Updates on Steven Stamkos, Ryan Johansen, Jeff Skinner and more in your Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup.
Highlights from Garrioch’s “Insider Trading.”
Hurricanes want to move Jeff Skinner?
OTTAWA SUN: Bruce Garrioch reports Carolina Hurricanes GM Ron Francis is apparently willing to discuss trades regarding nearly everyone but his best young players. Topping the list of those Francis wants to move is winger Jeff Skinner, who has four years left on his contract at $5.75 million annually. Garrioch claims the Hurricanes are even willing to add a prospect in the deal to get Skinner off their books. Francis must also reach decisions with pending UFAs Eric Staal and Cam Ward before the Feb. 29 trade deadline.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Skinner must return to his 30-goal form to attract interest from rival clubs. His concussion history is also a concern.
The Winnipeg Jets must decide what to do with pending UFA defenseman Dustin Byfuglien. The Arizona Coyotes face a similar decision with right wing Mikkel Boedker, as do the Boston Bruins with winger Loui Eriksson. Garrioch speculates the Florida Panthers could take a run at Byfuglien, citing his link with Panthers GM Dale Tallon, plus the Panthers have Brian Campbell coming off their books after this season.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Wouldn’t surprise me if Tallon tried to sign Byfuglien this summer. He was the Blackhawks assistant GM when they drafted Big Buff in 2003.
Teams are interested in Calgary Flames UFAs Jiri Hudler and Kris Russell, but the Flames hope to re-sign them.
“The biggest decision the Leafs are going to have to make is on goalie James Reimer. Making $2.3 million in the last year of his contract, he’ll be a UFA on July 1.”
It’s rumored Anaheim Ducks GM Bob Murray would like to move wingers Andrew Cogliano and Pat Maroon but there’s not much of a market for either guy. If Murray decides to trade defenseman Cam Fowler, he’ll get a better return.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: By the sound of things, Murray doesn’t want to move Fowler.
“The Blue Jackets are looking for a top-four defenceman in exchange for prospect defenceman Kerby Rychel.”
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Rychel’s a forward, not a defenseman, and the Blue Jackets won’t get a top-four blueliner for him.
Edmonton Oilers GM Peter Chiarelli would like to make changes to his roster and winger Jordan Eberle is rumored to be in play, but it sounds like it’ll be difficult for him to make a move before the trade deadline.
There’s some interest in Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Trevor Daley, who might benefit from a change of scenery. The asking price is believed to be a second-round pick and a prospect.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Maybe a draft pick at this point. Doubt it goes as high as second round plus a prospect.
Updates on Stamkos and Johansen.
TORONTO SUN: Steve Simmons reports Tampa Bay Lightning star Steven Stamkos still hasn’t re-signed, but the fact his parents have recently moved to Tampa Bay “has left a lot of people believing he will re-sign with the Lightning.”
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Take that for what it’s worth, gang.
STARTRIBUNE.COM: Michael Russo reports just because Columbus Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen is listening to inquiries from rival clubs for center Ryan Johansen doesn’t mean he trades him. Russo feels Kekalainen wants to get a sense of Johansen’s trade value. However, he believes the Blue Jackets GM will be cautious about moving his first-line center.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: You can bet the asking price for Johansen is much more than most GMs are willing to pay. My guess is Kekalainen wants at least a top-two defenseman as part of the return.
Why do I get the feeling Stamkos and his teammates are getting the biggest giggles watching those ubiquitous panel shows and reading the seemingly endless columns speculating on his future and is playing them like a fish on the line? He’ll sign in Tampa.
The money is pretty equal around the league for his kind. If he likes it in TB and likes the coach, he probably resigns as Tampa will be just as competitive as any other NHL club the coming years. Why fix what ain’t broke?
Resigning Stamkos
-As long as the Bolts can avoid the massive contract that will make it impossible to keep most of their core together.
This is all Ive been saying all along, Im not saying it because I dont think the will sign him, I am saying it because its the beginning of the end of a pretty good team if they do. If you look at them this year sureStamkos is having a pretty good year but the injuries have stripped their depth and the team ddefinitely doesnt look like the Bolts of last year. If Stamkos is signed for yhat kinda money Stevie Y is setting himself up for a team that looks mighty similar to the one hes got now 1 big star on a middle of the road team in the east and moving goalies and D might not be enough in the next few years once the Drouins Johnsons Kilorn Kucherov Pallats become ufa if you can barely squeez them in as RFAs
I agree with this for the Bolts or any team. Having 5x5M players will work out much better than 1x12M + 4x3M players, on average.
