NHL Rumors: Avalanche, Islanders, Rangers, and Bruins
Anthony Scultore
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Today’s NHL Rumors leads off with the question: Oh, where or where will Nazem Kadri sign?
Kadri 31, recorded 87 points in 71 games and added 15 points in 16 playoff contests to help the Colorado Avalanche win the Stanley Cup in 2021-22.
While it was one time believed that the Avalanche were still trying to re-sign him, they simply don’t have the requisite cap space to get it it done. The New York Islanders have been rumored as the most likely destination, but why hasn’t he been signed already?
NHL Rumors: Kadri, Islanders and Avs
According to Larry Brooks of the NY Post, Kadri is still seeking a long-term deal.
The usual suspects continue to report that Nazem Kadri is still looking for a long term commitment with a sticker price that begins with a “9,” and if that is indeed the bottom line for the second-line center, who will turn 32 the week prior to the season opener, it is no mystery why he remains unsigned.
NY Post
I’ve long suspected that max term would be the biggest hold up for a player that would be close to 39 by the time a 7 year-contract would come to an end.
Regardless, the Islanders still make the most sense to land him.
Per CapFriendly, the Isles have $11.1 million in available cap space with 19 players under contract. While that seems like enough, they have to sign RFA’s Noah Dobson and Keifer Bellows as well. In addition, the Isles need to make sure they can lock up Mathew Barzal longterm as his contract is up next summer.
Several Islanders rumored as possible trade candidates include:
- Josh Bailey, 32 (2 years remaining, $5M AAV)
- Anthony Beauvillier, 25 (2 years remaining, $4.15M AAV)
- Semyon Varlamov, 34 (1 year remaining, $5M AAV)
As for the Avs, they have around $3.9 million in space remaining and could be looking to add another depth forward with skill to the lineup.
Per Peter Burgh of The Athletic, the Avs may look to sign either Paul Stastny, Evan Rodrigues, or Sonny Milano.
Rangers may sign Jimmy Vesey
The New York Rangers may be looking at a reunion with Jimmy Vesey, per Larry Brooks.
Vesey, 29, recorded 8 goals and 15 points in 68 games for the New Jersey Devils last season. He broke into the NHL with the Blueshirts as a UFA signing out of Harvard in 2016-17. He spent three seasons on Broadway amassing 50 goals and 90 points in 240 games.
The Rangers traded him to the Buffalo Sabres and he’s bounced around ever since with pits stops in Toronto and Vancouver as well. In 6 NHL seasons, Vesey has scored 135 points in 422 games. His only taste of the playoffs came in his first season with the Rangers in 2016-17, where he scored 5 points in 12 contests.
Should the Rangers add him to a one-year deal at league minimum ($750,000) as Brooks suggests, he would compete for a fourth line role.
Bruins believe both Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci will sign
It’s been weeks since reports surfaced that Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci will be returning to the Bruins. In a recent article by Boston Globe reporter Kevin Dupont, he says that the belief around the Bruins is both will return on one-year deals before the season starts.
Bergeron, 36, is coming off an 8 year-deal with a cap hit of $6.75 million. He can still play, recording 65 points in 73 games this past season and winning another Selke Trophy.
Krejci, 36, picked up 44 points in 51 games during the 2019-2020 season.