The Carolina Hurricanes and Vegas Golden Knights are like the bargain hunter shopper who lands quality merchandise at closeout prices.
Earlier this week, Carolina general manager Don Waddell brought home 21-goal scorer Paul Stastny for a one-year deal for $1.5 million. Stastny had very similar numbers to Vince Trocheck who left the Hurricanes to sign with New York Rangers for an average of $5.625 million per season.
The Golden Knights' summer shopping included the signing of Phil Kessel Thursday. He agreed to a one year contract for $1.5 million.
Kessel, 34, registered 52 points last season for an Arizona Coyotes team that ranked last in offensive production.
If Kessel registers 52 points for the Vegas Golden Knights, it would cost the Golden Knights $28,000 per point. According to CapFriendly.com, based on last season's numbers, that would rank in the top 25 for cheapest point productions
PK Subban, Evan Rodrigues and Sam Gagner are among free agents still in the marketplace.
The rest of the Notebook:
1. William Eklund (San Jose Sharks), Alexander Holtz (New Jersey Devils) and Lucas Raymond (Detroit Red Wings) were among the eligible players who didn't play for Sweden in the World Junior Championships. That didn't sit well with former NHL star Peter Forsberg who is vice chairman of the Swedish Hockey Association. "I want the NHL to release the best junior players," Forsberg said to SportExpressen. " It would be good for world junior hockey and would raise the status of the tournament even more."
2. In an interview with NHL.com, Flyers coach John Tortorella confirmed that injured defenseman Ryan Ellis won't be ready for the start of the season.
3. On this date, August 25, 84 years ago, the NHL's Montreal Maroons announced it was suspending operations for one season. The franchise never returned to the NHL. The team was founded primarily for the English-speaking Montreal hockey fans.
4. Kessel and Joe Pavelski have had similar NHL careers. Kessel boasts 399 NHL goals and 956 NHL points in 1204 games. Pavelski has 421 goals and 924 points in 1168 games. The major difference: Kessel has a career plus-minus of -148 and Pavelski is at +146.
5. Among American-born players, Mark Howe leads with a +400 plus-minus. Chris Chelios is second at +351. Nashville Predators defenseman is the career active U.S.-born plus-minus leader at +215.
6. Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly told Sportsnet the salary cap can get a significant boost after the 2023-24 season -- a year ahead of earlier forecasts from the league. That has to still feel like an eternity for NHL general managers.
7. Keep an eye on the Winnipeg Jets. They could use another forward and boast more than $6 million in cap space.
8. The San Jose Sharks seem like a good fit for PK Subban, but have to believe he would rather be with a team with a shot at winning the Stanley Cup.
9. If you believe Buffalo's Owen Power is one of the favorites for NHL Rookie of the Year, factor in the fact that defensemen have not won back-to-back Calder Trophies since Kent Douglas (1963) and Jacques Laperriere (1964) did it 58 years ago. Detroit defenseman Moritz Seider won the Calder last season.
10. Happy Birthday, Pete Stemkowski. He turns 79 today. He played for the Detroit Red Wings, New York Rangers, Toronto Maple Leafs and Los Angeles Kings. Stemmer owned five 20-goal seasons and was known as a strong two-way center. Good on faceoffs and as a penalty killer. In 2009, he was ranked 54th in a book about the 100 greatest New York Rangers.
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