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Penguins Should Try Keeping Evgeni Malkin Beyond Next Season

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The Penguins are approaching a new era as players such as Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby prepare for the final seasons of their NHL careers. Crosby has already re-upped with the Penguins for another two seasons, but Malkin has one more year on his contract and will likely retire at the end of the season (as per Josh Yohe of The Athletic). However, Yohe also stated in a recent mailbag that Malkin could stick around with the Penguins if he has a good year, which could be a wise move for Pittsburgh should Malkin be productive in his age-39 season.

It’s not often that rookie NHLers get to play with one franchise icon, let alone two, which is what Pittsburgh could offer their youngsters if Malkin continues to play a few more years. The key would be ensuring that Malkin is productive and that the Penguins don’t simply become a nostalgia act that blocks opportunities for their younger players.

From Malkin’s perspective, he may want to walk away after next season. He doesn’t have much to play for. He’s already a lock for the Hockey Hall of Fame and certainly has no financial reason to play, given that he’s made nearly $150MM in his NHL playing career (as per PuckPedia). It likely comes down to whether he has the itch to stay in Pittsburgh with the Penguins and if he feels he can contribute.

The Penguins have had a growing need for a youth movement for years now, and thanks to the work of general manager Kyle Dubas, it feels that time has come. Pittsburgh’s prospect pool has improved considerably in less than two years, and an injection of younger players is coming to the Penguins’ lineup very soon. Perhaps the excitement of a youth movement could create a desire for Malkin to stay and be a mentor, much like Malkin had with Sergei Gonchar when he first made his way to the NHL.

If Geno stayed in Pittsburgh beyond next season, the question would become in what capacity. Malkin can still produce like a second-line center, but would greatly benefit from a move to the wing and perhaps a lighter schedule. He and Crosby showed some chemistry in a small sample size this year, during which Malkin moved to the wing, and Crosby centered the first line. Malkin doesn’t have the wheels or the strength that made him a Hart Trophy winner a decade ago, but his skill, vision, and playmaking ability are still elite and would be helpful on a line where he isn’t the focal point. He could remain a solid weapon on the power play as he still possesses a heavy one-timer and strong passing ability.

Off the ice, Malkin’s presence in the Penguins’ dressing room and his connection to the fanbase are intangibles that a younger, cheaper player can’t easily replace. He remains a fan favorite in Pittsburgh and one who could help Crosby mentor the next wave of Penguins forwards. Dubas has expressed an interest in maintaining a winning culture within the Penguins organization, and few players have won more in their careers than Malkin.

If the Penguins opt to keep Malkin beyond next season, it would mean he will be playing into his 40s. At that point, a year-to-year contract would make the most sense for both the team and the player. If Malkin is willing to return on a reasonable one-year deal and still produce, there’s no reason for the Penguins to turn the page. He could play a reduced schedule of 60-70 games at 15 minutes a night and likely still produce around 50 points per season.

That is a best-case scenario in which Malkin doesn’t suffer a severe decline over the next year. The issue is that Malkin’s play has declined over the last few seasons, and if there is another dip in his play, he may walk away at the end of next season. Some will point to Crosby and Alex Ovechkin and how well they are playing, but they have had the benefit of better health and better linemates. People can look at Crosby’s concussions, and that has undoubtedly cost him time and points. However, Malkin has had two complete ACL surgeries in his career, and his legs are nowhere near what they were ten years ago.

In contrast, Crosby maintains his speed and strength on the puck. Crosby has also played with Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell this season, while Ovechkin has played on one of the top teams in the NHL. Malkin has spent much of the season on a line with Cody Glass, Philip Tomasino and Danton Heinen.

Whether Malkin retires after next season or plays a few more after that, he will likely go down as the fourth member in the Mount Rushmore of Pittsburgh Penguins, next to Crosby, Mario Lemieux and Jaromir Jagr, and his legacy among Penguins fans will live on. He may top the 1400 point plateau next season, and while he’s not one of the top 100 players of all time, he probably should be.

Photo by Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports

The Red Wings Need To Have A Strong Summer

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The Red Wings have missed the playoffs for the ninth consecutive season, prompting hockey pundits and fans to question the direction of the team and whether general manager Steve Yzerman is the right man to lead the club. Yzerman was hired six years ago to steer the Red Wings through a rebuild, and while he has hit on some of his moves, he hasn’t been able to lead the Red Wings back to the playoffs in what has become the longest postseason drought in the franchise’s 98-year history. The Red Wings have been close to making the playoffs the last few seasons, but they need a big summer to get them over the hump and back into the hunt in the Eastern Conference.

Detroit’s play has been incredibly inconsistent in the past two seasons. They start slow and then pick up their play in the middle of the season, only to fall apart down the stretch. This year, the club was boosted by a coaching change after Christmas when they relieved Derek Lalonde of his duties and replaced him with Todd McLellan. The Red Wings went 17-5-2 after the coaching change to get back into the thick of the playoff race, but then rattled off six regulation losses and never recovered.

Assessing what went wrong is essential before determining what needs to be done this summer. Detroit was undone by the worst penalty kill in the NHL this season, with a success rate of just 69.5%, almost three percent lower than the Wild’s second-worst penalty kill. The other issue the Red Wings need to address is their poor 5-on-5 offensive numbers, largely covered up by their effective power play. Detroit scored the fourth-lowest 5-on-5 goals in the league, which they must improve upon if they hope to reach the playoffs next year.

