Interest in Chandler Stephenson is heating up, which is bad news for the Vegas Golden Knights’ hopes of keeping him at a discount. According to Sportsnet insider Elliotte Friedman, the Boston Bruins are eyeing Stephenson if he becomes available. The Bruins are in need of a productive center after the retirements of Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci.
David Pagnotta of Fourth Period reports that the Bruins, Maple Leafs, and Nashville Predators are among the growing list of teams interested in Stephenson. Over the past three seasons, Stephenson has averaged 60 points per season.
Stephenson’s agent is expected to meet with the Golden Knights soon to discuss what it would take for him to stay in Vegas. AFP Analytics projects that Stephenson, 30, could command a five-year deal worth $5.6 million per season on the open market. If there’s a bidding war, his salary could exceed $6 million per year.
This situation poses a challenge for Vegas general manager Kelly McCrimmon. The team currently has about $900,000 in cap space for next season with 20 players signed, but expects an additional $5 million from Robin Lehner being on Long-Term Injured Reserve for one more season. Moreover, Jonathan Marchessault is also unsigned and could command around $6 million on the open market.
Given the current cap space, McCrimmon may struggle to sign both Stephenson and Marchessault. He might need to consider trading some players to create space. NHL teams are allowed a 10% cap overage during the offseason, which could allow the Golden Knights to sign both players and then make the necessary adjustments over the summer.
It seems unlikely that the Golden Knights will be able to re-sign Anthony Mantha, Alec Martinez, William Carrier, and Michael Amadio.