Dan and Sat are joined by former Canuck Jannik Hansen to talk about what the Blue Jackets have done this week, different coaching approaches, and more. Also, the guys talk about the future in Columbus and who they may have to move.
This podcast was produced by Josh Elliott-Wolfe.
The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Media Inc. or any affiliate.
The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Media Inc. or any affiliate.
Spoiler alert for July 1: The 2023 unrestricted free-agent class doesn't have a headliner.
There's no Johnny Gaudreau of 2022, Dougie Hamilton of 2021, Alex Pietrangelo of 2020, or Artemi Panarin of 2019. There are plenty of household names available, sure, but most are past their prime and thus less desirable.
This year's crop is, in a word, underwhelming. However, that doesn't mean it's boring, especially with the upper limit of the salary cap likely rising once again by only $1 million for the 2023-24 season (to $83.5 million). With so little additional cap space available, some players are going to get squeezed.
Claus Andersen / Getty Images
"Is it the top-tier guys since there's no real big name in the class? Is it the guys in the middle? Or is it some of the lower-end, lower-lineup guys?" Kyle Stich, president of AFP Analytics, wondered aloud during a recent interview.
Will teams eat a "bad" cap hit for this coming season in order to sign a player they really like for multiple seasons, then feel better about it once the upper limit jumps? Or, with teams and players eyeing that big increase over the next couple of years, will there be more short-term deals than usual this summer?
With the help of Stich and AFP Analytics - which recently released contract projections for hundreds of free agents - let's take a look at three particularly intriguing UFAs.
Jeff Bottari / NHL / Getty Images
Adin Hill (AFP projection: 2 years, $3.34-million cap hit)
AFP's projections were finalized after the regular season, so, as Stich puts it, the 27-year-old Hill "might have earned himself another year or two and another couple of million each year" by posting a .934 save percentage in 14 playoff games. Winning the Stanley Cup would be the icing on the cake.
Hill's stellar play in the Vegas crease this spring has moved him into Jordan Binnington and Scott Darling territory. Binnington signed for two years at $4.4 million per year in 2019 (5.4% of upper limit at signing time), while Darling signed for four years at $4.15 million per year in 2017 (5.7% of upper limit).
Hill's NHL sample size is small (115 total games), which could be viewed as a plus or a minus, depending on the front office. "If you're a team that wants to buy into what you've seen so far, you can talk yourself into him," Stich said. "If you're a team that wants to steer away, you can talk yourself out of him."
Michael Bunting (AFP projection: 5 years, $5.26-million cap hit)
Bunting's suspension in the first round of the playoffs may not have left a favorable impression on prospective future employers. But there's no denying the 27-year-old winger can slot into any top six. In Toronto, he showed he can play the heel alongside play-drivers Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner.
AFP envisions Bunting's next deal ending up in the same ballpark as Blake Coleman's deal with Calgary (six years, $4.9 million per, 6% of upper limit at signing) and Zach Hyman's deal with Edmonton (seven years, $5.5 million per, 6.8% of limit). Jonathan Marchessault, who, like Bunting, took a while to break through in the NHL, is another data point (six years, $5 million per, 6.7%).
Bunting's just one of many useful UFA wingers, such as Tyler Bertuzzi, Alex Killorn, and Ivan Barbashev. "Does he get signed first, get a high-dollar amount and term, and then the market dries out for somebody else?" Stitch wondered.
Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty
Dmitry Orlov (AFP projection: 5 years, $6.27-million cap hit)
Orlov must have been smiling ear to ear Friday as he learned of the sign-and-trade between New Jersey and Columbus. That deal took Damon Severson, Orlov's stiffest competition among UFA defensemen, off the market entirely.
Suddenly, the demand for Orlov, which was presumably already fairly high, is even higher. The 31-year-old Russian recorded a career-high 36 points this past season while splitting his time between Washington and Boston after a midseason trade. Orlov's ability to break the puck out, intimidate physically, and help out on the power play makes him an enticing, top-pairing package.
Two relevant contracts: Jeff Petry's deal with Montreal and Mattias Ekholm's deal with Nashville. Both defensemen, now playing for other teams, signed in their early 30s for four years, $6.25 million per season, and 7.7% of the upper limit at the time.
2003 draft, 20 years later
June 21 marks two decades since Cape Breton Screaming Eagles goalie Marc-Andre Fleury was selected first overall in the 2003 draft. A historically strong class, 130 picks have played at least one NHL game, including all 30 first-rounders, ranging from Hugh Jessiman (two games) to Eric Staal (1,365).
