A recap of all the things that have happened in the last week

Here is a recap of all of the stuff that has happened recently in the NHL 


Here are the two trade Analysis from last Saturday. 




Montreal             Pittsburgh 

Mike Matheson              Jeff Petry

2023 4RD (PIT)          Ryan Poehling


Analysis: the Canadiens were able to find a trade they liked for Petry as they moved him and young center Ryan Poehling to the Penguins in exchange for a 4RD pick in next years draft and good top 4 defensemen Mike Matheson. So for the Penguins they were able to use some of the cap space gained in the Marino deal to get a really good veteran in Petry who I think will make that defence lethal offensively now having both Petry and Letang being offensive defensemen, and while some may say this was a bad trade for Pittsburgh taking Petry’s  contract on, I think this will help solidify their right side and Petry should live up to that contract for at least the next two years. They also got Poehling in the deal as he has not been able to establish himself as a good middle six forward although I still think he has potential to be a middle six forward as he will at least be able to get a spot on the fourth line and I still think he can be a valuable player for the Penguins. As for Montreal they get Matheson who is 6 years younger then Petry and has 1 extra year on his deal that is $2.1 Million dollars cheaper then Petry. Matheson was a sort of cap dump a few years ago be Florida but last year showed that he can still be a really good top 4 Defensemen after he put up 11 goals and 31 points in 74 games played and the Penguins liked him so much that they were reluctant to move him and I think he will be a great top 4 defensemen for Montreal and a leader on the blue line and it is also a homecoming for him as he is from Montreal as well, and the Canadiens also get a 4RD pick to complete the deal as the Penguins has enough draft capital following them acquiring New Jersey’s 3RD earlier in the day, and the Canadiens add yet another pick for next years draft because even though it is a mid round pick it now gives them 11 picks in next years deep draft. I think that in the short term the Penguins win because Petry will improve their win now mode team but I do think that Montreal could be the long term winner with the younger Matheson being a leader on that Canadiens team for the next few years. 



 Pittsburgh         New Jersey 

    Ty Smith                   John Marino

2023 3RD (NJ) 


Analysis: the Devils were able to pry Marino out of Pittsburgh as he went to the Devils in exchange for younger defensemen Ty Smith and a 3RD pick.  So for the Penguins this helped them clear enough cap space to go after Petry later in the day and while Marino is a good player he became expendable after Letang signed but they got a great young player in Smith as he is still on a very cheap deal and will be able to play on the 3rd pair in Pittsburgh as he still has top 4 potential after having 5 goals and 20 points in 66 games last year and he will fill in for Matheson real well, and the Penguins also get a 3RD pick in next years draft and it allowed them to move their 4RD pick later and helped them keep their draft capital. As for the Devils they get a really good and young John Marino who is signed long term and even though he is more expensive then Smith he is also more stablished and will help the Devils next year. I think that Marino will be a Severson replacement as Severson only has one year left before becoming a UFA and Nemec is waiting on the wings so Marino should slot right behind Hamilton on the 2nd pair in my opinion after he had 1 goals and 25 points in 81 games last year and will be a great defensemen for the Devils next year. I think that this is a pretty even trade as the Penguins clear cap space and get a good young defender and mid round draft pick and the Devils get a good young defensemen who is locked up for a long time and will help solidify their defence for the next few years. 


Now here is the list of players who have signed their ELC’s since the start of free agency 


The three players who have signed their ELC’s from the 2021 draft. 


Center Ryan Winterton who is a 2021 3RD pick of the Seattle Kraken signed his 3 year entry level contract that will carry a AAV of $.847 Thousand dollars per year and the contract will begin next season. I think that in a year Winterton should be able to make the NHL and I think he will be a 2nd/3rd line Center for the Kraken but this year I think he either plays in juniors or the AHL. 


Right Winger Jacob Melanson who is a 2021 5RD pick of the Seattle Kraken signed his 3 year entry level contract that will carry a AAV of $.843 Thousand dollars per year and the contract will begin next season. While he is probably at least a year more likely two from playing in the NHL, I think Melanson will be a valuable bottom six winger for the Kraken in the future. 


Right Defensemen Ryan Mast who is a 2021 6RD pick of the Boston Bruins signed his 3 year entry level contract that will carry a AAV of $.850 Thousand dollars per year and the contract will begin next season. I think that Mast will be a good bottom pairing defensemen in a couple years but I believe that he should be a NHL player eventually. 


