On the Los Angeles Kings and Ilya Kovalchuk …
The Los Angles Kings will be signing Ilya Kovalchuk to a three-year contract with a salary cap hit of $6.25 million.
Dennis Bernstein: “Regardless of how high it is, you’ve committed 6.25M to that slot for 3 seasons on 35+ If Kovy were bust (don’t think that will be the case), trade value would be close to zero. So when some say, “better than giving prospects for Pacioretty or Skinner”, remains to be seen.”
Pierre LeBrun: “Kovalchuk can’t technically sign the deal until July 1. They’ve agreed to terms. But even within that, I’m told the Kings and Kovalchuk’s agent J.P. Barry still have work left on some final details within the structure of the deal. There will be signing bonus money in the deal”
David Pagnotta: The Kings now have $3.075 million in salary cap space.
Pierre LeBrun: The Boston Bruins wouldn’t go three years of Kovalchuk. Los Angeles was always Kovalchuk’s top choice. Once the Kings moved to three years, isn’t sure have agent J.P. Barry went after three years from anyone else.
On the Arizona Coyotes …
Craig Morgan: Source saying that Coyotes and defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson have agreed in principle to a contract, but it can’t officially be signed until July 1st. Terms of the deal are not known yet.
On the Colorado Avalanche …
Pierre LeBrun: The Avalanche and Philipp Grubauer have agreed on a three-year deal with a salary cap hit of $3.3 million. Salary breakdown of $3.35 million, $3.9 million, $2.75 million)
Cap Friendly: Grubauer comparables:
1. Markström VAN 3 x $3.667M
2. Jones SJS 3 x $3M
3. Vasilevskiy TBL 3 x $3.5M
4. Murray PIT 3 x $3.75M
5. Gibson ANA 3 x $2.3M
On the Edmonton Oilers …
John Shannon: The Oilers have extended qualifying offers to Darnell Nurse, Anton Slepyshev and Ryan Strome.
Dhiren Mahiban: Have heard that Nurse has been looking to use Michael Matheson as a contract comparable on a long-term deal – eight years at $39 million – a $4.875 million salary cap hit.