Free Agent Frenzy on July 1 continues to draw closer and TSN.ca keeps you up to date with all the latest news and rumours as the NHL off-season heats up.
Thomas staying put?
While the rumour mill was sent abuzz as word leaked last week that Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin has requested a trade, it appears another star centre is off the market.
Andy Strickland of FanDuel Sports Network reports that the St. Louis Blues are not looking to move Robert Thomas this summer after previously entertaining offers at the trade deadline.
The shift comes as Alex Steen takes over as the Blues general manager from Doug Armstrong, two years after the succession plan was announced.
“What I told the players right after the trade deadline is, for all intents and purposes that Alex is the GM as far as you’re concerned now. There are no more trades, there are no more waivers (this season),” Armstrong told the Blues team website in April. “Now Alex has to put his stamp on the team in exit meetings and (set) his expectations.”
The Blues went deep in trade talks with the Buffalo Sabres on Thomas ahead of the trade deadline in March, but the two sides could not ultimately reach a deal.
The price tag has always been reported to be high on Thomas, with 27-year-old centre signed through the 2030-31 season at a cap hit of $8.125 million. TSN Hockey Insider Chris Johnston ahead of the deadline that the Sabres were dangling the equivalent of four first-round picks in talks with the Blues.
Thomas had 25 goals and 64 points in 64 games with the Blues this past season.
Drafted 20th overall by the Blues in 2017, Thomas has 132 goals and 460 points in 530 career games. He helped the Blues to their first Stanley Cup championship in 2019, recording a goal and six points in 21 playoff games.
Larkin watch continues
TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun reports that the news of Larkin’s trade request is not something his agent Pat Brisson wanted to see leaked.
“The veteran agent from CAA Sports no doubt would have preferred to manage this behind the scenes in a careful and respectful manner with (Red Wings general manager Steve) Yzerman,” LeBrun wrote in The Athletic.
LeBrun adds that Larkin’s camp has given Yzerman a short list of teams he would accept a trade to. While the teams are not yet known, he speculates the Los Angeles Kings, Minnesota Wild and Montreal Canadiens are among the 12-15 teams that will inquire on Larkin.
The pressure is on for Yzerman to find a deal that also benefits the Red Wings, who saw their playoff drought hit 10 seasons this spring.
The 29-year-old Larkin registered 34 goals and 67 points in 74 games this past season with the Red Wings. He also helped the United States claim gold at the Olympics in February, posting two goals and one assist in six games.
Flyers out to extend Vladar, will wait on Michkov
The Philadelphia Flyers are looking to lock up goaltender Dan Vladar this summer after a breakout season with the team.
Vladar will become eligible to sign an extension on July 1 and general manager Daniel Briere says signing the netminder is a priority on the off-season to-do list.
“He was our MVP, so it’s tough to not like what he’s done,” Briere told NHL.com at the draft combine. “We’re definitely interested in extending him. ... We feel our prospect goalies need a little bit more time still. So, ideally we would love to extend Dan Vladar.”
The 28-year-old saw a career-high 52 games in net in his first season with the Flyers, posting a 29-14-7 record with a .906 save percentage and a 2.42 goals-against average. He had a 4-6 record in the playoffs despite improving his save percentage to .922 and GAA to 2.18.
Vladar joined the Flyers as an unrestricted free agent last summer on a two-year deal that carriers a cap hit of $3.35 million.
While Vladar seems set to put pen to paper this summer, the same cannot be said for young Flyers winger Matvei Michkov.
Briere suggests that Michkov is set to play out the final season of his entry-level contract after seeing his production drop off this year. The 21-year-old winger had 26 goals and 63 points in 80 games as a rookie before posting 20 goals and 51 points in 81 games this season. He was also held to just one assist in eight playoff games.
“I think after this season ... he’s a very competitive guy,” Briere said of Michkov. “I think he wants to prove to everyone that there’s more there. I know (what) he prefers at this point; it’s the best thing for him to wait and come back and show us what he’s all about.”
After taking a step forward into the playoffs this season, the Flyers are projected to have $37.5 million in cap space this summer with 18 players already under contract for next season. Forward Trevor Zegras and defenceman Jamie Drysdale are both in need of new contracts as restricted free agents, though Briere did not seem overly concerned about reaching deals with the pair.
“I’m not worried about that at this point,” Briere said. “I’m pretty sure we’ll find ways to make it work. We want them in Philly. I strongly believe they want to be in Philly. And usually ... when you have two sides that want to be together, you find a way.”
