Marleau’s contract hindering Maple Leafs?
Steve Simmons of the Toronto Sun: believes that the Toronto Maple Leafs signing of Patrick Marleau to his three-year deal was a mistake. His $6.25 million would have been better used to properly set their future payroll.
William Nylander needs a contract, Jake Gardiner is a UFA after the season, and Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner are in the final year of their entry-level contract. Signing Marleau also meant that they wouldn’t be re-signing James van Riemsdyk.
The Los Angeles Kings need offensive help and should be inquiring about Nylander and maybe Gardiner as well. “Crazy as it sounds, and I’ve never been one of these talk-radio trade proposal guys, if I’m Kyle Dubas, I’m going to inquire about getting Drew Doughty to waive his no-trade clause and see if you get him in some kind of sign and trade for Nylander and Gardiner.”
Simmons adds that he knows/assumes it won’t happen.
One “NHL voice” said that if Nylander’s agent Lewis Gross was totally in change there would have been a contract done by now.
If the Carolina Hurricanes put Curtis McElhinney on waivers, and/or the Philadelphia Flyers put Calvin Pickard on waivers, do the Florida Panthers claim one?
Locking up Aho a priority for the Hurricanes
Craig Custance of The Athletic: The Carolina Hurricanes are eager to get forward Sebastian Aho signed to a long-term contract.
There have been contract talks between the Hurricanes and Aho’s camp according to Pierre LeBrun.
“It’s a priority now,” Dundon said of a new contract for Aho. “He’s going to play here. This is where he’s going to play. We’ll figure it out.”
The sides may be looking at the Toronto Maple Leafs and William Nylander situation as it could help set the market.
Comparables from the Hurricanes view could be Aleksander Barkov (six years at $5.9 million per), David Pastrnak (six years at $6.67 million per) and Filip Forsberg (six years at $6 million per).
Teams are hoping to avoid that Leon Draisaitl ($8.5 million per) comparable. If Nylander gets close to Draisaitl, it could change things for Aho.
