More recent signings and what I see each Atlantic Division team doing before the season starts

Here I give my opinion on all the latest signings and I try to predict how the rest of the offseason will play out for each Atlantic team so they can stay under the cap. 


Here is what moves I think each Atlantic Division team could do before the start of the season to either get under or remain under the Salary Cap. 


Boston 

Cap Space: $4.758 

How does Boston stay under the Cap: for theBruins they have a complecated cap situation with some deals still to sign and needing to clear cap space but also being able to move some players on LTIR. The Bruins according to CapFriendly have $4.76 Million dollars in cap space that is taken by 21 man roster (11F-8D-2G and does not include RFA Zacha or any of the young guys who I think have a legit shot at making the NHL roster such as Studnicka, Beecher or Lysell). So the Bruins have to sign Zacha with the little amount they have plus there is rumours that they are trying to bring back both Bergeron and Krejci to be their top 2 Centers but with Zacha probably getting a 2-3 year deal between $2.5-3.5 Million dollars and Bergeron probably wanting $4 Million on a 1 year deal and Krejci would probably sign for $2-3 Million in my opinion on a 1-2 year deal and if those end up being true you could be looking at signing these three for as much as $10.5 Million dollars and with the Bruins only having a bit over $4.5 they will probably need to make some corresponding moves. Now the Bruins have had bad injury luck this year as Brad Marchand and Charlie McAvoy will miss the first few months of the season next year probably out until December or January and Matt Grzelyck will be out for probably 1-2 months being back most likely in November so if the Bruins put all 3 on LTIR to start the season they would be able to get $19.313 Million extra in Cap space which would be plenty to sign those three players but unlike Washington or Philadelphia where they have a unknown situation with a big contract player like Backstrom and Ellis the Bruins should have all their players back by the start of the new year so on top of this I do still see them making a cost cutting trade at the forward position. Now because of the Injuries the Bruins would only have 6 D-Men with NHL experience to start the year so keeping their defensemen is a must but I do think that they will move a forward and it will probably one of Smith or Foligno. Now I think the Bruins would like to move Foligno who is entering the final year of his contract and for a bottom six forward who is at a $3.8 Million dollar cap hit and barely produced last year he would be the best choice to clear cap space but with the price of moving a bad contract right now I don’t think the Bruins would want to pay that so Smith may be the better choice as he is a bit cheaper at $3.1 million dollars for one more season and is more of a middle six forward where Foligno is a bottom six forward and I think they would probably get a mid round pick in return for Smith but it would be better then having to pay a 2nd or 3rd round pick for someone to take on Foligno’s contract but whoever it is, by trading a forward they are also opening up a roster spot for one of their young players like Beecher or Studnicka. So they should move those players to LTIR to begin the season unfortunately and trade away one of those two forwards and by doing all of those moves they should have enough cap space to sign Zacha, Bergeron and Krejci before the season starts and then will have to worry about moving out cap space in season when the player are healthy. 



Buffalo 

Cap Space: $19.604 

How does Buffalo stay under the Cap: well Buffalo is actually one of the teams that has a amazing amount of cap and I don’t think staying under the cap will be a problem but the more problematic is how do they end up staying above the cap floor. So the Sabres currently have $19.6 Million dollars in cap space right now and that is amongst a 24 man roster (13F-7D-4G but Subban will likely go down to the AHL and if need be Bishop can go on LTIR as he won’t play ever again due to injury). Now the Sabres are going through a youth movement right now and except for a few veterans this team is young and while they will have a few veterans I could see them add one more defensemen because the Sabres have a pretty good offense right now if Peterka and Quinn are able to make the roster right away but they could definitely use another defensemen right now to compete for a 3rd pair spot with Bryson and Samuelsson. Now I think that with 19 Million in cap space and being close to the cap they will probably want to move some pending UFA’s at the deadline but might not  be able to with the cap so acquiring a bad contract from another team like maybe Holl from Toronto or Zaitsev from Ottawa just someone who can add to their cap space so they can trade players at the deadline and someone who could compete with the younger players but who could be sent on waivers by Buffalo. So acquiring a defensemen and utilizing their cap space is really the only thing I see the Sabres doing be because other then that I think the rookies will have the chance to take the spotlight in Buffalo. 


