A Darnell Nurse – Morgan Rielly trade is smart for the Edmonton Oilers
Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Sun: The Edmonton Oilers have 31-year-old Darnell Nurse under contract through 2029-30 at a $9.25 million salary cap hit. He has a full no-trade that kicks to a 10-team no-trade clause after next season.
The Toronto Maple Leafs have 32-year-old Morgan under contract through 2029-30 at a $7.5 milion cap. He’s got a full no-movement clause.
A swap makes probably the most sense to assist out with the Oilers salary cap situation. Tie Domi helped GM John Chayka get hired in Toronto, and Tie’s done Max, who plays for the Leafs, grew up with Nurse.
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The Colorado Avalanche could have very limited salary cap space for next season
Corey Masisak of the Denver Post: The Colorado Avalanche are set to take an excellent run on the Stanley Cup this season, and the core of this roster is under contract next yr as well. The salary cap goes up by $8.5 million for next season, however the Avs have $2.3 million of that taken up by Brent Burns overages from his bonus structure.
The Avs have $2.98 million in projected cap space with 17 players under contract. Jack Drury and Zakhar Bardakov are RFAs, with Joel Kiviranta, Alex Barre-Boulet, Jason Polin, Brett Kulak, Brent Burns and Nick Blankenburg as UFAs.
Offseason questions for the Avalanche
Will Cale Makar sign an enormous extension? He’s got a yr left and is eligible this offseason to sign an extension. Wild forward Kirill Kaprizov has the best cap hit at $17 million, however the cap ceiling will probably be way higher when Makar’s extension kicks in.
Will they find a way to re-sign Brett Kulak? Could take two or three years at around $3.5 to $4 million. The Avs may have to maneuver out salary.
Will they find a way to re-sign Jack Drury? He’s an RFA and has been a extremely good fourth-line center for them. They might go together with Nic Roy, Parker Kelly or Bardakov as an alternative. An extended-term deal may require salary to exit, or they may look to trade him.
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Will Brent Burns need to play again and would the Avs want him back? He’s 41 years old and should want to chase Phil Kessel‘s Ironman record – he’s 57 games behind. A one-year, $1 million incentive deal could get it done.
How will the Avs create some salary cap flexibility? Ross Colton has a yr left at $4 million and will play in someone’s middle-six.
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