Alex Ovechkin's Updated Career Earnings After 5-Year, $47.5M Capitals Contract
Jul 27, 2021
WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 23: Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals looks on against the Boston Bruins in the first period in Game Five of the First Round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Capital One Arena on May 23, 2021 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/NHLI via Getty Images)
The Washington Capitals announced
Tuesday they've signed superstar winger Alex Ovechkin to a five-year,
$47.5 million contract extension through the 2025-26 NHL season.
Ovechkin's career on-ice earnings will
reach $170.7 million by the conclusion of the new deal, per Spotrac.
"Alex is the face of our franchise
and is committed to this organization and this city," Caps
general manager Brian MacLellan said. "Alex embodies what our
franchise is all about, and we're thrilled that he will continue his
career in the Caps uniform for the next five years."
The 35-year-old Russian has remained
one of the league's most lethal scorers 17 years after the Capitals
selected him with the first overall pick in the 2004 draft.
Ovechkin has led the NHL in goals nine
times, including a recent three-year streak from the 2017-18 through
2019-20. He was limited to 45 appearances this past season because of
injuries but still managed to light the lamp 24 times.
The three-time Hart Memorial Trophy
winner ranks sixth on the all-time scoring list
with 730 goals. His first tally of the 2021-22 season will tie him
with Marcel Dionne for fifth.
He's 164 goals behind Wayne Gretzky for
the all-time record. He'll need to average 32.8 goals during
the duration of his new deal to pass Gretzky.
Signing Ovechkin to what will likely be
his final long-term contract should also help the Caps keep their
championship window open for the immediate future. They captured the
first Stanley Cup title in franchise history in 2018.
Alex Ovechkin Returns to Capitals on 5-Year, $47.5M Contract: 'I'm Back DC!'
Jul 27, 2021
Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) in action during the first period in Game 5 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series against the Boston Bruins, Sunday, May 23, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
The Alex Ovechkin era isn't over just yet for the Washington Capitals after the future Hall of Famer signed a five-year, $47.5 million contract on Tuesday.
The 35-year-old continued to deliver on the ice in his 16th season, leading the Caps in goals (24) to go along with 18 assists in just 45 appearances.
Ovechkin is the greatest player in franchise history and the Capitals' all-time leader in games played (1,197), goals (730) and points (1,320). His role in the 2018 Stanley Cup triumph cemented his status among Washington, D.C., sports legends.
The state of the Caps raised serious questions earlier this year about his long-term future in the nation's capital, though. Following Washington's Game 5 defeat, the Russian wasn't in a mood to talk about his next contract.
"We just lost in a playoff series," hetold reporters. "Let's talk about my contract and all those stuff later on."
His final decision was bound to chart the Capitals' path for the next few years.
Since winning that title, Washington failed to get out of the first round of the playoffs, losing in five games in each of the last two seasons.
General manager Brian MacLellan is running into the same problems that arise for any NHL team that has enjoyed a sustained run of success. The key veterans get older and more expensive, and adjusting on the fly grows even more difficult.
The team's goaltender situation was a microcosm of the situation. Braden Holtby signed with the Vancouver Canucks ahead of the 2020-21 campaign, which left the Capitals leaning on a pair of netminders (Vitek Vanecek and Ilya Samsonov) without any playoff experience. Samsonov wound up allowing 10 goals in three playoff starts.
The Capitals can't exactly rebuild with an aging Ovechkin still on the roster, so they have to pry their championship window open as much as they can. That won't be easy when they're due to have a projected payroll of $77.4 million for 2021-22.
Caps GM Brian MacLellan and his staff have a lot of decisions to make this summer as the Ovechkin era winds down sooner than later. Given his history, I'd bet on some bold ones.
The Washington Post's Samantha Pell also explained how MacLellan has to grapple with more considerations, like what to do with Samsonov and Evgeny Kuznetsov.
Samsonov, a restricted free agent, played well in the regular season, finishing with a .902 save percentage and 2.69 goals-against average. But he didn't go above and beyond to leave the Caps with an easy decision about his possible return.
Kuznetsov, on the other hand, didn't deliver. Twenty-nine points in 41 games isn't a good return for a player with $31.2 million to run over four years. Pell reported that "there is frustration in the organization over his lack of on-ice production coupled with off-ice problems."
Re-signing Ovechkin is better than the alternative because it would be great to see him begin and end his career in D.C. And while a rebuild is inevitable at some point, kicking the can down the road makes sense when it's done to accommodate a veteran who has achieved everything he has.
