I'm excited to have 3 to make the list. Hopefully with a successful TDL, Offseason, and Draft. We can not only have more good prospects, but also build a solid team for next season, while having some prospects who could contribute in future seasons.

Checking if I understand NHL salary retention rules.

After this season ends, EK is owed $16.5M over 2 seasons; however, $5M of that is a signing bonus next year. So if the Pens (plus SJ paying its retained part) pay that on July 1, then EK is only owed $11.5M from that point to the end of his contract with $1.5M being paid by SJ (leaving $10M).

If a 3rd team were to be involved in a trade at that point and retain the max 50% remaining, they would pay $5M total over 2 seasons but their retained cap hit would be $5M each year, hence $10M total.

Is this correct?

If so, this should be the kind of deal that cap-floor teams would love to make because they save $5M in real money.
- MickV

Yes. EK has a 5 million signing bonus and 6 million the following year. His base salary is only 4 million next season and 1.5 the following year.

A cap floor team would like this but which cap floor team is left? Who wants to waste assets on this? EK would get a better deal at the deadline if it's possible to work the deal.
Off season after the signing bonus would also garner interest.

I'm excited to have 3 to make the list. Hopefully with a successful TDL, Offseason, and Draft. We can not only have more good prospects, but also build a solid team for next season, while having some prospects who could contribute in future seasons.
- 123Kid

I was super excited about Tanner Howe too, he is not the same player when not playing with Bedard, but I am still hopeful he can put it all together and be a player for us eventually.

Ominously missing from this list is Murashov, he is our top prospect if you ask me.

We will certainly have one top notch prospect to add to the cupboard, hopefully two. The Rangers are doing what we need to have their pick this year. They are obviously going to go hard in the offseason, so having a #14-20 will be much more valuable than waiting until next year.

The McGroaty trade was an unforced error. I am super high on Yager, but surprised to see him so high. He hasn't taken over and completely dominated the WHL but he is still producing at an elite level. He is going to be a good player in the NHL but maybe McGroaty figures it out too.

If Brunicke hadn't been injured he would be WAY higher. Not having a great year on a very bad team. I'd like them to bring him up for a few games to give him a taste before the off-season. Might be a bad idea, but feeling the speed of the NHL game might help him figure out what parts of his game to work on.
- MacPatty

You can't bring players up from juniors unless there is some emergency need, which won't happen.

Yes. EK has a 5 million signing bonus and 6 million the following year. His base salary is only 4 million next season and 1.5 the following year.

A cap floor team would like this but which cap floor team is left? Who wants to waste assets on this? EK would get a better deal at the deadline if it's possible to work the deal.
Off season after the signing bonus would also garner interest.
- Aaron_85

Well problem with a cap floor team is that Karlsson has a NTC, so he isnt going to go anywhere he doesnt think has a chance of winning in the next couple of years.

Ottawa clearly makes the most sense given they are always cash conscious. I think it could happen at the deadline but if it doesnt and Ottawa misses the playoffs, I think there is a high degree of probability that you could see some kind of Karlsson trade for Norris or Chabot.

Norris is due $9.5M per year vs his $8M salary cap hit for the next few years. All salary.
Chabot the same situation, owed $10M per year vs his $8M cap hit. All salary.

Karlsson is owed like $16.5M vs his $23M cap hit and if traded after the signing bonus that goes down to 11.5M for the two years. Thats a massive swing to go from Norris at $42.6M over 5 years to $11.5M in real cash. Not to mention the bump of bringing back their old captain.

Norris for Karlsson straight up in the offseason seems like an obvious play, but I still think there is a reasonable chance he is traded this week.

Yes. EK has a 5 million signing bonus and 6 million the following year. His base salary is only 4 million next season and 1.5 the following year.

A cap floor team would like this but which cap floor team is left? Who wants to waste assets on this? EK would get a better deal at the deadline if it's possible to work the deal.
Off season after the signing bonus would also garner interest.
- Aaron_85

Right, that was my point. Offseason after the bonus is paid, cap floor teams, whoever that is next year, should have interest since they could save real money vs cap hit. They can sell the cap space for some picks and facilitate a trade of EK to a contender at a reduced cap hit.

You can't bring players up from juniors unless there is some emergency need, which won't happen.
- MickV

I thought you could after the Jr season? Was just thinking for a couple game run prior to the playoffs. His team sucks so he will not be in the playoffs in the WHL.

I was super excited about Tanner Howe too, he is not the same player when not playing with Bedard, but I am still hopeful he can put it all together and be a player for us eventually.

Ominously missing from this list is Murashov, he is our top prospect if you ask me.

We will certainly have one top notch prospect to add to the cupboard, hopefully two. The Rangers are doing what we need to have their pick this year. They are obviously going to go hard in the offseason, so having a #14-20 will be much more valuable than waiting until next year.
- MacPatty

A lot of prospect lists don't use goalies. Wheeler has a separate list and Murashov is 16, Blomqvist 17. I do think lack of competition hurts Murashov and he has the ability to shoot up. Blomqvist was an all-star at the AHL level at the same age even if he's struggled a bit this year.

Howe I had as our #2 forward going into the year. Looking more like a middle six or maybe bottom six skill wise, but the grit should play.

Agree on the Rangers. That pick could contend for our #2 prospect, behind whoever we pick first this year.

I'm excited to have 3 to make the list. Hopefully with a successful TDL, Offseason, and Draft. We can not only have more good prospects, but also build a solid team for next season, while having some prospects who could contribute in future seasons.
- 123Kid

Pieniemi seems a little high. Would most people even put him in our top 5? I agree with Matt, that site doesn't have the best reputation. I do hope he turns pro though, has a chance, just don't think he's a current top 100 prospect.

I thought you could after the Jr season? Was just thinking for a couple game run prior to the playoffs. His team sucks so he will not be in the playoffs in the WHL.
- MacPatty

I'm not sure actually what happens when the CHL season ends. I don't recall seeing players come up that weren't at the end of their junior age careers, but maybe it can happen. There isn't much time though before the NHL season ends.

New blog

Lol at the comments about Accairi. This guy is so out of touch with hockey.