The Utah Mammoth made a splash in the free agency pool by locking down Nick Schmaltz with an eight-year, $64 million extension. This move could have ripple effects, particularly for Alex Tuch of the Buffalo Sabres, a key player in the upcoming free agent class. With negotiations already in the works, Tuch is reportedly eyeing a deal similar to Adrian Kempe's eight-year, $85 million extension with the Los Angeles Kings.
Schmaltz and Tuch have shown comparable production this season, with Schmaltz perhaps having a slight edge. This could give the Sabres some leverage, as they might use Schmaltz's deal as a benchmark in their negotiations with Tuch.
However, Tuch stands out as the top free agent forward under 33, compared to others like Mason Marchment, Anthony Mantha, and Oliver Bjorkstrand. Some teams might be willing to offer Tuch up to $11 million per year, which means he could be leaving significant money on the table if he doesn't explore free agency.
In other extension news, the Vegas Golden Knights are in a holding pattern with defenseman Rasmus Andersson. Despite being linked to Andersson for years and acquiring him in January, they haven't inked a new deal yet.
The holdup? Vegas is constrained by cap space, with only $3.2 million projected for the summer.
They can't finalize a new contract for Andersson until they can place Alex Pietrangelo's $8.8 million salary back on LTIR.
Meanwhile, the Anaheim Ducks are playing it cool with defenseman John Carlson. They seem uninterested in paying a hefty price for him as a rental.
Carlson and his camp are expected to discuss his future in Anaheim as the regular season winds down. If he decides to stay, a two-year contract worth between $8 million and $9 million per season could be on the horizon.