The 2023 Stanley Cup has been awarded, and as the Vegas Golden Knights light up the Sin City Strip with what’s shaping up to be an all-time championship celebration, hockey fans are focused on the start of off-trade. season.
The draft, free agency and numerous trades await before the league truly settles in for the dog days of summer, and several relevant NHL scenarios require answers. With that in mind, here are five lingering off-season questions to ponder before the action begins.
Can Brad Treliving extend Auston Matthews?
The messy departure of Kyle Dubas as general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs and the impending hiring of Brad Treliving made waves as the playoffs raged, and now that the Cup has been handed out, the pressure on Treliving to lock the face of its franchise is set to grow exponentially with each passing day.
Treliving called a new Matthews deal his top priority during his introductory press conference, and it’s hard to ignore the addition of Shane Doan – an Arizona icon and one of Arizona’s idols. Matthews’ childhood – in the front office as negotiations loom. Matthew declared he wants to sign an extension before the puck drops for the 2023-2024 campaign, but the mutual interest isn’t enough to make a deal of this magnitude a walk in the park.
Treliving needs to do its best to establish a team culture that didn’t seem to exist under the previous regime, because even if Matthews signs, negotiations with William Nylander (UFA 2024) and Mitch Marner (UFA 2025) are fast approaching. . Offering Matthews less than he thinks he deserves is a risky move because, in this case, the player holds almost all of the leverage.
His no-move clause takes effect July 1, and the Leafs can’t risk Matthews walking for nothing a year from now. The 2022 MVP and two-time scoring king will undoubtedly strive to be close to Nathan MacKinnon’s league-high $12.6 million cap hit regardless of his tenure. But the Colorado Avalanche big man signed for eight years – something Matthews has already decided will not end his entry-level contract. Theoretically, Matthews could sign a three-to-five-year contract and have an additional chance to make money around age 30, which is well within his rights. But if that’s all Treliving can get, his tenure will get off to a rocky start in the eyes of a restless fan base.
How many blockbuster deals can we expect?
The unrestricted free agent market this summer is disappointing, to say the least. There are no headliners like there were many years ago, and while the Canada Day festivities lack fireworks, there is a pretty sizable consolation prize for fans who thirst for player movement this summer: exchanges.
There have already been two notable deals with Ivan Provorov and Damon Severson landing in Columbus, and from all the rumors flying around, more blockbusters await. Will the San Jose Sharks benefit from Erik Karlsson’s historic season? Will the Winnipeg Jets burn out their long-time core? Pierre-Luc Dubois and Connor Hellebuyck have already expressed their desire to find greener pastures, and the writing could also be on the wall for veterans Mark Scheifele and Blake Wheeler.
The Ottawa Senators are fielding offers on two-time 40-goal winger Alex DeBrincat, as are the Washington Capitals and forward Anthony Mantha. Elsewhere, the Philadelphia Flyers are heading toward a fire sale, the Calgary Flames have a glut of key players entering the final years of their contracts, and cap-strapped teams like the Boston Bruins may have to sacrifice revenue raised to become financially compliant. .
Free agency may not generate much frenzy, but there should be no shortage of exciting deals this summer.
Who will benefit from the weak free agent market?
We’ve already established the unattractiveness of this year’s crop of UFAs, but that won’t stop league front offices from scouring the list of available players to find hidden value or perhaps overpay for cause a sensation out of desperation. While there are no superstars available, there will be plenty of recognizable names putting pen to paper, including Dmitry Orlov, Ryan O’Reilly and Vladimir Tarasenko. Veterans like Patrice Bergeron, Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane are also unrestricted, but the threat of retirement and injury looms over future Hall of Famers.
None of the above are feasible long-term options. Even this year’s most productive pending free agent – Alex Killorn, and his 64 points – carries significant red flags at age 33 with a ton of extra mileage thanks to Tampa Bay’s deep playoff run over the years. So, which one is worth buying?
Below are a few players we think have the best chance of emerging from the hype with some notable wealth. Contractual projections are courtesy of Hockey in evolution:
| player position) | Current AAV | Projected duration | Projected AAV |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dmitri Orlov (D) | $5.1 million | 5 years | $6.3 million |
| JT Compher (F) | $3.5 million | 4 years | $5.69 million |
| Ryan O’Reilly (F) | $7.5 million | 3 years | $5.53 million |
| Tyler Bertuzzi (W) | $4.75 million | 4 years | $5.52 million |
| Michael Bunting (F) | $950,000 | 4 years | $5.43 million |
| Vladimir Tarasenko (F) | $7.5 million | 3 years | $5.3 million |
These totals pale in comparison to some of the mega-deals we’ve seen in recent years, but the lavish spending plans are expected to be back on track in 2024 with the salary cap increased for a year. star list of UFAs.
Can the Sabers use cap space to take the next step?
The Buffalo Sabers were one of the biggest surprises of last season, finishing one point out of the playoffs while possessing one of the most dangerous offenses in the league. There’s no doubt that Kevyn Adams has built a group on the rise, and with nearly $17 million in cap space available this summer and more than $49 million in 2024, the Sabers have the ammunition to advance to contender status as soon as possible.
It’s worth noting that Buffalo has only signed nine players beyond next season, and a Rasmus Dahlin extension (he’s eligible for one on July 1) will likely take up a significant piece of the pie. However, that shouldn’t stop Adams from actively looking for improvements this summer, as defensive depth and goaltending are areas of need. Spending lavishly on a barren free agent market shouldn’t be the goal this year, but using a pipeline of top-tier prospects to improve now is worth considering.
A veteran goaltender like Hellebuyck or John Gibson, also about to be on the block, would be a tremendous mentor to Devon Levi and a very useful stopgap until the youngster is ready to take the reins. Buffalo ranked 29th in five-on-five save percentage last season and needs to improve immediately if it seriously wants to make the playoffs.
The Sabers have two cornerstones on the blue line in Dahlin and Owen Power, but one or two very reliable veterans on the back end could go a long way to bolstering Buffalo’s chances in a deep Atlantic Division. The Blues, Kings and Bruins all have experienced defensemen who might have to be let go this summer, and if there’s no room on the trade market, Adams could stir the pot and take a chance with an offer for high-end talent. like Vince Dunn or K’Andre Miller.
How aggressive will Daniel Brière become?
While the Sabers are one of the teams on the rise this summer, the Flyers are the headliners among the teams going in the opposite direction. Briere did a good job in the three-team trade that sent Provorov to the Blue Jackets, and many believe the move is just the tip of the offseason iceberg for the rookie general manager.
Travis Konecny, Carter Hart and Scott Laughton are all rumored to be attracting attention from potential suitors, and dealing any one of them – or all of them – could kick the Flyers’ impending rebuild into high gear. None of the three have commercial protection and all come with contractual control to further increase their value. Konecny is under contract for two more years for $5.5 million, Laughton’s deal costs a modest $3 million through 2026, and Hart is an RFA after his contract expires next season .
Every player could at least get a first-round pick and a high-end prospect. With two first-rounders already in each of the next two drafts, Briere could aggressively add to an enviable stockpile of future selections if he shops his most attractive trade chips ahead of this month’s festivities in Nashville.
Shipping three talented players on short notice may be tough for Flyers fans to swallow, but the organization has lacked long-term vision for years, and Briere was presented with a golden opportunity to establish a record. road to competition during his first year. in the chair.
