NHL Atlantic

The Tampa Bay Lightning enter the 2023-24 season without star goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy due to injury, and now the franchise faces questions about how they will replace him.

Vasilevskiy underwent surgery to repair a lumbar disc herniation in his back and is expected to miss the first two months of the regular season.

That leaves Tampa Bay with Jonas Johansson, Matt Tomkins and Hugo Alnefelt in the crease, which is not ideal for a team with championship aspirations. The trio has combined for just 36 career NHL games, with Johansson having appeared in 35 games across four seasons and Alnefelt having appeared in one game for the Lightning during the 2021-22 campaign.

The Lightning can't afford to have a mediocre goaltending tandem to begin the year as the Atlantic Division playoff race is expected to be closer than it has been in the last few seasons.

That said, The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun noted on Sept. 28 that "everything is on the table" for the Lightning in terms of their goaltending situation. So, let's take a look at a few potential trade candidates with the regular season right around the corner.

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Daniel Vladar, Calgary Flames

Flames goaltender Daniel Vladar has 55 games of NHL experience under his belt and he is considered one of the top up and coming goaltenders in the NHL after two seasons in Calgary.

However, Vladar's name has circulated in trade rumors this offseason as the Flames also have Jacob Markstrom and Dustin Wolf available in the blue paint. Those rumors have led to speculation about whether or not Vladar could be an option for the Lightning.

At first glance, Vladar would be a solid option for the Bolts. During the 2022-23 season, he posted a 14-6-5 record with a 2.87 goals-against average and .894 save percentage in 27 games (23 starts). His save percentage wasn't great, but there's plenty of room for growth with the 26-year-old.

While Vladar should most definitely be an option for the Lightning, there are some issues the organization would have to tackle in any move for the netminder.

Tampa Bay has minimal cap space and while it will get relief by putting Vasilevskiy and his $9.5 million average annual value on injured reserve, it likely wouldn't have room to accommodate Vladar's $2.2 million cap hit once the veteran returns to the lineup.

The Lightning could try to trade one of Johansson, Tomkins or Alnefelt, but that alone wouldn't clear enough cap space for the team to pursue a trade for Vladar and they would likely have to part ways with additional assets.

So while Vladar seems to be an option, it's important to keep in mind that the Bolts have a few hoops to jump through if they hope to bring him from Calgary to Tampa Bay.

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Cayden Primeau, Montreal Canadiens

Much like Vladar, Cayden Primeau's status with the Montreal Canadiens remains up in the air as the franchise already has Jake Allen and Samuel Montembeault on the roster.

Additionally, the Canadiens could end up losing Primeau for nothing if they opt not to carry three goaltenders on their roster in 2023-24, making him a prime trade candidate for a team like the Lightning.

Primeau has limited NHL experience, having appeared in 24 games across four seasons, and while he hasn't performed the best in his short stints in Montreal—3-12-2 record with a 4.11 goals-against average and .871 save percentage—he's just 24 years old and has plenty of upside.

Additionally, Primeau isn't nearly as expensive as Vladar. He boasts an $890,000 cap hit, which is something Tampa Bay could make work.

Primeau likely wouldn't serve as the Lighting's starting goaltender if acquired, but he could be a solid backup to Johansson.

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Louis Domingue, New York Rangers

The New York Rangers have a plethora of goaltenders available with Igor Shesterkin, Jonathan Quick and Louis Domingue, whom the Lightning are all too familiar with, on the roster.

Domingue spent a season and a half with the Bolts from 2017-19 and it's worth wondering whether Tampa Bay would be interested in bringing him back.

Quick is in line to be Shesterkin's backup, which means Domingue could be available, either via trade or on the waiver market ahead of the 2023-24 campaign.

Domingue was solid in his stint in Tampa Bay, appearing in 38 games for the Lightning as a backup to Vasilevskiy, posting a 28-8-1 record with a 2.88 goals-against average and .910 save percentage.

Since his days in Tampa, Domingue has suited up for the New Jersey Devils, Vancouver Canucks, Calgary Flames and most recently the Pittsburgh Penguins, with whom he spent the 2021-22 campaign.

Domingue spent the 2022-23 campaign in the AHL, but he has been respectable at the NHL level boasting a .905 save percentage in 142 career NHL games.

Additionally, Domingue only has a $775,000 cap hit, which would be easier for the Lightning to fit under the salary cap.

