<p>The NHL offseason continues as the calendar turns to August. General managers around the league have completed most of their leg work and now the fine tuning begins before training camps open in September. From contract extensions, to reviewing the best-of-the-rest on the free-agent market, to navigating trade requests, the work continues.</p>
<p>Here&#8217;s the very latest from Around the NHL:</p>
<h2>Former Sharks GM made mistake letting Joe Pavelski walk</h2>
<p>During the 2019 offseason, Doug Wilson was the general manager of the San Jose Sharks. Instead of ensuring veteran forward Joe Pavelski was taken care of with a multi-year contract extension, Wilson turned his attention to free-agent defenseman Erik Karlsson and landed the Swedish blueliner on a massive eight-year, $92-million contract.</p>
<p>The only problem? It left minimal cap space for the Sharks. Pavelski wasn&#8217;t thrilled with what Wilson had left to offer him and the veteran forward decided to sign a three-year contract with the Dallas Stars, worth $21 million. Wilson, now a Senior Advisor of Hockey Operations for the Pittsburgh Penguins, recently caught up with <a href="https://www.nbcsportsbayarea.com/nhl/san-jose-sharks/joe-pavelski-regret-doug-wilson/1764597/">Sheng Peng of San Jose Hockey Now</a>, and had this to say, &#8220;We should have found a way to get it done. It was a mistake.&#8221;</p>
<p>&#8220;Sometimes, you can overanalyze things.&#8221; said Wilson. &#8220;But I, as a GM, with my love for (Pavelski) and realizing how special he was, I look back, I probably should have dismissed historical analysis of contracts for players that age and said, &#8216;Screw it. &#8220;I said, &#8216;I tip my hat to you and am so amazed by everything you&#8217;ve accomplished.&#8217; It&#8217;s not surprising. I wish, in hindsight, we would have kept him.&#8221;</p>
<p>Despite leaving the Sharks when he was 34, Pavelski kept on producing as a top-six forward for multiple years before retiring earlier this summer. This scenario is certainly something to consider for Brad Treliving and how he handles John Tavares&#8217; contract extension talks. Tavares turns 34 years old in September and is entering the final season of his contract, earning $11 million against the cap. Treliving will be pushing hard for a home-town discount, and early speculation has Tavares&#8217; next AAV coming in around $5-6 million.</p>
<h2>Carolina Hurricanes re-sign Martin Necas to two-year deal</h2>
<p>What a wild summer it&#8217;s been for the Carolina Hurricanes. After months of trade speculation, including even kyboshing a deal to the Buffalo Sabres, Martin Necas has re-signed in Carolina on a two-year contract worth $6.5 million AAV.</p>
<p>Necas had his named littered all over trade rumors this summer as the Hurricanes were undergoing a slew of roster changes. While they let Teuvo Teravainen, Jake Guentzel, Brett Pesce, Brady Skjei, and Anthony DeAngelo walk, Necas is now locked in.</p>
<p>Necas gets a raise from his $3.5 million AAV off his last deal. The speedy winger scored 24 goals and added 29 assists in 77 games last season. He also chipped in with nine points in 11 Stanley Cup Playoff games.</p>
<p>The Hurricanes now turn their attention to getting an extension completed with their lone restricted free agent Seth Jarvis. Jarvis appeared in 81 games for the &#8216;Canes last season, scoring 33 times and finishing the year with 67 points.</p>
<p>Carolina&#8217;s GM Eric Tulsky has $6.44 million left in cap space and it has Jarvis&#8217; name written all over it. Meanwhile in Toronto, Treliving has $1.27 million left in cap space and Nick Robertson left to re-sign, however the 22-year-old restricted free-agent reportedly prefers to sign elsewhere and start a new chapter of his career.</p>
<h2>Montreal Canadiens extend Guhle, re-sign Barron and Xhekaj</h2>
<p>After a very quiet start to the 2024 offseason, Montreal Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes has been busy of late. The team announced this past week they&#8217;ve extended defenseman Kaiden Guhle with a six-year extension, carrying an AAV of $5.55 million.</p>
<p>Guhle, who had one season left on his current contract, also receives a five-team no-trade clause with his new deal. The 22-year-old is an up-and-coming top-four defenseman who tallied six goals and 16 assists in 70 games last season. Guhle also landed 116 hits and blocked 178 shots. He averaged close to 21 minutes per game and should see much of the same responsibility in 2024-25.</p>
<p>Hughes also re-signed defensemen Justin Barron and Arber Xhekaj to two-year contracts.</p>
<p>Barron will earn $1.15 million AAV, meanwhile Xhekaj will earn $1.3 million per season against the cap. Barron collected 13 points in 48 games last season for the Canadiens. The former 2020 first-round pick of the Colorado Avalanche was acquired by the Habs in a deal that saw Artturi Lehkonen land in Colorado.</p>
<p>Xhekaj dressed in 44 games last season for Montreal. He recorded three goals and seven assists and played just under 16 minutes per game. The 6-foot-4 240-pound blueliner will look to secure a spot among the Canadiens bottom pair and bring his enforcer-type intimidation on a nightly basis. Xhekaj was a part of seven fights last season and will look to once again familiarize himself with Ryan Reaves once the the Canadiens match up against the Maple Leafs.</p>
<h2>L.A Kings re-sign Jordan Spence to two-year deal</h2>
<p>The Los Angeles Kings have locked in one of their up-and-coming blueliners as the team re-signed Jordan Spence to a two-year contract worth $1.5 million AAV.</p>
<p>Spence, 23, scored twice and registered 24 points in 71 games last season, his first full season in the league. So far throughout the early stages of his career, Spence has collected four goals and 33 points in 101 games.</p>
<p>Spence projects to play regularly among the Kings blue line and should get a look at a bigger role with the team, now that Matt Roy has left in free agency.</p>
<p>While the Maple Leafs have no idea what it&#8217;s like to have depth among their right-handed defensemen, the Kings on the other hand have had Drew Doughty for over a decade and now have Spence, Mikey Anderson and former first-round pick Brandt Clarke among their depth chart.</p>
<h2>Eric Staal retires after 18 seasons</h2>
<p>Eric Staal signed a one-day deal with the Carolina Hurricanes and has called it quits.</p>
<p>Staal hangs up his skates after 18 seasons and gets to close it out in Carolina, where it all began. Staal didn&#8217;t appear in any NHL action in 2023-24 and most recently appeared in 72 games for the Florida Panthers during the 2022-23 season, where he&#8217;d post 29 points in 72 games. Staal&#8217;s 18-year contract included stops with the Hurricanes, New York Rangers, Minnesota Wild, Buffalo Sabres, Montreal Canadiens, and Panthers. Staal&#8217;s career included 1365 games, 455 goals, 608 assists, 1063 points, 104 Stanley Cup Playoff games and 64 postseason points.</p>
<p>The Hurricanes drafted Staal second overall at the 2003 NHL draft. The living legend <a href="https://www.thescore.com/nhl/news/3046031/eric-staal-signs-1-day-contract-to-retire-with-hurricanes">spoke to the media</a> after signing his one-day contract and had this to say, From the time I arrived in Raleigh at 18 years old and throughout my 12 years there, I felt the love and support of the fans and organization in a way that will always feel special to me,&#8221; Staal said. &#8220;There was no doubt in my mind that when it became time to hang up my skates, I would want to retire as a Carolina Hurricane. To now also know that the team is retiring my No. 12 is truly humbling, and I am extremely grateful and honored.&#8221;</p>
<p>Staal&#8217;s decorated career included 59 games against the Maple Leafs, he scored 24 times and added 28 assists.</p>


