NHL Rumors: Jack Hughes extension may take time; Adam Fox pending new deal fallout; and will Senators land Claude Giroux?
Anthony Scultore
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The New Jersey Devils selected Hack Hughes first overall in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. He is the future of their franchise, and his ELC will be coming up at the end of the season.
Hughes, 20, is off to a quick start to the season with three points in two games. Unfortunately, he was injured in last night’s win over the Seattle Kraken and is considered day-to-day. Hughes has 55 points in 119 games.
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NHL Rumors: Jack Hughes extension
On TSN’s Insider Trading, Pierre LeBrun noted that the Devils initiated talks with Jack Hughes and his agent Pat Brisson.
“This one’s an interesting one because on the one hand, I think the Devils would love to do what Montreal did with Nick Suzuki, a young player with a year left on his entry-level deal, and sign him ahead of time,” he explained. “In Jack Hughes’ case, I think the Devils, for sure, are probably saying let’s sign this young franchise player before he really pops this year. He’s not had that huge year yet, but you feel that it’s coming here. That’s why I think Pat Brisson and CAA are going to say what’s the hurry, for sure they’re going to get him signed but does it have to be right away, this could take a while.”
New Jersey will be doing everything in their power to lock up the face of the franchise this season. Expect him to do better than Suzuki’s 8 year deal worth $7.875M AAV.
Adam Fox new deal will have consequences
Fox, 23, won the Norris Trophy as a sophomore. Only Bobby Orr accomplished such a feat in NHL history. This has everyone buzzing about his next deal. LeBrun touched on that as well last night.
“I’ve been told there’ve been very preliminary discussions, nothing serious in nature yet” he said. “The Rangers have spent a lot of their cap money. You think about Mika Zibanejad’s extension that starts next year at 8.5M, Panarin makes 11.6M, I think they overpaid for Barclay Goodrow. It’s not Adam Fox that’s going to pay the price for the New York Rangers cap issues moving forward.”
What LeBrun is hinting at is Fox will get paid, but then when the time comes, the Rangers will be moving out bigger salaries. That’s why there’s a low chance Ryan Strome will remain, and in 2024 you can expect Chris Kreider and Jacob Trouba to be moved. Both those players’ full no trade clauses become modified, requiring them to submit lists.
As for Fox, expect a deal for 8 years at around $9 million AAV.
Claude Giroux with the Senators?
The Flyers top center is likely heading to unrestricted free agency next season. According to GM Chuck Fletcher the two sides will not discuss a new deal until the end of the season.
“I think we’re both comfortable with that,” he said. “Claude’s our captain, he’s a great player, and I anticipate that we’ll find a way to continue that relationship going forward, but right now I think what we’ll do is we’ll just get through the season and we’ll look at the situation and see where he’s at, see where we’re at, and we’ll do what’s best for everybody.”
While Fletcher sounds optimistic, but there’s always a risk of waiting too long to deal with pending UFA. If Giroux decides to test the market, the Flyers will lose a key asset for nothing. If Philadelphia is on the outside looking in at the trade deadline, I even expect Giroux to be traded as a rental.
Giroux, 33, is coming off a season where he scored 43 points in 54 games. This is the final year of a contract that comes with a $8.275M cap hit.
There’s also been some buzz that the only team he would waive his no-move clause for is the Ottawa Senators.
“Al Morganti stirred up something last week when he suggested unsigned Flyer Claude Giroux would be happy to play in the Canadian capital,” Elliotte Friedman wrote in his 32 Thoughts blog. “For what it’s worth, there were rumours about the two teams talking last summer, but I looked into it and got multiple denials. We will see what the future holds.”
An interesting take for sure.
