Dave Pagnotta talks John Carlson’s future, Senators rumors, and more
Pleasure to be joined now by Dave Penota who always does a fantastic job when it comes to things happening in the rumor mill. John Carlson right now Dave in the final year of his contract. He plans to continue playing beyond this season. What are the odds that Capital will sign this guy who’s been so valuable then to an extension this year? >> Yeah. Well, you know, Adam and he he’s planning on playing. He he’s this is his last year of an 8-year contract, eight times eight. He’s anticipating expecting to play again beyond this season. and he’s already surpassed his goal totals this season from last year. He’s almost at a point a game. He’s still contributing at a high level and he wants to keep going. They haven’t talked a contract extension yet, but my understanding is that’s on the docket for later on in the season, perhaps during the Olympic break uh to give the Capitals time to chat with his agent uh to see what type of of deal they may be looking at. Now, the Caps have a lot of cap space that next season and beyond. They want to figure out how to moni how how to utilize that that money, monetize the roster, so to speak, and they’re going to have those conversations in due course. I’m told the negotiation should not be difficult at all. He intends to play next season. He’s hoping and would like to have it happen with the Caps. The Caps want to keep him around. This should be a marriage that continues to go beyond this season. >> The Kings can defend, they cannot [clears throat] score goals. We obviously keep hearing about Philip Deno’s name out there. What are they listening on as far as him? And then are they looking to add some some forward depth as well or maybe some firepower? >> Yeah. Yeah. This is Dy. This is a tough situation for Ken Holland because he’s navigating two different things. He definitely wants to add. He’s been in the market for an offensive scoring winger that has some speed and at the same time taking calls on Phil Deno. Now Deno has not asked for a trade. He has not requested one, but that has not step stopped, excuse me, teams from calling and it hasn’t stopped Holland from listening either. He’s on a downswing offensively. No question. But his defensive capabilities are still top-notch at the NHL level. He’s got one more year on his contract. A 10 team no trade list. You’ve got teams that have poked around over the last week or so. The Montreal Canadians, Carolina Hurricanes, Washington Capitals, uh New Jersey Devils, Utah Mammoth. There are a lot of teams that have checked in on Deno’s status, but the Kings don’t want to give him away. They value him as well, especially up the middle. Keep in mind Kopitar’s last season. So they’ve got to think about not just this year but next year and on as well up the middle at the dot. So they’re listening on deno but at the same time again want to add to this roster. So a bit of a tricky situation. Could they perhaps collect assets in a deno trait and utilize that to bring in some extra scoring punch? That’s something that Holland and his staff are evaluating right now. But again they’d like to add. They’re 28th in the NHL in goals for per game. Not good enough by any stretch. They want to improve on that while also figuring out what to do with Deno. >> Listen, Luke Robbertton knows just don’t play the Oilers again in the playoffs and they’ll be fine. >> Yeah. Right. [laughter] >> Meanwhile, I was just in Winnipeg. Uh Ottawa Centers facing the Winnipeg Jets was a game. By the way, flew in to Toronto. Flight delayed. Had to stay at my parents place in Maple. It was a real mess showing up at 1:00 a.m. But long story short, I didn’t get to Winnipeg at Candle Life Center. Hell of a game, by the way. Brady Kuck scores in overtime. They got to get some scoring up front right now, though. That’s the issue for this team. Lena Silver’s got to play better. We all know that. It’s a year one of a four-year contract. He’s not going anywhere. How about some scoring to help Brady Kachchuck in company? >> That’s what Steve Stalos, their GM, would like to do. They they’ve got about 2.7 2.8 million in current space. That’ll continue to acrue uh in cap space. Um and they’re looking around. They started poking around earlier on in the season to see what offensive weapons might potentially be available. It looks like they’ve circled back now. So whether it’s a Kefir Sherwood out of Vancouver, Braden Shen out of St. Louis, they’ve checked in on Nashville as well. They’re taking a look to see what options may be available to them. Blake Coleman in Calgary. Steve Stalos is kind of combing the market, especially in the seller side, to see what type of offensive players could be available or guys that can fit within their mid six, preferably on the second line or a second line capable player that can add secondary scoring. That’s certainly something they would like to do. They’ve got cap space. They’re not exclusively looking at guys that are on expiring deals like a Sherwood who who’s going to be a UFA in July, but they are trying to see what options are available to them and how they could potentially pounce on a move to help them out. Now, they’re only three