But MacLellan has a lot of work ahead to get the team meaningfully closer to a title in 2022.
Capitals GM: Alex Ovechkin's New Contract Could Be Completed Before Free Agency
Jul 24, 2021
Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) skates with the puck during the second period in Game 5 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series against the Boston Bruins, Sunday, May 23, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Washington Capitals general manager Brian MacLellan told reporters (h/t Tarik El-Bashir of The Athletic) that he's hopeful the team will be able to reach an agreement with left wing Alexander Ovechkin before free agency officially begins Wednesday.
Ovechkin's 13-year, $124 million contract is set to expire. Per ESPN's Emily Kaplan, he is negotiating the terms of his new deal.
"I'm confident; we still have time," Ovechkin told reporters on May 25 during his year-end media availability session.
"Obviously, I want to finish my career here. I'm pretty sure we will do something soon."
The Caps took Ovechkin with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2004 NHL draft. He's been a member of the team ever since, posting 730 goals and 590 assists. His goal mark is sixth all time.
The three-time Hart Trophy winner and 12-time All-Star also led the Caps to their first-ever Stanley Cup Final victory in 2018.
The 35-year-old Ovechkin is still productive, registering 24 goals and 18 assists in 45 games last year for a Caps team that reached the playoffs for the seventh straight year. He led the 36-15-5 Caps in goals despite missing 11 regular-season contests.
Rasmus Ristolainen Traded from Sabres to Flyers for Robert Hagg, 1st-round Pick, More
Jul 23, 2021
PITTSBURGH, PA - MAY 08: Buffalo Sabres Defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen (55) looks on during the second period in the NHL game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Buffalo Sabres on May 8, 2021, at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA. (Photo by Jeanine Leech/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
The Buffalo Sabres announced they've traded
defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen to the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange
for defenseman Robert Hagg, the No. 14 overall pick in the 2021 NHL
draft on Friday night and a second-round pick in the 2023 draft.
Anthony SanFilippo of CrossingBroad.com had first reported the deal. ESPN's Kevin Weekes added details about the
draft picks involved in the swap.
Clubs with interest offering 1st round picks were informed earlier their pick wasn’t high enough. Picks in the top 20, hence Philly was the right fit.
It's a stunning trade based on
Ristolainen's long-term struggles to handle a top-pair role in
Buffalo.
The No. 8 pick in the 2013 draft was
thrust into a key spot in the Sabres lineup as a 19-year-old, and
he hasn't proved capable of that level of responsibility across eight seasons.
Micah Blake McCurdy of HockeyViz
provided a statistical breakdown of the Finn's career, which shows a negative impact both offensively
and defensively:
Rasmus Ristolainen (traded to Philadelphia) is somewhat or very (mostly very) bad at every aspect of the game of ice hockey. pic.twitter.com/epVYASEHR7
— Micah Blake McCurdy (@IneffectiveMath) July 23, 2021
It's worth noting Ristolainen, who's
scored 245 points (46 goals and 199 assists) in 542 games, was
miscast as a No. 1 defenseman from the start by Buffalo. It's
possible he'd be more valuable lower in the lineup in five-on-five
situations while being featured as a power-play quarterback.
Yet the exorbitant price paid by
the Flyers suggests they're planning to use him as a high-volume part
of their defense corps. That's a risky decision based on his
past results and his $5.4 million cap hit for the 2021-22 season.
Meanwhile, Hagg, 26, has also struggled
across four-plus NHL seasons, as highlighted by JFresh of EP
Rinkside:
The Swede is under a more team-friendly
contract for next season ($1.6 million cap hit) and should take on a
less prominent role within the Sabres defense than Ristolainen, though.
The main part of the deal for Buffalo
is the draft picks, led by the 14th pick Friday that will actually be
No. 13 because the Arizona Coyotes have forfeited the No. 11
selection. The Sabres also own the first overall pick, with Michigan defenseman Owen Power being the presumptive top choice.
It's part of the latest rebuilding
effort by the Sabres, who own the NHL's longest playoff drought at 10
seasons. The next highest is the Detroit Red Wings at five years.
Jack Eichel and Sam Reinhart are among
the other notable players who may be moved by Buffalo either leading
up to the draft or throughout the remainder of the offseason.
The Ristolainen trade is the first
concrete sign that the team's lineup will look a lot different by the time
the new season kicks off in October.
