It’s time for another edition of NHL rumours for your off-season reading. We’re closing in on the NHL Draft and the start of free agency on July 1. That means there’s plenty of chatter about contracts and player movement. Some teams have some tough decisions to make on what their 2023-24 rosters may look like. Many clubs are trying to find a way to get contracts done via a bridge or long-term deal. Today’s NHL rumours deals with the latest on the Edmonton Oilers and New Jersey Devils.
All NHL rumours come from the original source and are subject to change.
NHL Rumours
Edmonton Oilers
Rumour: Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman and Jeff Marek speculated on the next contract for restricted free agent Evan Bouchard. This happened in a recent edition of the 32 Thoughts podcast.
Friday 32 Thoughts news podcast. Links to your preferred platform: https://t.co/io7Mr1QEpm Enjoy!
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) June 16, 2023
Analysis: Friedman stated that the 23-year-old will likely sign a one-year bridge contract and hope the salary cap goes up. Bouchard had an AAV of around $1.6 million factoring in performance bonuses. The Oakville, Ontario native is looking for a deserved raise but is not arbitration eligible. He doesn’t have the leverage that he would have if he could go to a hearing.
Bouchard had a second straight solid season for the Oilers with eight goals and 40 points. He became a very important part of the team’s power play and added another four goals in the team’s Stanley Cup playoff run. The Oilers’ blueliner looks to score a nice contract and become a cornerstone of the team’s defence.
This might be a situation similar to what the New York Rangers may experience with K’Andre Miller. Both are talented defencemen that are seeking to earn a nice payday. However, the flat salary cap era may force teams to kick the can down the road. Teams may not have the funds in order to nail down long-term contracts.
New Jersey Devils
Rumour: The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun said that the Devils have been getting calls on RFA forward Yegor Sharangovich.
Sharks and Karlsson on same page seeking a trade, plus latest rumblings on Meier, Barbashev, Hellebuyck, and more in weekend Rumblings
via @TheAthletic https://t.co/AqORscZeFT
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) June 16, 2023
Analysis: New Jersey’s game plan seems to be to try and sign Timo Meier to a long-term contract. Both Meier and Sharangovich are arbitration eligible this off-season. Meier and the Devils are slated to go to arbitration, but that could be avoided if the two sides agree to a contract. However, New Jersey is going to have to find some room to make a deal happen.
This could mean that the 25-year-old Belorussian might not fit into the team’s budget. Sharangovich had an AAV of $925,000 as part of his second professional contract. Meier has a large qualifying offer and trading Sharangovich might be the team’s only option. Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald is also looking at the trade market for RFA goalie MacKenzie Blackwood.
New Jersey did get Jesper Bratt a new long-term deal. Meier is now the team’s main priority this off-season. The Devils paid a price to get the former San Jose Sharks forward and need to keep find a way to lock him down.
Main photo by: Perry Nelson-USA TODAY Sports
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