Royal Recap: Rumors, Mailbag, and Other Adventures

A lot has happened in the offseason, so let's take a step back and briefly recap what all went down.

Welcome to the first edition of the Royal Recap, the official newsletter of Queen of the Puck!

There has been a lot going on in the hockey world, and it can be a headache to keep track of everything. So set down your ibuprofen and just let me detangle this beautiful and chaotic mess for you.

NHL Draft

The NHL Draft was a bit different than usual as they went the route of decentralization after a big push from the teams to save on travel costs. However, it came with its own downsides as some front offices were unable to connect with their prospects on stage due to technical difficulties.

It wasn’t a hit with viewers.

But for the Carolina Hurricanes front office, it was a great experience. Assistant GM Darren Yorke sang its praises after it was said and done, highlighting their access to technology and space, far more than the small tables crammed together in the theaters could provide. Being able to think outside of the sardine can helps when the time comes to make selections.

And make selections they did, which I covered in depth shortly after the draft.

Some Quick Sidetracking Never Hurt Nobody

This week’s mailbag is open!

If you have any questions you’d like answered, feel free to drop them into my post over on Twitter. The question doesn’t just have to be about hockey, either. It’s the offseason, let's keep things fun!

And hey, while you’re on my Twitter, feel free to give me a follow and keep an eye out for my upcoming “Bizarre Hockey Lore” series. I’ll be covering some of the goofiest stories throughout the NHL’s (recent-ish) history and launching them back into the public view.

It is going to be WILD, y’all.

Free Agency

Free Agency was a rollercoaster and everyone had a ticket as they threw their hats into the ring for that big fish that could hope would get them over the hump. It was a little more anticlimactic, though, as a lot of the action actually happened before July 1st.

But, the Hurricanes kept things steady enough, acquiring some depth goaltenders, locking up Logan Stankoven for eight more years the moment the option was available, trading for K'Andre Miller, and signing Nikolaj Ehlers a few days later.

And the biggest signing of all–a one-year extension on depth forward Tyson Jost!

…Okay, I jest, but I know many will appreciate getting to see the odd-man-out back again.

Naturally, though, these big moves meant waving goodbye to some folks we’ve grown to love, namely Brent Burns, Dmitry Orlov, and Spencer Martin, who have signed elsewhere.

Rumors Across the NHL

Would you believe me if I said that a hockey great who has retired from the profession has been a target for signings? Well, you better believe it, buddy, because it has happened.

In a recent podcast, agent Allan Walsh revealed that he had received calls from five different teams expressing strong interest in signing his recently retired client, Marc-André Fleury. Of course, Walsh added that Fleury has made it clear that he will not be returning…at least for this upcoming season.

Meanwhile, a player all too familiar to the Carolina Hurricanes appears to be available for trade.

In the Season Finale of the 32 Thoughts podcast, Elliotte Friedman mentioned that Dougie Hamilton could be on the move. Recently, his modified no-trade clause kicked in, allowing him to be moved. Considering the New Jersey Devils have reportedly begun taking calls on him, there is a significant chance he may not be in a Devils sweater this upcoming season.

Right-handed defensemen are hard to come by, and with 13 seasons of experience in the NHL, he’s a rarity many teams would sell a lung for.

And the offseason journey continues!