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Sammi’s Weekend Wrap: NHL Offer Sheet Drama, Olympics Update, Eichel Watch

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NHL offer sheet drama brews with Kotkaniemi signing one from Carolina.

It’s been a thrilling weekend across the NHL. Offer sheet drama is brewing between the Carolina Hurricanes and Montreal Canadiens. Meanwhile, things are getting interesting for Jack Eichel, who’s heading to Montreal for BioSteel Camp. We also got a report on where the league stands in regards to the 2022 Winter Olympics.

Here’s are the latest happenings to catch up on.

Capitals Links

  • Washington blueliner Martin Fehervary suffered a “minor muscle injury” that held him out of Olympic qualifiers. Here’s what he had to say about the injury, his recovery and the season ahead. (Washington Hockey Now)
  • Speaking of the Olympics, reports and sources indicate that NHLers are likely to lace ’em up in Beijing come February. We take a look at the league’s possible return to Olympic play and which Capitals could play for their respective countries. (WHN)
  • In prospect news, Hendrix Lapierre’s having a strong start to the QMJHL’s preseason. Diane Doyle has the latest on how he’s performing with the Acadie-Bathurst Titan. (NoVa Caps)
  • Henrik Lundqvist was reportedly three days away from rejoining Washington before he found out he was suffering from pericarditis. Ian Oland shares what Lundqvist had to say about his condition, his decision to retire and near return to the Capitals. (Russian Machine Never Breaks)

NHL Links

  • Jack Eichel has turned up the pressure on the Buffalo Sabres, firing former agent Peter Fish and hiring Pat Brisson. Mike Harrington ponders what Brisson can do for the captain as he looks for a trade. (Buffalo News)
  • Speaking of Eichel, what does his agent switch mean for the Bruins? Jimmy Murphy explains how this move could help or hinder Boston’s chances at acquiring No. 9. (Boston Hockey Now)
  • The Hurricanes trolled the Canadiens while tendering a $6.1 million offer sheet to Jesperi Kotkaniemi, which includes a $20 signing bonus as a nod to the Habs’ past offer to Sebastian Aho. Adam Gretz takes an interesting look at the situation and makes his case for why Montreal shouldn’t match the offer, which the 2018 No. 3 pick signed. (Pro Hockey Talk)
  • Nova Scotia natives Nathan MacKinnon and Sidney Crosby are teaming up for another Tim Horton’s commercial. Dan Kingerski details the ad, as well as the Team Canada jersey both players are wearing as a potential nod to the Olympics. (Pittsburgh Hockey Now)

Sammi’s Top Shelf Takes

  • Slovakia, Latvia and Denmark all earned wins in the Olympic qualifiers for the final three spots in the 2022 Winter Olympics. We could potentially see Lars Eller suit up for his home nation come February. Fehervary was set to be a part of the qualifiers — and also expected to be a key leader on the blue line — but an injury sidelined him for the tournament.
  • Judging Lapierre’s early play right now, I still think he’s among the biggest steals from the 2020 NHL Draft.
  • Carolina’s offer sheet antics could lead to a first and third-round pick for the Habs if they chose not to match the offer. Kotkaniemi signed, and if Montreal lets him walk, the Canes will be over the cap. Meanwhile, Montreal would have to shuffle players and open space via the LTIR to match the offer. Just a bit of a… rigamarole for both parties right now.
  • Thank you so much to my readers, supporters, family and friends for the kind words and appreciation of my mom and reading the story on our difficult but amazing journey. She truly is a hero, and it took a long time to publicly speak about my father. It means the world to hear from you all.