The Hockey Writers Daily - July 25, 2023
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In today’s edition we have Matthews’ new contract setting the next standard for the Maple Leafs, the elite 2023-24 Calder Trophy race, some good-value free agents for the Oilers to pursue, some Flames’ rookies to watch this season, and much more.
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Auston Matthews’ New Contract Will Set Maple Leafs Standard
If Toronto Maple Leafs fans are growing tired of the negotiations between the team and star forward Auston Matthews, the end might be in sight. Although the discussions are continuing behind closed doors, a rumour was leaked that the amount of money has been settled. Now, we’re just waiting for the term.
NHL’s 2023-24 Calder Trophy Race Will Be Elite
Every season it is entertaining to watch the rookies battle it out and showcase who is the best up-and-comer. Sometimes players who were just drafted that year can make an impact, but other times it takes a few years for some to develop and come in hot to the NHL.
While the NHL is filling up with great young talent, the 2023-24 season should present us with an amazing group of rookies at all positions from all around the league breaking in and contending for the Calder Trophy. With so much talent, I had to split the rookies who deserve early attention into three groups – top contenders, challengers if they’re playing in the NHL, and dark horses.
3 Bruins With the Most to Prove in 2023-24
There were several storylines that came out of the 2022-23 season for the Boston Bruins. One of them was the number of players that had good seasons under first-year head coach Jim Montgomery. In a couple of the cases, it was productive seasons that not many people saw coming.
As the NHL calendar changes toward the 2023-24 season, there are some members of the Black and Gold that be watched closely to see if they can prove that last season was not a fluke. Here are three Bruins who have the most to prove this upcoming season.
Oilers: 3 Good Value Free Agents the Team Can Still Sign
The Edmonton Oilers will be a Stanley Cup contender this upcoming season. That said, there are still some holes in their lineup that will need to be filled. They signed Lane Pederson earlier this month and he’s the frontrunner to win the fourth-line centreman position. Unfortunately for him, I don’t think the Oilers are satisfied with him playing that role. The team can do some juggling and make things work, but at the end of the day, they still may have to sign another forward to fill out the bottom six.
There are a few names remaining on the free-agent market that the Oilers could pick up for the right price. It’s fairly likely they will wait until the Evan Bouchard and Ryan McLeod deals are worked out before they bring in anyone new, but there are still a few names out there that could be willing to sign for $775,000 on a one-year deal. In this article, three potential “good value” free agents that could fit the Oilers lineup will be discussed.
4 Devils Breakout Candidates for 2023-24
The New Jersey Devils have had their fair share of breakout candidates over the last few years. In 2021-22, Jesper Bratt totaled 26 goals and 73 points in 76 games. He backed that up with a career-high 32 goals and 73 points in 82 contests this past season.
Jack Hughes also caught the eyes of many fans, as he had 56 points in only 49 games due to injuries. That is a 94-point pace over 82 games, however. And he followed that up with 99 points in 78 appearances in 2022-23.
Nico Hischier shouldn’t be forgotten, either. Though he’s been one of the Devils’ mainstays for a few years, he had the best season of his career in 2021-22, totaling 21 goals and 60 points in 70 games. He bested that this past season with a career-high 31 goals and 80 points.
That’s the Devils’ core (along with Timo Meier), but who will join them next? Even after totaling 52 wins this past season, the organization still has a few potential top- and middle-of-the-lineup players who could be in store for breakouts sooner than later.
Calgary Flames’ Most Impactful Rookies for 2023-24
It’s clear that the Flames need a difference-maker or two. They still employ some quality players and are surely hoping for bounce-back seasons from Jonathan Huberdeau, Jacob Markstrom, and Andrew Mangiapane, among others. Unless a big name comes back in a trade, the current roster is looking like it will remain mostly unchanged heading into training camp.
Despite there being some solid players still available via free agency, the Flames are approximately $213,333 over the cap according to CapFriendly. The player(s) that move(s) the needle may need to come from within. Luckily they have some very talented young men that will be looking to make the roster for the first time or full-time in 2023-24, and they could be exactly what this team needs. Here are three rookies that have the best potential to impact the team this upcoming season.
More stuff from THW and around the NHL:
Tampa Bay Lightning - 3 Most Significant Offseason Moves
NHL News & Rumors - Sharks, Oilers, Maple Leafs, Bruins
Montreal Canadiens - Increased Scoring Can Lead to Standings Improvement
From TSN - Hurricanes bring back D DeAngelo with one-year, $1.675M contract
From Sportsnet - Big trades or big signings: These NHLers are worth keeping an eye on in the summer
From the NHL - Flyers add veterans Staal, Hathaway to complement young core
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