Defending Stanley Cup champions Nazem Kadri and Darcy Kuemper, NHL MVP candidate Johnny Gaudreau and Dallas Stars defenseman John Klingberg are among the headliners eligible to sign with the team of their choice as of July 13.
Although the salary cap will only be raised by US$1 million, team revenues are up for the first time since 2019, which may set the free agent market up for grabs on Wednesday.
<q data-attributes="{"lang":{"value":"fr","label":"Français"},"value":{"html":"Les équipes ont de l’argent à dépenser, a reconnu le directeur général des Hurricanes de la Caroline Don Waddell. Je crois que 21teams were stuck under the salary cap last year. Five or six others approached it. Teams have money to spend, and players are going to take full advantage of it.”,”text”:”Teams have money to spend, Carolina Hurricanes general manager Don Waddell said. I believe 21 teams were stuck under the salary cap last year. Five or six others approached it. Teams have money to spend, and players are going to take full advantage of it.”}}”>Teams have money to spend, admitted Carolina Hurricanes general manager Don Waddell. I believe 21 teams were stuck under the salary cap last year. Five or six others approached it. The teams have money to spend, and the players are going to take full advantage of it.
Probably no one will benefit more than Gaudreau, who set career highs with 40 goals, 75 assists and 115 points last year with the Pacific Division champion Flames. His next contract will certainly smash the most lucrative agreement ratified last year: that of 63 million Doug Hamilton with the New Jersey Devils.
Gaudreau, who hails from New Jersey and grew up cheering for the Flyers, has been rumored to send him to Philadelphia or the New York Islanders. The Calgary Flames, however, rolled out the red carpet for him in an attempt to convince him to keep the status quo – without success, Flames general manager Brad Treliving confirmed on Tuesday night.
Other attractive options on the market include Colorado Avalanche forward Andre Burakovsky, ex-Flyers captain and Florida Panthers forward Claude Giroux, New York Rangers center Ryan Strome and Saint Louis Blues Quebec forward David Perron.
It will be intriguing, admitted Waddell. There will be plenty of attackers, but very few defenders available.
As a result, teams may take their time to evaluate all available options. Many general managers are of course expecting the usual madness at midday on Wednesday, but several signings could occur in the following days – and perhaps even until the opening of training camps.
There will always be a rush for certain types of players, but due to some teams having very little wiggle room under the salary cap, is it possible for further personnel moves to occur after this date? asked Stars general manager Jim Nill. Maybe this is the kind of summer where the talks are going to go on for a while.
