Signings update, five prospects I could see making metro teams and rumours from Dallas, Vancouver and Winnipeg

Today I give my opinion on some recent signings plus five bubble prospects I could see making their team from the Metro and three trade rumours including Stats to clear cap, Canucks and Horvat not close on a extension and Wheeler to be moved before the trade deadline. 

 

Sergei Belski USA today Sports 

The Stars may have to move one of Khudobin or Faksa if they are to sign Robertson.

As we get father into training camp it becomes more and more important for the Stars to get a deal done with Robertson as Dallas has a really dynamic top line of Robertson-Hintz-Pavelski and if Robertson misses much time then the Stars offence will surely feel it but the Stars may have to move someone to make that happen. Now after a few signings of young players especially Kyrou seems to have a effect on the contract talks between Dallas and Robertson as it seems like like a bridge deal will probably be at least between $7.5-8.5 Million as that is a expensive deal and if he wants to go long term it isn’t out of the question that he is looking for around $10 Million so that will take a lot of cap space from the Stars as they only have $6.34 Million in cap space right now so moving one of Faksa or Khudobin makes sense. For Khudobin he is still working back from surgery he had last season but has lost his spot on the team as the Stars now have a tandem at the NHL level of Wedgewood and Oettinger and right now it would seem like Khudobin is destined for the minors anyway and is entering the final year of his contract at a cap hit of $3.33 Million so if they were to move him to a team who has backup issues like Washington, Philadelphia or Arizona it would help Khudobin prove he can stay at the NHL level as well as get Dallas the Space to try and sign Robertson to a deal that he seems he is worth, but if no one wants Khudobin because of his injury and they don’t know how well Khudobin will do then the other option is probably moving Faksa. Faksa has a similar cap hit to Khudobin as he has 3 years left on his deal at $3.25 Million dollars and while he has had a few good years in Dallas I think he would only be a 4th line Center in Dallas while he could be a 3rd line Center in another organization so I think they could move him for maybe a pick and that is how they get the cap space that they need to resign Robertson but expect the Stars to make a move to get some money out if they are bridge the gap and resign Robertson hopefully before they start the season.

Horvat negotiations not going well with Vancouver. 

Apparently the Canucks and Horvat are nowhere close to a contract extension right now and in fact the Canucks are actually throwing some pretty low balls according to multiple sources. The Vancouver Canucks were able to sign one of their big pending UFA’s in J.T Miller and were able to get it done rather quickly so lots can change in a short period of time but most thought a Horvat extension would’ve happened before a Miller extension and now that Miller has been extended and there is little cap space moving forward next year the question is how do they fit Horvat into their plans. Horvat is a good 2nd line Center for Vancouver and has been a steady producer over the years and is also their current Captain so the Canucks would love to keep him and the Canucks drafted him too so keeping him should be a must but apparently the Canucks are asking $5 Million while Horvat is probably looking at the $7-7.5 Million dollar deal. Not I think that $5 Million is way to low to get a deal done with Horvat while I think that if Horvat should go to the open market he could get between $7-8 Million from another team so I would say that that if the Canucks really wanted Horvat then they would have to come up and probably make a extension at around $7 Million to get him under contract and if they don’t do that and he is still not signed in season then we could have trade rumours circulating as Horvat is a good player and the Canucks probably don’t want him to walk away for nothing so it could eventually come to the point where the Canucks are hard pressed to move him but I think he will end up Re-signing and will be a good contributor to the Canucks but the Canucks have got to be willing to go higher the $5 Million. 

Perry Nelson USA today Sports 

Wheeler was stripped of captaincy a few weeks ago and may be on his way out.

Blake Wheeler two weeks ago was stripped of his captaincy with the Jets which he has healed for a few years now and I think this is another indication that Wheeler’s time with the Jets organization is coming to a close. Now Wheeler was actually one of the only Jets members still with the team who played in Atlanta before they relocated and has been a very prod player in the Jets locker room for a while now as he put up at least 40 points in every season in Winnipeg and even had two 90 point seasons as well but with the Jets trying to become a bit younger and some thinking there is locker room issues it seems as though Wheeler’s days in Winnipeg are limited as the Jets we’re trying to find a deal in the offseason but couldn’t unload Wheeler’s $8.25 Million dollar cap hit which has two years left and while I do think he will at least start the season with the Jets if they end up with a bad start and are not able to get some wins early then I think they will start to make a few moves and it could be started with Wheeler being moved as the Jets could retain some salary or take on a contract in return to ease the acquiring teams cap problems but a Wheeler move might not be bad as I think that this Jets team is due for a shake up and a rebuild may not be far off so watch the Wheeler situation as I think that it could be something to keep and eye on. 

