The Edmonton Oilers have already decided they want to re-sign Evander Kane. The only question is how much can they afford to pay him.
"There was wonderful chemistry between him and Connor [McDavid]," GM Ken Holland said. "When he joined our team, he made our team deeper. So can I keep him? Yeah. His cap number is $2 million. I don't expect him to play for [a] $2 million cap number next year. "
The Oilers' problem is that they only have 15 players signed for next season and have about $7 million left under the salary cap. The Oilers also want to add a new goalie. Mikko Koskinen is going to free agency. Mike Smith is 40. Even if the Oilers didn't want to re-sign Kane, the Oilers probably needed to move some veterans to make sure they are salary cap compliant. If they land Kane, Holland's work becomes more complicated. Players like Duncan Keith and Zack Kassian are particularly vulnerable Holland does want to keep interim coach Jay Woodcroft. The Oilers were 26-9-3 under Woodcroft. The Notebook:
2. In case you were wondering, when a best-of-seven playoff series is tied 2-2, the winner of Game 5 historically wins the series 78.5% of the time. However, this season, when a series is tied 2-2, the winner of Game 5 has only won four out of seven times.
3. Going into Game 5 of the Tampa Bay vs. New York Rangers game, Connor McDavid still has a nine-point lead in the NHL's postseason scoring race. His ability to hold that lead may depend on who wins the Eastern Conference Final and how long the Stanley Cup Final goes. McDavid’s lead is nine points over the Rangers’ Mika Zibanejad. He certainly could catch McDavid. But if the Lightning win the series, his lead is 11 over Colorado’s Cale Makar and 12 over Tampa Bay’s Nikita Kucherov. That’s a significant gap to overcome.
4. In case you were wondering, it’s technically possible for a player to win the Conn Smythe Trophy even if he doesn’t reach the Stanley Cup Final. The award is for the entire playoffs, not the championship series. But that scenario has never occurred. i 5. Oddsmakers have made Sergei Fedorov a 7/2 favorite for the Detroit Red Wings head coaching job. However, the Red Wings are unlikely to consider Fedorov for a variety of reasons. Chief among them is that the Ilitch family hasn’t forgiven Fedorov for how he left the organization as a free agent in 2003. He turned down an offer that would have made him the NHL’s highest-paid player. For the non-bettors, odds are not determined based on who is most likely to get the job. Odds are based on how the betting action is going. People must be betting on Fedorov who is a coach in the Kontinental Hockey League.
6. Fifty-one years ago today, on June 9, 1971, the late Jean Beliveau announced his retirement from the NHL. The decision came weeks after Beliveau earned his 10th Stanley Cup championship. At 39, he totaled six goals and an NHL-leading 16 assists in 20 playoff games to help the Montreal Canadiens win the Cup with a Game 7 win against the Chicago Blackhawks. Beliveau was one of the most majestic players in NHL history.
7, Washington Hockey Now speculated that the Capitals could pursue a trade for Edmonton Oilers winger Jesse Puljujarvi.
8. Agent J.P. Berry told the Boston Herald that there is no rift between David Pastrnak and general manager Don Sweeney. Berry expects to meet with Sweeney to negotiate a new contract for Pastrnak. The Athletic reported that Pastrnak wouldn’t re-sign with Boston if Sweeney is the general manager.
9. Is Bruce Cassidy a scapegoat? The Bruins are in a run of five strong seasons, including a trip to the Stanley Cup Final three years ago. It’s undoubtedly true that some players didn’t enjoy Cassidy’s style. But what coach doesn’t have players who don’t like him? Cassidy will be hot in the coaching market.
10. There’s a drum beat for Cassidy ending up with the Dallas Stars. But there are several teams now interested in Cassidy.
11. Frank Seravalli reported that Jeff Blashill interviewed with the Philadelphia Flyers and ex-New York Rangers coach David Quinn has interviews planned with the Flyers and Detroit Red Wings. The Blackhawks, according to Seravalli, asked for permission to talk to Montreal’s Luke Richardson and Vancouver’s Brad Shaw.
