The Detroit Red Wings may have had a real shot at Steven Stamkos last offseason, but the move never got across the finish line. According to a report from the Detroit Free Press’ Carlos Monarrez, the Red Wings pushed hard to bring Stamkos in, only for owner Chris Ilitch to block the deal because he was unwilling to pay the money needed to sign him. That detail lands with extra weight considering how long Detroit has been searching for help down the middle.
The timing makes the whole thing sting even more. Since Stamkos became a free agent, the Red Wings’ biggest weakness has been their second-line centre spot.
Stamkos wasn’t at his peak there anymore, but the idea was simple enough: with the right fit, he could have shifted that equation. Even beyond the position question, his leadership, scoring touch, and all-around game would have given Detroit a much-needed boost.
Monarrez also reported that the Red Wings had another deal fall apart this offseason, this time for Anthony Mantha. Mantha eventually signed a two-year contract with the New Jersey Devils worth $4.75 million annually, and that agreement was announced just 10 minutes before Steve Yzerman was fired. Monarrez said, “On the same day Yzerman’s removal was announced, assistant GM Shawn Horcoff had a deal in place with Anthony Mantha, but it fell through while Ilitch deliberated.”
For Montreal, the picture looks very different. The Canadiens have spent the summer locking in key players on deals that sit well below what many of their peers are commanding.
Ivan Demidov’s eight-year contract stood out right away, especially after Leo Carlsson, Macklin Celebrini, and Connor Bedard all signed for huge numbers. Nick Suzuki, Juraj Slafkovsky, and Cole Caufield are all under long-term deals at less than $8 million per year, while Lane Hutson, Noah Dobson, Mike Matheson, and Kaiden Guhle are all tied up on team-friendly contracts for at least five more seasons.
That approach, Slafkovsky said, isn’t accidental. After saying the money they make is already enough, he added, “We’d rather just focus on collecting those [Stanley Cup] rings, because that’s a much bigger number, and I don’t think any amount of money can top that.”
The Panthers are dealing with a very different kind of issue. Brad Marchand has undergone surgery, and there’s no recovery timeline attached yet. For a team trying to rebound after missing the playoffs last season, health is becoming a serious concern.
Florida’s injury problems were hard to ignore last year. Captain Aleksander Barkov missed the entire season, Sam Reinhart and Anton Lundell each missed 18 games, Matthew Tkachuk played only 31 games, and plenty of others also lost time.
NHL Injury Viz had the Panthers at 540 man-games lost, far ahead of the rest of the league. The Vegas Golden Knights were next at 379.
There’s also the age factor. Elite Prospects lists the Panthers as the second-oldest team in the league, and with most of the core already around 30, that group isn’t getting any younger. Florida has a roster full of players on long-term deals, which should help as the salary cap rises, but if those players keep ending up unavailable, that advantage can disappear fast.
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For a team built to chase another deep run, any uncertainty around a major new piece has ripple effects. Marchands status is the kind of thing front offices have to map out early, especially when a roster has to balance short-term health with long-term flexibility, and Florida may have to keep a close eye on how his recovery shapes its options in camp and beyond. [Read more 🡒]
Brad Marchand's Offseason Update Created A Panthers Question
Brad Marchand gave Panthers fans a bit of offseason news this week when he confirmed on social media that he recently underwent a procedure and will be off the ice for the near future. The update landed during a quiet stretch on the hockey calendar, but it still matters in South Florida because any setback involving a veteran forward is going to draw attention, especially when the regular season is still months away.
Marchand also said he will miss Zdeno Charas charity game in Slovakia, a reminder that his recovery is going to keep him away from some of the summer events players usually use to stay connected and stay sharp. For the Panthers, the immediate concern is less about an exhibition appearance and more about where this leaves his timeline heading into the next season, with one more unanswered question hanging over an already notable offseason update. [Read more 🡒]