The depth doesn't stop there: 48 of 292 total draftees, or a whopping 16.4% of the class, have appeared in 500 or more games. And 16 have reached the 1,000-game milestone, with the 38-year-old Fleury not far behind (985) heading into the second season of a two-year deal with the Minnesota Wild.
Elsa / Getty Images
The top-five picks from draft day:
Marc-Andre Fleury, G, Pittsburgh Penguins
Eric Staal, F, Carolina Hurricanes
Nathan Horton, F, Florida Panthers
Nikolai Zherdev, F, Columbus Blue Jackets
Thomas Vanek, F, Buffalo Sabres
The Penguins, Hurricanes, and Sabres made out well. The Panthers did OK. The Blue Jackets ... not so great. Zherdev left in 2011 for the KHL. He was 26.
Placing a heavy emphasis on longevity, here's who I'd pick in a redraft:
Honorable mentions: Shea Weber (49th), Joe Pavelski (205th), Ryan Kesler (23rd), Brent Seabrook (14th), Brent Burns (20th), Corey Crawford (52nd).
Caps' Carbery no ordinary rookie
The Washington Post / Getty Images
Back in 2016, Dave Drinkill reached out to NHL executive Kyle Dubas. Drinkill, the general manager of the OHL's Saginaw Spirit, had never hired a coach and was seeking advice from colleagues who'd been through the process.
Dubas told Drinkill to be thorough in his search and to trust his instincts. It's hard to explain, Drinkill recalls the Penguins' new president of hockey operations saying, but when you find your guy, you'll know. It's a gut feeling.
Drinkill felt it as he interviewed Spencer Carbery, a former minor-league winger who'd just won the ECHL's coach of the year award. The GM and prospective coach talked for several hours straight - about life, family, hockey - yet the conversation never dragged because they found so much common ground.
Carbery checked off all the boxes: On top of being detail-oriented and a strong communicator, his teaching philosophies and work ethic aligned with Drinkill's. Plus, Carbery had the "it" factor seen only in natural leaders.
"If someone walks into the room with a presence, and they're in charge, you just feel it," Drinkill explained. "You buy into what they're telling you, you get to work, and soon enough, you're ready to go through the wall for that person. You respect them, and they respect you. You can have fun, but when it's time to work, it's time to work. There's an understanding there. Carbs had that."
Kevin Sousa / Getty Images
Fast forward six years, and Carbery is the Washington Capitals' new bench boss after successful head-coaching stints in the ECHL, OHL, and AHL. According to reports, the hottest NHL coaching prospect on the market also interviewed for vacancies in New York (Rangers), Anaheim, and Nashville.
An assistant on Sheldon Keefe's staff the past two seasons, Carbery led the Toronto Maple Leafs to first- and second-ranked power plays. In Washington, the 41-year-old is armed with a capable group of offensive contributors - including ultimate trigger-man Alex Ovechkin - that finished a disappointing 23rd and 16th in power-play percentage the last two seasons.
Carbery knows the Caps organization well, having spent eight total seasons as head coach of its ECHL and AHL affiliates. On one hand, the team's in transition after recently trading a handful of veterans. On the other, it remains tied to a core anchored by Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom, and John Carlson.
Carbery wants the Caps to play with more pace and better connectivity. You can expect him to spend as much time teaching the club's depth players as its stars. He'll be invested in matters big and small. That's how he's wired.
"I'm going to put everything I've got into this organization," Carbery said last week during a press conference. His old boss Drinkill has no doubts about it.
Parting shots
Barry Trotz: I love the idea of Trotz transitioning from head coach to general manager. (He officially takes over as Nashville Predators GM in July.) Always seeming very wise, Trotz is a hockey lifer who isn't afraid to change with the times or think outside the box.
I love the hire even more after reading a few of his recent comments. For one, Trotz told reporters he wants his scouting staff to "take some swings" and target players who "get people out of their seats" in the draft because the front office can find depth players in free agency or via trade. Of course, it's easy to ask for swings when your club has 13 picks in a draft being held locally. What a perfect time to make a splash. Still, the comment shows he's trying to attack team-building from a different angle than, say, his predecessor David Poile, who's been in the Preds' GM chair since 1997.
Barry Trotz on Andrew Brunette: “We want to become more of an offensive team and Andrew specializes on that side of the ice – he lived it as a player, and he coaches it as a coach. He is as good of an offensive teacher and power-play coach as there is in the game today."