Detroit 

Cap Space: $10.296

How does Detroit stay under the Cap: the Red Wings added a lot of players this year and currently have a logjam so while they actually have quite a bit of cap space I could definitely see a few players moved out. Now according to CapFriendly the Red Wings have about $10.3 Million dollars in cap space given to their 23 man roster (13F-8D-2G but that doesn’t include RFA’s Zadina and Walman who both still need new deals). Now their goaltending is good for now with Nedeljkovic and Husso but they have two many forwards because they have 14 including Zadina on their roster right now but will probably want Berggren and Veleno up as well which would make 16 forwards and while I think they could send Smith down via waivers I do believe that they will trade one. Now the Red Wings have three forward candidates for trades in my opinion and that is Bertuzzi, Zadina and Sundqvist with Sundqvist being the most likely because I do think they could do without a top 9 forward like the underperforming Zadina or Bertuzzi who is a year away from free agency and while I wouldn’t be surprised if the Red Wings trader one of those two I think the more Leila one is Sundqvist because he is a replaceable bottom six forward and he makes a decent amount of money so if they can eat some salary then I think he is the one moved. And they also have too many defensive body’s as they have 9 at the NHL level but that isn’t including Edvinsson who I would think will definitely make the roster this year so while they could put Kampfer on waivers and move Pysyk to LTIR to start the season they would probably need to move at least one more defender and the two ways I could see them going is 1 if they chance it and move Gustav Lindstrom down who i think is a good 3rd pair defensemen but I do have trouble figuring out where he fits in the lineup or move one of Oesterle or Walman as these two at both 3rd pair D-Men and I would think that they could do without at least one of them. So I think the Red Wings will make a few moves before the season starts not to get cap space but to clear up some roster spots so the younger players can have a chance. 


Florida 

Cap Space: -$3.376 

How Does Florida stay under the Cap: Florida is in cap hell right now and even though they were able to make the Matthew Tkachuk trade and move out more money then they brought in they will still need to make another roster move in my opinion to become cap compliant. So the Panthers are currently over the cap right now according to CapFriendly by $3.38 Million dollars and they currently have a 22 man roster (13F-7D-2G and they don’t have to sign any RFA’s right now). Now the Panthers won’t have Anthony Duclair to start the season because of a injury and he probably won’t be back until the new year so that would clear $3 Million off the books for now but they would still be over the cap so the two options they have is, 1) send down one player and use a 21 man roster to start the season with and be very tight against the cap or the second and better option in my opinion is they move one of their high priced players. Now I think the only two players who make sense to be traded from the Panthers standpoint is Brandon Montour who before the Weegar trade I would’ve said is the most likely trade candidate but now that Weegar is gone I think they will most likely keep Montour, or they could trade Hornqvist who is a decent bottom six player and can still produce but at a $5.3 Million dollar cap hit he is definitely a guy the Panthers could live without and if they were to move him for a cheaper defensemen to help their D-Corp I would think they would leap on that. So a cost cutting g move is something I expect the Panthers to do before the season begins so that they would be able to make some call ups to start the year. 


Montreal 

Cap Space: $.248

How does Montreal stay under the Cap: what the Canadiens do before the start of the season should really depend on the status of their goalie going forward. Now the Canadiens according to CapFriendly have about $.250 Thousand dollars in cap space and that is with a 23 man roster right now (14F-6D-3G and that does not include RFA Kirby Dach). Now for the Canadiens their cap situation really depends on the status of Carey Price because if he is able to start the season or play within the first month then I think the Canadiens are in cap trouble because once they sign Dach they will be over the Cap so they would definitely have to make a corresponding move to remain cap compliant but if Price will be out for at least the first month and he won’t be able to return right away then the Canadiens can move him to LTIR and clear up $10.5 Million dollars and that would absolutely be enough to sign Dach but even if they can move Price to LTIR to start the season I think we will still see a move because the Canadiens have at least in my opinion way to many forwards right now. Now the Canadiens have a bit too many forwards and as well as getting cap space to sign Dach they should also move a forward to make space to have a young guy like Pezzetta or Slafkovsky make the roster so I think that one of Hoffman, Dvorak or Armia because I think that Armia and Hoffman have enough upside that the Canadiens could probably get a decent return and clear not only cap space but open up a roster spot for Slafkovsky, while the Canadiens have great Center depth with Dach and now that Dvorak is probably their 3rd line Center making $4.5 Million dollars  he is probably a luxury the Canadiens can’t afford to have so I would definitely expect one of these three players moved and I would probably say that Dvorak is the most likely to go in my opinion. So the Price situation is a big factor as to what the Canadiens do for the rest of the offseason but I still think they move a forward and clear some cap space and a roster spot so they have some more flexibility in that sense. 


