The Ottawa Senators might consider acquiring pending UFA goaltender Stuart Skinner from the Pittsburgh Penguins to form a tandem with Linus Ullmark. This potential move could add approximately $3.25 million to their goaltending costs, bringing the total for the duo to around $11.5 million. Senators GM Steve Staios has prior familiarity with Skinner from his time with the Edmonton Oilers.
Meanwhile, the Chicago Blackhawks and GM Kyle Davidson face the crucial task of negotiating a new, significant contract with star forward Connor Bedard this offseason. While the Blackhawks are likely aiming for an eight-year deal, Bedard, as a pending restricted free agent, holds considerable leverage. It’s anticipated that the Blackhawks will find it difficult to refuse his demands.
Bedard has the potential to command the league’s highest salary, a request that may not be considered unreasonable. For context, Kirill Kaprizov’s current deal is worth $17 million. However, there have been no indications that Bedard will be seeking a figure of that magnitude.
Current projections from AFP Analytics suggest an eight-year contract valued at $13.2 million annually. Dom Luszczyszyn’s projections place his value at $13 million, with a market value of $13.7 million.
Other recent comparable contracts include Logan Cooley’s eight-year deal at $10 million signed last October. Leo Carlsson and Adam Fantilli are also due for new contracts, and Macklin Celebrini of the San Jose Sharks is eligible for an extension.
Bedard might aim for a contract that represents 12 to 15 percent of the salary cap. If this is for an eight-year term, the Blackhawks might be amenable, particularly if it’s a shorter duration. For example, Auston Matthews, coming off his entry-level contract, secured 14.27 percent of the cap, followed by 15.06 percent on his subsequent four-year deal. This upcoming contract represents the final opportunity for Bedard to sign for the maximum eight-year term.
Should the Blackhawks sign Bedard to a shorter-term deal with a value closer to $20 million, they would still not be considered a cap-strapped team. However, they will have several other player contracts to manage in the coming years, including those for defensemen Kevin Korchinski, Sam Rinzel, and Artyom Levshunov, as well as forward Anton Frondell.
Bedard himself has expressed a collaborative approach: “But at the end of the day, it’s just seeing what fits the team best, what fits me best and just going from there. I’m very open to however they see it and what they have to say.”