NHL Draft rumblings: What the Lightning are up to, Utah’s defense haul, Guentzel, Reinhart and more

LAS VEGAS — Day 2 positive wasn’t boring on the NHL Draft, and it started with the Tampa Bay Lightning setting off fireworks contained in the Sphere.

The cap-clearing trades of Mikhail Sergachev ($8.5 million common annual worth) to Utah and Tanner Jeannot ($2.6 million AAV) to the Los Angeles Kings grabbed everybody’s consideration.

What’s it organising subsequent?

Lightning common supervisor Julien BriseBois did circle again to veteran agent Don Meehan on Saturday relating to pending unrestricted free agent Steven Stamkos, so there’s that. However in all chance, that is about one other potential massive transfer, and league sources level to sturdy curiosity from the Bolts in pending UFA Jake Guentzel.

“Because the calendar turned to June and it seemed unlikely we might be capable to come to phrases with Stammer on a contract, and common managers are beginning to chat extra about our respective wants and needs and attainable commerce eventualities, we began to do deeper dives by way of due diligence on potential unrestricted free brokers and began exploring numerous commerce prospects,” BriseBois stated after the draft Saturday.

“Within the final week right here, as our group hunkered down collectively in Vegas, one of many avenues we began exploring extra critically was presumably utilizing the truth that we’re actually sturdy on the left facet of our D-core to deal with our ahead group. Reallocate some cap house between the 2 positions to finish up with a stronger, extra balanced group. And that’s the place the concept of buying and selling Mikhail Sergachev to Utah began to take form.

“The tip result’s that we gave up a two-time Stanley Cup-winning, stud 26-year-old No. 1 defenseman. However, we find yourself with a youthful top-four defenseman in JJ Moser, wherein we nonetheless see the potential for development. We purchase a 20-year-old high-end prospect who performs a premium place in Conor Geekie. We haven’t had the posh of getting a prospect of this excessive of a profile in a few years.”

The Jeannot commerce cleared extra cap house and netted a second- and a fourth-round choose.

However the actual story right here is that Tampa Bay all of a sudden has probably the most cap house it has had in a really very long time.

“The hope is that this newfound cap house, our favorable taxation state of affairs and the chance to play with some nice gamers ought to make us an interesting vacation spot when free brokers must make selections on the place to signal come July 1,” BriseBois stated. “The surprising consequence of this newfound cap house is that quite a few groups are actually reaching out about gamers that could be out there.”

Julien Brisebois has to get inventive this offseason to get his group again to profitable within the playoffs. (Andy Devlin / Getty Photographs)

As for Stamkos, the longtime face of the franchise, it doesn’t seem as if Saturday modified lots.

“I met with Don Meehan once more this morning following the commerce,” BriseBois stated. “The plan is for Steven to check the free-agent market. Our respective positions haven’t modified following right this moment’s trades. I perceive that once you get this near free company, it may be tempting to see what the market has to give you. It was a threat I used to be taking after I didn’t go to Steven a yr early. And to be honest, I advised Donnie that I feel it’s in the perfect curiosity of our group to discover all choices within the coming days, whether or not it’s through trades or by attending to free company and seeing how we are able to use this cover house to enhance the make-up of our group.”

The NHL is a enterprise in the beginning, however you do must surprise if the Lightning are underestimating what Stamkos means to that market and dressing room.

Once more, all indicators now level to an even bigger play for Guentzel, but when they will’t reel him in, they’ve the pliability to pursue different choices as effectively.

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Utah makes a splash

Utah Hockey Membership expects to be gamers when free company opens Monday, however there was a restrict to how a lot purchasing GM Invoice Armstrong wished to go away for the open market.

A part of the attraction of the draft-shaking trades to amass Sergachev and John Marino on Saturday morning was getting two confirmed commodities of their primes with loads of time period nonetheless remaining on their contracts.

Had he not made these additions, Armstrong would have left himself weak getting into the free-agent interval. Utah really began this week with no NHL defensemen beneath contract for subsequent season, and that doubtless would have difficult negotiations with brokers, who nearly definitely would have tried to make use of it as leverage for his or her shoppers.

“When you’re filling three holes, it’s fairly powerful,” Armstrong stated.

Two had been full of trades introduced six minutes aside and should in the end have introduced again Utah’s prime protection pairing. They be part of a blue line that now has 4 gamers beneath contract (Juuso Valimaki re-signed Saturday and Michael Kesselring Friday) with one other the group is assured it should get a deal executed with (RFA Sean Durzi).

Sergachev will definitely grow to be the group’s No. 1 following seven seasons in Tampa. Nonetheless solely 26 and a two-time Cup winner, Sergachev was lauded by Armstrong for his capacity to contribute in each side of the sport. The Utah GM has had him on his radar for a while now and believes he’ll be a pacesetter who may also help convey alongside the group’s younger Russian prospects, together with final yr’s No. 6 choose, Dmitriy Simashev.

