NHL Rumors Roundup begins with the latest news coming out of Nashville as it appears there’s finally been a modicum of process made in contract talks between the Predators and Filip Forsberg.
According to Elliotte Friedman on HNIC’s 32 Thoughts segment, both sides finally met face to face.
NHL Rumors: Predators and Forsberg camp meet
“J.P. Barry, who represents Filip Forsberg met face to face with GM of the Predators David Poile,” Friedman said. “Neither side would comment so it makes it difficult to gauge if any progress was made. But it is significant that they met.”
Forsberg, 27, is in the final year of a six-year contract. Hs current deal is for $6M AAV against the cap and his next one is expected to be $8 million or better. This season he recorded 38 goals and 74 points in 62 games.
Poile addressed the media after the trade deadline passed making it clear they still very much want to re-sign him.
“We’re going to continue to work quietly with Filip and his representative toward the contract that pays him equitably while giving the organization the flexibility to compete for the Stanley Cup,” Poile said.
It looks like that work genuinely is continuing.
Forsberg set the franchise record for goals in a single season when he recorded number 35 in March. Viktor Arvidsson held the previous mark, having scored 34 goals in the 2018-19 season.
“We couldn’t let him keep it for too long when he’s not on our team anymore,” Forsberg said. ”[Arvidsson] is one of my closest friends, but it feels good to take it from him, not going to lie.”
NHL.com
There’s very little doubt around the league that the two sides will get a deal done.
Alexandar Georgiev’s stock rising
There’s a lot of uncertainty regarding the NHL’s offseason goalie market, but one name is starting to gain more tractions.
New York Rangers netminder Alexandar Georgiev will be an RFA this season, and GM Chris Drury won’t have the cap space to offer him the required $2.45M qualifying offer. Which means he’s heading for a trade or will be an unrestricted free agent.
Georgiev, 26, is 13-9-2 with a 2.91 GAA, an .898 SV% with 2 shutouts this season. However, his replacement play has been outstanding with six straight win on the strength of a .916 SV% and a 2.19 GAA.
There’s been plenty of rumors surrounding Georgiev, including both the Golden Knights and Oilers kicking tires on him this season. Additionally, reports surfaced that he was on his way to the Arizona Coyotes before Igor Shesterkin suffered an injury in January.
Teams serious about improving their goaltending would likely want to trade for his rights and at least give him the qualifying offer the Rangers can’t.
It should also be noted that Georgiev changed agents mid-season.
NHLPA head Don Fehr’s future
The NHLPA released their independent report into the Kyle Beach situation and could not determine any individual wrong doing. However, many who have viewed the findings deem it a complete systematic failure.
“There is no doubt that the system failed to support him in his time of need, and we are part of that system,” Fehr said in the statement back in October.
Which now brings to the forefront the future of NHLPA head Don Fehr.
Expectations for this summer will be for Fehr to finally put forth a succession plan.
Fehr met with the NHLPA executive board in November and discussed his future. At that time, it was reported that he would start working on such a plan.
It’s undoubtedly time for him to go and for the NHLPA to ensure they never fail another one of its members again.
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