Here I give my opinion on all the latest signings and try to predict how the rest of the offseason will play out for each Metro team so they can stay under the cap.
Here is what moves I think each Metro Division team could do before the start of the season to either get under or remain under the Salary Cap.
Carolina
Cap Space: $1.883
How does Carolina stay under the Cap: well I fell that Carolina’s cap situation will all depend on Necas. The Canes according to CapFriendly have $1.88 in cap space for next year but that is with Necas still being a RFA and them having a 21 man roster (11F-8D-2G not including Necas).Now I think that depending on what they decide with Necas will ultimately decide how big their roster size is, now I think they have a few options with Necas and that is 1 sign him as I think they could sign him to a 1-2 year deal that lets him prove he is a good top 9 forward, and I think if they can get him signed for around $1.25 Million they could have a 23 man roster without any other moves, they could sign him for $1.75 Million and have a 22 man roster, or have a 21 man roster and be able to sign him to a $2.5 Million dollar deal now depending on what they can agree on I would say that if they can convince him to sign around $1.75 Million that would be the best but they would be really tight against the cap. So another option would be to trade him as he has been mentioned in trade discussions this offseason and I do think if they are to far off in money they could trade him to clear some cap space and maybe get a forward whose cheaper in return or give a guy like Dzingel or Gunler a chance to be a bottom six forward with Carolina. Now another way they could make cap space is if they move Ethan Bear because even though he signed recently I think he would still welcome a trade out of Carolina and I think if they moved him they could give a 3rd pair spot to Coghlan who I think could be a great 3RD pair defensemen but they are probably looking for a cheaper defensemen or a 2nd or 3rd pick in return and I am not sure they would get that but I do still think that a Bear move could be on the table. So I definitely expect a move from the Canes depending on what size roster they are comfortable carrying and what they decide to do with Bear and especially Necas before the season starts.
Columbus
Cap Space: -$.958
How does Columbus stay under the Cap: now I think there is a simple solution for the Blue Jackets and that is that they don’t make any trades. Now the Blue Jackets are currently over the cap for next year by nearly a Million dollars but according to CapFriendly they are also carrying right now a 27 man roster (16F-8A-3G not including unsigned RFA Emil Bemstrom) and all teams must be between a 20 and 23 man roster by the beginning of the season so there is a simple fix that won’t need Columbus to trade anyone and that is that they sign Bemstrom and personally I think he gets between $.900 Thousand and a Million dollars on his new deal and then with that the move down goalie Tarasov who is waivers exempt, Defensemen Bayreuther, as well as forwards Meyer, Olivier and Gaunce and with those five sent to the minors and Bemstrom signed they would have around $2-2.25 Million dollars in Cap space as I think that looking at their 23 man roster (14F-7D-2G) that they would probably not do anything else and except for maybe sending a few players on waivers I don’t expect much from Columbus anymore.
New Jersey
Cap Space: $8.723
How does New Jersey stay under the Cap: well it really has to do with what they sign their 2 big RFA’s for. New Jersey currently has a lot of cap space with CapFriendly saying they have $8.72 Million in cap space right now with a 21 man roster (11F-7D-3G not including RFA’s Bratt and Wood as well as Holtz who I think will make the roster this year). Now I think the RFA’s will dictate what they do because first of all Bratt is a top 6 forward who is scheduled for Arbitration in 2 days for the Devils and the Arbitration numbers are $4.15 for the Devils and $6.5 for Bratt and I would think the deal comes in at around $5.5-6 Million for Bratt, and the Devils also have a arbitration case with Miles Wood who I think will probably get between $1.5-3 Million on his next contract probably closer to the $2 Million range, so if Bratt gets $5.5 and Wood gets $2 Million that only leaves Jersey with $1.2 Million in cap space and they haven’t even called up Holtz yet. So I think the Devils have at least one move if not two in them and the first is actually a really good way to create cap space and I am surprised that he isn’t being talked about more and that is Jonathan Bernier. Bernier is entering the Final Year of his deal at $4.1 Million and as long as he is healthy he could definitely be a viable backup option for a few teams and with the acquisition of Vanecek they don’t need him anymore so if they can get a draft pick or prospect in exchange for Bernier then I think they should definitely do this and I would expect Bernier to be one moved in Jersey. And the other scenario is that I get the feeling that the Devils still want to add another good forward but with the little cap space they have if they were to trade for say a Tarasenko or Miller then I think it would have to be money in money out and I would expect that they would be willing to move Johnsson 1 year $3.4, Tatar 1 year $4.5, or Severson 1 year $4.12 because they could do without Severson given they have Nemec and Mukhamadulin waiting in the wings or they need the roster spot in the forward group and with Johnsson and Tatar most likely bottom six forwards this year they could be willing to part with one of them. So it definitely depends on their RFA’s but I do expect them to at least explore upgrading their forward group and try to move Bernier before the season starts.
