The San Jose Sharks have made their biggest commitment yet to Macklin Celebrini, locking up the young star on a five-year extension worth $94 million. When the new deal kicks in, Celebrini will sit atop the NHL salary ladder with an AAV of $18.8 million per season.
It’s a massive number, but the Sharks are treating it as a win in more ways than one. GM Mike Grier made clear the team appreciated how the negotiation played out, saying, “As we continue our goal of building a team capable of annually competing for the Stanley Cup, we want to thank Macklin and his representatives for a respectful negotiation process, and acknowledge the flexibility they have provided to the team in how we allocate future dollars towards the team being constructed around Macklin,” said GM Mike Grier.
With Celebrini taken care of, San Jose can turn its attention to Will Smith, who is next in line as a major contract priority. His entry-level deal runs through the 2026-27 season, and Celebrini’s extension should give both sides a clearer picture of where Smith’s next contract may land.
Elsewhere, the Minnesota Wild are heading into important talks with Quinn Hughes, and the length of the deal may already be the central issue. One report indicates both sides have a sense of the term, but the Wild want something in the five- to eight-year range while Michael Russo reports Hughes is leaning toward a shorter bridge, possibly three years. Hughes’ preference is tied to wanting his contract to expire alongside his brother Jack Hughes.
That creates a tricky setup for Minnesota. Hughes appears open to joining the Wild, but the shorter term would leave the door open for a much shorter stay.
If his long-term goal is to line up with his brothers, Minnesota may not be the final stop. That’s why GM Bill Guerin will need to be careful about trade protection if a deal gets done, and why the Wild could eventually have to think about trade options if they believe the relationship won’t last.
In Detroit, the noise around Alex DeBrincat hasn’t turned into anything concrete. Even after the front office changes, the belief is that the winger is staying put, and DeBrincat is reportedly happy with the Red Wings. He’s also become too important to ignore, leading the team in goals and providing steady offense.
Still, the situation in Detroit remains unsettled. The status of Steve Yzerman’s authority is unclear, the Dylan Larkin trade talk is on hold, and Patrick Kane is gone.
DeBrincat’s next contract is the real issue, and with the market for top scorers climbing, his number could reach the $14 million AAV range. The Red Wings should have the cap space to handle it, but whether they see that price as acceptable is what will determine how quickly things move.
Ottawa, meanwhile, is dealing with a widening gap in talks with Drake Batherson. Bruce Garrioch of The Ottawa Sun reported that the sides are not close, writing:
“While Senators president of hockey operations and general manager Steve Staios has opened discussions on an extension, league sources told the Ottawa Citizen they believe the two sides “aren’t close” to an agreement.”
Batherson is entering the final year of his current contract and is expected to seek a major raise, likely in the $10 million to $11 million range annually. There is mutual interest in keeping the partnership going, but the money remains the obstacle.
And Batherson isn’t the only important Ottawa name on the list. Defenseman Artem Zub is also heading toward unrestricted free agency next summer, and the Senators are expected to open extension talks with him soon.
In Other News...
Drake Bathersons Senators Future Suddenly Feels Far Less Certain
Drake Batherson is heading into the final season of the six-year contract he signed with Ottawa in 2021, and the Senators are already facing a familiar kind of pressure point with one of their most important forwards. Batherson has been one of the clubs most productive players, finishing last season with 71 points while also contributing in the playoffs, which only heightens the significance of what comes next for a team that has leaned on his offense.
Bathersons camp and the Senators still have not lined up on an extension, even as there is belief he wants to stay in Ottawa for the foreseeable future. For a player who has grown into a leading scorer, the uncertainty is less about what he means to the roster than about how the organization values him over the long term, and that gap is going to hang over the season until it gets resolved. [Read more 🡒]
Senators Keep Getting Linked To The Blue Line Fix Fans Want
Even after Brady Tkachuks departure in June, the Senators have not exactly gone quiet about the blue line. Ottawa has been connected to Flyers defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen, a veteran right-shot option who would give the club another experienced body on the back end, and the interest fits with a front office that has been trying to balance immediate stability with a roster that still has room to grow.
Steve Staios has publicly sounded comfortable with the depth already in place, which makes the Ristolainen chatter more of a watch-this-space situation than an urgent push. Still, with one year left on his contract and Ottawa continuing to be mentioned as a team looking for defensive help, the Senators appear to be keeping their options open as they sort out what the next version of the blue line should look like. [Read more 🡒]