The Kaprizov situation is actually wild. I can't believe there's a possibility that a top 10 player in the league simply can't enter the continent. I also find it shocking that the Wild have maintained they're not concerned. I would be very concerned if the only elite player on my team and the guy hard carrying my franchise to relevancy was not in the country lol. At least he's out of Russia now, which makes it less likely that he gets arrested and sent to Siberia.

I can Nemec starting in the AHL and being called up mid-late season.

Everybody in the Gaudreau conversation seems determined to use up all their cap space before free agency. The Preds re-signed Forsberg and traded for McDonagh. The Flyers traded for DeAngelo. The Devils are gonna give 3.5mil to Wood, and likely 7+ mil to Bratt, 3mil to Zacha, 3mil to Vanecek, and that 25mil cap space starts to dry up quick. Like that's 16mil of it gone at least, their roster is only at 19 players, and you're not gonna get Gaudreau for less than 10mil on the open market (probably cost over 11mil). Maybe you're still in it if Bernier never plays again.

That's a head-scratcher. Miles Wood, $3.5 million AAV (even for one year)?? Think letting him walk would be the smarter move here.