“We wished to cement a top-end D that may play a ton of minutes,” Armstrong stated. “Good thick physique on him. He performs onerous. He blocks photographs. Can play on the offense and the protection. He’s received. He’s bought lots to convey into our tradition.”

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Sergachev is signed for six extra seasons.

Marino is coming off a down yr in New Jersey, however appears like a powerful candidate to bounce again. The 27-year-old right-shot is a high-end skater and a possession driver who’s beneath contract by 2026-27.

When free company opens, Armstrong will nonetheless be seeking to signal one other defenseman, ideally one who can play the left facet. However he can take consolation in figuring out that he doesn’t have to construct your complete factor up from scratch.

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Stanley Cup free brokers

Whereas his gamers proceed to rejoice their Stanley Cup victory, Florida Panthers GM Invoice Zito is doing no matter he can to maintain the group collectively.

A very powerful order of enterprise is getting Sam Reinhart’s signature on an extension earlier than he hits the open market. Florida would clearly like to retain the 57-goal man, who’s due a elevate on the $6.5 million annual contract he simply completed. It’s simply not clear if will probably be in a position to.

Among the many group’s different pending UFAs are Vladimir Tarasenko, Kyle Okposo, Nick Cousins, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Dmitry Kulikov and Brandon Montour.

Discussions between Zito and the brokers for these gamers didn’t even actually get going till after the Panthers beat Edmonton in Sport 7 earlier this week.

“Everyone knew what was occurring,” stated Zito. “Everyone knew, ‘Effectively, we are able to’t actually do that now.’ I talked to the brokers and stated, ‘Pay attention, be prepared the day after.’”

The group will maintain its Stanley Cup parade and celebration in Fort Lauderdale on Sunday.

Then Zito dives instantly into free company.

“We’re going to attempt to preserve all people,” he advised The Athletic. “Clearly it’s a particular group, and we’ll attempt to preserve as many guys as we are able to and be conscious that there’s alternative (on the open market) for folks. Now we have a cap. Radko Gudas (who signed with the Anaheim Ducks final summer season) was an excellent instance, however you understand what? That’s good for us too. Whereas that’s a loss in a single space, then perhaps the following man will come and say ‘OK, it labored out for me.’”

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The Devils made a pair of trades Saturday, one organising a possible UFA signing Monday, the opposite addressing a necessity for extra sandpaper.

First, the Devils shipped Marino to Utah for a pair of second-round picks. It’s a transfer that seems to arrange the UFA signing of Brett Pesce on Monday, in response to league sources.

“We’d wish to be aggressive in free company,” Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald advised The Athletic after the commerce, not naming any free agent by title, after all. “And to be sincere with you, getting a second-round choose for right this moment in that deal was actually vital for my group — the goalie that we picked. Marty Brodeur was begging to get him a second-round choose. And the one approach I might try this was with John Marino.

“John is a superb participant. He’s going to assist Utah. We simply really feel like, ‘Let’s get within the (UFA) market.’ In order that’s the place we’re going.”

Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald made some surprising strikes Saturday. (Bruce Bennett / Getty Photographs)

Then got here a commerce that had lots of people buzzing, with the Devils shifting Alexander Holtz and Akira Schmid to Vegas for Paul Cotter and a 2025 third-round choose.

It’s a deal that wasn’t acquired favorably by a whole lot of Devils followers, giving up on a latest first-round choose in Holtz. However I get what New Jersey is doing. The Devils misplaced a sure dimension when Miles Wood went to the Colorado Avalanche.

And within the larger image, as we noticed with the Panthers remodeling themselves two years in the past from an offense-only group to a balanced, bodily and defensively aware group that simply received the Cup, the Devils really feel they should grow to be extra balanced. It’s not nearly scoring objectives.

“It was a chance so as to add a participant with dimension, skating capacity and physicality,” Fitzgerald stated of Cotter. “We imagine he’s solely scratching the floor of his capacity. With that, you could give to get. Alex would have discovered himself because the odd man out. I’m seeking to construct a sure kind of backside six.

“With Schmid, he would have been our No. 4 this yr. With our new tandem (Jacob Markstrom and Jake Allen), he slipped within the depth chart.”

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Preds’ plan on Askarov

The Nashville Predators will proceed to pay attention on younger goalie Yaroslav Askarov, however after not having the ability to transfer up within the first spherical Friday, Nashville can also be snug retaining him round and giving him the chance to study from Juuse Saros, whose new eight-year, $61.92 million extension must be finalized and introduced Monday.

“Persons are phoning on him (Askarov), clearly. With us getting near getting Saros executed, clearly the rumors begin and also you guys have one thing to jot down about,” Preds GM Barry Trotz stated with a smile on Saturday. “However goaltending, you’ll be able to’t have an excessive amount of of.

