Joel Edmundson: from back pain to a four-year contract

In the last few hours, the Maple Leafs have offered crazy contracts to Chris Tanev and Oliver Ekman-Larsson.

But at least, seeing what their former defenseman Joel Edmundson got in Los Angeles, they had the good sense not to overbid on him.

Because yes, the Kings gave him a four-year contract valued at $3.85M per year. Hey boy.

Joel Edmundson very likely to end up in LA. 4 years, $3.85 mil. Was almost in Boston, Utah and St Louis

– Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) July 1, 2024

In 2020, Marc Bergevin gave the Hurricanes a choice to negotiate with him. He then gave him a four-year contract valued at $3.5 million per season to help his blue line.

Now Edmundson is four years older and has a bigger contract. That’s something.

The ceiling has gone up, he’s still a good defenseman and in the playoffs, he’s important… but for the past three years, you never know when his back is going to give out on him for good.

And now the Kings are offering him four years? Let’s find out.

We wondered if he’d manage to get more than a year on his contract, and now the Kings have offered him a veritable golden bridge to the next level. The club might regret it in two years’ time.

Even if he’s not the GM in Los Angeles, this idea screams Marc Bergevin.

I imagine the Kings are thinking in the short term that Edmundson is the kind of guy who will be good for the dressing room and help the club beat the Oilers in the playoffs.

That’s true… if his back holds out. And that’s no guarantee.

There’s a risk that the Kings, with ideas like these, will close their window of opportunity very quickly. After all, if Edmundson is forced to slow down because of his back, it’s going to hurt the club.

It’s not a risk I would have taken.

Overtime

– 4 years for Duclair in New York. He’s off to join Patrick Roy.

#Isles News: President/General Manager Lou Lamoriello announced today that the team has signed Anthony Duclair to a four-year contract.

– New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) July 1, 2024

– Flames add experience.

Ryan Lomberg 2 x $2M Calgary

– Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) July 1, 2024

– More reinforcements in Nashville.

The Nashville Predators have signed goaltender Scott Wedgewood to a two-year, $3 million contract with an AAV of $1.5 million. pic.twitter.com/Qua7qFTTDU

– Complete Hockey News (@CompleteHkyNews) July 1, 2024

– Nice contract.

Matt Dumba to DAL.

– Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) July 1, 2024

– To be continued.

The Penguins have had contract extension talks with Sidney Crosby and Marcus Pettersson. The captain is the priority, some talk of a 3-year deal discussed. We’ll see where it gets to, but trending in that way as expected.

– David Pagnotta (@TheFourthPeriod) July 1, 2024

– The defender.

Erik Gustafsson 2 x $2M Detroit

– Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) July 1, 2024