Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
All things considered, the NHL’s Summer of ‘24 has served up a solid helping of intrigue in the hockey world.
Highlights of the last two-and-a-bit months have included a visually stunning NHL draft in Vegas at Sphere, franchise stalwart Steven Stamkos moving on from the Tampa Bay Lightning as a free agent, some top-tier prospects getting traded and, to cap it all off, the St. Louis Blues’ unprecedented — and successful — double-offer-sheet stunner.
But not every nugget being dissected in the days after the Florida Panthers hoisted the Stanley Cup has come to pass.
Here are a few events that haven’t unfolded according to the popular scuttlebutt— not yet, anyway.
No Trades for Martin Necas, Mitch Marner
Before the draft, it seemed like a virtual certainty that Martin Necas was leaving Carolina.
As an RFA with arbitration rights, the 25-year-old was said to be looking for a bigger on-ice opportunity and more money that the Hurricanes were willing to commit.
Barely a week after he was officially named GM in Cane Country, Eric Tulsky openly discussed the trade offers he’d received for Necas with Pierre LeBrun from The Athletic at the draft. But no deal was consummated in Vegas, and a month later, the Hurricanes announced a two-year deal that will walk Necas to unrestricted free agency at an average annual value of $6.5 million.
Last week, at the NHL’s European Media Tour in Prague, Necas told Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman he had been “50/50” about returning to Carolina. A revamped roster could offer more opportunities, and Necas is ready to get to work and earn more minutes from Rod Brind’Amour.
“I’ve got to be better – be a player he can trust,” Necas said. “I’m looking for a bigger role. I definitely want to play more, but obviously, I’ve got to show it on the ice.”
Meanwhile, in Toronto, pre-draft rumors abounded that Mitch Marner would be traded for cap relief now that he has just one year left before hitting free agency. Of course, Marner is a proud local — and he has a full no-movement clause attached to his contract.
Related: Hurricanes Sign Necas to Two-Year Extension, Avoid Arbitration
By avoiding hockey talk at his public appearances this summer, Marner has kept the chatter about his future relatively quiet.
“I love being here. I’ve said that from Day 1,” he said when asked about his future at the August press conference when John Tavares handed Toronto’s captaincy to Auston Matthews. “I’m very fortunate and lucky to be a Maple Leaf. Today’s about these two amazing people beside me, and that’s what I’m going to speak on.”
Until a new deal is done, Marner’s status will remain a topic of conversation.
Related: Leafs Star Marner Has No Choice But to Focus On the Positives to Sustain Him Through the 2024-25 Season
Draisaitl, Crosby, Shesterkin All Without Extensions
There has been so much noise around the Edmonton Oilers this summer that the huge issue of Leon Draisaitl’s impending free agency was moved to the back burner.
After Ken Holland moved on at the end of June, hockey operations CEO Jeff Jackson made it clear he wanted Edmonton’s new GM to handle the Draisaitl file.
Edmonton hired Stan Bowman on July 24. Within weeks, he was enveloped by the Philip Broberg and Dylan Holloway offer sheet brouhaha.
Draisaitl’s deal would have been front-of-mind when Bowman elected not to match those offers. By doing so, he preserved future cap flexibility and maintained the Oilers’ current signing strategy, asking everyone to leave some money on the table to improve the team’s odds of capturing a Cup.
Related: Could a Team-Friendly Contract for Leon Draisaitl Set the Tone for the Edmonton Oilers?
In Pittsburgh, we’ve heard reports all summer that it’s just a matter of time before the Penguins and Sidney Crosby re-commit to each other. It’s hard to imagine Pittsburgh’s captain ever donning a different uniform, but nothing is done until it’s done.
And while Igor Shesterkin’s four-and-a-half seasons with the Rangers pale in comparison to Crosby’s 19 years in Pittsburgh or even Draisaitl’s 10 years in Edmonton, the Russian stopper has quickly made himself just as ubiquitous on his team. That gives him negotiating power. But there has been no word yet about a potential extension, and questions linger about whether the Rangers can meet his demands within their star-laden salary structure.
Fans of the Oilers, Penguins and Rangers were all hoping to see these important extensions locked — if not on July 1, then shortly thereafter. If they’re not confirmed before training camp, all three situations have the potential to swell into major distractions.
Related: Is There Reason To Worry About Sidney Crosby’s Contract Talks?
Swayman’s Still Unsigned
When the Boston Bruins broke up their bear-hugging goalie tandem by dealing Linus Ullmark to Ottawa before the draft, fans assumed a hefty extension for Jeremy Swayman was imminent. The 25-year-old had put a contentious arbitration hearing into the rearview mirror and delivered a terrific season, including a strong performance as Boston’s playoff starter.
When both sides declined to go the arbitration route again in early July, that also suggested that a new long-term contract was imminent.
Now, we’re nearly at Sept. 1, and fans have no news on a new deal other than vague assurances from Cam Neely, Jim Montgomery and Swayman himself that a deal should be done by training camp.
Then, on Monday, the co-host of WEEI Boston’s new midday show, Rich Keefe, dropped a nuclear bomb when he said the Swayman camp is looking for an eight-figure ticket.
Scoops Keefe is led to believe that Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman is asking for $10 Million per year pic.twitter.com/6VVzq9pwQj
— Jones & Keefe (@JonesandKeefe) August 26, 2024
Huge if true. If that’s the number that Swayman’s agent, Lewis Gross, is negotiating from, it sheds light on why the two sides have not yet found common ground. Swayman’s a good goalie, but that is a very large number.
The rule of thumb is the longer negotiations of this importance remain unresolved, the more speculation will get tossed around. In Swayman’s case, the wait is especially uncomfortable because fans thought he’d be locked up weeks ago.
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Related: Jeremy Swayman’s Contract Talks With the Boston Bruins Take an Interesting Turn
Related: NHL’s Top Issues Facing the Detroit Red Wings: Raymond and Seider’s New Contracts, Consistency and Goaltending Picture
Related: Three NHL Teams In Prime Positions to Make Big Trades In 2024-25
News Summary:
- All Talk, No Action: The Biggest Non-Events of the 2024 NHL Off-Season
- Check all news and articles from the latest NHL updates.