Carolina Hurricanes forward Jeff Skinner tries to ignore trade rumors, an update on Brock Nelson and the latest on the Boston Bruins.
Skinner dogged by trade rumors.
Carolina Hurricanes forward Jeff Skinner was the subject of trade speculation this summer.
THE NEWS & OBSERVER: Chip Alexanders reports Carolina Hurricanes winger Jeff Skinner was dogged by trade rumors throughout the offseason. He has four years remaining on his contract worth $6 million annually in actual salary, but he lacks a no-trade clause. Skinner admitted speaking with agent Rick Curran a couple of times regarding his options, but claims he wants to remain with the Hurricanes. Skinner, 23, struggled last season after suffering the third concussion of his NHL career.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Hurricanes were reportedly shopping Skinner earlier this summer, likely gauging his trade value. When healthy and on his game, Skinner is a 30-goal producer, but his injury history probably dampened interest from rival clubs. He willl certainly attract more interest in the trade market if he returns to form, but it’ll also make him invaluable to the Hurricanes.
Nelson still unsigned.
NEWSDAY’s Arthur Staple reports via Twitter there’s no update on New York Islanders RFA winger Brock Nelson, adding he has less than a week to re-sign with the Islanders.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Staple recently reported Nelson must re-sign with the Isles before their training camp opens on Sept. 16. The club has a long-standing rule that RFAs who aren’t signed by training camp will be forced to sit out the season. Nelson will probably re-sign before then, but I wonder if Islanders management might field trade offers for the winger if unable to reach an agreement.
Updates on the Bruins defense.
CSNNE.COM: Joe Haggerty reports Boston Bruins GM Don Sweeney opted to pass on signing UFA defenseman Cody Franson (who has since signed with the Buffalo Sabres) in favor of giving his young defensemen ( Zach Trotman, Colin Miller and Joe Morrow ) a chance to prove themselves, as well as trying out Torey Krug and Adam McQuaid as top-four rearguards. If those young blueliners fail to make the cut, Haggerty speculates Sweeney could be in the market for “some of the big name blueliners that might become available, with names such as Dustin Byfuglien or Brent Seabrook.”
WEEI.COM: DJ Bean also noted the Bruins giving their young defenders a good look. He wonders if Sweeney might add a veteran UFA like Marek Zidlicky, though that might hamper the development of one of those youngsters.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: If Sweeney decides to pursue a big-name defenseman like Byfuglien or Seabrook, he could be waiting a while. I don’t believe either guy will be available (if at all) until much later in the season.
I don’t see anybody taking a shot at Skinner with his injury history and the 4 yrs@6M remaining on his current deal. Anyhow, the Canes already made one bad deal by taking Versteeg when they needed to improve their defense.
It’s going to take them a long time to dig themselves out of the hole Rutherford left them in.
Even more amazed by Rutherford being hired in Pittsburgh.
But he won a cup!…I hate that arguement.
So did Carlysle and Burke with Anaheim – more in spite of them with the way things unfolded in TO. Yeah, it’s feather in Rutherford’s cap, but overall the negatives far outweigh the positives. In both cases.
And lest we forget, so too did Jay Feaster and John Tortorella win a cup in Tampa. Neither has exactly covered themselves in glory since.
If skinner returns to form and can go this year without injury he will hold some value. how much I do not know, but I would think the return would be decent. As for the versteeg deal Chicago gave them a better pick in return and if versteeg can pot 15 goals its a win for them. 1 year at 2.2 and ufa why not take the risk with the third coming back..
Agreed. Carolina is a mess. I have them & NJ as the worst teams in the east this year. Verbeek will help, hell anyone would have helped as this roster looks so bad. Carolina doesn’t have much coming either. The # of NHL quality prospects in the system currently might be less than 5.
How Rutherford found a new gig after leaving this team so barren is a wonder.
I just saw that Ryane Clowe retired from the Devils due to concussions. Too bad for him but a very fortunate way for Devils to rid themselves of his mutliyear contract. Devils couldn’t refrain from signing that horrible contract, but now got some timely help to save themselves. As they also managed to sneak out of Kovalchuks old expensive contract, a rebuild will easier commence when not saddled with a lot of multiyear money. It will start looking on the bright side there in a couple of years.
There’s no secret I really don’t like Rutherford much. Unbelievable someone would hire him as GM after his stint in Carolina. Rant over.
That much faith in the leafs huh. The Canes should have improved Goaltending, decent back end and a motivate Eric Staal.
Which team to you support and watch? I would be surprised if you are a Canes fan. The Canes have a lot of young talent coming up and without injuries may make the playoffs.
Bruins made the right move by giving the young guys a chance.
Chara and Siedenberg are slowing and some youth and speed is needed.
Sure Hamilton would help but that story is done.
Look what happened when they gave Boychuck a chance.
Its pretty obvious no one on this thread follows the hurricanes, we are actually stacked with defensive prospects. Hanifin, Fluery, Slavin , Pesce , Carrick, McKeown etc. At the very least Hanifin and Fluery will be very good NHL defensemen to go along with Justin Faulk. Our forward group does need some help but the versteeg trade was definitely a win for us, we move up in the draft and we can just trade him at the deadline if he doesnt work out, while also acquiring a potential serviceable 4th liner. We gave them nothing but 2.2 mil in cap relief.
i agree ghando even have some good young forwards in rask and lindholm the canes aren’t that far away from the playoffs
In Lindholm, Rask, Faulk & Ryan Murphy Carolina has 4 great young players. Hanafin, Fleury & McGinn should all be great players as well, eventually. Tolchinsky is an interesting prospect & if not for his size would be a stud prospect but 5’8″ 160 lbs players are few & far between in the NHL. He may make it regardless. There are several other solid prospects in McKeown, Di Giuseppe & Ryan but most of these prospects are years away from the NHL.
Carolina is years from making the playoffs. No way E. Staal resigns. Carolina is a great place to live but why would he want to stay with a team that hasn’t got a hope of making the playoffs for years to come. This team is a mess. You have Skinner locked in for 5.75 for 4 more years & he’s 1 maybe 2 more concussions from being forced to retire & is a shadow of the player he was. The other Staal is the highest paid 3rd line C in the NHL for another 8 years at 6 per even playing as the #1 in Carolina last season with Eric he couldn’t put up points.
says the guy that thinks the canes will be below the leafs in the standings!! lmao
While I don’t disagree that the Canes do have a couple good young players every team in the NHL has prospects and some good ones…if you look at any scouting material written by people who are generally pretty knowledgeable in such thing and that’s readily available the Canes rank in the bottom 4 or 5 teams in depth of blue chip type prospects…so not sure I’m buying that they are oh so close.
” …we can just trade him (Versteeg)at the deadline if he doesnt work out,…”
Just like that, eh? If he doesn’t “work out” and falls flat on his ass who would want him?
This person on this thread although doesn’t follow the Canes as much as some other teams is on record as saying the Canes may be the Surprise team out of the East. There are always questions surrounding a poor performing team but the Canes are far from a mess.
He probably meant it would be a surprise if they didn’t finish 30th.
I agree jeff they aren’t a mess at all they don’t get covered a lot people don’t hear them in the media and just look at stats,standings not the players
About to say the same thing. Carolina will be set up quite nicely after trading staal this seasons tdl. It’s been a very quiet rebuild but one that’s producing a decent future.