Evan’s NHL Daily: Karlsson Trade ‘Clarity’ Close? Rantanen’s Next Contract

Everyone around the NHL is waiting for some sort of Erik Karlsson deal to go down. In fact, everyone around the NHL has to be sick of hearing about it. I know I am. Apparently we might get some clarity on the whole situation this weekend. Finally.

With the Colorado Avalanche, we took mailbag questions, and one of them had to do with Mikko Rantanen’s next contract. I’m sure you can all guess that it’s going to be pretty expensive.

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

Colorado Hockey Now

It was time for another CHN Mailbag. The questions this week related to Mikko Rantanen‘s next contract, what future Cale Makar-Connor Bedard battles might look like, and an early scouting report on Ryan Johansen before the whopper of a film room we have coming.

Avalanche Mailbag: Rantanen’s Next Contract, Makar-Bedard Battles

On Saturday, we’ll have a story with an NHL coach praising Cale Makar. Big surprise, I know. And the plan is for the Johansen film room to drop Sunday. It’s a lot of clips. Right now, I’ve got 44. I’ll probably cut that down, though.

NHL Trade Chatter

Are you also sick of hearing about Erik Karlsson and where he might go? Me too. Well, maybe we’re nearing the finish line here.

“I’ve had a couple people just say, keep an eye this weekend,” Elliotte Friedman said. “There’s going to be an attempt to see if this can get closed.”

Why this weekend? The buyout window closes for the Penguins on Monday, so if they can create some extra room, a move is possible.

National Hockey Now

Pittsburgh: The Penguins are after Karlsson, but they’ll be without Jake Guentzel to start the year.

Washington: Tom Wilson will be getting paid a lot of money for a vert long time.

Los Angeles: Which Kings players will benefit the most from the off-season moves?

Carolina: The Hurricanes have to lock down Rod Brind’Amour, but an extension won’t be easy.

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