Zach Werenski is drawing a hard line on his future, and the message out of Columbus is pretty simple: he wants to stay.
After a summer that brought plenty of trade chatter, Werenski spoke publicly for the first time and said working out at Nationwide Arena only reinforced what he already felt about the Blue Jackets. In talking with local media, he made his position clear: “Ideally, I’m here for the long term.”
Werenski said his attention is on winning, and winning in Columbus. He also said this will be the only time he addresses the offseason speculation in public. Asked about Adam Fantilli’s contract status, the Blue Jackets captain said he believes Fantilli wants to remain in Columbus too and expects that situation to get resolved eventually.
While Columbus got a firm answer from one of its cornerstones, the Minnesota Wild and Quinn Hughes are still working through the possibilities on the contract front. Michael Russo said on The Sheet that a three-year deal is the likeliest path, one that could line Hughes up with his brother Jack Hughes’ next unrestricted free agency.
Russo also suggested Minnesota may have once believed Hughes could be had at something close to the Kirill Kaprizov $17 million annual range, but that number has likely moved. The expectation now, according to Russo, is that Hughes could push beyond $18-plus million per season even on a shorter-term contract.
In Montreal, the next twist could involve not just one restricted free agent, but two. Arber Xhekaj and Zachary Bolduc remain unsigned, and Montreal Gazette columnist Stu Cowan believes both could turn into sign-and-trade possibilities before training camp opens Sept. 16.
“The fact neither player has signed yet leads me to believe they could become part of sign-and-trade deals before Sept. 16 - like the one the Canadiens made last summer to acquire Noah Dobson from the New York Islanders after he had agreed to an eight-year, US$76-million contract as a restricted free agent.”
The Canadiens are also looking for a second-line center, which could send them into the trade market in September or October. If Xhekaj and Bolduc are made available, both players could draw interest because they are coming off inexpensive contracts.
Ottawa, meanwhile, sounds like a team that isn’t close to being finished. Senators GM Steve Staios told season-ticket holders on Wednesday that he is still open to more roster changes before the season starts, using the club’s recent moves as the backdrop for what could come next.
“I wasn’t done after the Brady deal, and I’m certainly not done now,” he said. “We’re determined to bring championship here to Ottawa.”
Staios also said Drake Batherson’s contract extension is a priority. And if Ottawa still doesn’t land another scoring piece before training camp, that need could stay on his radar once the season begins.
In Other News...
Quinn Hughes Just Gave The Wild A Massive Contract Dilemma
Quinn Hughes is headed into the final year of his contract, and that alone would have made him one of the biggest talking points around Minnesota this season. The Wild already paid a steep price to get him, parting with three young players and a first-round pick, which turned the deal into far more than a simple talent upgrade. It also means every move Hughes makes over the next year will be watched through the lens of whether this was a long-term swing or just the opening act.
For Minnesota, the stakes are obvious. If Hughes settles in and likes what he sees, the Wild could be looking at a major extension decision sooner rather than later, but the uncertainty is part of what makes the situation so delicate. There is already speculation that he may feel some obligation to reward the team for what it gave up to land him, and if that sense of debt becomes part of the conversation, it could shape everything about how this reaches the finish line. [Read more 🡒]
Wild Still Have One Intriguing Late Summer Forward Option
The Wild have already done plenty of work reshaping the roster this summer, but there still appears to be room for one more forward addition if they want a little more punch and depth down the lineup. Eeli Tolvanen has emerged as a name worth monitoring, especially for a Minnesota team that could use another affordable option who brings a mix of offense and physicality.
Tolvanens recent run with Seattle has shown he can chip in at both ends of the ice, and that makes him an interesting late-summer fit for a club still looking at value signings. A one-year deal would make sense for both sides, giving the Wild another useful body without tying up long-term cap space, while Tolvanen would get a chance to settle into a new role on a contender with something to prove. [Read more 🡒]