Here are five prospects from the Metro I could see making the NHL this year.

Now in the Metro I think there are a handful of prospects who are guaranteed to make the NHL this year as Johnson in Columbus, Holtz in New Jersey, Salo in New York I, Kravtsov in New York R, Brink in Philadelphia, and Lapierre in Washington who should all make the NHL roster this year and have significant roles but there are five other prospects from the Metro  who I could see making the roster if they prove they are ready in training camp or if they are bubble players to make the roster and injuries happen (and there are usually injuries in training camp) that could let them be on the roster, but here are the five I think could make the Roster. 

New York Islanders Twitter

Right Winger William Dufour: New York Islanders 

After a brilliant year in juniors I think Dufour has enough going for him after the good year and a weak Islanders forward group could help Dufour into making the NHL roster this year for the Islanders. Dufour who was a 5RD pick in the 2020 draft by the Islanders has played the last few years in the QMJHL and after being over a point per game in the shortened season he cam out last year and lit the lamp putting up 56 goals and 116 points in 66 games and showed in the World Juinors that he is a great scoring threat and has all the abilities to be a lethal top 9 forward. Now I think that with his high scoring upside and a need for scoring wingers that even if there aren’t any injuries he could get a spot in the middle six (more likely the 3rd line) and be a great producer for a Islanders offence that doesn’t look to good right now so while maybe not expect it, I wouldn’t be shocked at all if Dufour is able to wiggle his way into a full time roster spot this year. 

Winger Noel Gunler: Carolina 

Gunler who was a high pick back in 2020 seems to me like he is poised to get at least some NHL time this year and I wouldn’t be shocked if he made the team out of camp. Gunler was a 2RD pick (41st overall) in the 2020 NHL draft and was a great pick by the Hurricanes. Now Gunler has spent the past few seasons in the SHL and looked really good but looked exceptional good last year where he had his best SHL season putting up 23 points in 53 games and then went to the AHL where he had 5 points in 11 games and didn’t look out of place. Now I think a full year in the Minors could be beneficial to a guy like Gunler but with his abilities I think he could make the roster this year maybe as a 3rd or 4th line player but if there was a injury that would strengthen his case even more but be in the lookout to see if Gunler makes the canes roster.

Right Defensemen Nick Blankenburg: Columbus Blue Jackets 

After being a undrafted defensemen and signing with Columbus last year the young defensemen will look to make the team out of camp. Now Blankenburg was a undrafted college prospect that signed with the Columbus Blue Jackets last year. Now Blankenburg was coming off a few years with the University of Michigan where he had a season high of 16 points before last year when he had 29 points in 38 games and was able to draw interest from the Blue Jackets who ended up signing him and he got into 7 NHL games putting up 3 points before the season ended. Now I think it will be between him and Peeke to get a top 4 right side spot this year at the NHL level and if he impresses enough in camp or there is a injury then I think that he makes the NHL even though a year in the minors wouldn’t be bad for him, but definitely look out for Blankenburg to see if he can make the team. 

Center, Left Winger Samuel Poulin: Pittsburgh Penguins

The former first round forward had a great year in his first pro year last year in the minors and I think he could definitely challenge for a roster spot this year. Poulin was a 1RD pick (21st overall) in the 2019 NHL draft and played a few seasons over in the QMJHL after he was drafted and had 76 points in 67 games in 18-19, 77 points in 46 games in 19-20, and 31 points in 24 games in the 20-21 season before he turned pro where he had a good 16 goals and 37 points in 72 games played in the AHL last year. Now I think he could play in the AHL again and continue to grow as a player but if he can show he is NHL ready right now or there is a injury then I think Poulin could easily make the Pens roster so keep an eye out to see if Poulin can make the roster.

