Are the Blackhawks disqualified from the NHL lottery? Will Igor Shesterkin hit free company? Ask CJ

There’s a whisper of pleasure within the altering fall air because the 2024-25 NHL season takes flight.

We’ve already received young stars all over the highlight reels, a once-beleaguered crew laying roots in an energized new market, the approaching return of best-on-best international competition and the promise of a wide-open chase for the Stanley Cup set to play out over the months forward.

We put out the call for mailbag questions earlier this week, and your pursuits and curiosities coated a gamut of subjects. Thanks to all who took the time to have interaction and reply.

Let’s dig in.

(Word: Some questions are edited for size and readability)

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Does Chicago’s 2024 second-overall draft decide depend as a lottery win and disqualify them from the lottery for the following three drafts? — Ryan G.

I took this question to the NHL and might affirm that the Blackhawks are nonetheless eligible to win one other draft lottery within the subsequent three years. First, some background: In 2021, the league tweaked its draft lottery guidelines to limit any crew from “successful” greater than twice in a five-year span — with a “win” occurring when a crew strikes as much as seize the No. 1 or No. 2 total decide. Within the Blackhawks’ case, they’re thought of to have received the No. 1 choice used to draft Connor Bedard in 2023 as a result of they completed thirtieth total that season. However this 12 months’s No. 2 decide, used on Artyom Levshunov, just isn’t thought of a win as a result of Chicago completed with the NHL’s second-worst report at thirty first total. What this implies is that the identical crew may technically draft first in 5 straight years offered it stored ending on the backside of the standings.

Why received’t the Red Wings play all their children? — Jc T.

A company that was computerized to qualify for the playoffs yearly for greater than a technology has abruptly gone eight years with out showing within the postseason. That’s the painful a part of a rebuild that’s flooded the Pink Wings pipeline with younger prospects. Persistence finally runs skinny. Reasonably than merely enjoying all the children and letting them study on the job, errors and all, the group is attempting to insulate them with established gamers who will help restore a successful tradition. So a number of the youthful gamers have to attend for his or her shot.

How did the Coyotes transfer so quick and it took ceaselessly for the sale of the Senators? — Jeremy B.

The conditions aren’t actually equal as a result of the Senators have been being dangled in entrance of a number of patrons with the objective of being offered to the best bidder, whereas the Coyotes have been flipped beneath duress when their area and current possession scenario turned untenable. Most notably, the NHL had already established a relationship with Ryan and Ashley Smith in Utah and vetted them for a franchise buy by the point all the pieces got here to a head with the Coyotes in March. When commissioner Gary Bettman phoned the Smiths and requested them in the event that they could possibly be able to welcome a crew for 2024-25 and was instructed “sure,” it was sport on for Utah HC. In Ottawa, it took months for all the potential patrons to be vetted by the NHL earlier than the Michael Andlauer group emerged because the successful bidder in June 2023.

How possible is Igor Shesterkin to hit free company? — D.G.

Proper now I’d set the percentages far decrease than the No. 31 the New York Rangers goalie wears on his again. As a lot as everybody concerned would have most popular to get a Shesterkin extension signed, sealed and delivered earlier than opening evening, the trail to an in-season deal nonetheless clearly exists. The Rangers aren’t but at a spot the place they’re ready to make him the crew’s highest-paid participant — Artemi Panarin presently leads the best way with a $11.65 million common annual worth — however there’s definitely nothing insulting about their acknowledged promise to make him the highest-paid goalie in NHL historical past, incomes one thing north of Carey Worth’s $10.5 million per 12 months. Principally, the edges are in the identical time zone. The Rangers need Shesterkin and Shesterkin desires to be in New York. That doesn’t one hundred pc assure they’ll discover widespread floor, but it surely makes it extremely possible.

If Jeremy Swayman waited for 2 intervals of hockey to be performed, would his supply have been eight years at $10.5 million per? — Perry L.

When the Florida Panthers pumped 5 targets previous Bruins goalie Joonas Korpisalo in 40 minutes on opening evening, my telephone lit up with messages just like this one. Individuals working in different NHL entrance places of work, media colleagues and childhood buddies all puzzled aloud if Swayman may need gained only a bit extra negotiating leverage with Boston’s stumbling begin had he not signed an eight-year extension value $66 million about 48 hours earlier. In an alternate universe, he most likely would have. However he additionally would have been forfeiting greater than $40,000 in wage for on daily basis of the season he went unsigned, so let’s name this one a saw-off.

When a participant will get fined by the league, what’s the course of? — Daniel E.

