Welcome back to NHL Notebook — the series here at CanucksArmy where we deliver you news and notes from around the National Hockey League — oftentimes through a Vancouver Canucks-tinted lens!
It’s mid-August, which of course means NHL news is hard to come by. So when it does, we’re sure to break it down for you!
Let’s get into today’s headlines!
Evander Kane could start the year on LTIR
According to 630 CHED’s Bob Stauffer, Edmonton Oilers winger Evander Kane will start the season on long-term injured reserve as he works his way through a sports hernia/hip injury.
Hearing there is a very good chance that the @EdmontonOilers Evander Kane won't be ready for the start of the season…that he may require surgery…and is likely to be on LTIR to start the year
— Bob Stauffer (@Bob_Stauffer) August 12, 2024
Now, this obviously alleviates the Oilers’ salary cap situation by quite a bit, as they’ll be able to “go over the cap” thanks to the LTIR savings on Kane’s $5.125-million. That’s a good thing too, because their offseason moves — like signing Victor Arvidsson and Jeff Skinner in free agency — have them above the salary cap by $354,167, according to PuckPedia.
Further, the club still needs to sign key RFAs in Dylan Holloway and Philip Broberg, which they now should have the space to do with Kane slated to hit LTIR.
Kane played through a hip injury down the stretch of the regular season and into the playoffs, and his effectiveness was greatly affected as a result. Kane appeared in 20 playoff games with the Oilers this past spring, tallying four goals and four assists.
While the Oilers will now have the cap space to make their signings, it will be interesting to see how the club navigates things once Kane is ready to be activated from LTIR, if that day comes at some point this season.
Ilya Samsonov said what?
Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Ilya Samsonov appears to have had some… interesting words for Ottawa Senators goaltender Linus Ullmark. The two last met in the playoffs during the Leafs and Bruins’ series, that the Bruins went on to win, and Ullmark gave some candid thoughts about Samsonov and the series after the fact.
“I was surprised that they kept Samsonov in for that many games against us in the playoffs,” Ullmark said on an appearance on Leafs Morning Take. “I felt that every time we played the Leafs and he (Joseph Woll) was in net, it felt like it was more of a challenge even though I’m not a player. Just watching him, it looked like he was in so much more control of the situation that was thrown at him.”
As you might expect, that quote didn’t sit too well with Samsonov, who commented on a graphic on Instagram highlighting the NHL Network’s picks for the top 10 goalies in the NHL, where Ullmark was ranked 10th.
Samsonov commented on the post: “#10❤️” before adding another comment below his original message.
“November 21, keep your a** shut or are you injured again?” Samsonov commented.
Samsonov’s now deleted comments appear to be referring to the Golden Knights and Senators’ game in Ottawa on November 21st, which could be the next time these two goaltenders meet.
Alrighty then!
Leafs set to name Matthews captain
It’s a good thing Samsonov doesn’t play for the Leafs anymore, otherwise this would be TWO Maple Leafs-centric news story in today’s edition of Around the League!
The one we do have is fairly significant though, and it comes courtesy of TSN’s Darren Dreger, who reported Monday afternoon that Toronto is expected to name Auston Matthews their captain on Wednesday.
Expect the Toronto Maple Leafs to name Auston Matthews captain on Wednesday. This is part of the evolution of Matthews as a leader and current Maple Leafs captain John Tavares fully supports the change. Tavares has been heavily involved in the process with GM Brad Treliving.
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) August 12, 2024
The Leafs announced an 11 AM press conference on Wednesday to officially introduce Matthews as Toronto’s 26th captain. John Tavares was named the Leafs’ 25th captain ahead of his second season in Toronto back in 2019, and is entering the final season of his contract with the Leafs.
The 26-year-old Matthews would become the first American captain of the Maple Leafs in franchise history and just the second non-Canadian captain after Vancouver Canucks legend Mats Sundin wore the ‘C’ from 1997 to 2008.
Matthews’ new four-year contract with the Leafs carries an AAV of $13.25 million and begins this upcoming season.