from Larry Brooks of the New York Post,
- For the first time in 52 years and the first time ever, that is the history the Devils can prevent from happening by locking down a place in the playoffs.
Because if the team on the other side of the Hudson is unable to reverse the recent downward slides of 3-6 and 7-10 that threaten to spoil this unexpectedly pleasing season, it will mark the first time since 1966 without a New York/New Jersey presence in the Stanley Cup tournament and the first time ever without a N.Y./N.J. team in the playoffs in a year we had at least two teams in the league....
- So we — the hockey community — are told a primary reason Erik Karlsson wasn’t dealt at the deadline was because he (through his agents at Newport) refused to discuss a contract extension with interested parties.
But according to the CBA, Karlsson, working on a multi-year deal that runs through next season, is prohibited from negotiating an extension until July 1, just the way all players on multi-year deals are forbidden from talking numbers on an extension until July 1 of the year preceding free agency.
Unless, of course, the league had granted Ottawa/Karlsson a singular exemption to yet another asinine clause in the labor agreement that is meant to hamstring teams, and if so, the Rangers would probably have liked to get one too while engaging suitors for pending 2019 free agent Ryan McDonagh.
more on the first topic and other notes too...
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