Hall and Devils to keep talking
Neal McHale: Bob McKenzie was on TSN 1050 yesterday and was saying that Hall has given his agent the “green light” to continue contract extension talks with GM Ray Shero. McKenzie adds that Hall was happy with the offseason moves the team made.
Corey Masisak of The Athletic: New Jersey Devils pending free agent forward Taylor Hall said he’s okay with the agent, Darren Ferris, to continue contract extension talks in-season with the Devils if they can’t reach an agreement before the start of the season.
Backstrom, Holtby and Capitals to keep talking
Samantha Pell of the Washington Post: Braden Holtby and Nicklas Backstrom are without a contract beyond this season. It won’t be easy to fit both of them in.
Washington Capitals GM Brian MacLellan isn’t looking at it as going to be one or the other.
“I didn’t think we would be able to get enough money to sign Carlson, and we made it happen,” MacLellan said. “I am not ruling anything out. I mean, obviously it will be tough to do, especially if they both have good years. It is going to be hard to do, but I wouldn’t rule it out.”
For next season the Capitals already have over $62 million committed to 15 players. The salary cap is expected to slightly increase from $81.5 million this season.
Holtby be could be looking at Sergei Bobrovsky‘s seven-year, $70 million, though he hasn’t ruled out a hometown discount.
MacLellan has already spoken with the agents for both players and expects talks to continue during the season.
“You can never tell what is going to happen during the year,” he said. “You may have an injury, a trade might happen, so many things that go into a season that you are never certain what your cap space is or who you are going to have available at the end of the year.”
