Maple Leafs going for it
After handfuls of coaching and front office hires and fires, the Vegas expansion draft and NHL awards extravaganza, the Hall of Fame induction announcement and five days of free agency, it’s a safe bet the flurry of post-Stanley Cup activity is on its last legs.
Before packing it in for the summer, though, let’s pause and reflect. Here are some observations from a truly wild and wacky NHL off-season:
McDavid’s compromise won’t help poster boys
On Tuesday, Connor McDavid admitted to leaving money on the table (reportedly $750,000 per year) when he signed an eight-year, $100 million contract extension with the Oilers.
We can debate for days the merits of trimming your earnings by $6 million for the good of the team. What really piques my interest is the effect McDavid’s selflessness will have on the earning potential of the sport’s marquee young forwards who are eligible next summer for second-contract deals.
Compared to an alternate universe in which McDavid accepted the reported $13.25-million offer, Auston Matthews, Patrik Laine and Mitch Marner now will likely command fewer dollars.
McDavid is the benchmark and his actions, on and off the ice, set the dominoes in motion.
Don’t sleep on the sneaky ’Canes
Carolina has brought in an underrated producer in Justin Williams, defensive specialist in Marcus Kruger, solid No. 4/5 defender in Trevor van Riemsdyk this off-season. And, in May, general manager Ron Francis acquired starting goalie Scott Darling. Solid haul.
The Hurricanes were a top-10 puck possession in 2016-17 — despite trusting Cam Ward to stop pucks in 61 of 82 regular-season games — and subtracted no one of consequence these last few months. Do the math.
O’Ree (somehow) flying under the radar
In late June, when the Hockey Hall of Fame’s Class of 2017 was unveiled and support streamed in for the Sergei Zubovs and Theo Fleurys of the world, Chris Watkins of Hockey-Graphs.com put forth another name: Willie O’Ree.
I jumped on the bandwagon immediately and don’t care if O’Ree, the NHL’s first black player, appeared in only 45 games. Induct him ASAP.
Capologists must be working overtime
All hail the NHL’s 31 designated salary cap wizards.
In a “hard” cap league, every single transaction a team makes is at the mercy of the cap and its rules and regulations. Most management types have a strong grasp of the cap and its stubborn cousin, the Collective Bargaining Agreement, but each club’s in-house expert, sometimes the assistant GM, provides priceless consultation.
In this unusual off-season hooked around the player-stealing Vegas Golden Knights, the role of the capologist has been especially important. There may not be a more publicly underappreciated member of the front office.
Girardi, Kulikov signings don’t add up
Dan Girardi, the 33-year-old overthe-hill defender bought out by the Rangers in mid-June, oddly scored a two-year, $6-million deal with the Lightning in free agency.
Dimitry Kulikov, who seemed to have limited negotiating power following a disastrous one-season showing on the Sabres’ blue line, signed a strange three-year, $13-million pact with the Jets.
At the other end of the spectrum are Michael Del Zotto and Sam Gagner, who signed two- and threeyear deals, respectively, with the Canucks. Nothing odd or strange here.
Del Zotto, who is far from an allaround defenceman, can be very effective puck mover on a second pairing. If deployed properly, the former Flyer/Predator/Ranger could be a bargain at his $3-million yearly price tag.
Gagner’s value as a 27-year-old middle-six forward (38-50 points in all but one of his 10 seasons) with power play chops makes the $3.15-million-per-year commitment seem fair. Last season’s career-high 50 points for Columbus is more reality than mirage.
The Memorial Cup brain drain is real
The Memorial Cup has always been an excellent showcase for onice talent — it’s part of the allure. The national junior hockey championship also gives budding coaching and executive types free advertising.
This off-season, the amount of office talent recruited to the pro ranks from the 2017 Memorial Cup squads seems abnormally high.
Three of four head coaches have moved on in recent weeks, with the AHL Chicago Wolves hiring Rocky Thompson (Windsor Spitfires) as its head coach, Kris Knoblauch (Erie Otters) joining the Flyers’ bench as an assistant and Steve Konowalchuk (Seattle Thunderbirds) accepting an assistant coach job with the Ducks. Completing the full circle, the Saint John Sea Dogs bid farewell to assistant Paul Boutilier, the AHL Belleville Senators’ newest assistant coach.
Leafs transforming from hunted to hunter
You don’t bring in Patrick Marleau, who turns 38 on Sept. 15, on that deal (three years, $6.25 millino per season) for entertainment purposes. The Leafs are going for it; full stop. Don’t let GM Lou Lamoriello tell you otherwise.