Big names could sign extensions on Monday
Sidney Crosby, Igor Shesterkin, Leon Draisaitl, Mitch Marner, Juuse Saros and Hedman are among the many players who were cleared to sign contract extensions starting Monday. Each has one year of contract remaining.
It appears that Saros will sign an eight-year contract worth $7.74 million per year to remain with the Nashville Predators. Rumors regarding the goalkeeper’s new contract began circulating on Thursday. His average annual value for next season will be $5 million.
Hedman is also expected to sign a new deal with the Lightning in the coming days.
The Oilers should eventually have an offer to make to Draisaitl to sign a long-term contract that would keep him in Edmonton. They would like to resolve this issue before the start of next season. But that doesn’t mean that will be the case. If nothing seems to be moving forward this offseason, a trade could be considered. We’re still a long way from that, but it’s possible.
Marner’s situation with the Toronto Maple Leafs is similar. A trade is possible, but he would have to accept it. An extension is also possible, but again, he would have to accept it. Is Marner willing to move this season? Does he want to negotiate a new contract with the Maple Leafs? Will his demands be too high for Toronto?
The Rangers should have Shesterkin as a priority given how important the goaltender is to them. The only problem is how much it will cost to sign him, which is why this might not be something that ends in the short term.
Crosby’s situation is considered a private matter, Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas said, but he and the team are talking and there is no doubt he will re-sign at some point.
Additionally, Colorado Avalanche forward Mikko Rantanen, Boston Bruins forward Brad Marchand, Maple Leafs center John Tavares, Dallas Stars forward Jamie Benn, Hurricanes defenseman Brent Burns and Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad are each entering the final year of their contracts.
Rangers plan with Trouba and more
The Rangers freed up $3.64 million in cap space when they claimed forward Barclay Goodrow, whom they placed on waivers, from the San Jose Sharks on June 19. They could free up another $2.4 million if they trade forward Kaapo Kakko, which is a real possibility if not likely at this point.
They could go after big names on the free agent market with Guentzel, Kane or Marchessault as possibilities. They are looking for a player who can play with center Mika Zibanejad and left wing Chris Kreider.
Beyond that, questions loom over Jacob Trouba, New York’s captain for two seasons, and his availability on the trade market.
Trouba has two years left on his contract with an average annual value of $8 million. He is possible to be traded.
The Rangers still need to sign defensemen Ryan Lindgren and Braden Schneider, both restricted free agents. Shesterkin’s contract is a priority, as is a new deal for forward Alexis Lafreniere, who has one year left on his contract.
New York sees Trouba as a third-pairing defender on the right side, with Schneider being promoted to the second pairing with K’Andre Miller late in the regular season. It’s not easy to support a third-pairing defenseman at $8 million on your salary cap, but that could be the case for at least another year.
The Devils could seek to defend themselves
Trading defenseman John Marino to the Utah Hockey Club for draft picks on Saturday doesn’t mean the New Jersey Devils won’t dip into the pool of defensemen that will be available on Monday and try to draft one or two.
The Devils could be looking for a more solid backcourt player, someone who plays with more bite and physicality than Marino. Maybe it’s Pesce, who will be available if he doesn’t re-sign with the Hurricanes before the market opens.
New Jersey has Dougie Hamilton and Simon Nemec on the right side of its blue line. Pesce would fill the right side and likely allow the Devils to keep Nemec, 20, on the third pair.
Whether it’s Pesce or someone else, look for the Devils to add to their defensive group that also includes Luke Hughes and Jonas Siegenthaler.
The goal is to keep the puck out of the net at a higher rate than this season, when they allowed 3.43 goals per game. A new goaltending duo of Jacob Markstrom and Jake Allen will help, but the Devils also need to help their goalies.
Toronto, Tanev and more
Chris Tanev could soon sign with the Maple Leafs after acquiring the defenseman’s negotiating rights from the Stars on Saturday. If Tanev doesn’t sign, he’ll become a UFA, but that seems unlikely if Toronto trades a prospect, forward Max Ellis, and a seventh-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft to secure his rights.
Tanev will be a huge addition to Toronto’s defensive group. The 34-year-old will bring physicality and a first pass to the Maple Leafs’ back end.
What Toronto does from here, assuming Tanev signs, will be interesting.
The Marner situation looms over the Maple Leafs’ offseason, but looking for more help on defense and potentially strengthening the goaltending position to have someone to play in tandem with Joseph Woll must be priorities in the coming days.
Gibson, Zegras, Laine All Purpose Baits
The trading market doors opened on Saturday with a flurry of movement, but there is expected to be more to come.
Would Anaheim Ducks trade center Trevor Zegras and goaltender John Gibson? They would if the return was good for the rebuilding Ducks.
Zegras, who has two years left on his contract, is a very talented 23-year-old, but the question is does he fit Anaheim’s style of play? Gibson, who has three years left on his contract, is a 30-year-old goaltender, but the Ducks have Lukas Dostal behind him and may want to go younger and cut costs at the position.
The Columbus Blue Jackets are looking to trade forward Patrik Laine. That’s what we know about general manager Don Waddell. Whether they can achieve that and have to keep their salary is another story.
Laine has two years remaining on his contract ($8.7 million in annual value). He is currently part of the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program.
Other names to watch on the trade side include Rangers’ Kakko and Trouba, Hurricanes’ Necas, Winnipeg Jets forward Nikolaj Ehlers (one year remaining, $6 million per year), Senators defenseman ‘Ottawa Jakob Chychrun (one year remaining, $4.6 million per year) and Predators goaltender Yaroslav Askarov (one year remaining, $925,000 per year) considering Saros’ impending extension.