Updates on Rick Nash, Dougie Hamilton, Robin Lehner, Jonathan Drouin and more.
Latest collection of rumors from TSN.
There’s growing speculation Bruins defenseman Dougie Hamilton could receive an offer sheet this summer.
TSN.CA: Pierre LeBrun reports Anaheim Ducks coach Bruce Boudrea and Boston Bruins head coach Claude Julien are expected to return with their respective clubs next season.
Darren Dreger reports Bruins GM Don Sweeney will have to reach a decision regarding UFA forward Carl Soderberg, and they’ll have to start negotiating rather quickly on RFA defenseman Dougie Hamilton, who could become this summer’s offer sheet poster boy. Hamilton could seek a new deal comparable to that of LA Kings’ blueliner Drew Doughty and St. Louis Blues’ rearguard Alex Pietrangelo.
Bob McKenzie speculates the New York Rangers could explore the possibility of moving Rick Nash, who has three years at $7.8 million per season. His full NTC turns into a modified NTC on July 1. The Rangers have limited cap space and must re-sign Derek Stepan and Carl Hagelin.
LeBrun reports the Senators claim they have firm offers on the table for backup goalie Robin Lehner. The Edmonton Oilers and San Jose Sharks could be among the suitors for Lehner. He also claims the Oilers have interest in Anaheim’s John Gibson and the Rangers’ Cam Talbot
McKenzie claims there are eight teams (Chicago, Columbus, Detroit, Edmonton, Los Angeles, Minnesota, Pittsburgh and NY Rangers) have interest in Blue Jackets prospect defensman Mike Reilly, who is eligible for UFA status on July 1. June 16.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: If Hamilton’s seeking a deal comparable to Doughty or Pietrangelo, that works out to around $6.5 million annually on a long-term extension. If so, forget about the possibility of the Bruins re-signing him to an affordable bridge deal. The Hamilton camp could use the threat of an offer sheet as leverage. Dreger notes it would cost a rival club three first-round draft picks if they were to ink Hamilton to something in the $6- $6.5 -#$7 million range. As he suggests, if you’re a club in need of a promising young stud for your defense corps, why wouldn’t you try?
The New York Post’s Larry Brooks earlier this week floated the notion of a Nash trade. Like McKenzie, Brooks was merely speculating. Both admit they don’t know if the Blueshirts intend to part ways with Nash.
Update on the Senators’ goaltending situation.
OTTAWA SUN: Bruce Garrioch reports Senators GM Bryan Murray claims seven teams have called him about starting goalie Craig Anderson and backup Robin Lehner, with more of them showing interest in the latter, who could fetch a bigger return. Murray would like to get a top-six forward or top-end defenseman but admits that type of return might not be possible. Garrioch lists the Buffalo Sabres, Edmonton Oilers, San Jose Sharks, St. Louis Blues and Calgary Flames as possible destinations for Lehner.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: I certainly believe the Sabres, Oilers and Sharks have interest in Lehner, though they could also look into the availability of Anaheim’s John Gibson (who I don’t believe the Ducks intend to move) and the New York Rangers’ Cam Talbot. Unless the Blues are parting ways with Brian Elliott, they have no reason to pursue Lehner. The Flames, meanwhile, won’t go after Lehner unless they ship out Jonas Hiller and fail to re-sign Karri Ramo. With promising Joni Ortio knocking on the door, they could go with either a Hiller-Ortio or Ramo-Ortio tandem.
Drouin unhappy in Tampa Bay?
TORONTO SUN (via Ottawa Sun): Steve Simmons reports Tampa Bay Lightning rookie forward Jonathan Drouin is apparently unhappy over his lack of postseason playing time, having appeared in only three game during the Lightning’s run to the Stanley Cup Final. Simmons claims a meeting during the Lightning’s second-round series against Montreal between Drouin and coach Jon Cooper didn’t go well, with the latter supposedly telling the youngster it’s still not his time. Simmons also claims there’s speculation GM Steve Yzerman disagrees with Cooper’s assessment of Drouin but is deferring to the coach’s decision. “The animosity between player, coach and management might eventually force an off-season deal of some kind.”
SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’ll be interesting to gauge the reaction to Simmons’ report from Drouin, Cooper and Yzerman. Drouin is currently in the first season of his entry-level contract and struggled in his rookie season.