Shayne Gostisbehere, Draft Picks Traded to Coyotes from Flyers to Clear Cap Space
Jul 22, 2021
Philadelphia Flyers' Shayne Gostisbehere plays during an NHL hockey game against the New Jersey Devils, Monday, May 10, 2021, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Facing a salary-cap crunch, the Philadelphia Flyers essentially gave away defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere.
The Flyers announced on Thursday they sent Gostisbehere and two 2022 draft picks, including a second-rounder, to the Arizona Coyotes.
Philadelphia isn't receiving anything from the Coyotes in return.
"This was a difficult decision but one we thought was necessary given the reality of the salary cap," Flyers general manager Chuck Fletcher said in the trade announcement. "Shayne has been a quality player for this organization since the moment he arrived in Philadelphia and has been a part of many special moments in his seven seasons as a Flyer."
Prior to moving Gostisbehere's deal, Spotrac projected the Flyers to have $9.4 million in cap space to spend on free agents and draft picks.
Gostisbehere has a $4.5 million cap hit in 2021-22, which would have been the eighth-highest mark on Philadelphia's roster. He also has a $4.5 million cap number in 2022-23, the final season of the six-year, $27 million contract he signed in June 2017.
The Flyers are trying to find the right pieces to get them over the top. They have alternated making the playoffs and missing the playoffs for the past 10 seasons, with the 2020-21 campaign being a miss year.
The Flyers haven't advanced beyond the second round of the postseason since reaching the 2010 Stanley Cup Final. They have several key roster decisions to make this offseason, including whether to re-sign restricted free agents Travis Sanheim and Carter Hart.
Gostisbehere has seen his production decline since setting career highs with 13 goals, 52 assists and 65 points during the 2017-18 season. He has put up just 32 points in 83 games over the past two seasons combined.
At just 28 years old, Gostisbehere could turn things around to show the form he displayed in 2017-18. The Coyotes are taking a low-risk, high-reward gamble to add him, and they got two draft picks next year to help strengthen their depth for the future.
Elvis Merzlikins Says Matiss Kivlenieks Saved Him, His Wife on Night of His Death
Jul 15, 2021
COLUMBUS, OH - JANUARY 16: Matiss Kivlenieks #80 of the Columbus Blue Jackets watches as Elvis Merzlikins #90 warms up prior to the start of the game against the Carolina Hurricanes on January 16, 2020 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images)
Columbus Blue Jackets goalie Elvis
Merzlikins said teammate Matiss Kivlenieks saved a lot of lives,
including those of Merzlikins and his pregnant wife, when he was hit by a firework July 4. He was pronounced dead shortly after.
Merzlikins discussed the heroic actions
of Kivlenieks in a eulogy delivered Thursday:
— Fuck Dave Portnoy ⬇️ (@TheReplayGuy) July 15, 2021
Kivlenieks, 24, was killed on Independence Day when a "fireworks mortar tube
accidentally angled toward a hot tub" where the Blue Jackets
netminder was seated and one of the shots struck him in the chest,
per Brian Hedger of the Columbus Dispatch.
Several other people were in the area
of the blast, but no one else was injured.
The firework display took place at the Michigan home of
Columbus goalie coach Manny Legace, who was hosting his daughter's wedding on the Fourth of
July, per Hedger. Investigators' initial findings led them to believe
it was a "tragic accident."
Novi Police Department Lt. Jason Meier
said Monday they continue to believe Kivlenieks' death was accidental
and confirmed they haven't recommended criminal charges,
but they've sent the case to the Oakland County prosecutor's office
for a final review, according to the Associated Press.
"Due to the high-profile nature, we
wanted an extra set of eyes [on the case]," Meier said.
Kivlenieks signed with the Blue Jackets
as an undrafted free agent in May 2017.
The Latvia native made eight
appearances for Columbus and played 85 games for the Cleveland
Monsters, the team's AHL affiliate, across four seasons.
Blue Jackets Goalie Matiss Kivlenieks' Death Being Investigated as an Accident
Jul 7, 2021
Columbus Blue Jackets goalie Matiss Kivlenieks, of Latvia, is seen against the Buffalo Sabres during an NHL preseason hockey game in Columbus, Ohio, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2019. The Blue Jackets won 4-1. (AP Photo/Paul Vernon)
Police in Michigan are initially investigating the death of Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Matiss Kivlenieks as an accident, according to ESPN's Michele Steele:
Novi, Mich. police tell me there are investigating the death of #BlueJackets goalie Matiss Kivlenieks, "solely as an accident" right now - the fireworks were legal & the operator of the fireworks has not been found to be drinking alcohol. No criminal charges have been presented: pic.twitter.com/UPh4X6C2Y9
Clara Hendrickson and Brian Hedger of the Columbus Dispatch reported Kivlenieks was at the home of Blue Jackets goaltending coach Manny Legace in Novi, Michigan, when he was inadvertently struck in the chest with a fireworks mortar shell.
