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Gretzky to Russia? Blues to Have Busy Off-Season? Leafs after Goalies? Huet to Minors? Ward Back Monday

Mark Easson
3 Min Read
  • Peter Adler of the Edmonton Journal: SKA St. Petersburg of the KHL has reportedly contacted Wayne Gretzky about the possibility of becoming their next head coach. Alexander Medvedev (KHL and SKA boss) has contacted Gretzky with an offer. Russian sources are saying that Gretzky has been in contact with them for months. Adler also notes that Jaromir Jagr will leave the KHL and Avangard Omsk when his contract runs out in mid-April.
  • Jeremy Rutherford of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch: St. Louis Blues owner, Dave Checketts, has said the team will continue building around their young players, but he predicts they will go after some free agents this offseason. The team currently has under $30 million tied up in 11 contracts for next year. Keith Tkachuk is expected to retire. Paul Kariya ($6 mill.) and Chris Mason ($3 mill.) are UFA’s, one or both may be resigned, with Kariya at a lower number. RFA’s that they will look resign are Steen, Perron, Johnson, Janssen, King and D’Agostini. The Blues had trouble scoring this year, and it wouldn’t surprise me if they take a run Ilya Kovalchuk. It was rumored that the Blues were one of the teams to make a pitch for Kovalchuk before he was dealt to New Jersey.
  • Damien Cox of the Toronto Star: The Toronto Maple Leafs may join the list of teams that are looking at signing European goalie free agent, Jussi Rynnas. The Leafs could also look at signing college free agent goaltender, Ben Scrivens of Cornell.
  • Tim Sassone of the Daily Herald: According to Sassone, there is a chance that the Blackhawks might send Cristobal Huet to the minors and call up Corey Crawford.
  • Chip Alexander of the Raleigh News & Observer: Cam Ward will make his first start between the pipes for Carlina since February 3rd on Monday. GM Jim Rutherford said the Hurricanes won’t go shopping for a backup goaltender next year, and will go with either Manny Legace (UFA) or Justin Peters.
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    Offer Sheet Compensation

    <$1.54M no comp
    $1.54M – $2.34M: 3rd
    $2.34M – $4.68M: 2nd
    $4.68M – $7.02M: 1st, 3rd
    $7.02M – $9.36M: 1st, 2nd, 3rd
    $9.36M – $11.7M: 1st, 1st, 2nd, 3rd
    $11.7M+: 1st, 1st, 1st, 1st,

    2024-25 Critical Dates

    June 1-7: NHL Scouting Combine (Buffalo, NY)
    June 23rd: Last possible day for the Stanley Cup Final
    June 27th-28th: 2025 NHL Draft
    July 1st: Start of free agency