The Avalanches want to try to keep Nazem Kadri (who wants $ 8-9 million a year)

This season, Avalanche were able to witness Nazem Kadri’s attacking blossom. The striker, who had never crossed the 61-point mark in a season, has found a way to collect 87 this season, and this, in 71 games.

And in the playoffs, he added 15 points in 16 games, including scoring the winner in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup final while trailing a severe thumb injury.

Clearly, Kadri has found the right moment to experience such a season, he who will become a free agent in ten days. Obviously Avalanche would like to keep his services, but salary could be a problem.

Indeed, the striker would like to receive $ 8 or $ 9 million a year on his next contract, and that may be a little too high for Avalanche.

Currently, the Avalanches have just under $ 26 million under the salary cap for next season. But there is Very people who need a new contract for next season: Kadri, Darcy Kuemper, Valeri Nichushkin, Andre Burakovsky, Josh Manson (who seems to be leaving), Darren Helm, Andrew Cogliano, Jack Johnson and Nico Sturm, among others, soon become a free agent without compensation.

And to this list must be added Artturi Lehkonen and Nicolas Aubé-Kubel, who will be free agents with compensation.

If we push the note further, Joe Sakic will also have to take into account that Nathan MacKinnon’s contract will expire at the end of the 2022-23 season and, clearly, it will be the team’s # 1 priority.

MacKinnon has always been willing to take less money to stay in Colorado than he could have earned on the market (he only made $ 6.3 million for a few seasons) and will likely do it again for his next contract, but either way, it’s money the team should be ready to spend.

I mean, is it realistic to see Kadri stay with the Avalanche next year? Personally, I doubt it, but if he’s willing to accept a little less money, maybe that’s okay. I think the Avalanche are more likely to hold Nichushkin back And Burakovsky (which could cost $ 8-9 million between them) rather than spending that money on a single player, but we’ll see what happens to that file over the next few weeks.

Lot of

– Was unofficialbut it’s time official : Jim Montgomery will lead the Bruins next year.

Monty is the man.

The Boston Bruins have named Jim Montgomery the 29th manager in franchise history.

📰: https://t.co/HbjR4HJ565 pic.twitter.com/C1HeaBwFRQ

—Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) 1 July 2022

– A new assistant to the Blues. He’ll probably replace Montgomery.

– Very interesting.

– Changes behind the bench in Vancouver.

– Great signing in the NBA.