12. Some teams still want to talk to Tampa Bay assistant Derek Lalonde when his season is completed.
13. P.K Subban’s Clancy Award is well-deserved. Most players win for work in one city. Feels like Subban won this year for his work in three different cities. His foundation made a whopping $10 million donation to a Montreal Children’s Hospital when he played for the Habs. When he played for Nashville, he founded Blueline Buddies, linking police with underprivileged children. He brought that program to Newark when he moved to the New Jersey Devils.
14. If the Rangers win tonight, the Rangers-Lightning series becomes the first Conference Final to have the home team win the first five games. The last time it happened was 1985 in a conference final between the Edmonton Oilers and Chicago Blackhawks.
15. Colorado’s Darren Helm is trying to become the fourth player in League history to go 14-plus years between winning the Stanley Cup. The others: Chris Chelios(1986 with Montreal and 2002 with Detroit), Mark Recchi (1991 with Pittsburgh and 2006 with Carolina)and Bill Guerin (1995 with New Jersey and 2009 with Pittsburgh)
16. The amazing aspect of Cale Makar’s five-point night to put his team in the Stanley Cup Final is that he was the eighth player to do that. He’s the first in 35 years and he’s the second youngest player to do it. He was 23 years, 219 days. Maurice “Rocket… Richard was 22 years, 239 days in 1944 when he totaled five points to put Montreal in a Stanley Cup Final.
17. The Toronto Maple Leafs 2022-23 goaltending outlook seems rather unsettled for such a talent-laden team. If they don’t re-sign Jack Campbell, who do they pursue? Most of the goalies who will be in the marketplace come with red flags.
18. Now, we may need Barry Trotz and Cassidy to decide where they want to coach before the other dominoes fall.
19. Artturi Lehkonen became the first player in 83 years to score an overtime goal to put his team into the Stanley Cup Final for the second time in his career. He put the Montreal Canadiens in the final in similar fashion in 2021. Gordie Drillon accomplished the same feat in 1938 and 1939 for the Toronto Maple Leafs.
20. The Detroit Red Wings signed 6-foot-8 Swedish forward Elmer Soderblom today. He’s a fifth-round draft pick from 2019. The Detroit organization and the fan base are excited about his potential. He scored 21 goals last season in the Swedish Hockey League. He will get a chance to make the team next season.
21. With Bruce Cassidy out in Boston, here are the betting odds for the new coach: Nate Leaman, 4/1; Barry Trotz, 5/1; Greg Carvel, 11/2, Pete DeBoer, 11/2; Dave Tippett, 7/1; Jeff Blashill, 7/1; Jim Montgomery, 7/1; Marc Savard, 7/1; Travis Green 8/1; John Tortorella, 10/1; Guy Boucher, 16/1; Mike Babcock, 16/1.
22. An intriguing under-the-radar UFA: Valeri Nichushkin. He’s 27 and scored 25 goals and added 52 points in 62 games. He made $2.8 million for Colorado.
23. According to IcyData.com, Rangers goalie has prevented 20.83 goals more than the average goalie. That’s more than one goal per game.
24. Rangers defenseman Adam Fox needs two assists to become the fifth defenseman in NHL history to register at least 20 assists in a playoff year. The others: Paul Coffey (25 in 1985, Edmonton), Al MacInnis (24 in 1989, Calgary), Brian Leetch (23 in 1994, New York Rangers) and Miro Heiskanen (20 in 2020, Dallas)
25. On this date, June 10, in 1984, the Pittsburgh Penguins changed the course of their history by drafting Mario Lemieux with the No. 1 pick. Lemieux scored on his first shift in the NHL and finished his career with 1,723 points (690 goals, 1,033 assists) in 915 games. He won the Conn Smythe Trophy in 1991 and 1992, when the Penguins won the Stanley Cup. Lemieux turns 57 in October.