Star power is important for the business of selling jerseys & tickets, so teams will still do it. But many GMs will probably go for balanced teams with a self-imposed maximum value for a single player. (e.g. nobody makes over $8M)
So, IF he does sign with the Leafs, will that be the same scenario there? Especially with big hits-long term contracts like those of Phaneuf and Lupul added to the mix for the next few years.
I dont really want him to sign with the Leafs, exactly for that reason. Said it a few times. Other than the giggles Id get from seeing a few folks eating crow, I dont really like the idea that much at all.
Im in the draft and development camp….and take advantage of pillaging affordable youth from other clubs that take on those kinda contracts.
lets be honest it will be a few years before we have the cupboards filled a lot of prospects we have are very hit or miss
lol if we are being honest os hit or miss not the very definition of prospect?
Marner could potentially play in the OHL (age wose) agsin next year and is called too god for JR now by Mackenzie put up 2 hatricks and 11 points in 2 games this weekend and leads the lrague with 58 points in 25 Games…Nylander leads the AHL in points as a 19 year old and is on pace for over 100 points…ya you could say tjey are hit or miss but I like their chances
If you want to look past those 2 (Marner and Nylander) the Marlies currently have 4 guys in the top 25 in the AHL for scoring, and the team is in the top 10 teams defensively. All while being one of the youngest teams in the league…
lol do you want me to name all the busts that played well in the ahl and chl?? lol its a whole different game in the nhl geez
What makes them any different from any other team or prospect? You could say the same about every team, every team has had some busts Hoffman not going to work out because the Sens drafted Daigle?, The Habs dont have a great draft record recently doesnt mean they have no good prospects.. The “ya but look at this bust” is a dumb argument to say a team dosent have ant decent prospects because different prospects in the past havent worked out
Thats a dumb argument every single team in the league has had busts..
Habs have no prospects because they took Mike McArron in the first round or Tim Bozon, Hoffman not going to work out because the Sens drafted Daigle?
I thought McDavid was going to be good but the Oilers did draft Lander and Ganger Hartkeninien sooo…ya never know lol
you make no sense?? lol
Judging by your posts I’m not the only thing you find hard to understand.
Lol read what you wrote again!! It’s like a 5 yr old writing judging by how you rate players that age would be about right! Lol
I agree with you in principle, but TB can be competitive anyway. I consider Bishop like 90% gone already as he will be traded and not resigned long term. A Bishop trade will replenish the prospect depth a little bit and the salary room will be needed. TB will probably also loose one of the triplets. But other than that, they might be rather unscathed through it all. They’ll still be good/great with Vasilievsky going forward. An improved Drouin and other youth will fill in for the losses.
What exactly is the “core ” of Tampa? Because if you think Stamkos isn’t…..you’re insane!!!!
You have to wonder if a Lightning resign of Stamkos is tied to a summer trade of Ben Bishop.
There back-up is really good and the Latvian on the farm is no slouch either.
Business starts to take precedence in some cases, and with the terrible issues Tampa is having now due to injures really don’t mar their chances down the road in years ahead IF they keep most of those attackers.
It is pretty clear Hedman, the the triplets, and other forwards are going to desire raises whether RFAs or not. GM’s in Cap era have to look forward backward and sideways at every player evaluation, probable value in & outside the organization to even start making decisions of attempts to keep them.
Very interesting article in the Hockey news on whether it will become smarter to make a decision as to whether your upcoming RFAs are REALLY going to reach their high water marks, and IF THE GM THINKS THEY WILL, signs them to big deals over rewarding to Kopitar type resigns for past achievements when then they will start theri downward spirals.
So they gotta think hard on all these guys, because someone or two ARE going.
Trading E. Staal:
Anyone watch him vs the Habs last night? He looked both untalented and disinterested. He sits 136th in league scoring and his numbers are plummeting for the last couple of years.
Don’t know why – other than previous history – he is considered a 1st-line centre. He’s not a bad player, but he’s not a top line forward. Would never make the trade (or UFA signing) that valued him like one.
I dropped him in my hockey pool. He was outplayed for a centre position by Frans Nielsen (imagine that a couple of years ago!). Staal isn’t even a first-line centre on the Hurricanes this year – they’ve moved him to the wing. Doing little or nothing on the power play too. It’s surprising as he’s only 31. Someone here compared him to Vincent Lecavalier the other day, which I think is accurate.
