The Hockey Writers Daily - August 9, 2023
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In today’s edition, we have the Bruins’ worst contracts for 2023-24, Jets roster improvement, a look back at John Tavares’ departure from New York, a Panthers goaltender discussion, and much more.
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Here’s the good stuff:.
Senators Move to Downtown Ottawa Doesn’t Make Business Sense
Far-fetched ideas are common when people talk about the Ottawa Senators building a new arena in downtown Ottawa. For instance, take Tobi Nussbaum, the Chief Executive Officer of the National Capital Commission (NCC). I can already hear the good burghers of Ottawa wailing about still having to drive halfway to Peterborough to see the Senators play if the LeBreton Flats deal falls through. Yet they’ll also vent their fury at the idea of taxpayer dollars going to line the pockets of billionaires while the homeless wander the streets and emergency room lineups grow ever longer.
Tough. A new arena isn’t about any of that. It’s a business decision and moving out of Kanata isn’t a good one. That is unless one or more levels of government pay for most of the new arena. If they don’t, the Senators will be staying in Kanata for a long time to come. Here’s why.
Bruins’ 3 Worst Contracts for 2023-24 Season
The Boston Bruins are heading into the 2023-24 season with very little cap space, and this remains the case even after parting ways with several players, both through trade and free agency. One reason behind this is that some of their players are simply making more than their probable market value. As a result, let’s discuss three of the Bruins’ worst contracts heading into the 2023-24 campaign.
Jets Roster Potentially Improved Over 2022-23’s
A hot topic amongst Winnipeg Jets fans is whether or not their team is an improved one on paper heading into 2023-24. They are coming off of a campaign in which they posted a 46-33-3 record, which was good for 95 points and eighth in the Western Conference standings.
Forty-six wins was good for their third-best mark since the franchise moved back to Winnipeg in 2011, but it hardly felt like it given the way the season ended. Injuries mounted as they were simply outmatched in the first round against the Stanley Cup champion Vegas Golden Knights. There is a boatload of variables at play here, which one could argue makes it a simple no for whether or not they have improved. In this piece, I am going to dive into those variables and outline what needs to go right in order for the Jets to improve upon their 2022-23 season.
Oilers Made a Big Mistake Not Trading for Erik Karlsson
The Erik Karlsson trade that involved the Pittsburgh Penguins, San Jose Sharks, and Montreal Canadiens was well executed by two teams. The team that failed to get the value they should have from the blockbuster was the Sharks. Nine players and 12 pieces were part of the trade that saw Pittsburgh dump bad contracts and add the Norris Trophy winner from 2022-23, the Canadiens move a bad contract and get assets they can flip, and the Sharks fail miserably.
This brings us to the Edmonton Oilers and how they might have fit into all of this. Though nothing was confirmed, the Oilers were believed to be in on Karlsson at one time over the past year. Things could have changed after the team acquired Mattias Ekholm, but they are two very different players that bring much different elements to their teams. One thing is for sure, the Oilers weren’t going to add Karlsson at the 2023 trade deadline after already picking up a $6 million AAV defenceman.
Islanders & Maple Leafs Both Better From Tavares Deal 5 Years On
The John Tavares contract was the biggest of the 2018 offseason. That summer, the Toronto Maple Leafs signed him to a seven-year deal averaging $11 million per year in a deal that brought a player back to his hometown while leaving the New York Islanders and their fanbase feeling betrayed.
Panthers’ Stolarz Signing Indicates Spencer Knight Isn’t Ready
The Florida Panthers enter their 30th season as the reigning Eastern Conference Champions. They look to get back to the Stanley Cup Final after losing in five games to the Vegas Golden Knights. After this offseason, the team will look different from the one that made a magical playoff run this past summer. For example, one signing they made was the signing of former Anaheim Ducks goaltender Anthony Stolarz after losing Alex Lyon to free agency.
But it seems they made the signing for another reason. Backup goaltender Spencer Knight went into the NHL players assistance program near the end of last season. Despite showing up to camp, he’s still considered to be in the program. As a result, the signing of Stolarz almost confirms that he will not be on the roster come opening night.
More stuff from THW and around the NHL:
Vancouver Canucks - Best Trades with the St Louis Blues
Colorado Avalanche - Avalanche’s Byram Faces Crucial Campaign
NHL News & Rumors - Golden Knights, Flames, Penguins
From TSN - Penguins hoping Karlsson can keep window of contention open
From Sportsnet - Ducks’ Isac Lundestrom out six months after undergoing surgery for Achilles injury
From the NHL - Swayman poised to help honor retired Bruins captain Bergeron’s legacy
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