It’s the day before the NHL Draft and the rumour mill has kicked into high gear. The order of this year’s draft is completely up in the air, right from the top, where the Montreal Canadiens still are deciding between Shane Wright, Juraj Slafkovsky and Logan Cooley.
This figures to be the most unpredictable draft in years.
Various GMs from around the league spoke from the host city in Montreal on Wednesday, and we’re gathering some of what came out of those discussion here.
This page will be updated as more GMs speak Wednesday afternoon.
Washington Capitals looking for veteran goalie, believe Backstrom will return next season
Between Ilya Samsonov and Vitek Vanecek, the Capitals had the NHL’s No. 23-ranked team save percentage this past season at .898, the worst mark of any playoff team. Both of those goalies are now restricted free agents this summer and still relatively young — 25 and 26 years old, respectively.
Qualifying offers are due by Monday, July 11 and any player who doesn’t receive one will become an unrestricted free agent on July 13. With many teams pinched to the cap and seeking ways to create space to make moves, Monday figures to be a big day that could add a couple more intriguing free agents to the pile.
There was some question if the Capitals would leave either goalie unqualified, but GM Brian MacLellan said Wednesday that both would receive one. However, he made it clear that the Capitals would still be looking to acquire a veteran netminder this summer.
The Russian question remains a large one and figures to impact the draft order on Thursday and Friday, where certain players from that country could fall in order. That Flyers prospect goalie Ivan Fedotov was picked up by Russian law enforcement before he left for the USA this week, and sent to a remote military base, is alarming and a concern for others who return to that country.
As GM of the team with the most Russian players on the roster, MacLellan admitted there was “a little uncertainty” about players returning to the USA from Russia for next season, but that in speaking with his players, “everybody is pretty comfortable that they are coming back and they are playing next year.”
The GM also gave an update on the injured Nicklas Backstrom, whom he expects to return at some point next season. That may remove the Capitals from any Nazem Kadri speculation, as they’re likely to replace Backstrom from within until he’s able to return.
Columbus’ No. 6 or 12 pick could be available for ‘good young player’ under team control
There was a little trade buzz Tuesday night when Columbus Dispatch Blue Jackets reporter Brian Hedger said Jarmo Kekalainen had been talking with the Arizona Coyotes and that, potentially, a deal involving Jakob Chychrun could line up.
On Wednesday, Kekalainen said it was unlikely (though not impossible) that he’d trade both of his first-round picks, and then outlined what it would take for him to part with even one of them.
“We’re going to look at our needs and then see what we can do from the other means that we have, which is free agency and trades,” the GM said. “That’s why we’re doing what we’re doing right now with evaluating what may be available for the sixth pick, or the 12th pick. If it’s for a 20-, 21-, maybe 22-year-old player that’s already played in the NHL and we know that we can control for many, many years, but can give us, also, that immediate help, it could make all kinds of sense for us. It’s not going to happen for a 26-year-old good NHL player that has one year left before he’s a UFA. It doesn’t make any sense for us.”
Can Boston bring the band back together?
Important updates from the Bruins today on Patrice Bergeron, whose contract has expired and is surrounded by retirement speculation; David Pastrnak, a year away from UFA status adding a pressure point to trade speculation this off-season; and David Krejci, the important second-line centre who returned to play in Czechia this past season.
First on Bergeron. This year’s Selke Trophy winner at 36 years old is still at the peak of his powers and scored 65 points in 73 games this past season. Bergeron himself has shut down any talk that he could sign elsewhere as a free agent this summer. His commitment, if he returns to the NHL, is to the Bruins. GM Don Sweeney called the ongoing talks with Bergeron’s camp as “promising” but that the picture wasn’t much clearer yet.
“My conversations with Patrice have gone well. His recovery has gone well,” Sweeney said. “We’re excited that he’s considering playing and moving forward with what we think is a positive mindset.”
With Pastrnak the situation is a bit more sticky and, perhaps, could depend on what Bergeron or Krejci decide. Pastrnak scored 40 goals this season, is right in his prime at 26 years old, and has one year left on a contract paying $6.66 million against the cap.
Meantime, the Bruins’ contending window faces a questionable future with Bergeron still undecided and there’s some question if Pastrnak would want to lock in with the organization for the long-term, if some form of a rebuild will be forced upon them.
Neely said he would meet with Pastrnak’s agent, J.P. Barry, in Montreal over the next two days.
And, surprisingly, Sweeney didn’t immediately shoot down the notion that Krejci could return to the team in 2022-23. The 36-year-old scored 46 points in 51 Czech League games this season, but the Bruins GM confirmed he is talking with the centre.
And, finally, some definite good news for the Bruins: 25-year-old Jake DeBrusk rescinded his trade request after a 25-goal season in which he earned some play on the top line.
‘Multiple’ teams have called the Senators about the seventh overall pick
As outlined by Wayne Scanlan in his draft preview, the Senators no longer see themselves as a bottoming-out, rebuilding team through the draft, but as one ready to move into the next phase of development, where they’ll want to add key complementary pieces around their young core. This is why the team has been connected to Claude Giroux in free-agent rumours.
That means that Ottawa’s seventh-overall pick could be in play, if GM Pierre Dorion can use it to acquire an impact NHL player.
“There’s been a lot of discussions about not just pick seven, but other picks that could be in play,” he said Wednesday. “It’s no secret we’re trying to improve our team and bring players that have some kind of pedigree or experience into our lineup and we’ve talked about pick seven as a possibility of being moved.”