The 24-year-old was pronounced dead at a local hospital.
"We are still looking at this as a tragic accident," Lt. Jason Meier said to the Dispatch. "Based on the new information, we definitely want to reinterview people and make sure that we have an accurate depiction of what happened."
Kivlenieks and others were at the home to celebrate the Fourth of July and also because Legace had hosted his daughter's wedding.
Authorities in Novi said it appears Kivlenieks was "fleeing a hot tub during a fireworks malfunction" and suffered a percussive internal injury. Medical examiner Dr. Ljubisa Dragovic told the Dispatch the autopsy found Kivlenieks suffered "extensive" external and internal injuries, including to the heart and lungs, after being struck on the left side of his chest.
Calls to 911 were made around 10:13 p.m. ET, and emergency personnel arrived within five minutes.
ESPN's Emily Kaplan reported the fireworks used on the night in question were legal in the state of Michigan, and the person operating the display was in compliance with local laws.
Kivlenieks finished up his second season with the Blue Jackets in 2020-21. He made two appearances and registered 64 saves on 71 shots.
Blue Jackets Goalie Matiss Kivlenieks Dies at 24 After Being Struck by Fireworks
Jul 5, 2021
Latvia's goalkeeper Matiss Kivlenieks tries to make save during the Group B match between Latvia and Canada at the 2021 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship in Riga, Latvia, May 21, 2021. (Photo by Edijs Palens/Xinhua via Getty Images)
Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Matiss Kivlenieks died Sunday of chest trauma after being hit by an "errant fireworks mortar blast" according to an autopsy (via ESPN).
Authorities originally reported that Kivlenieks died as the result of a head injury suffered in an accidental fall.
He was 24.
"We are shocked and saddened by the loss of Matiss Kivlenieks, and we extend our deepest sympathies to his mother, Astrida, his family and friends during this devastating time," said Blue Jackets president of hockey operations John Davidson. "Kivi was an outstanding young man who greeted every day and everyone with a smile, and the impact he had during his four years with our organization will not be forgotten."
Statement from NHLPA Executive Director Don Fehr on the tragic passing of Matiss Kivlenieks: pic.twitter.com/p22vTm1j9h
The club did not provide further details. Kivlenieks played eight games over two seasons with the Blue Jackets.
The Latvian was in goal for his country at the 2021 IIHF World Championship, leading it to a win over Canada in the group phase of the event and a loss against Kazakhstan. His rise up the ranks was considered unlikely, as he worked his way up through the lower levels of hockey after leaving Latvia.
A breakout while playing with the Sioux City Musketeers of the USHL during the 2016-17 season led to him signing with the Blue Jackets. He made his NHL debut in January 2020.
Kivlenieks spent most of his time with the Blue Jackets playing for their AHL affiliate, the Cleveland Monsters.
Why Other Teams Should Attempt to Sign the Islanders' Restricted Free Agents
Jul 2, 2021
New York Islanders' Anthony Beauvillier celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal during the third period of Game 3 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday, May 20, 2021, in Uniondale, N.Y. The Penguins won 5-4. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
In theory, offer sheets provide possibly the NHL's most exciting mechanism for player movement.
Teams can propose contracts to any restricted free agent. If the player signs the offer sheet, then the incumbent franchise has seven days to either match the deal or concede the player, receiving a predetermined allotment of draft-pick compensation in return. It's an opportunity to poach quality players who are in their early to mid-20s.
In practice, offer sheets are a rarity. Since the salary-cap era began in 2005, only nine have been signed, including just one in the past seven offseasons.
The Edmonton Oilers' signing of Dustin Penner represents the only instance of a team acquiring a restricted free agent via offer sheet, although Dougie Hamilton's trade from the Boston Bruins to the Calgary Flames in 2015 happened because Bruins general manager Don Sweeney feared Hamilton would be tendered an offer sheet his team couldn't match.
Sweeney wanted to dictate the compensation he received, and the Flames gave up one first- and two second-round picks in the 2015 draft for the blueliner. Hamilton soon signed a six-year, $34.5 million deal with Calgary. According to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman, had this been in the form of an offer sheet, Boston would have received first-, second- and third-round picks.
