The Columbus Blue Jackets may have a big decision coming on Adam Fantilli, and the contract chatter around the RFA has already started to take shape.
Mark Scheig laid out three possible ranges for Fantilli after Connor Bedard signed his five-year, $15 million deal: three years at $12 million per, five years at $13 million per, or eight years at $15 million per.
Out in Detroit, the Red Wings are about to open a general manager search, and CEO Chris Ilitch said the team will look at both internal and external options. That search comes with a few important items already on the desk: the Dylan Larkin situation still needs to be handled, defenseman Simon Edvinsson is an RFA, and Alex DeBrincat is heading into the final year of his contract and is eligible for an extension.
Ansar Khan of MLive listed seven names to watch for the job. They are Kevyn Adams, now a Boston Bruins senior advisor after taking that role just last week; Tyler Dellow, the Carolina Hurricanes assistant GM who has spent two years there handling data analysis, salary cap and CBA work; Kris Draper, who has been the Red Wings assistant GM for the past four seasons; Evan Gold, the Bruins assistant GM of 11 years who is leaving the organization as of August 1st; Shawn Horcoff, another Red Wings assistant GM who has also been heading Grand Rapids in the AHL; Ryan Martin, the New York Rangers associate GM who spent 16 years with Detroit before moving on, including 11 years as an assistant GM; and Scott White, Jim Nill’s right-hand man with the Dallas Stars, who has also interviewed for GM openings with the Maple Leafs, Canucks, and Predators.
Elsewhere on the free-agent board, Matt Larkin of Daily Faceoff took a look at the top remaining NHL free agents and some bubble players. His list of the top names still available includes Patrick Kane at No.
11, Patrik Laine at No. 14, Logan Stanley at No.
19, Vladimir Tarasenko at No. 24, Michael Bunting at No.
25, Eeli Tolvanen at No. 26, Cam Talbot at No.
33, John Klingberg at No. 34, Nick Blankenburg at No.
37, James van Riemsdyk at No. 43, Connor Ingram at No. 47, and David Perron at No.
The bubble group also includes Jonathan Drouin, Adam Henrique, Carson Soucy, and James Reimer.
In Other News...
Another Goalie Twist Leaves Red Wings Fans Watching One Spot Closely
A familiar name in the Red Wings goaltending pipeline is moving on, as 34-year-old Jack Campbell shifts from playing to coaching after a brief stint in the organization. A former Dallas Stars draft pick, Campbell never got into an NHL game for Detroit, but he did spend time with Grand Rapids, where he appeared in 14 regular-season games and also got into two playoff contests.
For a team still sorting out its long-term picture in net, Campbells departure is another reminder of how much turnover can shape this part of the roster. Detroit has several goalies in the conversation, from Michal Postava and Sebastian Cossa to Daniil Tarasov, John Gibson and Trey Augustine, and every move in that group tends to draw a closer look than it might anywhere else. [Read more 🡒]
Dylan Larkin Just Put Red Wings Fans In An Unthinkable Spot
Dylan Larkins situation has become one of the most uncomfortable storylines in Detroit, with the captain now at the center of a standoff that goes beyond simple roster chatter. The Red Wings have spent years building around his leadership and two-way presence, so any uncertainty around his future lands hard for a fan base that has already waited through plenty of lean seasons.
What makes this especially tense is the tone around the split, not just the possibility of one. The organization is reportedly frustrated with how the situation has been handled, and the next step is far from clear, whether that means the sides find a way to widen the conversation, let the process drag on, or wait for the front office picture to change before anything really moves. [Read more 🡒]