The NHL offseason continues as the calendar turns to August. General managers around the league have completed most of their leg work and now the fine tuning begins before training camps open in September. From contract extensions, to reviewing the best-of-the-rest on the free-agent market, to navigating trade requests, the work continues.

Here's the very latest from Around the NHL:
<h2>Former Sharks GM made mistake letting Joe Pavelski walk</h2>
During the 2019 offseason, Doug Wilson was the general manager of the San Jose Sharks. Instead of ensuring veteran forward Joe Pavelski was taken care of with a multi-year contract extension, Wilson turned his attention to free-agent defenseman Erik Karlsson and landed the Swedish blueliner on a massive eight-year, $92-million contract.

The only problem? It left minimal cap space for the Sharks. Pavelski wasn't thrilled with what Wilson had left to offer him and the veteran forward decided to sign a three-year contract with the Dallas Stars, worth $21 million. Wilson, now a Senior Advisor of Hockey Operations for the Pittsburgh Penguins, recently caught up with <a href="https://www.nbcsportsbayarea.com/nhl/san-jose-sharks/joe-pavelski-regret-doug-wilson/1764597/">Sheng Peng of San Jose Hockey Now</a>, and had this to say, "We should have found a way to get it done. It was a mistake."

"Sometimes, you can overanalyze things." said Wilson. "But I, as a GM, with my love for (Pavelski) and realizing how special he was, I look back, I probably should have dismissed historical analysis of contracts for players that age and said, 'Screw it. "I said, 'I tip my hat to you and am so amazed by everything you've accomplished.' It's not surprising. I wish, in hindsight, we would have kept him."

Despite leaving the Sharks when he was 34, Pavelski kept on producing as a top-six forward for multiple years before retiring earlier this summer. This scenario is certainly something to consider for Brad Treliving and how he handles John Tavares' contract extension talks. Tavares turns 34 years old in September and is entering the final season of his contract, earning $11 million against the cap. Treliving will be pushing hard for a home-town discount, and early speculation has Tavares' next AAV coming in around $5-6 million.
<h2>Carolina Hurricanes re-sign Martin Necas to two-year deal</h2>
What a wild summer it's been for the Carolina Hurricanes. After months of trade speculation, including even kyboshing a deal to the Buffalo Sabres, Martin Necas has re-signed in Carolina on a two-year contract worth $6.5 million AAV.

