Edmonton Journal

NHL TEAMS GEAR UP FOR FULL FREE AGENT SHOPPING BONANZA

Resolution of the Eichel standoff in Buffalo could soon be at hand as market set to open

- LANCE HORNBY

This is what you call “earthquake weather” around the NHL.

While there was some seismic activity at the weekend NHL draft as Philadelph­ia moved out Jakub Voracek and Shayne Gostisbehe­re amid general manager Chuck Fletcher's shakeup, full free agent shopping begins Wednesday at noon, while a resolution to the Jack Eichel standoff in Buffalo could soon be at hand. Throw in some rumoured movement of goaltender­s for some aftershock­s.

Teams are already trying to determine the course of action with their own pending UFAS so they can either sign them or move on to be better prepared for Wednesday. More than a few GMS went into serious deal mode as of Saturday night, once their last draft picks were made and everyone had a better picture of what the expansion Seattle Kraken roster looked like. By Monday night, all restricted free agents knew if they were getting qualifying offers or not, setting a few up to join the UFA bonanza.

Jack Eichel's agents have let it be known he's skating again, some added enticement for clubs concerned about his medical condition. In addition to his frustratio­n with the ongoing cycle of losing in Buffalo, there is disagreeme­nt with the Sabres about treating the herniated disc in his neck. Eichel is said to want a disc replacemen­t, an uncommon operation for an NHLER, that the Sabres' medical staff deems too risky. It's a stance Eichel's reps say underlines their belief it's best he move on.

But five years with a Us$10-million cap hit is a lot for any new team to take on, never mind the health issue and putting a trade package together. A 100 per cent Eichel, on the other hand. is a game changer for any club.

In Denver, GM Joe Sakic is trying to calm fears that he'll lose both captain Gabriel Landeskog and No. 1 goalie Philipp Grubauer, telling reporters that Wednesday does not equate to doomsday on their careers in Colorado. But Landeskog's stated disappoint­ment at the pace of talks on a new contract has understand­ably made fans antsy.

In Carolina, the Hurricanes are trying to keep second-team allstar defenceman Dougie Hamilton from walking.

“We're running across some deadlines here (and) deadlines are when things usually happen,” GM Don Waddell said post-draft. “I know Dougie's very familiar with where we are. We still know what his thoughts are, and it's up to his agent (J.P. Barry) and I to figure it out, It's got to fit for him and for us. But I feel pretty good that we'll be able to get this done.”

NET LOSSES?

The Canes have reached the rather dicey stage of having no NHL veteran goalies under contract as of Wednesday. Alex Nedeljkovi­c was traded to Detroit in a deal that saw the rights to Jonathan Bernier come back.

But Bernier, James Reimer and Petr Mrazek will be on the open market, at least until they take a look around at other options.

Darcy Kuemper has a year to go with the Arizona Coyotes at $4.5 million, but the 31-year-old is due more in real salary dollars and as part of a general changing of the guard in the desert, could be moved with Arizona paying some of his salary.

Grubauer might have priced himself out of town in Denver, along with Devan Dubnyk, leaving the Avs in the same boat as Carolina. A growing list of budget stoppers around the NHL includes Jaroslav Halak and Linus Ullmark.

FREEDOM TO ROAM

Among those without a home after Monday's RFA deadline is the Wings' top pick in 2015, Evgeny Svechnikov, who has played just 41 games to date. Detroit GM Steve Yzerman could circle back on a two-way deal if he doesn't sign elsewhere.

Boston did not qualify wingers Nick Ritchie and Ondrej Kase; the same with Chicago and David Kampf, a regular centre with the Blackhawks the past few years and veteran Swiss teammate Pius Suter, who impressed in his first NHL season.

TURN BACK THE CLUCK?

The Montreal Gazette reported St-hubert BBQ Chicken, a significan­t restaurant chain in Quebec and an advertiser with the Canadiens, is reflecting on whether to continue its associatio­n with the Habs following their controvers­ial decision to draft Logan Mailloux.

Mailloux originally asked that no NHL club pick him last weekend when it was revealed he had shown teammates a photo, taken without consent, of a young woman engaging in a sexual act with him while he was living and playing in Sweden last year.

“This choice surprised us and we are evaluating if we're going to continue our partnershi­p with them,” said Josée Vaillancou­rt, the company's director of public relations. “In 2021, with everything we have seen, with all the movements, we were actually surprised. Are they going to go back on their position or will they go forward and accompany the young man?”

Vaillancou­rt said the chain, which has rink board ads as well as fan contests with the team, has concerns as a family company, but its executives have not yet spoken with senior management of the Habs, including its owner, Geoff Molson.

Mailloux has apologized for his conduct and said he is seeking profession­al counsellin­g.

ICE CHIPS

Forward Sam Bennett got a tidy payday in Florida on Monday, a four-year, $17.6-million deal for the RFA. But that left the Panthers in a cap conundrum, so they moved defenceman Anton Stralman and the final year of his deal at $5.4 million to Arizona. Stralman had to waive a modified no-trade clause. The pickup for the Coyotes includes defenceman Vladislav Kolyachono­k and the Panthers' second-round pick in 2024; Florida will get a seventh-round pick in 2023 in return. The Panthers will receive a seventh rounder in 2023 … Centre Paul Stastny (Winnipeg) and defenceman Alec Martinez (Las Vegas) were nearing new deals according to Monday night reports … Mike Sullivan, coach of the Penguins, is in line for the Team USA gig if the NHL goes to the Beijing Olympics. Analyst John Shannon says Team Canada will not name its coach until a decision to participat­e is made, though Jon Cooper and Barry Trotz are thought to be on a short list … Arizona defenceman Niklas Hjalmarsso­n will be announcing his retirement from the NHL according to Coyotes reporter Craig Morgan. He won three Cups in Chicago … Tampa Bay Lightning forward Blake Coleman will test free agency.

 ?? GEOFF BURKE/USA TODAY SPORTS FILES ?? Buffalo Sabres centre Jack Eichel's agents have let it be known that he's skating again, providing some enticement for clubs concerned about his medical condition.
GEOFF BURKE/USA TODAY SPORTS FILES Buffalo Sabres centre Jack Eichel's agents have let it be known that he's skating again, providing some enticement for clubs concerned about his medical condition.
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