Updated:
Super sophomore Jack Eichel reported to Buffalo Sabres training camp on Monday. The generational center ice man has passed his physical exam. Eichel will skate Tuesday morning with Dan Bylsma's non-game group. The Sabres will host the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday night.
Unsigned RFA defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen has not reported to Sabres training camp yet. Ristolainen will have to get his new contract finalized before he can skate in scrimmages and in exhibition games. I expect Ristolainen to sign his new deal in the coming days. The big Finn is seeking a 6-7 year contract extension in the $6M to $6.5M AAV range.
Dan Bylsma said Monday morning that he would like to get Ristolainen into training camp as soon as possible.
Dmitru Kulikov has not reported to the Sabres yet either.
Eichel, Ristolainen and Kulikov all played at the World Cup of Hockey tournament in Toronto.
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Brad Marchand to Pittsburgh Penguins trade rumors are officially dead.
Marchand will not be fleeing Boston for the cooshy confines of playing Sidney Crosby's left wing.
Marchand and Patrice Bergeron have been killing it playing on Team Canada’s number one line at the World Cup of Hockey.
Nope. Marchand ain't going anywhere for a long time.
According to The Boston Bruins, Marchand has signed an 8-year, $49 million contract extension.
The math works out to $6.125M AAV per season. Marchand earned $4.5M AAV last season.
Marchand will have a full no-move for the first five seasons on the deal, before changing to a limited no-trade clause. Also, $24 million of the spanking new contract is to be paid via signing bonuses.
Don't worry. Bruins owner Jeremy Jacobs can afford it.
Marchnd's new contract comparables are Kyle Okposo, Mark Scheifele, Sean Monahan, Nathan MacKinnon, Milan Lucic, and Andrew Ladd.
Marchand scored 37 goals and 61 points in 77 games last season.
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The NY Islanders have placed forward Mikhail Grabovski has been placed on the team's long term IR list with an upper body injury. The team tweeted Mondaymorning that Grabovski's injury is retroactive to March 16, 2016.
The team did not specify the exact injury that is side lining Grabovski, but it is believed to be post concussion syndrome. Grabovski suffered two concussions in 2015.
Grabovski, 32, is owed $5 million AAV this and next season. His $10 million salary cap hit could not be bought out by the club this summer because the player is injured.
Placing Grabovski on Long Term Injured Reserve (LTIR) would means that it can exceed the salary cap for as long as Grabovski on the list. Garth Snow can now add another top six forward to replace Grabovski in the lineup.
Garth Snow could look at Buffalo Sabres power forward Evander Kane as a potential replacement for Grabovski. Kane, 25, has two years remaining on his Buffalo contract at $5.25M AAV.
Kane would immediately add elements of power and scoring to the NYI lineup.
Kane reported to Buffalo training camp last Friday and had to face the music regarding his less than desirable summer.
Kane was charged with misdemeanor criminal trespass and five noncriminal charges of disorderly conduct and harassment. He is scheduled to return to Buffalo a city court on October 31.
Kane said that he blocked out the noise and confusion while focusing his attention on his fitness and hockey over the summer.
“I’ve been focused on hockey all summer,” Kane said.
“I haven’t really put too much thought or emphasis on the other stuff. I’ve just kind of narrowed my focus and focused on hockey and my training, and I’m feeling pretty good about that.”
Kane revealed that he has yet to speak about his most recent legal snarls with his bosses Tim Murray and coach Dan Bylsma. My guess is that Kane will be having more than one closed door chats inside the executive suite in the days to come.
Kane also said that he has yet to hear from the NHL.
“I’m just focused on this season and trying to have the best season of my career so far,” Kane said. “It’s not about necessarily proving to everybody else. It’s kind of proving more so to myself, knowing what I’m capable of and just kind of executing that and putting that on display.”
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