Detroit’s rebuild could be characterized as still in motion or taking too long. Despite that, the Red Wings have plenty of reasons for optimism. Many of their top players, such as Lucas Raymond and Moritz Seider, are in their early to mid-20s, and they have several promising prospects, including Nate Danielson and Axel Sandin-Pellikka, who are nearing NHL readiness. This summer, it will be crucial to surround these younger pieces with capable NHL talent who can elevate the team and play within McLellan’s structure.

Yzerman’s work has been a mixed bag in Detroit, with some successes and setbacks regarding trades and free agency. This summer, he badly needs to avoid mistakes in free agency, which he has had his fair share of in recent seasons. Defenseman Justin Holl’s three-year $10.2MM contract has been an unmitigated disaster, and center Andrew Copp was signed to a massive five-year deal worth $28.125MM in 2022 but has fallen to the bottom six and has seen his offensive numbers drop off. The list could go on, but the point is that Yzerman has struggled to build around his stars. Many of his forwards are overpaid, and Yzerman likely isn’t going to find much help in free agency without overpaying even more players. The trade market is probably the best avenue for Yzerman, and it is a place where he has found a lot of success in his career as a GM, but that doesn’t mean he shouldn’t dip his toe in the free agent market.

Detroit needs a right-shot defenseman to slide in behind Seider on the second pairing after Holl and Jeff Petry did not work out in that role in previous seasons. This is one spot where Yzerman could find help with free agency, as Aaron Ekblad is available. However, the cost could become prohibitive. The Red Wings are projected to have $22MM in cap space this summer but will need to sign five players and have a handful of RFAs. Daily Faceoff projects Ekblad to sign a contract in the range of $6.9MM annually. If Detroit were to miss on him, Brent Burns of the Carolina Hurricanes would also be available, but at 40 years old, he wouldn’t be a long-term fit.

The most prolific right-shot defenseman on the trade market will likely be Erik Karlsson of the Pittsburgh Penguins. Karlsson would help the Red Wings at 5-on-5 but wouldn’t relieve their penalty kill. Karlsson can still put up points, but he comes with a $10MM price tag that Pittsburgh might be willing to retain part of. Detroit was 25th in offense this season, and Karlsson could help from the backend, but his presence would put a lot of pressure on whoever he is paired with. At 34 years old, the three-time Norris Trophy winner can still put up points, but the turnovers and defensive lapses have reached another level this season, giving any team that tries to acquire him serious pause.

Rasmus Ristolainen of the Philadelphia Flyers could be a player of interest to the Red Wings, but they would be wise to avoid making that move, given the past state of his game and the $5.1MM cap hit he carries. There will be an appeal to Ristolainen’s game since he is a big body with a nasty shot, but the warts in his game would be too much for Detroit to add to a top-four that is already not very good.

If Detroit can’t compensate for their penalty-killing and goal-scoring troubles, Mitch Marner is an available UFA who would help in both areas. The 27-year-old forward is the type of player the Red Wings could and should be aggressive in pursuing. Sure, he would eat up most of the remaining cap space they have, but he would be a top-line player who could help improve their penalty-killing and 5-on-5 play. The Markham, Ontario native has received Selke Trophy consideration for six straight years and could be just the piece Detroit has been missing in their top six.

Detroit could look to the free agency and trade markets for scoring depth. If that is a route they are interested in, Yzerman would be wise to avoid overspending on another mid-tier player and instead look for a short-term bounce-back candidate, such as Andrei Kuzmenko, who has performed well since being traded to the Kings at the deadline. Detroit has too much money tied up in too many underperforming depth players and can’t afford to insert another one into the lineup long-term. Marner is an exception, as he is a top-line player and should perform well through the bulk of his next deal.

Detroit fans are hopeful that a playoff position is within their grasp for next year, and the bones are in place to make that happen; they will just need a strong summer to address the holes in the roster construction and the shortcomings that kept them out of the postseason this year.

Photo by James Carey Lauder-USA TODAY Sports

Examining Potential Offer Sheet Targets

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Last summer, a rare occurrence happened in the NHL when the St. Louis Blues sent two offer sheets to the Edmonton Oilers and were eventually successful in acquiring forward Dylan Holloway and defenseman Philip Broberg. It was unprecedented as teams rarely utilize the offer sheet option, but they could this summer as plenty of impact players will be restricted free agents. Some big names could be in play, but teams may be unwilling to part with a first-round pick when phenom Gavin McKenna is the prized prospect of the 2026 NHL Entry Draft. Who will be targeted is anyone’s guess, so our compilation will focus on the most probable candidates to receive an offer sheet, rather than the most impactful. Let’s take a look at who the options are.

Noah Dobson would be at the top of most teams’ lists. However, the Islanders will likely be willing to pay close to $9MM to retain Dobson’s services and shouldn’t have any problem doing so, as they have nearly $29MM in available cap space for next season (as per PuckPedia). While Dobson’s extension should get settled quickly, Edmonton’s Evan Bouchard is one defenseman whose contract situation could become problematic. The Oilers know they will likely need to get to eight figures to retain Bouchard. However, you’d never guess that by the predicament they are in when it comes to the summer. The Oilers are projected to have just $13.5MM in cap space, with 18 players signed for next season. If Bouchard were to sign for $10MM, it would leave Edmonton with just $3.5MM to sign four players, meaning it could pay just the league minimum to fill out its depth.

Most teams would love to sign Bouchard, but how many teams with the cap space and draft pick assets are in a position where they can safely assume that their 2026 first-round pick won’t be a lottery pick? There aren’t many, which will be a significant consideration for any team considering using an offer sheet. A Bouchard offer sheet would need to come in north of $10MM, meaning the team trying to pry him loose would have to be willing to give up their 2026 and 2027 first-round picks and their 2026 second and third-rounders. Only nine teams currently have that capability, which is likely why the Oilers don’t appear overly concerned.

