With the salary cap heading upward to maybe as high as $82 million, expect general managers to spend. That is the silly season known as the NHL Free Agent Frenzy. The negotiation window starts next week and there are a dozen free agents to examine. Luke Fox of Sportsnet starts us off with John Tavares.
John Tavares leads the way
The dominoes fall when he signs basically. It flashes back to March and this quote about season and contract.
“To me, it’s separate — the season and my contract situation. I don’t really see them going hand-in-hand or having an effect on one or the other,”
Again, Tavares is a player who takes his time. This will drive Islanders fans crazy. However, Lou Lamoriello has been in constant talks with the 27-year-old center.
There are plenty of options if things were to fall though. Keep in mind, Vegas, Dallas, Montreal, and a bevy of other teams are on the radar. It comes down to does Tavares believe he can win on Long Island. If that answer is yes then he signs there. If not, look out!
John Carlson cashing in?
Carlson enjoyed a great playoff run and a Stanley Cup. The big thing is this. Oliver Ekman-Larsson was just extended at eight years and at least $8 million AAV. His production has been consistent and comes off a career year. Washington is up against it when it comes to the salary cap. Carlson knows this.
“I love it here. I want to stay here. But there’s more to it than that,” Carlson told reporters on June 13.
Again, the cap number reveals a lot here. If it is at the apex, then Washington has a chance. If not, Carlson is going full bore and testing the market. He may do this through the negotiating window anyway.
What About Ilya Kovalchuk?
Kovalchuk returns to the NHL after a several year absence. At 35, what does he have left to offer? Apparently, Kovalchuk offers enough that at least eight to ten teams are interested in the Russian left winger. The New York Rangers appeared to be favorites. However, San Jose and even Los Angeles have put themselves in a position to make a push.
“We’re like all teams,” Blues GM Doug Armstrong told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. “He’s 35 years old — there’s risk involved with players of that age. But he could be Jaromir Jagr. He could start slowing down at 41. Or he could come back and hit the wall. You never know.”
Expect teams like the Islanders and St. Louis Blues to take hard runs at Kovalchuk. Heavy risk exists but keep in mind the reward. Any loser of the Kovalchuk sweepstakes likely turns to Jeff Skinner.
Among other possibilities…
James van Riemsdyk has to be considered by several teams looking for scoring from the left wing. He would play anywhere else in a top six situation. Toronto used him on the third line at even strength then unleashed him on the power play. It was quite effective. Riemsdyk scored 122 goals in his last four full seasons. After that, several players could be intriguing.
Paul Stastny and James Neal are ones that stick out for different reasons. Stastny had an excellent playoff run with Winnipeg and boosted his overall next contract. Neal performed the same with Vegas as the Golden Knights advanced all the way to the Stanley Cup Final. Some under the radar choices may be Riley Nash and David Perron. Both have risk but also have upside coming off career seasons.