Some signings and a couple Atlantic prospects from ho could make the NHL this year as well as Oilers, Canadiens and RFA trade rumours
Today I give my opinion on some recent signings plus five bubble prospects I could see making their team from the Atlantic and three trade rumours including Formenton, Hague and Sandin players to watch for as they have no contract, Montreal could move a significant player close to the deadline and Edmonton still looking to clear cap space.
Formenton, Hague and Sandin situations must be watched closely with training camp almost here.
With training camp just a mere few days away these three RFA’s will be interesting to watch as I think they could be involved in a trade if they aren’t signed soon. Now I know that Robertson is the big name left that hasn’t been signed yet but there is almost no way the Stars end up trading him so the next best RFA’s are Formenton, Sandin and Hague and I think there is a remote possibility that any one of these players could be dealt. Now in Sandin’s case reports seem to indicate it’s not about money as I think Sandin probably wants a short term 1-2 year deal with a cap hit of between $1.5-2.5 Million dollars and I think that the Leafs would find a way to do that deal (probably by moving Holl) but the concern is Sandin wants a prominent role with this team and Reilly, Muzzin and Giordano are ahead of him on the depth chart on the left side and while he can play his off side on the right he wouldn’t want to so with Sandin not seeing himself having a prominent role this year he and the Leafs haven’t been able to work out a contract and that is why I think that if the Leafs can’t convince him that he does have a prominent role on the team I think Sandin might force a trade and if he can go to a team where they have a spot for him and the Leafs can get a young right side defensemen in return I could see a trade of that sort happening but I think first and foremost the Maple Leafs want to extend him. As for Hague there has been very little dialogue between his camp and the Golden Knights in the offseason and they aren’t really progressing and I think he could get a 2-3 year deal with a cap hit of between $2-3.5 Million dollars and I think the Golden Knights would be open to that but I have no idea right now why there hasn’t been more discussions but I think that after not really changing the blueline they view Hague as a big piece of their puzzle but there were teams earlier in the offseason who were trying to pry Hague out of Vegas so I think if someone could offer a well enough package for Hague and Vegas thinks they are getting good value for him then I could see the Knights wind up moving him but once again the goal should be to get him signed instead of trading him. And finally with Formenton he is projecting to be a top 9 forward and important piece to Ottawa this year but he still hasn’t been signed, now coming off a season where he had 32 points in 79 games I would think he probably wants a $2-4 Million dollar cap hit for the next 1-3 years on his next deal but after Ottawa’s agressive offseason he is probably going to be a 3rd line forward going forward and while they should be able to come together and agree on a contract extension I do wonder if he is maybe the piece they give up to get their defence upgrade as they have been rumoured to be trying to upgrade their defence and moving a guy like Formenton who might want to play somewhere with a more prominent role and if he is the piece needed to upgrade their defence then I think they would do that, but definitely keep and eye on these three RFA’s as I think they could be in the rumour mill the longer they aren’t signed.
Newly named alternate captains in Montreal could be moved before the season ends.
After naming Edmundson and Gallagher alternate captains for this season their were a few reports that these two are back in the rumour mill and they could be out of Montreal now before the season starts but maybe before this season is over. Now for Edmundson he had a down year last year not being as good defensively and only had 6 points in 24 games due to injuries and personal reasons but teams have started to call recently on the Canadiens defensemen asking how they could acquire the veteran defensemen. Now the Canadiens D-Corp doesn’t have many veterans after they moved Petry this offseason and they definitely won’t be subtracting D-Men before the season if anything they will add but around the trade deadline after Edmundson probably has a better season then last year there could be a lot of teams looking for a defensemen like Edmundson and if a offer really blew away the Canadiens then I think at around the deadline they could move and he has the rest of this year and next under contract so a team would be getting Edmundson for a year and a half so if they feel like it they could wind up trading him, and as for Gallagher he has apparently been shopped by the Canadiens and they are still testing the market seeing if they can get someone to take him. Now I don’t think he is upset with not being named captain and should be a great leader for this young team but I think that his $6.5 Million dollar cap hit signed by the previous régime was for him to play a top line role as he had for the past few years but with the Canadiens current regime they probably view him as a middle six forward and that contract will handicap the team and while they could move a forward before the season I think that Gallagher won’t be it as he is coming off one of his worst seasons in his career but if he can turn it around and is able to produce to the level he has in previous years I think they could be interest in Gallagher at the trade deadline so while their two new assistant captains will probably be there for the start of the season, if they have good starts to their years then maybe look for their names to come up in trade rumours later in the year.
