Dallas Stars forward Tyler Seguin suffered a torn labrum in his hip during the playoffs, the team announced Thursday. He's currently exploring options for surgery, which could carry a recovery time of four months.
If the 2020-21 NHL campaign begins on its target date of Jan. 1, Seguin would likely miss the first month of the season.
The injury explains why Seguin was held in check for most of the postseason. He tallied just two goals and 11 assists in 26 games during Dallas' run to the Stanley Cup Final.
General manager Jim Nill revealed a long list of injuries the rest of his team battled throughout the playoffs, though Seguin's ailment is likely the only one that will carry over into next season:
It's "July 1" but on Oct. 9. The NHL is set to open free agency at noon ET on Friday, more than three months later than usual. With the salary cap remaining at $81.5 million for (at least) the 2020-21 season, and with the 2021 Seattle Kraken expansion looming, there shouldn't be any shortage of action on the trade and signing fronts. Here are five teams set up to make cannonball-sized splashes in the coming days.
Vegas Golden Knights
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The Golden Knights have been the opposite of subtle since joining the league in 2017. They've acquired Mark Stone, Max Pacioretty, and Robin Lehner via trade, signed Paul Stastny in free agency, and been linked to seemingly every big name said to be available.
The lead-up to this free-agency period has been no different, with Vegas considered a front-runner to land 30-year-old defenseman Alex Pietrangelo if the Blues captain doesn't re-sign in St. Louis. Pietrangelo, an elite right shot who can eat minutes while playing in all situations, would be a tremendous complement to lefty Shea Theodore, who broke out during the 2020 playoffs.
Before general manager Kelly McCrimmon can get serious about pursuing Pietrangelo - or other UFA defensemen such as Torey Krug, T.J. Brodie, Kevin Shattenkirk if Plan A falls through - he'll need to shed salary. With 12 forwards, six defensemen, and two goalies signed on for next year, Vegas is currently over the cap limit at $84.3 million, according to CapFriendly.
One well-publicized way to create room would be to ship out goalie Marc-Andre Fleury and his $7-million cap hit through the 2021-22 campaign. The Golden Knights recently extended Lehner for five years at $5 million per season, so Fleury's days in Vegas appear to be numbered. He's ranked fifth on TSN's Trade Bait Board, while teammates Stastny (14th), Nate Schmidt (38th), Jonathan Marchessault (39th), and Alec Martinez (40th) also make the list. Not all of them will be traded, of course, but something has to give.
It's going to be complicated for McCrimmon. However, the Golden Knights have consistently proved they can land the big fish. There's no doubting the 2018 Stanley Cup finalists will pursue any and all opportunities to get better in the present as they attempt to capitalize on a slowly closing win-now window.
Winnipeg Jets
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The Jets are back to the drawing board heading into free agency after going through hell last year with the departures of defensemen Jacob Trouba, Dustin Byfuglien, Ben Chariot, and Tyler Myers. The club's top priorities are pretty obvious: a top-four defenseman and probably a top-six center with No. 2 center Bryan Little's playing future up in the air due to lingering symptoms from a head injury.
Winnipeg has roughly $11 million in cap space, though currently only eight forwards, five defensemen, and two goalies are under contract for 2020-21. Does GM Kevin Cheveldayoff hold off on signing any more of his own guys (defenseman Dylan DeMelo inked a four-year extension Wednesday) so he can pursue out-of-market free agents? That's one way to attack the situation. But, the problem with that plan is twofold: 1) Winnipeg isn't perceived as a prime destination for UFAs, and 2) there aren't too many interesting centers available.
Through that lens, the idea of trading super sniper Patrik Laine - a rumor that's been circulating for weeks and has often included the Philadelphia Flyers as the partner - seems less crazy and could perhaps be the easiest way for the Jets to acquire a quality defenseman and/or forward. Of course, Cheveldayoff must be careful. If Laine reaches his ceiling as a regular 50-goal threat, you can bet everybody in the hockey world will be quick to let Cheveldayoff know who gave up on the Finnish sniper before he turned 23.
Columbus Blue Jackets
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If you squint hard enough you can pinpoint what Columbus is up to this week.
