Dan’s Daily: Monster Contracts for D-Men, Angry Eichel Trade Potentials

Despite the flat salary cap, NHL GMs are throwing cash at defensemen. Today’s “wow moment will be tomorrow’s “untradeable” asset, but that didn’t stop Adam Pelech and Darnell Nurse from signing long-term deals. ESPN explored what’s left, or who’s left, for Jack Eichel on the NHL trade market, and the Pittsburgh Penguins will need to get creative…or they are done this offseason.

Greetings from some small town on Rt. 6 near the NY border. I stopped for the night and a beer on Friday night–Walked into a little place, and the bartender carded me. First time in years! She carded me because I was the only one in the little dive bar who she didn’t know… The place literally stopped when I walked in. Good times.

It should be painfully clear to the Buffalo Sabres and GM Kevyn Adams that he won’t get his asking price. I am surprised Jim Rutherford isn’t part of the Sabres team by now. That would have been an entertaining circus watching him work the NHL trade market with an asset like that.

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: Penguins GM Ron Hextall didn’t insert either Mark Friedman or Chad Ruhwedel into the lineup but conceded the Penguins would have to get creative IF they can upgrade. 

NHL Trade Chatter, News and National Hockey Now

ESPN+: Greg Wyshinski crosses off a few teams and updates how the New York Rangers and Vegas Golden Knights can make it work. Buffalo is sticking to its guns. 

TSN: A lawyer for one of the aggrieved Chicago Blackhawks players at the heart of the sexual assault and coverup scandal has specifically asked SafeSport to investigate Blackhawks GM, Stan Bowman. 

Sportsnet: Edmonton Oilers D-man Darnell Nurse got PAID. Eight years and $74 million, Cha-ching. 

NYI Hockey Now: We congratulate Adam Pelech on a big payday and the New York Islanders for actually submitting and announcing a contract they’ve signed. Pelech will be in New York for a long time. 

Boston: The door is open for David Krejci to return but more importantly–Bruins contract negotiations with Patrice Bergeron have begun.

The Penguins are about to be in the same situation with aging stars and expiring contracts. It will be curious to see how the two organizations handle the situation.

Philly: Travis Sanheim’s arb date is set for his team-requested arbitration. Will they settle?

Washington: The Pittsburgh Penguins prize center depth and kept Jeff Carter in the expansion draft. The Washington Capitals depth is a big question– where do the Capitals stand in the final phase of the offseason?

Detroit: The Red Wings are going to be better–they’ve had a stealth offseason and brought in veteran Sam Gagner to help the kids along. 

Colorado: Hello, first-round pick Oskar Olaussson, who already signed his ELC!