The New Jersey Devils may not be the team to watch if Connor Hellebuyck’s name keeps floating through the rumor mill.
That’s the read from Devils GM Sunny Mehta, whose comments to NHL.com pointed to a pretty clear philosophy in goal: spend carefully, and don’t treat the position like a place to dump major assets just because the name is big. Mehta said there are “objective measures such as save percentage and wins,” but also stressed the salary-cap reality.
In his words, “Money spent in goal cannot be spent somewhere else. Goaltending has changed dramatically during the past 20 years.
Starters and backups are extremely talented, which can make performance difficult to predict. Because there is randomness at the position, I’m reluctant to invest significant assets there instead of in areas where the results may be more predictable.”
That doesn’t exactly sound like a front office lining up to pay $8.5 million a year for Hellebuyck.
The Devils also have another reason to feel more comfortable standing pat: they’re happy to have Jake Allen, and the trade of Jacob Markstrom opens the door for Nico Daws to get a real look at the NHL level.
Elsewhere around the league, the Columbus Blue Jackets and Adam Fantilli appear to be inching forward. Pierre LeBrun reported that GM Don Waddell said at the Board of Governors meeting that he spoke again with Pat Brisson, Fantilli’s agent, on Monday, and that the two sides seem to have made some progress. The talks are still ongoing.
In Detroit, Simon Edvinsson’s next deal is shaping up as a real test of how the Red Wings want to handle their young core. Max Bultman reported that the RFA defenseman is at training camp and is taking part in drills and meetings, but not scrimmages or games.
If Detroit goes long term, the number likely starts at $10 million or more. Eight-year deals are no longer allowed, but Zeev Buium still landed a lengthy pact from the Vancouver Canucks, an eight-year contract at $9.38 million per.
A shorter bridge deal doesn’t make much sense for Detroit, either. Five-year contracts have been popular for players in this age range, but Moritz Seider already has five years left on his own deal, and the Red Wings probably don’t want both players lining up for new contracts at the same time. Since they aren’t in a cap crunch, a lower number now would likely just lead to a bigger one later.
For Edvinsson, the logic points to going long now, even if the first price tag causes some sticker shock.
And one more extension watch item: Jason Robertson, as of Jan. 1, and Drew Doughty, right now, will both be looking for new deals.
In Other News...
Larkins Return Puts One Red Wings Decision Back In Focus
Dylan Larkin was back on the ice with the Red Wings at practice after missing the start of training camp, a welcome sight for a team trying to get its footing early in the season. His absence had been tied to an upper-body injury suffered during an off-ice workout, and Detroit has been careful not to rush the process while it sorts through the rest of camp.
Larkins return also pushes one lingering organizational question back into view. Detroit had previously removed him as captain, but the club has said he could still remain with the team for the entire season, leaving his status as one of the more notable unresolved decisions around the roster as camp continues. [Read more 🡒]
Dylan Larkins Preseason Status Suddenly Matters Even More For Detroit
The Red Wings' preseason picture got a little clearer and a little more complicated at the same time. Buffalos defensive depth took a hit when Mattias Samuelsson went down with a lower-body injury and will be out on a week-to-week basis, while Olen Zellweger also landed in concussion protocol after an upper-body injury. For Detroit, the bigger immediate note came from head coach Todd McLellan, who said Dylan Larkin is progressing in his recovery and is inching closer to a return.
That matters because Larkins preseason timetable has become one of the more closely watched storylines in camp, especially with Detroit trying to sort out its lineup and get its top center back into game shape. McLellan indicated Larkin could be available for the preseason finale against Columbus, which would give the Red Wings one more chance to see him before opening night preparations really tighten up. [Read more 🡒]
Red Wings Pettersson Buzz Comes With One Massive Catch
Elias Pettersson keeps surfacing in trade chatter as NHL insiders poke around what Vancouver might do next, and Frank Seravalli has added more fuel by casting doubt on the Canucks forward finishing his current run there. For Detroit fans, the intrigue is obvious: a player of Petterssons talent would instantly change the conversation around the roster, and his name has already been tossed into broader speculation that also includes Minnesota and Dallas.
The catch is the kind that makes this more theory than blueprint for now. Petterssons recent play has made his market harder to pin down, and his contract situation only complicates matters further, especially with a no-movement clause in the mix. Any real path for the Red Wings would need to clear another major hurdle first, so for the moment this remains a reminder of how quickly a big-name rumor can run into practical limits. [Read more 🡒]