Dropping down a tier is Toronto Maple Leafs forward Matthew Knies, who makes for an interesting scenario, given that he won’t be the team’s biggest priority this summer when it comes to contract negotiations. Toronto has to deal with Mitch Marner’s and John Tavares’ UFA status and has just $27.5MM in available cap space. Toronto could be vulnerable when it comes to Knies. If a team were to drop an offer sheet to Knies in the $6.5MM range, it would cost them a first and a third-round pick and leave Toronto strapped when it comes to filling out their depth.

New York Rangers defenseman K’Andre Miller is another name to watch. The Rangers will look to retain the defender, but there is no suitable replacement for their left side. The 24-year-old brings a solid combination of mobility, size, and offensive capabilities and is an ideal second-pairing defenseman. The problem for the Rangers is that they have just $9.67MM in cap space with 18 players signed and will have to sign a handful of other RFAs. If a team were willing to go to $6MM for Miller, they could likely pluck Miller loose from the Rangers for a first and third-round pick. However, it seems unlikely a team would do that with the strength of next year’s entry draft and the warts in Miller’s game.

Sticking with the Rangers, they could be vulnerable to the same fate as the Oilers were last summer with Miller and forward Will Cuylle. Cuylle is having a breakout campaign this season with 20 goals and 44 points through 81 games. With the Rangers facing tight salary cap constraints, teams could see an opening with Cuylle and offer him a deal in the $4MM range, requiring just a second-round draft pick in compensation. This scenario seems one of the likeliest to happen, as many teams have the necessary compensation and salary cap space to make this move.

Finally, the most intriguing player, and one on whom teams may be willing to gamble, is Buffalo Sabres forward JJ Peterka. Peterka has nearly become a point-per-game player this season and hasn’t reached his prime yet, which suggests he has more to offer. The 23-year-old should receive an extension north of $7MM per season, but that’s where it gets interesting; Buffalo has the cap space to re-up but hasn’t yet. If it spills into the summer, teams might be willing to go to the upper limits of the $6,871,374 – $9,161,834 range and offer Peterka a deal in the $8MM range, which would force the Sabres to go higher than they’d like or lose the emerging forward for a first, second, and third-round pick. It seems unlikely that the Sabres would let that happen, but Buffalo does have other RFAs to be concerned about and will also be looking to improve their roster through trades and free agency. If they let Peterka’s contract negotiations drag into the summer, it could become a strategic blunder that leads to them overpaying the forward or watching him walk for draft pick compensation.

Photo by Walter Tychnowicz-USA TODAY Sports

Examining The Blue Jackets Goaltending Situation

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The Columbus Blue Jackets shocked many folks this season as they remained in contention for a playoff spot for much of the season despite receiving goaltending that was well below average. Had Columbus received even league-average goaltending, they would have been in a solid spot to make the playoffs.

The Blue Jackets used three goaltenders this season, with Elvis Merzlikins dressing in 52 games, while Daniil Tarasov appeared 20 times, and Jet Greaves found his way into six NHL games. Greaves was the only goaltender of the three to post a positive goals saved above expected figure with a +0.9; Tarasov was a -4.4, and Merzlikins had a -9.1 (as per Money Puck). Now, it’s not fair to place all of the blame on the Blue Jackets’ goaltending for them likely missing the playoffs, but make no mistake, Columbus should be looking at improving their goaltending this summer.

If Columbus intends to improve in net, they likely won’t find much help on the free agent market as most pending UFA goaltenders have been locked up to long-term deals. With the best available options signed, the free agent market has nothing but career backups and projects available to sign.

The best UFA option is New Jersey Devils backup Jake Allen, who has an incredible contract year, posting 19.5 GSAx (as per Money Puck) in 28 games with the Devils. The 34-year-old veteran of over 450 NHL games hasn’t been a full-time NHL starter since the 2018-19 season when he lost the starter role to Jordan Binnington, who led the St. Louis Blues to the Stanley Cup. Allen is in the second year of a two-year $7.7MM contract, and given the lack of options in free agency, he could improve on his $3.85MM cap hit. The Blue Jackets could sign Allen in hopes of him being a solid 1B option to play alongside Merzlikins, but if they do, they could end up spending $10MM on a goaltending duo that is just okay.

Another UFA option could be Carolina’s Frederik Andersen, who once again posted fantastic numbers with the Hurricanes. The knock on the 35-year-old is that he hasn’t been able to remain healthy for long stretches, which could be problematic in Columbus if they envisioned him as a starter. Andersen has played more than 35 games just once since 2020 and, at this late stage of his career, is better suited to split time with another goalie.

The trade market is the likeliest place for the Blue Jackets to find help, and options are available depending on what avenue they hope to explore. If Columbus wanted to give Merzlikins a fresh start, they could swap him for any other high-priced goaltender looking for a new home. Tristan Jarry and Philipp Grubauer are two names that come to mind, as both men make north of $5MM annually and could use a blank slate with a new team.

Jarry is a two-time all-star who is young enough to rediscover his game. However, he would be an expensive gamble with three years left on his deal at $5.375MM per season. Jarry has obvious talent but, for whatever reason, has never been able to string solid seasons together, bouncing back and forth between a solid starter and a liability. Any team that opts to trade for the Surrey, British Columbia native will be betting that they are getting the solid starter and not a liability who was demoted twice this season and even passed through waivers.

Grubauer has a similar story to Jarry but is four years older and has had a much longer stretch of poor play. The 33-year-old has been a below-average NHL goaltender since signing with the Seattle Kraken in July 2021, and much like Jarry, he was demoted this season to the AHL. At this stage of his career, Grubauer doesn’t appear to be an NHL goalie and is unlikely to be someone Columbus would be willing to trade for.

