The Hockey Writers Daily - July 21, 2023
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In today’s edition we have the latest Canadiens prospect pyramid, a “way-to-early” ranking for the 2024 NHL Draft, how the Karlsson trade delay is jamming up the league, a look ahead for the Hurricanes’ Necas, and much more.
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Canadiens Prospect Pyramid – Summer of 2023
The fans of the Montreal Canadiens watched a roller coaster season in 2022-23. The start of the campaign saw a healthy lineup capable of fighting for a playoff spot, or at least, making it interesting. Then injuries happened, derailing the seasons of nearly every player in the professional ranks of the Habs’ system.
The second full season of the rebuild is set to begin in 2023-24, to give the youth more opportunities. There is no lack of talent as the Canadiens are considered to have one of the best prospect pools in the NHL.
2024 NHL Draft Rankings: Baracchini’s Way Too Early Top 32
It only feels like yesterday that the 2023 NHL Draft came to an end. With that draft in the books and the upcoming Hlinka Gretzky Cup to kick off the scouting season, it’s always a great time to look at the next crop of talent for the 2024 NHL Draft. While it may not be as deep as 2023, it should still produce a number of high-end talent, especially within the top-10.
This draft is headlined by two players with high-end upside and potential in Macklin Celebrini and Cole Eiserman. Celebrini being a dynamic offensive threat with his playmaking and ability to score anywhere on the ice and Eiserman has a shot that’s already at an NHL level. As of now Celebrini is going in as the top prospect, but Eiserman is the closest one to possibly challenge him for that spot.
Expect Maple Leafs Klingberg to Have Career Season
Flashback to last season’s trade deadline. As the Toronto Maple Leafs prepared for last season’s playoffs, strengthening their defensive lineup was a top priority. Among the names in trade rumours was John Klingberg, an experienced defenseman who was then playing with the Anaheim Ducks.
While some Maple Leafs’ fans considered Klingberg a potential rental, I saw the trade deadline as a golden opportunity to acquire him as a long-term defensive solution, much like the impact that Mark Giordano had with the team. Klingberg’s age, skill set, and fit with the team’s playing style made him the ideal candidate to bolster the team’s defence for the long haul.
Sharks’ Lack of a Karlsson Trade Continues to Jam Up the League
The San Jose Sharks are currently sitting on one of the highest-valued defensemen in the NHL. Erik Karlsson, who recently won the Norris Trophy for best defenseman in the league, has been the subject of countless trade rumors after making a mutual decision with the Sharks that a trade should be explored. As recently as the first day of free agency, it seemed like a deal was close to being done, but that was not the case. As of the middle of July, Karlsson is still a member of the Sharks.
While a trade of this caliber would usually impact no one other than the Sharks, that doesn’t seem to be the case this time. For example, a deal was long rumored to send Tony DeAngelo from the Philidelphia Flyers to the Carolina Hurricanes. However, the trade fell through, likely because the Hurricanes were waiting for Karlsson’s deal to take place. This then begs the question, when will the Karlsson trade finally happen?
Jets Getting Great Short-Term Value in New Vilardi Deal
Elliotte Freidman of Sportsnet reported on Wednesday, July 19, that the Winnipeg Jets and Gabriel Vilardi have reached a pre-arbitration agreement. The contract is a two-year deal, with an average annual value (AAV) of $3.4375 million.
The actual contract itself provides great value, but arguably the best part of this deal is that it came before arbitration. Going to arbitration with a newly acquired player is something that can go south fast, and the Jets avoiding that back-and-forth is a win by itself. Prior to this deal, the organization had $7.2 million in cap space, and this now knocks that number down to $3.77 million.
Hurricanes’ Necas Set to Take Another Leap After Career Year
Carolina Hurricanes forward Martin Necas will enter the 2023-24 NHL season on the heels of a career-best performance this past season. The 24-year-old led the Hurricanes with 71 points (28 goals, 43 assists) in 82 games played, and helped keep the team rolling while Sebastian Aho and Andrei Svechnikov missed stretches due to injury. You could make the argument that he was the most consistent forward for the majority of the season, playing in all 82 games and providing consistent scoring production no matter who was on his line any given night. Without his offensive production last season, who knows if the Hurricanes would have been able to clinch their third straight division title.
More stuff from THW and around the NHL:
Anaheim Ducks - 4 Ducks Trade Candidates Not Named John Gibson
Boston Bruins - Bruins Have 4 Fourth-Line Center Candidates
From the Archives - The Boss of Long Island: Mike Bossy’s Life Story
From TSN - Keefe not concerned on contract status: 'The other stuff will work itself out'
From Sportsnet - Former Flames associate coach Kirk Muller joins Capitals coaching staff
From the NHL - Rangers retool by adding Wheeler, hiring Laviolette as coach
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