Given the familiarity with Domingue's game and his performance over the last several seasons, Tampa Bay could take a swing at the veteran as they continue to explore their options.

The Ottawa Senators do not want to trade restricted free agent Shane Pinto.

Pinto does not want to go anywhere else.

That has not been enough to bring the two sides together on a new deal, however, as the franchise and its 22 year old center remain apart on a new contract, per Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun.

"Both sides have reached a stalemate after discussions earlier this week and remains to be seen whether either will bend to try to get the 22-year-old Pinto signed to a deal to try to get him into camp in time to suit up for the club's final exhibition game against the Montreal Canadiens Saturday," Garrioch wrote.

Elliotte Friedman had previously reported that the team had offered Pinto a one-year, $1 million deal but it caused the gap between the sides to widen as the player is looking for a $2.5 million contract.

The team is hurting for salary cap room, with just $118,096 available as estimated by Spotrac.

Ottawa will likely have to field a roster smaller than most to make any deal with Pinto work but the fact that negotiations are ongoing suggests the team would be comfortable doing just that.

Pinto is not a starter for the Senators but he does provide valuable depth at center behind Josh Norris and Tim Stutzle. In 82 games for Ottawa a season ago, Pinto scored 20 goals and tacked on 15 assists and a shooting percentage of 12.7, showing flashes of the dynamic player he can be.

He is more a shooter and scorer than someone who is going to dish the puck to teammates. He is aggressive and attacks the goal, something teams want out of young players.

Taking his youth into consideration, not to mention the potential for growth as a player, it is not particularly surprising that the team would not be in a hurry to trade him. With that said, the start of the NHL season is rapidly approaching and if the team is going to get anything of substance in return for Pinto, it will be now.

Add to that the potential distraction the contract dispute becomes and you have two legitimate reasons to make a deal if it is determined the sides cannot come to an agreement.

Luckily, it appears as though the sides have made some leeway and may get a deal done at the final hour.

Garrioch added, "The belief is there was progress made on a two-year deal this week and if this going to get settled that's where the term will likely land."

Any setback, though, and the team must do what neither side wants: make a deal that would squash any long-term drama and give the Senators at least something in return for a player with plenty of potential to be the long-term future of the organization at his position.

The Ottawa Senators have a new owner for the first time since 2003.

The NHL Board of Governors unanimously approved the sale of the Senators to a group led by Michael Andlauer, per TSN's Pierre LeBrun.

The sale closed Thursday for $950 million, the highest price ever paid for an NHL team, according to the Ottawa Sun's Bruce Garrioch.

From the NHL as announced:

“The National Hockey League’s Board of Governors has unanimously approved the sale of the Ottawa Senators to Michael Andlauer. The transaction closed today.”

— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) September 21, 2023

The NHL agreed to sell the club to Andlauer's group on June 13, per Reuters. Andlauer also owns the OHL's Hamilton Bulldogs.

Andlauer, the fourth owner in Senators history, succeeds the late Eugene Melnyk. Melnyk's daughters will retain a 10 percent share in the franchise, per Garrioch.

Following Melnyk's death in March 2022 at age 62, his daughters Anna and Olivia placed the Senators on the market in November. One caveat for any buyer interested in purchasing the team was that they must agree to keep the team in Ottawa.

Andlauer's group presented one of four final bids considered by the Senators, per Garrioch. Andlauer reportedly won out thanks to his plans to build a new stadium for the Senators. The team has previously described moving closer to Ottawa's downtown as part of the Senators' "long-term vision."

Several of Andlauer's partners in the deal are Ottawa-based businesspeople, including Jeff York, partner in Ottawa grocery chain Farm Boy and Sobey's, and the Malhotra family, owners of Ottawa real estate developer Claridge Homes, according to Garrioch.

That partnership with Claridge could help Andlauer put together plans for the new arena, according to The Athletic's Ian Mendes.

Andlauer was also previously part of a collective that purchased a 10 percent minority share of the Montreal Canadiens. He will have to divest those interests now that he is the majority owner of the Senators, per NHL rules, according to ESPN's Kristen Shilton. He is currently "working" to sell his share to Canadiens co-owner Geoff Molson, per Garrioch. Forbes' Mike Ozanian reported in June that Andlauer could make as much as $120 million from the sale.

Andlauer will now serve as managing partner of the Senators, where he plans to "be involved in the day-to-day operation of the franchise," according to Garrioch.

