinhart’s side. That was rooted in trust. Remember, Florida revived Reinhart’s career when they traded for him from Buffalo and immediately signed him to a three-year deal. Not only does Reinhart score, but he’s one of the best defensive forwards in hockey.
A rival front office executive projected Reinhart will take a hometown discount even though he could’ve commanded more on the open market. Reinhart’s discount could open the door for Sam Bennett and Carter…
Source link : https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/40444885/steven-stamkos-jake-guentzel-latest-nhl
Author : Emily Kaplan
Publish date : 2024-06-28 13:12:09
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