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Offseason News and Rumors till noon on Saturday

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Rumours and News

Heiskanen signs

Miro Heiskanen has resigned with the stars on a 8 year $67.6 Million extension with a AAV of $8.45 Million. Heiskanen was one of the big three pending RFA Defensemen that needed a new contract along with Makar and Hughes. Heiskanen has been a great D-Men in Dallas and will continue to do that with other superstar D-Men Klingberg and Lindell.

Domi exposed

With time ticking down for teams to trade players and finalize their protection list it appears that Domi will be exposed. Domi has a year before heading to Free Agency at just over $5 Million and would be a prime target for the kraken.

New trade Alert

 Nick Leddy

 Richard Panik 50% retained, 2021 2RD pick (#52)

Analysis: the Red Wings acquire great top 4 D-Men Nick Leddy for Richard Panik with 50% of his contract retained and a 2RD pick (#52) overall in 2021. Leddy was a prime target to be selected by the Kraken as he is entering the Final year of his contract at $5.5 Million and I think would fit in their top 4 defensively after having 2 Goals and 29 Points in 56 Regular Season Games and 6 assists in 19 Playoff Games and will bring experience to the Red Wings blue line. For the Islanders they get cap space which is a very big plus and do lose Leddy who was a top 4 D-Men for them but do get something back as Panik now comes cheap (with 50% of his cap retained) and will most likely be a bottom 6 Forward for the Islanders while with the 52nd overall pick, New York I now has two second round picks this year. As for the expansion draft Detroit will now protect Leddy and Hronek on the back end with one of Stecher or Chlowski will also be protected while it is now a guarantee that the Islanders will protect Pelech, Pulock, and Mayfield all will be protected.

Rumours 

#1) more Signings 

Here are some Signings I didn’t see yesterday,

Brett Ritchie (1 year $.900 Thousand)

Dylan Gambrell (1 year $1.1 Million)

Cole Smith (1 year $.750 Thousand)

Cam Johnson (1 year $.750 Thousand)

Julien Gauthier (1 year $.750 Thousand)

Morgan Geekie (1 year $.750 Thousand)

And all these signings, Johnson for Columbus, Ritchie for Calgary, And Gambrell for San Jose all help with the expansion draft.

#2) Bishop waives NMC

Ben Bishop has decided to help the Stars and Waive his NMC for the expansion draft. Dallas will now be able to protect Anton Khudobin in the expansion draft and with Bishop being a older goalie and having a long list of injuries in my opinion Bishop will not be selected.

#3) Edler, Landeskog, Danault headed to Free Agency

All of Edler with the Canucks, Landeskog with Colorado, and Danault with Montreal are all so far apart in their contract talks that all three will be headed to Free Agency and their respective teams will be willing to get them back if those there players can’t find the money they are looking for.

#4) Colorado, Toronto, Seattle calling on Kuemper

Kuemper has been rumoured to not be signing a extension with the Coyotes as he enters the Final year of his deal and will most likely be traded. It could happen before the expansion draft because they don’t want to lose him for nothing but also like Adin Hill and would love to protect. Colorado has basically contacted them but is a backup option if they can’t get Grubauer done, the Leafs have shown plenty of interest in Kuemper as a backup option but a trade would have to happen after the expansion draft, while Seattle has also expressed interest in the Coyotes net minder.

#5) Hall Bruins close on a extension 

Apparently the Bruins and Taylor Hall are working out a extension that could happen as early as this weekend. If a signing happens this weekend then they would have to protect him in the expansion draft but if they don’t then they can sign him after the expansion draft.

My Top Ten candidates to be moved by Saturday 

 #1) Nick Leddy

The Islanders like Leddy as a top 4 Defensemen but as they will likely go with the 7-3-1 protection list he would be on the outside so he could be moved.

#2) Darcy Kuemper 

Arizona wants to protect the young Hill who could be their goalie of the future but also don’t want to expose Kuemper and give him away for nothing, so he could be dealt.

 #3) Vince Dunn

With the 3 defensive protection spots going to Krug, Faulk, and Parayko Dunn is a easy candidate for the Kraken and is to good a young defender to lost for nothing.

#4) Alex Kerfoot

The Leafs could lose 3rd line Center Kerfoot or 3D-pair D-Men Dermott but I think théâtre Kerfoot would be the more likely to be traded.

 #5) Fabbro or Carrier

The Predators have five great Defencemen put should only protect 4 so if they can’t work out a side deal with the Kraken then most likely one of Fabbro or Carrier will leave.

 #6) Jake Allen

The Canadiens really like Jake Allen and he had a solid year but with a cheaper cap hit he could easily be selected by the Kraken so there is a possibility that he gets moved.

 #7) Jason Zucker

The Pens have 8 or 9 Forwards worthy of being protected and one could be moved and a likely name is Zucker who the Pens gave up a 1RD pick and high prospect to get him so it only seems they get something in return and trade him.

 #8) Samsonov or Vanacek 

The Caps have two great young goalies and could lose one to Seattle so if they can get something for one of these two upcoming stars I think they would do it.

#9) Chris Driedger

The Panthers could do a sign and trade deal with Driedger after the season he had and being a pending UFA losing him for nothing would be bad.

#10) Jake Debrusk 

The last Forward protection spot is probably between Ritchie and Debrusk and would probably protect DeBrusk to trade him later but if they can trade him now then they could protect Ritchie.

Trade Alert from Thursday Afternoon 

 Mikhail Maltsev,2021 2RD (#61)

 Ryan Graves

Analysis: the Devils get a great top 4 D-Men thanks to expansion draft problems for a pick and prospect. The Devils get big D-Men Ryan Graves to place in their top 4 next year ( I think on the 2nd pair) who can help physically and defensively as he has a $.3.17 Million contract for two seasons and had 2 goals and 15 points in 54 regular season games and 1 goal and 6 points in 10 playoff games. As for the Avalanche they acquire Mikhail Maltsev who is signed for the upcoming year at $.809 Thousand and made his NHL debut this season producing 6 goals and 9 points in 33 regular season games and will have the 61st pick at the draft (this pick previously belonged to NYI). This trade happens because Colorado was at risk of losing Graves for nothing at the expansion draft and acquired Maltsev who is exempt was a good move while Graves will now be protected on the Devils protection list most likely along with Severson and Siegenthaler.