Dater’s Daily: Phil Kessel Signs With Vegas, NHL Salary Cap Going Way Up In Two Years?

Happy Thursday to all. Sunny, not a cloud in the sky here in Thornton as I type, temperatures tolerable. Let’s do some around-the-horn hockey notes, starting with one on Phil Kessel:

• The veteran winger signed a one-year, $1.5 million deal with the Vegas Golden Knights. Our Owen Krepps has all the details here (Vegas Hockey Now)
• Kessel needs to play only eight more consecutive games to break Keith Yandle’s all-time NHL record of 980. I think this could be a nice signing for Vegas, but Phil The Thrill has seen better days.
• The Robo Penguins logo is back? It appears a Fanatics leak may have let the cat out of the bag. Pittsburgh Penguins retro jersey.
• NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly is confident the NHL salary cap will go WAY up after the 2023-24 season (Sportsnet)
• The cap, if it indeed goes way up in two years, no doubt will play a factor in the Nathan MacKinnon extension negotiations with the Avalanche. Don’t base what MacKinnon can make (after this coming season) on this current cap. Base it on what the cap is expected to be in two years. I won’t at all be surprised if $15 million per is the ask on his next deal. Right now, I don’t think the sides are too close on a number.
• A former Red Wing who was a big part of the Blood Feud rivalry accepted a coaching job in the KHL (Detroit Hockey Now)
• Speaking of “Blood Feud”, my book on the rivalry just got discounted some in price on Amazon
• Nashville will host next year’s draft (Sportsnet)
• Denver still has never hosted an NHL draft, which I find bizarre.
• Nazem Kadri is looking forward to participating in the Battle of Alberta – especially against Evander Kane one would assume (Calgary Hockey Now)
• Former DU coach Jim Montgomery laid out his vision of how he wants his Boston Bruins to play this season (Boston Hockey Now)
• Ryan Ellis being banged up was part of the storyline last season for the Philadelphia Flyers, unfortunately, and now it looks like he’s not going to be ready to start next season.

Have a pleasant day, my loyal readers.