If some team is going to offer Hamilton 6.6m plus and potentially give up 3 first round draft picks. The Bruins might have to walk or make a suitable trade. I would say walk but Boston is so thin on the blue line that they might have no choice but to match. Best thing for the bruins is to get a deal done now!
they aren’t that thin on d…
After loosing Boychuk last year and posable loosing Hamilton this year they are starting to get a little thin on defence. They have Chara, Miller, Krug, and Seidenberg under contract for next year. Hamilton is a RFA and McQuade and Bartkowski are both UFA’s.
Chara is declining and Miller and Krug are no replacements for the FA’s.
They have Joe Morrow as well. If the Bruins weren’t do deep on D Morrow would be an NHLer already and a good one. The Penguins traded him to Dallas for Brenden Morrow(what a damn waste) and Dallas traded him to Boston in the Seguin deal. If Joe Morrow turns into a top 4 D then the Seguin deal looks less terrible for Boston and the Morrow deal looks more devastating to the Penguins who are still shell shocked from giving up Simon Despres for less than nothing.
Chara is not the defender he once was. And outside of him, the only other d-men they have under contract for next season are Sidenberg, Kevan Miller and Torey Krug. There are worse defense corps, true, but this is still fairly thin
if somebody is going to give the bruins 3 first round picks for hamilton…i’d take it if i was the bruins…
Me too. A team is nowadays very hesitant to trade away one first round draft pick…much less three. There was always that remote chance of a RFA offer in the past, but the chances of it happening now is getting more and more remote.
If the compensation is a first, second, third, the Bruins should match.
@Lyle: You have Claude Julien as both the Ducks and Bruins head coach.
Compensation for an RFA offer sheet at that salary level is only a 1st, 2nd and 3rd rounder. I understand Dreger was on live radio and just throwing out numbers, but somebody needs to fact check this stuff before it is printed. (or blogged)
Less than $1,205,377 – Nothing
$1,205,377-to-$1,826,328 – Third-round pick
$1,826,328-to-$3,652,659 – Second-round pick
$3,652,659-to-$5,478,986 – First and third-round picks –
$5,478,986-to-$7,305,316 – First, second and third-round picks
$7,305,316-to-$9,131,645 – Two firsts, a second and third-round picks
$9,131,645 or greater – Four first-round picks
Ya I wasnt sure where the 3 first round picks comes from….its a first a second and a 3rd for that dollar ammount I wouldnt be so quick to let Hamilton walk for that. If I was a Bruins fan Id hope he would sign a long term deal for 6.5 then a5ch it and trade away a Kelly or someone like that to make the cap work.The way salaries are going for D men thats a very good comtract for a guy like Hamilton, going down the road.
Dredger may have misspoke where instead of 3 1sts he made picks in the first 3 rounds as compensation.
if thats all there is for compensation then he’ll definitely get an offer sheet from the flyers and a few other teams…there should be more offer sheets flying around for other players also…
I get Hamilton had a decent year but if he wants Doughty and Pietrangelo money he better play like it, he definitely had a decent year but certainly didn’t play like a #1 or #2 D-man so commanding that might be a bit over the top.
I bet Boston signs him to a bridge deal in the $4 – $5 mill for 2 or 3 years then he can get his payday.
If I was another GM I would put out an offer sheet on him though, especially if you’re a team needing a D (think LA kings) who will probably make the playoffs next year making that first rounder a low round pick in a sub-par draft year (2016).
That 1st rounder belongs to the Canes. Even if it didn’t, LA has some serious salary cap problems that would make adding a $6M salary impossible.
Anaheim would be a good fit to send an offer sheet. All three picks and plenty of cap space.
Pretty sure they have to be the teams own picks for an offer sheet.
Dougie being compared to Peitrangelo let alone Doughty is utterly ridiculous. Talk about over-valuing potential… Shocking.
LA has Doughty, Muzzin, Greene, McNabb and Martinez on their blue line, and that’s not including the possible return of Voynov….where exactly does LA need a defensemen?
Agreed, plus it sounds like they are getting very close to re-signing Sekera.
That wouldn’t surprise me, especially if they can’t have Voynov back. I was hoping Detroit would take a run at Sekera
The Bruins would match $6.5 million and make the necessary cuts elsewhere, even if it meant moving David Krejci or Milan Lucic.
Over how many years can a team decide to give up picks in the event of a buy out. Is it a 1rst, 2nd and 3rd from the next year? Do they get to split it up and give one pick to the other team in once per year over the next 3 years?
