Krug became eligible to ink an extension on July 1, but the Bruins need to address the contracts of fellow defensemen Charlie McAvoy and Brandon Carlo. Both youngsters are currently restricted free agents and training camp is set to open next week.
The lack of extension negotiations doesn't mean Krug and the Bruins won't eventually find common ground. In July, general manager Don Sweeney said it would take a "unique opportunity" to trade away the defender, who's developed into a core piece for the team.
Additionally, following a loss in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final, Krug said he wants to stay in Boston forever.
Krug will have a $5.25-million cap hit in 2019-20, the final season of a four-year deal signed in 2016. He should be in line for a considerable raise whenever he puts pen to paper, as he ranks fifth among all defensemen with 163 points in 221 games since inking the contract.
The Carolina Hurricanes youngster, who's taken boxing lessons for the past few years, was asked who the best pound-for-pound boxer in the world is. Rather than choosing a professional fighter, he quickly went with Ovechkin, according to ABC 11's Mark Armstrong.
Svechnikov knows better than anyone not to trifle with the Washington Captials legend, as the two fought in Game 3 of their first-round playoff series in April. It didn't go well for the rookie.
The 2019-20 fantasy hockey season is fast approaching, and after a summer filled with roster moves throughout the NHL, it's important to keep tabs on all the new faces in new places as you gear up for your draft.
With that in mind, here are four players set to excel on their new teams.
P.K. Subban, D, Devils
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One of the more offensive-minded blue-liners in the league should be able to flex those tendencies even more with the burgeoning New Jersey Devils. Subban battled injuries during 2018-19 and finished with his lowest points per game total since 2011-12, a mark he'll surely be hungry to redeem.
The Devils' 21st-ranked power play last season wasn't disastrous for an offensively thin team already without its best player, Taylor Hall, for the majority of the season. In 2019-20, Subban will likely quarterback a man advantage that will feature a combination of talented options, including Hall, Jack Hughes, Wayne Simmonds, Nico Hischier, Kyle Palmieri, and Nikita Gusev.
Subban's always been confident with the puck on his stick, and his ability to move it efficiently is something the Devils' blue line has lacked. The 6-foot rearguard is in the 95th percentile among defensemen in possession zone exits per 60 minutes over the last three campaigns. Combined with the Devils' added speed and skill at forward and a healthy Hall, Subban's ability should help the team's attack off the rush.
Alex Galchenyuk, C/LW, Penguins
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Galchenyuk recorded his poorest statistical output last season since his sophomore campaign. However, he still amassed 19 goals and 41 points for the Arizona Coyotes while playing predominantly with up-and-comer Clayton Keller and rookie winger Conor Garland.
A fresh start with the Pittsburgh Penguins offers the former third overall pick a new world of opportunity.
Nick Bjugstad will likely occupy the third-line center role, which means Galchenyuk should find himself alongside either Evgeni Malkin or Sidney Crosby, two premier-level talents that the 25-year-old has never had the privilege of playing with. Galchenyuk - who's totaled nine power-play goals in three of the last four seasons - should also have an opportunity to play a valuable role on the Penguins' man advantage.
He may not have the ability to drive a line on his own, but when aligned with talented running mates, Galchenyuk possesses the raw talent to be very effective.
Kevin Shattenkirk, D, Lightning
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Shattenkirk was on pace for 41 points in his first campaign with the New York Rangers in 2017-18 before sustaining a season-ending injury in January. The 31-year-old struggled to reinsert himself as a top-pair option the following season, but he also wasn't put in a great position to do so.
In 2018-19, he was most frequently paired with Frederick Claeson, who's at best a bottom-pair rearguard in the NHL. On the Tampa Bay Lightning, Shattenkirk is one of two regular right-shot options on the blue line, and thus could find himself playing alongside Victor Hedman. Veteran Ryan McDonagh, who's still a far stronger overall player than Claeson, could also be a potential partner.
Shattenkirk will also get the opportunity to do some damage on the power play. The 6-foot defenseman possesses a heavy shot and ranks fifth in power-play points and seventh in goals at his position since 2011-12.
