Sheng’s Daily: Why the Joel Edmundson Trade Makes Sense

Yesterday at San Jose Hockey Now, Aftonbladet’s Per Bjurman and I speculated about the possibility of Henrik Lundqvist, if he’s bought out, signing with the San Jose Sharks. Under some conditions, it actually makes some sense:

Speculation: Per Bjurman on Henrik Lundqvist to the Sharks

In other San Jose Sharks news…

Missed this last week, but Corey Pronman asked 25 scouts, “Which scout do you have the most respect for?” San Jose’s Tim Burke is one of three who received multiple votes, along with Toronto’s Wes Clark and Tampa Bay’s Al Murray. (The Athletic)

Around the NHL…

Montreal’s acquisition of impending UFA Joel Edmundson’s exclusive negotiating rights for a fifth-round draft pick caused some consternation around the hockey world yesterday. It seemed like a high price to pay for a No. 4-6 defenseman’s rights.

But it’s the debut of a refreshed CBA this off-season. And one of the key differences in this new CBA is the disappearance of the UFA negotiating window. Previously, every team in the league had a chance to negotiate with pending UFAs in the week before July 1st. It was easy to put in offers because nothing was officially signed until July 1st, so there wasn’t as much need for exclusivity.

Now, there are no negotiations allowed with impending UFAs until the beginning of free agency — unless they’re your own UFAs — so naturally, there’s a higher premium on exclusive negotiating rights.

This helps explain why the rights for a solid but unremarkable defender like Edmundson could command a draft pick.

There’s precedent for this too. The UFA negotiating window was instituted in 2014 — before that, trading for exclusive negotiating rights was far more in vogue.

By the way, this is already the second time in this nascent off-season that Montreal has exercised the philosophy of if you want something, just go get it, even if the cost is more than others expect. Last week’s acquisition of expensive back-up goalie Jake Allen for essentially a third-round pick was another example of GM Marc Bergevin’s aggressiveness.

What does the Nick Bjugstad trade mean for Pittsburgh? (Pittsburgh Hockey Now)

Lou Lamoriello wins GM of the Year. (NYI Hockey Now)

It’s a fresh start for former Panther Bjugstad. (Florida Hockey Now)

Peter DeBoer: "Their best player, Joe Pavelski, takes a backhand, rolls up the shaft of our stick, over our goalie's shoulder. We haven't got any of those." https://t.co/tiFvfXqWe5

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) September 13, 2020

JOE. FREAKING. PAVELSKI. pic.twitter.com/SSjBMHgxgT

— Teal Town USA – A San Jose Sharks Podcast (@TealTownUSA) September 13, 2020

Travis Yost on Shea Theodore and Miro Heiskanen dominating this post-season. Ironically enough for San Jose Sharks fans, both blueliners were rumored to be primary Ottawa targets during the 2017-18 Erik Karlsson derby. (TSN)

Luke Fox says beware of the four teams with extra first-round picks next month. (Sportsnet)

44 years ago on Sunday: Did legendary #Habs GM Sam Pollock hatch a far-sighted plan to land a 15-year-old Wayne Gretzky with an under-the-radar trade that could have changed the course of hockey history?

The story: https://t.co/GGsA6GN4QR pic.twitter.com/Fdj1FmrWLG

— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) September 11, 2020