The Nation Network Notebook is a regular feature that rounds up interesting news, stories, and rumours from around the NHL that don’t quite deserve their own article.
The NHL trade freeze is on until Thursday as teams wait for Vegas to pick their team. There were some surprise names on the unprotected side of things, but hold on before projecting them onto Vegas’ roster, or your favourite team, as there might be a side deal already in place to prevent that. The NHL puts out the official salary cap for next season. The Coyotes are broke and need to find a way to the salary cap floor.
Protection List Surprises
One name that is coming out as unprotected: DET G Petr Mrazek. With Marc-Andre Fleury going to LV, that's an interesting one.
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) June 18, 2017
Teams submitted their lists and they were revealed Sunday morning with some interesting names left unprotected. Detroit chose to protect the older, more expensive Jimmy Howard over Petr Mrazek. James Neal was left unprotected by Nashville.
The Florida Panthers went the eight skaters route, which is not that surprising considering the amount of good defensemen they have, but they protected Nick Bjugstad over Reilly Smith and Jonathan Marchessault. Marchessault scored 30 goals last season and Smith had 50 points last season, but Bjugstad had a tough year only scoring 14 points in 54 points. The Panthers must be gambling that veteran defenseman Jason Demers might be enticing to acquire for either Vegas or another team through the Golden Knights.
Josh Manson and Sami Vatanen were left unprotected by Anaheim, but there is speculation that the Ducks have made a deal with Vegas, which makes things a bit complicated.
Side Deals?!
#Isles leave Nelson, Strome, de Haan unprotected. Would indicate there's a deal in place to keep Vegas away from those three.
— Arthur Staple (@StapeNewsday) June 18, 2017
The expansion draft is a fun and exciting twist to the usual offseason, but hold on to your mock drafts for the Golden Knights’ team just yet. A large amount of deals are reportedly being made so it’ll be virtually impossible to predict Vegas’ team, which the NHL will love.
Fans will have to tune into Wednesday’s award show, as it seems unlikely these deals will leak ahead of time. The Islanders made some curious decisions, including protecting five defensemen and only three forwards, but people close to the Islanders speculate that a deal has been made so they won’t lose a really good player, which could even come at the cost of a first-round draft pick and more.
The price to protect a player should be absurdly high as any team could offer more to obtain that player through Vegas themselves in a three-way trade. Minnesota left a few interesting players exposed in Eric Staal, Marco Scandella, and Matt Dumba, and the Wild are left without a first round pick this year, as well their second round picks this year and the next. If George McPhee wants picks and prospects in return, he might find a better deal to simply transfer Dumba or Scandella elsewhere.
It could be a wild few days, especially with the NHL draft occurring on Friday.
A $75-m Cap
NHL/NHLPA announce $75 M cap for next season, up from $73 M this past year
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) June 18, 2017
There was some speculation the cap would remain flat for next year, but that doesn’t appear to be the case.
The salary cap will increase by $2-million, which means everything to contending teams, as well as the Vegas Golden Knights as they leverage their salary cap space into potential picks or prospects for taking on bad contracts. Although, Vegas
As of right now, only the Chicago Blackhawks are above the cap ceiling, although they should be compliant as soon as Wednesday if Marcus Kruger heads to Vegas like rumours say he is. The Blackhawks seem to always find a way to shed money.
Coyotes need Fake Money
This article from TVA seems to suggest that the Coyotes need to replace Datsyuk this summer. https://t.co/Zx1S74Erby
— dellowhockey (@dellowhockey) June 18, 2017
According to TVA, the Arizona Coyotes are looking to acquire one of those weird contracts like Pavel Datsyuk had, where they carried a big cap hit but spend little to no actual money for it.
$4.25-million of Mike Smith’s contract is heading to Calgary, and Datsyuk’s contract expires, leaving the Coyotes to find a way to reach the salary floor without really spending all that money. The Coyotes need a contract with a big cap hit, but a lot of the actual dollars already paid. Some have linked a contract like the one Marian Hossa has to the Coyotes as a possible fit where they either acquire and buy him out or keep him on the roster, but he’s still a productive player and has a no-move clause so he’s in control of his situation.
David Clarkson’s playing days seem to be over, but his contract might be headed to Vegas.
The Coyotes will need to get creative in order to not spend real money, but how long can this go on and is this really the way the NHL wants its teams to operate?
Nate Schmidt would be nice to get, man he can skate and move the puck. I think Reilly can play RD based on his showing in the playoffs and in previous years.
I’d give up our first for Schmidt, Dumba or Manson. Dumba can put up points and is a right-handed shot. Both he and Manson (another RHD) are also “truculent”!
trade our 1st rounder for vegas to take manson and give him to us
What?
Haha great move!
Dumba would look nice on the power play. But its too much chaos, too hard to even guess what is going to happen.
If the Coyotes need some salary, may I introduce the “truculent” Troy Brouwer! I know a lot of the dollars haven’t been paid… but he may be a good teammate?!
I’ll kick in $20 for his plane ticket
Better save your $20 Puckhead. I have never been there but Quebec is probably a pricey airline ticket. I have heard it is nice an they will start upgrading their arena when the NEW Nordiques come to town. Do you think they change the Name?
Quebec flames just doesn’t ring, what do you think? Actually calgary flames doesn’t either, should have changed the name when Atlanta moved there. calgary turd kickers works, what say you?
Puckhead, you know I like to look at my name when I take of your turd kicker.
I’m puzzled as to why you write your name backwards, DIKAL?
Although the CoilErs are a type of turd, so maybe turd kickers works after all.
care *
I’m looking forward to seeing on Wednesday which team gave up the lowest value player. Hopefully it’s the Canucks – that would be a minor win.
It didn’t look like Vancouver had much value exposed
When you finished 29th last season, you don’t have too much to lose. Any players that will help the Canucks in the future were not eligible for the expansion draft.