Author: George Malik

The Athletic’s Mark Lazerus and Scott Powers spoke with Chicago Blackhawks GM Stan Bowman regarding the team’s decision to allow three unrestricted free agents (Vinnie Hinostroza, David Kampf and Pius Suter) test the UFA waters last week, and Bowman revealed that the Hawks did try to keep all three players, but Chicago was hampered in its pursuit by its proximity to the salary cap’s upper limit:

The Blackhawks did try to re-sign Vinnie Hinostroza, David Kampf and Pius Suter. All three players were made offers by the Blackhawks, and all three rejected those offers and tested free agency.

“Most of those decisions were primarily salary-cap related,” Bowman said. “We wanted to bring these players back. You negotiate with their agents and looking at where the numbers were as far as where we felt comfortable paying them and where they were looking in the market. There wasn’t really a match. When that happens, the players find roles elsewhere. That’s not that uncommon to have forwards move from team to team.

“We certainly made an attempt to keep them here but at the same time, I think some change is good for our forward group and I think looking forward, I like the look of our team right now and the players we have. We’ve got a fair amount of talent.”

Kampf signed a two-year contract with a $1.5 million cap hit with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Hinostroza joined the Buffalo Sabres on a one-year, $1.05 million contract. Suter signed the biggest deal as he agreed to a two-year contract with a $3.25 million cap hit with the Detroit Red Wings.

Continued (paywall) with mostly Hawks stuff; it’s nice to be the team with cap space to poach a young player from a historic rival once or twice…

Sportsnet’s Luke Fox examines the respective contract situations of 10 restricted free agents this morning, and Red Wings RFA Filip Hronek, who did not have arbitration rights, ranks highly on his list:

7. Filip Hronek
Age: 23
Position: Defence
2020-21 salary cap hit: $714,166
Arbitration rights: No

Bargaining chips: 2017 Calder Cup champ. 2019 Red Wings rookie of the year. Team Czech staple who won Best Defenceman at 2019 worlds. Puck-moving, right-shot defenceman yet to reach his ceiling. Led team in points (26) and assists (24) this season. Logs 23:23 per game. Improved discipline and defensively during platform year.

The latest: Fantasy managers know: Hronek is that rare Red Wing worth hanging onto, even during the mighty franchise’s patient rebuild.

“A year from now, Filip Hronek’s up and we’ll extend his contract,” promised GM Steve Yzerman back in October, during an appearance on 97.1 The Ticket.

As recently as the 2021 trade deadline, when he dealt away Mantha, Yzerman highlighted Hronek as a core member of a roster he’s slowly building back to prominence.

Detroit is flush with cap space, so Hronek should surface this summer with more term than any of his teammates. Yzerman was prudent in managing his internal cap in Tampa, so the bar he sets with Hronek will be one worth watching.

Continued; I’d gather that Hronek will sign a bridge deal in the $3 million range, but that’s just an educated guess at this point.

The Athletic’s Dom Luszczyszyn offers a list of the teams which he believes have improved the most over the course of the short 2021-2022 offseason, and the Red Wings rank highly on his list, not only for their additions, but also their subtractions:

From New Jersey to Arizona, a look at which teams have improved the most and least this offseason: https://t.co/iAxfddJCA6 pic.twitter.com/wBIKnn3rDA— dom at the athletic (@domluszczyszyn) August 5, 2021

7. Detroit Red Wings

Wins Added: 2.2 wins

Salary Added: $5.8 million

In: Alex Nedeljkovic, Pius Suter, Nick Leddy, Jordan Oesterle, Mitchell Stephens

Out: Jonathan Bernier, Richard Panik, Dennis Cholowski, Luke Glendening, Darren Helm

One massive addition is driving Detroit’s standing here and that’s potential goalie of the future Alex Nedeljkovic. He was lights out in 23 games last season and Carolina’s loss is Detroit’s gain between the pipes. There isn’t a lot of data to go off, but based on what he’s shown to date (and a heavy dose of regression) the model is a big fan of Nedeljkovic. He’s projected to be a pretty sizeable upgrade over Jonathan Bernier.

The rest isn’t much, but they’re all upgrades to the team’s depth. Nick Leddy had a nice bounce-back last season and provides a boost to Detroit’s defence, while Pius Suter proved in his rookie season he can be a responsible middle-six center. In addition by subtraction news, losing Luke Glendening and Darren Helm also helps.

Continued (paywall)

Knocking the contracts out, one at a time: the Red Wings have re-signed Chase Pearson to a one-year deal after a spectacular season with the Grand Rapids Griffins:

UPDATE: The #RedWings today re-signed center Chase Pearson to a one-year contract. pic.twitter.com/iata8K7ADx— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) August 5, 2021

Here’s the press release:

In the I-Wish-I-Could-Embed-This department:

Kukla’s Korner posted a video that TSN aired regarding Sebastian Cossa’s tendency to “chirp” his teammates and rivals; digging around on TSN today, I found another video in which TSN’s Mark Masters and Craig Button praise Cossa’s abilities in goal, and suggest that the Red Wings prospect (who they list at 6’7!”) is poised to be dominant in this year’s World Junior Championship in Edmonton.

