LAS VEGAS — The clock is ticking on some big negotiations with the opening of unrestricted free agency right around the corner on Monday.
Let’s start with Jake Guentzel, who would be the most sought-after forward if he goes on the market.
The Carolina Hurricanes have had all the press all week trying to bridge the gap, and according to league sources, they upped their latest offer to eight years at $8 million per season. I think that’s in the ballpark of what Guentzel’s camp originally wanted when this discussion began several weeks ago.
But as of Friday morning, the Canes were still waiting for a response from Guentzel’s team, led by veteran agent Ben Hankinson. So we’ll see where this goes, but I wonder if it wouldn’t be too tempting for Guentzel to try his luck in free agency on Monday and leave the door open for a Hurricanes return, knowing what’s on the table.
I’m not sure how this will end, but it’s in a delicate and fascinating place.
There are rumors that Vancouver could be willing to pay seven years and $9 million per season for Guentzel, but that is not confirmed at this time. There would obviously be a long list of suitors for Guentzel regardless of whether he hits the market.
Meanwhile, the Hurricanes still had hopes for pending UFA defensemen Brady Skjei and Brett Pesce, and over the past 24 hours they have returned to work with those two respective teams with a renewed effort. As I said before, I think Pesce is going to get hype. Skjei probably will, too, but Carolina still has a chance.
If Skjei does go on the market, I expect the Nashville Predators to be aggressive in their attempt to replace Ryan McDonagh.
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Stamkos, 34, the face of the Tampa Bay Lightning for so many years, is preparing for life elsewhere unless things change in the team’s position in contract negotiations.
“He will be a free agent on July 1,” veteran agent Don Meehan, who represents Stamkos, told The Athletic via text message Friday morning.
Oh.
Of course, things can still change between now and Monday, but it is clear that the parties have not been able to overcome the gap in negotiations.
“As we stand here right now, we haven’t been able to come to an agreement yet,” Lightning general manager Julien BriseBois told Tampa media on Friday morning (via Gabby Shirley). “I don’t know if we can reach an agreement, but yesterday we met again with Steven’s agent and both parties are still interested in reaching an agreement. But we have not been able to reach agreements that are satisfactory for both parties. I think, at this point, it’s probably best if he left my comments there for the time being.”
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What’s next for Steven Stamkos and the Lightning?
Neither side is willing to share specifics, but speaking to sources in other leagues, here’s what I can gather so far: A short-term deal doesn’t work because of Tampa Bay’s salary cap situation, so the concept, which I think both sides have embraced to some degree, is to go longer-term to lower the average annual value. That’s been the focus of the talks.
And again, I don’t know the exact numbers that were exchanged, but let’s go back to what I know Tampa Bay tried to do to retain Alex Killorn last July 1 before he signed in Anaheim. The Lightning offered Killorn an eight-year deal with a $2.5 million AAV. Instead, he signed a four-year deal with a $6.25 million AAV with the Ducks. But the concept for Tampa Bay was to bring Killorn a total of $20 million.
So I think the Lightning have done something similar here with Stamkos, though obviously for more than $2.5 million. I’m guessing around $3 million over eight years. But that’s not going to be enough. I imagine Newport Sports would want something closer to $4-5 million per year, depending on the length of the term.
Either way, I certainly don’t think Stamkos is being unreasonable. He really wants to stay.
But you also get to know where Tampa Bay is with its cap issues.
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So, it’s not an easy situation. Now Meehan says his client is going to market. We’ll see where it goes.
As I reported before, Nashville has interest in Stamkos if so. My colleague Chris Johnston has speculated that the Detroit Red Wings are another potential option. Of course, there would be several suitors for a 40-goal scorer and character leader like Stamkos.
I wonder if the Vegas Golden Knights would come calling if they can’t re-sign Jonathan Marchessault.
Jonathan Marchessault
Speaking of which, I reached out to Marchessault’s agent, Pat Brisson, on Friday morning to see where that file was.
“We have had conversations with Las Vegas,” Brisson said. “Obviously, July 1 is coming up. We’re at a point where, obviously, if we had a deal, we’d announce it. Therefore, we have none. “We will continue to have conversations.”
It has not yet been announced if it will be released, because the goal is for Marchessault to re-sign in Las Vegas. But time is marching on, and I get the sense that Marchessault is preparing for the realistic possibility of having to leave. However, he still hasn’t finished that aspect…
Brisson also represents future Hockey Hall of Famer Patrick Kane.
“He hasn’t made a decision yet,” Brisson said Friday morning. “The option to return to Detroit is still there. However, we have not yet made a final decision.”
So discussions are continuing ahead of Monday’s impending market opening. I believe Kane’s preference would be to remain in the Eastern Conference if he moves forward.
Perron, another unrestricted free agent, “remains in talks with Detroit,” agent Allan Walsh said Friday.
I think the Minnesota Wild and Ottawa Senators are among the many teams that would show interest on Monday if Perron were to hit the market.
When I sat down with Predators general manager Barry Trotz at the NHL scouting event on June 4 in Buffalo, he was unequivocal in his belief that he would keep Juuse Saros because he could extend his contract this summer.
“I don’t think there’s any reason why I wouldn’t,” Trotz said confidently at the time.
Bingo.
While the deal still has some details to be worked out, league sources confirmed Thursday night that a framework contract is already in place, which will run for eight years at an average annual value of $7.74 million. The contract will take effect in one year.
While the modern management mindset is not to sign goaltenders to long-term contracts, the AAV makes this a reasonable contract in my opinion.
That’s a good deal for the Predators, and while Saros probably would have gotten more on the open market, he didn’t want to leave Nashville, where, by the way, there is no state income tax.
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(Photo by Jake Guentzel: Bruce Bennett//Keynote USA/Getty Images)
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