New York I
Cap Space: $11.185
How do the Islanders stay under the Cap: well it is basically the same as the Devils and it really hinges on the RFA’s. Now they according to CapFriendly have $11.19 in cap space which is the most out of any team in the Metro but that is only with a 19 man roster (13F-4D-2G and does not include RFA’s Bellows, Romanov or Dobson). So in my opinion I think Dobson will get a 5-6 year deal at somewhere between $5-6 Million per year and Romanov will get a 2-3 year deal that is around $3.5-4.5 Million per year and while I am just guessing I think that is fair value and I personally would not be surprised if the two defensemen together come in at a cap hit of around $10 Million and after signing Bellows who I think won’t get over a million on his next deal but will get something over league minimum then all of their cap space will basically be gone. Now after the defensemen signings I think they are good on the blue line and with goaltending but I for one think they will try to upgrade their forward group but with now money it will be very difficult. Now I think they could sign Kadri like a lot of people are saying or trade for Tarasenko or Miller and I think they would be able to pull of any three of those moves but just like New Jersey it would have to be money in money out as the only way I see them upgrading their forward group is if they move Beauvillier or Bailey in either that trade or a Corresponding move as the Islanders do like those players but they are not great like the other three so I Definitely see 1 or 2 trades for the Islanders. So I think it does depend on what Romanov and Dobson get but I think that the Islanders will try to make a few trades and maybe free agent signings to improve their forward group before the season and try to stay under the cap.
New York R
Cap Space: $1.009
How do the Rangers stay under the Cap: well for the Rangers I think they are almost done with the offseason and it shouldn’t take to long to get the roster done. Now the Rangers according to CapFriendly currently have just over $1 Million dollars in cap that is tied up in 22 players (13F-7A-2G). Now I don’t think they will make any significant moves at all for the rest of the offseason because they don’t really need to and the only few things I see them doing is, 1 is adding Kravtsov to the NHL list as he deserves to be a top 9 NHL forward and he isn’t at the NHL level so call him up and that leaves them with $.150 Thousand dollars in cap space and following that I think they are a bit weak with their defence after they moved Nemeth to get cap space so I think if they can bring in a veteran left side defensemen who would be willing to sign around league minimum and be able to play with Braden Schneider then I think they would do that and keep Jones and Lundkvist in the minors this year to keep developing. So besides bringing up Kravtsov and signing a depth defensemen to play on the 3rd pair with Schneider then I think they are all good for next year and this is basically the roster they go in with next year that will be under the Cap.
