Cheveldayoff is believed to be scouring the market for a top-four defenseman, as most contenders do, and while he will explore bringing back pending unrestricted free agents Dylan DeMelo and Brenden Dillon, he will comb the market commercial and will evaluate other pending options of the UFA.
However, beyond the blue line, moving Ehlers and not retaining Tyler Toffoli, even though his tenure was short-lived, also puts Winnipeg in a position of need up front and the team will surely be in the market in search of a goalscorer.
Teams such as the New York Islanders, Nashville Predators, Boston Bruins, Seattle Kraken, New Jersey Devils, Vancouver Canucks, Carolina Hurricanes, Chicago Blackhawks, Ottawa Senators and Columbus Blue Jackets are among the teams looking to add a top-six winger and Ehlers is an attractive option.
CONVERSATIONS ABOUT SLAVERY IN MARCH
The Carolina Hurricanes have entered contract talks with Jaccob Slavin and his agent Kurt Overhardt regarding a new long-term extension.
Slavin, 30, is entering the final year of his contract and while talks are in the early stages, he is a priority for the Hurricanes.
The Hurricanes could have a restructured blue line next season if they can’t get pending unrestricted free agents Brett Pesce and Brady Skjei to sign new deals. Both players have expressed a desire to stay in Raleigh, and discussions have just begun on their fronts as well, but talks will need a major pickup from last summer and the start of this season.
“Most of those guys deserve to make more money,” Slavin said of his teammates who will become UFAs during the club’s cleanup day last month. “Everyone has played very, very well during their time here. I hope we can bring them all back, but it’s a shame (they could move on).”
Carolina is already evaluating its options in case they cannot get one or both of Pesce or Skjei to sign new deals. One defenseman on his radar is Sean Walker, who is unlikely to return to Colorado after the Avalanche acquired him from the Philadelphia Flyers two days before the trade deadline.
Walker, 29, will draw plenty of interest on July 1, as teams like the Dallas Stars, Toronto Maple Leafs, Nashville Predators and San Jose Sharks are just four other teams expected to pursue him, in addition to the Canes.
Slavin hopes to sign a new deal with the Hurricanes, that much is clear, as he explained to reporters last month, “it’s going to (have to) be fair to both sides.”
“I obviously love it here,” he added. “I don’t want to go anywhere. We’ll see what happens.”
The wheels are in motion.
HERE AND THERE
The San Jose Sharks are looking to add a veteran top-four defenseman to the roster this summer. Sean Walker, as noted above, is one of the blueliners they will target, and that illustrates the type of player they are looking to add on the backend.
Getting back to Pesce, he will be a player that both Nashville and Toronto will pursue if he is available on July 1st. Clearly, there will be other potential suitors, but the Predators and Maple Leafs will pursue him if they can. Remember, Nashville tried to trade for him last summer.
Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving met with Mitch Marner’s agent, Darren Ferris, this week. This situation remains the status quo and, as I reported three weeks ago, Marner’s position has not changed: he wants to stay in Toronto. It’s still premature to suggest anything concrete, one way or another, but Treliving won’t shy away from commercial calls.
During his season-ending comments, Pittsburgh general manager Kyle Dubas seemed to suggest that Joel Blomqvist would be inserted as one of the team’s goaltenders next season. I’m told those comments were taken out of context and the Penguins have not closed the door on goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic, who can become a UFA on July 1. The team continues to have an open dialogue with their agent Rich Evans regarding a possible return.
The Los Angeles Kings are doing some early housekeeping, as Dennis Bernstein first reported that they have agreed to a multi-year extension with young forward Akil Thomas. The Kings have not yet entered into formal talks with pending RFAs Carl Grundstrom and Blake Lizotte; both are eligible for arbitration and those cases generally take longer.
Also in Los Angeles, I’m told the Kings are planning to re-enter contract talks with pending UFA defenseman Matt Roy as soon as this week.
There has been talk lately that some teams are planning to ask Seattle about Shane Wright’s availability. Ask all you want, but I’m told that Seattle general manager Ron Francis has no interest in moving him and that the plan is for him to seek a full-time position with the Kraken next season. Wright, who has been battling a lower-body injury, could return to the Coachella Valley lineup Thursday night, but with the team up 3-0 in the AHL Western Conference Finals, the Firebirds can wait until they presumably move on.
Martín Necas’ jokes from Carolina are interesting. The Hurricanes are telling some teams they are not ready to engage in trade talks and want to try to sign him, while other clubs say they have had those talks. It’s the season.
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