The biggest noise around the NHL on Saturday came from Cale Makar’s monster deal, and the reaction hasn’t slowed down. Fans and pundits are still chewing on the reality of a defenseman being able to land more than $20 million a year, while a depth blueliner can come in around $1 million. That’s the new landscape, whether anyone likes it or not.
There was also a sharp pushback to Connor Hellebuyck’s trade request, and it came from an unexpected corner. ESPN’s Michael Wilbon went straight at it, opening with, “No!”
The message behind that response was simple: if general managers and the league don’t start drawing a line, trade demands are going to become the norm. The logic is blunt - you don’t sign an eight-year contract and then get to walk away when things get hard.
Around the league, the Makar contract has already triggered the usual wave of reaction pieces, with Sportsnet rounding up the fan response after the deal everyone expected, even if it still landed with a thud. And the financial ripple effect doesn’t stop there. TSN reported that Macklin Celebrini said he left some money on the table to get his deal done with the San Jose Sharks.
The contract market is also staring down another round of huge numbers elsewhere. Florida Hockey Now noted that the Panthers don’t have a massive payday due immediately this summer or next, but George Richards pointed out that the big contract splashes are still coming. Philly Hockey Now asked whether a Flyers player will soon be pushing for $20 million, while New Jersey Hockey Now dug into the dominoes that could follow if Minnesota can’t keep Quinn Hughes, with the Devils waiting in the wings next summer.
As for the Penguins, the conversation remains a mix of hope and hard truth. Pittsburgh Hockey Now examined both sides of the ledger: the reasons for optimism heading into the coming season and the reasons for pessimism that are just as real. It’s a straight look at where the team stands, with no sugarcoating either direction.
Elsewhere in Pittsburgh sports, Steelers Now reported that as roster cuts continued, the Steelers moved former first-round pick Broderick Jones to the Dallas Cowboys.