points out of a playoff spot, so they’re still certainly having that in mind and and are looking at that as as the objective clearly, but they want to help their chances and Steve Stalos is looking to see if he can add some extra punch in that lineup up front. >> Our hometown Leafs are a mess. They are a mess. Terrible loss again last night. We saw Chiefs comments afterwards saying, “Go ask the players.” Never a good sign for players or the coaching staff or management when that happens. even with the limited assets they have, what are they looking to do to kind of salvage their season here? >> Yeah, they’re looking at every area. They’re they’re looking at how they can bring in somebody that can fit the top six. This is something they’ve been looking at and Bradford Living has been searching for since the off season and at the same time seeing if they can get a little bit more stable and a little bit more mobile on the back end. Oliver Ecman Larson’s been their best defenseman hands down. But when you’ve got also Morgan Riley who just hasn’t lived up to snub, there are some concerns on that blue line. So, they’re looking at both areas. They’ve got a little bit of cap space to play with, a little bit of wiggle room, but they’re also seeing if they can perhaps move out some money on top of it. Max Doiy’s name is a name that’s out there. Matias Machelli as well. He hasn’t really worked out so far uh this season. They they’re certainly not giving up on things. They need more out of their big guys as well. And both Austin Matthews and Willie Knander, they’re still in the thick of it, just five points out, but they certainly want to improve their chances before it’s too little too late time in Toronto. So, the Leafs, Brad for Living, very active in trying to see what’s out there in that market. Um, look, perfect world. They can bring somebody that can play the right side with Austin Matthews and Matthew Ny. That’d be great. But, like you said, the cupboard’s not exactly full in Toronto, and they don’t want to part with with East Cowan. So, there’s a lot of juggling that has to happen there. It’s not the perfect scenario, but that’s what Brad Living, those are the cards he’s got, and that’s what he’s got to play with. >> But, but think about this, Dave. I mean, the Leafs could be fighting tooth and nail for a playoff spot. This was inconceivable if you told me this a few months ago. >> Yeah. Look, they did. Yeah. Imagine how they feel like they didn’t expect this either. [laughter] They they thought >> they’d be right in the thick of it. Yeah. You know, so they’re not there. They thought >> they thought guys like Joshua and Wah and and Machelli that they brought in would contribute a lot more from a secondary scoring side of it. Now Joshua has played and Wah have played a lot better in in recent you know in the last let’s say couple of weeks here especially and they’ve stabilized kind of their bottom six which is what they wanted to do and Scott Lton really leading that as well. He’s been great on at the center position on that fourth line for Toronto. But it’s that top six that’s been a struggle for them along with just not having that carrier out of that blue line. So if they can do both that that’d be fantastic two boxes checked but I just don’t know if they have the assets to do both. But they are looking to see how they can improve. Well, the good news is everyone’s always calm and levelheaded in Toronto, so things will be fine. [laughter] >> No one’s gonna blow this out of proportion. >> How about Chief, by the way, saying, “Why don’t you ask the players?” Like, >> Chief’s frustrated. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. I mean, it to me that’s I’ve been sending this message to you guys game after game, practice after practice, and you say you’re listening and you say you get it, and you say you’re going to change, and you’re going to give it the full 60minute cliche situation answer, and it just hasn’t been there. And they said this, you know, they said this in that win on Tuesday against Chicago. The guys after the game, we need to put a full consistent 60-minute effort in. And we’re not there. Even though they won, they didn’t do it the other night in Washington either. It needs to be consistent. It hasn’t been there. I look at that as chief just going, “Okay, you guys think you have all the answers. It’s not, you know, go for it. Go answer these questions for me.” [laughter] >> Certainly entertaining for the media in Toronto, which is always fun. Dave, editor-in chief of the fourth parade. Great stuff, Dave. Appreciate you, man. You got a tea,
Dave Pagnotta discusses John Carlson’s future in Washington, how the Senators can improve their ability to score, and more with the panel on NHL Tonight: First Shift.
Don’t forget to subscribe! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRsrhXtzXmzYX_fiyNHHxbw?sub_confirmation=1
Twitter: https://twitter.com/NHLNetwork
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NHLNetwork/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nhlnetwork
2 comments
Two years 6.5/year for Carlson. Get it done.
"Already surpassed his goal total from last year" – Yeah, no kidding. He only had 5 goals last year.