Paul Kukla of Kukla’s Korner posted an article in which Streamable’s Michael King revealed that Bally Sports has to renew its rights to broadcast NHL and NBA games…

Sinclair President and CEO Chris Ripley said during the company’s 2Q 2021 Earnings Call on Wednesday that the company remains committed to launching a direct-to-consumer Bally Sports App in the first half of 2022, but they have another streaming deal to worry about.

Ripley said streaming rights for the NBA and NHL on the Bally RSNs were up for renewal in the coming months. These are to continue offering TV Everywhere access via the Bally Sports App.

Despite this, he was confident of Sinclair’s position, pointing out that they are the only bidder in place for the digital rights for the two leagues.

“You know we are the only buyer for those, you know, there is no one else they can be sold to,” Ripley said. “So, we have a relatively good position.”

And The Athletic’s Daniel Kaplan revealed that Bally Sports plans on advertising in-game sports betting via its Bally Sports App within the next year or two:

If there was a disappointing prospect among the Red Wings’ seven skaters at the World Junior Summer Showcase last week, William Wallinder underwhelmed despite playing a strong season with MODO Hockey of the Swedish Allsvenskan.

Wallinder, a 6’4,” 190-pound defenseman, is headed to Rogle BK to help fill the void left by Moritz Seider as the Wings’ best defensive prospect returns to North America; when Team Sweden coach Tomas Monten spoke with the assembled media last week, he discussed the fact that Rogle’s expectations of Wallinder will be very high, as Detroit Hockey Now’s Kevin Allen noted:

“He is real talented,” said Sweden Junior coach Tomas Monten. “The thing for him going forward is to grow up as a man, strength-wise. He’s big, but he’s a little light.”

He’s listed at 193 pounds. “He has the skating,” Monten said. “He has the technical stuff, just getting bigger, stronger and more mature from playing against men and playing against pros.”

Wallander played for Modo last season, registering six points in 43 games. He’s moving to a better team, Rogle, this season. “He’s going to an organization where the demands are very high,” Monten said.

Wallinder’s going to be stepping up from the Allsvenskan to the SHL, Sweden’s best league, and while he looked like a bit of a jumble of skill and elite skating last week, everyone who’s watched him believes that he has the skill set to become a top-four defenseman, assuming he gets his game in order:

Former Red Wings forward Darren Helm held a conference call with the Colorado Avalanche’s media corps today, and the Denver Post’s Mike Chambers spoke with Helm about his decision to leave the Red Wings’ organization after 14 years:

Helm hoisted the Cup at age 21, and after 14 seasons with the Red Wings, he hopes to hoist it again next summer at age 35.

“My first year, it was a great experience. Loved every part of it,” Helm said Wednesday on a Zoom call.  “We missed another opportunity in ’09 and then it’s been a cold drought for the last (12) years. Really looking forward to (being) part of this team.”

Helm signed a one-year contract worth $1 million last Thursday with the Avs, a day after free agency began. He’ll likely step in on the fourth line and serve as a primary penalty killer, effectively replacing Pierre-Edouard Bellemare, 36, who signed a two-year, $2 million deal with Tampa Bay last week.

Helm’s 744 career regular-season games with Detroit rank 17th-most for the Original Six franchise.

“Mixed emotions. Been here for a long time,” Helm said about leaving Detroit — likely for just one year. “I’ve raised a family here. I’m sure this will be home for my family when we’re done. (But) when I heard the news that everything had happened (with Colorado), I was extremely excited. Just really looking forward to playing with the Avs and being on a contending team.”

Continued

Per the Grand Rapids Griffins’ Twitter account:

UPDATE: The Griffins have re-signed Tyler Spezia to a one-year AHL contract. #GoGRG

More Info >> https://t.co/WjAbHqw4Q5 pic.twitter.com/glurTo051o

— Grand Rapids Griffins (@griffinshockey) August 4, 2021

From the Toledo Blade’s Mark Monroe:

The Toledo Walleye have re-signed Marcus Vela, a forward who appeared in 49 games for the team in 2019-2020.

Vela finished with 12 goals and 13 assists for 25 points with the Walleye as a rookie.

The 24-year-old from Burnaby, B.C. played last season for the Florida Everblades after the Walleye opted out. He appeared in 29 games, producing nine points with five goals and four assists.

Toledo coach Dan Watson said Vela brings versatility to the team.

“He has the ability to play up and down the lineup, both center and wing as well,” Watson said. “Marcus adds value off the ice with his preparation and willingness to get better each day. He gained valuable experience playing last season in Florida and we look forward to working with him again.”

Continued