AROUND THE LEAGUE - 25-26

[UWSaint]

Marchand re-signs in Florida.

6 years! (Elliotte Friedman reports the contract is for an average of about $5.3 million per season.)

Also - Kuzmenko on one-year, $4.3M deal with Kings

Marchand, 6 years. LOL. That's one way to keep the AAV down.

Good for Kuzmenko to get that deal. He ought to send Philly a thank you present for getting him to a playoff team, though he made the contract happen by making the most of the opportunity. Loser in that deal is Boeser, as he would have fit the Kings rather well.

[Meds]

Bouchard staying an Oiler on an Edmonton-style show-me contract…..4 years @ $10.5M.

Bahahaha. Bowman smarter than most of his predecessors at least. The former regimes would have locked Bouchard up for 8 years, and likely another mil per.

[Meds]

And Ekblad re-ups for a lower AAV as well. $6.1M x 8….. $1.4M less than his prior contract.

And I just saw Bennett signed for $8M. That one will age badly. But for the next 3 years Florida is laughing with these 3 guys coming back for such friendly contracts.

The Cats locker room wants to win.

[Tciso]

Marchand re-signs in Florida.

6 years! (Elliotte Friedman reports the contract is for an average of about $5.3 million per season.)

That is a lot if cheese and term for a 37 year old rat.

[UWSaint]

And Ekblad re-ups for a lower AAV as well. $6.1M x 8….. $1.4M less than his prior contract.

And I just saw Bennett signed for $8M. That one will age badly. But for the next 3 years Florida is laughing with these 3 guys coming back for such friendly contracts.

The Cats locker room wants to win.

I can't believe they signed them all. There can be a danger in holding on to what got you there instead of what will get you there next, but these are three of the best UFAs on the market and the total AAV hit is a club bargain. I think Bennett will age badly -- but I think some other team would have paid him even more so it is still below market.

Also, on Marchand, it is often forgotten, but the 2020 MOU that extended the 2012 agreement changed the retirement rules for post 35 yo multiyears. Where as the 2012 made teams take the cap hit if the 35+ player retired, the 2020 MOU provided that so long as the salary wasn't front loaded, a retiring player is taken off the books. AND it allowed year ONE signing bonus. I didn't see how Marchand's deal is structured, but I suspect it is flat with the exception of the first year signing bonus, which will be 35% greater than what he's paid each year after (maximum variability allowed).

Of course, Florida still runs the risk that Marchand could also continue to show up to camp.....

[UWSaint]

Bouchard staying an Oiler on an Edmonton-style show-me contract…..4 years @ $10.5M.

Bahahaha. Bowman smarter than most of his predecessors at least. The former regimes would have locked Bouchard up for 8 years, and likely another mil per.

He couldn't do another million (without shedding salary elsewhere). So maybe less "smart" and more like Odysseus tied to the mast.

Bouchard's offense in the playoffs has earned him that salary. Too much offensive talent to move on from -- and yet I think he remains a liability in his own zone and O to D transition compared to the median defenseman in this league. Its like inheriting a cabin when you wouldn't have bought one yourself. To be sure, you like the cabin. But now you feel compelled to take all your vacations there. When what you really wanted was to vacation in ShutDownVille, but now you can't.

But you can sell it. Puckpedia isn't showing any trade protection.

[Strangelove]

And Ekblad re-ups for a lower AAV as well. $6.1M x 8….. $1.4M less than his prior contract.

And I just saw Bennett signed for $8M. That one will age badly. But for the next 3 years Florida is laughing with these 3 guys coming back for such friendly contracts.

The Cats locker room wants to win.

Ahh, so they DID re-sign all three!

Don't worry Mëds, I'm not the kind who likes to say "I told ya so".

[Hockey Widow]

A winning culture, great locker room, tax friendly state, no snow. What’s not too like? Well when the run is over they may find it hard to re-tool.

[Strangelove]

MITCH MARNER SIGNS AN 8-YEAR DEAL WITH A $12M AAV IN VEGAS IN A SIGN-AND-TRADE WITH THE leaves

Roy to Toronto. So Vegas had to dump some salary.

Figures, these days the Leaves only seem to like big brutes... and Maccelli.

Seriously though, check out their draft picks.

[Chef Boi RD]

The Panthers ain’t going away anytime soon.

[Strangelove]

The Panthers ain’t going away anytime soon

... and they enjoy eliminating the Leaves!

[Hockey Widow]

Why can't we do a sign and trade with Boeser? We have a few hours left.

[Meds]

The Panthers ain’t going away anytime soon

... and they enjoy eliminating the Leaves!

Nobody need any more reason than that to love them.

[Todd Bersnoozi]

MITCH MARNER SIGNS AN 8-YEAR DEAL WITH A $12M AAV IN VEGAS IN A SIGN-AND-TRADE WITH THE leaves

If Vegas are going to be over the camp, maybe JR & Co can try to pry W.Karlsson or Barbashev off them, preferably the latter (Barbi).