Their respective teams may buy out one or both of Jarry and Grubauer and if they do, they could become good options for the Blue Jackets to consider as backups. However, Jarry would make more sense with their current cap hits than Grubauer. His game does come with warts, and there is no guarantee that he will improve Columbus’ abysmal goaltending next year.

If Columbus wanted to swing a trade for a bigger name, they could look to John Gibson of the Anaheim Ducks. Gibson had a bounce-back season this year, posting his first positive GSAx since 2018-19 (as per Money Puck). The 31-year-old has struggled for half a decade but hasn’t had the benefit of playing behind a strong defensive team. Gibson has long been rumored to be on the move but has remained with the Ducks through a problematic rebuild. But now, with Lukas Dostal’s development, Gibson has been relegated to a backup and would benefit from a fresh start. Columbus would be a good fit for the Pittsburgh native. However, Columbus must fit Gibson’s considerable cap hit ($6.4MM) into their salary structure. With Gibson having a strong season, Anaheim will look to capitalize on his trade value and finally resolve this situation. There are so few options on the market that Gibson should be in demand, and the Blue Jackets could look to add the veteran to try and stabilize their goaltending.

Finally, one name who could be available is Jordan Binnington of the St. Louis Blues. Binnington has developed a reputation as a big-game goalie, among other things. The 31-year-old had struggled the past few seasons before this one but has re-established himself since the 4 Nations Face-Off and has helped St. Louis into a playoff position. The Blues have Joel Hofer waiting to take over the starter’s role. However, he’s struggled this season, which could give St. Louis doubts about moving on from the veteran Binnington.

The goaltending market is fragile this summer, which is unfortunate timing for the Blue Jackets if they plan to upgrade their goaltending. However, as the Washington Capitals showed last summer, the minor moves for goaltenders can sometimes pay off significantly. Columbus will be hoping for the same good fortunes that the Capitals had when they traded for Logan Thompson last summer while shipping out the underperforming Darcy Kuemper.

Photo by Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

Where Did The Rangers Rebuild Go Wrong?

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The New York Rangers embarked on a rebuild in 2018, announcing to their fans their intentions in a formal release. By doing so, the Rangers exercised a great deal of transparency and, in turn, bought a lot of goodwill with their fans and presumably gave themselves a ton of runway to rebuild their team correctly. They started the process with immense promise, moving on from overpriced veterans while accumulating high draft picks and a solid stable of young prospects. The future looked so bright just a few years ago, and yet, here, the Rangers are on the verge of missing the playoffs.

The Rangers hit on many of their initial trades. They had lottery luck, drafting Kaapo Kakko second overall in 2019 before winning the first overall pick in 2020, a pick they used to draft forward Alexis Lafrenière. Somewhere around this time, an impatience grew that would undo much of the good the team had done to that point. The Rangers pivoted from concerning themselves with player development. Instead, they focused on becoming competitive quickly, which ultimately hurt the development of players like Kakko and Lafrenière, who were forced to play in sheltered roles rather than gaining valuable experience at the top of the lineup.

The Rangers’ lack of patience ultimately resulted in them bringing in multiple veteran players who cost precious future assets, ate away at cap space, and, in the end, made the team top-heavy. Bringing in Artemi Panarin through free agency was a massive piece of business and, ultimately, a terrific signing. However, it forced the Rangers to accelerate their plans not to throw away Panarin’s prime years.

Many of their other moves for veterans didn’t turn out so well. The Rangers acquired defenseman Jacob Trouba from the Winnipeg Jets back in 2019, and at the time, they believed they were getting a bona fide top-pairing defenseman. Trouba was paid like one, signing a seven-year contract extension for $56MM a month after the Rangers acquired him, but his play never reflected what the Rangers were paying him. Trouba wasn’t a liability, but he never performed like a top defenseman and was ultimately moved to the Anaheim Ducks in a salary dump.

While the Trouba move was troubling, it is just the tip of the iceberg in a series of moves that ultimately undid much of the solid early work the Rangers had done to kick off their rebuild. The Pavel Buchnevich trade with St. Louis was an unmitigated disaster as he developed into a point-per-game player with the Blues. His absence created a need for the Rangers to go out and spend additional future assets to acquire replacements. This led the Rangers to make moves for Andrew Copp and Frank Vatrano in 2022, eventually trading more futures to acquire Patrick Kane and Vladimir Tarasenko at the 2023 NHL Trade Deadline. These moves in a vacuum were sensible ones to make. Still, they did nothing to elevate New York, as they were ultimately dumped in the first round by the New Jersey Devils in 2023, and both Kane and Tarasenko walked in free agency, as did Copp and Vatrano the year prior.

While the players’ on-ice performance has left much to be desired, the disappointments fall heavily on management and coaching. Particularly the underwhelming development of multiple top draft picks. The Rangers had incredible turnover behind the bench in just a few years, going from David Quinn to Gerard Gallant and Peter Laviolette. Each coach brought a different vision, and the instability wreaked havoc on the psyche of young players trying to find their way.  Lafrenière and Kakko never became elite stars, not yet anyway, and this forced the Rangers to lean more heavily on veterans, which altered the team’s trajectory.

Of course, the management change occurred in 2021, when the Rangers fired general manager Jeff Gorton and team president John Davidson in favor of former Rangers captain Chris Drury. Drury’s aggressive style fit what the Rangers tried to do in the summer of 2021, but far too many of his moves have worked out poorly, and he has spent more time undoing his own mistakes than improving the Rangers roster.