A list of all of the 2022 picks who have signed their ELC’s so far. 


Left Winger Juraj Slafkovsky who was the 1st overall pick in the 2022 draft by the Montreal Canadiens signed his 3 year entry level contract that will carry a AAV of $.950 Thousand dollars per year and the contract will begin next season. While there is some discussion about whether he will play in the AHL or the NHL, I think that there is no way that Slafkovsky doesn’t play in Montreal this upcoming season and I think he will start the season probably in the middle six. 


Right Defensemen Simon Nemec  who was the 2nd overall pick in the 2022 draft by the New Jersey Devils signed his 3 year entry level contract that will carry a AAV of $.950 Thousand dollars per year and the contract will begin next season. I think it is probably a 50/50 split right now between if Nemec plays in the AHL or NHL and while I wouldn’t be surprised if he made it, after the acquisition of Marino the Devils have 3 good right side defensemen without Nemec and might be better off keeping him in the minors. 


Shane Wright who was the 4th overall pick in the 2022 draft by the Seattle Kraken signed his 3 year entry level contract that will carry a AAV of $.950 Thousand dollars per year and the contract will begin next season. I think Wright stands a good chance to make the Kraken roster this year and while he could probably stand to play another year in junior I just get this feeling that he will make the team and most likely play in the middle six as either the second or third line Center for Seattle next year. 


Right Defensemen David Jiricek who was the 6th overall pick in the 2022 draft by the Columbus Blue Jackets signed his 3 year entry level contract that will carry a AAV of $.950 Thousand dollars per year and the contract will begin next season. I think that Jiricek has a outside chance to make the NHL as I could see him making the Jackets roster as a 3rd pair defensemen but I think the more likely scenario is he goes to the AHL for just next year and makes the NHL the following year. 


Center Marco Kasper who was the 8th overall pick in the 2022 draft by the Detroit Red Wings signed his 3 year entry level contract that will carry a AAV of $.950 Thousand dollars per year and the contract will begin next season. I think Kasper is probably a year away from turning pro and making the NHL where I think he can be a good middle six forward I think he will probably play in the SHL again next year. 


Center Matthew Savoie who was the 9th overall pick in the 2022 draft by the Buffalo Sabres signed his 3 year entry level contract that will carry a AAV of $.950 Thousand dollars per year and the contract will begin next season. I think that Savoie is also a year away from being a force in the NHL and will probably go back to the WHL for this year but I think that he will be a good top 6 forward for the Sabres next year. 


Left defensemen Pavel Mintyukov who was the 10th overall pick in the 2022 draft by the Anaheim Ducks signed his 3 year entry level contract that will carry a AAV of $.950 Thousand dollars per year and the contract will begin next season. I think Mintyukov is a year or 2 away from playing in the NHL probably going back to the OHL next year, but I think that when he gets to the NHL he will be a great top 4 defensemen on the left side for the Anaheim Ducks. 


Center Connor Geekie who was the 11th overall pick in the 2022 draft by the Arizona Coyotes signed his 3 year entry level contract that will carry a AAV of $.950 Thousand dollars per year and the contract will begin next season. I think it will be probably two year maybe even three before Geekie becomes a regular NHL player and I think he will go back to the WHL this year but when he comes into the NHL he will be a good physical middle six Center who should be able to produce offensively for the Coyotes. 


Left Defensemen Denton Mateychuk who was the 12th overall pick in the 2022 draft by the Columbus Blue Jackets signed his 3 year entry level contract that will carry a AAV of $.950 Thousand dollars per year and the contract will begin next season. Mateychuk needs probably a year or 2 before becoming a regular NHL player and I think he will probably go back to the WHL for next year, but when he comes to the NHL I expect him to be a good 2nd pair defensemen behind Wereinski in Columbus. 


Center Noah Ostlund who was the 16th  overall pick in the 2022 draft by the Buffalo Sabres signed his 3 year entry level contract that will carry a AAV of $.950 Thousand dollars per year and the contract will begin next season. Ostlund probably has 2-3 seasons before getting to play in the NHL and I expect him to go back to the SHL for the upcoming season but when he is ready to play in the NHL I think he will be a good middle six forward. 


