Unfinished Business: Storylines For Rest of NHL Offseason

Photo: Daily Faceoff

With the majority of free agents signed but a lot of time remaining until NHL teams open training camp in September, there are still a few apples that have yet to fall from the tree as some big names remain unsigned or untaken on the trade block. NoVa Caps looks at what is left to resolve before the offseason ends.

• C Martin Necas, Carolina Hurricanes — The 25-year-old saw his production drop from 28 goals and 71 points in 82 games during the 2022-23 season to 24 goals and 53 points in 77 last. Though, Necas had a strong postseason with four goals and nine points in 11 postseason games before requesting a trade out of Raleigh. He is currently a restricted free agent who has filed for salary arbitration and the Hurricanes are reportedly looking for a return that will help them remain competitive now.

• D Jacob Trouba, New York Rangers — The Rangers are looking to move the 30-year-old, who has two years remaining on a contract that costs $8 million against the NHL salary cap, to make room to get more help on the blueline and up front. Trouba is coming off of a postseason where he struggled, earning a .4331 five-on-five Corsi-for percentage, .448 five-on-five expected goals-for percentage, and .4385 five-on-five scoring chances-for percentage. Trouba has a 15-team no-trade clause and “there is no guarantee that [he] would accept a trade even to a club on his approved list if that means leaving his wife and newborn son behind,” according to The New York Post. New York and the Detroit Red Wings were reported to be in trade talks about Trouba, a Michigan native.
• G Jeremy Swayman, Boston Bruins — The 25-year-old is coming off of a season where he finished fifth in the NHL with a .916 save percentage and eighth with a 2.53 goals-against average in 44 regular-season games. Swayman followed his breakout season up by posting a league-leading .933 save percentage and 2.15 goals-against average (behind only Nashville Predators’ Juuse Saros’ 2.02 but in six fewer games) in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. After Boston dealt Linus Ullmark to the Ottawa Senators, Swayman is expected to be the clear No. 1 in Beantown but he has never played 45 games in a single regular-season. There has been talk that Swayman might cost around $9 million against the salary cap, which may be a bit steep since he has always played in a tandem situation.

• Detroit RFAs — The Red Wings’ second-leading goal-scorer (31) and points leader (72) from 2023-24 in left-wing Lucas Raymond and ice-time per game leader (22:21) in defenseman Moritz Seider are still without contracts with training camp about seven weeks out. Seider, the 2022 Calder Trophy Winner as the NHL’s rookie of the year, posted a career-high nine goals, 42 points, -7 rating, .4572 five-on-five Corsi-for percentage, .4383 five-on-five Corsi-for percentage, and .4188 five-on-five scoring chances-for percentage in 82 games. Seider has eclipsed the 30-assist, 40-point, and 82-game marks, respectively, in each of his first three NHL seasons.

• RW Nick Robertson, Toronto Maple Leafs — The 22-year-old restricted free agent requested a trade after appearing in just 56 regular-season games during his first full NHL season, where he recorded 14 goals and 27 points. Though, Robertson was held scoreless in six postseason outings and declined to engage in contract discussions with Toronto.
• RW Mitch Marner, Toronto — After another early postseason exit, the Maple Leafs are looking to shake things up and could still move the 27-year-old, who has averaged more than a point-per-game in six consecutive seasons and is coming off of a 26-goal, 85-point output in 69 games last year. However, Marner has just 11 goals and 50 points in 57 career postseason games, including just one and three, respectively, during Toronto’s first-round loss to Boston. Marner has just one season at $10.9 million remaining on his contract before becoming eligible for unrestricted free agency and Toronto was looking to improve their defense, which they already did after signing Chris Tanev, Jani Hakanpaa, and Oliver Ekman-Larsson in free agency earlier this month.

• C Matty Beniers, Seattle Kraken — The 2023 Calder Trophy winner suffered through a sophomore slump, recording just 15 goals and 37 points in 77 contests, nine fewer goals and 20 fewer points in three fewer games from his rookie season. Beniers is currently a restricted free agent and the two sides could very well be headed towards a bridge deal.
• RW Arthur Kaliyev, Los Angeles Kings — The 22-year-old restricted free agent saw his production dip last season, when he scored seven goals and 15 points in 51 games, after tallying 27 goals and 55 points in 136 over the previous two. Kaliyev was a regular healthy scratch after Los Angeles made a coaching change last season and requested a move before the NHL Trade Deadline but the Kings have yet to find a partner to match their cost demands.

By Harrison Brown