We’re just over a month away from the start of free agency in the NHL, but that doesn’t mean teams can’t sign the guys currently on their roster. With the salary cap rising, this year it looks like it might be a little harder to project what free agents will make in what’s not exactly the most impressive group, but this week, AFP Analytics took its best shot at projecting what the Los 75 best will do it.
In Europe, his old friend Sven Andrighetto scored the winning goal against Canada to send Switzerland to the gold medal game at the World Championship.
All that and more in this Sunday edition of Evan’s Daily.
Colorado Hockey Now
It’s been a slower few days here at CHN as I needed a few days to recharge. My son finished first grade and I hurt my shoulder pretty badly, so that doesn’t help either. Things will get better this week content-wise as we approach a crucial offseason for the Avalanche.
Early contract projections
Chris MacFarland certainly made it look like money was going to be tight for the Avalanche this summer. He won’t like some of these contract projections, although he probably already has an idea of what it would cost to re-sign some of these guys.
Here’s the projected cost for some Avalanche free agents…
Sean Walker: 3 years, $4.65 million a year
Jonathan Drouin – 4 years, $5 million a year
Yakov Trenin – 3 years, $2.55 million per year
Brandon Duhaime – 3 years, $1.8 million per year
Again, these are just projections. It doesn’t take into account someone’s willingness to take a discount, and every summer we see guys get overpriced in NHL free agency and end up making much less than they were originally projected.
The most discouraging part in this case is the Trenin and Duhaime contracts. MacFarland made the $2 million Evan Rodrigues received a few years ago seem like it might be too expensive for the Avalanche this summer, so it might be difficult to achieve. Of the two, I think Trenin would be the higher priority, as he offers some versatility in the position he can play.
Again, don’t take all of this to the bank. They think Brady Skjei will make $7.5 million a year, and I certainly wouldn’t give him anything like that. You can read them all here.
Sven Andrighetto ends Canada’s chances
Sven10 scored a pretty memorable goal in an Avalanche uniform in 2018 and did it again on Saturday.
Andrighetto hasn’t played in an NHL game since 2019, but he’s still making the rounds in Europe. Here he is scoring the winning shot to make sure Canada doesn’t win gold at the World Championship.
Sven Andrighetto scores the winning goal in the penalty shootout in the fourth round of the shootout!
They will advance to face Czechia in the gold medal match. pic.twitter.com/j8jUBLTQYR
-TSN (@TSN_Sports) May 25, 2024
The Gold Medal will go to Switzerland or the Czech Republic. It’s hard to get much out of that tournament when the NHL’s top talent is still playing or just decided not to go, but it’s fun to see different countries win than the ones we’re used to.
conference finals
On the ice, the Dallas Stars were saved by their goaltender, who kept his team on the field during a first period in which the Stars seemed asleep. Dallas rallied and won 3-1, tying the series at one. This series has been the worst combination of NHL hockey imaginable: low scoring and emotionless. At least the Panthers and Rangers have been moving their bodies to make it interesting. That hasn’t been the case for the Stars and Oilers.
National Hockey Now
The Bruins, like seemingly half the NHL, are linked to Martin Necas.
The Swiss Army Knife of the Florida Panthers, Evan Rodrigues.
Are every NHL team trying to find their Matt Rempe?
Keynote USA
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