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NHL training camps are approaching. Here are top issues to be decided.

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NHL training camps are approaching. Here are top issues to be decided.

NHL teams need to fiinish getting rosters in order with training camps opening on Thursday, Sept. 17.

There’s another deadline before that with the new collective-bargaining agreement taking effect at 12:01 a.m. on Wedneday.

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After that, eight-year contracts can no longer be offered by a team re-signing its own player and it will drop to seven years maximum (or six years for signing a player from another team). Teams also face changes that limit signing bonuses and how they front-load contracts.

Here are some things that need to be settled with training camps on the horizon:

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Top 30 NHL salaries for 2026-27 season

  1. C Leo Carlsson, Ducks, $20.8 million (figures from puckpedia.com)

(Marc DesRosiers, Imagn images via Reuters Connect)

The two U.S. Oympic gold medalists have asked to be traded and Winnipeg Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck made his request public this month.

Both are under contract long-term, so they need to report or they won’t get paid. Dylan Larkin said he will show up to camp and will have conversations with the Red Wings’ new general manager about the direction of the team. But Detroit is still looking to make that hire.

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If the players are moved, their teams will need to get a solid return rather than picks and prospects. The Jets signed Stuart Skinner in the offseason, but it would make sense to get another goalie back

Restricted free agents to re-sign

Anaheim Ducks leading scorer Cutter Gauthier and Columbus Blue Jackets forward Adam Fantilli are the big names. The Ducks have more than $15.5 million in cap space after terminating Chris Kreider’s contract, Leo Carlsson is the team’s top-paid player at an $18 million cap hit after Anaheim matched the Philadelphia Flyers’ offer sheet.

Fantilli finished second on the Blue Jackets in goals (24) and third period in points (59). TSN’s Pierre Lebrun said the Gauthier talks are making progress while the Fantilli talks are going slow.

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Defensemen Alexander Nikishin (Carolina), Simon Edvinsson (Detroit) and Arber Zhekaj remain unsigned.

Minnesota Wild general manager Bill Guerin is confident he can get an extension done with the defenseman, who he gave up a lot to acquire last season. Hughes told reporters he has enjoyed his time in Minnesota but is preaching patience.

“I think if you look at a player like Quinn, you only get to free agency one time,” J.P. Barry, agent Pat Brisson’s colleague at CAA, told the Donnie and Dhali podcast. ” I think he wants to make a great choice. He’s only been there around a year or so, even less, so I think he wants to see how the team does and how he feels.”

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Hughes is entering the last year of his contract. A three-year extension would match him up with the end of his brother Jack’s contract in New Jersey.

Captain vacancies

The New York Islanders named Bo Horvat to replace departed Anders Lee and Robert Thomas was appointed early in St. Louis. But there remain vacancies in Anaheim, Boston, Chicago, Columbus, Detroit, Los Angeles, Ottawa, San Jose and Vancouver. The Red Wings stripped Larkin of his captaincy.

David Pastrnak (Bruins) and Zach Werenski (Blue Jackets) seem like logical choices and Moritz Seider would make sense in Detroit.

Chicago and San Jose have future captains in Connor Bedard and Macklin Celebrini, respectively. Do those teams go with the young rising stars now or wait? Bedard will miss the beginning of the season because of shoulder surgery.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NHL training camps are approaching. Here are top issues to be decided.

Read the full article here

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