Some signings, five prospects who could make the Central division teams, plus trade rumours for Boston,Pittsburgh and Dallas
Today I give my opinion on some recent signings plus five bubble prospects I could see making their team from the Central and three trade rumours including the Stars looking for a right Defensemen, Reilly and Smith being possible cap dumps for Boston and Pittsburgh May move another defensemen before the season starts.
The Stars still want a top 4 right defensemen.
Apparently following the offseason moves they have made the Stars are still not satisfied with their current makeup of their right side on the defence and are still looking to add at the position. Now the Stars weren’t able to bring back top 4 right side defensemen John Klingberg this offseason and lost him to Anaheim via free agency and then went out and signed Colin Miller to a 2 year deal to be his replacement and there right side seems to be made up of Heiskanen, Miller and Hakanpää but even after the Miller addition that right side looks much weaker so it makes sense that they would still want to upgrade as Miller and Hakanpää are both more 3rd pair defensemen right now then top 4 players. So the first hurtle is their cap space as they do have over $7 Million dollars in cap space but most or all of that will be going to signing Robertson to a new deal so even though they might have interest in a top player available like Chychrun it would be extremely difficult to make a move like that which is why I think they would acquire a player on a contract under $1.5 Million dollars and have a money in money out situation and that is why I wouldn’t be surprised if they had interest in a prospect who could have top 4 potential like maybe Nils Lundkvist who I could see the stars having major interest in and they could trade one of Hakanpää, Miller, Butcher or Hanley to make a trade happen but with the Stars having playoff aspirations this year and needing a more complete backend keep and eye on them trying to add a defensemen sometime between now and the start of the season.
The Bruins could move one of Craig Smith or Mike Reilly once Marchand and McAvoy are healthy again.
The Bruins have a few injuries going into the season with Grzelyck,McAvoy and Marchand all being out at least the first month but while they can place those contracts on LTIR right now and be cap compliant, when those three are all healthy again they will need to make a move to clear up their cap space to remain cap compliant and when that happens watch out for Mike Reilly or Craig Smith to be the one dealt. Now for Reilly he is probably the seventh or eighth defensemen on this team and if the team was healthy might have been moved already but with Grzelyck and McAvoy injured he may be forced to play a top 4 role with Boston this year and he can improve his value so that when the others get back he could be moved to clear cap. He has 2 years left at a 3 Million dollar cap hit and is coming off a year where he had 17 points in 70 games and although he has only broke 20 points once in his career he can still be a very serviceable 3rd pair defensemen and if the Bruins are able to get some value for him when the injured defensemen are healthy I would expect a few teams to show interest in him. And if they want or need another way to clear cap space moving Craig Smith would be another option for the Bruins. Smith is entering the final year of his contract and is making $3.1 Million dollars and he has played a majority of his time in Boston in the middle six and while he has had really good regular seasons in his two seasons with Boston putting up at least 30 points in each season, towards the end of last year and the playoffs he didn’t look too well so a new place might help Craig Smith and with Smith now being more of a bottom six forward I think that if a little bit of salary was retained that a team would be willing to take on Smith’s contract to be a good bottom six player and I could see a Smith trade happening even before the season starts but with the Bruins most likely going to have to make a cost cutting move in season it seems really likely that Reilly or Smith does end up being the one to go.
Penguins considering trading yet another defensemen.
After a busy offseason reshaping their Blueline by moving Marino to New Jersey for Ty Smith, Mike Matheson to Montreal for Jeff Petry and signing Rutta in free agency but they have a crowded blueline, want to clear some cap space and give Pierre Oliver Joseph a chance to make the roster so moving a defender makes sense and it sounds like they are open to moving Dumoulin or Pettersson. Both are left side defensemen and can play top 4 minutes, Dumoulin has 1 year left while Pettersson has 3 years left, Pettersson is 26 years old and Dumoulin is 31 years old, and both are making just over $4 Million dollars. Dumoulin is the more likely to be dealt I would say as he is a experienced top 4 defensemen and only has one year left and if the Penguins could retain a bit of his cap hit I think there would be a few teams at least who would have interest in acquiring the vet and with his top 4 ability would make a great partner for a young player on like a 2nd pair, and while Pettersson’s 3 year term might scare some teams he is also a good young defender who could play both sides if necessary and in the right system could be a 2nd pair defensemen and if the Penguins retain some salary then I think he would have interest and moving at least one of these guys could get Joseph a spot on the 3rd pair for next year but this is a situation to keep a eye on entering training camp as it will be interesting to see if the Penguins do end up trading a defensemen.