“Bear in mind what we did with Pekka Rinne and (a youthful) Saros, and earlier than that Pekka Rinne and Chris Mason, and earlier than that Tomas Vokoun. I feel there’s a development. Up to now Askarov, I don’t know too many 21-year-old goaltenders which can be main their group within the Nationwide Hockey League.

“It’s all the time that sluggish burn with goalies, the place you proceed to refine your sport and proceed to develop your confidence as a goaltender.”

Once more, the Preds are open to listening on Askarov, however they’re fantastic retaining him round to study from Saros, too.

“I’ve to take heed to calls, and if there’s one thing that is sensible for us, then we’ll do it,” Trotz stated. “However there’s no timeframe, no urgency on my half.”

In the meantime, the Predators are hoping to land an offensive piece or two in free company and change Ryan McDonagh on the blue line. League sources stated Nashville will push onerous on Stamkos and Brady Skjei, amongst different choices. The Preds even have curiosity in Chandler Stephenson.

“I’d love so as to add a chunk on the again finish and love so as to add up entrance as effectively,” Trotz stated. “I feel want slightly extra pop up entrance.”

Avs cap dance

Avs GM Chris MacFarland might be seen chatting with veteran agent Allan Walsh after Saturday’s draft wrapped up.

It was clearly about pending UFA Jonathan Drouin.

Walsh a number of moments earlier advised The Athletic he remained in talks with Colorado to get Drouin re-signed, which was additionally what MacFarland advised us.

“Yeah we’re in discussions with them,” MacFarland stated. “Clearly there’s a deadline (when the market opens Monday), and we simply bought to attempt to discover a candy spot. He’s a man we’d definitely wish to have again. He had an ideal yr final yr. Performed phenomenal. I’m biased clearly — I feel our state of affairs was actually good for him, too, to succeed.

“So we’ll see the place we are able to go.”

Avs GM Chris MacFarland has a difficult cap state of affairs to navigate. (Andy Cross / Getty Photographs)

The larger query that continues to hold over the group is what occurs subsequent with Gabriel Landeskog and Valeri Nichuskin.

Landeskog hasn’t performed in two years as he continues to get better from a sort of knee surgical procedure that no NHLer has beforehand come again to play from. And Nichushkin stays suspended with out pay within the midst of a six-month rehab stint as a part of being in Stage 3 of the NHL-NHLPA participant help program.

It begs the query: How does Colorado handle these uncertainties, by way of their impression on the roster?

“It’s onerous,” MacFarland stated. “Two difficult conditions for various causes clearly. I feel with Val, he’s doing what he has to do hopefully this summer season to get higher for him and his household. And hopefully does effectively. That one is a little more clear by way of there’s a path to get again (in November).”

With Landeskog, there aren’t any ensures about how he’ll fare or really feel as soon as he tries to play once more.

“Knock on wooden: He’s feeling good,” MacFarland stated. “He’s doing his rehab. I imagine he’s growing some issues after which it’s simply learn and react off of that. However the distinction from final yr, after we knew he was out 12 months — this yr we don’t. We’re hopeful that he’ll be again, however I can’t say he’ll or received’t. So does that current cap challenges? Sure, it does.”

However the backside line proper now could be that the Avs must proceed like each of these salaries are on the books subsequent season. They’ll’t tie up that cap house with different strikes.

MacFarland made it clear that he’s not entertaining commerce affords on Nichushkin.

“Proper now, I might say it’s not even a spotlight,” he stated. “The main target for Val is to hopefully get higher after which go from there.”

Different fast pending UFA updates

• Carolina, as of Saturday afternoon, had not given up hope on re-signing Guentzel. Hurricanes proprietor Tom Dundon spoke with Guentzel’s agent, Ben Hankinson, on the draft on Saturday.

The Hurricanes this week supplied Guentzel an eight-year, $64 million deal. However as each hour ticks by, it appears extra doubtless that Guentzel needs to see what’s on the market. As talked about above, Tampa Bay is now an actual possibility. And all alongside, there’s been curiosity from the Vancouver Canucks, amongst different groups.

It’s an enormous marketplace for Guentzel. Right here’s one other situation to ponder: Would Carolina be prepared to participate in a sign-and-trade? That would permit Guentzel to get eight years out of it and the Canes to get an asset again in return. It’s a tough factor to drag off in such a short while body.

• Veteran agent Pat Brisson might be seen Saturday at Sphere assembly with Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman relating to pending UFA Patrick Kane.

“We’re nonetheless speaking to Detroit,” Brisson stated. “The intention is to attempt to work one thing out.”

• Brisson additionally met Saturday with Vegas GM Kelly McCrimmon on pending UFA Jonathan Marchessault.

Prime picture of Steven Stamkos: Mike Ehrmann / Getty Photographs)