Four remaining RFAs
TSN: Bob McKenzie on Insider Trading on the four remaining restricted free agents
“As general manager Kyle Dubas of the Leafs has said dialogue continues, the lines of communication are open. Where Nylander might be a little more difficult than some, is my sense of it, seems to be is that both Nylander and the Leafs are much more likely to want to try to get something done longer term as opposed to going to the bridge deal so valuation becomes a little more difficult. And you mentioned James, Nylander is one of the four remaining free agents.
Shea Theodore, he’d like a short term deal in Vegas but Vegas is looking for something longer term.
Nick Ritchie and the Anaheim Ducks are trying to get a bridge deal done but that’s been really tough sledding and there’s virtually been no dialogue as of late between Miles Wood and the New Jersey Devils.”
A Karlsson extension would have to wait
Pierre LeBrun: Erik Karlsson is not eligible to sign an eight-year contract extension with the San Jose Sharks until after the February 25th trade deadline.
“It’s a little known rule in the CBA to the point that Bill Daly, the deputy commissioner, actually sent out a memo this summer, it didn’t have Karlsson’s name in it, but it had a memo explaining to all 31 teams ‘remember this rule’ because he was still on the Ottawa roster after the last trade deadline. You have to wait until the next trade deadline to be able to sign an eight-year deal with your new team, so San Jose has to wait because you assume that if Karlsson does want to re-sign in San Jose, we’re not saying for sure he does, that he would want the eight-year max.”
Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic: Sources say that Bill Daley sent a memo to all teams back in July about this rule. was told that the Sharks were well aware of this before they traded for Karlsson.
“An SPC with a term of greater than seven (7) years, provided, however, that a Club may sign a Player to an SPC with a term of up to eight (8) years if that Player was on such Club’s Reserve List as of and since the most recent Trade Deadline. With respect to potential Unrestricted Free Agents only, the ability to re-sign a Player to an SPC of eight (8) years expires when the Player becomes an Unrestricted Free Agent. With respect to a Player who becomes a Group 2 Restricted Free Agent, a Club may sign such Player to an SPC with a term of up to eight (8) years provided such Player was on such Club’s Reserve List and/or Restricted Free Agent List as of and since the most recent Trade Deadline.”
It’s likely that Karlsson will get around $11 million on his next deal, and doesn’t think the Sharks believe it will be an issue to get him re-signed. Will Karlsson want to re-sign in SJ?