Steven Stamkos is a Tampa Bay Lightning legend, but he is "disappointed" the only NHL team he has ever known did not engage in contract discussions ahead of the final season on his current deal.

"I've been disappointed in the lack of talking," the center told reporters. "It was something that I expressed at the end of last year that I wanted to get something done before training camp started. There haven't been any conversations."

Captain Steven Stamkos said that he's "been disappointed" that the team didn't discuss with him a contract extension over the summer. #GoBolts pic.twitter.com/3UqU14MrKQ

— Kyle Burger (@kyle_burger) September 20, 2023

Stamkos will turn 34 years old in February and may no longer be at his playing peak, but he is still a franchise icon who has been productive in recent seasons.

It is somewhat surprising to see his status in limbo with the 2023-24 campaign approaching, but he did add that he is "ready whenever" the team wants to talk about his next contract and willing to have those discussions during the season.

Tampa Bay selected him with the No. 1 overall pick of the 2008 NHL entry draft, and he has more than lived up to the sky-high expectations that came with such a selection.

His resume includes two Stanley Cup titles, two Maurice Richard Trophies as the league's top goal scorer, a Mark Messier Leadership Award and seven All-Star Game selections. His most recent All-Star Game came in 2021-22 when he posted a career-best 106 points on 42 goals and 64 assists.

Stamkos then followed that effort up with 84 points on 34 goals and 50 assists last season.

Those two most recent campaigns indicate he is far from done when it comes to being a productive offensive force. His presence is a major reason the Lightning are coming off six consecutive playoff appearances during a stretch that includes two Stanley Cup titles and three appearances in the Stanley Cup Final.

Stamkos is arguably the best player in franchise history, and it is difficult to envision him in another uniform.

But that may become a reality if Tampa Bay does not engage him in contract discussions ahead of next offseason.

Carey Price had long known his days in the NHL were numbered, but the Montreal Canadiens goaltender confirmed Tuesday that his career in the league is likely over due to a nagging knee injury.

"Barring a miracle," Price said Tuesday, according to TSN. "I'm still under contract and I still hold on hope to the fact that maybe I could play again, but the probabilities are falling by the month."

After leading the Canadiens to the 2021 Stanley Cup Final—where they fell to the Tampa Bay Lightning—during the pandemic-shortened 2020-21 campaign, Price underwent surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his knee.

The 36-year-old returned to the Montreal lineup in April 2022 and appeared in just five games for the Habs to close out the 2021-22 season, posting a 1-4-0 record, 3.63 goals-against average and .878 save percentage.

Price missed the entire 2022-23 season and hasn't played since April 29, 2022.

Price admitted Tuesday that while he is recovered enough to live comfortably, his knee isn't able to handle the demands of a full NHL season, per Stu Cowan of the Montreal Gazette:

Honestly, on a day-to-day basis it feels really good. I come here towards the start of training camp and I feel like I can still go out there and wreak havoc. Honestly, on a day-to-day basis I feel really good. But when I do certain things on a consistent basis it's a very solid reminder that my knee's not in a position to take the brunt of a full season's workload. I still get a tremendous amount of swelling in it. For short periods of time I can do things that are strenuous.

The honest thing is right now, it's just not going to happen to take the stress of the goaltending position — it's not where it needs to be. So for now I'm just going to continue to try and rehab my knee to a position where it's fit for life in general.

Price is under contract with the Canadiens for three more seasons at $10.5 million per year. He'll likely spend the remainder of the deal on long-term injured reserve.

The Canadiens selected Price with the fifth overall pick in the 2005 draft. He was once considered one of the best goaltenders in the NHL, winning the Vezina and Hart trophies in 2014-15 after posting a 44-16-6 record, 1.96 goals-against average and .933 save percentage in 66 starts.

Price is one of two goaltenders since 2000 to win the Hart Trophy as the NHL's most valuable player, joining former Canadiens netminder José Théodore, who won it in 2001-02.

Price, who has spent his entire career with the Canadiens, has established franchise records in games played (712) and wins (361). He has posted a 361-261-79 record with 49 shutouts, a 2.51 goals-against average and .917 save percentage in 15 seasons.

The Canadiens will enter the 2023-24 season Jake Allen, Casey DeSmith and Sam Montembeault as the goaltenders on the roster.

Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe has been signed to a multi-year contract extension, the franchise announced Wednesday.