Returning to the summer of 2021, this was ultimately the series of events that took the Rangers from potential cup contenders into what they are today. New York was responding to the Tom Wilson incident in May 2021, where Panarin was nearly injured, and the team gave Drury a mandate to make the Rangers tougher. Drury did precisely that, sacrificing skill to bring in the likes of Ryan Reaves, Barclay Goodrow, Patrik Nemeth, Dryden Hunt and Jarred Tinordi. The moves ultimately didn’t work out, and that summer now looks like the turning point in the Rangers rebuild. Sure, they were able to win a President’s Trophy and make a playoff run after it, but it changed the course of a team that looked to be on their way to the top. It was eerily similar to what the Pittsburgh Penguins did after their second Stanley Cup in a row in 2017 when then-general manager Jim Rutherford took exception to Wilson’s aggression in the Washington/Pittsburgh second-round series (which Pittsburgh ultimately won) and traded a first-round pick and Oskar Sundqvist for Reaves. That summer proved to be a turning point for the Penguins, as they’ve only won a single playoff series since after rattling off eight straight series wins on their way to two championships.

Now, credit where it is due: Drury hasn’t been afraid of course correcting, evidenced by him flipping out Reaves, Goodrow and even Reilly Smith a short time after acquiring them despite the negative optics. In all three of those cases, Drury sold lower than he bought. While those moves were all tinkering around the edges of the roster, those mistakes began to add up. Eventually, they accounted for some of the predicament that the Rangers find themselves in.

New York rebuilt oppositely from their division counterparts, the New Jersey Devils. While they blocked upward mobility for their top draft picks, the Devils played their top picks in prominent roles and let them learn from their mistakes, which helped speed the development process. New Jersey was patient in the process and waited to acquire help for their young core, doing so over the past two years to fill in the gaps around their top young stars. Whether the Devils’ approach was right or wrong remains to be seen. Still, they indeed appear to be in a more advantageous position as their contention window is wide open. In contrast, the Rangers are at the end of their season without a first-round pick this year or possibly next, depending on where they finish in the standings.

New York also has no identity at the moment. They don’t appear to be a team in win-now mode, and they aren’t a young team on the upswing. They are in the mushy middle, the worst place to be in today’s NHL.

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Utah Hockey Club Could Be Busy This Summer

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The Utah Hockey Club surprised many people at the NHL Trade Deadline by signing several veterans to contract extensions rather than trading them for prospects and draft picks. This indicates they plan to contend very soon and could be a team to watch this summer.

Utah locked up veteran forward Alexander Kerfoot and defensemen Ian Cole and Olli Määttä to short-term deals in the one- to three-year range. Also, it extended goaltender Karel Vejmelka to a five-year contract worth $4.75MM a year. While the moves surprised some people, they make sense on a longer timeline as Utah aims to make the playoffs next season after contending for a postseason spot this year. Utah has a good mix of young homegrown players and veterans who have won in other markets and will likely be busy this summer trying to shore up some holes in their roster.

Some folks might expect Utah to spend big on the free agent market, given that they project to have $21.5MM in cap space this summer (as per PuckPedia) with 20 players already signed for next season. Realistically, Utah needs just three players to fill out a lineup and could have more prospects join the fray on entry-level deals for under $1MM. The door is wide open for Utah to make some noise, and given that the team is just a year old, they will be looking to make their presence known in the Western Conference.

Utah will need to be cautious on the free agent market; while there is plenty of talent to be had, the team has to avoid the same fate that happened to the Nashville Predators last year after they signed several high-profile free agents then flopped this season and have already been eliminated from playoff contention. The other issue facing Utah in free agency is that they must leave room to sign their younger stars, who will eventually finish their ELCs. Logan Cooley will need a new deal after next season, as will Josh Doan and, eventually, in a few years, Tij Iginla. The money goes quickly when high draft picks pan out; ask the Toronto Maple Leafs. Of those three, Cooley is the only one on course to earn a monster long-term deal, but Iginla was just drafted and has the pedigree to get there.

Utah is well positioned to be aggressive this summer and likely will be, according to David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period, who believed in February that Utah would pursue forwards Mitch Marner and Mikko Rantanen. Now, the latter of those two is off the table after signing an extension with the Dallas Stars, but Marner hitting free agency is very much in play, and Utah could offer an attractive landing spot for the 27-year-old. Acquiring a dynamic playmaker like Marner would significantly boost Utah’s offense and fill out their top six, which lacks a second-line winger and currently has Kailer Yamamoto filling in. Signing Marner would likely push youngster Dylan Guenther to the second line, opening up more opportunities for him to flourish offensively.

If Utah strikes out on Marner, plenty of secondary free-agent options could boost them. Winnipeg forward Nikolaj Ehlers will almost certainly be available, as he has stated that he would welcome a change of market (according to Pagnotta). The 29-year-old would slide nicely onto the second line for Utah, and his versatility, speed, and skill could help an offense that currently ranks 22nd in the NHL. Ehlers can play on both wings, which might be a better fit than Marner; he will also come in at a significantly lower cap hit.

Another name that should be out there is Brock Boeser of the Vancouver Canucks. Boeser is a proven goal scorer who could fit in well on the second line next to Nick Schmaltz and Barrett Hayton. It’s hard to gauge what kind of a market there will be for Boeser as interest at the trade deadline appears to have been tepid at best. Boeser may be looking at a short-term deal depending on what the market is giving him, something that might suit Utah just fine as it lines up with when their younger players will need extensions.

