Talks are still on hold between Detroit and restricted free agent Simon Edvinsson, Pierre Lebrun of The Athletic reported in today’s edition of NHL rumblings.
According to the insider, the hold-up is the Red Wings hiring a new general manager or head of hockey operations. As of today Detroit has $19MM in cap space, but if fans back on July 1st were to know that would be the case here in September, only something wildly unplanned would have to happen.
It has been a tumultuous off-season in Hockeytown, to say the least, as what was setting up to be an aggressive summer to add pieces has instead led to general manager Steve Yzerman’s removal, and captain Dylan Larkin wanting out.
A byproduct of Detroit’s current instability is that the future top-pairing anchor is on track to lose another possible year of term. In an off-season full of long term contracts being handed out to younger players, tomorrow is the deadline for Edvinsson to sign an eight-year deal.
For what it’s worth, AFP Analytics projects a seven year contract with an $8.7MM AAV, or a bridge deal of sorts, three years at $5.56MM per. Given the new franchise outlook where focus must be on the new wave of talent, as opposed to names like Larkin and a more “win now” approach, it figures that they’d prefer the former and lock him up now.
Either way, it’s expected that the defenseman is expected to be present at training camp in three days. As long as something is worked out by opening night on October 2 against the Rangers it’ll be a big season for the 23-year-old to take another step.
Edvinsson’s ice time jumped up to 22:21, a career high, but his offensive production dipped slightly. The Swede was given a tough workload by starting nearly 57% of his five-on-five shifts in his own end.
Especially given what may be another playoff-less season for the Red Wings, Edvinsson breaking through on his untapped offensive potential and forming an elite duo alongside Moritz Seider would go a long way for the team’s outlook.
Elsewhere across the league:
Flames general manager Craig Conroy shared with host Pat Steinberg on Flames Now 770 that everybody on the team is healthy and ready for camp, with the exception of Jonathan Huberdeau. It was already reported last week that the veteran will miss the start of the season as he recovers from hip surgery.
Conroy’s update solidifies that names like Joel Hanley, who missed the end of the season with an upper-body injury, will be good to go. As for Huberdeau, he’ll hope to blaze a trail for forwards somewhat like that of goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky or defenseman Jacob Trouba, thought to have liability contracts only to find a second wind and re-establish their value to a certain extent.
It’s clear that the 33-year-old won’t return to his numbers as an All-Star in Florida who got Hart Trophy votes, especially with his ongoing injury issues. Yet with four years left at $10.5MM it would be nice to see the 2011 third overall pick put together a few more 60+ point campaigns, like he did two years ago, before it is all said and done.
Huberdeau had just 25 points last season as he was limited to 50 games.
The Pittsburgh Penguins named Marcel Braithwaite their new President of Business Operations earlier today. As the Penguins embark on a new era off the ice with the Hoffman Family of Companies in charge, they’ve appointed the Netherlands native who will relocate to the Pittsburgh area, according to the team’s press release.
It’ll be a new endeavor for Braithwaite who spent the last 14 years with the Houston Astros of Major League Baseball. During his tenure there, Braithwaite led the Astros across multiple renovations and improvements to their home ballpark, with revenue growth a major focus along with maintaining a strong fan experience.
It’s hard to deny the Astros’ growth on and off the baseball diamond in the past 14 years, a bottom feeder turned two-time World Series winner and annual contender. The Penguins will start the regular season on September 30, seeking revenge against the rival Flyers after last spring’s playoff defeat.