All Eyes Will Be on the Sunshine State
There can be a variety of downtime between the Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers earlier than the 2024 Stanley Cup Last begins on Saturday, June eighth.
However the Sunshine State of Florida will take heart stage this offseason with these identical Panthers and the Tampa Bay Lightning. There are a number of enticing free brokers for each groups this summer time. First, let’s begin with the Japanese Convention Champion Florida Panthers.
NHL Rumors: Florida Panthers Wish to Maintain Sam Reinhart Lengthy-Time period
Probably the most coveted free brokers, Sam Reinhart, can be a goal for a lot of groups this summer time. Reinhart completed the common season with 57 targets. We all know he desires to stay with the Panthers, and the workforce desires him.
GM Invoice Zito prolonged Gustav Forsling and Jonah Gadjovic in the course of the season. Forsling’s cap hit of $5.75 million is a steal. Reinhart can be in search of a pay increase however understands the match is there with Florida. He feels comfy in Paul Maurice’s system and sees essentially the most success in his profession.
The identical goes for defenseman Brandon Montour. The benefit of no state tax will assist as effectively. Each may get slightly low cost in comparison with what they may get on the open market, particularly Reinhart.
NHL Rumors: Florida Panthers, and the Montreal Canadiens
In line with CapFriendly.com, Reinhart makes $6.5 million; there may be hypothesis that he make round $9 million AAV on his subsequent contract, which is a pleasant soar for him. However once more, it helps that the wage cap goes up.
Nevertheless, Aleksander Barkov counts $10 million in opposition to the cap, whereas Matthew Tkachuk counts $9.5 million. It is going to be fascinating to see if Zito tries to maintain Reinhart beneath that quantity, particularly with different gamers needing to be signed, together with Vladimir Tarasenko, Montour, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Dmitry Kulikov, and the crop of their backside six forwards.
Along with the UFAs, restricted free agent Anton Lundell can be eligible for an extension on July 1, together with 2025 unrestricted free brokers Carter Verhaeghe, Sam Bennett, and Aaron Ekblad are eligible for extensions.
Transferring north to Tampa, the Lightning need to take care of Steven Stamkos. The fireplace that began initially of the season, when Stamkos was disillusioned there have been no extension talks, has diminished.
NHL Rumors: Lightning To Handle Steven Stamkos and Victor Hedman This Summer season
The Lightning need him to remain, and Stamkos intends to remain. Lightning GM Julien BriseBois acquired the band again collectively by re-acquiring Ryan McDonagh.
The Lightning had been up in opposition to the wage cap, so there have been no Stamkos extension talks final summer time. Nevertheless, this summer time, the Lightning solely have $5 million in cap area to signal Stamkos to an extension. A participant or two might need to be moved out to make the {dollars} work, even when Stamkos had been to take a hometown low cost.
NHL Rumors: Victor Hedman, Anthony Duclair, Matt Dumba, and Jon Cooper
The final time Stamkos was a free agent, he signed within the eleventh hour; this might get executed sooner. Particularly with gamers Matt Dumba and probably Anthony Duclair, they weren’t returning to the Lightning subsequent season.
In fact, there may be defenseman Victor Hedman. He’s eligible for an extension on July 1. It is going to be fascinating to see how the Lightning deal with Hedman, however the precedence is Stamkos.
