On the Chicago Blackhawks …
Scott Powers of The Athletic: The Blackhawks could play Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews together next season. Richard Panik is one potential linemate, or they could look to fill the other side with a younger player.
That could be a great selling point for free agent Jimmy Vesey. Vesey’s agent has said they hope to be able to talk with the Blackhawks. The Blackhawks may be a long shot, but they can offer a top-six spot and possibly a shot on the wing with Toews and Kane.
Scott Powers of The Athletic: Jimmy Vesey and his agent are interested in talking to the Blackhawks and four or five other teams. The Blackhawks need to sell Vesey on joining the team and they need to figure out their cap space to fit him in.
Vesey will get a $925,000 base salary and up to $2.85 million in potential performance bonuses. The Blackhawks can fit the salary in, but they can’t have more than $5.475 million in performance bonuses over the cap for next season.
Artemi Panarin could have $2.575 million in bonuses, Brian Campbell at $750,000, Michal Kempny at $437,000, Nick Schmaltz at $350,000, and Vinnie Hinostroza at $257,000. Ville Pokka, Tanner Kero, Martin Lundberg and Gustav Forsling could also potentially have some bonuses count against the cap.
The Blackhawks currently have just under $5 million in cap space with 18 players under contract – nine forwards, seven defenseman and two goalies – who are expected to be on the roster.
If the Blackhawks kept Hinostroza, Schmaltz and were able to sign Vesey, that would give them just under $2.366 million in cap space for this year, but potentially $7.22 million in performance bonuses. That would put them just under that allowable limit, but little wiggle room.
On the Vancouver Canucks …
News 1130 Sports: 2016 1st round pick Olli Juolevi: “Contract coversations are going on all the time, I know what’s going on, we don’t have any rush to do that right now.” Juolevi has received some interest from pro teams in Europe: “It’s feel good, like you have done something right.” Juolevi’s agent has also been in constant contact with the London Knights of the OHL.