On the Buffalo Sabres …
Paul Hamilton: Sabres GM Jason Botterill said that they won’t have any contract negotiations with Sam Reinhart until next year.
On Jaromir Jagr …
Aivis Kalnins: Jaromir Jagr’s agent said contract talks with NHL are ongoing and he shot down any talk Jagr signing in the KHL.
On the Detroit Red Wings …
Craig Custance: Not sure that there is a long-term contract that is over $5 million a year that thinks the Red Wings should sign Tomas Tatar to.
Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press: A one-year contract for Tomas Tatar may make the most sense even though it may mean Tatar’s time with the Red Wings could be closer to ending.
Tatar is going to get around $5 million a season, but it’s term that may be holding a long-term deal up. The Red Wings have offered up to five years, but Tatar’s camp could be looking for seven years.
Their salary arbitration hearing date is set for July 20th.
A comparable for Tatar could be Tyler Johnson‘s seven-year, $5 million per deal that was just signed. Both are 26 years old, with Johnson averaging .68 PPG and Tatar at .73 PPG. Johnson is a centerman though.
The Red Wings will have RFAs Dylan Larkin, Anthony Mantha and Tyler Bertuzzi to deal with next year.
The Wings could see if Tatar is more consistent this year on a one-year deal, and then re-open talks at a later date. If Tatar doesn’t seem open to that, they could look to trade him for draft pick(s) and/or prospect(s) at the trade deadline.
Greg Krupa of the Detroit News: A Slovakian report has Tatar frustrated that he remains unsigned and has made his feeling public.
Tatar probably wants a deal around $6 million a year for about four years, with the Red Wings likely wanting $5 million.
Like they did with Petr Mrazek, they should be able to get a deal done before they go to arbitration.