It’s time for another round of NHL rumours as we near the start of April. We’re almost to the start of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. However, there’s no fooling around when it comes to the summer. Teams are going to have to give raises to some deserving players. Other executives are going to have to make their best pitches to keep unrestricted free agents off the market. Today’s Easter weekend edition of NHL rumours focuses on the Vancouver Canucks and Philadelphia Flyers.
All NHL rumours come from the original source and are subject to change.
NHL Rumours
Vancouver Canucks
Rumour: The Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli talked with Matt Sekeres and Blake Price about the future of Filip Hronek in Vancouver.
.@frank_seravalli on why Hronek at $8M is not an overpayment for the #Canucks with the cap going up:
“Demko is here, I know the coaching change…the roster has changed…the Canucks had an engine and to me, Hronek was the jet fuel that allowed them to take off…$8 million in… pic.twitter.com/73GV0KOofc
— Sekeres and Price (@sekeresandprice) March 24, 2024
Analysis: Hronek is an arbitration-eligible restricted free agent at the end of the season. The 26-year-old is making $4.4 million this season, but is likely in line for a decent pay raise.
Seravalli discussed how much the Canucks should pay for the Czech blueliner. Numbers were thrown around and Seravalli thinks that Hronek should command around $8 million for his next deal. The insider points to Hronek’s play as one of the reasons for the Canucks turnaround this season.
There are obvious concerns in giving Hronek that much money. This is especially true with the Elias Pettersson extension coming on the books in the 2024-25 season. General manager Patrik Allvin has a number of big contracts on the books like Quinn Hughes and Brock Boeser. A salary cap hit of $8 million does seem like a big bite.
However, Seravalli points out the rising salary cap could make Hronek’s deal a bargain in coming seasons. The cap number is likely going to start its acceleration upward this off-season. Seravalli points out “it’s way better to have the known commodity that you know works versus having to go out and find it again.”
The contract figures could ruffle some feathers on players like Hughes. However, Hughes’ next contract is likely going to see him land a massive payday. A big contract for Hronek could seem like a hefty price tag early, but it could be a great value signing.
Philadelphia Flyers
Rumour: TSN’s Chris Johnston talked about the future of Flyers draftee Ivan Fedotov. The Russian goalie is finally free of his KHL contract and looking to make a splash in North America.
INSIDER TRADING…
– Ivan Fedotov expected to join Flyers
– Latest on Senators’ coaching search
– Green a serious candidate in Devils’ process
– Kings and Blues’ coaching decisions
– Sabres’ tough decision ahead on GranatoMORE: https://t.co/xrp35zlfE4 pic.twitter.com/scTbIx4IjX
— TSN Hockey (@TSNHockey) March 28, 2024
Analysis: Fedotov is a proven winner pretty much wherever he’s gone. This includes an Olympic gold medal in the 2022 games. The goalie was drafted by the team nine years ago but signed an entry-level deal two years ago. He had all the intentions of coming to North America to vie for a spot on the Flyers roster. However, something really strange happened that blocked his path to Philadelphia.
He was essentially arrested and forced into military service in his native Russia. Fedotov played for CSKA Moscow in the NHL but had his contract terminated. This means that the goalie can finally make his way across the Atlantic Ocean.
That entry-level deal does mean Fedotov can join the team pretty much immediately if he wishes. The Flyers could use help in between the pipes with Samuel Ersson and Felix Sandstrom holding down the fort. This is due to the uncertain future surrounding Carter Hart.
Fedotov has plenty of size at 6 feet, 8 inches tall and is an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season. This means that the Russian goalie is pretty much getting an extended audition for the Flyers. Philadelphia also has to decide if Hart gets a qualifying offer in July despite the unknown future. Fedotov’s arrival in Philadelphia could be huge in solving a massive question mark swirling around the team.
Main photo by: Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports
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