Kyle Dubas just concluded the largest trade of the NHL off-season, landing defenseman Erik Karlsson in a three-team deal that propels the Pittsburgh Penguins’ desire to win, he was asked if there were any other moves in store.
The Penguins’ general manager and president of hockey operations said he thinks he is done this summer. Still, he affirmed: “You can never make any promises. You always want to try and improve the team.”
General manager of the Washington Capitals, Brian MacLellan is still working the phones, not giving up on the hope of securing a top-six forward before NHL training camp next month.
“We’re still talking to agents,” MacLellan said after signing Tom Wilson to a seven-year extension. “We’re still talking to a few teams about a trade, so we’ll see how it pans out at the end.”
Kuznetsove trade?
For the second time in three years, Evgeny Kuznetsov is in trade talks; with discussions opening in the NHL off-season. The Capitals center switched agents after delivering 55 points in 78 games, more than a 30-point drop from the past season.
Kuznetsov is 31 and has two more years left on his contract at a huge salary cap hit of $7.8 million. The Capitals, who like Pittsburgh want to get back in the playoffs and stay contenders, will not give away the player who led them in scoring during their 2018 Stanley Cup run.
But if something good happens, Washington may move on from Kuzntsov or trade underachieving forward Anthony Mantha.
“I think we had a few discussions at the draft that might carry forward or might not carry forward,” MacLellan said. “We’re comfortable with where we’re at. We’d still like to change. We’ll see where it goes here.”
Trade talk
The Carolina Hurricanes and Calgary Flames are worth watching too.
Carolina brought back defenseman Tony DeAngelo following his buyout by Philadelphia and may want to trade Brett Pesce or Brady Skjei to clear a blue-line log jam. Each player has only a year left on his contract.
“My job as the general manager is just to stay on the phone every day and continue to look to see if we can make our team better — hard to do right now,” GM Don Waddell said recently, referring to the Hurricanes’ salary cap crunch. “But certainly we’ll continue to talk to different teams and free agents and see what shakes out.”
Elias Lindholm, whom the Hurricanes sent to the Flames in 2018, is entering the final year of his contract. New Calgary general manager Craig Conroy has already traded forward Tyler Toffoli to New Jersey as part of the team’s retooling process and Lindholm may be next.
The Winnipeg Jets are yet to trade two key players a year before they become unrestricted free agents: 2020 Vezina Trophy-winning goaltender Connor Hellebuyck and top center Mark Scheifele. They bought out former captain Blake Wheeler in the first step of a roster overhaul, but they do not expect Hellebuyck or Scheifele to stay in Winnipeg much longer.
Free agents
Another highlight of the NHL off-season is the Toronto Maple Leafs signing veteran goaltender, Martin Jones to a contract of $875,000 for next season. Jaroslav Halak, Brian Elliott and Aaron Dell are among goalies in their 30s still available.
Phil Kessel, the NHL’s ironman fresh from a Stanley Cup victory with Vegas and getting his name engraved on the trophy for the third time, is also unsigned. The forward was a healthy scratch for the majority of the playoffs, although his regular season streak is untouched at 1,064 consecutive games played.
Eric Staal, who reached the final with Florida and turns 39 in October, is another veteran option, as is center Derick Brassard. Teams looking for a defenseman, Nick Holden is on the market, including Seth Jones’ brother, Caleb, they were not given a qualifying offer by Chicago and is a young unrestricted free agent at 26.
Restricted free agents like Anaheim Ducks’ Trevor Zegras, Philadelphi’s Morgan Frost and Edmonton Oiler’s Evan Bouchard are among players without a contract.
Kane watch
Patrick Kane underwent hip resurfacing surgery on June 1; an invasive operation that requires four to six months of recovery time. As his rehab continues, there have been rumours linking him to his hometown Buffalo Sabres, who are on the rise and could benefit from a player with three Stanley Cup rings.
Kane is expected to receive significant interest around the league from teams that wish he’ll get back to All-Star form.
Chicago Blackhawks teammate Jonathan Toews is a free agent too, although he may decide to retire at 35 after missing significant time.
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Penguins buy Erik Karlsson in three-team trade with Sharks, Canadiens.