If that is the case I may offer. Yet I seem to remember that these offer sheets are only for 1 or 2 years. If that is the case after giving a rival club 3 picks I would want to insure the player I am presenting the offer to will sign again when the contract is up, assuming I like what I got.
In my mind there are more than just dollars and draft picks that go in to the thought of offering a player an offer sheet.
Murray has stated he is willing to sweeten the pot to bring in a top 6 forward. Lehner and/or Anderson won’t do it alone. It is interesting that it has been declared that Lehner will garner the most return. Most of us thought Anderson would be the more valuable tender in a trade. Hopefully there is truth to the 7 teams being interested as the only thing to up Lehner’s value right now would be a small bidding war. Perhaps Murray will get a 2nd round pick after all. Maybe a 3rd and a serviceable 3rd liner.
Lehner will bring at least a second rounder (or at best a late first rounder 24-30).
not a rumour but I like how it highlights the contrast between the Leafs and the Sens in regards to money.
Cameron’s Deal is believed to be around $800 a season for 2 years. Wow what would it of been with out Babs pushing up the salaries. lol
I think its more a case of a relatively new and inexperienced Head Coach on a Budget team, there being a number of more experienced coaches out there, and him realizing he is fortunate to be one of the 30 and has some job security at a salary most of us could take for two years and retire on.
Well said
Way to go all serious over my funny little comment. haha. You are correct. Yet even 2 years is below the norm of 3 year contracts, for a coach.
Ottawa cheap dollars and short term vs Toronto’s mega dollars and extreme term.
Seems to parallel the finances of the two franchises quite well.
Here we go again with that “budget team” crapola. Right now the Sens have $59,750,832 committed to 20 players next season – that includes the new salaries that will kick in for Ryan ($7,250,000), MacArthur ($4,650,000), Methot ($4,900,000) and Anderson ($4,200,000). IF the cap goes to $71 mil as some suggest, that leaves them $11,249,168 with which to sign RFAs Zibanejad, Chiasson, Hoffman, Pageau and Stone. If Puempel makes the team he does so at &866,333 which would bring the remaining space down to $10,385,835 to sign those 5. Yes, one of the goalies will be gone as will (hopefully) players like Legwand ($3 mil), Greening ($2,650,000), Smith $1,887,500) and Cowen ($3,100,000) but there will, of course, have to be incoming contracts to replace some of them (IF any go), so when all the dust settles, the cap “wiggle room” won’t be all that much. Hardly a “budget” teams. And all that is based upon a $2 mil rise in the cap which, if the Canadian $ keeps struggling against the U.S. dollar, could very well remain at $69 mil – thereby making it even tighter.
Dudes it was a critique or anything. Just an observation of the financial holdings of each team. It was a little joke. You know. Toronto is worth the most, billions of dollars to waste on players who can’t play and on coaches. I’m not saying that is bad it is what it is. Ottawa has an Owner who constantly says he loses money.
so they both sign coaches and the salaries and terms of the coaches parallel that narrative.
God dang it guys. It was just a joke.
I can see Dallas offering 6.5 million for Hamilton, and I don’t think losing the three picks is the biggest deal considering they’ve been searching for a #1 defenseman for years. He could be paired with Klingberg for a decade. They have the need and cap. Boston better get the kid signed before the offer sheets come.
I would love to see Hamilton and Tarasenko get offer sheets this summer, just to make things interesting haha
I don’t know Lyle, reporting on what Simmons writes albeit a
ragSun paper who’s best use, to paraphrase Burke, line bird cages and puppy training. Seriously his “claims” are no different than Ek and his made up E5 ratings on his paid rumor site. His “claims” are pure fabrication and that needs to be stressed. Nothing he wrote happened aka fantasy just like an E5 trade rumor.Like Steve Simmons or not-he is a legitimate reporter working for a legitimate newspaper who has his inside sources. THis is a rumour web site-majority of the rumours do not come through-but Simmons like many other reporters starts discussion.
Riiiight . All this coming from a self-proclaimed expert in what constitutes good sports journalism who also happens to know, without a doubt, what is fabrication as opposed to sources. The fact Burke used that description of a newspaper is sufficient to me to discard it out of hand because if there is a bigger, blustering BSer in hockey he/she has yet to be identified.
