On the Winnipeg Jets …
Ken Wiebe of the Winnipeg Sun: The Jets signed Steve Mason and Dmity Kulikov to contracts over $4 million a season, and a made a few other depth signings. They currently sit at around $64 million with RFAs Connor Hellebuyck, Andrew Copp and Brandon Tanev left to sign.
“We’re a cap team here now,” Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff said on Saturday as the first day of free agency was winding down.
The Jets have moved on from veterans Ondrej Pavelec, Mark Stuart and Chris Thorburn.
Another offseason priority for GM Kevin Cheveldayoff is to sign Bryan Little to a contract extension. Nikolaj Ehlers signing a long-term extension that would start in 2018-19 wouldn’t be a surprise either. Next summer talk will be about a Patrik Laine extension.
“In this job, you have to look at the long term all the time,” said Cheveldayoff. “But I think we should focus on the now. These deals (on July 1) are about the now.”
On the Carolina Hurricanes …
Chip Alexander of the Raleigh News & Observer: The Hurricanes have brought in Justin Williams, Scott Darling and Trevor van Riemsdyk so far this offseason. GM Ron Francis believes he’s addressed their biggest needs.
“I think the pieces we’ve added so far are good,” Francis said Saturday. “I’m open to doing something else if there’s something we think makes us better.”
That’s not saying they will trade for a top center like Matt Duchene, but they do have some extra money to spend if they choose to.
Newly acquired Williams could end up on a line with Victor Rask and Teuvo Teravainen.
The Hurricanes are still below the salary floor at $54.7 million. They are also at 47 contracts.
Owner Peter Karmanos has given the go ahead to add more money if it makes them better.
“I think our back end is very solid,” Peters said. “I think goaltending has been solidified for sure. If there’s something that makes sense up front, that’s probably one last thing we could look at.”
At a recent Summerfest event, GM Francis was asked about adding Duchene. Not mentioning Duchene specifically, Francis responded with:
“When I get on the phone with GMs around the league, they’re asking for a top young defenseman,” Francis said of trade proposals. “They’re very hard to get and very hard to find. We have them, and we’re not going to give them up, especially for a player who has two years left and then he can walk away.”
Francis said he’s hasn’t had talks with free agent center and former Hurricane Matt Cullen.
