Evan’s NHL Daily: Karlsson Trade Close? Colton Arbitration Date

Eventually it’s going to happen, right? Erik Karlsson will be dealt, simply because he doesn’t want to stick around in San Jose, and it sound like it’s down to two NHL teams.

With the Colorado Avalanche, Ross Colton’s arbitration date was sent, and we profiled young defenseman Jeremy Hanzel.

All that and more in this Tuesday edition of Evan’s Daily.

Colorado Hockey Now

We now have a finalized date on when a Ross Colton extension is needed, and it’s July 27. 22 players filed for arbitration this year, but four have already come to an agreement with their teams. Will Colton actually go through the process?

“(He) just kept adding tools to his toolbox, to the point where NHL teams couldn’t ignore him anymore,” Seattle Thunderbirds head coach told me of recent Avalanche draft pick Jeremy Hanzel. We profiled the defenseman with quotes from his coach, a scout, Hanzel himself, and Avalanche Director of Player Development, Brian Willsie.

Up today, a new Nikolai Kovalenko interview has surfaced in Russia, and we’ll have that on the site.

NHL Trade Chatter

Erik Karlsson is getting traded one way or the other, and it sound like it’s down to just two teams – the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Carolina Hurricanes. Both teams will have to figure things out with the salary cap for the trade, but should happen. The Penguins make more sense, IMO. The Hurricanes reuniting Brent Burns and Karlsson doesn’t make a ton of sense to me. We know that didn’t work the best in San Jose.

Friedman on NHL Network says he thinks an Erik Karlsson deal will get done to either CAR or PIT, Friedman feels a bit of a poker game is going on, SJ has an idea of what PIT and CAR want to do, just waiting to see if anyone makes a move, does anyone's position change?

— NHL Watcher (@NHL_Watcher) July 11, 2023

National Hockey Now

Pittsburgh: Beyond Karlsson’s potential addition, here are four bargain bin additions that could help the Penguins.

San Jose: Filip Zadina decided to go somewhere he could get playing time, and that’s with the Sharks. A nice pickup for a young squad that could use the free asset.

Detroit: The Red Wings are hoping their new additions (not Compher) can boost the powerplay.

LA: Former top draft pick Brandt Clarke is ready to earn an NHL spot.