MacKinnon records hat trick, Avs beat Blues 6-3 in Game 2
Nathan MacKinnon finished his first career playoff hat trick with an empty-net goal to help the Colorado Avalanche pull away late for a 6-3 win over St. Louis in Game 2 after the Blues avoided a pregame virus scare that nearly sidelined several players.
Red Wings mailbag: Looking at salary cap situation
Unlike many teams that scrambled to get under the salary cap this season and might face issues in 2021-22 due a flat cap of $81.5 million, the Detroit Red Wings will have ample cap space this offseason. The Red Wings’ cap situation was among the questions from MLive readers in this week’s mailbag:Q: What is the Wings’ situation now in terms of the salary cap? Panik has two years remaining at a $2.75 million cap hit and is a serviceable bottom-six forward. The Red Wings wouldn’t be saving much cap space but it would open a roster spot. He is a restricted free agent who isn’t likely to be re-signed and will probably return to Sweden next season.
mlive.comNHL offseason moves influenced by coronavirus' impact on cap
Zdeno Chara is no longer in Boston after the Bruins captain signed with Washington. And the Sabres made an even bigger splash in free agency by landing 2018 NHL MVP Taylor Hall in October. Hall, for example, signed a one-year, $8 million deal with Buffalo by realizing the free-agent market was going to be tight. Oilers general manager Ken Holland chalked it up to the new economic realities facing the NHL. “It’s salary-cap related, which is related to the pandemic, which has given us a hard, flat cap for the foreseeable future,” Holland said.
NHL teams making moves, not waiting for top free agents
The NHL is embarking on a free agent period like never before in hockey history. A handful of the top free agents are still available, but NHL teams aren't waiting for those big fish to sign to make other moves. Koivu signed for $1.5 million for next season, and they need to re-up top center Pierre-Luc Dubois and other restricted free agents. Teams have to move money, and in order to move money, they might have to move some really good players.”Some good free agents found new homes Saturday. The Buffalo Sabres signed center Cody Eakin to a $4.5 million, two-year contract, according to a person with direct knowledge of the deal.