A little chat on the Dallas Stars
Matthew DeFranks of Dallas Sportsday (Live Chat): Again, it seems Dallas may buy out Valeri Nichushkin (no goals last season). He makes $2.9 million with only one year left on his deal.
Dallas could look at Mattias Janmark or Brett Ritchie (RFA or let go).
Ty Dellandrea is a player to watch but projects as a middle-six forward at best.
Then, there is Mats Zuccarello, who has to be Dallas’s number one priority in re-signing. He expects to come in somewhere around $6 million AAV.
Finally, the Dallas Stars expect to search for a complement to Miro Heiskanen in the offseason. Targets could include Anton Stralman and maybe Dan Girardi.
Nashville Predators six-pack of free agents
Adam Vingan of The Athletic: Two restricted free agents and four unrestricted free agents headline Nashville’s list.
Colton Sissons became an impromptu number one center during the playoffs for Nashville and expects to earn around $2.7 million AAV in his next deal. However, Nashville might sign him for five years, $12.5 million.
Rocco Grimaldi scored three times in five playoff games which could get him two years, $1.65 million.
Among the unrestricted free agents, Brian Boyle could be a cheap replacement for Nick Bonino for about $1.75 million (one-year deal).
Wayne Simmonds expects to sign elsewhere along with Zac Rinaldo, and Cody McLeod.
Montreal Canadiens spending to acquire useful “bad” contracts”
Sean Gordon of The Athletic: Cap space means the Montreal Canadiens will have to spend some money. Montreal faces a contract apocalypse come 2021 but a “bad” contract that expires before then and has some use is not terrible.
Some targets include Jake Allen and Mathieu Perreault for starters. Allen would cost little, if anything, given his $4.35 million AAV. St. Louis has some prospects to sweeten the deal.
Perreault earns a little less and is a local kid as well. Winnipeg’s impending cap hell makes them desperate to move Perreault for relief. This might cost a Charles Hudon or Matt Peca but Montreal might net a Mason Appleton or nice prospect in return.
After that, players like Darren Helm, James Reimer, and Andrej Sekera could be possibilities. Keep in mind, these deals would have lesser sweeteners but may be useful. Florida has Denis Malgin as a possibility. That might be intriguing.