The Columbus Blue Jackets and Adam Fantilli are still working toward a new contract, and the good news for Columbus is that the biggest hurdle may no longer be the dollars. The remaining issue appears to be term.
Thursday’s talks reportedly moved the sides closer on average annual value, with the final number expected to land north of $13 million. Darren Dreger said the gap is narrowing there, while Chris Johnston reported Columbus has already put more than $13 million on the table. Pierre LeBrun added that the Jackets would prefer something closer to $12 million, though they could stretch to $13.5 million if it comes with extra years.
That’s where the real tug-of-war sits. LeBrun said Fantilli’s camp is looking for four or five years, while Columbus has been pushing for a longer commitment.
Even with Fantilli missing camp, the two sides are still talking, and the Blue Jackets have been sending him video so he can stay ready. Johnston expects him back soon, and LeBrun believes the deal gets done before the regular season.
Montreal, meanwhile, keeps showing up in conversations as a team that could attract talent. The Canadiens currently have just under $2.8 million in cap space, but that figure could rise to about $13 million by the trade deadline and nearly $30 million next offseason.
That kind of flexibility gives Montreal room to maneuver, and the club’s growing Russian pipeline only adds to the intrigue. Ivan Demidov has already embraced the city and organization, while Kirill Marchenko has been linked to the Canadiens. Montreal also has Russian prospects Alexander Zharovsky and Gleb Pugachyov in the system.
That was enough for Jeff Marek to float a bigger idea on The Sheet: could Nikita Kucherov someday end up with the Canadiens if he reaches free agency? Marek argued that Montreal’s skill level and potential to contend might make it appealing to Kucherov.
For now, though, it’s just a theory. There is no actual link between the two, and the Lightning have said they want to get an extension done.
In Edmonton, Mark Messier didn’t hide his reaction to the Oilers’ hiring of Mike Babcock. The Oilers legend and ESPN analyst said he was “absolutely shocked” by the move and “horrified about the whole thing.”
Messier pointed to accounts he had heard from people he described as reputable about how Babcock had treated others in the past. He also took issue with the way Edmonton’s leadership group was involved in the coaching search, saying players and management should have a clearer line between them.
His main concern was simple: if players have a problem with a coach, what happens when they helped choose that coach? “Who do they turn to?” he asked.
The criticism has stirred even more conversation because Messier once played a major role in Mike Keenan becoming coach and general manager of the Vancouver Canucks. Keenan has said publicly that Messier went to Vancouver ownership and made it clear he wanted Keenan behind the bench.
In Other News...
Messier Just Turned Up The Heat On Oilers' Babcock Debate
The Oilers decision to bring in Mike Babcock this summer already carried plenty of baggage, and Mark Messier has now poured more fuel on the debate. Edmonton turned to Babcock in June after moving on from Kris Knoblauch, a move that drew attention not just because of the coaching change, but because of Babcocks long and controversial track record around player treatment.
Messier publicly questioned the organizations judgment, saying he was stunned by the hire in light of the reports that have followed Babcock for years. The fact that Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl interviewed and backed the move only added another layer to the conversation, especially with the NHL having previously reviewed the situation and cleared Babcock before Edmonton made its call. [Read more 🡒]
Leo Carlsson Debate Just Put Ducks Leadership Under The Microscope
A broader debate around team authority has crept back into the conversation around the Oilers, and Mark Messier is adding his voice to it. The Hall of Famer took issue with the way Edmonton handled its coaching search, arguing that letting players carry so much weight in the process muddies the line between the locker room and the front office and can create problems the moment things go sideways.
The timing matters because Edmonton is trying to operate like a serious contender, which leaves little room for uncertainty about who makes the decisions. Messiers comments have revived a familiar question for the Oilers: how much influence should the core players have when the organization is making one of its biggest calls, and where does leadership start to blur into ownership? [Read more 🡒]
Blue Jackets Face A Kirill Marchenko Decision They Can't Let Drag Out
The market around Kirill Marchenko is already starting to take shape, and Edmonton is among the Canadian teams keeping a close eye on it. The Columbus winger is a pending restricted free agent, and Sportsnet insider Nick Kypreos reported that the Oilers, along with Toronto and Montreal, have interest if the Blue Jackets decide to move him. For a player heading into the final year of his contract extension, that kind of attention can quickly turn a quiet situation into one with real leverage.
Columbus still has time to sort through its options, but this is the sort of file that can become messy if it lingers. Marchenkos contract setup gives the Blue Jackets some flexibility, and if the right trade comes together, they may not have much incentive to let the discussion drag deep into the season. For Edmonton, it is another reminder that upgrade targets do not just come from the free-agent board, especially when a scorer with upside becomes available for a team that has to keep pushing its window open. [Read more 🡒]