Here are five prospects from the Central 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 Maccelli, Smith, McBain and Soderstrom in Arizona, Reichel in Chicago, Rossi and Addison in Minnesota, Neighbours and Perunovich in St.Louis and Perfetti and Heinola in Winnipeg who should all make the NHL roster this year and have significant roles but there are five other prospects from the Central 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.
Left Winger Dylan Guenther: Arizona
The Coyotes former first round pick (9th overall) had a fantastic year in the WHL last season and I think is poised for a NHL opportunity. Guenther was picked with the 9th overall pick in 2021 and had a monster year for the Oil Kings in 2021 putting up 45 goals and 91 points in 56 games played and should definitely have a possibility to turn pro this year. Now the Coyotes have a lot of eookie forwards challenging for a playoff spot this year with McBain, Smith and Maccelli all having a great chance of playing in the NHL so I think they could want another year of development for Gauthier but I think that after training camp and a solid performance the Coyotes will have no chip ice but to play him on the 2nd or 3rd line but he is definitely a rookie that I think is good enough to make Arizona’s roster this season.
Luke Durda OHL Images
Center Wyatt Johnston: Dallas
The Stars could find a spot for the young Center in the lineup this season after having a strong junior season. Johnston who was a Stars 1RD pick (23rd overall) in the 2021 draft is regarded as a very high prospect and a top 3 prospect for Dallas after he had 46 goals and 124 points in the WHL last year and after the breakout year I think he stands a good chance of turning pro this year. Now Johnston is not guaranteed a spot this year cause he is a Center and guys like Benn, Seguin, Hintz and Faksa can all play Center so it would be difficult but not impossible and especially if one of them got injured I think Johnston could fill in at the 3rd line Center spot and run with it but I think Johnston stands a very good chance at making the roster for Dallas this year.
Center Chaz Lucius: Winnipeg
Now the young Jets Center surprised a lot of people last year by signing his ELC after just one year of college but now that he has signed it makes some sense he might get a shot in the NHL this year. Lucius was the 19th overall pick in the 2021 draft by the Winnipeg Jets and had a good year in the University of Minnesota putting up 19 points in 24 games and after he played in college last year he signed his ELC with the Jets and it now seems like he will turn pro this year. Now some may say that having a year in the AHL would be best for him as he could use a year of development but I think with the Jets lacking forward group that he could make the roster and if they run into injury trouble then maybe he would be needed even more but they are pretty deep at the Center position with Scheifele, Pierre Luc Dubois and Lowry but I think just like with Perfetti they could play him at the wing and get him some valuable experience at the NHL this year and I think he should definitely get a chance to play this year on the third line.
Left D-Man Alex Vlasic: Chicago
Vlasic is one of a handful of Blackhawks defensemen prospects that are looking to solidify a permanent NHL role but I think Vlasic is the most likely to make the roster. Vlasic played most of last year in the NCAA with Boston University putting up 8 points in 32 games and after his season was done he signed his ELC with Chicago on a 3 year deal at a cap hit of $.918 Thousand dollars and was able to get into 15 NHL games putting up 2 points and it was definitely a good learning experience for him. Now the former 2019 2RD pick will have lots of competition from guys like Ian Mitchell, Alec Regula, Isac Phillips and Nicolas Beaudin but I think that Vlasic should be able to show enough in training camp to make it hard for the Blackhawks to send him down to the AHL and if he can prove enough he can play on the 3rd pair on the blueline and With the Hawks going through a rebuild bringing a guy like Vlasic to play this year would be smart.
Right Winger Martin Kaut: Colorado
The Avalanche are going to have to rely on their youth after the offseason moves they made and Kaut is probably going to lead the way. Kaut was the Avalanche’s first round pick in the 2018 draft (16th overall) and he has waited a very long time to be a regular in a NHL lineup but I think he is nearing that point as he has played a combined 20 NHL games in the last 3 seasons putting up 2 goals and 3 points but last year had a career season in the AHL as he only played in 46 games but was able to put up 19 goals and 31 points and I think that after the departure of guys like Kadri and Burakovsky this offseason I would believe that a young player or two would possibly be able to carve out a top 9 role and with how much experience Kaut has gained over the last 2-3 years I think that him getting a spot on the third line is not only a reach, but something that I wouldn’t be to surprised if it happened and I think that out of the 3-4 prospects in Colorado’s forward group who have aspirations to make the team, Kaut is the one who will probably get a chance to be a consistent NHLer.