Philadelphia
Cap Space: -$1.598
How does Philadelphia stay under the Cap: well the Flyers I think won’t do too much and that has to do with some unfortunate injuries that their players sustained. So the Flyers according to CapFriendly are $1.6 over the Cap right now and currently carry a 24 man roster (13F-9D-2G and does not Include RFA’s MacEwen or Allison who i think would both make the Roster. So MacEwen has a arbitration hearing coming up and I expect him to get between $1-2.5 Million on his cap hit but I would predict it be around $1.5 Million and I think Allison probably gets around $.900 Thousand dollars on his new deal so if those two contracts prove true then the cap would go to around -$3 Million in cap with a 26 man roster. Now with the Flyers not having enough cap space and being $3 Million over the Cap one would think that they would have to make a cost cutting move or try and bury players in the minors when really in the short term before the season starts all they need to do is put a few players who unfortunately got injuries on LTIR. Now Farabee suffered a injury that will keep him out probably until November maybe even December, Brink is out probably until the new year, and Ellis has a injury that kept him out of most of last year and it has lingered into this year and he might miss the first few months or he could even be out the entire season we don’t really know about Ellis yet. So if these three players start on LTIR then that would give them a extra $12.175 Million in cap space to start the year and until Ellis gets back to the Flyers roster they won’t need to make any moves cause Ellis Cap alone gives them enough wiggle room. So moving Ellis, Brink and Farabee to LTIR to begin the year will give the Flyers enough cap space until or if Ellis will be ready to play at some point this year so it is a short term fix and I don’t expect any more moves from the Flyers this offseason.
Pittsburgh
Cap Space: -$1.48
How does Pittsburgh stay under the Cap: I think we haven’t seen the end of the Penguins offseason just yet and I think they have one more move in them to get under the Cap. Now the Penguins according to CapFriendly are above the cap by $1.48 Million and currently hold a 24 man roster (14F-8D-2G and don’t have anyone they need to resign). So the Penguins are currently one roster spot over the 23 man roster limit and I think moving down one defensemen will get the Cap down to only $.700 Thousand above the cap and their roster set, now they could go the simple way and just play a 22 man Roster and be slightly under the cap but I think that the more likely option is trade. The Penguins currently have 8 NHL defensemen not including Pierre Olivier Joseph who seems ready for a NHL role at the NHL level so they could do without a forward and the only two candidates I see are Pettersson and Dumoulin. Pettersson is young and slightly cheaper but has two more years whereas Dumoulin is entering the final year of his deal and has more experience, but I think if they were able to trade one of these guys to a team looking for a defensemen then they can have whoever stays play with Letang, have Smith play with Petry and then they would be able to give a 3rd pair spot to Joesph who I think deserves a regular NHL role and with these moves they would have about $2 Million dollars in cap space due to these moves and would be back to being cap compliant. So i do expect a trade of one of Petersson or Dumoulin within the next few month to clear the necessary cap space to be cap compliant and give Pierre Olivier Joseph a regular spot but other then that I don’t really see Pittsburgh making any other moves this offseason.
Washington
Cap Space: -$6.322
How does Washington remain under the Cap: the Capitals are the team in the Metro most over the cap and I think that similar to Philly the Capitals way of clearing cap space is to put some players who are unfortunately dealing with major injuries on LTIR. Washington according to CapFriendly is $6.3 above the Cap right now and that is with having a 25 man roster (16F-7D-2G and they don’t need to sign any RFA’s). Now one would think they would need to move out Cap but in reality they don’t as I think that they first will bury Hagelin in the minors as he has become expandable and I they can’t find a trade for him I for one wouldn’t be shocked if he starts the year in the minors. Now instead of having to move $5 Million in cap they can fix this problem in the short term by placing Tom Wilson who had surgery and will be out until probably December, Alexeyev who won’t be back until probably the new year, and Backstrom who had hip surgery and will be out until at least the new year and possibly not this season at all so if Washington moves all of them into LTIR they would be able to get $15.23 Million in cap space, so by moving these three player the Capitals at least for the first few months will have about $9 Million in Cap Space and they wouldn’t need to trade anyone until Backstrom is back if he even comes back this year. So moving those three to LTIR will allow them to keep a full roster and I can’t really see the Capitals make any other moves this offseason as I think they currently have all the players who will start on the roster next year.
