The Columbus Blue Jackets don’t sound eager to play ball on Zach Werenski.
According to Chris Johnston, some teams have grown frustrated because they still can’t get Columbus to engage in trade discussions about the defenseman. Johnston said the Blue Jackets “doesn’t seem like the Blue Jackets are in any rush.”
Around the league, Dan Vladar’s next deal with the Philadelphia Flyers is nearly finished. Pierre LeBrun reported that the two sides are closing in on a five-year extension with a $5.5 million AAV. It can’t be announced until July 1, and there are still a few details left to sort out, but the framework is in place.
Charlie O’Connor called the number “About what has been rumored for quite a while now. The AAV is fine, especially with the cap ceiling increase.
If Vladar stays the guy from last year, it’ll quickly become a steal. Five years is a lot of term, though, for a guy who will be 30 when the deal kicks in.”
There’s also movement on Vladimir Tarasenko’s free-agency path. Pierre LeBrun said Dan Milstein, the agent for the Minnesota Wild pending UFA forward Vladimir Tarsenko, has permission to speak with teams before free agency opens on Wednesday.
In Carolina, the Hurricanes are not expected to buy out Jesperi Kotkaniemi. Frank Seravalli said the buyout window is getting close to closing and that a buyout would be one-third of his deal. Kotkaniemi was a healthy scratch for all of Carolina’s playoff games, but with the salary cap rising, Seravalli said the Hurricanes are prepared to “play the long game.”
Seravalli also said the Hurricanes are actively trying to trade Kotkaniemi. His cap hit is $4.8 million, which Seravalli noted will be the new norm for third-line centers. And with so few centers available, Kotkaniemi could still have trade value.
In Other News...
Hurricanes Made One Painful Roster Call Fans Wont Ignore
The Hurricanes kept most of their restricted free-agent group in play by extending qualifying offers to seven players, a list that includes forwards Viktor Neuchev, Noel Gunler and Justin Robidas, defensemen Alexander Nikishin, Aleksi Heimosalmi and Ronan Seeley, plus goaltender Cayden Primeau. For Carolina, the move preserves organizational depth and keeps a handful of young pieces attached to the roster picture as the front office continues sorting out the summer ahead.
Those offers come with a 15-day window for the players to decide whether to accept, though the team can keep working on new deals after that. It also leaves part of the group heading toward unrestricted free agency, a reminder that qualifying offer season is as much about trimming the edges of the roster as it is about protecting them, and Carolina clearly made a few calls that will linger for fans watching the next round of moves. [Read more 🡒]
Laviolette Is Bringing A Familiar 2006 Hurricanes Figure Back Into Focus
Peter Laviolettes next move in Los Angeles is already putting a familiar Carolina name back in the conversation. After the Kings turned to the veteran coach to replace interim D.J. Smith, the focus has been on how he will reshape a roster that needs a new identity following recent playoff frustrations and the retirement of captain Anze Kopitar. The direction is clear enough: Los Angeles wants to play faster and more up-tempo after years of a defense-first approach.
For Hurricanes fans, the interesting thread is the staff Laviolette may build around him. One of the names tied to the job is Ray Whitney, a winger who was part of Carolinas 2006 Stanley Cup team with Laviolette. Whitney has long been remembered in Raleigh as one of the smartest offensive players of that era, and seeing him surface again alongside the coach who helped guide that championship run adds another layer to what is becoming a major retool in Southern California. [Read more 🡒]
Hurricanes Suddenly Face A Massive Blue Line Gamble This Offseason
The Hurricanes blue line picture got a lot more complicated this offseason, and not just because of the usual churn that comes with a busy summer. Eric Tulsky said the team has not opened contract talks yet with pending RFA defenseman Alexander Nikishin, and Carolina is content to wait until after the draft and the start of free agency before turning that conversation into a priority.
John Carlson adds another layer to the equation. Carolina acquired the defenseman without an extension in place, and the plan is to negotiate with him before other teams can get involved if he reaches free agency. Carlson is expected to be a pricey target, which only raises the stakes for a team trying to balance immediate needs on defense with the longer view of how this roster is built. [Read more 🡒]