Oilers still trying to clear space, Puljujarvi a likely target.
As we have talked about multiple times the Oilers are in a dreadful cap situation and are reportedly still looking to try to clear cap space and there are three names that still continue to surface. Now the Oilers are well over the cap but can become cap compliant if they move Smith and Klefbom who have long term injuries into LTIR but they still don’t have enough room to resign pending RFA McLeod to a new deal or maybe sign players like Demers or Virtanen who are on PTO’s and could earn contracts so moving out money is the most logical solution and the consensus around is that the three most likely candidates are Barrie, Foegele and Puljujarvi. Now while Barrie could move it isn’t likely as the Oilers would have a bit of a depleted lineup if Barrie was taken off their roster so while he is probably the most attractive name of the three he is probably the least likely to move. As for Foegele he is the ont the Oilers probably want to move the most but his $2.75 Million dollars cap hit and this year and next remaining on his deal it doesn’t seem like many teams would be interested and they could probably only get like a 6rd pick for him so while they want to move him it probably doesn’t make sense at this point so that leaves us Puljujarvi as most think is the most likely to get dealt. Now Puljujarvi is signed for 1 year at $3 Million dollars and is a proven middle six forward at least on most teams and given the trade speculation from earlier I am surprised that he didn’t get traded and there wasn’t more interest in him but with the Oilers still listening to offers I think that if a team was to offer a 3rd pick or maybe a second then a deal would surely get done as the Oilers strictly want to save cap space so they probably wouldn’t take a player on and would much rather take a draft pick and although most teams are at the cap I think a handful would find a way to bring in Puljujarvi but watch Edmonton as they are expected to be busy in training camp.
Here are five prospects from the Atlantic I could see making the NHL this year.
Now in the Central I think there are a handful of prospects who are guaranteed to make the NHL this year as Power, Quinn and Peterka in Buffalo, Edvinsson in Detroit, Denisenko in Florida, Slafkovsky and Barron in Montreal, and Pinto and Sanderson in Ottawa who should all make the NHL roster this year and have significant roles but there are five other prospects from the Atlantic 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.
Right Winger Fabian Lysell: Boston Bruins
Lysell was only drafted last year but he seems to be one of the most NHL ready prospects from that draft class and is one of a few young Bruins who should definitely compete for a lineup spot. Lysell was taken in the 1st round (21st overall) in the 2021 entry draft and Lysell ended up making the jump from the SHL where he had played a few years prior to the WHL to play with Vancouver and boy did he shine putting up 22 goals and 62 points in 53 games with the Giants last year and he is showing how dynamic of a forward he can be. Now Lysell with be competeing with guys like Studnicka and Beecher for a playoff spot but he is a winger and that is a position the team could use some help with especially if Smith or Foligno are dealt due to cap reasons and I think that after a year in juniors he seems poised at least in my opinion to probably take a roster spot for the Bruins.
Center, Right Winger Jonatan Berggren: Detroit Red Wings
Berggren is the top signed prospect for the Detroit Red Wings and after a lamp lighting performance in the AHL last season I think it is safe to say he will at least get a NHL opportunity. Berggren was able to turn pro last year after playing over in the SHL where he put up 45 points in 49 games in the 20-21 season but the transition to the pro level didn’t seem hard for him as he produced in the AHL fast and often last year putting up a great 64 points in 70 games last season and really showed that he is a player who seems NHL ready right now. Now Berggren does have a tall task ahead of him as the Red Wings have a very deep forward group right now and their Center depth is especially deep but if he can show in camp that he is a better option then some of the other forwards I think he could carve out a bottom six role in Detroit and prove to be a great addition to the Wings lineup.
