Canucks won’t be big game hunters in free agency
Rick Dhaliwal: Vancouver Canucks GM Jim Benning on if they will go after one of the big ticketed free agents on July 1st.
“I don’t think we go in that direction but if there are some players that I feel that can help and support our younger players, we are going to look at those types of players.”
Stone’s contract extension won’t affect Karlsson but they may need to make some moves
Jesse Granger of The Athletic: Vegas Golden Knights GM George McPhee said that Mark Stone‘s eight-year, $76 million contract doesn’t affect pending restricted free agent William Karlsson at all.
“This doesn’t affect us at all,” general manager George McPhee said. “We will have flexibility to do things. I’m not interested in being hamstrung on anything, and we won’t be. At least that’s what (team capologist Andrew Lugerner) tells me.”
Sources saying that the Golden Knights and Karlsson’s camp don’t plan on talking until after the season.
The Golden Knights current cap hit for next season is at $82.375 million and just under the projected $83 million cap ceiling. They can put David Clarkson‘s $5.25 million cap hit on the LTIR.
Karlsson would decline his $4.75 million qualifying offer and he is arbitration eligible.
A short-term deal at or above his current $5.25 million is an option.
A long-term deal between $5.5 and $6 million is an option. The Golden Knights would likely have to make some moves to create cap space.
Contracts they could look to move include Cody Eakin ($3.85 million), Ryan Reaves ($2.775 million) and Colin Miller ($3.875 million).
Lee not worried that his goal scoring numbers are down
Andrew Gross of Newsday: New York Islanders pending restricted free agent Anders Lee has said all season that extension talks have been “good” and he’s not concerned at all.
Lee won’t hit his 40 goals from last season, and may not hit his 34 goals for two seasons ago.
“That part you notice but I think I’ve laid the groundwork pretty well,” Lee said. “I don’t think this one year is not going to matter too much. I hope.”