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Profiling free-agent defenseman Tyson Barrie after career-worst season
It wasn’t too long ago that free-agent defenseman Tyson Barrie was one of the better power-play threats from the back end in the NHL, and while his defensive game was a weak spot, he still was counted on to play a notable role. However, after a rough showing last season, the veteran still finds himself unsigned more than a month into unrestricted free agency.
Stars GM confident team will re-sign rising defenseman
The Dallas Stars are still mulling over contract details with defenseman Thomas Harley, the team’s final restricted free agent. Stars general manager Jim Nill isn’t phased by negotiations carrying into August, sharing with Lia Assimakopoulos of The Dallas Morning News that he’s confident talks will ramp up soon and Harley will re-sign. Nill added, “We’re having healthy communication. We’re having talks. … We’re going to get him signed. I’m not too concerned.”
Avalanche sign Matthew Phillips to one-year deal
The Avalanche have signed forward Matthew Phillips to a one-year contract, the team announced. It’s not clear yet if it’s a one-way or two-way deal. Phillips, a diminutive 5-foot-8 winger who spent his junior days with the Western Hockey League’s Victoria Royals, was a sixth-round pick of the Flames in 2016. He signed his entry-level contract and turned pro with their AHL affiliate in Stockton two years later, quickly becoming one of the minor league’s top offensive players. In parts of five seasons with the Flames’ affiliates in Stockton and Calgary, Phillips totaled 237 points (103 G, 134 A) in 265 games. He was named to the league’s First All-Star Team in 2022-23, his final year in the organization, after leading the team in scoring with 76 points (36 G, 40 A) in 66 games.
Blue Jackets nearing deal with former first-round pick
The Blue Jackets are close to handling business with RFA forward Cole Sillinger. Aaron Portzline of The Athletic reports Columbus and Sillinger are within “striking distance” on a two-year contract. Sillinger has been a staple on Columbus’ roster for the past three seasons after going 12th overall in...
Jets GM makes strong statement about Winnipeg's younger players
While at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup in Edmonton, Alberta, Winnipeg Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff spoke very candidly about the younger players on the roster. According to TSN, Cheveldayoff said, “The ball’s in their court. If you’re a young player in our organization right now, it’s all in front of you, there for the taking.“
Former first-rounder, Oilers defenseman confirms retirement
Former Oilers defenseman Oscar Klefbom, who hasn’t played a game since August 2020 due to a shoulder injury, has confirmed his retirement, via Rasmus Kagstrom of Hockey Sverige. “It is as it is. I wasn’t quite done with hockey as a sport. But now it’s over,” Klefbom said (translated...
Profiling Kailer Yamamoto amid extended stay on free-agent market
It has been a rather steep fall from grace in recent years for unrestricted free-agent winger Kailer Yamamoto. Thought of as a key piece of Edmonton’s core just a few years ago, he now finds himself looking for a new deal more than a month into free agency. Yamamoto...
Will superstitious Sidney Crosby sign contract extension on Aug. 7?
Most teams don’t have franchise-defining moments in the first week of August, but as Jason Mackey of Pittsburgh Post-Gazette writes, that could happen to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Wednesday. Aug. 7 is Sidney Crosby’s 37th birthday, and Mackey wonders if it might be the day that Crosby signs his long-awaited contract extension with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Crosby has been notoriously superstitious throughout his career when it comes to the No. 87, carrying an $8.7M cap hit since the 2008-09 season and wearing No. 87 for his entire career. Many in Pittsburgh believe he will sign a new deal tomorrow on 8/7, but it’s fair to wonder what will happen to the team if he doesn’t.
Senators sign No. 7 overall pick to entry-level deal
The Senators have signed top 2024 draft choice Carter Yakemchuk to his three-year entry-level contract, the team announced. Financial terms were not disclosed. Yakemchuk, 18, was the second defenseman taken in the class, going to Ottawa at No. 7 after the Blackhawks selected Artyom Levshunov second overall. Given his early birthday (Sep. 29), Yakemchuk has already accumulated three seasons of junior hockey with the Western Hockey League’s Calgary Hitmen. Last season, he was named to the WHL’s Central Division First All-Star Team and led all defensemen in goals with 30. He added 41 assists for 71 points in 66 games, adding a whopping 120 PIMs and a -6 rating.
Capitals loan second-round pick to EV Zug
The Capitals have officially loaned 2024 second-round pick Leon Muggli back to Switzerland’s EV Zug for 2024-25, the team announced. The National League club said in July that it was in discussions to take the 18-year-old defenseman back on loan for this season after he signed his entry-level contract with Washington.