Necas had his named littered all over trade rumors this summer as the Hurricanes were undergoing a slew of roster changes. While they let Teuvo Teravainen, Jake Guentzel, Brett Pesce, Brady Skjei, and Anthony DeAngelo walk, Necas is now locked in.

Necas gets a raise from his $3.5 million AAV off his last deal. The speedy winger scored 24 goals and added 29 assists in 77 games last season. He also chipped in with nine points in 11 Stanley Cup Playoff games.

The Hurricanes now turn their attention to getting an extension completed with their lone restricted free agent Seth Jarvis. Jarvis appeared in 81 games for the 'Canes last season, scoring 33 times and finishing the year with 67 points.

Carolina's GM Eric Tulsky has $6.44 million left in cap space and it has Jarvis' name written all over it. Meanwhile in Toronto, Treliving has $1.27 million left in cap space and Nick Robertson left to re-sign, however the 22-year-old restricted free-agent reportedly prefers to sign elsewhere and start a new chapter of his career.
<h2>Montreal Canadiens extend Guhle, re-sign Barron and Xhekaj</h2>
After a very quiet start to the 2024 offseason, Montreal Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes has been busy of late. The team announced this past week they've extended defenseman Kaiden Guhle with a six-year extension, carrying an AAV of $5.55 million.

Guhle, who had one season left on his current contract, also receives a five-team no-trade clause with his new deal. The 22-year-old is an up-and-coming top-four defenseman who tallied six goals and 16 assists in 70 games last season. Guhle also landed 116 hits and blocked 178 shots. He averaged close to 21 minutes per game and should see much of the same responsibility in 2024-25.

Hughes also re-signed defensemen Justin Barron and Arber Xhekaj to two-year contracts.

Barron will earn $1.15 million AAV, meanwhile Xhekaj will earn $1.3 million per season against the cap. Barron collected 13 points in 48 games last season for the Canadiens. The former 2020 first-round pick of the Colorado Avalanche was acquired by the Habs in a deal that saw Artturi Lehkonen land in Colorado.

Xhekaj dressed in 44 games last season for Montreal. He recorded three goals and seven assists and played just under 16 minutes per game. The 6-foot-4 240-pound blueliner will look to secure a spot among the Canadiens bottom pair and bring his enforcer-type intimidation on a nightly basis. Xhekaj was a part of seven fights last season and will look to once again familiarize himself with Ryan Reaves once the the Canadiens match up against the Maple Leafs.
<h2>L.A Kings re-sign Jordan Spence to two-year deal</h2>
The Los Angeles Kings have locked in one of their up-and-coming blueliners as the team re-signed Jordan Spence to a two-year contract worth $1.5 million AAV.

Spence, 23, scored twice and registered 24 points in 71 games last season, his first full season in the league. So far throughout the early stages of his career, Spence has collected four goals and 33 points in 101 games.

Spence projects to play regularly among the Kings blue line and should get a look at a bigger role with the team, now that Matt Roy has left in free agency.

While the Maple Leafs have no idea what it's like to have depth among their right-handed defensemen, the Kings on the other hand have had Drew Doughty for over a decade and now have Spence, Mikey Anderson and former first-round pick Brandt Clarke among their depth chart.
<h2>Eric Staal retires after 18 seasons</h2>
Eric Staal signed a one-day deal with the Carolina Hurricanes and has called it quits.

Staal hangs up his skates after 18 seasons and gets to close it out in Carolina, where it all began. Staal didn't appear in any NHL action in 2023-24 and most recently appeared in 72 games for the Florida Panthers during the 2022-23 season, where he'd post 29 points in 72 games. Staal's 18-year contract included stops with the Hurricanes, New York Rangers, Minnesota Wild, Buffalo Sabres, Montreal Canadiens, and Panthers. Staal's career included 1365 games, 455 goals, 608 assists, 1063 points, 104 Stanley Cup Playoff games and 64 postseason points.

The Hurricanes drafted Staal second overall at the 2003 NHL draft. The living legend <a href="https://www.thescore.com/nhl/news/3046031/eric-staal-signs-1-day-contract-to-retire-with-hurricanes">spoke to the media</a> after signing his one-day contract and had this to say, From the time I arrived in Raleigh at 18 years old and throughout my 12 years there, I felt the love and support of the fans and organization in a way that will always feel special to me," Staal said. "There was no doubt in my mind that when it became time to hang up my skates, I would want to retire as a Carolina Hurricane. To now also know that the team is retiring my No. 12 is truly humbling, and I am extremely grateful and honored."

Staal's decorated career included 59 games against the Maple Leafs, he scored 24 times and added 28 assists.

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