Offseason official begins today with the buyout period opening. At the same time, it's the close of team-elected arbitration.

Things happened yesterday, though:

Iggy!

FLAMES NAME JAROME IGINLA SPECIAL ADVISOR TO THE GM
Iginla returns to the organization in an executive capacity
NHL.com

Dallas gave an AHLer to Colorado.

Stars sign goaltender Matt Murray to one-year contract
Dallas Stars General Manager Jim Nill announced today that the club has signed goaltender Matt Murray to a one-year two-way contract that begins in the 2023-24 season.
NHL.com
Bratt agrees to 8-year, $63 million contract with Devils
Jesper Bratt agreed to an eight-year, $63 million contract with the New Jersey Devils on Thursday. It has an average annual value of $7.875 million.
NHL.com

If you want to compare Bratt's deal to a Leafs deal to be so upset, read the numbers here first:

Let’s talk Nylander extension
There’s been reports that the Leafs are happy to re-sign William Nylander, something that the general zeitgeist would have had you think was unlikely a month ago. A lot of people thought they’d sacrifice him to pay Mitch Marner.
Cathy SquiresPPP Leafs

Meanwhile it's prime Insider Trading season:

Insider Trading: Will the Sharks part ways with Karlsson?
The TSN Hockey Insiders discuss where the Sharks and Erik Karlsson are right now on a possible trade, the Senators going to arbitration with Alex DeBrincat, the many options between the pipes in the off-season and the Oilers focusing on bolstering their defence.
TSN

CJ on his podcast (see the Nylander post for that) also talked about Erik Karlsson. The Sharks and Karlsson want a trade.

Alex DeBrincat is the first player facing arbitration, and CJ says he thinks a deal will get done before the draft – he does not mean a deal with the Senators.

Timo Meier was the second player whose team elected arbitration on.

Both players have the same issue: A massive Qualifying Offer that is too high. Team-elected arbitration in the first window allows for an award as low as 85% of the prior year's salary and bonuses. It's unlikely Meier will ever see a hearing, however. Most players never end up in front of the arbitrator.

Derren Dreger has a story that the Leafs are negotiating with the Flames to have the restriction on Brad Treliving attending the draft "on the floor" lifted.

And in news about the value of NHL teams in hot locations:

That's enough for a Friday, though, isn't it?

Go argue about how much Nylander should get paid, it can't possibly get to the point where I make a whole post of point stats in a rage like last time (still surprised at how many people took that seriously).

From The Branches