Current:Home > ContactCan Panthers, Oilers keep their teams together? Plenty of contracts are expiring. -TradeGrid
Can Panthers, Oilers keep their teams together? Plenty of contracts are expiring.
View
Date:2025-04-14 06:47:04
The Florida Panthers have won their first NHL championship in their third trip to the Stanley Cup Final.
The Edmonton Oilers hope the future is bright after reaching the championship round for the first time in the Connor McDavid era and pushing back from a 3-0 deficit to force Game 7.
Can they keep their teams together?
The recent champion Tampa Bay Lightning and Colorado Avalanche showed that's more difficult in the salary cap era. But this year's finalists will benefit from the salary cap rising from $83.5 million to $88 million.
Here are the decisions that await the Panthers and Oilers:
What's next for the Florida Panthers?
The big offseason questions will be unrestricted free agent forward Sam Reinhart and defenseman Brandon Montour.
Reinhart, 28, had a career year with 57 goals, had 10 more in the playoffs and works well with Aleksander Barkov. He's due a big raise from this season's $6.5 million but might need to take a slight hometown discount.
Montour, 30, had 73 points in 2022-23 but dropped to 33 after offseason shoulder surgery. He's a coveted right-shot defenseman, but Gustav Forsling appears to have supplanted him as the top blue liner and just got an extension.
Other pending unrestricted free agent defensemen are offseason signees Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Dmitry Kulikov. Aaron Ekblad is entering the final year of his contract.
Among the forwards, trade deadline acquisition Vladimir Tarasenko is on a one-year deal. He has a Florida home and has been a good fit on the third line. Kyle Okposo, also acquired at the deadline, won his first Cup at 36. There are other bottom six forwards on the UFA list.
Anton Lundell is a restricted free agent, and Sam Bennett and Carter Verhaeghe have one year left.
Goalie Sergei Bobrovsky had two more years on his contract. Backup goalie Anthony Stolarz is unrestricted. Spencer Knight, who didn't play in the NHL this season, is in the system.
What's next for the Edmonton Oilers?
No. 2 scorer Leon Draisaitl is heading into his final season and is eligible for an extension. Connor McDavid has two years left on his deal and forwards Zach Hyman, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Evander Kane are signed beyond next season.
Defenseman Evan Bouchard, who has emerged as the Oilers' top defenseman, is eligible for an extension. He'll be a restricted free agent at the end of next season. Philip Broberg, who took big strides in the playoffs, is restricted.
The Oilers have a long list of UFAs. including their impressive third line of Mattias Janmark, Connor Brown and Adam Henrique. Warren Foegele, who had a four-game point streak in the final, is unrestricted, and Dylan Holloway is restricted.
Goalie Stuart Skinner has two years left on his deal at an inexpensive $2.6 million cap hit. The Oilers need to make a decision on veteran goalie Jack Campbell, who spent most of the season in the American Hockey League. Calvin Pickard is unrestricted.
veryGood! (2)
Related
- New Zealand official reverses visa refusal for US conservative influencer Candace Owens
- It Took This Coal Miner 14 Years to Secure Black Lung Benefits. How Come?
- Dr. Dre to receive inaugural Hip-Hop Icon Award from music licensing group ASCAP
- ESPN's Shaka Hislop recovering after collapsing on air before Real Madrid-AC Milan match
- The city of Chicago is ordered to pay nearly $80M for a police chase that killed a 10
- Thor Actor Ray Stevenson's Marvel Family Reacts to His Death
- Lily-Rose Depp Makes Rare Comment About Dad Johnny Depp Amid Each of Their Cannes Premieres
- These Senators Tried to Protect the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge from Drilling. They Failed.
- Where will Elmo go? HBO moves away from 'Sesame Street'
- Germany’s Clean Energy Shift Transformed Industrial City of Hamburg
Ranking
- 'Most Whopper
- Her job is to care for survivors of sexual assault. Why aren't there more like her?
- It's never too late to explore your gender identity. Here's how to start
- American Idol’s Just Sam Is Singing at Subway Stations Again 3 Years After Winning Show
- Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Triathlon
- North Dakota's governor has signed a law banning nearly all abortions
- In Oklahoma, a woman was told to wait until she's 'crashing' for abortion care
- FAMU clears football activities to resume after unauthorized rap video in locker room
Recommendation
John Galliano out at Maison Margiela, capping year of fashion designer musical chairs
Angela Paxton, state senator and wife of impeached Texas AG Ken Paxton, says she will attend his trial
How to say goodbye to someone you love
Some state lawmakers say Tennessee expulsions highlight growing tensions
Alex Murdaugh’s murder appeal cites biased clerk and prejudicial evidence
Her job is to care for survivors of sexual assault. Why aren't there more like her?
Pandemic hits 'stop button,' but for some life is forever changed
Summer House Reunion: It's Lindsay Hubbard and Carl Radke vs. Everyone Else in Explosive Trailer