NHL Off-Season News: Ottawa, Florida, and Toronto
By Santagata JJ
NHL Off-Season News: With the NHL Stanley Cup in full swing, a lot of news is surrounding Nashville and Pittsburgh aside from these two, some other teams have popped up in the news and it’s quite interesting.
NHL Off-Season News: Big news circulating the NHL besides the Stanley Cup being in the Bridgestone Arena Sunday night, aside from the Stanley Cup being two games away from a winner is crowned.
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One whom may repeat for the first time in 19 years and one team who may capture their first ever Stanley Cup win, and become the 2nd #8 seeded to win the Stanley Cup and the first ever no. 16 team to win the Stanley Cup. Stakes are high in the Stanley Cup right now, but if your favorite team isn’t Pittsburgh or Nashville then it’s been a bit of dry month in terms of news.
Recently, the Toronto Maple Leafs have expressed some interest in Anaheim’s defensemen Sami Vatanen, and it was said a deal is close, could come sooner than later. That would help out movement clause for the expansion draft, therefore they do not need to protect the 32 -year-old. That would help out Toronto tremendously, despite Vatanen’s down year in Anaheim, he is still only 26-years-old and fits that team play, quite well. As an offensive defenseman who can mix it up on the powerplay and move the puck up ice will only be beneficial to the young Maple Leafs as they look to continue their success during the 2017-2018 season.
Also, some alarming news out of Ottawa and Florida, as we all know the expansion draft is coming up(approximately 9 days away), teams need to get their expansion draft roster prepared for next season. A quick expansion draft rule breakdown for any left unclear about this, in the most simple terms; teams have 2 options 7 forwards, 3 defensemen, 1 goaltender or 8 skaters, 1 goaltender to protect. Each team must expose a player who has played 40+ games this season or 70+ games in last 2 seasons, are under contract for the 2017-2018 season and lastly each team must expose 1 goaltender who is under contract for 2017-2018 or they become an RFA at end of season.
Enough there, the Ottawa Senators recently asked veteran Dion Phaneuf to waive his no-movement clause for the expansion draft, therefore they do not need to protect the 32 -year-old. But if you’re Phaneuf aren’t you worried that Vegas may take you and Ottawa is basically like “oh he’s not that valuable we can’t protect him”. The Same exact situation in Florida as they asked Keith Yandle to waive his no-movement clause for the expansion draft. I’m not sure if the players have commented on this situation but it seems like it can cause some confusion and doubt in the minds of Phaneuf and Yandle. Be very interesting to see if they agree and Vegas ends up taking one or even both depending on contract and salary budget.
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With Florida and Ottawa doing this, could the New York Rangers ask either Dan Girardi and Marc Staal to waive their no-movement clause, it is very well an option but with the amount these two are worth it’s highly unlikely Vegas would even bother budging at them due to age and productiveness over the last few years.