On Tuesday afternoon, GM Jarmo Kekalainen acquired playmaking center Max Domi and a third-round pick from the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for power winger Josh Anderson. Hours later, he shocked draft pundits by selecting KHL sniper Yegor Chinakhov at No. 21. Both moves signaled that the defensively driven Blue Jackets are in the market for some offense. Then, on Wednesday afternoon, he inked Domi to a two-year contract.
Expect much of the same moving forward. The Jackets have around $1.7 million in cap space, and RFA Pierre-Luc Dubois is in need of a big raise. That being said, buying out forward Alexander Wennberg - which seems likely at this point - could toss some money back into the fold and produce a scenario in which Columbus can chase a UFA forward. Mike Hoffman's lethal shot, Andreas Athanasiou's speed, or Anthony Duclair's mixture of both would be welcomed. You have to wonder, too, if Alex Killorn or Tyler Johnson, two skilled, middle-six forwards on the trade block in Tampa, might be of interest to the Jackets.
Where Kekalainen could really impact the offseason landscape is in the crowded goalie market. Reports suggest neither Elvis Merzlikins nor Joonas Korpisalo is untouchable, and one of them will probably leave Columbus this offseason. Both have two years left on their current deals, with Merzlikins making a fair $4 million per season and Korpisalo earning a measly $2.8 million. Teams looking to steer clear of the UFA goalie market, which will be inflated and hectic, could instead pivot to making a deal with the Jackets.
It'll be fascinating to see what this squad looks like when the dust settles. Dubois, Seth Jones, and Zach Werenski are Columbus' ride-or-dies over the long term. The rest of the roster appears to be in transition, and adding offensive punch is clearly the MO after 2019-20 underlined that deficiency.
Colorado Avalanche
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The Avalanche are in an enviable position this offseason. Not only are they Stanley Cup contenders and arguably ahead of schedule on their trajectory, but they're also in reasonable shape financially - for the next year, anyhow.
GM Joe Sakic has approximately $22.4 million in cap space, and there are no marquee names that need to be re-signed for next season. However, top defenseman Cale Makar, captain Gabriel Landeskog, and starting goalie Philipp Grubauer are all due hefty extensions next offseason. For that reason, Sakic must project a bit, although there's no reason why the Avs can't pursue some of the biggest names on the market, including Taylor Hall.
Hall, a 28-year-old play-driving left-winger, would be a tremendous fit stylistically, with his excellent skating and transition play blending perfectly with how Colorado loves to push the pace. The 2018 Hart Trophy winner is said to be taking the wooing process slowly by fielding pitches from a variety of clubs Friday before sitting down to decide where he'd like to go. Aside from the style fit and available money, the Avs boast a wealth of talent on the roster.
Sakic added around the edges of Colorado's offense last summer, bringing in Nazem Kadri, Joonas Donskoi, Andre Burakovsky, and others. It made a huge difference. This year, he has an opportunity to pounce on an uncertain free-agent market reeling from the revenue impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. With all of that cap room, perhaps Colorado could even table an offer sheet for an RFA too.
Nashville Predators
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There isn't a team giving off a "moves incoming!" vibe quite like the Predators.
On Wednesday, the last four years of Kyle Turris' contract were bought out and Nick Bonino was traded alongside two draft selections to the Minnesota Wild for Luke Kunin and one pick. Those two transactions cleared $8.1 million from the books and gives GM David Poile $17.7 million in cap space to sling around as he continues to revamp the forward group. Pending UFAs Mikael Granlund and Craig Smith won't be coming back either.
According to The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun, Nashville is one of several teams vying for Hall's attention and have a meeting set up for Friday. If that push fails, perhaps Poile will take a healthy run at mid-tier forwards like Evgenii Dadonov, Tyler Toffoli, Hoffman, Duclair, and Athanasiou.
TSN's Trade Bait Board has Matt Duchene and Ryan Johansen ranked 27th and 28th, suggesting an even deeper reorganization up front could be in the offing. Minnesota defenseman Matt Dumba has been the subject of trade rumors for months and could be another potential acquisition for a team desperately trying to make a statement.
The Predators have made it out of the first round just once since they reached the Stanley Cup Final in 2017. It's time for massive changes, and Poile, a man not afraid to rattle the cage on occasion, seems dead set on charting a new course.