Having consulted with an unnamed participant who has misplaced “greater than I wish to bear in mind” via supplemental self-discipline, the method is about what you’d count on: The cash is deducted straight from the participant’s paycheck after a high quality or suspension. That cash will get despatched to the “Gamers’ Emergency Help Fund,” which has a gaggle of advisers that handle the entire pool of funds and distribute grants to former gamers and their households on an as-needed foundation.

Is Amazon going to take over NHL viewing rights once they’re up or stick to only someday per week? — Nameless

When Amazon held a swanky launch celebration in September to disclose particulars of its protection plans for the season and preview the “FACEOFF” docuseries, there will need to have been 10 or 15 senior NHL officers in attendance. One in every of them instructed me, “We’re all in on this.” That heavy presence bolstered how vital the Amazon relationship is to the NHL and hinted on the robust chance of an evolving and increasing partnership to come back. The corporate debuts its nationwide Prime Monday Evening Hockey broadcast with Monday’s Pittsburgh at Montreal sport, and it received’t be in the least shocking if Amazon finally ends up grabbing a bit of the NHL’s subsequent nationwide Canadian rights deal in 2026.

Will Joel Quenneville get a chance to teach? — Tom G.

Quenneville wasn’t formally cleared to hunt NHL employment once more till July 10, and by then all the obtainable head-coaching positions had already been stuffed. Nevertheless, he’ll be at or close to the highest of each crew’s record when filling a emptiness shifting ahead. Quenneville has a robust need to work once more and has already seen former colleague Stan Bowman employed by the Edmonton Oilers since each have been reinstated by NHL commissioner Gary Bettman on the identical day. These two males and former Chicago Blackhawks govt Al MacIsaac had beforehand been deemed ineligible to work within the league due to their insufficient response upon being knowledgeable in 2010 of allegations that Kyle Seaside had been assaulted by the membership’s video coach. Quenneville has spent three years taking steps to coach himself on sexual assault and sustaining a secure work setting. I’d count on him to be behind a bench someplace by this time subsequent 12 months.

Do the Jets add a middle or D-man now or on the deadline? — Jeremy D.

Coming off a 110-point marketing campaign and a 6-0 season-opening win in Edmonton, the Winnipeg Jets have the luxurious of endurance with their present roster. Nevertheless it received’t shock me within the least to see them add extra power down the center forward of the March 7 commerce deadline. Winnipeg additionally has a giant inside resolution to make on winger Nikolaj Ehlers, who’s enjoying out the ultimate 12 months of his contract and is eligible for unrestricted free company subsequent summer time. Either side appear comfy enjoying this out in the meanwhile, however that’s a scenario value monitoring over the following few months.

CJ, what would your private objective tune be? — Nameless U.

I’m throwing it again and going with “Firestarter” by The Prodigy. That’ll get the followers on their ft.

Who’s your darkish horse Stanley Cup decide (or crew you assume is flying beneath the radar)? — Riley C.

Following a summer time the place the Vegas Golden Knights misplaced top-six forwards Jonathan Marchessault and Chandler Stephenson to free company, it feels a bit like they’re being slept on as a Stanley Cup contender. They’ve nonetheless received a top-notch blue line and introduced in some wingers who ought to pop whereas enjoying alongside Jack Eichel and Tomas Hertl. Plus they’re already accruing cap area for in-season acquisitions. I’d additionally like to purchase early inventory in Utah HC grabbing an sudden playoff berth. The burden of uncertainty in Arizona overshadowed what was a sneakily enhancing Coyotes roster final 12 months, and that group is certain to be pushed ahead by the thrill that comes with a dedicated possession group and amped-up fan base in Salt Lake Metropolis.

Who’s a sneaky participant that would find yourself on Canada’s 4 Nations roster? Who did Cobourg Papa decide to win the Cup? — Alexander H.

I received a shocking quantity of blowback this week after I recommended that Sam Montembeault had a very good likelihood to seize certainly one of three obtainable Canadian goaltending jobs on the 4 Nations, however I stand by that assertion. He’ll be there. My different sneaky choice could be 21-year-old ahead Wyatt Johnston (no relation).

As for Cobourg Papa’s Cup decide — aka my father, Ian — he says it’s going to be the Toronto Maple Leafs that raise Lord Stanley’s Cup in June 2025. He’s citing their improved depth but in addition his private bias as a long-suffering (and ever-hopeful) fan of the crew.

(Photograph of Igor Shesterkin: Luke Hales / Getty Pictures)