Matt Sekeres inquired, “What are the chances he’ll re-sign here? What’s the anticipated cost for this player, Frank? By moving (Andrei) Kuzmenko, they have opened up $5.5 million in next year’s cap space.”

Seravalli responded, “It’s going to be expensive. There were discussions in Calgary during the preseason indicating that Lindholm was seeking a number starting with 9 million. Even if it falls into the eights, I can’t envision a feasible path for the Canucks to accommodate that salary.

There might be further adjustments needed. If he performs exceptionally well and fits seamlessly into the team, the Canucks may have no choice but to make other roster moves to facilitate this kind of signing.

However, with Pettersson’s new contract on the books and the looming deal for Filip Hronek—which I firmly believe will start with an eight—the financial math simply doesn’t add up for me.”

Assessing the Winnipeg Jets’ Strategic Options for Blue Line Improvement

Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic reported that one source suggested the Winnipeg Jets were the runners-up in the bidding for Elias Lindholm. Shortly after Lindholm was traded to the Canucks, they acquired Sean Monahan.

Murat Ates of The Athletic: In a recent mailbag, he noted that it’s possible for the Winnipeg Jets to sign Rutger McGroarty to an entry-level contract once his NCAA season at the University of Michigan concludes. However, given their current roster dynamics, securing ice time may be challenging for him, and it could be more beneficial for him to return to Michigan for another year.

It seems the Jets may be looking to add a defenseman ahead of the trade deadline. One agent speculated that the team would actively seek a defensive addition, prompting Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff to state on Friday, “We have time between now and the deadline to continually assess, evaluate, and monitor our needs. The demands on the ice will only intensify, and our off-ice evaluations will remain ongoing.”

Acquiring Chris Tanev might prove to be a complex transaction due to salary cap constraints. Other potential rental options could include Philadelphia Flyers defensemen Sean Walker and Nick Seeler.

Nate Schmidt’s position on the Jets’ blue line for the upcoming season might be precarious, as he is entering the final year of his contract, carrying a hefty cap hit of $5.95 million, which adds another layer of complexity to their roster decisions.