For a number of reasons, general managers have more or less decided that pursuing offer sheets is not worth the effort. As such, most offseason speculation of that nature serves as little more than pipe dreams for fans. Elias Pettersson will not be poached from the Vancouver Canucks no matter how many internet GMs try to will the idea into existence.
However, the New York Islanders have three prominent RFAs in Anthony Beauvillier, Adam Pelech and Ilya Sorokin. When analyzing the state of the roster and its financial outlook, the conditions are there for other NHL teams to attempt to buck the trend and make a serious run at signing one of those players away from Long Island.
Evaluating the Islanders' RFAs
Each of the Islanders' three big RFAs is enticing.
Beauvillier, 24, is perhaps one of the most underappreciated forwards in the NHL. In many ways, he's a poster child for the Islanders' model of modest efficiency. His counting numbers aren't flashy, with just 33 goals and 34 assists in 115 games over the past two regular seasons. It's still solid production, but his greater value lies in his ability to drive play.
The left wing is well-rounded offensively. He's strong at creating zone entries, forechecking and cycling the puck. He's a shoot-first forward who can create trouble around the net front. Defensively, he's reliable and responsible, a requirement to survive in a Barry Trotz system. Because of that ability to drive play, Evolving-Hockey ranks his total output in the 87th percentile of all NHLers over the past three seasons.
Pelech, 26, partnered with Ryan Pulock to create one of the most effective, cooperative defensive duos in the NHL this past season. Pelech is not the offensively inclined player of the duo, but he makes up for it with elite defensive play. He's tremendous at suppressing zone entries and keeps shooting opportunities to the outside. Per Evolving-Hockey, his defensive impact ranks in the 97th percentile.
Sorokin came into this season as one of the top young goaltenders in the world, having proved himself in the KHL. He lived up to the billing in his rookie season, posting a .919 save percentage over 29 combined regular-season and playoff games. More specifically, per Evolving-Hockey, he saved 2.57 goals above expected. It's not a large sample size, and goaltending is always volatile, but he has the skill and brief NHL resume to justify a chance at a starting role.
Why the Islanders are Vulnerable
There's at least some merit to the argument that offer sheets are underutilized in the NHL. When not being used in the entry draft, picks are often spent on short-term acquisitions. In comparison, the ability to land a quality young player on a long-term contract is well worth the cost of business.
Still, there are reasons why making one happen isn't easy. For one, the targeted player has to be willing to sign with a different organization. From there, the contract has to be low enough to justify the investment for the team offering the contract yet substantial enough that the original team opts to not match it. That's a tough needle to thread. Chances are that the same reasons other teams would pursue a restricted free agent are going to be why the team that owns his rights will make keeping him a priority.
The Islanders undoubtedly want to keep Beauvillier, Pelech and Sorokin. However, creative bookkeeping will be necessary to make that happen. Per CapFriendly, The Islanders are entering the offseason with roughly $11 million in available cap space with which to sign those three, let alone any other players. Lou Lamoriello is an experienced general manager who isn't going to panic. If given ample time, he will find a way to make that space available, even if it comes at a cost.
Time is the relevant variable here that other teams can exploit. Lamoriello may attempt to make a number of things happen expediently. Among his options are attempting to move Jordan Eberle ($5.5 million average annual value, three years remaining) and Nick Leddy ($5.5 million AAV, one year remaining) in trades, as well as pay another team to take on the contracts of Andrew Ladd ($5.5 million AAV, two years remaining) and Leo Komarov ($3 million AAV, one year remaining).
Otherwise, the Islanders will enter free agency July 28 vulnerable to exploitation. Upon the signing of a theoretical offer sheet, the Islanders would have only seven days to match that and, really, only that week to put themselves in a position to comfortably do so.
Teams are allowed to go over the salary cap during the offseason, so the Islanders could always lock up their RFAs first and then work to clear space afterward. But they would be relinquishing leverage as their problem became more vivid, and the price of moving other contracts would go up tremendously.
What Offer Sheets Could Look Like
While the Islanders would probably love to lock up all three aforementioned RFAs long term, figuring out short-term solutions that limit cap hits and kick the can down the road may be more conducive to making the finances work.
Beauvillier is set to become an unrestricted free agent in 2023, meaning Lamoriello could try to convince him to settle for a one- or a two-year deal. Per Evolving-Hockey's estimates, such a deal would fall in the range of $3.5 million-$3.75 million per year.