Player empowerment: Star players getting what they want, excelling, then motivating others to follow is an under-the-radar theme of the Stanley Cup Final. Vegas has Jack Eichel, who in 2021 got what he wanted after arguing with his old team, the Buffalo Sabres, over which type of neck surgery was the best route. Peers Tyler Johnson and Joel Farabee have since undergone the same artificial disc replacement procedure. Florida has Matthew Tkachuk, who, as a restricted free agent last summer, got what he wanted after telling his old team, the Calgary Flames, he wasn't interested in signing a long-term extension. Peers Alex DeBrincat and Pierre-Luc Dubois are both currently working with their respective clubs to facilitate a trade despite being RFAs. It turns out the NHL can be a copy-cat league at the player level, too.
Alex DeBrincat picked an unfortunate time to have his least impressive season. The Sens may be selling low on a player with a very strong track record. #GoSensGopic.twitter.com/FO4jMRF9Qw
Columbus Blue Jackets: GM Jarmo Kekalainen is about to hire Mike Babcock as head coach. He acquired Ivan Provorov in a complicated three-way trade on Tuesday, bidding farewell to a first-round pick in the process. He brought in Severson on an eight-year, $50-million contract on Friday. I don't like any of those moves in isolation, but props to Kekalainen for decisively turning the page on an injury-filled 2022-23 season and forging ahead at warp speed.
The NHL's first European GM is banking on a core led by Gaudreau, Patrik Laine, Zach Werenski, Kent Johnson, and David Jiricek - and is probably just getting started. The small-market Blue Jackets will be active on July 1, which, if nothing else, will be entertaining.
Jarmo Kekalainen's management of CBJ the past ~year is the equivalent of starting a new franchise mode with the intent to slow-build from the ground up, only to get bored and start making out-of-pocket moves a season in.
The New Jersey Devils traded pending unrestricted free-agent defenseman Damon Severson to the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for a 2023 third-round pick originally owned by the Calgary Flames, the teams announced.
Just prior to the trade, Severson signed an eight-year contract with an average annual value of $6.25 million. The signing had to be completed before the trade in order for Severson to receive the maximum eight-year term.
This marks the second splash of the week by Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen in an effort to bolster his blue line after acquiring Ivan Provorov from the Philadelphia Flyers as part of a three-way trade on Tuesday.
"Damon is a versatile defenseman who has great vision, moves the puck extremely well, has good size, and can play heavy minutes at both ends of the ice," Kekalainen said in a statement. "We are excited to have him join the Blue Jackets, as he will be a very important part of our blue line for many years to come."
Severson was considered by many to be the top free agent available in a relatively weak UFA class. He shoots right and brings good mobility considering his 6-foot-2, 205-pound frame.
The 28-year-old tallied 33 points in 82 games for the Devils this past season. He registered a career-high 46 points in 2021-22. New Jersey selected Severson in the second round of the 2012 draft.
Severson played a top-four role for the Devils for four years from 2018-22, but he took on more sheltered third-pairing duties this past season after New Jersey acquired John Marino in the offseason. Still, Severson has posted strong underlying numbers over the past three campaigns:
Evolving-Hockey
Severson immediately becomes Columbus' top right-shooting defenseman. After him, there's a multitude of options, including 2022 sixth overall pick David Jiricek, 2018 eighth overall pick Adam Boqvist, hard-nosed veterans Andrew Peeke and Erik Gudbranson, and Nick Blankenburg.
The left side of the Jackets' blue line is pretty set with Zach Werenski, Provorov, and Jake Bean. It's possible Columbus could deal from its surplus at right defense to improve other areas of the roster. Center is the club's most pressing need.
The Blue Jackets had an aggressive 2022 offseason, too, most notably signing the top free agent in Johnny Gaudreau, but a host of key injuries led to a disappointing last-place finish in the Metropolitan Division for the club. They hold the third overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft.
Columbus is also reportedly expected to hire decorated bench boss Mike Babcock as its new head coach after June 30.
The Devils, meanwhile, are still set up well on the right side of their blue line, with Dougie Hamilton, Marino, and 2022 second overall pick Simon Nemec.
Carter Verhaeghe buried the winner in overtime as the Florida Panthers prevailed 3-2 over the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final on Thursday night.
— Hockey Daily 365 l NHL Highlights (@HockeyDaily365) June 9, 2023
The Panthers cut the Golden Knights' series lead to 2-1 and won their first-ever Cup Final game. Matthew Tkachuk scored with just over two minutes left in regulation to tie it.
Florida Panthers superstar Matthew Tkachuk was able to return to Game 3 after a big hit from Vegas Golden Knights forward Keegan Kolesar forced him to exit in the first period.
