The Edmonton Oilers might consider a significant defensive trade to alleviate their salary cap concerns. Darnell Nurse, at 31, is under contract until the 2029-30 season with a substantial $9.25 million cap hit and a no-trade clause that will soon become a 10-team no-trade list. Meanwhile, the Toronto Maple Leafs’ Morgan Rielly, also 31, has a similar contract duration ending in 2029-30 but with a $7.5 million cap hit and a full no-movement clause. A player exchange between these two teams could offer a cap relief solution for the Oilers. It’s worth noting that Max Domi, who plays for the Leafs, has a personal connection to Nurse, having grown up with him.
In the meantime, the Colorado Avalanche are projected to have very limited salary cap space for the upcoming season. Despite an anticipated $8.5 million increase in the salary cap, $2.3 million of that is already allocated to Brent Burns’ bonus overages. The Avalanche currently have approximately $2.98 million in projected cap space with 17 players under contract. They still need to address restricted free agents Jack Drury and Zakhar Bardakov, as well as unrestricted free agents Joel Kiviranta, Alex Barre-Boulet, Jason Polin, Brett Kulak, Brent Burns, and Nick Blankenburg.
Several key questions loom for Colorado’s offseason. Will Cale Makar sign a significant contract extension? He is eligible this offseason with a year remaining on his current deal. The potential extension could see his cap hit eclipse even Kirill Kaprizov’s current $17 million, but the cap ceiling will likely be considerably higher by then. Re-signing Brett Kulak is another consideration; a deal lasting two to three years at an estimated $3.5 to $4 million per season might necessitate salary being moved out by the Avalanche. The team also needs to decide on Jack Drury’s future. As a solid fourth-line center, securing him to a longer-term deal could also require salary shedding, or they might explore trading him. The return of veteran defenseman Brent Burns, who is 41 and nearing Phil Kessel’s Ironman record, is also a possibility, perhaps on a one-year, $1 million incentive-laden contract if he wishes to continue playing. To create cap flexibility, the Avalanche may need to consider moving players like Ross Colton, who has one year left on his $4 million contract and could be a middle-six option for another team.
English Translation:
The Edmonton Oilers may consider a substantial defensive trade to alleviate their salary cap issues. Darnell Nurse, aged 31, is under contract until the 2029-30 season with a significant $9.25 million cap hit and a no-trade clause that will soon transition to a 10-team no-trade list. In parallel, Toronto Maple Leafs’ Morgan Rielly, also 31, has a comparable contract duration ending in 2029-30 but with a $7.5 million cap hit and a full no-movement clause. An exchange of players between these two teams could provide a cap relief solution for the Oilers. It is noteworthy that Max Domi, who plays for the Leafs, has a personal connection to Nurse, having grown up with him.
Meanwhile, the Colorado Avalanche are projected to have very limited salary cap space for the upcoming season. Despite an anticipated $8.5 million increase in the salary cap, $2.3 million of that is already committed to Brent Burns’ bonus overages. The Avalanche currently have approximately $2.98 million in projected cap space with 17 players under contract. They still need to address restricted free agents Jack Drury and Zakhar Bardakov, as well as unrestricted free agents Joel Kiviranta, Alex Barre-Boulet, Jason Polin, Brett Kulak, Brent Burns, and Nick Blankenburg.
Several key questions loom for Colorado’s offseason. Will Cale Makar sign a significant contract extension? He is eligible this offseason with a year remaining on his current deal. The potential extension could see his cap hit surpass even Kirill Kaprizov’s current $17 million, but the cap ceiling will likely be considerably higher by then. Re-signing Brett Kulak is another consideration; a deal lasting two to three years at an estimated $3.5 to $4 million per season might necessitate salary being moved out by the Avalanche. The team also needs to decide on Jack Drury’s future. As a solid fourth-line center, securing him to a longer-term deal could also require salary shedding, or they might explore trading him. The return of veteran defenseman Brent Burns, who is 41 and nearing Phil Kessel’s Ironman record, is also a possibility, perhaps on a one-year, $1 million incentive-laden contract if he wishes to continue playing. To create cap flexibility, the Avalanche may need to consider moving players like Ross Colton, who has one year left on his $4 million contract and could be a middle-six option for another team.
