With
just over a dozen games remaining on the season, it’s time to take a look at
the season’s endorsement class, and how much money is still on the line during
this final home stretch of games.
First, let’s clear out the winners.
Four of the top six endorsements are already completed, with Morin (MON),
Talbot (NSH), Knight (SEA), and Nedeljkovic (TBL) successfully hitting high
dollar marks. Three open contracts remain at these two levels, all on pace to
easily clear but for catastrophic injuries in the final games. Ivan Provorov
(DET) has closed out an endorsement saving $10 million for the club, while
further down the list with smaller deals the Columbus BlueJackets, Hayden
Fleury (NYR), and Simon Edvinsson (PHX) have protected $9, $9, and $5 million
dollars.
At the third endorsement level however, there are a couple races to watch with
all four signed deals still open. Two, MacKenzie Blackwood (DET) and Bowen
Byram (TBL) only need 1 win and 1 goal respectively, placing these two temporarily
in the win column.Bode Wild, a
defenseman for the New York Islanders however, needs 3 goals or 8 assists in
these final games… it’s going to be close. That $11 million potential loss for
the club is the highest value race to watch.
The Columbus Bluejackets are likely about to suffer the single highest dollar
loss, with D Rasmus Dahlin needing 13 assists down the stretch. That’s likely
$11 million the club will no longer have for off season improvement.
In the middle of the endorsement tower it gets a little busier, with 6 of 6 still
open at the $10 million risk level. Four are likely, but goaltender Igor
Shestyorkin of Washington is just off pace in shots faces, or would need to
book six wins down the stretch. If the GM notices, Igor will surely be playing
most of the final games this season to ensure he makes the mark on shots
against. Mason McDonald, starter for the Stars, is in the same situation of
needing a bit of extra playing time down the stretch to ensure a protection of
$10 million. A single shutout could also do it for him.
Bubble races to watch on the lower end of things… Jared McCann (LAK) needs 5 assists,
and Sean Monahan (DAL) needs 2 to protect $9 million for their clubs. Team
endorsements from Anaheim (needs 3 of 7 home wins), and the Florida Panthers (2
goals off their endorsement pace) will be down to the wire for $9 million risks
of their own.
And of course, there are indeed a few endorsements that you can already book as
big losses for teams.
Defenseman Rasmus Dahlin (CBJ) would need a huge burst of 13 assists down the
stretch, barring that, the club will owe $11 million. Similarly, the Carolina
Hurricanes would need to win 6 of 7 remaining home games, a very tall order to
protect $9 million. Two forward endorsements have a slightly higher chance of a
last minute turnaround by virtue of their positions, but right now we’re
booking Puljujarvi (CGY) and Kuznetsov (PHX) as missing the mark, with 11 and 9
assists needed respectively.
11/16/2025 - 484 words
