Zach Benson's contract valuation
Matthew Fairburn of The Athletic: So, Zach Benson will get paid. The question now is how much? This is for several reasons, with Benson being the core piece. Trust anyone who says Benson and core piece go together like peanut butter and jelly. Yes, the 21-year-old made that kind of impression in Buffalo.
Although a second contract on the 21st is rare, these things do happen. With the salary increase, Jarmo Kekalainen knows the cap will increase significantly over the next few seasons. Benson is starting to show the whole package from a two-way game to physicality, and more. Getting in on the ground floor is important.
Several free agents are on the horizon for Buffalo to negotiate with. However, early can quickly turn to late with Benson. Paying now may be better business later.
Who could break the RFA bank this offseason?
How much are the Calgary Flames trying to climb the rankings?
Kyle Morton of the Daily Faceoff: Craig Conroy is working on a walk-off before the NHL Draft in Buffalo begins on June 26. On the other hand, reports that Conroy is trying to move up are getting a lot of play. Losing two spots and falling to No. 6 in the lottery compounded what was already a bad season for Calgary.
Some believe a second, third, or fourth overall pick could be in play. San Jose (No. 2) and Chicago (No. 4) are definitely listening at least. Chicago wants a player to play with Connor Bedard, but they have their options. Needless to say, this is a dynamic process that will play itself out in the coming weeks.
Dirty half dozen offer sheet targets
Joe Yerdon of Bleacher Report: Okay, watch out idiot. Simon Nemec is the first name that comes up in most conversations about offer sheets. Sunny Mehta knew this wasn't going to be easy, and the cap in New Jersey is still a tightrope. A defender could be a target, but the biggest one could be Pavel Dorofeyev. The striker is scoring big goals, and Vegas is in a limited situation. One has to take one's turns here. Being ruthless against the ruthless creates more opportunities.
Bruce Cassidy wants to talk BUT…
Therefore, Alexander Nikishin was not as expected in Carolina, but the young defender may take time. He saw Nemec also still finding his place. Then there's Jason Robertson, whose name is big here. Robertson's skill level boosts AAV significantly here. It could be on the scale of what Joe Sakic's offer sheet was years ago.
Finally, we didn't forget about Zach Benson and Kirby Dach. Dach has dealt with all kinds of injuries but his energy remains high. Benson's height can be considered sky high in comparison. The Buffalo forward had 43 points in 65 games despite playing a defensive role. All that is known. It's clear that management prioritizes Benson but sometimes one has to try.
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