Big names up for grabs in free agency
Last week was history-making, but the NHL might veer close to chaos come Canada Day
Young superstar Connor McDavid has his Hart Trophy, Vegas GM George McPhee has a full roster of players and more than 200 young men have their childhood dreams fulfilled after being drafted into the NHL.
Now, in the coming week, the real fun begins.
The free agent frenzy kicks off on Saturday when the market officially opens, but expect there to be plenty of movement before as teams attempt to bolster their rosters while trying to wriggle under the salary cap.
Here are seven names you can expect to hear plenty about in the week before Canada Day:
COLORADO AVALANCHE FORWARD MATT DUCHENE
It would not have been a surprise if Joe Sakic had left Chicago with Duchene no longer on his roster, but the Avs GM said the draft weekend did not bring him the type of offers he’s seeking to move the 26-year-old forward, who has two years remaining on his contract at US$6 million per. Having lost James Neal to Vegas in the expansion draft, the Nashville Predators would be a good fit and have inquired. The Preds have the type of young defencemen Sakic is looking for. The New York Islanders and perhaps the Montreal Canadiens could also be in the mix.
MONTREAL CANADIENS GM MARC BERGEVIN
With US$21 million of cap space at his disposal, Bergevin is facing key decisions relating to pending unrestricted free agents Alex Radulov and Andrei Markov and soon-to-be RFA Alexander Galchenyuk.
With the Washington Capitals locking up winger T.J. Oshie to an eight-year, US$46-million extension on Friday, the 31-yearold Radulov becomes the most attractive pending UFA forward. But his asking price — a longterm deal, reportedly seven years at US$6 million per — could be too rich for Bergevin’s blood.
Meanwhile, Markov’s loyalty to the Habs is undeniable: He’s played each season of the past decade for US$5.75 million. Does Bergevin have any choice but to ink Markov to a two-year deal, even at 38?
Galchenyuk’s name continues to be circulated in trade rumours, with the Islanders one of the teams mentioned often. A more realistic solution is the two sides go to arbitration if no deal is reached.
UFA DEFENCEMAN KEVIN SHATTENKIRK
The fact the Calgary Flames coughed up a first-round and two second-round picks for the Islanders’ Travis Hamonic shows the high price teams are willing to cough up for quality defencemen. Since the Washington Capitals aren’t going to retain him, how much will he fetch on the open market? Keep in mind he’s often as shaky in his own zone as he is lethal in the opposition’s end. But stats often blind teams to a player’s warts, and Shattenkirk had 56 points last season.
VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS GM GEORGE McPHEE
As mentioned, blue-liners are at a premium, and McPhee has a surplus of them. Emelin, Marc Methot and Colin Miller could all be used as trade fodder to either accrue future draft picks or augment the team’s thin forward ranks. Of note: the only Canadian team Methot would go to as per his no trade clause would be his last team, the Ottawa Senators.
In any event, McPhee has let anyone who’ll listen know that he’s still open for business, saying “we have a few more contracts than we need.”
OTTAWA SENATORS D-MAN DION PHANEUF
Because Phaneuf didn’t waive his no-movement clause before the expansion draft, Senators GM Pierre Dorion was forced to leave Methot exposed, and McPhee pounced.
There’s no animosity — it’s Phaneuf’s right to make that choice — but now his name is being kicked around as part of trade talks, which is, if nothing else, intriguing.
NEW YORK RANGERS GM JEFF GORTON
In the past week he bought out defenceman Dan Girardi and traded away centre Derek Stepan and goalie Antti Raanta, leaving holes.
At the same time, with more than US$20 million of cap room at his disposal, Gorton left no doubt at the draft that he plans on being active in the near future, whether it be pursuing Shattenkirk or other free agent or trade candidates.
“I think there’s a big market out there right now,” Gorton said. “I think (in) free agency, there’s a lot of names too that we like.”
NEW YORK ISLANDERS GM GARTH SNOW
To persuade 2018 pending UFA John Tavares to re-sign, Snow already made a bold move by bringing in Jordan Eberle from the Edmonton Oilers. Can he land the likes of a Duchene or a Radulov too? Stay tuned — this should be chaotic.