The NHL offseason is right here, and which means the wheeling and dealing is in full swing. This time of 12 months is at all times an lively one within the NHL as groups are attempting to improve their rosters or transfer up within the draft. The truth that the NHL wage cap goes as much as $88 million for the 2024-25 season solely offers golf equipment extra wiggle room to take some huge swings.
The Tampa Bay Lightning had been among the many busiest groups across the league throughout draft weekend. They kicked off the motion on Saturday by dealing defenseman Mikhail Sergachev to the Utah Hockey Membership in trade for a few gamers and picks. In addition they acquired the rights to star winger Jake Guentzel, who is ready to grow to be a free agent on Monday.
It is clear that the Lightning are attempting to arrange some larger strikes they usually’ve been clearing wage cap house to make that occur.
Wanting forward, some huge names might be on the transfer within the coming days and weeks. For starters, all eyes are on Mitch Marner and the Toronto Maple Leafs. Marner has one 12 months left on his present contract, and the Maple Leafs could also be seeking to shake issues up after a number of years of playoff futility.
If Toronto had been to dangle Marner on the market, there needs to be a protracted line of groups making an attempt to land the previous 99-point performer.
The Carolina Hurricanes are reportedly searching for to commerce younger winger Martin Necas, who’s coming off his second straight 20-goal season on the age of 25. Necas would command a considerable return, so that would generate a Vegas blockbuster over the following couple of days.
Different gamers to control embody Winnipeg Jets ahead Nikolaj Ehlers, Anaheim Geese goalie John Gibson and Geese middle Trevor Zegras.
Observe alongside proper right here as we maintain monitor of each notable NHL commerce this offseason.
Penguins ship F Reilly Smith to Rangers
The primary day of free company was a comparatively quiet one for the New York Rangers, at the least from a spending perspective. They did not make many huge splashes, however they did add some middle-six scoring in a take care of the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Rangers floated a second-round decide and a fifth-round decide to Pittsburgh in trade for Smith, who’s coming off a troublesome season with the Pens.
Capitals land Jakob Chychrun in take care of Senators
After months of hypothesis, the Ottawa Senators have traded defenseman Jakob Chychrun to the Washington Capitals in trade for defenseman Nick Jensen and a 2026 third-round decide.
Chychrun had spent the final two seasons with the Senators after being acquired from the Arizona Coyotes on the 2023 commerce deadline.
Hurricanes deal F Jake Guentzel’s rights to Lightning
The Hurricanes had been working to get a contract executed with Guentzel, however this transfer advised the 2 sides had been unable to come back to a deal, and the Bolts have now reportedly signed Guentzel to a seven-year contract. With Steven Stamkos headed towards the free company market, Tampa appears to have discovered a substitute with Guentzel, a two-time Stanley Cup champion and highly-skilled top-six winger.
Stars commerce D Chris Tanev’s rights to Maple Leafs
The Stars tried to get a contract extension executed with shutdown defenseman Chris Tanev, but it surely by no means materialized. Due to that, Dallas acquired at the least a bit one thing for Tanev’s negotiating rights. The veteran defenseman is now poised to signal a long-term take care of Toronto.
Golden Knights get intriguing younger gamers from Devils
In one of many extra fascinating strikes from draft weekend, the Golden Knights acquired some good younger ability and goaltending from the Devils. Alexander Holtz, the No. 7 general decide in 2020, is a promising ahead nonetheless on his entry-level deal. Vegas additionally introduced in goaltender Akira Schmid, a 24-year-old who flashed some expertise within the NHL over the past couple seasons. The Golden Knights did need to half methods with a strong depth piece in Paul Cotter, however this can be a good wager for the Golden Knights.
Earlier than including Schmid, the Golden Knights dealt Logan Thompson to the Capitals for a pair of third-round picks. Thompson was a part of a goalie logjam in Vegas, and now he’ll type what needs to be a strong tandem with Charlie Lindgren in Washington.
Simply over a 12 months in the past, forward of the 2023 commerce deadline, the Lightning despatched a haul of draft picks to the Predators in trade for depth energy ahead Tanner Jeannot. Over the weekend, they despatched Jeannot to Los Angeles for a fourth-round decide and a second-round decide. Not less than the Bolts cleared some much-needed wage cap room.
Utah continued to bolster its blue line by sending a few draft picks to the Devils in trade for John Marino. New Jersey is predicted to take a run at Brett Pesce in free company, and that meant it must transfer out one among its different defensemen. Marino was the odd-man out, and he’s a strong under-the-radar pickup for Utah.
Utah will get D Mikhail Sergachev from Lightning
As is normally the case, the Lightning wanted to shed wage cap cash this offseason, and Utah took benefit of that. Utah did need to commerce a strong younger defenseman in J.J. Moser to make this deal occur, but it surely landed a real top-pairing participant in Mikhail Sergachev. At simply 26 years outdated, Sergachev might be an enormous a part of the Utah blue line for a very long time.
St. Louis sends F Kevin Hayes to Pittsburgh
The Blues additionally did some subtracting over the weekend. They despatched veteran ahead Kevin Hayes and his $3.5 million cap hit to the Penguins, but it surely value them a second-round decide as a sweetener.
Blues add F Alex Texier in take care of Blue Jackets
St. Louis wanted to improve its bottom-six this offseason, and this commerce with the Blue Jackets accomplishes simply that. Texier needs to be a pleasant depth participant for St. Louis, and he solely value them a fourth-round decide.