Ottawa 

Cap Space: $7.94

How does Ottawa stay under the Cap:  the Sens are still far under the Cap right now and it doesn’t look like they will go over this year but the more important thing in my opinion is how the Sens retool that Blueline with the cap space they have. Now the Senators right now according to CapFriendly have $7.9 Million dollars in cap space and that is with a 20 man roster (12F-6D-2G and that doesn’t include RFA’s Formenton and Brannstrom who both still need new deals). So the Senators are pretty good on the offensive side right now although with their huge amount of cap space and lack of good experienced bottom six forwards the Senators I think could sign a depth forward who could challenge for a spot on the Senators 4th line but that is on the back burner right now because their first and most important priority is making their defence better. Now the Senators were heavily linked to 3 defensemen this offseason and those were free agent defensemen John Klingberg as well as Weegar who was with the Panthers and Chychrun in Arizona but Klingberg has since signed with Anaheim and Weegar was dealt to Calgary so those two are off the table and now a lot of people are saying maybe Chychrun is destined to go to Ottawa and while I think Ottawa should still try and acquire Chychrun I don’t think he is the only defensemen on the Senators radar as I believe they have a few different options but I still think that Chychrun is the best way to upgrade their defence and if they are able to acquire a defensemen then I think they will be glad to pay whatever price a team like Buffalo or Arizona ask to take on Zaitsev because I don’t think they would exactly need to move him for cap reasons but I do think they would need a roster spot so the new defensemen can play and Zaitsev seems to be the odd man out. So I expect the Sens can acquire a top 4 defensemen and move out Zaitsev to make their defence better and maybe sign a depth forward to challenge some of the younger players but other then that and resigning their two RFA’s I think Ottawa is pretty much done for this year. 


Tampa Bay

Cap Space: -$7.195 

How does Tampa Bay stay under the Cap: well the Bolts are the team that is currently the most above the Cap and while there is a simple way to fix their team it will handicap them if they end up getting some short term injuries in season. So the Bolts are currently $7.2 Million over the cap according to CapFriendly and they currently have a 24 man roster (13F-9D-2G and they have signed all of their players so they don’t need to sign anyone else). Now while they are over the cap by $7.2 Million the first simple way to clear cap space is to move Brent Seabrook who has his career ended due to injury and his $6.875 Million dollar cap hit on LTIR as that would give the Lightning almost all the cap space they need for the upcoming season as they would have a 23 man roster and only be over the cap by about $.300 Thousand dollars and at that point I really think that after having to move McDonagh and let go of Palat that the Lightning are done moving out players and if they need about $.300 Thousand dollars in cap space then they chance moving one of their defensemen down to the minors via waivers as I think they could send down one of Foote, Bogosian or Fleury because I think that two of those players will be healthy scratches and in my opinion I would think that Bogosian is the player to be sent to the minors. So if the Bolts move Seabrook to LTIR and send a defensemen via waivers to the minors then they will be cap compliant and I don’t really see much of anything from the Bolts anymore this offseason. 



Toronto 

Cap Space: -$1.493

How does Toronto remain under the Cap: the Maple Leafs still have a significant RFA to sign and I expect them to be busy trying to move money so that they are cap compliant come the start of next year. So the Leafs are currently $1.5 Million dollars above the cap according to CapFriendly and that is with a 22 man roster right now (14F-6D-2G and that doesn’t include RFA Rasmus Sandin who is still needing a new deal from the Maple Leafs before the season starts). So I think that as much as the Maple Leafs want a Sandin deal to be more on the cheap side, I think that if they are to come together on a extension it will have to be a deal with a cap hit of around $2.5 Million dollars and if he ends up getting that then the Leafs would be $4 Million dollars above the cap so there will almost definitely be a trade or two to make the Leafs cap compliant again. So in either scenario I think that the Maple Leafs will have to move both a Forward and a defensemen before the season begins and in both scenarios I see Alex Kerfoot being the forward moved. Kerfoot is coming off a 51 point season which was the best season of his career so while the Leafs don’t really want to move him I think that his $3.5 cap hit for the upcoming year is just too much for the Leafs and after the Jarnkrok signing, as Jarnkrok could fill in the Kerfoot role at a cheaper cap hit as he is a really versatile forward, so if they are able to move his cap hit they would only need to move one other defensemen as well. Now I see one of two defensemen being traded and it depends on Sandin because if Sandin is not happy with the role in Toronto and wants a bigger role then he may want out of Toronto in which case I see the Leafs being forced into moving him for whatever they can get and if that ends up happening then I don’t see them making any other moves as a Sandin and Kerfoot trade would clear enough cap space for them, but the second and more likely scenario in my opinion is that Sandin signs and the defensemen moved is Justin Holl. Holl had a down year last year and fell out of favour with the Maple Leafs but he is only making $2 Million for 1 year and a team who needs D help especially if there is a injury really in training camp could definitely fit Holl into their lineup as he is not expensive and is a very serviceable 3rd pair defensemen and with both Holl and Kerfoot trade they would open up $5.5 Million more in cap space which after the Sandin signing would probably allow them to have $1.5 Million in cap space and that would be enough to have a full roster. So moving either Kerfoot and Sandin or Kerfoot and Holl is in the cards for the Leafs in my opinion and after they get Sandin signed then I think they are pretty much done with moves for this offseason. 


