Bargain Bin: Kaprizov, Ingram, Fleury, McKenna & More (03/10/2025)

In this week’s edition of Bargain Bin, Gavin McKenna is set to make his NCAA Debut, Jonathan Toews is listed day-to-day, Connor Ingram gets a fresh start in Edmonton, Marc-Andre Fleury plays in his final game, Kirill Kaprizov signs an NHL record contract, Niko Mikkola and Jackson LaCombe sign max-term contracts, and two big restricted free agents have finally signed ahead of the 2025-26 season.

Gavin McKenna to Make NCAA Debut on NHL Network, YouTube

The projected first overall pick in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft is set to make his NCAA debut for Penn State University later tonight. Gavin McKenna went from being the most sought-after recruit in NCAA hockey to arguably the most important recruit in Penn State’s history.

There’s so much hype around Gavin McKenna that his debut is going to be broadcast live on the NHL Network and NHL YouTube at 9:00 pm CST.

The 17-year-old forward goes from playing in the WHL against similar opponents to a fast-changing landscape in the NCAA. Players are much larger, and the NCAA game has added top-end talent that could really test McKenna’s game in his draft-eligible season.

Jonathan Toews Listed Day-to-Day in Winnipeg

The concerns about Jonathan Toews’ health in Winnipeg are already being questioned. The 37-year-old Winnipeg-born centre left the Jets’ preseason contest against the Minnesota Wild with seven minutes left to play in the second period.

Head coach Scott Arniel didn’t have an immediate update following the Jets’ 3-2 loss to the Wild at Grand Casino Arena in Minnesota. The Jets would have an off day on Wednesday, October 1st, and resumed training camp practice skates the following day.

Arniel confirmed to the media that Toews is listed day-to-day with a lower-body issue after tweaking something. Ken Wiebe of the Winnipeg Free Press mentioned that it doesn’t sound like there is any cause for concern with Toews. All eyes now point to the Jets’ final preseason game against Calgary, as Toews was scheduled to suit up in the preseason finale.

Oilers Give Connor Ingram Fresh Start on NHL Career

The Edmonton Oilers have added depth in net with the acquisition of Connor Ingram from the Utah Mammoth. Utah retained $800,000 of Ingram’s $1.95 million cap hit and received future considerations for the goaltender.

Ingram’s production took a nosedive when the Coyotes closed their doors and became the Utah Hockey Club, now the Utah Mammoth. From 2022-23 to the 2023-24 season, Ingram was an excellent choice for the emerging 1A/1B situation with Mammoth goaltender Karel Vejmelka.

Edmonton gets Ingram’s cap hit to just $1.15 million, which is fully buriable in the AHL with the Bakersfield Condors, and is an easy pill to swallow for the cap-strapped Oilers. When Ingram didn’t report to the opening day of training camp, as expected, he was later expected to be placed on waivers, and it became a what-if game about who might claim Ingram.

The trade makes sense for multiple reasons, with the first being the ability to immediately send Ingram to the AHL and the second being salary retention. It’s to be expected that if Ingram can find his game again with Bakersfield, there should be no hesitation for the Oilers to give him a look at the NHL.

Marc-Andre Fleury’s Final Game

After signing a professional tryout contract with the team that drafted him, Marc-Andre Fleury took the ice as a Pittsburgh Penguin for one last time in a preseason contest against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Fitting, both teams took part in a fun shootout to end the game, even though the Penguins won 4-1 and Fleury only played in the third period.

PPG Paints Arena showered the former 2003 first overall pick with “one more year” chants, but the 40-year-old Fleury showed no immediate interest in a one more farewell tour. The concept of never say never couldn’t be stronger than it is with Fleury’s situation, but I truly believe Fleury is taking this PTO stint in Pittsburgh as a way to close the chapter of his playing career.

Fleury finished his NHL career last year after winning his 575th game, putting him in second place for all-time wins behind Martin Brodeur, who won 691. Fleury played 21 seasons, split between the Pittsburgh Penguins, Vegas Golden Knights, Chicago Blackhawks, and Minnesota Wild. The 40-year-old Fleury won three Stanley Cups in 2009, 2016, and 2017, all with the Penguins. Fleury also appeared in and lost the 2008 and 2018 Stanley Cup Finals.

Kirill Kaprizov Signs Big Ticket Extension

Kirill Kaprizov may have completely reset the dial on how NHL contracts for superstars are viewed. Kaprizov, 28, reportedly turned down a $16 million annual salary extension over eight years earlier, but signed an eight-year extension worth $17 million per season.

The Wild’s fifth-round (135th overall) draft selection in 2015 has yet to play a full 82-game season in his five-year NHL career. His 386 points (185G, 201A) in 319 career games, all with the Wild, can raise eyebrows, especially for the sheer dollar amount.

Draisaitl was formerly the highest-paid player in the NHL, netting $14 million a season, which is set to eat 14.7% of the Edmonton Oilers’ salary cap in 2025-26. Kaprizov’s $17 million shatters Draisaitl’s mark by $3 million and eats a whopping 16.3% of the Wild’s salary cap when the deal is set to begin in 2026-27.

Kaprizov will be 37 when the contract expires in 2033-34, and with the superstar forward for Minnesota setting a record for AAV and total salary, one has to wonder if this is going to be a domino effect with many other superstars around the league.

Niko Mikkola & Jackson LaCombe Get Max Term Deals

Two maximum-term contracts were signed yesterday as Niko Mikkola signed an eight-year deal carrying an average annual value of $5 million per season for a total of $40 million across the eight years. Mikkola, 29, was signed as a free agent in the 2023 offseason by the Florida Panthers and has been an important piece of the Panthers’ blueline since signing in Florida.

Jackson LaCombe was signed to the largest total value contract in the Anaheim Ducks’ history. LaCombe, 24, has cemented himself as Anaheim’s premier number one defenseman after solidifying himself with a 43-point (14G, 29A) season in 75 games played. The 6-foot-2 left-shot defender gets a significant pay bump as he is in the final year of his two-year contract that pays him $1.85 million per season. The eight-year contract carries an AAV of $9 million per season, and after a rather poor rookie season, LaCombe stepped up his game and has been seen as Anaheim’s top prospect since that season.