The stretch run is upon as we get set to turn the calendar to April. We’re still likely a few weeks away from some big headlines but there was still some notable news across the NHL which is recapped in our key stories.
Three For Benoit: Last summer, Simon Benoit was non-tendered by Anaheim, eventually settling for a one-year deal worth the NHL minimum salary with Toronto. However, he has done well with the Maple Leafs and he was rewarded for his efforts with a three-year, $4.05MM contract extension. The 25-year-old has played in 55 games this season and while he doesn’t put up many points (just five so far), he leads the team in hits with 210 while averaging nearly 17 minutes a night, giving the third pairing some stability. That stability will now run through the 2026-27 season.
Injuries: If the Islanders are going to climb up the standings and into the playoffs, they’ll have to do so without defenseman Scott Mayfield as it was revealed that he underwent season-ending surgery. The 31-year-old has been limited to just 41 games this season due to injuries, hardly the way he or the team wanted the first season of his seven-year contract to go. Meanwhile, Blues center Oskar Sundqvist suffered a torn ACL and will be out for the rest of the season. He returned for a second go-around with St. Louis in the summer and did well enough to earn a two-year, $3MM contract earlier this month just before the trade deadline. With a six-month recovery timeline, Sundqvist won’t be ready for the start of training camp and could miss the start of next season.
Fleury Open To Playing Next Season: When Marc-Andre Fleury signed a two-year deal with Minnesota in 2022, it was widely expected that those two seasons would be the last ones of Fleury’s career. However, that might not be the case as the veteran netminder indicated this week that he would be open to re-signing with the Wild for next season. However, that option would only extend to Minnesota as he appears to be unwilling to move his family again. Fleury is in his 20th NHL season and while his GAA is the same as a year ago at 2.85, he has lost nine points off his save percentage, going from .908 to .899, his lowest since 2005-06. However, if the Wild feel that prospect Jesper Wallstedt would be better suited with another AHL season, they could decide to bring Fleury back for one more year.
Fedotov Joins Flyers: The Flyers have waited a long time to get Ivan Fedotov to North America, even when he had a contract going back to last season. Fedotov played in the KHL this season despite sanctions from the IIHF but he was surprisingly released from that deal this week, paving the way for the netminder to finish up the year with Philadelphia. It might not just be a short-term option for the 27-year-old as extension talks are already underway. Fedotov had a quiet year by his standards with CSKA Moscow but still managed a 2.37 GAA and a .914 SV% in 44 games. Long viewed as one of the top netminders outside North America, Fedotov represents an immediate upgrade at the backup goalie position and if a new deal is agreed on, he could help bolster Philadelphia’s crease position for a little while.
Bear Enters Assistance Program: The Capitals will be without defenseman Ethan Bear indefinitely as he has entered the NHL/NHLPA Assistance Program. Bear had to wait until late December to get a contract after being injured while playing for Canada at the Worlds back in May although he was able to get a back-loaded two-year, $4.125MM deal from the Capitals. Through 24 games this season, Bear has a goal and three assists while averaging a little under 15 minutes a night.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Who would pay Mayfield until he’s nearly 38 years old? Or any player for that matter. It’s just pissing money away.
Or any player for that matter? A couple of 39 year olds named Burns and Pavelski shoot rather large holes in another of your babbling theories. Guessing that Carolina and Dallas believe that the money has been well spent.