Right Winger Joakim Kemell who was the 17th overall pick in the 2022 draft by the Nashville Predators signed his 3 year entry level contract that will carry a AAV of $.950 Thousand dollars per year and the contract will begin next season. Kemell probably should have gone higher in the draft in my opinion and while I think he needs probably only one year before he’s NHL ready as I think he will play in Liiga next year, when he is NHL ready he should be a force to be reckon with offensively in the Predators top 6. 


Left Winger Liam Ohgren who was the 19th overall pick in the 2022 draft by the Minnesota Wild signed his 3 year entry level contract that will carry a AAV of $.950 Thousand dollars per year and the contract will begin next season. I think that with the cap space problem in Minnesota, I would give Ohgren a outside chance to make the NHL this year maybe playing on the 3rd line but if not then I think he will play in the SHL this year and be NHL ready next year. 


Left defensemen Owen Pickering who was the 21st overall pick in the 2022 draft by the Pittsburgh Penguins signed his 3 year entry level contract that will carry a AAV of $.950 Thousand dollars per year and the contract will begin next season. I also don’t see Pickering taking too long to make it to the NHL but with the logjam of NHL defenders in Pittsburgh I would think that Pickering probably plays in the WHL this season and then next year maybe gets into NHL action as I think he should be a exciting top 4 defensemen when he gets to the NHL. 


Forward Filip Mesar who was the 26th overall pick in the 2022 draft by the Montreal Canadiens signed his 3 year entry level contract that will carry a AAV of $.950 Thousand dollars per year and the contract will begin next season. Mesar is probably going to need a year or two before getting a opportunity at the NHL level, but when he is ready he will be a versatile middle six forward for the Canadiens who will definitely be a force offensively. 


Center, Left Winger Jiricek Kulich who was the 28th overall pick in the 2022 draft by the Buffalo Sabres signed his 3 year entry level contract that will carry a AAV of $.950 Thousand dollars per year and the contract will begin next season. Kulich is still a couple years away from NHL action but when he makes it he will be a great offensive weapon in the middle six either on the wing or at Center for the Sabres. 


Reid Schaefer who was the 32nd overall pick in the 2022 draft by the Edmonton Oilers signed his 3 year entry level contract that will carry a AAV of $.950 Thousand dollars per year and the contract will begin next season. Schafer will probably be a few years before he plays in the NHL but when the Oilers give him a spot I think he will be a great power forward in the Oilers middle six in a few years but for now he will probably play in the WHL. 


Elias Salomonsson who was the 55th overall pick in the 2022 draft by the Winnipeg Jets signed his 3 year entry level contract that will carry a AAV of $.870 Thousand dollars per year and the contract will begin next season. Salomonsson will play in the SHL for a few years before reaching the NHL but when he is ready I think he will make a great 2nd or 3rd pair defensemen in Winnipeg. 


Winger Adam Sykora who was the 63rd overall pick in the 2022 draft by the New York Rangers signed his 3 year entry level contract that will carry a AAV of $.870 Thousand dollars per year and the contract will begin next season. Sykora will play in the Slovak league and the AHL for a couple of years and when he is ready to play in the NHL I think he will be a good bottom six forward. 


Left defensemen Calle Odelius who was the 65th overall pick in the 2022 draft by the New York Islanders signed his 3 year entry level contract that will carry a AAV of $.870 Thousand dollars per year and the contract will begin next season. Odelius will need a few years in the SHL before he is NHL ready but when he is ready to play in the NHL he will be a great 2nd or 3rd pair defensemen in the Islanders organization. 


Left winger Alexander Suzdalev who was the 70th overall pick in the 2022 draft by the Washington Capitals signed his 3 year entry level contract that will carry a AAV of $.878 Thousand dollars per year and the contract will begin next season. Suzdalev will need at least two probably three years in HockeyAllsvenskan before he is ready to play in the NHL but when he is ready I expect him to be a productive bottom six forward for the Capitals. 


Left winger, Center Ludwig Persson who was the 85th overall pick in the 2022 draft by the Washington Capitals signed his 3 year entry level contract that will carry a AAV of $.878 Thousand dollars per year and the contract will begin next season. Persson will need at least two probably three years in the SHL before he is ready to play in the NHL but when he is ready I expect him to be a productive bottom six forward for the Capitals. 