The extension is for two years, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.

Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving said in the announcement:

Since I've joined the Maple Leafs, I've been very impressed with Sheldon. He has shown great leadership skills with his staff and our players, and has a clear vision for this team and where it needs to get to. Sheldon has established himself as one of the top coaches in the league and I look forward to working alongside him as we head into the upcoming season.

Keefe added:

Coaching this team has been a great privilege, and I'm truly excited at the opportunity to continue building towards our ultimate goal. I'm thankful for the support from MLSE and its ownership along with Brendan Shanahan and Brad Treliving, who I've really enjoyed getting to know and work with this off-season. We have so many great players and people within our organization that I'm grateful to work with, and together our commitment to team success remains steadfast.

Keefe joined the Maple Leafs in June 2015 as head coach of their American Hockey League affiliate Toronto Marlies, leading the team to a Calder Cup championship in 2018 before being hired as head coach of the NHL club in November 2019.

The 42-year-old has coached the Maple Leafs to a 166-71-30 record in his four seasons and also led the team to single-season franchise records in wins (54) and points (115) during the 2021-22 campaign.

Toronto has a .622 winning percentage under Keefe, which ranks behind only the Boston Bruins, Colorado Avalanche and Carolina Hurricanes in that span.

However, the Maple Leafs are 13-17 in the postseason under Keefe despite boasting a highly talented roster that includes Austin Matthews, Mitchell Marner, John Tavares and William Nylander.

Toronto made it out of the first round last season for the first time since the 2003-04 season, but it suffered a disappointing second-round loss to the Florida Panthers in five games.

Given Keefe's extension, the Maple Leafs must feel he can be the guy to get them over the hump and into the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time since the 1966-67 season when they won their last title.

Six-time All-Star Auston Matthews has agreed to a contract extension with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

The team announced the extension is for four years.

FOUR MORE FOR THIRTY FOUR ⚪️🔵 pic.twitter.com/yL94Hf8Jag

— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) August 23, 2023

Matthews sent a message to fans on social media after the deal was announced:

I feel fortunate to continue this journey as a Maple Leaf in front of the best fans in hockey! I will do everything I can to help get us to the top of the mountain. GLG! #LeafsForever

— Auston Matthews (@AM34) August 23, 2023

Per Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet and NHL Network, the total value of Matthews' new four-year deal is $53 million ($13.25 million per season).

The extension makes Matthews the league's highest-paid player by average annual salary:

Four-year extension at US$13.25M for Auston Matthews makes him the highest-paid player in hockey, but given a future increase in HHR it could have been higher. The term allows him to hit the free market again at 30. The Leafs needed him signed, above all. It's fine.

— Bruce Arthur (@bruce_arthur) August 23, 2023

Matthews was entering the final season of his five-year, $58.2 million contract that was signed in February 2019. He is set to earn $750,000 in base salary during the 2023-24 campaign, but he will also make $7.2 million through his signing bonus.

This extension keeps Matthews under contract to the Maple Leafs through 2027-28, but it also allows him to potentially hit free agency at the age of 30.

The Maple Leafs selected Matthews No. 1 overall in the 2016 NHL draft. He signed a three-year entry level contract with the team and appeared in all 82 games as a rookie.

Matthews became the first Toronto player to win the Calder Trophy as the league's top rookie since Brit Selby in 1965-66. He finished his debut season with 40 goals and 29 assists.

The California native has since established himself as one of the best offensive players in the NHL. He led the league in goals scored in back-to-back seasons in 2020-21 (41) and 2021-22 (60).

Matthews set a career-high with 106 points during the 2021-22 season. He had his fourth consecutive 40-goal season in 2022-23.

Toronto has made the playoffs in each of Matthews' first seven seasons, but the team hasn't advanced beyond the second round. The franchise's two best seasons by regular-season point totals have come in each of the past two seasons (115 in 2021-22 and 111 in 2022-23).

Ahead of his second full season with the Tampa Bay Lightning, Brandon Hagel has signed a long-term contract extension with the club.

The Lightning announced on Tuesday that Hagel's new deal is for eight years and $52 million ($6.5 million annually) after he racked up a career-high 64 points last season.