Here is a list of all the NHL signings that have happened between AUG 30th and SEPT 2nd.
Metro
Atlantic
Buffalo
Center Tage Thompson and the Buffalo Sabres have come to terms on a 7 year contract extension that will carry a AAV of $7.14 Million dollars and the deal is 1 way and will begin at the start of the 23-24 season. Thompson was the Center piece of the trade that brought Ryan O’Reilly to St.Louis and for a couple of year he looked like he might be nothing more then a 3rd line forward but as it turns out all he needed was a bigger role as he stepped into the top Center spot this year and put up a astounding 38 goals and 68 points which blew his previous career high of 14 points out of the water and he was able to get paid well. Now he has only had the one good season so giving him a contract with a AAV over $7 Million dollars is a big risk as it is possible that he régresses but I think that this will be a good deal for the Sabres and Thompson will continue to put up 50-60 points and 25-35 goals for the foreseeable future as the Sabres number 1 Center.
Goalie Ukko Pekka Luukkonen and the Buffalo Sabres have come to terms on a 2 year contract that will carry a AAV of $.838 Thousand dollars and the deal is two way in year 1 and 1 way in year 2. Now UPL is regarded by most as the goalie of the future for Sabres and has gotten some NHL experience over the past few years including last year where he got into 9 games putting up a .917 SV% and a 2.74 GAA and and i think this is definitely the makings of a NHL goalie but it seems that he will probably get one more year in the minors as he got a 2 way deal for this year so he can be sent to the minors with Comrie and Anderson playing this year but he should be able to get at least a backup role the year after when he needs waivers and is on a 1 year deal so it is good for the Sabres to get this done.
Pacific
Edmonton
Left defensemen Ryan Murray and the Edmonton Oilers have agreed to a 1 year contract that will carry a AAV of $.750 Thousand dollars and the deal is 1 way. Murray played with the Avalanche last year and helped them to the cup win but was only able to play in 37 games and put up 4 assists but he can play on the 3rd pair on most teams and the Oilers definitely have questions following the retirement of Keith and I think that instead of rushing Broberg they should have Murray battle for the 3rd pair spot on the left side and if he can stay healthy I think that he would be able to be more offensive this year.
Seattle
Right Defensemen Cale Fleury and the Seattle Kraken 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. Fleury was Seattle’s expansion pick from Montreal and last year only saw 9 games of NHL action putting up no points but at the AHL level he had 33 points in 58 games and while I think it is possible he goes down to the minors to continue to develop, I do think that the 3RD pair spot on the right side might be up for grabs and if Fleury shows he’s NHL ready in camp then I wouldn’t be shocked if he made the team either on the 3rd pair spot or as the spare but I think this is good value for Fleury and don’t be shocked if he makes the team.
Central
Minnesota
Center, Left Winger Sam Steel and the Minnesota Wild have agreed to a 1 year contract that will carry a AAV of $.850 Thousand dollars and the deal is 1 way. Steel was a prominent prospect in Anaheim and was supposed to help them get better but the Ducks didn’t qualify him as they weren’t to crazy with how he has played in the NHL so far but I for one really like this deal as the Wild are getting a legit top 9 forward who can help offensively as he has played four NHL seasons and has had 6 goals in each of the four seasons and put up at least 20 points twice including last year and with the loss of guys like a Bjugstad and Fiala the Wild needed some offensive help so Steel can jump right into a 3rd line role with the Wild and show that he can be a consistent NHL forward with offensive upside and he will be a RFA next year so if he shows the Wild how good he can play expect a bump in pat next year for Steel.
Winnipeg
Center, Right Winger Sam Gagner and the Winnipeg Jets have agreed to a 1 year contract that will carry a AAV of $.750 Thousand dollars and the deal is 1 way. Gagner is not the 40 point player he used to be but has carved out a very good role of being a productive bottom six winger infer in the NHL as he showed over the past few years with Detroit as he was on pace for a 30 point season two years ago and last year he got 13 goals and 31 points in 81 games as a bottom six forward with the Red Wings and that was his highest point total since he had 31 points back in 2017-18 with Vancouver but he will be able to play probably on the 4th line in Winnipeg maybe on the 3rd line but if Gagner can continue to prove he can produce I think more teams will be after his services either in the offseason or at the trade deadline if Winnipeg is out of a playoff spot but definitely a great signing for Winnipeg as they get a bottom six forward who can produce a decent amount of points and Gagner goes to a team where he can play a big role.
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