If Utah wanted to bump Hayton to a third-line center, they could look to Florida center Sam Bennett, who appears poised to test the market. The 29-year-old has developed into a physical center that offers a unique skill set and could bring valuable experience and leadership to Utah. Bennett will be a hot commodity on the free agent market and could sign a contract that becomes an albatross when his physical style eventually catches up with him.

Many players will be available on the trade front, and Utah has the assets to acquire just about anyone. Rickard Rakell of the Pittsburgh Penguins will likely be out there, although Pittsburgh will be looking for a king’s ransom to let one of Sidney Crosby’s preferred wingers go. Other veterans, such as Blues center Brayden Schenn, Pens defenseman Erik Karlsson and Islanders middleman Jean-Gabriel Pageau, could be available again. However, given Utah’s timeline, targeting younger players with upside might be preferred.

Marco Rossi would be a name that makes a lot of sense for Utah. The 23-year-old has had his name thrown around in trade rumors for over a year and would be a good fit in Utah. The trickier part with Rossi is that Minnesota general manager Bill Guerin has stated publicly that he wants to keep Rossi in the fold, so any move for Rossi might require an overpay on Utah’s part.

Another name that could fit in Utah is New Jersey defenseman Simon Nemec. The former second-overall pick has not been a fit with the Devils and voiced his displeasure in December, although he eventually walked his comments back. Nemec is a promising puck mover who probably shouldn’t be playing in the top four at this early stage of his career. In Utah, he could be slotted into the third pairing and have an opportunity to flourish while having his minutes sheltered. The tricky part in a trade for the 21-year-old is that New Jersey won’t be looking for futures, meaning that Utah would have to subtract off of their current roster to facilitate a move or get a third team involved.

Utah will be a team to watch as the excitement grows in the market this summer. They likely aren’t ready to be a Stanley Cup contender next year, but with a summer of new additions, they could be a team to watch as they try to build a winning culture.

Photo by Rob Gray-Imagn Images

Will The Penguins Trade One Of Sidney Crosby’s Wingers?

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The Penguins have faced numerous challenges over the past few years – some regrettable trades and dwindling attendance. They’re on the verge of missing the playoffs for the third consecutive season, following a remarkable streak of 16 straight postseason appearances from 2007 to 2022. This year will mark only the fourth time in captain Sidney Crosby’s illustrious 20-year career that he missed the playoffs. While many media pundits speculate about his desire to join a contender, Crosby has consistently expressed his commitment to finishing his career with the Penguins and being part of their future success. The organization seems eager to accommodate him, which raises an important question: Would the Penguins trade one of Crosby’s favorite wingers for a second time in the last 18 months?

Trading Rickard Rakell has been a consideration for the Penguins; reports indicate they sought a substantial return at the NHL Trade Deadline but ultimately decided to keep the 31-year-old winger for the remainder of the season. However, not trading him this year doesn’t preclude a potential deal during the summer. Rakell has three years left on his contract with a reasonable $5MM cap hit, and his value may never be higher than it is now. The Penguins could capitalize on this opportunity and accelerate their retooling efforts, but at what cost? Crosby would lose a preferred winger again, and the Penguins lack players in their system who could effectively replace Rakell.

General manager Kyle Dubas has indicated that the franchise does not want to bottom out. They fear the emergence of a losing culture affecting their players, a concern supported by the 2010 Edmonton Oilers’ repeated struggle to escape the bottom of the NHL standings despite multiple top-five picks.

For their part, the Penguins have said they are comfortable keeping Rakell. While that won’t please the fans hoping for a tank next season, it could ultimately help the Penguins’ youth movement, who will get to study the game under the tutelage of Crosby and Rakell.

If the Pens opt to go a different direction, Rakell could be traded for a haul and possibly even lead to an impact prospect, which is missing from the Penguins’ retool and is on Dubas’ radar (as per Josh Yohe of The Athletic). The Penguins GM has done well building the prospect pipeline, but Pittsburgh doesn’t have anyone in their system who screams franchise cornerstone. The other factor when considering a Rakell move is that he wasn’t good last season, tallying just 15 goals and 22 assists in 70 games. Should he fall back to that production level, his $5MM AAV looks less appealing, which would hurt his trade value and the Penguins’ potential return.

The other Crosby winger that the Penguins could consider moving is Bryan Rust. The 32-year-old has hovered around the point-per-game mark since 2019 and has three more years on his deal at a very economical $5.13MM per season. The Pontiac, Michigan native is a two-time Stanley Cup champion with the Penguins and remains one of the last holdovers from the 2016 and 2017 teams that won back-to-back championships. Rust remains a heart and soul player for Pittsburgh, and like Rakell, his value might never be higher. Rust would likely be a more challenging trade for Pens fans to swallow, given that he was drafted and developed by the team and is viewed by many as a man who should be wearing a letter in Pittsburgh.

On the flip side, Rust would also bring a strong return to Pittsburgh and could help move the Penguins’ retool along. It’s not unreasonable to think they would get a first-round pick and a prospect or two for Rust, which makes holding onto him even more complicated, even though the Penguins are keeping their superstar captain happy in doing so.

The Penguins owe a lot to Crosby; some might say he saved the franchise in 2005. Some might also say Crosby is loyal to a fault, and given the evidence, it’s easy to see why. The 37-year-old has never taken market value on a contract, playing under an $8.7MM cap hit since the 2008-09 season, and has almost always kept himself out of team business except for the Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang contract negotiations in the summer of 2022. Crosby also watched his preferred winger, Jake Guentzel, get traded away last March without a complaint. He’s perhaps the most loyal athlete in professional sports history.