Simmons is an accredited professional sportswriter. Whether you agree with him or not, he’s a legitimate media source. The purpose of my rumors page is compiling rumors from legit media sources, offering my opinion on them and sharing both with hockey fans. Doesn’t mean I agree with him all the time.
Lyle if you have to explain it, they won’t get it. After all the fact you click on rumours should be enough to click in to those with the tiniest amount of common sense. You do have a news section after all.
Yes accredited professional maybe in the sense unlike bloggers, have a working contract thus earning a living. I guess it’s a stretch to think – although I personally think he is -a hack in every sense of the word! I think when he speculates, he’s so far over the line it’s comical and shouldn’t be considered something worthy of repeating/discussing. I can understand some people’s reservations regarding bloggers but keep in mind, like many “accredited” professionals you have your hacks too and Steve is their king. For a professional with such experience why does most everything he writes so poor?
It’s not that important to me but god what does it tell you about who the two that came to his defense? Perhaps he caters to them to start discussion, you know like what if what Steve thought in his peabrain head was actually true?
Well, as they say, it takes a peahead brain to recognize one I suppose.
“Good thing the Leafs dont play in the Corsi hockey league!…”
Heres a what ever happened for ya, “whatever happened to decent sports reporters in Toronto?” Simmons is the worst….
The impression I get from the attacks on Simmons is that they come from diehard Leafs fans who dislike him because he dared to tell them what they SHOULD hear in recent years as opposed to what they WANTED to hear. He basically described the organization and the assembly of talent over the past decade as crap – and events have born him out.
No George he is generally an idiot…he was the one blowing horns and whistles about Clarkson coming to town trumpeting Nonis for the signing landing the big fish ufa, later only to do a 180 a year later despite most saying from the begining it was a mistake… during winning streaks he thought the Leafs Avs were doing just fine and that was proof that adv stats were bogus…well look at them now. Of course the majority of fans who
have a problem with Simmons are Leaf fans, he writes
for a Toronto paper would you think its Kings fans that
would have a problem with a Toronto sports reporter
that 1 doesnt do any real leg work or fact
checking, or2 puts his foot in his mouth more often than
not.? Its not like he is telling fans some bitter truths they
dont want to hear as it pertains to the team. He
generally has backwards views and flip flops
around….annoying to say the least. Its not just Leaf fans its the same thing he does to all sports teams and players, just so happens here we talk hockey and he writes about the Leafs more often than not, take Simmons out of Toronto and put him in any city in North America and there would be a large portion of people who have to read him complaining about him being a hack.
My personal fave was the time Simmons photoshopped a pacifier in Kadri’s mouth on an article about how well he’s matured. Such a tool.
SHARKS SHOULD TRADE MARLEAU & A COUPLE PICKS TO THE RANGERS FOR NASH. THEY SHOULD CONSIDER HIM IF HE’S AVAILABLE & IT’S TIME FOR A CHANGE WITH MARLEAU. HE’S BEEN THERE HALF HIS LIFE THAT IT’S LIKE THE SHARKS GAVE BIRTH TO HIM. HE WAS STILL DRINKING YOOHOO WHEN HE FIRST CAME INTO THE NHL.
off topic…a la leaf fan…..flyers should trade macdonald and the 29/30 and the 60th pick for the 16th and 33rd pick
SHARKS SHOULD CONSIDER THIS FOR A TRADE FOR DROUIN. TRADE MARLEAU, WINGELS, HERTL & A PICK TO THE LIGHTNING FOR DROUIN. MIGHT BE A LITTLE TOO MUCH TO GIVE UP FOR HIM BUT THE SHARKS COULD PROBABLY GET HIM WITH THIS KIND OF DEAL. THROWING IN A VETERAN & TWO YOUNG PLAYERS IN THERE. LIGHTNING COULD — USE ANOTHER VETERAN ON THAT TEAM. THEY DON’T HAVE THAT MANY. THAT ROSTER IS BARELY OUT OF DIAPERS THEY’RE SO YOUNG. MOST OF THEM ARE ALL UNDER 30.
Is your Caps Lock key stuck in the “on” position?
SHARKS SHOULD ALSO CONSIDER TRADING FOR TALBOT OF THE RANGERS IF THEY LET NIEMI WALK. TALBOT HAS POTENTIAL TO BE GOOD FOR SOMEBODY & HE WON’T GET MUCH PLAYING TIME WITH LUNDQVIST THERE.