NHL free agents can officially sign with new teams as of noon ET on Oct. 9, and theScore is guessing the landing spots for some of the most interesting names. This list doesn't necessarily include all the best players, but rather the most intriguing. With no free-agent courting period, this offseason may be tougher to predict than most, but we're giving it our best shot:
Taylor Hall
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Hall has played just 14 playoff games in his 10-year career, and he's made it clear joining a winning team will be his priority in free agency. The 28-year-old will obviously be a relatively expensive addition for any team, though, so the list of clubs with both legitimate Stanley Cup aspirations and the necessary cap space may be short.
The two teams that seem best positioned to take a run at Hall are the Colorado Avalanche and Boston Bruins. Both are among the top five clubs in the NHL, and both possess ample cap space.
In Boston, Hall would be able to team up with David Krejci - and perhaps Jake DeBrusk or Ondrej Kase - to form a potent trio behind the Perfection Line, making the Bruins' forward group deep and dangerous.
The Avalanche, meanwhile, have had plenty of cap flexibility for a few years now, but they've yet to flex their financial muscles with a big trade or free-agent splash. After second-round exits in back-to-back postseasons and with three years left on Nathan MacKinnon's bargain contract, the time is now for general manager Joe Sakic to be aggressive. Adding Hall - who could potentially play on a line with MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen - would be simply unfair for the opposition.
Prediction: Avalanche (7 years, $9M AAV)
Alex Pietrangelo
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The list of teams with serious interest in signing Hall likely includes a few clubs that are also interested in Pietrangelo since they'll command similar dollar values. Pietrangelo may not be as hungry for a Stanley Cup as Hall after winning a ring with the St. Louis Blues in 2019, though. It's impossible to know what Pietrangelo's thinking, but the 30-year-old's priorities likely include a desirable location, fair compensation, and a relatively competitive roster.
Colorado could be a destination for Pietrangelo, but it's unlikely the Avalanche can afford both of this offseason's top two free agents. There could be other teams in the mix for the native of King City, Ontario, such as his hometown Toronto Maple Leafs (despite their limited cap space), the Winnipeg Jets (despite their somewhat undesirable location), and the New Jersey Devils (despite their lack of immediate competitiveness).
But no team can make a more enticing pitch than the Bruins, who are likely content to hand out a contract that could become a problem later on if it means bringing in a top-pairing blue-liner while the team is still in its championship window.
Adding Pietrangelo to a defense corps that already features Charlie McAvoy, Brandon Carlo, and Connor Clifton on the right side may necessitate a trade of one of the latter two in order to add help up front or on the left side of the blue line, but former GM of the Year Don Sweeney could make it work. With Torey Krug set to hit free agency and Zdeno Chara - also a UFA - potentially on the verge of retirement, the Bruins may have money to spare and openings on defense.
Prediction: Bruins (7 years, $8.5M AAV)
Torey Krug
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With the Bruins splurging on Pietrangelo in this hypothetical scenario, there isn't a fit for Krug to return to Boston. As an elite 29-year-old offensive defenseman, Krug will have no shortage of suitors. He may have some defensive limitations, but he's a good puck-mover and one of the best power-play quarterbacks in the league.
The Florida Panthers could be a possibility. They have an opening on the left side of their blue line after trading away Mike Matheson, but they already have Keith Yandle to run their power play and could use a left-handed rearguard with better defensive abilities.
The New Jersey Devils are also an option. They have plenty of cap space, a hole on the left side, and though they're not competitive at this moment, they're an up-and-coming squad.
Despite being the worst team in the league this past season, the Detroit Red Wings are a legitimate possibility. Krug grew up in nearby Livonia, Michigan, and the Red Wings have the money to pony up - and holes on defense. It would be a tough sell given the current state of the roster, but GM Steve Yzerman has proven he can build a winner, and that may be enough to convince Krug to come home.
Prediction: Red Wings (7 years, $7M AAV)
Mike Hoffman
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Hoffman is the best pure goal-scorer on the open market, averaging 30 goals per 82 games over the last six seasons. He doesn't drive play by any means and isn't a defensive specimen, but he can put the puck in the net thanks to a lethal shot; his one-timer is especially dangerous.
Even in a league that's opened up in recent years, goals are still difficult to come by, so Hoffman will surely generate plenty of interest.