He wasn't on the bench to start the middle frame of Thursday's clash, but he checked back into the game just over four minutes into the stanza.
Tkachuk didn't head down the tunnel immediately after the hit from Kolesar - he stayed out for one shift on the power play after Vegas forward William Carrier went off for high-sticking Sam Bennett.
— Hockey Daily 365 l NHL Highlights (@HockeyDaily365) June 9, 2023
Heading into Thursday's clash, Tkachuk led the Cardiac Cats with 22 points in 18 games, staking his claim as a front-runner for the Conn Smythe Trophy.
Tkachuk forced Jack Eichel to briefly leave Monday's Game 2 after leveling him with a huge hit, but the Golden Knights star said he had no issue with the contact.
Dan and Sat discuss the scarcity of some players around the league and how the Canucks can find players to fill difficult positions. The guys also discuss what's going on in Winnipeg and the tough choices they might have to make. Plus, hear from Harman Dayal of The Athletic.
This podcast was produced by Josh Elliott-Wolfe.
The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Media Inc. or any affiliate.
The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Media Inc. or any affiliate.
The Toronto Maple Leafs are adding Arizona Coyotes great Shane Doan to their front office as a special assistant to general manager Brad Treliving, reports the Toronto Star's Kevin McGran.
Doan served as the Coyotes' chief hockey development officer in 2021, but he took a step back from the role in 2022.
Treliving and Doan have a shared history in the desert. Treliving served as the Coyotes' assistant general manager from 2007-14 - overlapping with Doan's playing days - before joining the Calgary Flames as general manager.
As a player, Doan spent his entire 1,540-game career with the Coyotes franchise, putting up 402 goals and 570 assists over 21 seasons before retiring in 2017.
Shortly after hanging up his skates, Doan joined the NHL's hockey operations department.
On the international stage, Doan was general manager for Canada's men's Olympic team at the 2022 Beijing Games and won gold as an assistant general manager at the 2021 IIHF World Championship.
Arizona native and star sniper Auston Matthews has previously pointed to Doan as a childhood idol.
My childhood idol growing up. Amazing player and an even better person. Congrats on an unbelievable career Doaner !
Matthews has one year remaining on his current pact at an $11.64-million cap hit and can become an unrestricted free agent next summer. He's eligible to sign a new deal on July 1.
During Treliving's introductory presser last Thursday, the executive said touching base with Matthews was a "priority."
The Maple Leafs parted ways with former general manager Kyle Dubas in May. Former NHLer Jason Spezza held the role as his special assistant, but he tendered his resignation upon Dubas' departure.
Pierre-Luc Dubois is likely on his way out of Winnipeg. His agent Pat Brisson reportedly wants to work with the Jets on trading Dubois to another team, as his client isn't interested in signing an extension with the club.
Dubois is a pending restricted free agent, but he could accept his $6-million qualifying offer this offseason and walk to unrestricted free agency in 2024. In other words, if Winnipeg doesn't trade him, it'll risk losing him for nothing a year from now.
Players like Dubois are rarely made available. He's a 24-year-old 6-foot-2 center with the pedigree of a third overall pick. He also tallied a career-high 63 points this season.
There should be no shortage of suitors lining up for the power forward, but Dubois holds all the cards. The Jets can maximize a return for Dubois by trading him to a team he's willing to commit to long term. While it's unknown which teams Dubois is open to, we've taken our best shot at projecting clubs that would be a sensible fit.
Below, we outline five logical landing spots for Dubois, listed in alphabetical order.
Boston Bruins
Maddie Meyer / Getty Images Sport / Getty
The fit for the Bruins is simple. Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci might retire, leaving two gaping holes down the middle of Boston's lineup. Pavel Zacha and Charlie Coyle are capable of helping fill the void. However, adding Dubois would allow Zacha and Coyle to slot into more suitable spots centering the second and third lines.
From Dubois' perspective, he'd get to join the reigning Presidents' Trophy winners. Even without Bergeron and Krejci, the Bruins are poised to remain competitive moving forward with franchise cornerstones David Pastrnak and Charlie McAvoy locked up.
The only hang-up might be from a compensation standpoint. The Bruins' prospect pool is already quite bare, and they traded multiple high draft picks in their deadline shopping spree to acquire Dmitry Orlov, Tyler Bertuzzi, and others. But it still wouldn't be impossible.
