WaFd Bank Weekly Warmup: Aug. 9

August is routinely a slower month for NHL players, coaches and front office staffs. But this offseason is a month shorter. Some signings and other preparations for the 2021-22 regular season will continue to dot this month's calendar.
Let's drop the summertime
WaFd Bank
Weekly Warmup puck:

Goalies Back in the Fold

Three teams in the Eastern Conference's Metropolitan division re-upped with young goalies Monday.
The New York Rangers made the biggest net move, agreeing to terms with Igor Shesterkin on a four-year deal. Financial details were not released by NYR, but media reports pegged the total dollars at $22.666 million with an average annual value (AAV) or salary cap hit of $5.65 million.
That would represent a record second NHL contract (both overall dollars and AAV) for a goaltender.
Eighteen- to 21-year-old prospects sign a standard three-year entry contract to play professionally, typically starting at ECHL and/or AHL, hoping to get promoted to the NHL. If a players signs the entry-level contract as a 22- or 23-year-old, the entry-level contract length is two years.

Shesterkin, 25, was drafted by the Rangers in 2014, playing five more seasons (his appearances went in the final three years) in his home country Russia's Kontinental Hockey League. He signed his two-year entry level contract as a 23-year-old, starting at AHL Hartford in 2019-20 than getting 12 NHL starts that season.
Still qualifying as a rookie for the 2020-21 season, Shesterkin was fifth in rookie-of-the-year voting for the NHL's Calder Trophy. He was 16-14-3 with a 2.62 goals-against average, .916 save percentage and two shutouts in 35 games (31 starts) last season. His two-year save percentage is a formidable .921. Shesterkin figures to be the No. 1 goalie.
Division rival Washington announced the signing of a one-year, $2 million deal for Ilya Samsonov Monday. The 24-year-old goalie was a restricted free agent (other teams could pitch an offer sheet but the Capitals could match). He finished last season with a 13-4-1 record with a 2.69 goals-against average, .902 save percentage and two shutouts in 19 regular-season games (18 starts) last season.
Samasonov missed parts of the 2020-2021 due to landing on the COVID-19 protocol restricted list twice. His absence allowed more game appearances for rookie Vitek Vanecek, who responded with a 21-10-4 record, 2.69 goals against average and .908 save percentage.
Vanecek, selected by the Kraken in the expansion draft, returned to Washington in exchange for a second-round 2023 draft choice when Seattle signed free agent goalie Philipp Grubauer to solidify a tandem of the ex-Colorado goalie and expansion pick from Florida, Chris Driedger.
In Philadelphia, the Metropolitan division's Monday goalie hat trick was completed when the Flyers and former Silvertips star Carter Hart signed a three-year contract extension at $3.979 million AAV. The deal was a clear vote of confidence for Hart, who burst onto the NHL scene as a 20-year-old but faltered this past season.

Hart posted a 9-11-5 record and 3.67 goals-against-average and .877 save percentage in 27 games. With a fortified defensive corps and signing of free agent Martin Jones (most recently in San Jose), Philly management is hoping for a bounce-back season from Hart, who turns 23 Friday.

Taking it to the Max

Not surprisingly, Kraken division rival Anaheim signed restricted free agent forward Max Comtois to a two-year contract. Comtois led the Ducks in both goals (16) and overall points (33) in 55 games last season.
What's worth reviewing is a look at Comtois' journey from draft choice to a prominent scorer. Comtois, 22, was a second-round pick (50th overall) in 2017.
As an 18-year-old draftee, Comtois returned to his Victoriaville club in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League for the 2017-18 season. He notched 41 goals and 44 assists in 54 games during the regular season, then added four goals and eight assists over 13 playoff contests.
The next season, Comtois split time between Drummondville in the QMJHL, finishing the season there and starring in the playoffs. He also appeared in 10 games for the Ducks and four with AHL affiliate San Diego.
It might seem Comtois went backward in 2018-19 but developing players is in large part about getting time on ice for players to improve. It worked for Comtois, he started the next season in San Diego in 2019-20 and returned to the NHL for good by midseason.

It is understandable that Kraken fans monitor the progress of first-rounder and No. 2 overall pick Matty Beniers. But keeping tabs on all draft choices, especially those going in the top 50 to 100 each draft year is clearly worth watching.

Cooper named Team Canada coach

When the NHL released the 2021-22 regular season schedule on July 22, the league explained this version of the schedule assumes NHL players would be playing for their home countries at the 2022 Beijing Olympics in February.
But it was made clear the NHL, NHL Players' Association and the International Ice Hockey Federation, which governs Olympic play, are still negotiating the NHL's participation.
If those talks reach a resolution, the back-to-back Cup-winning Tampa Bay Lightning coach Jon Cooper will be the head coach for Team Canada. He was named Monday and will be assisted by fellow head coaches Bruce Cassidy (Boston), Peter DeBoer (Vegas) and Barry Trotz (New York Islanders).
"First of all, this is humbling and a privilege to be a part of this,' Cooper said. "… My son said to me, ' Dad, you have an all-star team for a coaching staff ' and I truly believe that in Bruce and Peter and Barry. It's so exciting just to be part of this.
Cooper was an assistant for Team North America at the World Cup of Hockey 2016 under Todd McLellan and coached Canada to a second-place finish at the 2017 IIHF World Championship, losing the title game 2-1 to Sweden in a shootout.