Nobody seems to care about the Stanley Cup Final this year, so the Los Angeles Kings, Philadelphia Flyers and Columbus Blue Jackets They got together to spice things up.
This deal was about the Kings finding a way to get rid of contracts, the Flyers starting an extensive rebuild, and the Blue Jackets adding longtime favorites to their new head coach, Mike Babcock.
The Blue Jackets landed defenseman Ivan Provorov and the Kings kept 30 percent of their $6.75 million. The Kings took in minor league players Kevin Connaughton and Hayden Hodgson but the real play for them here was letting go of Cal Petersen and Sean Walker’s contracts. The Flyers get a first and second round pick as well as another conditional selection with Helge Grans as a prospect for their trouble.
Looks like Philadelphia didn’t end here. They have a few quality young players on their roster like goalkeeper Carter Hart, defender Travis Sanheim, and wingers Joel Farabe and Travis Konicney who could make a fortune in future assets if they decide to demolish things entirely.
Could the Leafs be able to cancel a contract like Matt Murray had on the Flyers and get one of those players mentioned above in return?
Imprisonment binds Cole Cofield to an eight-year deal…
The Montreal Canadiens signed a member of their youth nucleus to a long-term deal earlier this week, with Cole Caufield agreeing to an eight-year contract extension worth $7.85 million annually.
Caufield was set to become a restricted free agent this summer upon the conclusion of an entry-level contract. The $7.85 million cap reflects an eight-year contract that captain Nick Suzuki signed with the Habs in October 2021.
Habs selected Caufield with the 15th overall pick in the 2019 draft from the United States National Development Team. He spent two seasons with the University of Wisconsin and joined the Habs during the pandemic-shortened 2021 season and helped them on their surprise run to the Stanley Cup Final.
All told, Coffield scored 53 goals and 84 points in 123 games on his entry-level deal.
Restricted Free Agents Who May Not Be Eligible…
1. Mackenzie Blackwood
Goalkeeper, New Jersey Devils
Qualified Offer Due: $3.36 millionScoop: Blackwood is the player most likely not to get a rehab offer this spring. Since two years as one of the most promising young goalkeepers, Blackwood’s stock has steadily declined due to a combination of injuries and inconsistent play. Over the past three years, he’s appeared in 82 games with a . 897 save percentage. The Devils will likely be trying to find a ready suitor to rehabilitate Blackwood for the late pick, but every team knows it’s going to be UFA otherwise.
2. Jesse Poliography
Right wing, Carolina Hurricanes
Qualified Offer Due: 3 million dollarsScoop: It was a gamble worthy of the Hurricanes, taking on Puljujarvi for next to nothing, to see if he could find magic with some fellow Finns. It didn’t work. He didn’t score a single goal in 24 total games and was a healthy scratch in eight of Carolina’s 15 contests.
3. Denis Guryanov
Right wing. Montreal Canadiens
Qualified Offer Due: $2.9 millionNews flash: Likewise, the Habs dumped Gurianov at the deadline, and Evgenii Dadonov’s expensive but expiring transfer of Gurianov — which is under the team’s control as an RFA. It made sense. Now, Montreal has a decision to make. Gurianov’s qualifying bid is overvalued relative to last season’s points production (17). But this is in line with what he presented in the previous three seasons. So, is it worth trying for another year to see if he can get back to this level?
4. Max Cometois
Left wing, Anaheim Ducks
Qualified Offer Due: $2.45 millionScoop: Comtois has all the tools to be a solid player in the NHL, but he struggled to put it all together in his first four seasons. His game has slipped in the past two seasons. He seems to get frustrated at times and a change of scenery might be appropriate. The only question is whether the Ducks are wondering if they could get more out of him with new head coach Greg Cronin. If so, it might be worth paying more to find out.
5. Ethan Beer
Right defense, Vancouver Canucks
Qualified Offer Due: $2.2 millionScoop: Bear will probably issue a qualifying offer. He’s been featured well in a lot of Vancouver’s marketing materials, which is an indication that they see him as part of the future. But Peer’s play is spotty and inconsistent, and his qualified show too pricey for its effect. But the Canucks spent an asset to get him and Vancouver needs him to play more and play well.