Thomas Hamara who was the 87th overall pick in the 2022 draft by the Ottawa Senators signed his 3 year entry level contract that will carry a AAV of $.851 Thousand dollars per year and the contract will begin next season. Hamara will need at least two probably three years in Liiga before he is ready to play in the NHL but when he is ready I expect him to be a productive bottom pairing defensemen for the Senators. 


Here are 5 players who were I undrafted and have signed their ELC’s 



Left defensemen Evan Nause who was a undrafted free agent signed a 3 year entry level contract with the Florida Panthers that will carry a AAV of $.887 Thousand dollars per year and the contract will begin next season. 


Center, Left winger Alex Limoges who was a undrafted free agent signed a 1 year entry level contract with the Winnipeg Jets that will carry a AAV of $.780 Thousand dollars per year and the contract will begin next season.


Left defensemen Lukas Klok who was a undrafted free agent signed a 1 year entry level contract with the Arizona Coyotes that will carry a AAV of $.845 Thousand dollars per year and the contract will begin next season.


Center, Left winger Felix Robert who was a undrafted free agent signed a 2 year entry level contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning that will carry a AAV of $.858 Thousand dollars per year and the contract will begin next season.



Left defensemen Nathan Staios who undrafted free agent signed a 3 year entry level contract with the Florida Panthers that will carry a AAV of $.859 Thousand dollars per year and the contract will begin next season.


Here is a list of all the signings since last Friday when I updated it. 


Pacific 


Calgary 

Center Ben Jones 1 year, 2 way, $.750 Thousand dollar AAV.


Edmonton 

Left Winger, Center Mattias Janmark 1 year, 1 way, $1.25 Million dollar AAV. 


San Jose 

Goaltender Kaapo Kahkonen 2 year, 1 way, $2.75 Million dollar AAV. 

Right Winger, Center Luke Kunin 2 year, 1 way, $2.75 Million dollar AAV. 


Vancouver 

Goaltender Michael DiPietro 1 year, 2 way, $.840 Thousand dollar AAV. 


Central 


Colorado 

Center, Right Winger Callahan Burke 1 year, 2 way, $.750 Thousand dollar AAV. 


Minnesota 

Right Winger Nick Swaney 1 year, 2 way, $.750 Thousand dollar AAV. 

Right Winger Mitchell Chafee 1 year, 2 way, $.750 Thousand dollar AAV. 


Nashville 

Left Winger, Right Winger John Leonard 1 year, 2 way, $.750 Thousand dollar AAV. 

Center Tomas Novak 1 year, 2 way $.750 Thousand dollar AAV. 


St.Louis 

Left Defensemen Nikko Mikkola 1 year, 1 way, $1.9 Million dollar AAV. 


Winnipeg 

Left Winger, Center Jansen Harkins 2 year, 1 way, $.850 Thousand dollar AAV. 

Right Winger, Left Winger Saku Maenalanen 1 year, 2 way, $.750 Thousand dollar AAV. 


Atlantic 


Boston 

Center, Left Winger Matt Filipe 1 year, 2 way, $.788 Thousand dollar AAV. 

Left Defensemen Jack Ahcan 1 year, 2 way, $.750 Thousand dollar AAV. 


Buffalo 

Left Winger Brett Murray 1 year, 2 way, $.750 Thousand dollar AAV.


Detroit 

Center Chase Pearson 1 year, 2 way, $.918 Thousand dollar AAV. 


Florida 

Center Chris Tierney 1 year, 2 way, $.750 Thousand dollar AAV. 

Left Defensemen Michael Del Zotto 1 year, 2 way, $.750 Thousand dollar AAV. 


Montreal 

Left Winger, Center Rem Pitlick 2 year, 1 way, $1.1 Million dollar AAV. 

Goaltender Sam Montembeault 2 year, 1 way, $1 Million dollar AAV. 


Toronto 

Left Winger, Center Pierre Engvall 1 year, 1 way, $2.25 Million dollar AAV. 


Metro


New Jersey 

Vitek Vanecek 3 year, 1 way, $3.4 Million dollar AAV. 


New York R

Austin Rueschhoff 1 year, 2 way, $.750 Thousand dollar AAV. 


Philadelphia 

Isaac Ratcliffe 1 year, 2 way, $.814 Thousand dollar AAV. 


Washington 

Gabriel Carlsson 1 year, 2 way, $.750 Thousand dollar AAV. 

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