Big news! #Bolts sign Brandon Hagel to an 8-year extension that runs through the end of 2031-32. AAV is $6.5M. Last year, Hagel became the 11th player in franchise history to score 30 goals in a single season & ranked second in the NHL with 92 takeaways, a new franchise record. https://t.co/lOjIOb58RQ

— Chris Krenn (@Chris_Krenn) August 22, 2023

The Lighting acquired Hagel from the Chicago Blackhawks in a March 2022 trade. The deal has worked out great for Tampa Bay.

Hagel had six points in 23 games during the 2022 playoffs to help the Lightning reach the Stanley Cup Final. They were defeated by the Colorado Avalanche in six games in the series.

Last season was a breakout for Hagel. The 24-year-old tied for third on the Lighting with 30 goals, tied for fourth with 64 points and ranked seventh with 34 assists. He also set a career-high with 81 games played.

The Lightning made the playoffs for the sixth consecutive year, but they were eliminated in the first round by the Toronto Maple Leafs. It was the first time in three years they didn't make it to the Stanley Cup Final.

Hagel's $52 million total salary and $6.5 million average annual salary both rank seventh among current Lightning players. He was set to become a restricted free agent next summer, but will now be under contract through the 2031-32 season.

The Buffalo Sabres originally selected Hagel with the 159th overall pick in the 2016 NHL draft. The two sides were unable to agree to terms on a contract and relinquished his rights prior to the 2018 draft.

The Blackhawks signed Hagel to a three-year entry-level contract in November 2018. He played two seasons with the Rockford IceHogs, Chicago's AHL affiliate, before making his NHL debut in March 2020.

Hagel scored 24 points in 52 games during his first full season with Chicago in 2020-21.

Former Buffalo Sabres play-by-play announcer Rick Jeanneret died Thursday, the team announced. He was 81.

"Rick was indeed a very special and very loved man, to and by all, who knew him and listened to him, his magic, and his command," Sabres owner Terry Pegula said. "How glad I am to have known him. How lucky were we all to have been around him and to have listened to him.

"Rick Jeanneret's mark on Sabres history extends far beyond the broadcast booth and we will miss him dearly. I extend my deepest condolences to Sandra, Rick's family, friends, and all that were loved by him."

Jeanneret served as Buffalo's play-by-play announcer, starting in radio before moving to television, from 1971 until he retired in 2022. He was the longest-tenured broadcaster in the NHL at the time of his retirement.

One of his most memorable calls was "May Day! May Day!" after Brad May scored in a 6-5 overtime win to seal a four-game sweep of the Boston Bruins in the first round of the 1993 Stanley Cup playoffs.

He also had signature calls such as, "Top shelf, where mama hides the cookies," for whenever a player roofed a shot high into the net for a goal.

Jeanneret, a member of the Sabres Hall of Fame, also received the Foster Hewitt Award from the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2012, and he is one of 11 members of the Buffalo franchise to have a banner in the rafters of KeyBank Center.

Veteran defenseman Jeff Petry is on the move for the third time in a little over a year.

The Detroit Red Wings announced that they've acquired Petry from the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for Gustav Lindström and a conditional 2025 fourth-round draft pick.

The Canadiens have traded Jeff Petry to the Red Wings in exchange for Gustav Lindstrom and a conditional 2025 4th-round pick.

This is the third trade involving the Habs and Petry in the last 13 months 😳 pic.twitter.com/B8AgEtlE28

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) August 15, 2023

A 13-year veteran, Petry had spent seven-plus seasons with the Canadiens after being acquired from the Edmonton Oilers in 2015. Last summer, Montreal traded him to the Pittsburgh Penguins. Unfortunately, he struggled in his new surroundings.

While Petry was able to produce 31 points, he was limited to 61 games on the season due to various injuries. The Penguins missed the playoffs for the first time in 17 years, and Kyle Dubas was tabbed to replace general manager Ron Hextail. Upon Dubas' hiring, reports surfaced that the new regime was looking to trade Petry.

The Penguins got their wish earlier this month when they shipped the 35-year-old back to the Canadiens as part of a three-team deal that also involved the San Jose Sharks and sent seven-time All-Star and three-time Norris Memorial Trophy winner Erik Karlsson to Pittsburgh. However, it was immediately reported that Montreal GM Kent Hughes would look to flip Petry in a trade once again.

Petry will now be tasked with helping turn around a Red Wings team that ranked seventh in the Atlantic Division with a 35-37-10 record. Detroit has not made the playoffs in each of the last seven seasons, so the team surely will be motivated to end that streak in 2023-24.