Some of the remaining free agents may have to take a shorter-term deal than they had originally hoped for
The Chris Johnston Show: Johnston and Julian McKenzie talk about some of the remaining free agents
** NHLRumors.com transcriptions
McKenzie: “So, with Giroux coming off the free agent board, which day by day dwindles in terms of available high-level talent. What are you hearing about guys who are still on the board, as of this recording? Of course, things could change by the time this episode goes live.
But Anthony Mantha still doesn’t have a team. Michael Bunting doesn’t have a team. John Klingberg doesn’t have a team. Patrick Kane doesn’t have a team. Anything you’re hearing about those guys?
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Johnston: “Well, this is not, it’s not a good time to still be on the free agent board. The truth is that if you haven’t signed somewhere at this point, it likely means you’re going to have to either lower your expectations in terms of the kind of contract you’re going to get, or perhaps some of you know the options you might have had in the early hours of free agency have, have dried up because those teams have pivoted in another direction.
It’s you know, it’s a crazy free agent system in the NHL. Because you know it’s such a stampede, really, from noon Eastern on July 1st, and even a little bit into July 2nd, and you get to July 7th, and it’s pretty quiet out there.
And certainly not saying these players won’t find jobs. I believe they all will. But you know we only need to look at the example of Jack Roselvic last year, who was, you know, reasonably rated on the UFA board, didn’t sign in the early days. Was then was getting offered lower deals. He didn’t want to take them. Ultimately, didn’t sign I believe till October with the Edmonton Oilers. Jack Roselvic, probably feeling much better this summer, having got his two-year deal done in Toronto on the very first day and within the first few hours of free agency.
And so, you know, for these guys, it might end up being a little bit of a wait. And you know that can be tougher too because you know obviously you’re not moving to the city. Like, there’s a lot of other aspects, and, and so, you know it’s the market has gone pretty quiet; I have to be honest.
Now, some of it might be tied up in, you know, the focus on the Carlsson , and then people wondering, will there be fallout with these other players? I mean, maybe some priorities have been shifted in other directions.
But teams, generally speaking, are kind of value hunting, even this early stage of summer, about a week after the free agency chaos began. So, you know, I think those players may have to, may have to wait it out a little bit, or again end up just taking one one year deal somewhere. Or something less than what they thought their value was.
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I mean, Anthony Manta, for example, signed a proven deal last year in Pittsburgh. It was a heavily bonus-laden deal in terms of games played bonuses because he’d been injured the prior season. You know, he I’m sure he feels like he proved it. He had a really strong year. 30 plus goals, 60 points. It, to not be signed now tells you it’s it’s probably going to be another short-term contract for him somewhere. And then it’s a matter of figuring out where where is best to go.
So, not a good time to be an unsigned player around league. It’s just one of those things you want to get business done early if you can.”
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