Free Agent Signings:
Ilya Kovalchuk-Los Angeles Kings: 3 years, $18.75M
Once one of the NHL's elite goal scorers, Kovalchuk is returning from a five-year tenure in the KHL to join the Kings. He just recently led the KHL in goals with 31 in scoring adding 32 assists in 53 games. The Kings badly need scoring and if Kovalchuk can manage 30 goals, the deal will be worth it for them. If he is no longer capable of playing a first-line role in the NHL, this deal could look bad three years from now.
Grade: B
John Carlson-Washington Capitals: 8 years, $64M
John Carlson broke out this past year as he exploded into Norris contention while helping the Capitals win their first ever Stanley Cup. Signing one of the league's best defencemen for this price is a good deal as of now but if four years from now Carlson does not continue his play from this year it could go down as a terrible contract. He has deserved this extension though as without him Washington would not have been in Cup contention.
Grade B
Trades:
Canadiens Receive: Max Domi
Coyotes Receive: Alex Galchenyuk
Both Alex Galchenyuk and Max Domi have underachieved for their former teams and this seems like a fresh start for both players. Skill-wise they are very similar but Galchenyuk has more uncapped potential than Domi being a former third-overall draft pick. The Canadiens got back a player who will replace Galchenyuk's point totals but they need center ice men instead of more wingers. The Coyotes have the bigger potential to get a star out of this deal but as of now neither team comes out on top.
Grades: Canadiens: C+ Coyotes: B
Senators Receive: Mikkel Boedker, Julius Bergman, 2020 6th Round Pick
Sharks Receive: Mike Hoffman, Cody Donaghey, 2020 5th Round Pick
This is clearly a cap-clearing move for the Sharks as they dumped Mikkel Boedker's cap hit to get Hoffman then they shipped him off hours later for draft picks. Maybe it sets up a bigger move for the Sharks to go after a John Tavares or James Van Riemsdyk in free agency or even make a trade for someone like Ryan O'Reilly. Based on recent events, Hoffman needed to go but the Senators failed to get in return what a top-six forward should get. If anything positive can come out of this for Ottawa, maybe it gives Erik Karlsson a better chance to re-sign.
Grades: Sharks: A Senators C
Panthers Receive: Mike Hoffman, 2018 7th Round Pick
Sharks Receive: 2019 2nd Round Pick, 2018 4th Round Pick, 2018 5th Round Pick
If Hoffman and his fiancee can clean up their act, this could be a steal for Florida as they now have a very good young top-six forward group. Hoffman could possibly put up his first-ever 30-goal season alongside Florida's excellent centers. The cap clearing done by the Sharks seems to be setting up something much bigger in the coming months.
Grades: Panthers: B+ Sharks A
Avalanche Receive: Phillip Grubauer, Brooks Orpik
Capitals Receive: 2018 2nd Round Pick
The Capitals just traded one of the league's best young goalies so they could free up Brooks Orpik's cap hit to sign their star defenceman John Carlson. Bringing in a second-round pick is not a bad return for offloading such a bad salary too. The Avalanche plan to buy out Orpik but if Grubauer can play well as a starter, the dead money will be worth it for them. Potentially getting a goaltender for this young team could make them Cup contenders a couple years from now.
Grades: Avalanche A Capitals A
Flames Receive: Noah Hanifin, Elias Lindholm
Hurricanes Receive: Dougie Hamilton, Micheal Ferland, Adam Fox
Dougie Hamilton is the best player in this deal now as he led all defencemen in goals this season with 17. Hamilton is only 25 and a top-pair defenceman so it seems odd Carolina will be his third team, rumour is he causes toruble in the locker room. Noah Hanifin is a good young top-four defenceman who is only 21 years old but as of now is not in the same league as Dougie Hamilton. Flames fans can only hope maybe four years from now he will be. Micheal Ferland became a fan favourite during the Flames' shocking playoff run running over every single Canuck in his way while scoring key goals. He rode shotgun to Johnny Gaudreau this year potting 21 goals to go along with 41 points. Elias Lindholm has not been what was expected when he was drafted fifth overall in 2013 but he is still a capable top-six two-way forward who has the potential to put together the best year of his career alongside Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan. The Flames also parted with promising prospect Adam Fox who was set to leave them in free agency anyways. As of now the Hurricanes are the winners of this blockbuster but five years from now maybe Calgary will be the winner. Only time will tell.
Grades: Flames C+ Hurricnaes B
Blackhawks Receive: Michael Chaput
Canucks Receive: Tanner Kero
The Blackhawks and Canucks swapped AHL forwards who each appeared in less than 10 games for their respective teams this past season. Both will find roles as depth forwards or play in the AHL this coming season.
Grades: Blackhawks B Canucks B
Photo credit for Ilya Kovalchuk goes to https://www.cbssports.com/. John Carlson goes to http://nhl.nbcsports.com/. Alex Galchenyuk, Mikkel Boedker, Phillip Grubauer and Michael Chaput goes to http://www.nhl.com/. Mike Hoffman goes to https://www.tsn.ca/. Dougie Hamilton goes to https://mynhltraderumors.com/.
No comments:
Post a Comment