Right Winger Kirill Marchenko: Columbus Blue Jackets 

After a few years in Russia Marchenko looks ready to turn pro and I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised if he was able to come in and take a opening night roster spot for the Blue Jackets. Marchenko was a 2RD pick (48th overall) in the 2018 draft and has played the last few seasons over in the KHL but has done exceptionally well in the last 3 seasons putting up 16 points in 31 games in 19-20, 28 points in 41 games in 20-21 and 20 points in 39 games last year but now that he has signed his ELC he will turn pro and play in either the AHL or NHL this year. Now I don’t think a year in the AHL would do him much harm and the Blue Jackets do have a deep forward group but if there is a injury and he can show he is ready right now tor the NHL then I think Marchenko could carve out a roster spot this year in the bottom six so watch out and see if Marchenko is able to make the cut for the Blue Jackets.

Here is a list of all the NHL signings that have happened between SEPT 15th and SEPT 20th. 

Metro

New York I 

Left Defensemen Parker Wotherspoon and the New York Islanders have come to terms on a 1 year contract that will carry a AAV of $.750 Thousand dollars and the deal is two way. Wotherspoon has been a AHL player for a few years now as he has put up over 20 points in 3 of his last 4 seasons (the only time he didn’t was when the AHL had lots of COVID issues), but with the Islanders defence a bit deeper this year I think that he will probably play again in the AHL but he could be a call up option if the Islanders end up running into injuries in the season. 

Right Winger Nikita Soshnikov and the New York Islanders have agreed to a 1 year contract extension that will carry a AAV of $.750 Thousand dollars and the deal is 1 way. Soshnikov has NHL experience as he did play from 15-16 to 18-19 and played 87 games getting 8 goals and 16 points with the Maple Leafs and the Blues and after playing 3 years over in Russia is going to try to make a NHL comeback and while I do think he could get a bottom six roster spot and help the Islanders a bit more offensively I do think he could also go through waivers and be sent down to the minors and if I had to guess I would think that he probably goes to the minors but either way it is another body who could help the Islanders produce offensively. 

Goaltender Cory Schneider and the New York Islanders have agreed to a 1 year contract that will carry a AAV of $.750 Thousand dollars and the deal is two way. Schneider is probably going to be the 3rd string goalie again for the Islanders as he has been the past few seasons as they Islanders have a good duo in new but he provides insurance in case there is a injury as he had a really good AHL year last year and is a really good goalie to have invade of injury so I expect that he goes down to the minors and plays in the AHL until a injury happens where he can be backup. 

Atlantic 

Florida

Center Patrick Giles who was a undrafted free agent has signed a 2 year entry level contract with the Panthers that will carry a AAV of $.813 Thousand dollars and the deal is two way. Giles played the last few years in Boston College where he had some productive seasons but had a great year last season where he put up 22 points in 37 games and that got him a AHL contract where had a assist in 10 games but showed enough to now get a NHL contract, and while he should play in the AHL for a few seasons I could see him being a bottom six Center for Florida at some point. 

Pacific 

Los Angeles 

Right Defensemen Sean Durzi and the Los Angeles Kings have come to terms on a 2 year contract that will carry a AAV of $1.7 Million dollars and the deal is 1 way. After a few good seasons in the AHL Durzi got a NHL look last year due to injuries and ran with one of the roster spots as he had 3 goals and 27 points in 64 games at the NHL level last year and even with a healthy roster now where Walker, Roy and Doughty are all healthy right side defensemen I think that Durzi should get a regular role this year on the right side of the 3rd pair and after a impressive rookie year where he had 27 points in a full year with a full time roster spot I wouldn’t be surprised if he got 30-40 points this year. 

Central 

Arizona 

Center, Left Winger Barrett Hayton and the Arizona Coyotes have come to terms on a 2 year contract that will carry a AAV of $1.78 Million dollars and the deal is 1 way. Hayton has not lived up to his draft potential as a 5th round pick yet but he did have the best year of his career last year as with the weaker team he played a more prominent role and put up 10 goals and 24 points in 60 games and I think that with another bad team this year Hayton should get significant time in the top six probably as their 2nd line Center and should improve off of his career year.