But, as mentioned earlier, the talk leading into the NHL Trade Deadline was once again about trading one of Crosby’s preferred wingers, Rakell. Rust has also been mentioned in trade rumors, and given that his entire no-move clause ends this summer, he could be a name that is moved. But what kind of a message would it send to the superstar center who has given his all to the Penguins?

Many hockey pundits have speculated on whether or not Crosby will finish his career in Pittsburgh. Still, Crosby has done everything he can to dispel those rumors, including signing a two-year extension last September. It is easy to question Crosby’s decision, given the direction of the Penguins during the previous three seasons and the roster’s current state. However, looking at what Dubas has done in the last 12 months, it’s not impossible to imagine the team returning to relevance before the end of Crosby’s aforementioned two-year extension that is set to start next season. With all of that being said, Pittsburgh is still in a retool that they refuse to call a rebuild, and Crosby still very much wants to win, which has made it difficult to embrace a rebuild fully and has put Dubas in a position where he can’t fully commit to a youth movement. Penguins’ ownership and management appear committed to the retooling strategy, and Crosby is also on board based on how he spoke to Elliotte Friedman on the 32 Thoughts podcast.

Regardless of who Dubas moves out, this offseason will be a franchise-defining one. They could push in and make aggressive moves over the next 12 months to try and get Crosby and the Penguins back into the playoff picture in what could be teammate Evgeni Malkin’s last season in the NHL.

The team could also continue gradually adding to their pipeline and draft picks. Either way, the Penguins are at a strange fork in the road as they try to navigate the past, the present, and the future of an organization that has had megastars and championships on the regular since the beginning of the 1990s.

Dubas must decide whether to retool around Sidney Crosby, which likely means keeping Rakell and Rust for one last run or leaning into a deeper rebuild that could see one or both of them sent away via trade. Whatever the case, it’s safe to assume spring and summer will bring a lot of trade winds for the Penguins, as they also have star defenseman Erik Karlsson, who will likely be traded.

Photo by Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

Will Mitch Marner Reach Free Agency This Summer?

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Toronto Maple Leafs forward Mitch Marner is just three months away from becoming an unrestricted free agent, and with each passing day, the likelihood that he will test the market increases. But will he choose to leave the only NHL team he has ever played for? Only Marner knows the answer, but many factors are involved in this complicated situation. Many people will point to earning potential as the main factor in why Marner might test free agency, but there are personal and professional reasons why he might feel the time is right to look elsewhere.

As Marner showed during his last contract negotiations in 2019, he and his agent were willing to be patient in getting their number. Those negotiations spilled well into September before the 27-year-old signed a six-year, $65.358MM contract extension. An interesting note from those discussions was that Marner received several offer sheets from other teams at the time but did not entertain those offers as he prioritized staying with Toronto. This time around, Marner can get any NHL team involved in negotiations if he waits until July 1, which should lead to loftier contract demands on a longer term. It’s worth noting that Marner’s agent, Darren Ferris, has a history of bringing clients right to the deadline when negotiating (see William Nylander).

Marner’s current AAV of just under $11MM represented 13.37% of the NHL salary cap at the time, and with the rising cap, it would not be unreasonable for him to ask for the same number as a UFA. If he did, he would be looking at a contract with a cap hit of $12.77MM, a tick lower than teammate Auston Matthews’ cap hit of $13.25MM. For context, Matthews’ contract represented 15.07% of the salary cap when he signed it. Marner would be taking a smaller slice of the pie.

Matthews and Nylander have both signed pricey extensions. While Marner is undoubtedly a game-changer, it would be tough to commit to those three once again, given that they haven’t advanced past the second round of the playoffs, which hinders salary cap flexibility. There is a fair argument that you pay your stars and figure out the depth as you go, but eventually, those depth players also need to get paid, as Toronto has found out over the last few years. The Maple Leafs don’t have a lot of help coming from their farm system, evidenced by their recent ranking as the 28th-best prospect pool in the NHL (per Scott Wheeler of The Athletic), which means they will need to make trades or sign players in free agency to fill out their depth. If they have tied up 40% of their cap space in three players, adding free agents or taking chances on players who underperform but have upside will become increasingly challenging – not to mention re-signing pending RFA Matthew Knies or former captain John Tavares.

Marner is from and knows the fishbowl that is the Greater Toronto Area. When the team wins, the players are treated as heroes; however, the opposite can be true when the team drops games. The last sentence is especially relevant in the playoffs, where the Maple Leafs have suffered through years of postseason disappointments. If Toronto endures another early playoff exit, Marner could be tempted to leave Toronto and try to win elsewhere. In the past, Marner has dealt with heavy criticism from fans and media in Toronto, which could push him to seek a less intense market or one where he could enjoy some anonymity away from the rink. The pressure of playing in a Canadian market is well documented, and it can create fatigue, particularly for a player who has spent his entire career in that environment.

Former Maple Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas was close to Marner in Toronto. Now Brad Treliving has taken over with Dubas in Pittsburgh, and it’s hard to say whether Marner will have the same loyalty during negotiations. Some folks in Pittsburgh have speculated that Dubas and the Penguins will make a run at signing Marner this summer, but given where Pittsburgh is in their retooling, it’s hard to see them adding a player of Marner’s caliber just yet. The Penguins are still a few years from being ready to contend for a playoff spot and likely don’t look desirable to Marner outside of his relationships with Dubas and Penguins captain Sidney Crosby.

Yet Marner has spent his entire professional career with the Leafs and his whole playing career in Canada. Marner played junior hockey in nearby London and has not lived more than a few hours from the GTA. Although athletes often move away from their hometowns, they typically don’t begin this process when nearing 30. This is not to say it doesn’t happen; it’s just unusual.