Did Blue Jackets do enough to take step forward in 2024-25?
The Blue Jackets were one of the most active teams last summer, acquiring Ivan Provorov and Damon Severson to bolster their blue line and drafting Adam Fantilli third overall after a nightmarish 2022-23 season. They also tabbed Mike Babcock to be their next head coach, kicking off months of off-ice instability that contributed to Columbus staying well below the playoff demarcation line with a 66-point campaign in 2023-24.
Does acquiring Patrik Laine make sense for the Wild?
Joe Smith and Michael Russo wrote in The Athletic earlier Monday that not only does disgruntled winger Patrik Laine make sense for the Minnesota Wild, but the team kicked the tires on him at the 2024 NHL Draft. Quite obviously, the major hurdle in bringing Laine to the ’State of...
Blackhawks sign first-rounder Marek Vanacker
The Blackhawks have signed left wing prospect Marek Vanacker to his three-year, entry-level contract, per a team release. It carries the maximum ELC cap hit of $975K. Vanacker, 18, was the 27th overall pick in June’s draft. Chicago acquired the selection from the Hurricanes on draft day, sending the No. 34 (Dominik Badinka) and No. 50 (Nikita Artamonov) picks the other way. He spent his draft year with the Brantford Bulldogs of the Ontario Hockey League.
Sabres likely to keep 2024 first-round pick in North America this season
After going 14th overall in this summer’s draft and subsequently signing his entry-level contract, it appears Sabres prospect Konsta Helenius’ time in his native Finland is over for the foreseeable future. Liiga club Tappara, which owns his rights, said Monday that Helenius is “looking for a place to play in the Sabres organization” this season and is unlikely to return to the club.
Reliable veteran defenseman remains available as NHL free agent
The NHL is dab in the middle of the dog days of summer. Free agency has ground to a halt as many names around the NHL get in brief vacations or an early jump on their training. But the open market still offers a long list of long-time NHL veterans, still capable of filling depth roles. The most valuable among them might be right-shot defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk, following a stout performance on the Boston Bruins’ third pairing and second power-play unit last season.
Three questions ahead of the 2024 Hlinka Gretzky Cup
The 2024 Hlinka Gretzky Cup is set to kick off on August 5th in Edmonton. The event will feature the top U18 players from eight countries — Canada, Czechia, Finland, Germany, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland and the United States. It’s the first chance for many of the top names in the 2025 NHL Draft to earn their keep, sparking plenty of storylines worth following closely. We’ll break down three top storylines entering the unofficial start of the NHL scouting season.
Profiling defenseman Oliver Kylington amid extended stay on free-agent market
Now more than a month into free agency, pretty much all of the top talents are off the board. However, there are a handful of intriguing players still available, one of whom is defenseman Oliver Kylington. It has been a series of ups and downs for the 27-year-old for the...
Kings' defensive success sits with top prospects
The Los Angeles Kings will be entering the 2024-25 season with a glaring absence on defense after Matt Roy opted to sign with the Washington Capitals. Roy was a pillar of the Kings lineup, averaging 20 minutes a night over the last three seasons and serving as the consistent, well-rounded impact that allowed riskier players like Drew Doughty to thrive. But despite losing a paramount right-handed defender, Los Angeles has yet to make any notable blue-line additions — save for a surprisingly expensive, four-year deal for left-shot Joel Edmundson. They’re now left with just $1.4M in remaining cap space, leaving the job of filling Roy’s role up to top young Kings Jordan Spence and Brandt Clarke.
Veteran defenseman lands AHL deal with back-to-back Calder Cup champs
The Capitals’ AHL affiliate, the Hershey Bears, have landed veteran free-agent defenseman Brad Hunt on a one-year deal, per a team announcement. The blueliner settles for a minor league contract after spending the last two seasons on a two-way deal with the Avalanche. Hunt, 36 later this month, saw...
Former Devils center Michael McLeod signs in Kazakhstan while awaiting trial
Free-agent center Michael McLeod has signed a one-year contract with Kazakhstan’s Barys Astana of the Kontinental Hockey League, the team announced. The former Devil is one of five players awaiting trial after being charged with sexual assault in connection to an alleged 2018 assault involving members of the Canadian men’s national junior team. McLeod is the only one of the group facing two counts’ worth of charges, the London Police Service confirmed in January.
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