LAS VEGAS — The clock is ticking on some major negotiations with the opening of unrestricted free agency just around the corner on Monday.
Let’s start with Jake Guentzel, who would be the most sought-after forward if he goes to market.
The Carolina Hurricanes have had the full-court press on all week trying to bridge the gap, and according to league sources, increased their latest offer to eight years at $8 million per season. That’s in the ballpark, I believe, 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 an answer from Guentzel’s camp, led by veteran agent Ben Hankinson. So we’ll see where this goes, but I wonder if it might be too alluring for Guentzel to dip his toes into free agency Monday while still leaving the door open on a Hurricanes return, knowing what’s on the table from them.
I’m not sure how this one will end, but it’s in a delicate and fascinating place.
There are whispers that Vancouver might be willing to go seven years and $9 million a season for Guentzel, but that’s unconfirmed at this point. Obviously there would be a long list of suitors for Guentzel regardless if he goes to market.
Meanwhile, the Hurricanes were still holding out hope on pending UFA defensemen Brady Skjei and Brett Pesce, circling back with those two respective camps over the past 24 hours with a renewed effort. As I’ve said before, I think Pesce is going to market. Skjei probably is, too, but there’s still a chance there for Carolina.
If Skjei does go to market, I would expect the Nashville Predators to be in there aggressively in their attempt to replace Ryan McDonagh.
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The face of the Tampa Bay Lightning for so many years, the 34-year-old Stamkos is preparing for life elsewhere unless things change in the team’s position in contract talks.
“He will be a free agent on July 1,” veteran agent Don Meehan, who represents Stamkos, told The Athletic via text message Friday morning.
Whoa.
Now, things can still change, of course, between now and Monday. But it’s clear the sides haven’t been able to bridge the gap in talks.
“As we stand here right now, we haven’t been able to reach an agreement yet,” Lightning GM Julien BriseBois told Tampa media Friday morning (via Gabby Shirley). “I don’t know if we will be able to reach an agreement, but we met with Steven’s agent again yesterday and both sides are still interested in getting a deal done. But we have not been able to agree to terms that are satisfactory for both sides. I think, at this time, it’s probably best if I leave my comments to that for the time being.”
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Neither side is willing to share details, but from talking to other leagues sources, here’s what I can gather as of now: A short-term deal doesn’t work because of Tampa Bay’s cap situation, so the concept, which I believe both sides have embraced to some degree, is to go longer term to bring down the average annual value. That’s been the focus of talks.
And again, I don’t know exact numbers being exchanged, but go back to what I know Tampa Bay tried to do to keep Alex Killorn last July 1 before he signed in Anaheim. The Lightning offered Killorn an eight-year deal with a $2.5 million AAV. He instead signed for four years at a $6.25 million AAV with the Ducks. But the concept for Tampa was to get the total dollars to Killorn at $20 million.
So I think the Lightning have done something similar here with Stamkos, though obviously higher than $2.5 million. My guess is around $3 million or so over eight years. But that’s not going to cut it. I would imagine Newport Sports would want something closer to $4 million to $5 million per year depending on how long the term is.
Either way, I certainly don’t believe Stamkos is being unreasonable. He really, really wants to stay.
But you also get where Tampa Bay is with its cap issues.
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So, not an easy situation. Right 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 he does. My colleague Chris Johnston has speculated that the Detroit Red Wings are another potential option. There would be several suitors, of course, for a 40-goal scorer and a 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 at.
“We’ve had conversations with Vegas,” Brisson said. “Obviously July 1 is approaching. We’re at a point obviously that if we had a deal, it would be announced. So we don’t have one. So we’ll keep having discussions.”
There’s been no declaration of going to market yet, because the goal is to have Marchessault re-signed in Vegas. But the clock is ticking. And my sense is Marchessault is readying himself for the realistic possibility that he might have to move on. Not over yet though on that front …
Brisson also represents future Hockey Hall of Famer Patrick Kane.
“He hasn’t made a decision yet,” Brisson said Friday morning. “The option of going back to Detroit is still there. We haven’t made a final decision yet, however.”
So discussions are ongoing with Monday’s market opening looming. Kane’s preference, I believe, would be to stay in the Eastern Conference if he moves on.
When I sat down with Predators GM Barry Trotz at the NHL scouting combine June 4 in Buffalo, he was unequivocal in his belief he would be keeping Juuse Saros because he would be able to extend him this summer.
“I don’t think there’s any reason why I won’t get it done,” Trotz said confidently at the time.
Bingo.
While the deal still has some details to get finalized, league sources confirmed Thursday night that there’s a framework of a contract in place, which will be eight years at a $7.74 million AAV. The contract will kick in a year from now.
While the modern front office thinking is not to go long-term on contracts with goalies, the AAV makes this a reasonable contract in my mind.
That’s a nice piece of business for the Predators, and I mean, while Saros probably would have gotten more on the open market, he didn’t want to leave Nashville, where by the way there’s no state income tax.
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(Photo of Jake Guentzel: Bruce Bennett / Getty Images)
