CANADIAN TEAMS ARE POISED TO TEST FREE AGENCY WATERS
High-ticket talent and possible bargains available for right price for savvy shoppers
As Canada celebrates its 150th birthday, will the country’s seven NHL teams acknowledge the occasion by offering expensive free agent gifts to their loyal fans?
One year ago, the Montreal Canadiens (Alexander Radulov), Edmonton Oilers (Milan Lucic), Calgary Flames (Troy Brouwer) and Vancouver Canucks (Loui Eriksson) landed some of the biggest names on the market. Nine months later, the Canucks were the only one of those four teams not to qualify for the playoffs.
With the market officially opening for business at 11 a.m. Saturday, here’s a look at what each of the seven Canadian teams might do:
MONTREAL CANADIENS
NEEDS: The one area the Canadiens don’t have to worry about is between the pipes, where Carey Price has the situation well in hand. Of course, with his deal running out next summer, the financial commitment to his possible extension could determine how much money GM Marc Bergevin opts to spend in free agency. We do know this much: The Habs need help on the blueline, they’re thin up the middle and they hunger for scoring. Other than that … OUTLOOK: Bergevin’s free agency tactics will be predicated by the answers to the following three questions.
Has he re-signed 38-year-old defenceman Andrei Markov, who reportedly is seeking a two-year, US$12-million extension? He’s already said goodbye to Mikhail Sergachev, Nathan Beaulieu and Alexei Emelin.
Has he re-upped forward Alexander Radulov, whose starting point in talks was said to be six years at US$7 million per?
Has he made a decision on whether to move young forward Alexander Galchenyuk? CANDIDATES: However it plays out, the Canadiens appear to be serious about defenceman Karl Alzner. Other potential fits: F Justin Williams, F Joe Thornton, F Patrick Marleau, F Nick Bonino
OTTAWA SENATORS
NEEDS: Addressing the blue-line seems to be the top requirement given the loss of Marc Methot in the expansion draft. There also remains a thirst to add scoring up front, although there are 30 other teams in the NHL that could make the same claim. OUTLOOK: Having already lost Methot, the chatter the Sens are listening to trade offers for Dion Phaneuf is intriguing. Phaneuf opted not to waive his no-movement clause prior to the expansion draft, leaving Methot exposed to the Vegas Golden Knights in the process. The Sens, of course, are a budget-conscious team and moving Phaneuf’s $7-million average annual value would make sense from that perspective. Still, it would seem any Phaneuf trade would have to net the Senators a defenceman in return. Youngster Thomas Chabot is an up-and-comer, but the Sens need more than just this kid to step in on the blue-line, especially if both Methot and Phaneuf are gone to start the season. CANDIDATES: D Karl Alzner, D Dmitry Kulikov, D Trevor Daley, F Radim Vrbata
TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS
NEEDS: Given Lou Lamoriello’s track record, he’ll likely stay the patient course with this young team. Blue-line help always is welcome, as is depth at centre. A backup goalie would be a nice add, too. OUTLOOK: Judging by Lamoriello’s comments to Postmedia’s Lance Hornby Thursday, the Maple Leafs GM isn’t about to throw MLSE’s money around as part of some kind of wild spending spree. As for the window of opportunity for the Leafs being limited, Lamoriello rejected the idea. “To go from where we were (30th place in 2015-16) to the window closing. I don’t think so,” Lamoriello said. One intriguing suggestion making the rounds: the Leafs and Joe Thornton. CANDIDATES: Thornton, D Trevor Daley, G Brian Elliott, F Patrick Marleau, D Michael Del Zotto, D Matt Hunwick, D Dmitry Kulikov
NEEDS: GM Kevin Cheveldayoff’s priority seems to be improving the team’s situation between the pipes, with a candidate to challenge incumbent Connor Hellebuyck being front and centre. A minute-gobbling d-man would be a welcome addition, too. OUTLOOK: According to Postmedia’s Ken Wiebe, former Philadelphia Flyers goalie Steve Mason and ex-Buffalo Sabres defenceman Dmitry Kulikov are both on the Jets’ radar. Winnipeg’s ability to retain blue-liner Toby Enstrom underscores what a nice job Cheveldayoff has done in keeping the team’s core intact. With youngsters Nikolaj Ehlers, Patrik Laine, Josh Morrissey and Jacob Trouba continuing to improve and develop, there will be no huge housecleaning in Winnipeg. CANDIDATES: G Steve Mason, D Dmitry Kulikov, G Brian Elliott
CALGARY FLAMES
NEEDS: Give GM Brad Treliving credit: He didn’t wait for the silly spending of the open market to start plugging the holes in his roster. Instead, he’s already done that, acquiring veterans Mike Smith and Eddie Lack to guard the crease while bringing in coveted Travis Hamonic in a trade with the Isles to shore up the blue-line. OUTLOOK: Treliving ’s proactive blueprint means the Flames can adopt a wait-and-see plan when it comes to the prices dictated by the free agency market when it opens for business. The addition of coveted college free agent forward Spencer Foo adds some potential pop up front, while pending UFAs Kris Versteeg and Michael Stone also were resigned. CANDIDATES: Wait-and-see
EDMONTON OILERS
NEEDS: Bargains, wherever they can get them, to add depth. Don’t expect any shopping sprees here, although the Oilers will be looking for a top-four d-man and some scoring depth on the wing. OUTLOOK: This is all about clearing cap space. With franchise player Connor McDavid poised to ink an eight-year contract worth more than US$13 million per, and fellow youngster Leon Draisaitl waiting in the wings for his own lucrative extension, GM Peter Chiarelli has been laying down the financial groundwork for an accommodating structure. As such, Jordan Eberle and his annual $6-million deal was shipped to the Islanders for forward Ryan Strome, while forward Benoit Pouliot was placed on waivers for the purpose of being bought out. CANDIDATES: F Brian Boyle, D Eric Gryba
VANCOUVER CANUCKS
NEEDS: A solid centre, puckmoving defenceman, backup goalie. As GM Jim Benning told Postmedia’s Ben Kuzma, there are plenty of “opportunities” for ice time with the rebuilding Canucks. OUTLOOK: Benning has US$19.475 million in salary-cap space to play with, so that’s not an issue. He met with forward Sam Gagner on Wednesday, a UFA who would seem to be a good fit with Vancouver. Offence on the blue-line definitely is needed, too: the Canucks received just 22 goals from defencemen last season. CANDIDATES: F Sam Gagner, D Michael Del Zotto, D Matt Hunwick, D Dmitry Kulikov, G Anders Nilsson