NHL болон Тоглогчдын холбооны хоорондох шинэ хамтын гэрээ хүчин төгөлдөр болохын өмнөхөн багууд гол тоглогчидтойгоо урт хугацааны гэрээ байгуулахаар яаравчилж байна.
Анахайм Дакс болон хязгаарлагдмал чөлөөт агент Каттер Готье нарын хоорондох гэрээний хэлэлцээ ахицтай үргэлжилж байна. Талууд зургаан жилийн хугацаатай, 13-14 сая ам.долларын жилийн цалин бүхий гэрээ байгуулах магадлалтай байгаа бөгөөд энэ нь багийн хувьд чухал асуудал юм. Харин Колумбус Блү Жакетс багийн Адам Фантиллигийн гэрээний яриа удаашралтай байгаа нь сургалтын баазын өмнөх бэлтгэлд тодорхойгүй байдал үүсгэж байна.
Оттава Сенаторс багийн довтлогч Дрейк Батерсоны гэрээний асуудал мөн шийдэгдээгүй хэвээр байна. Тэрээр найман жилийн гэрээ байгуулах сонирхолтой байгаа ч талуудын байр суурь одоогоор хол зөрүүтэй байгаа юм. Үүнээс гадна Каролина Харрикейнс багийн хамгаалагч Александр Никишин солилцоо хийх хүсэлтээ хэвээр үлдээсэн бол Детройт Ред Уингс багийн Симон Эдвинссоны гэрээний асуудал шинэ ерөнхий менежер томилогдох хүртэл түр зогсонги байдалд байна.
Монреаль Канадиенс багийн хувьд Арбер Шекайтай хийж буй гэрээний хэлэлцээ нааштай үргэлжилж, ойрын хугацаанд эцэслэгдэх төлөвтэй байна. Түүнчлэн дасгалжуулагч Мартин Сент-Луи 2029-2030 оны улирлыг дуустал гэрээгээ сунгалаа. Колорадо Эвеланш багийн ерөнхий менежер Жо Сакик албан тушаалдаа бүрэн эрхтэйгээр үргэлжлүүлэн ажиллахаар болж, багийн удирдлага тогтвортой байдлыг хангалаа.
Дэлгэрэнгүйг эх сурвалжаас харах
↓Эх сурвалжийг нээх ↓
The new collective bargaining agreement between the NHL and NHL Players’ Association kicks in at midnight ET on Tuesday night/Wednesday morning, so the clock is ticking on getting eight-year extensions done before the limit becomes seven for re-signing players.
But just as significant is that the new CBA will limit how front-loaded contracts can be and how signing-bonus money can be structured. That seems to be the part that’s creating momentum in negotiations between Cutter Gauthier and the Anaheim Ducks.
The positive news on Monday is that there’s been progress and substantive talks on Gauthier, who’s a restricted free agent. Nothing is done until it’s done, but the sides are determined to get it across the finish line. The sides met over the weekend, and the dialogue was slated to continue Monday.
I’m not 100 percent sure, but I think it will land as a six-year deal if it gets done. I’m also not sure if Gauthier will get Connor Bedard’s $15 million per year, but something in the $13 million to $14 million range wouldn’t surprise me.
There will be relief, to be sure, for the Ducks if and when this deal gets done. There’s been a lot of drama in the wake of the stunning offer sheet Leo Carlsson signed with the Philadelphia Flyers, which was matched by the Ducks, and some deserved criticism of how it was handled by Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek.
But I also think it needs to be said that Verbeek did make offers last fall early in the season to Carlsson and Gauthier. Obviously they didn’t lead to extensions, but it’s not as if Anaheim had decided not to negotiate ahead of time with those two very important young stars. The agents for the players — Matt Keator for Carlsson and Kurt Overhardt for Gauthier — were clever in deciding to wait. That’s for sure.
Here’s what else I’m hearing Monday from league sources, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss negotiations that aren’t public.
Which next gen superstars jumped the highest in the NHL player tiers?
Fantilli talks ‘very slow’
Sticking with young star RFAs, Adam Fantilli remained unsigned Monday ahead of Blue Jackets camp opening this week. The sides continue to talk, which is good, but there’s a sizeable gap to overcome. “Very slow” was how one source described things.
That negotiation needs a positive uptick. The slowness certainly hasn’t been for a lack of effort from either side this summer. There have been offers and counter-offers, but they’re just not there yet.
Colleague Aaron Portzline talked to Jackets GM Don Waddell about it in his Monday piece.
Batherson, Sens still far apart
All eyes in Ottawa are on Drake Batherson, who is entering the last year on his deal with the Senators at a $4.975 million cap hit. He would become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.
The 33-goal forward is interested in signing an eight-year deal but would also do six or seven years depending on the AAV. So Tuesday night’s expiry of the old CBA has some bearing. Another thing to consider is that Batherson doesn’t want to negotiate during the season — not uncommon among pending UFAs, who often see it as a distraction once the puck drops.
Having said that, Igor Shesterkin also told the New York Rangers he wasn’t interested in negotiating during the season two years ago and ended up signing in December. Either way, these things can change with one phone call. But as of Monday morning, things were still far apart on a Batherson extension.
Nikishin not backing off trade request
Defenseman Alexander Nikishin remains unsigned by the Carolina Hurricanes as camps get set to open.
The 24-year-old RFA requested a change of scenery after the season, and one thing that was made clear to me Monday is that the request remains in place.
Edvinsson, Wings still status quo
Status quo on the Simon Edvinsson front as of Monday. Talks remain on hold until the Detroit Red Wings hire a new GM or head of hockey operations.
The RFA defenseman was still expected to be at training camp this week, signed or not.
Xhekaj talks progressing
Talks have progressed on the Arber Xhekaj contract with the Montreal Canadiens. I would expect a deal to get done for the RFA defenseman as early as Tuesday.
St. Louis’ extension and next coaches up
Speaking of the Canadiens, coach Martin St. Louis got his contract extension done and is now signed through 2029-30, removing another name from the list of NHL coaches entering the season on expiring deals.
That list is now down to the Minnesota Wild’s John Hynes, Colorado Avalanche’s Jared Bednar, Winnipeg Jets’ Scott Arniel, San Jose Sharks’ Ryan Warsofsky and Ducks’ Joel Quenneville. Rick Bowness did a one-year extension after last season with Columbus, so he’ll be up again as well.
I think the Wild will announce a Hynes extension in the not-too-distant future.
Also of note, the Nashville Predators’ Andrew Brunette is entering the last year of his current deal, but has an option for 2027-28.
Sakic’s Avs role
When the Avalanche announced Joe Sakic was stepping back into his role as GM after the departure of Chris MacFarland to Nashville, nowhere to be found was the word “interim.” But I think it’s fair to say a lot of people assumed Sakic wasn’t in for the long run and a search for a new GM would eventually happen.
But Sakic made it clear to me when we chatted back in June that his foray back into the GM chair wasn’t short-term. He wasn’t ready to put a timeline on it, but he wasn’t just doing it for the time being. He was fully committed.
That got further cemented Monday, with news shared by the likes of Evan Rawal (Denver Gazette) and Corey Masisak (Denver Post) that the appointment was full-time and that a replacement search was not in the offing.