Here is a list of all the NHL signings that have happened between JULY 21st and JULY 27th.
Metro
Carolina
Right Defensemen Ethan Bear and the Carolina Hurricanes have come to terms on a 1 year contract extension that will carry a AAV of $2.25 Million dollars and the deal is 1 way. Bear didn’t have a good season last year as he only had 5 goals and 14 points in 58 games last year and was never really able to establish himself as a top 4 defensemen in Carolina and there was a lot of trade speculation and I still wouldn’t rule out a trade but after signing the deal I think he will be a good 3rd pair defensemen for Carolina this year.
New York R
Right Winger Kaapo Kakko and the Nee York Rangers have come to terms on a 2 year contract extension that will carry a AAV of $2.1 Million dollars and the deal is 1 way. Kakko hasn’t been able to establish himself as a solid top six forward yet but I think he is one the verge of a breakout season after he had a mere 18 points in 43 games last year but I think he will be able to have consistent 2nd line minutes with Panarin next year and I think he will definitely prove he is a legit top 6 forward in the NHL.
Philadelphia
Right Winger Owen Tippett and the Philadelphia Flyers have come to terms on a 2 year contract extension that will carry a AAV of $1.5 Million dollars and the deal is 1 way. Tippett hasn’t been able to remain in a top 9 role in the NHL so far after he had 21 points in 6e games with the Panthers and Flyers who acquired him at the deadline combined, but I really like this deal and because of injuries he should get a chance in the Flyers top six and it would not surprise me if he finally hit 20 points next year.
Atlantic
Ottawa
Forward Mathieu Joseph and the Ottawa Senators avoid arbitration and come to terms on a 4 year contract extension that will carrry a AAV of $2.95 Million dollars and the deal is 1 way. Joseph cam over at the deadline from Tampa where he had 18 points in 58 games and then went to Ottawa and played amazingly putting up 12 points in only 11 games and while the Senators have added depth to their lineup and he will be a 3rd line forward most likely, I do see him being a very productive and important bottom six forward for Ottawa next year and in years to come.
Pacific
Anaheim
Right Defensemen John Klingberg and the Anaheim Ducks have agreed to a 1 year contract that will carry a AAV of $7 Million dollars and the deal is a 1 way one. So after Klingberg hit his highest mark in points since the 2017-18 season getting 6 goals and 47 points in 74 games last year he thought he would be able to get a long term deal with a new team around $8 Million dollars as the top defensemen on the market but never was able to get that type of value so he signs with one of the few teams who can give him the money he wants in Anaheim and will try free agency again next year, but for this year I expect him to be a top 4 defensemen probably on the 2nd pair behind Drysdale and not only will he be a leader for the young Ducks but should also be a major point producer for Anaheim next year.
Center Nathan Gaucher who was a 1RD pick of Anaheim in the 2022 draft and the Anaheim Ducks have come to terms on a 3 year entry level contract that has a AAV of $.950 Thousand dollars and the deal is two way. I would expect that Gaucher will go back to the QMJHL next year and maybe the year after to develop his game some more but after he finishes developing I would think that he will play probably in the middle six at Center for the Ducks for years to come.
Vegas
Right Defensemen Brayden Pachal and the Vegas Golden Knights 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. Pachal got into his first two games of NHL action last year putting up no points and had 11 points in 65 AHL games but with the Golden Knights having a deep defence and a lot of better prospects in their system I would expect Pachal to play in the AHL next year and maybe be a call up option for Vegas if he plays well enough.
Central
Dallas
Left Defensemen Benjamin Gleason and the Dallas Stars 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. Gleason is coming off a career year in the AHL as he put up 44 points in 70 games with Texas in the AHL and I don’t think he will play at the NHL next year but I could see him being a call up option for the Stars if they run into injury problems next year.
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