Red Wings winger Alex DeBrincat is heading into the final year of his contract, and the expectation is that he’d like to stay in Detroit. That matters, because the 28-year-old is eligible for an extension now, and the number being floated is big: David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period said in a recent appearance on OilersNation Everyday that DeBrincat is believed to be looking for an annual salary in the $12MM to $14MM range.
The spread depends on term. DeBrincat is currently on a deal with a $7.875MM AAV, and after putting up 80 goals over the last two seasons, he’s positioned himself right in the middle of the market for top-line wingers.
If the Red Wings don’t go there, someone else likely will.
There was also a tough update out of New York. The Rangers said center Joe Veleno left today’s game against Utah with a lower-body injury after crashing into the boards hard while trying to deliver a hit.
He had to be helped off the ice and could not put weight on his right leg. Veleno, 26, signed a one-year, $1.2MM deal on the opening day of free agency this summer after being non-tendered by Montreal.
He has been used as New York’s fourth-line center early in the season, and if he’s out for any length of time, the Rangers may need to bring up a center from AHL Hartford, since their extra forward, Matt Rempe, isn’t one.
In Ottawa, Jake Sanderson’s situation looks more concerning in the short term. Bruce Garrioch of Postmedia reports that the Senators defenseman is expected to miss at least the next two games after leaving the team’s road trip to return to Ottawa for testing.
The 24-year-old was already dealing with a lingering injury through training camp, and that same issue resurfaced in last night’s season opener in Toronto before he couldn’t finish the game. With Sanderson uncertain, Ottawa may need to be cautious, and Garrioch noted the club could revisit veteran Ben Hutton, who went unsigned after training camp and declined an invitation to skate with AHL Belleville.
Given how deep the Senators had to reach into their defensive depth last season, adding another option would make sense while Sanderson’s status remains up in the air.
In Other News...
Senators Showed Something Bigger Than A Road Win In Toronto
Toronto spent most of the night looking like the better team, driving play for long stretches and creating the kinds of chances that usually lead to a home win. The Maple Leafs were especially strong early, with Easton Cowan continuing to flash encouraging underlying numbers, even as the fourth line had a harder time keeping pace and the defensive usage from coach Jim Hiller produced a few unusual ice-time choices.
Still, Ottawas 3-2 win in Toronto was about more than a road result. The Senators weathered the pressure, waited for the game to tilt and then seized control when the Leafs level dropped in the third period, a reminder that the gap in effort and execution can change fast in this matchup. For Ottawa, it was the kind of finish that can mean something beyond two points, because it showed a group willing to absorb the push and answer when the game opened up. [Read more 🡒]
Senators Just Gave Leafs Fans A Brutal First Rivalry Reality Check
The first Battle of Ontario of the season had the familiar edge, and it delivered a reminder that these meetings rarely stay tidy for long. Ottawa and Toronto traded chances and goals before the Senators emerged with a 3-2 win, with Thomas Chabot and Stephen Halliday among the players who found the net in a game that had the feel of an early measuring stick for both sides.
For the Maple Leafs, the bigger concern was less about the rivalry itself than the way their special teams and late-game execution looked when the pressure tightened. Auston Matthews was part of the postgame scrutiny, and the discussion centered on Torontos power play and a few individual performances that left more questions than answers as this four-game series gets underway. [Read more 🡒]
Bruins Home Opener Comes With Early Pressure Against Ottawa
The Senators walk into TD Garden with a little early-season momentum after opening their schedule with a win over Toronto, while Boston is back home trying to steady itself after a loss to Minnesota. The Bruins are coming off a two-game road trip and will use their home opener to try to sharpen things up in front of their own crowd, while Ottawa gets an immediate measuring stick against a divisional opponent that already looks like it expects to contend.
For Ottawa, this is the kind of game that can tell you a lot about where a young season is headed. The matchup comes with the usual early urgency of a home opener on the other side, but it also carries the kind of division weight both clubs will feel right away as they settle into the schedule and start seeing each other more often in the months ahead. [Read more 🡒]