The Devils, who have two young playmaking centers but could use a finisher, are a possibility, but no team is a better fit for Hoffman than the Los Angeles Kings. The Kings aren't as far from playoff contention as some may think: They finished eighth in the league in expected goals for percentage in 2019-20 and fourth in Corsi for percentage. They had a meager 6.39 shooting percentage, though, the second-worst in the league. They need some goal-scorers.
Imagine Anze Kopitar feeding one-time passes to Hoffman. That would be fun. The Kings also have plenty of cap room, and L.A. is, of course, a desirable location for free agents.
Prediction: Kings (4 years, $5.5M AAV)
Braden Holtby
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Remember, this isn't a list of the best free agents available, but simply the most intriguing. After winning the Vezina Trophy in 2016 and the Jennings Trophy in 2017, Holtby has logged three straight mediocre regular seasons, hitting rock bottom this past year with an .897 save percentage and a 3.11 goals-against average. Nobody in their right mind should consider him a top-10 free agent, or even a top-three goalie on the open market.
That said, Holtby remains awfully intriguing because of his past success, and he'd likely be willing to take a short-term contract in order to rebuild his value. The question is: Which teams are willing to roll the dice?
The NHL's goaltending carousel has yet to play out, but it seems there are several goaltender-needy clubs around the league. Two such squads are the Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames, and either one could be enticing for the native of Lloydminster, which straddles the border between Alberta and Saskatchewan. With more cap space and a better defense, the Flames would seem to have the upper hand.
Prediction: Flames (1 year, $4.5M)
Joe Thornton
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Much like Holtby, Thornton is no longer the premium player he once was. But many around the league will still be interested to see where he lands. Thornton was hoping the San Jose Sharks would send him to a contender at the 2020 trade deadline, so don't be shocked if he leaves San Jose this offseason to chase a ring.
Even at 41, Thornton can still contribute - at least in a sheltered role. He had 31 points in 70 games last season while posting some strong defensive metrics. The extended rest during the Sharks' lengthy offseason may serve him well, too.
A team won't need ample cap room to sign Thornton since he'll likely come cheap, which is great news for the Maple Leafs. Toronto is certainly not Thornton's best chance at a Stanley Cup, but the native of London, Ontario, may be tempted to come home and serve as a veteran leader for a roster with plenty of talent. He would probably get some decent third-line minutes too - especially if Toronto trades one or both of Alexander Kerfoot and Andreas Johnsson to create cap room to land a defenseman. Thornton's passing and puck-protection abilities would fit well in the Maple Leafs' possession-heavy system.
The news comes as no surprise, as Armstrong was reportedly shopping the 28-year-old's negotiation rights as of Monday.
Former Coyotes GM John Chayka surrendered a 2020 first-round pick, a 2021 third-round pick, and prospects Kevin Bahl, Nick Merkley, and Nate Schnarr to acquire Hall from the New Jersey Devils in December. The Devils used the 2020 first-rounder to select Dawson Mercer 18th overall on Tuesday.
Hall, the 2010 first overall pick and 2018 Hart Trophy winner, tallied 52 points in 65 games this past season and is the top UFA forward. Free agency opens Friday at noon ET.
Dorion said the team offered him a "substantial raise," but the parties couldn't come to an agreement. Duclair chose to represent himself in negotiations.
Duclair potted a career-high 23 goals in 66 games during the 2019-20 campaign. However, he scored just twice in his final 29 contests after a blazing-hot start earned him an All-Star nod. The 25-year-old winger immediately becomes one of the most intriguing options set to hit the open market.
The Senators have just under $40 million committed to their roster for next season and will need to spend over $20 million to reach the cap floor. They have several RFAs in need of new contracts, though, including Connor Brown, Chris Tierney, and the newly acquired Matt Murray.
Ontario government official Lisa MacLeod said Wednesday that the OHL must take a series of steps to limit the spread of COVID-19 in order to return, including eliminating physical contact among players.
"It would be safe to say that body contact, unless it's incremental, will not be permitted as a result of COVID-19," MacLeod said, according to The Canadian Press. "That would pose a challenge in terms of how they amend their play."
The OHL canceled its 2019-20 season after the initial pandemic pause and is currently targeting a December start date for the 2020-21 campaign. MacLeod mentioned the government and league are "in constant contact" as they try to find a solution.
The league announced it will not comment on the ongoing negotiations.