Fabian Lysell, a 2021 first-rounder, would be awfully enticing for the Jets. If Winnipeg is keener on getting immediate young help, forward Trent Frederic and goaltender Jeremy Swayman are intriguing options. After all, Boston has Vezina Trophy favorite Linus Ullmark under contract for the next two seasons. And the Jets could be looking for a goalie if they opt to trade Connor Hellebuyck, making Swayman, an RFA set for a raise, a logical inclusion in a potential Dubois deal.
Carolina Hurricanes
Joel Auerbach / Getty Images Sport / Getty
A lack of scoring punch ultimately led to the demise of the Hurricanes in each of the five seasons of the Rod Brind'Amour era. They could use one more weapon offensively to help them get over the hump. Could Dubois be that guy? He'd look pretty great as the second-line center behind Sebastian Aho.
Dubois hasn't shown a willingness to commit to small markets in Columbus and Winnipeg. Would it be any different in Carolina? Possibly not. But a warmer climate and a strong culture built by Brind'Amour and Co. are in the Hurricanes' favor.
Carolina has lots of pressing business to take care of this summer, as Aho, Teuvo Teravainen, Martin Necas, and Seth Jarvis are all eligible for extensions on July 1. But the Canes possess plenty of long-term cap flexibility. Since they haven't been aggressive buyers during their competitive run, they have a solid farm system and a stocked cupboard of draft picks to swing a deal.
One player in particular who could be of interest to the Jets is Jesperi Kotkaniemi. Winnipeg has struggled to keep players long term, and the 22-year-old is signed for seven more years with a $4.82-million cap hit. Kotkaniemi hasn't progressed offensively the way the Canes probably hoped, so they may be willing to pay the price to upgrade in the form of Dubois.
Colorado Avalanche
Michael Martin / National Hockey League / Getty
One of the biggest strengths of the Avalanche's Cup-winning team from 2021 was its 1-2 punch down the middle of the ice with Nathan MacKinnon and Nazem Kadri. J.T. Compher did an admirable job filling in for Kadri as the second-line center this season, but there's no guarantee he'll return as a pending UFA.
But Dubois would be an excellent fit as the 2C behind MacKinnon. And why wouldn't Dubois want to join a team with one of the best cores in the league?
The Jets may be hesitant to deal Dubois within the Central Division. However, they'd be foolish not to consider it if the market is bare and Colorado makes the best offer.
The Avs don't have the strongest prospect pool, but they own all of their first-round picks and could potentially dangle defenseman Sam Girard in Dubois trade talks. A 25-year-old top-four blue-liner under contract for four more seasons with a fair $5-million cap hit should be appealing for the Jets. And with Bowen Byram needing a new deal this year and Devon Toews requiring one in 2024, Colorado likely doesn't want three left-shot defensemen making big money.
The club also has over $20 million in projected cap space this summer - including captain Gabriel Landeskog's LTIR placement, as he's been ruled out for the 2023-24 campaign with a knee injury. The Avalanche need a lot of help up front, and getting Dubois is a great place to start.
Detroit Red Wings
Jeff Vinnick / National Hockey League / Getty
The Red Wings sold off key assets Filip Hronek and Tyler Bertuzzi at the deadline, but don't think for a second this team is content taking a step back. If anything, those moves gave general manager Steve Yzerman more ammunition and cap flexibility to pull off a major deal this offseason to help get his squad back in the right direction.
Yzerman knows the importance of center depth. While a combination of Dylan Larkin and Dubois wouldn't come close to replicating the legendary Yzerman-Sergei Fedorov duo, it would still be pretty good.
The Red Wings possess one of the deepest farm systems in the league. If Yzerman can sell Dubois on Detroit becoming a contender in a few years' time, it could be an intriguing fit. It's certainly one of the biggest long shots on this list, but never count Yzerman out.
Montreal Canadiens
Vitor Munhoz / National Hockey League / Getty
This is by far the most likely landing spot for Dubois. He was born about an hour outside Montreal in Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts, Quebec, but grew up in Rimouski.
Dubois' agent also said last summer that "Montreal is a place, a city he'd like to play in." Dubois later said that his agent's comments were blown out of proportion, but it still sheds light on his desires.
It makes sense from a hockey perspective, too. The Habs aren't quite ready to compete for a playoff spot yet, but they should get there soon with a young core featuring Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield. Montreal also has ample draft picks, prospects, young players, and cap flexibility to facilitate a trade and lucrative extension for Dubois.
The Canadiens already reached out to the Jets about Dubois as soon as Winnipeg's season ended and will be one of the team's in the mix for his services, reports The Athletic's Arpon Basu and Marc Antoine Godin.
