New Flames acquisition Nikita Zadorov files for arbitration

The fact that Flames defenseman Nikita Zadorov was among the 17 players to file for salary arbitration on Sunday raised some eyebrows considering he has been with Calgary for all of a few days. However, his agent Dan Milstein of Gold Star released a statement via Twitter outlining that the short time since the move played a role in the filing:

We filed for arbitration on Nikita Zadorov’s behalf simply because the trade was recent and there wasn’t enough time to negotiate new contract with Calgary Flames. Discussions are ongoing and both sides are hopeful to have a contract in place soon.

The potential for an arbitration award that was too rich for Chicago’s liking played a role in Zadorov being traded, and the Flames are certainly conscious of that. However, we’re still another week and a half away from hearings beginning, so there is still ample time to get a deal done. Zadorov was qualified at $3.2 million and will get more than that on his next deal.

More from the Western Conference:

• After seeing Chicago pick up Tyler Johnson and a draft pick for Brent Seabrook -- whose playing days have come to an end -- the Ducks have told teams they’re open to doing a deal such as that one involving Ryan Kesler, who is in the same situation, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports in the latest 31 Thoughts podcast (audio link). Kesler is entering the final year of his contract that carries a $6.875 million average annual value and could be acquired to add to a teams’ LTIR pool while sending out some sort of salary offset that ultimately frees up some cap space, allowing Anaheim to add something for someone who isn’t going to play for them.
• In the same podcast, Friedman reports that the Oilers are now focused on a max-term extension for defenseman Darnell Nurse. Previously, the expectation was a medium-term deal but with Dougie Hamilton’s contract with New Jersey setting the market, a long-term pact in the $9 million range appears to be the target for the 26-year-old who is coming off his top season that saw him collect 16 goals and 20 assists in 56 games while logging over 25 minutes a night.
• Blackhawks forward Jujhar Khaira told reporters, including John Dietz of the Daily Herald, that he had multiple teams show interest in him in free agency. Edmonton declined to tender a $1.3MM qualifying offer and the 26-year-old wasn’t able to get that on the open market, ultimately taking a two-year deal worth $975,000. With Khaira scoring just 21 points over the last two seasons, his limited production limits him to a fourth-line role, so a pay cut was likely for him, although he managed to secure a second year at least.
• Still with Chicago, Blackhawks GM Stan Bowman spoke with the media on Monday and told reporters, including Mark Lazerus of The Athletic (Twitter link) that they don’t have to make any salary-cap-related moves to open up some space. They still have to re-sign young forwards Brandon Hagel and Alex Nylander and are about $3 million below their LTIR ceiling, per CapFriendly, with goalies Malcolm Subban and Collin Delia presumed to be off the roster either by waivers or trade. That would lock in short-term deals for Nylander and Hagel to keep cap compliant, but otherwise, it could be a quiet rest of the summer for them.