Daily Links

NYHN Daily: Stanley Cup Final Not Over Yet, Jones Sweepstakes & More

Published

3 years ago

July 6, 2021

The Tampa Bay Lightning seemed to be cruising in the Stanley Cup Finals, the Montreal Canadians battle to force a Game 5 after an overtime win on Monday. The Seth Jones trade talk is heating up as many teams have been linked to the star defenseman. These stories and more in today’s daily links!

Are the Boston Bruins safe from an offer sheet to defenseman Brandon Carlo? Did two concussions in three months this season and four in the first 50 months of Carlo’s NHL career save the Boston Bruins from the dreaded offer sheet to their 24-year-old defenseman who is set to become a restricted free agent? (Boston Hockey Now)

It wasn’t long ago that Pittsburgh Penguins analytics guru Sam Ventura was a graduate student at Carnegie Mellon University working on statistical models to track hockey games and players. He even appeared on this writer’s radio show while a CMU student to discuss the growing trend of hockey analytics in 2014. However, on Monday, the Buffalo Sabres announced they hired Ventura to be their new VP of Hockey Strategy and Research. (Pittsburgh Hockey Now)

When someone like Seth Jones is on the trade market, there is bound to be a lot of interest. The Philadelphia Flyers are just one of many teams that have been linked to Jones since his name came into the rumor mill a month ago. Aaron Portzline of The Athletic reported some updates on the Seth Jones saga late last week. (Philly Hockey Now)

The Washington Capitals have an impressive arsenal of left-handed blueliners, and that includes 2018 first-rounder Alex Alexeyev. Alexeyev, known for his strong skating, playmaking and willingness to battle for the puck, took a major step forward this past season in what proved to be a roller coaster of a year. He started overseas when Washington loaned him to the KHL’s Salavat Yulaev Ufa amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Alexeyev logged several minutes on the top-4 and occasionally played on the third and first pairings. However, it was after the new year that the 21-year-old started to find his game. (Washington Hockey Now)

The Detroit Red Wings’ future isn’t now or tomorrow. It’s probably in 2022-23 or 2023-24. That’s why we aren’t likely to see Detroit general manager Steve Yzerman make a significant splash in the free agent marketplace this summer. But it is possible that Yzerman could start looking at younger unrestricted free agents next summer. In theory, we will get a glimpse of what this team could be this season as we see the beginning of Moritz Seider’s development, plus probably Joe Veleno and maybe Lucas Raymond. Maybe one of the younger free agents could envision the potential and want to be part of it. Or maybe, Yzerman’s aura will act like a tractor beam and pull in talent from all over the league. Just in case Detroit’s free agent buying starts here is the first look at some of the players who could be in the UFA market, according to CapFriendly: (Detroit Hockey Now)

The trades are coming! The trades are coming! Thursday’s Viktor Arvidsson swap promises to be the first of many as teams position themselves for the July 21st expansion draft. Essentially, Nashville, instead of losing the skilled Arvidsson for nothing to the Seattle Kraken, sent the winger to Los Angeles for 2021 second-round and 2022 third-round picks. The Predators aren’t going to be the only team that chooses to sell low on an asset instead of losing it to Seattle. Could the San Jose Sharks make like the Kings and undercut the Kraken too? (San Jose Hockey Now)

Josh Anderson scored his second goal of the game at 3:57 of overtime, and the Montreal Canadiens avoided being swept in the Stanley Cup Final with a 3-2 victory against the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 4 at Bell Centre on Monday. Anderson won it when he tapped in the rebound of Cole Caufield’s attempt from the top of the crease. (NHL)

Matiss Kivlenieks died Sunday. The Columbus Blue Jackets goalie was 24. The Blue Jackets said Kivlenieks’ death was the result of an accident. “We are shocked and saddened by the loss of Matiss Kivlenieks, and we extend our deepest sympathies to his mother, Astrida, his family and friends during this devastating time,” Blue Jackets president of hockey operations John Davidson said. “‘Kivi’ was an outstanding young man who greeted every day and everyone with a smile, and the impact he had during his four years with our organization will not be forgotten.” (NHL)

Nick Bjugstad signed a one-year, $900,000 contract with the Minnesota Wild on Monday. The 28-year-old forward could have become an unrestricted free agent July 28. Bjugstad scored 17 points (six goals, 11 assists) in 44 games this season, his first with the Wild. He was acquired in a trade with the Pittsburgh Penguins on Sept. 11, 2020. (NHL)

Kirill Kaprizov and the Minnesota Wild are expected to resume contract talks this week, and general manager Bill Guerin said he believes “there’s a deal to be had there.” “I’m confident in that,” Guerin said Saturday. “I’m confident in [Kaprizov] and his wanting to be here and his willingness to play in Minnesota.” Kaprizov, who won the Calder Trophy voted as NHL rookie of the year this season, can become a restricted free agent July 28. (NHL)