Devils winger Yegor Sharangovich took a step backward offensively this season, notching just 13 goals and 30 points after putting up 24 and 46 respectively in 2021-22. Things weren’t any better for him in the playoffs when he became a frequent healthy scratch. The 24-year-old is a restricted free agent this summer with arbitration eligibility and Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman relayed in a recent appearance on Sportsnet 590 (audio link) that there was some speculation around the trade deadline that New Jersey was considering moving him then over concerns about his arbitration award. While his playoff performance won’t bolster his case, his numbers from 2021-22 will likely push that award well beyond his $2.05MM qualifying offer and with the team needing to re-sign both Jesper Bratt and Timo Meier and deal with several other UFAs, what Sharangovich could get awarded might be more than they can afford.
Elsewhere in the East:
- With final bids being due Monday for the Senators, Postmedia’s Bruce Garrioch reports that the Melnyk family has informed the remaining potential suitors that they would like to retain up to 10% of the franchise in the sale agreement. It’s believed that there are six groups remaining in play although Garrioch notes it’s unlikely that all of them will wind up making a binding offer. At the moment, he suggests three bids are likely and three other groups are more uncertain.
- For anyone expecting immediate front office changes in Toronto following their second-round loss to Florida, that might not be the case. Pierre LeBrun of TSN and The Athletic reports (Twitter link) that Maple Leafs GM Kyle Dubas is scheduled to speak to the media on Monday. Generally, if a team knows that they’re firing an executive, that person wouldn’t be taking questions. It doesn’t mean changes won’t be coming but, for now at least, Dubas remains at the helm.
@Brian – Just the mere mention of Dubas probably had many members’ hopes up, only to be dashed, at least temporarily.
@Mac – The boy “genius” needs to be humbled. Just My humble opinion though. :)
@Gbear – I don’t think you’re alone there. He might have had more success, if not for, what I believe, is cap mismanagement due to them (and other teams) believing it would increase far more than Bettman’s defective business model would allow. Because of their revenue generation abilities, MLSE as a whole should have realized that Bettman’s numbers couldn’t add up and should have adjusted downward, with a “best guess” approach. If they had under-spent, relatively speaking, they’d be in much better shape. Sure, that would’ve meant a slightly different looking roster, but the opportunity to do things in a similar vein to Boston, could’ve led to more success. The media honks on the interweb radio all believe that if Dubas gets cut loose, though, he’ll get on with another team very quickly. I guess we shall see, eh?
@Gbear – If you haven’t read Zeisberger’s article (NHL.com) on the Leafs, he’s got a couple of statements in there that are doozies. The “Really?” moment in that piece for me was Keefe saying, “I believe we had a team good enough to win the Stanley Cup”. If the Cup was awarded for a really good regular season effort, maybe. I listened to many of their games, and you could feel the improvement from previous seasons. I was surprised that they pulled an unreal choke job in the second round, though. The cartoon statement after getting out of the first round was, “OK, now what do we do?” Well, we found out, didn’t we? They played like they were mentally fried. It wouldn’t surprise me if they dealt Bunting, as he has incurred the wrath of the stripes, which, in turn, results in the rest of the team being punished.
Bunting is an unrestricted free agent. He’s free to sign with any team.
@dswaim – True enough. I should’ve looked first, but have also heard that they may be overly enamored with him as an “energy” guy. As long as he has (unjustly acquired) “reputation call” status, he could end up being more detriment than help, which is what got Kadri in such hot water.
No way we re-sign bunting he will be too expensive.
I have also never seen someone fall down so much in a playoff game, it seemed every shift he was laying on the ice. I thought he was a none factor all playoffs (except the Cernak hit)
Yeah, I can’t imagine that anyone with a 30,000 ft view would have said the Leafs could be considered Cup favorites with that combination of average goaltending and defense. Everyone knew Matt Murray was a looming disaster when that perplexing deal was made, and kudos to Dorion for actually being able to move him.
Murray deal was a disaster twice, when they made it and when we moved cap to bring him off ltir and then not even use him.
@Justajaysfan – That’s another good reason.
@Justajaysfan – Hence the reason he’s in the stripes’ doghouse for perceived diving. Now he has the “Boy Who Cried Wolf!” syndrome and in the cases he does draw a legit penalty, it often goes uncalled.
European players don’t deal well with adversity especially in the playoffs and honestly the Devils have alot of European players.
Same thing was said last week when Gallant gave season ending presser. Doesn’t mean what it used to. If Dubas goes out and talks and then says wrong things to Shanny next day, he’ll be as gone as Gallant is.