Artemi Panarin doesn't appear to be opposed to the proposition of a Windy City reunion, as the superstar winger would seriously consider a return to the Chicago Blackhawks if he becomes an unrestricted free agent after the 2018-19 season, a source told The Athletic's Scott Powers.
Panarin told the Blue Jackets he's not ready to sign an extension in Columbus, and the club reportedly began to test the market for him in June. The 26-year-old sniper also said he won't negotiate once camp opens Sept. 13, so his future with the organization is largely up in the air at this point.
After going undrafted and spending seven years in the KHL, Panarin chose the Blackhawks as his first NHL club in 2015, finding immediate success on a line with Patrick Kane. He won the Calder Trophy on the strength of a 77-point rookie season, then followed up with 74 points in 2016-17 before Chicago sent him to Columbus in exchange for Brandon Saad.
While the Blackhawks got the cost certainty they were hoping for in acquiring Saad, the trade didn't pan out for them at all in Year One, as Saad recorded just 35 points in 82 games. Meanwhile, Panarin notched 82 points and carried the Blue Jackets to the postseason as the driving force of their attack.
Panarin has one more season remaining at $6 million before he hits the open market, where he's sure to have a litany of suitors.
The Stars previously placed Smith on waivers in July, but he ended up clearing. Dallas now has no outstanding contracts to take care of and will have a projected $5.3 million in cap space, according to Cap Friendly.
Smith, 24, appeared in 46 games for the Stars in 2017-18, recording six goals and five assists.
He'll once again be a restricted free agent with arbitration rights at the conclusion of the 2018-19 season, per CapFriendly.
Ceci's initial ask was $6 million, while the Senators countered with $3.35 million. Ottawa also locked down restricted free agent Mark Stone earlier Friday prior to his arbitration hearing with a one-year deal worth $7.35 million.
Ceci was drafted 15th overall by the Senators in 2012, and he recorded five goals and 14 assists in 82 games last season.
The Ottawa Senators and winger Mark Stone have avoided arbitration, as the 26-year-old put pen to paper on a one-year, $7.35-million contract Friday, the team announced.
The agreement makes Stone an unrestricted free agent next summer, though he could sign an extension with the club after Jan. 1. If he opts for the open market, the Senators face the possibility of losing Stone along with fellow pending UFA's Matt Duchene and Erik Karlsson next offseason.
Stone's hearing was scheduled for Friday afternoon, but both sides struck a deal before a third-party determination. His case was one of the most prominent among the 44 players to file for arbitration, and it was reported his initial ask was for a record $9 million, while Ottawa countered with $5 million.
Injuries derailed Stone's impressive 2017-18 season, as he recorded a team-best 62 points in just 58 games. With his new contract, Stone carries the highest cap hit on the Senators' roster, and the sixth-highest number of all right wingers in the NHL.
Several household hockey names known for putting up strong fantasy numbers struggled mightily in the 2017-18 campaign.
In many instances, it might have been a sign of career regression, but these five stars are likely to bounce back this season:
Max Pacioretty, Canadiens
Pacioretty is coming off his least productive season since becoming a full-time NHLer during the 2011-12 campaign.
The 29-year-old posted just 17 goals in 64 games after scoring no fewer than 30 in the previous four seasons. That dropped his point total from 67 to 37.
The scoring woes can be blamed in part on bad puck luck. Pacioretty registered his lowest shooting percentage (eight percent) since the 2009-10 season, when he split time between the NHL and AHL. Playing most of his minutes alongside Phillip Danault and Andrew Shaw, who combined for 18 goals, didn't set him up for success, either.
It's also possible he'll be traded to a contender before the offseason concludes. Either way, expect his numbers to improve in a contract year.
Jason Spezza, Stars
Spezza will look to put a dreadful 2017-18 behind him.
The 35-year-old Dallas Stars forward had the worst statistical season of his career aside from his rookie campaign, in which he played just 33 games. He put up just eight goals and 26 points in 78 games after recording 15 and 50 in 68 games in the 2016-17 season.
Spezza averaged 3:10 less ice time per game last season compared to 2017 and his shooting percentage dropped to 5.8 percent, good for 460th in the NHL among those who played at least 25 games. It didn't help that he was moved from his native center to the wing for parts of the season.
New coach Jim Montgomery has already expressed interest in having Spezza move back to center, and he has high expectations for the veteran. He might not have another 60-point season, but he should manage more than 26.
Brandon Saad, Blackhawks
After returning to the team he spent his first three seasons with, Saad put up the lowest point total of his career (35) in a full season, with six fewer goals and 18 fewer points than the season prior. He tallied just one point on the power play, despite logging the fifth-most time with the man advantage among Blackhawks forwards.
Saad appears to be a victim of the team's overall regression last season, as he was coming off three straight 50-plus-point campaigns. The 25-year-old played alongside captain Jonathan Toews, who put up the lowest goal total of his career (20) and his lowest point total (52) in a full season.
With more puck luck (he recorded a career-worst 7.6 shooting percentage last season) and a return to form from his teammates, Saad can easily return to his former 50-point self.
Bryan Little, Jets
Little managed to produce less year over year in 2017-18 despite playing in 23 more games.
The 30-year-old put up 21 goals and 47 points in 59 games during the 2016-17 season and followed that up this past year with 16 goals and 43 points while playing all 82.
One of the biggest reasons for the drop appears to be a lack of opportunities. Little took just 10 more shots last year than he did in 2016-2017 despite playing in far more games.
With Stastny gone, Little's expected to move back into a top-six role, and the extra minutes should boost his production.
