Welcome to our first annual "Offseason 2019 Early Returns Week." This week I will be looking at all the biggest stories coming this summer along with the rumors I am already out there chasing. I will of course be writing about any breaking news or rumors as well...but here is the Schedule for the Week's Feature Stories....
Monday: UFAs
Tuesday: RFAs
Wednesday: Trades at the Draft
Thursday: Teams Looking to Make the Most Changes
Friday: The Crazy Surprises that are Starting to Emerge
The UFA's of 2019.
Perhaps the most interesting aspect of the UFAs of 2019 is how many of them are still playing in the final 8. I can't remember a year when we had this many still going in the second round of the playoffs... I always launch the rumor chart around this time and as you likely know I don't get too into the players still playing...However, this year may be a little different because of some very unique situations.
As far as current salaries go, the TOP 7 highest paid players who will be UFAs are all STILL playing:
#1. Erik Karlsson
#2. Jason Spezza
#3. Matt Duchene
#4. Sergei Bobrovsky
#5. Jordan Eberle
#6. Artemi Panarin
#7. Joe Pavelski
Then you have
#8. Jeff Skinner
Followed by:
#9. Varlamov (Playing)
#10. Kevin Hayes
So the top 7 and 8 of the top 10 are still playing, which means even if your team is out of the playoffs right now, you may be able to catch one of your future players by simply following along...
Filling out the Top 25...
#11. Anders Lee (playing)
#12. Jason Pominville
#13. Wayne Simmonds
#14. Joe Thornton (playing)
#15. Anton Stralman
#16. Brock Nelson (playing)
#17. Gustav Nyquist (playing)
#18. Justin Williams (playing)
#19. Jamie McGuinn
#20. Jake Gardiner
#21. Mats Zuccarello (playing)
#22. Matt Moulson
#23. Tyler Myers
#24. Marcus Johansson (playing)
So that's 15 of the top 25 still playing...
Let's start with Columbus.
Three of the top 6 on this list are Blue Jackets, and another, Ryan Dzingel, is around 30th...It has long been believed, even by the Jackets themselves that Panarin and Bob were going to be heading elsewhere....and there is a strong belief that both could be joining Coach Q in Florida... Which I am discussing now, even though they are still playing, because without that belief the Jackets wouldn't have gone after Duchene and Dzingel. Columbus felt pretty strongly that they could get Dzingel to extend because he attended Ohio State, but the brilliance of bringing in Duchene now was NOT only to help their playoff run, but was to show Matt how great of a hockey town and franchise this was...And all indications are that is working.
Some big names not still playing...
The biggest might be Jeff Skinner...
Skinner thrived in Buffalo and many wonder why he wouldn't just stay. But that hasn't appeared to be the case...so far at least. It needs to be noted the Sabres got him for a song from Carolina because the Canes believed fully that he had his mind set on where he wanted to go on July 1, 2019. That was strongly believed to be Toronto. But the Leafs are in Cap Hell signing players they already have.. (see tomorrow's RFA's) .
My best bet now is Skinner does sign with Buffalo, but I have heard big interest from Ottawa, Calgary, NJ and Arizona.
Kevin Hayes.
While it may not have been Hayes' fault in Winnipeg he sure didn't bring what they really needed. Kevin Hayes is a talent though and I have heard TONS of talk surrounding Montreal this coming off-season. Minnesota, Anaheim, and LA will also try...
On Jake Gardiner...
Another bad playoff defeat was pinned on this poor guy. Honestly, Jake Gardiner may not be the BEST D-man on the planet, but at times (and usually) he is definite top 4. The Oilers will be all over him...especially if Hunter and DJ Smith do turn out to be the guys. The Leafs will be left trying to replace him for less...won't be easy. The Blackhawks also will be keeping tabs...as will others (Montreal, Ottawa, NJ, Caps)
On Anton Stralman...
If Erik Karlsson ends up in Tampa, Stralman will be gone for sure...probably gone either way. The Leafs, Sabres, Sens and Canucks may have some interest...a Rangers return?
What's the Buzz?
What do you think of all this?
Place some value on this summer's big names?
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