To sign with the Hurricanes or not
Jeff Cox: Multiple sources have said that Harvard junior defenseman Adam Fox will return for his senior season and to not sign with the Carolina Hurricanes. He is favoring become a free agent next offseason.
Pierre LeBrun: Hurricanes general manager Don Waddell said that it is his understanding that Fox is still deciding on what to do.
Sara Civ: Have heard that if Fox doesn’t plan on signing with the Hurricanes, he hasn’t let them know. They haven’t heard anything and believe he’s undecided.
Sara Civ: “It’s totally reasonable to assume that Fox would talk to those in his camp/college hockey world about his intentions before the Canes. I respect @JeffCoxSports as a reporter. That’ll do it from me for 280 character speculation on this situation.”
Cory Lavalette: On the Fox situation: “Different circumstances, but Jaccob Slavin was planning to return for his junior season (and was going to be named captain) in April. He ended up signing on July 1.”
Notes on Fox
Ian Tulloch: “Adam Fox is a RHD every NHL team should be interested in acquiring. 48 Points in 32 games at the NCAA level is nuts for a defenceman.”
Ian Tulloch: “Fox is one of those players from the 2016 draft who slipped because of his size (much like Alex Debrincat and Sam Girard)
Crazy take: NHL teams should prioritize skill > size in the draft.”
Jokke Nevalainen: “My personal belief is that staying at the same level for too long has a negative impact on prospect’s development.
I mean, Fox has 116 points in 96 NCAA games over the past 3 years. I find it hard to believe he’ll progress much further at that level.”
Jokke Nevalainen: “Harvard is one of those schools were kids like to stay for the full 4 years, so I think people shouldn’t be so shocked about this. It was always believed this was the reason Calgary was willing to trade him.”
Extension for Markstrom seems like a no-brainer
Ben Kuzma of the Vancouver Province: Vancouver Canucks goaltender Jacob Markstrom has a year left on his contract, but a contract extension for him seems like a no-brainer. This despite have 23-year old Thatcher Demko and prospect Mike DiPietro.
Markstrom will carry a $3.6 million cap hit next year. The Canucks could wait until some point during next season to offer him an extension.
Potential comparisons could be the deals for Frederik Andersen and Martin Jones. All are 29 years old. Anderson’s deal carries a $5 million cap hit for two more years, with Jones at $5.75 million for another five.