T.J. Oshie, Capitals
The 2017-18 season wasn't a disaster for Oshie - heck, the guy won the Stanley Cup - but there's no getting around the fact that he had a down year.
The 31-year-old recorded 18 goals and 47 points in 74 games after reaching a career-high 33 goals and 56 points in six fewer games in 2016-17.
The biggest difference year over year looks to be his linemates. In 2016-17, Oshie played 513 minutes at even strength alongside Nicklas Backstrom and Alex Ovechkin. This past year, he played just 50 minutes with that duo and split the majority of his time with either Evgeny Kuznetsov and Jakub Vrana or Backstrom and Andre Burakovsky. He had less lineup stability and fewer minutes alongside the team's superstars.
Of course, Oshie contributed 21 points in 24 playoff games, so perhaps we've already seen proof he'll have a stronger 2019 season.
Adding a perennial 30-goal candidate in Jeff Skinner gives Buffalo Sabres head coach Phil Housley an abundance of possible lineup combinations that he can roll out this coming season.
In the midst of a busy offseason in Buffalo, here are the Sabres' five most interesting lineup possibilities:
Option 1: Stacked 1st line
LW
C
RW
Jeff Skinner
Jack Eichel
Sam Reinhart
Conor Sheary
Casey Mittelstadt
Kyle Okposo
Vladimir Sobotka
Patrik Berglund
Jason Pominville
Evan Rodrigues
Zemgus Girgensons
Tage Thompson
Skinner, Eichel, and Reinhart would form quite the prolific top unit. All three are highly skilled, will make plays, and can finish. This leaves questions marks in the bottom nine, though.
Option 2: Top-6 balance
LW
C
RW
Conor Sheary
Jack Eichel
Sam Reinhart
Jeff Skinner
Casey Mittelstadt
Kyle Okposo
Vladimir Sobotka
Patrik Berglund
Jason Pominville
Evan Rodrigues
Zemgus Girgensons
Tage Thompson
A top-line role would be nothing out of the ordinary for Sheary, as he spent ample time in Pittsburgh flanking Sidney Crosby. This would allow Skinner to slide down to the second line, providing dynamic playmaking rookie Casey Mittelstadt with a legitimate finisher.
Option 3: Total lineup balance
LW
C
RW
Evan Rodrigues
Jack Eichel
Sam Reinhart
Jeff Skinner
Casey Mittelstadt
Jason Pominville
Conor Sheary
Patrik Berglund
Kyle Okposo
Vladimir Sobotka
Zemgus Girgensons
Tage Thompson
It may shock some to see Evan Rodrigues on the top line, but he and Eichel had great chemistry as linemates at Boston University and have played together on occasion in the NHL. Having both Sheary and Kyle Okposo on the third line creates excellent scoring depth.
Option 4: Offensive duos
LW
C
RW
Jeff Skinner
Jack Eichel
Tage Thompson
Patrik Berglund
Casey Mittelstadt
Sam Reinhart
Conor Sheary
Vladimir Sobotka
Kyle Okposo
Evan Rodrigues
Zemgus Girgensons
Jason Pominville
Each of these four lines has two offensive-minded players. Thompson and his 6-foot-5 frame would get a glorious to chance to find some of his untapped offensive potential alongside Skinner and Eichel. The versatile Berglund would be able to provide defensive support to Mittelstadt. Sobotka is probably better suited for the wing but is more than capable of centering this third line.
Option 5: Ease Mittelstadt in
LW
C
RW
Casey Mittelstadt
Jack Eichel
Sam Reinhart
Jeff Skinner
Patrik Berglund
Kyle Okposo
Vladimir Sobotka
Tage Thompson
Conor Sheary
Evan Rodrigues
Zemgus Girgensons
Jason Pominville
It's important to remember Mittelstadt is still a teenager, and it's possible he could struggle with the defensive responsibilities of a center in his first season. Starting a career on the wing isn't uncommon, and it would allow the Sabres to form an exciting top trio. Berglund, Sobotka, and Thompson are all capable of centering, but Thompson gets the call down the middle in this lineup.
Jeff Skinner isn't afraid of the harsh Buffalo winters.
Skinner, who was dealt to the Sabres on Thursday, waived a full no-movement clause to approve the trade to head to Western New York.
"It excited us that Jeff had a full no-trade - and he came to Buffalo," Sabres general manager Jason Botterill said, according to NHL.com's Mike Zeisberger. "You want guys that want to play in your city."
The fact that Skinner wants to play in Buffalo could increase the possibility of the forward signing a long-term extension with the Sabres. He's set to become an unrestricted free agent at season's end, though Botterill says there have been no initial talks with Skinner and his camp, Zeisberger adds.
Skinner agreeing to the trade was no spur-of-the-moment decision either, as moving closer to his hometown of Toronto was always a priority.
"Buffalo was always a team high on his list," Hurricanes general manager Don Waddell said regarding Skinner relocating closer to home, per theScore's John Matisz.
The Carolina Hurricanes have traded forward Jeff Skinner to the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for forward Cliff Pu, a 2019 second-round pick, a 2020 third-round pick, and a 2020 sixth-round pick, the team announced Thursday.
Skinner is entering the final year of his contract, which carries a $5.725-million cap hit, and will be an unrestricted free agent next summer.
The former seventh-overall pick is coming off a slightly down season offensively last year, collecting 24 goals and 49 points. However, he did set a career-high with 93 takeaways - good enough for second in the NHL.
The 26-year-old is just one year removed from a career-high 37-goal season, in which he also recorded a career-high 63 points.