With a rising cap, plenty of teams can afford Marner, but how many can offer a better situation than Marner currently has in Toronto? Sure, Buffalo and Pittsburgh could afford him, but the Sabres haven’t made the playoffs in nearly a decade and a half, and Pittsburgh is retooling and likely won’t field a winner for another few years.

San Jose could make a compelling pitch, as Marner would have a chance to play with Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith. But Marner already has talented former top picks to play with and has the added comforts of home and familiarity. Carolina will be another interested party, but it seems like an unlikely destination, given that Marner reportedly turned down a trade to the Hurricanes a few weeks ago.

Toronto remains very much inside its competitive window with a core that still includes Matthews, Nylander, Morgan Rielly and company. And while the core has not had much playoff success, winning just one series ever, they have been a terrific regular season team for nearly a decade. The great teams almost always suffer heartbreak in the postseason before they figure out how to win when it matters, and the Maple Leafs could be a team that does that if Marner remains along for the ride. Toronto has most of their squad already locked in to return next season and could get a couple of runs at the Stanley Cup with this group.

Toronto has arguably overpaid all its stars over the past decade and has struggled to get players to take a discount to remain with the Maple Leafs. In fairness to Toronto’s management, if the Maple Leafs didn’t step up and pay their stars, someone else would have. The case is the same with Marner; if he reaches the market, another team will meet his asking price. It is the inevitability of unrestricted free agency, and the Maple Leafs will have to get close to Marner’s price if they want to keep him.

Plenty of NHL players have found out the hard way that the grass isn’t always greener with a new team, and those free-agent dollars can sometimes become an anchor that brings a player down. The familiarity of playing in your hometown for tens of millions of dollars and not having to start over in a new city feels as though it should be enough to keep Marner in Toronto. So, too, does the personal side of things, as players prefer playing closer to home as they age and begin having families.

Still, each passing day ultimately narrows the possibility of a return just a little bit more. However, the Maple Leafs remain the favorite to sign Marner long-term, as the allure of chasing a Stanley Cup with his hometown team will be too much to pass up.

Photo courtesy of Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images.

Blackhawks Sign Oliver Moore To ELC

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11:02 AM: The Blackhawks officially confirmed Moore’s signing.

9:43 AM: The Chicago Blackhawks are expected to sign college center Oliver Moore to an entry-level contract (as per Scott Powers and Scott Wheeler of The Athletic). Moore was a Blackhawks first-round pick in 2023 (19th overall) and will be leaving college early to sign a pro contract and join Chicago.  PuckPedia reports that the deal, which will carry a cap hit of $942K and an AAV of $1.34MM, breaks down as follows:

2024-25: $830K salary, $95K signing bonus, $25K games-played bonus
2025-26: $855K salary, $95K signing bonus, $600K ‘A’ bonuses
2026-27: $855K salary, $95K signing bonus, $600K ‘A’ bonuses

Moore’s NCAA season came to an end on Thursday when the University of Minnesota was knocked out of the NCAA Tournament, and the expectation is that the 20-year-old will join the Blackhawks today for practice and possibly dress for his NHL debut tomorrow.

Moore finished fourth on the Golden Gophers in scoring this season, his second in the NCAA. The Mounds View, Minnesota native tallied 12 goals and 21 assists in 38 games, along with a +13 plus/minus. In his rookie season last year, Moore posted very similar numbers with nine goals and 24 assists in 39 games and was named to the Big Ten All-Rookie Team. Moore’s college career ultimately ended in disappointment when Minnesota was knocked out of the opening round of the NCAA Tournament, however, he did finish his career on a high, recording points in eight of his final nine college games and ten points overall to wrap his collegiate career.

Moore has also had a decorated international career, winning gold medals with Team USA at back-to-back World Juniors, including this past year where he registered a goal and four assists in seven games.

Moore went through some offensive inconsistencies this season, but he remains a high-end prospect with elite skating abilities and should be an impact player for the Blackhawks in the near future. His versatility will be an asset, and he should bring energy to a Blackhawks team that continues to stockpile young talent.

Matt Grzelcyk Hoping To Stay With Penguins

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Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Matt Grzelcyk is in the midst of a career year and has made it clear that he is hoping to earn an extension with the Penguins to remain in Pittsburgh beyond this season (as per Seth Rorabaugh of Tribune-Review Sports). Grzelcyk is quoted as saying  “I would love to be here,” and adds that he hopes to leave a good impression in the final weeks of the season to get an extension for next year. Grzelcyk had some trouble adjusting to his new team in the early going but settled in later in the year, playing alongside Kris Letang.

The Penguins opted not to trade the 31-year-old at the NHL Trade Deadline, and the question for Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas has now become, do they want to commit a few years to a small, aging defenseman who is coming off a career year? Grzelcyk should be able to fetch a raise on a multi-year deal this summer, and if it’s too rich for Penguins, the Charlestown, Massachusetts native will be relocating for a second straight summer.

Grzelcyk was a homegrown fan favorite in Boston and showed flashes of being an offensive defenseman. However, he never tallied more than 26 points in a season and didn’t have many opportunities to utilize his offensive skillset. This year, Grzelcyk has had an opportunity to do so and has capitalized on it, tallying a goal and 34 assists in 74 games while averaging 20:27 of ice time per game. His underlying numbers don’t exactly jump off the page, but given the Penguins’ lack of depth on the left side of their defense, he’s become a top-pair defender for the rest of the season.

Whether Grzelcyk stays in Pittsburgh remains to be seen, but he has made the most of his opportunity with the Penguins and has resurrected a career that was in limbo when he exited Boston last summer.

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