Around the NHL, the calendar is starting to move in a hurry. The league’s NHL/NHLPA media tour is underway in Vegas, golf outings are rolling across team cities, and training camps are set to open next week. That means the familiar late-summer questions are back on the table, from contract talks to possible movement on the trade front.
Sidney Crosby was one of the names asked about at the media tour, and the Pittsburgh Penguins captain is now eligible for a contract extension. His answer was classic Crosby: straightforward, but measured.
“Pat (Brisson)’s talking to Kyle (Dubas). It’s just a little bit more difficult at my age as far as trying to project where you’re gonna be.
… I’d like to continue playing for a number of years. It’s just I don’t know what that number is.
I guess your mind and body tell you that eventually. Right now I feel pretty good, though.”
Elsewhere, the Columbus Blue Jackets still have unfinished business with Adam Fantilli. The RFA forward remains unsigned, and he was notably absent from the team’s pre-training camp golf outing at owner John P. McConnell’s course.
In Anaheim, talks continue with RFA forward Cutter Gauthier, with the September 15 deadline for eight-year deals drawing closer. Connor Bedard’s five-year, $15 million deal has come up as a comparable in those discussions.
Nikita Kucherov is also eligible for a contract extension, though neither side is saying much about it. The September 15 deadline doesn’t really come into play here because any new deal wouldn’t begin until he’s 34. Even so, it sounds like a deal is expected eventually, which makes the current silence a little surprising.
Detroit has its own contract situation to sort through, as RFA defenseman Simon Edvinsson plans to be at training camp despite not having a deal yet.
The Red Wings are also still searching for a general manager. Detroit Tigers GM Jeff Greenberg said he’s not interested, and Ryan Martin has not interviewed, which stands out given his long history with the organization before moving on to the Rangers.
On the expansion front, Pierre LeBrun reported that the Board of Governors meetings on September 22nd should bring an update on NHL expansion, including the latest on Houston and Austin.
And then there’s Connor Hellebuyck, whose situation could get awkward if he’s still not traded before camp opens. The Carolina Hurricanes, Buffalo Sabres and Utah Mammoth are mentioned as possible landing spots, with Hurricanes RFA defenseman Alexander Nikishin as one player who would be part of any package. The Jets, for now, haven’t seen an offer they view as fair.
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Jesse Kiiskinen and Sutter Muzzatti are also part of the group, adding another layer to a tournament that is less about the scoreboard than the first impression. For a team always hunting for depth and a little hidden value, rookie camp can be where a prospect's background starts to matter almost as much as his shift work, and this group has enough intrigue to make the opening days worth watching closely. [Read more 🡒]