The Bolts
Brayden Point’s agent Gerry Johansson was on the radio in Vancouver yesterday and discussed the status of the young Lightning star’s contract negotiations. The conversation didn’t give us much new information. The two sides still appear stalled but the interview didn’t suggest any indications of animosity.
“Well, we’re talking, I guess is the good news,” Johannson told Sportsnet 650 on Thursday. “We’re a ways apart right now. Like I say all the time, you can do a deal in a day if you’re so inclined. Things can move quickly but we’re not that close frankly.”
This and other quotes in the piece don’t paint an encouraging picture of the status of the discussions. But they also don’t provide any reason to panic. At this point, with two preseason games already complete, it’s starting to look possible that Point won’t be signed before the start of the season. The opener is less than two weeks away and it seems increasingly likely that this negotiation will drag past that date. Of course, we thought that a few years ago with Nikita Kucherov and he signed two days before the season started so we still have time.
The longer this process lasts, expect more non-updates like this. As the other restricted free agents sign, more attention will shift to Point and the Lightning. The less negotiation happens in the media, the better for both sides. And I don’t think anything in this interview rises to that level. Johnasson was cautious enough with his wording that it suggests he’s still confident a reasonable deal will get done at some point.
In other news, The Hockey News is breaking down five year plans for all NHL teams and Steven Ellis tackled the Lightning yesterday.
Lightning will need to do a bit of salary gymnastics to make everything work, but unlike some other top teams, the Lightning have a great prospect base to choose from when needed.
The Prospects
Marchment, 24, played the majority of the 2018-19 season with the Utah Grizzlies, posting 37 points (15g-22a) and 41 penalty minutes in 52 games, and netted one goal in three playoff contests. Marchment also skated in five games with the San Diego Gulls of the American Hockey League, notching two assists and 12 penalty minutes.
The Game
The biggest news of the day yesterday was the Ottawa Senators signing Thomas Chabot to an eight year extension worth eight million dollars per season. Chabot was one of the best young defenders in the NHL last season but doing this deal now is a little risky for both the player and the team. The Sens are betting that Chabot’s season last year wasn’t a fluke. If they’re right, this is going to be a great contract for the team long term. If he continues on his early career trajectory, Chabot is taking security now in exchange for leaving some money on the table long term.
Overall, this is an understandable deal for both sides but it’s hard to look at how good Chabot was last year (7th among D in WAR) and not think the Sens came out on the better end of this one.
That breeze you might be feeling in Ottawa is the collective sigh of relief from Senators fans that Thomas Chabot has been extended for a full eight years, and with plenty of time left on his current contract.
The deal carries a cap hit of $8m per year. It starts at $7m in salary for the first two years, dips down to $4m for 2022-23 (the next year there could be a strike or lockout), $8m in 2023-24, $10m for 2024-25 through 2026-27 and back down to $8m in 2027-28. The deal appears to not contain any signing bonuses, but it does include a 10-team no trade list starting in 2024-25.
In other restricted free agent news, the Colorado Avalanche and Mikko Rantanen appear to be in a similar spot to the Lightning and Point. Although the Lightning seem almost certain to eventually agree to a bridge deal with Point while Rantanen might still end up with a long term deal.
#Avs made a long-term contract offer to Mikko Rantanen earlier this month, per our @PierreVLeBrun
Pierre reports the Avs are not going to pay Marner money. https://t.co/tpwRhtSrOM
— Ryan S. Clark (@ryan_s_clark) September 19, 2019
This weekend marks the kickoff of the Dream Gap Tour by the Professional Women’s Hockey Players’ Association. The Ice Garden has a detailed preview of the action including how you can watch. The talent level in these games will be impressive and if you’re looking for hockey to watch this weekend, it won’t get better than this.
Team Poulin is essentially made up of last year’s Canadiennes team, with some notable additions like Markham Thunder’s and Team Canada’s Laura Stacey and rookie Emily Clark, who just finished her career with the Wisconsin Badgers. The team’s GM, Meg Hewings, was with Les Canadiennes starting in 2010, so it’s no surprise that she’s involved with the Quebec-based PWHPA players. The team will be coached by Valérie Bois, who was an assistant coach with last season’s Canadiennes team.
Like the 2018–19 Canadiennes, this team will be a force to be reckoned with. Surely they have the most impressive goaltending tandem of the group — with Team Canada’s Geneviève Lacasse and Emerance Maschmeyer — and they don’t lack for scoring with players like Hilary Knight, Marie-Philip Poulin, Ann-Sophie Bettez, and Mélodie Daoust.
And finally, despite not playing last night, the Lightning still managed to take a penalty. Jon Cooper is not going to be happy about this.
It’s the preseason for all of us… even rookie ref Dan Kelly, who called a penalty against Tampa during Panthers/Habs: pic.twitter.com/rESKLpk7YK
— Scouting The Refs (@ScoutingTheRefs) September 20, 2019