Here is a list of all the NHL signings that have happened between JULY 30th and AUG 2nd. 


Metro


New Jersey 

Right Winger Tyce Thompson and the Carolina Hurricanes have come to terms on a 2 year contract extension that year carry a AAV of $.763 Thousand dollars and the deal is two way. Thompson was injured for most of the season this past year as he only got into 2 NHL games this year and was able to get into 16 AHL games putting up 15 points and while I think he will be a option for the Devils fourth line to start the season, I do think he at least begins the season in the AHL to make sure he is healthy but I do expect him to be a call up option next year for the Devils. 


New York R 

Left Winger C.J Smith and the New York Rangers have agreed on a 1 year contract that will carry a AAV of $.750 Thousand dollars and the deal is two way. Smith has been mostly a AHL player throughout his career but does have 3 points in 15 career NHL games and I expect him to playbin the AHL again next year after he had 58 points in 60 AHL games last year and I think he will be a AHL forward but could also be a call up option for the Rangers next season. 

 

Philadelphia 

Center, Right Winger Zack MacEwen  and the Philadelphia Flyers have avoid arbitration and come to terms on a 1 year contract extension that will carry a AAV of $.925 Thousand dollars and the deal is 1 way. MacEwen was taken off waivers before last season and played really well in a bottom six role for Philadelphia last year putting up 9 points in 75 games and I fully believe that the physical forward will play again next year on the Flyers 4th line and be a real physical force for Philly. 


Atlantic 


Boston

Center Brett Harrison who was a 3RD pick in the 2021 draft of the Boston Bruins signed his 3 year entry level contract with the Bruins and the deal will carry a AAV of $.859 Thousand dollars and the deal is two way. Harrison had a great year in the OHL last season putting up 61 points in 65 games and while I don’t think he is anywhere close to competing for a NHL spot right now I do think that he could be a decent middle six forward for the Bruins in 2-3 years. 


Pacific 


Sergei Belski USA Today Sports

Calgary 


Winger Andrew Mangiapane and the Calgary Flames have come to terms on a 3 year contract extension to avoid arbitration and the AAV is $5.8 Million dollars and the deal is 1 way. Mangiapane had a career year last season putting up 55 points and 35 goals last season playing mostly in the middle six last year but with the loss of Tkachuk and Gaudreau I think Mangiapane will definitely be a top line forward next year and I think that 40 goals next year isn’t out of the question. 


Defender Oliver Kylington and the Calgary Flames have avoided arbitration with a 2 year contract extension that will carry a AAV of $2.5 Million dollars and the deal is 1 way. Kylington found a home last year on the 2nd line with Chris Tanev last year and had a breakout season putting up  9 goals and 31 points in 73 games last year and with the acquisition of Weegar I am not sure Kylington will still be a top 4 D-Men but he will absolutely play on either the 2nd or 3rd pair next year with Calgary. 


Right Winger Martin Pospisil and the Calgary Flames have come to terms on a 1 year contract extension that will carry a AAV of $.750 Thousand dollars and the deal is two way. Pospisil had a great season in the AHL last year as he had 25 points in 47 games last year and while I could see him in the NHL in a few years I think that he will continue to develop in the AHL next year. 


Central 


Chicago 

Center Jalen Luypen who was a 2021 7RD pick of the Chicago Blackhawks and signed his 3 entry level contract with the Blackhawks and the AAV is $.859 Thousand dollars and the deal is two way. Luypen had a good year in the WHL putting up 64 points in 66 games and I think that in a couple of years he could be a decent bottom six forward for Chicago but for the time being I think that he goes back to the WHL and plays another year there.


Winnipeg 

Defender Leon Gawanke and the Winnipeg Jets have come to terms on a 1 year contract extension that will carry a AAV of $.750 Thousand dollars and the deal is two way. Gawanke had a decent season last year in the AHL putting up 36 points in 65 games and I think he goes back to the AHL next year and continues his development there and could definitely be a call up option in my opinion for Winnipeg. 


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