But what if another team offered him a long-term deal? Per Friedman, a six-year deal in the neighborhood of $5.75 million per year would require compensation of first- and third-round picks. To compare, that's similar to what Toronto gave up to acquire winger Nick Foligno as a rental this season (one first- and two fourth-rounders). To lock up a multifaceted top-six winger in the prime of his career? That's a small price to pay. Many teams should at least take a cursory look at the idea, but the Dallas Stars and St. Louis Blues are two that stick out as needing help at left wing.
Sorokin is also set to become an unrestricted free agent in 2023. The Athletic's Arthur Staple recently speculated that a one-year deal at $3 million would be "palatable." Any other NHL team in need of a young goaltender should be lusting after a player of his caliber.
Would Sorokin sign for five years at $5 million per season to be the starter elsewhere rather than backing up Semyon Varlamov on a short-term deal? A team like the Detroit Red Wings or the San Jose Sharks shouldn't give up what will likely be a lottery pick (plus a third-rounder) in 2022, but there are others for whom it would be well worth it. As pure conjecture, the Pittsburgh Penguins, Washington Capitals and Minnesota Wild come to mind.
Pelech is the least susceptible to an offer sheet in all likelihood. He's set to become an unrestricted free agent in 2022 and is integral to the Islanders' identity. New York is most likely prepared to extend him for the long term. Staple used the contract of Minnesota's Jonas Brodin, who was signed for seven years at $6 million annually in September 2020, as a starting point. Re-signing Pelech is the Islanders' biggest priority this summer.
Memories of 2010 offer a small window of opportunity. The Sharks submitted an offer sheet for Niklas Hjalmarsson. Although the Chicago Blackhawks matched the offer, the long-term deal they were forced into left no remaining cap space to re-sign fellow RFA Antti Niemi, who headed to San Jose.
If the Islanders are forced to act early on Beauvillier and Sorokin and negotiations with Pelech drag on late into the offseason, is there a chance for another team to swoop in? Again, if an opportunity presents itself, the draft picks are worth it for a team expecting to be competitive next season.
Offer sheets should be attempted far more frequently than they are, but the rarity isn't without reason. The Islanders have built a competitive team and a culture that players want to remain part of. Lamoriello is as experienced a GM as there is in professional sports, and he will be well prepared to untangle this problem.
The smart bet is that, just like in most offseasons, offer sheets will be at best sparse and more likely nonexistent. But when it comes to the Islanders' RFAs, there are the conditions in place that lend credibility to the belief that there's an opportunity for other teams, at least in the case of Beauvillier and Sorokin, to poach good players at worthwhile prices.
Rangers' Adam Fox Wins 2020-21 Norris Trophy over Cale Makar, Victor Hedman
Jun 29, 2021
New York Rangers' Adam Fox plays during an NHL hockey game against the Philadelphia Flyers, Thursday, March 25, 2021, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
New York Rangers blueliner Adam Fox has won the 2020-21 James Norris Memorial Trophy as the NHL's top defenseman.
The 23-year-old beat out some stiff competition for the honor, getting chosen over Cale Makar of the Colorado Avalancheand Tampa Bay Lightning's Victor Hedman, who won the Norris in 2018.
In just his second NHL season, Fox quickly established himself as a premier player at both ends of the ice.
In 55 regular-season games, he registered five goals and 42 assists for 47 points. He also posted a plus-19 rating and averaged 24:42 of ice time per game.
Among defensemen, Fox ranked first in assists, second in points behind only Edmonton Oilers defenseman Tyson Barrie's 48 and 11th in average time on ice.
Fox was also a star on the power play, finishing with 23 power-play points, which was tied with Barrie for second among defensemen, just one behind Hedman's 24.
Fox was a third-round draft pick of the Calgary Flames in 2016, but his rights were traded to the Carolina Hurricanes in 2018. Carolina then flipped his rights to the Rangers in 2019 for a second-round pick.
The former Harvard standout quickly established himself as the Rangers' top defenseman, racking up 42 points and a plus-22 rating during his rookie campaign in 2019-20.
Fox finished fourth in the Calder Trophy voting as rookie of the year behind a pair of defensemen in Makar and Quinn Hughes of the Vancouver Canucks as well as Chicago Blackhawks forward Dominik Kubalik.
Just one year later, the Jericho, New York, native overtook both Makar and Hughes, and he was recognized as the top defenseman in the NHL.
Fox is the youngest Norris winner since then-Montreal Canadiens defenseman P.K. Subban won it at the age of 23 in 2013, and he is the first Rangers player to receive the honor since Brian Leetch in 1997.