Stall and Lecavalier are classic examples of how the “comfort zone” can destroy the drive of a pro athlete. The really good ones will strive for excellence ALL the time regardless of how much they’re making – but there are many whose “drive” gets stuck in neutral.
Hockey people that see E Staal play regularly, usually reports that he is not a 1st Center anymore. Buyer beware on him. Especially this coming July…
Since your asking, I watched every minute of the game and completely disagree with your assessment of how Eric Staal played vs the Habs. By the way so did the announcers.
Interesting. I saw him miss an empty net, make a bonehead play that created a goalie interference and then not even be upset when it got called back. Saw a few bad passes for turnovers, too. Didn’t see anything that would make me think he was worth $9M…. or even $5M.
Carolina will have to retain salary to move Skinner.
Eric Staal might be done.
Byfuglien needs to be traded he’s not resigning in Winnipeg.
Eberle is a good player but having a bad season might not get a great return at this time better to hold onto him for now.
Agree with others Stamkos making over 8 million will cause future cap problems in Tampa. I would trade him for a huge package of players and picks if possible.
Why would anyone give up that much for a guy who might not even remain with them next summer? Just accommodating his salary now would put a serious dent in the economics of just about every team that he might agree to report to – read “contender” and giving up a “huge package of players” – likely meaning some top prospects now playing at the NHL level – would do nothing to help the receiving team – even WITH Stamkos. The Bolts have him now and they’re not exactly burning up the standings.
i would rather move him for as much as I can get then let him walk for nothing. I’m sure as a UFA he knows where he wants to play next year.
No doubt. Butt knowing that, NO ONE is going to give up “a huge package of players” that includes top notch prospects for a rental. Just won’t happen.
Oh the pains of the Salary Cap era, lots of talk & no action. Trades have become more difficult to make than ever before. The Gm’s are 100% guilty of mismanaging the Cap by signing exorbitant contracts to ridiculous terms. Yes you’ve heard this all before, but yes we have been hearing a ton of rumours all season long as well, with the likelihood of possibly a couple of them happening closer to the trading deadline.
There are at the most 3-4 bottom dweller teams able to commit to Stamkos salary level, with little difficulty; but with Tampa in a dog fight to even gain a playoff spot, I doubt that trading Stamkos hasn’t even entered there mind at this point, so why be-labor the point? The trade deadline is 3 months away, nothing major will happen till then.
The problem is not the salary cap, the problem is the stagnant economy. If the salary cap was rising at a steady rate, every GM would be very bold, since they knew they would have additional cap space after the moves – at the very least they would have the safety net of cap relief in just one years time. Nowadays a realistic risk exist where the cap could go a little lower than previously and GMs must act accordingly.
A rising salary cap masks the many bad contracts on a roster. With a stagnant cap, you basically live and die with the amount of bad contracts you have accumulated as a GM. In this reality, it takes many years to get out of a bad contract situation (Flyers, Leafs, Hurricanes) as GMs don’t get salary space by merely changing hockey seasons.
If I was Sweeney I would sign Loui for 4 or 5 years @ about 5 million no more. If can’t get it done trade for younger prospect an a pick. Couple rookies looking pretty good and Pastranak back soon.
I like Eriksson also but I wouldn’t resign him. He will command more than he’s worth. There will be better free agent options out there for less money. I don’t think his game fits in Boston. Too slow and not physical.
Most of his goals have come from a nice setup or a deflection.
you not getting much for loui in a trade you sure aren’t getting a seguin lol
I would also resign Loui, but not for more than 4 years at approx $4-4.5M. I don’t know if he’d accept that or try the open market. Loui is a smart player that can play well 3-on-3 also. As a skilled option he is nice to have.
The NHL needs a blockbuster!
Ducks get: Byfuglien, Eberle
Islanders get: Fowler, Comrie, pick (from Ducks)
Jets get: Harmonic, Maroon
Oilers get: Andersen, Cogliano
Better yet, make that a five-way deal incl. some Toronto players most young lost fans usually suggest:
Ducks get: Eberle
Islanders get: Fowler
Toronto get: Hamonic
Jets get: Bozak + Gardiner + 2nd rounder (Torontos) 😀
Oilers get: Byfuglien, Andersen + 2nd rounder (Jets)