Senators will have to overpay their free agents to keep them
Graeme Nichols: Bob McKenzie said that the Ottawa Senators priority is to re-sign their free agents. They do realize that they will likely have to overpay them in order to keep them.
McKenzie adds that GM Pierre Dorion will meet with Matt Duchene‘s camp in the next week to 10 days.
Graeme Nichols: McKenzie said that the Senators trading defenseman Cody Ceci is possible, that they have received calls about him and are open to the idea.
$9 million was too rich for the Leafs in the offseason, but what about now?
Mike Johnston of Sportsnet: Toronto Maple Leafs forward Mitch Marner is a pending free agent and is in line for a big payday.
“Many people talking, suggesting maybe the best chance to sign him on a long-term deal, Ron, would have been in the summer,” Nick Kypreos told Ron MacLean Saturday during the Headlines segment of Hockey Night in Canada. “The discussion point was around $72 million prior to the season and my understanding is it was too rich for the Toronto Maple Leafs.”
Marner’s camp has said they won’t negotiate during the season which could be more costly for the Leafs if he continues this pace.
“Best case scenario for the Leafs if they want to still talk around a $9 million AAV, it would have to be on a much shorter term than the maximum amount at eight years,” Kypreos added.
Ferland looking for Wilson type money
Mike Johnston of Sportsnet: Carolina Hurricanes pending free agent forward Micheal Ferland could be looking Tom Wilson type money according to Nick Kypreos.
Wilson signed a six-year contract with a $5.17 million cap hit.
The 26-year old Ferland currently carries a $1.75 million cap hit.
“All Wilson’s done between last season and this season is create maybe a mini arms race in terms of teams now sitting there going, ‘the Cup has to come through the East with the Washington Capitals,’ so Ferland, of course, plays a real physical type of role and many teams believe that he could fit the bill in terms of pushing Washington through an Eastern Conference playoff,” Kypreos added.