Nicolas Hague hasn't escaped the chatter in the past month. The Vegas Golden Knights defenseman is a restricted free agent this summer and will be due a hefty contract. How much are we talking?
Some people are saying $4 million AAV, which is a lofty payout for a blue liner. While Kelly McCrimmon would love to have him for less money, that's simply not feasible. A looming Jack Eichel extension and potential signings (think of a "Core Four" member) will take precedence this summer.
That's the unfortunate reality of having less than $10 million in cap space ($9.615 million, to be exact). In a perfect world, the salary cap would be a social construct for owners who wanted to pocket the change for themselves. But that's not the case here.
But let's focus on Hague for a second. That big contract being due will make life much more complicated. It's like asking your spouse where they want to go for dinner.
"I don't know, you pick."
Well, honey. We're picking three destinations where the 26-year-old would be a perfect fit. Mind you, these three teams either need a big defenseman, have the salary cap space, or both. Bon appetit!
1.) Colorado Avalanche
Upon first glance, one would think that the Avalanche must re-sign reliable players such as Brock Nelson and Jonathan Drouin. This is true, considering they have a wave of forwards hitting the free agent market come July 1st.
However, Colorado also needs reliable defensemen to anchor the unit. Only five blue liners are signed with the Avalanche entering July 1st, with one on a two-way contract (Keaton Middleton). On top of that, a majority of those defensemen are puck-moving defensemen.
Therefore, Colorado needs a pure defenseman with size. Luckily, Hague is an ideal fit. According to PuckPedia, they have $8.7 million in cap space to work with. That should help them with getting a big blue liner on their team.
2.) Anaheim Ducks
The Anaheim Ducks are looking to get over the hump next season. They hired a winning (albeit EXTREMELY controversial) head coach in Joel Quenneville and have an array of prospects ready. All they need are some solid blue liners to get them ahead.
On the surface, their group looks satisfactory. Jacob Trouba and Radko Gudas make for a nice pair. But the rest of the positional group is young, with the oldest remaining player (Oliver Kylington at 28 years old) hitting free agency.
That's where Hague comes into play. He can provide veteran leadership to a team filled to the brim with cap space ($38,688,812, according to PuckPedia). It's going to be a massive summer at Disneyland. Why not get the party started with Hague?
3.) Calgary Flames
A team like the Calgary Flames has $28.145 million in cap space and plenty of former Golden Knights on the blue line. That includes Brayden Pachal and Daniil Miromanov. Four defenders are locked in until 2026, including Miromanov and Rasmus Andersson.
It's a question that the Flames must reckon with if they want to continue shocking the world. Where can we find a pure defenseman that adds size and physicality?
Believe it or not, Hague would also fit here. With Calgary having the cap space and not much invested in its blue line ($16.71 million), they can take on another defender like the 26-year-old to bolster their unit.
UPDATE: Brock Nelson was signed to a three-year, $7.5 million AAV deal as of Wednesday morning.