The veteran also brings the banger stats. Shattenkirk ranked third on the Rangers last season in blocked shots and hovers right around one hit per game for his career. If you're concerned about plus/minus, no Lightning defenseman finished as a minus last season, and none of their top-four blue-liners finished lower than a plus-12.
James Neal, LW/RW, Oilers
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Sometimes NHL fans and pundits can have an extremely short memory. Neal's been written off by many after a forgettable 2018-19 season with the Calgary Flames, but the 31-year-old hit the 20-goal mark in each of his previous 10 NHL campaigns.
Last season, Neal recorded the fourth-worst shooting percentage among forwards with a minimum of 100 shots on goal with a mark of 5% - less than half his career average of 11.6%. The Ontario native also logged the least amount of average ice time of his career and was limited in power-play opportunities.
The Edmonton Oilers offer Neal a chance at redemption. He'll likely find himself in the team's top-six forward group to start the year and should get a chance to prove himself as a scoring threat playing alongside the world's top talent in Connor McDavid or, at worst, a 69-point man in Ryan Nugent-Hopkins.
Neal spent most of the 2018-19 season on the Flames' third line paired predominantly with center Mark Jankowski, whose below-average career assist rate of 0.79 per 60 minutes pales in comparison to McDavid's ridiculous mark of 2.37.
Advanced stats courtesy of NaturalStatTrick, A3Z tool by CJ Torturo
Donald Fehr says it's essentially status quo after the NHLPA met Wednesday night in Chicago, and the notion of postponing the union's opt-out deadline hasn't been broached, according to TSN's Pierre LeBrun.
The NHLPA's executive director said no decisions were made or were scheduled to be made at the meeting of the group's executive board, according to TSN's Frank Seravalli.
However, Fehr added it was a good conversation and more CBA discussions with the NHL would be upcoming, according to LeBrun.
He added that the two sides are scheduled to resume talks Friday in New York.
Fehr said the players haven't decided whether to opt out of the current CBA and that Sept. 15 is a "soft deadline," according to Postmedia's Michael Traikos.
The NHLPA has until that date to reopen the CBA if it desires. Last week, when the NHL declined to exercise its own right to do so, it was reported that there was a possibility the Sept. 15 deadline could be moved if momentum continued in discussions between the league and the union.
Approximately 50 people - including the executive board and several other players - attended the meeting, according to The Associated Press' Stephen Whyno.
"We chatted a little bit throughout the last couple weeks and throughout the summer," he said. "It's just kind of the process of how it goes. You've been through contract negotiations, so you know how it works."
Morrissey is entering the final season of a two-year, $6.3-million bridge deal he signed last September. The 24-year-old was limited to just 59 games in 2018-19 due to injury but still managed to post a career-high 31 points while averaging 22:24 minutes per night.
He's adamant about being with the team for years to come.
"I've always maintained I want to be a Jet and I want to play here in Winnipeg," Morrissey said. "I would love to get something done. As a player, you want to go through the process and handle it the right way. I would love to play here throughout my career. We’ll see what happens."
With Jacob Trouba's departure and Dustin Byfuglien now in his mid-30s, Morrissey is expected to take on a greater role on the Jets' blue line this season.
While locking in Morrissey would certainly be a boon for the Jets, general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff has more immediate business to take care of. Patrik Laine and Kyle Connor are both restricted free agents, and the Jets have a projected $16.15 million in remaining cap space to sign the duo, according to CapFriendly.
Marleau's agent, Pat Brisson, told Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman on Wednesday that the fit is not there between the player and team. However, he said Marleau still wants to play and will pursue other opportunities around the league.
The Toronto Maple Leafs traded Marleau this summer to the Carolina Hurricanes, who proceeded to buy him out. Marleau waived his no-trade clause to allow the move with the expressed intent on returning home to the west coast.
Marleau, 39, hasn't missed a game since the 2008-09 campaign, but he tallied just 16 goals with the Leafs last season, which was his lowest total since his rookie year in 1997-98.
The Sharks have $4.68 million in projected cap space, according to CapFriendly. They're still expected to bring back Joe Thornton, who remains a UFA.
