Jaden Schwartz and Eeli Tolvanen are both headed for free agency on Wednesday, according to David Pagnotta, leaving the Seattle Kraken with two notable names reaching the market at the same time.
Elsewhere in the rumor mill, Vincent Trocheck’s price tag may be climbing rather than falling. Elliotte Friedman said on Sportsnet’s 32 Thoughts: The Podcast that the New York Rangers are still setting a steep bar for Trocheck, and possibly one that is even higher than it was at the deadline.
Kyle Bukauskas brought up the Rangers center, and Friedman didn’t soften the picture.
“Yeah, I heard the, I heard the Rangers still have a very high ask there, if not higher than the deadline.”
Bukauskas reacted to that with, “Wow.”
Friedman then added, “And honestly, part of me, Kyle wondered after they got Dorofeyev, would they want Trocheck to stay?”
He continued, “Now it might be too far down the road, I don’t know, but I heard the Rangers ask on Trocheck was was very high, very high.”
The Anaheim Ducks were also working the board, with Friedman saying they tried to get the St. Louis Blues’ No. 11 pick in the Mason McTavish trade before settling for No. 15 and No. 29.
Friedman pointed to the Blues’ broader approach as well, saying, “You know. I like St.
Louis, what St. Louis has done.
They’ve made their team a lot younger. They’ve, you know, Alex Steen takes over this week, and they did a lot of heavy lifting.
I think the (Mason) McTavish one works out for them, you know.
Pat Verbeek tried to get the 11th pick. Doug Armstrong held out, did it for 15 and 29.
I like the way St. Louis has remodeled themselves a bit.”
In Other News...
Kraken Landed A Draft Shock Seattle Fans Will Love
Seattles draft haul had an unmistakable surprise at the top, with defenseman Chase Reid going seventh overall and giving the Kraken a blue-line piece they clearly valued more than anyone else in that range expected. The pick fit a night that also brought a heavier, more physical forward in Casey Mutryn in the second round and a developmental swing on Washington-state defenseman Hawke Huff in the fifth, giving the organization a mix of near-term intrigue and longer-view upside.
For Kraken fans, Reid was the kind of first-round twist that can change the mood of a draft room in a hurry, especially when a player with his profile is still on the board that late. Seattle then rounded out the class with Mutryn, whose style should appeal to a team that wants more edge up front, and Huff, whose path has already included some real adversity as he tries to keep climbing toward the NHL. [Read more 🡒]
Shane Wright Buzz Puts Kraken Offseason Plan Under Real Pressure
Interest around Shane Wright is starting to feel like one of those summer signals that tells you more about a teams direction than any single rumor does. Several NHL clubs are reportedly keeping tabs on the Kraken forward, and that attention lands at a time when Seattle is still trying to make a meaningful move of its own, the kind that can change the shape of the roster rather than simply shuffle it.
For Seattle, the Wright chatter matters because it comes with the broader sense that this offseason is not supposed to be quiet. Around the league, teams are already sorting through hard decisions and possible turnover, from Ottawas Arthur Kaliyev heading toward free agency after a rough season to Minnesota weighing roster changes that could alter its forward group. In that kind of market, even a player like Wright can become a real point of leverage, and the Kraken will have to decide how much they want to listen. [Read more 🡒]
Hurricanes Face A Free Agency Crossroads That Could Reshape This Roster
Carolina enters free agency with most of its roster already in place, but the Hurricanes still have a decision point that could shape how aggressive they can be from here. With a little more than $11 million in cap space, the club has enough flexibility to stay active, yet not so much that every move can be made without consequence. Restricted free agent Alexander Nikishin is expected to be central to the conversation, and the front office also has to weigh whether an unrestricted option like Mason Marchment fits the mix.
Nikishins next deal may end up being the hinge for everything else, since his value could influence how much room remains for outside additions and how quickly the Hurricanes can move. A shorter bridge agreement would keep things manageable for now, while a longer commitment would speak more to where the organization sees him in the years ahead. Marchment adds another layer to that calculus, because a forward of his profile could help fill out the lineup if Carolina chooses to spend some of that space on the open market. [Read more 🡒]