Left Defensemen Jordan Harris: Montreal Canadiens
The Canadiens have reshaped their blueline this offseason and it seems like some young players are poised to step into big NHL roles and I think Harris is one of them. Harris had played 4 seasons in the NCAA with Northeastern university after being taken in the 3rd round (71st) in 2018 by Montreal and played well as he was able to average about 20 points per season in his last three seasons there and has developed into a nice defensemen for Montreal and actually got into 10 NHL games last year scoring his first ever NHL goal. Now I think that Harris has competition from young guys like Barron and Guhle to make the roster and the Canadiens could still try to add a defensemen but I think in a 3rd pair role with a veteran partner Harris could thrive this year and I don’t think he plays anywhere else but the NHL for Montreal this year.
Left Winger Ridly Greig: Ottawa Senators
Greig is the big body forward that might be missing from the Sens lineup and it will be interesting to see if he is able to make the roster. Greig was a 2RD pick of the Ottawa Senators all the way back in 2020 has spent the last few years in the WHL with Brandon and has done phenomenal in the last three where he had 60 points in 56 games in 19-20, 32 points in 21 games in 20-21 and 63 points in 39 games last season and showed some real talent in the world juniors last month before he was injured. Now because of that injury he will probably miss most of training camp and maybe the start of the season so it wouldn’t surprise me if he starts in the minors to get back to speed but if he is healthy by the start of the season and looks like he can be a impact player this year I think the Sens should and would probably give him a roster spot and if there is a injury I think that strengthens his case but definitely keep a eye on Greig as he could end up being a good addition for the Senators this year.
Center John Beecher: Boston Bruins
The former first round pick of the Bruins seems poised to compete for a roster spot this year and I wouldn’t be half surprised if he made the NHL this season. Beecher was the 30th overall pick in the 2019 draft and has played in the NCAA the past few years and had a really good season this past year putting up 15 points in 31 games with the University of Michigan and after his season finished he signed his ELC with Boston and played some AHL games last year getting 3 goals and 5 points in 9 games to complete last season. Now I wouldn’t be surprised if the Bruins want him to start in the minors and develop for at least a portion of next year but with Marchand out for at least the first two months I definitely think that Beecher will have a legit shot to maybe Center the 3rd line to start the year and from there prove that he belongs in the NHL right now but definitely keep an eye on Beecher as I think he could wind up sneaking into the Bruins roster.
Here is a list of all the NHL signings that have happened between SEPT 3rd and SEPT 9th.
Metro
Atlantic
Montreal
Goalie Cayden Primeau and the Montreal Canadiens have come to terms on a 3 year contract that will carry a AAV of $.890 Thousand dollars and the deal is 1 way. The goalie of the future is now signed in Montreal as Primeau seems to be the future of this team in net as he was able to get into 12 games last year due to goalie injuries for Montreal and put up a okay 4.62 GAA and a .868 SV% in 12 games but did amazing in the AHL last year having a .909 SV% and a 2.94 GAA in 33 games and although he got a 1 way deal he still doesn’t need waivers so I think having Primeau in the minors to grow for 1 more season is the most likely scenario and then he becomes a full time NHL goalie next year but a great signing by Montrealto lock up possibly their future number 1 goalie.
Ottawa
Defender Erik Brannstrom and the Ottawa Senators have come to terms on a 1 year contract extension that will carry a AAV of $.900 Thousand dollars and the deal is 1 way. Brannstrom started off last year shaky and there were trade rumours surrounding him but he was able to carve out a good role on the 3rd pair last year and put up a career high 14 assists and points in 53 games for Ottawa. Now the Sens are still looking to add to their blueline and get some young players involved but I think that Brannstrom is a good 3rd pair player and should be on that 3rd pair again this year (playing with Holden in my opinion) and should continue to grow playing on that 3rd pair as I think he still hasn’t reached his ceiling in Ottawa and could still be a top 4 defensemen for Ottawa in the near future.
Pacific
San Jose
Winger Evgeny Svechnikov and the San Jose Sharks have agreed to a one year contract that will carry a AAV of $.750 Thousand dollars per year and the contract is 2 way. After a few seasons in Detroit where he was only able to muster 41 games and 12 points, Svechnikov played with the Jets last year and showed how well he can be in a bottom six role after he put up 7 goals and 19 points in 72 games last year. Now with San Jose I wouldn’t be surprised if he was able to carve out a fourth line role but with the Sharks having a deep forward group with prospects like Eklund and Bordeleau both looking to make the team I could also see San Jose risking putting him on waivers and possibly sending him down to the minors but this is a great bottom six signing by the Sharks.
Central
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