The Canucks may slot in UFA signing Vincent Desharnais on their top defense pairing alongside Quinn Hughes in spot duty next season, opines Thomas Drance of The Athletic. Doing so would allow Filip Hronek, who spent all of last season stapled to Hughes and is fresh off signing an eight-year, $58MM deal, to drive his own pairing against easier competition. That’s something head … [Read more...] about West Notes: Desharnais, Rossi, Rehkopf
Does Patrik Laine Make Sense For The Minnesota Wild?
Joe Smith and Michael Russo wrote in The Athletic (subscription article) earlier today that not only does disgruntled winger Patrik Laine make sense for the Minnesota Wild, but the team kicked the tires on him at the 2024 NHL Draft. Quite obviously, the major hurdle in bringing Laine to the ’State of Hockey’ is his $8.7MM salary for the next two years with the Wild organization … [Read more...] about Does Patrik Laine Make Sense For The Minnesota Wild?
Central Notes: Faber, Wood, Hemming, Buchinger
The Wild’s franchise-record extension for rising sophomore defenseman Brock Faber turned some heads yesterday, but general manager Bill Guerin believes the deal is “worth the risk,” he told Joe Smith of The Athletic (subscriber link). Smith adds that Guerin has acknowledged the league-wide trend of banking on potential core pieces early in their careers, getting the cost … [Read more...] about Central Notes: Faber, Wood, Hemming, Buchinger
Eric Staal Announces Retirement
It’s been all quiet on the Western Front for Eric Staal for over a year now. The free-agent center reached the Stanley Cup Final with the Panthers in 2023 but didn’t sign or play anywhere last season. On Tuesday, Staal confirmed he’d played his last NHL game, signing a one-day contract with Carolina to retire as a Hurricane. The Canes will also retire Staal’s No. 12 at a … [Read more...] about Eric Staal Announces Retirement
Wild Sign Brock Faber To Eight-Year Extension
Wild defenseman Brock Faber is getting paid after a strong rookie season. The blue liner has inked an eight-year, $68MM extension with an $8.5MM cap hit that will keep him in Minnesota through 2032-33, the team announced Monday. The deal carries trade protection beginning in 2030-31, featuring a no-movement clause and a modified no-trade clause (15-team no-trade list), reports … [Read more...] about Wild Sign Brock Faber To Eight-Year Extension