CREATED BY SPORTS BETTORS FOR SPORTS BETTORS
LET’S HEAR YOUR STORY
With the NHL draft and start of free agency around the corner, the rumor mill is starting to heat up.
Nobody is feeling that heat more than Calgary Flames general manager Craig Conroy after a number of reports surfaced Thursday about the future of several franchise cornerstones as Daily Faceoff's Frank Seravalli dropped not one, not two, not three but four bombs relating to some of the team's top players.
Is there a mass exodus looming in Calgary?
Tyler Toffoli doesn't plan on re-signing with team
After a series of tweets earlier in the day revealing all three of Elias Lindholm, Mikael Backlund and Noah Hanifin don't plan on signing long-term deals to remain in Calgary, Seravalli barged back in like the Kool-Aid Man to deliver one more dagger to Flames fans.
Like those three aforementioned teammates, Toffoli is entering the 2023-24 season on an expiring contract, one that carries a cap hit of $4.25 million. The 31-year-old could fetch a decent return after posting career highs in goals (34), assists (39) and points (73) while playing in all 82 games last season.
Flames make 'big pitch' to re-sign Elias Lindholm
Conroy has some critical offseason decisions to make. One of the most important for the franchise circles around the future of No. 1 center Elias Lindholm, who is entering the final year of a six-year, $29.1-million contract ($4.85M AAV).
According to Daily Faceoff's Frank Seravalli, the Flames made a significant pitch in an attempt to convince Lindholm to sign a contract extension, but it appears unlikely he will re-sign with the franchise.
Noah Hanifin doesn't plan to sign extension with Flames, either
While Conroy is still waiting for an answer from Lindholm’s camp, it appears he has gotten a bit more clarity regarding the future of defenseman Noah Hanifin, as Seravalli reported the blueliner will not re-sign with Calgary.
Like Lindholm, Hanifin is scheduled to become a UFA after this upcoming season. He has a salary cap hit of $4.95 million for the 2023-24 season. If the Flames do plan to deal Hanifin, he has a modified eight-team no-trade clause, according to CapFriendly.
Hanifin has spent the past five seasons with Calgary, where he developed into a solid two-way defenseman. The 26-year-old scored seven goals and 31 assists in 81 games last season while playing 22 minutes a night and logging time on both the power play and penalty kill.
Mikael Backlund leaning towards leaving Calgary, too
Seravalli also reported that veteran center Mikael Backlund does not intend to sign another deal with the Flames, but the situation remains fluid.
The longtime Flames forward, who has a modified 10-team no-trade clause, has a $5.35 million cap hit for the upcoming season before he will become a UFA next offseason.
Backlund is a solid two-way contributor who has received Selke consideration in the past and has led the team in takeaways for eight straight seasons. He had a career-high total in points this past season, recording 19 goals and 37 assists in 82 games.
The 34-year-old has been with Calgary his entire career since being drafted 24th overall in 2007. He’s ranked third on the club’s all-time games played list (908), behind only franchise legend Jarome Iginla (1,219) and longtime captain Mark Giordano (949).
Daniel Weinman was crowned winner of the 2023 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event on Monday, taking home a record breaking $12.1 million in winnings. Weinman had to outlast the other 10,043 entrants to take home the prize and get his hands on his share of live poker’s largest ever prize pool – a staggering $93,399,900. As well as taking home the prize money, 35-year-old Weinman also got his hands on the WSOP Main Event bracelet. The huge bracelet contains 500 grams of 10-karat yellow gold, as well as 2,352 various precious gemstones.
Daniel Weinman won the World Series of Poker's main event world championship on Monday in Las Vegas, earning $12.1 million along the way. Playing in the tournament for a 16th year, Weinman was tops in a deep pool of 10,043 players vying for $93.39 million. His victory came after just 164 hands at the final table. "I was honestly on the fence about even coming back and playing this tournament," the 35-year-old Atlanta native told reporters afterward. Weinman's final table featured Jan-Peter Jachtmann, who landed in fourth place and took home $3 million, as well as Toby Lewis, who finished seventh and secured $1.42 million. According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, the main event's entry pool far outpaced the previous record of 8,773 set in 2006. "I've always kind of felt that poker was kind of going in a dying direction, but to see the numbers at the World Series this year has been incredible," Weinman said. "And to win this main event, it doesn't feel real. I mean, [there's] so much luck in a poker tournament. I thought I played very well." Steven Jones finished second, securing $6.5 million. And Adam Walton settled for third and a $4 million prize.
Your experience on this site will be improved by allowing cookies.
