If you have been away from Canes hockey for 4-5 days for a long weekend, you missed quite a bit. No, the blockbuster trade for top 6 forward did not materialize, but it was still a newsworthy weekend with a trade for Trevor van Riemsdyk on Thursday and eight new prospects added to the organization via the NHL draft on Friday and Saturday.
The Trevor van Riemdsyk deal from Thursday has a few interesting angles past the basics. The van Riemsdyk trade is written up in two parts with part 1 HERE and part 2 HERE.
Profiles and reading lists for the newest Hurricanes prospects and also Trevor van Riemsdyk can be found in the Sunday Canes Chronicle. There is also a summary-level draft recap from Saturday.
And finally, I continue to stand by my Saturday morning mini-novel for being as good of an explanation of the current trade situation as any.
And that catches up on the whirlwind weekend. But the week ahead should be just as busy.
NHL transaction deadlines
Monday is the deadline for qualifying offers
Monday at 5pm is the deadline for teams to issue qualifying offers to their restricted free agents to retain their negotiating rights into the summer. The Hurricanes have a couple players for which the offer will be a formality, namely Brock McGinn and Phil Di Giuseppe. The team also has some decisions to make. Andrej Nestrasil who had a tough year coming off of his February 2016 back injury could be shown the door after grumbling in Czech newspapers. With two young goalies already slated for the AHL, the Hurricanes will need to decide if Daniel Altshuller gets the third slot or if instead, the team wants to cut Altshuller loose and add a veteran.
My best guess: I think Hurricanes will part ways with Andrej Nestrasil. I have no idea on Altshuller and will not be surprised either way. That said, if Francis did not intend to qualify one or both players, he could seemingly have traded one or both during the draft weekend for “future considerations” though I am not sure there would be much of a market for either player.
Friday is the deadline for buyouts
Friday is the deadline for teams to buy players out. The big decision here is Eddie Lack. I think ideally Francis would like to unload a goalie (and I think it is Lack) in a trade, but with no guarantee of that happening, there is a decision point on Friday.
My best guess: I am on record dating back to my April 20 article entitled, “5 Carolina Hurricanes predictions for the offseason” as saying that Lack would not return. (This was even before the Scott Darling trade.) I stand by that prediction, and I think he either gets moved in a trade this week (low probability) or otherwise is bought out before the end of the week.
Friday is also the deadline for unrestricted free agents hit the open market
Derek Ryan, Jay McClement and Matt Tennyson are all scheduled to become free agents on July 1. They actually have the ability to negotiate with other teams this week anyway, so they are unofficially on the open market already. The Hurricanes also have AHL players who are unrestricted free agents.
My best guess: I think McClement’s run in a Hurricanes uniform will end, as the team looks to go younger and likely seek a bit more offense from that slot. I also think that the trade for Trevor van Riemsdyk all but assures the departure of Matt Tennyson. That leaves Derek Ryan. My take is that he is a good depth player. Ideally, Francis would love to sign Ryan to a two-way deal in case he does not stick at the NHL, but I think Francis might ultimately stretch a little and offer a one-way deal to keep him in the fold.
Saturday starts the free agent frenzy
Saturday starts the free agent frenzy. I will look at individual players later in the week, but at a basic level, the start of free agency opens up another set of options if Francis continues to be unable to land what he wants in the trade.
My best guess: I do think the Hurricanes will add a free agent, but the player might end up being a depth forward not the top 6 scoring forward that is desired.
The Carolina Hurricanes prospect camp
And scheduled right over the top of all of the transaction deadline dates is the Hurricanes prospect camp which starts on Tuesday and culminates Saturday with a fan fest and scrimmage.
My wild guesses for what happens this week
Restricted free agents: I think Francis does not qualify Nestrasil but does qualify and keep Altshuller.
Unrestricted free agents: I think McClement and Tennyson depart but that Ryan is re-signed.
Buyouts: I thin Lack is bought out this week.
I put the discussions and polls on these topics in the Monday Coffee Shop today.
Go Canes!
I see no reason to buyout Lack. If can’t trade him, put on waivers and if no takers send him to Charlotte. Charlotte needs goaltending and if Ward or Darling falter, then we have a backup.
Well, We re signed Ryan ,1year $1.425mil. We got our 4C set.
I don’t see why we should trade Lacko taco either (gosh, poor guy, I wil forever associate him with Gonza Tacos and Tequila, which is pretty tasty).
I think it more than likely that our old goalie coach messed him up and that he is much better than his numbers this past season indicate (after all, he was the guy to had a terrific season with Van before coming to Carolina.
If we can give him an extended stint in Charlotte playing and mentoring or up-and-coming goalies, and possibly bring him up on a short NHL stint , he might become a good tradable asset for us in situations where other teams need to shake up their goaltending or in case of an injury, at which point we can trade him for something.
We really don’t save that much by buying him out and we are not in a situation right now where we can even save money (being below the cap minimum).
I like the DR signing. For one thing, this guy deserves some money for his dedication and perseverance , and I am sure he will reward this team by playing his heart out this coming season.
I see him as an RW with Walmark at center, and PDG, the Goat or Mcgin as a pretty formittable forth line.
I’d like to see either Ward (preferably) or Lack traded…but if not send one to Charlotte, like RedRyder said…we could use him there.
Anyone have a guess or two on what FORWARD RF has interest in?
Would Bonino be a dark horse possibility?
I still think there is a possibility that Eddie Lack gets traded, maybe as part of a larger deal, or at a significant discount. However, I think that nothing happens until Ron Francis figures out how to get us to the salary floor.
Even as I’m typing this, I’m getting squeamish. Could it be possible Sam Gagne could find a home with the Canes? Third line center, really good on the power play and at a cap hit that gets the Canes to the floor but not so high to be a burden. Maybe $4 million? He’s had his issues in his career, but toward the end of 2016 and then 2016-2017 in Columbus he played really well and was a key component of the Blue Jackets getting into the playoffs so maybe he’s turned the corner into being a dependable second/third liner. He’s not the top 3 forward, point-producer everyone wants but he won’t cost any existing talent and should pick up around 50 points and provide much needed depth. Can rotate up to the second line when necessary and also play wing, providing some flexibility. The power play aspect of his play is what intrigues me, something the Canes haven’t addressed so far. Columbus was able to shield him and use him at the right spots, something the Peters should be able to do as well. Just another name to bandy about…….
I’ve often thought that Gagne might be a good get in free agency. However, I think he’ll get paid. He played a little over 12 minutes a night for Columbus and gathered a bunch of his points on the powerplay. Earlier in his career he was a solid 40+ point scorer on some pretty bad Edmonton teams.
Columbus shielded him pretty effectively and he played much of the year on the 4th line there….his minutes increased because he played extensively on the powerplay. That said, he’s got a scoring touch; but he’s not really a center, more of a RW. My fear is that he’ll ultimately price himself out of our wheelhouse as he could have been used in Columbus and it became obvious pretty early on that he was going the free agency route. As a 27, soon to be 28 year old, he’s looking for both money and term. Ultimately I think he’s a good 3rd line guy on a scoring 3rd line.
I also think Lack will be bought out – it’s a buyer’s market for goalies this year (what a difference a year makes). I was looking for a team that needs a backup that also has a forward on a bad contract with a one-year term where a trade is possible but I couldn’t find one.