Latest on Milan Lucic, Kyle Okposo, Jared Cowen, Mike Hoffman, Scott Hartnell and more in your NHL rumor mill.
Highlights from TSN’s latest “Insider Trading.”
The Kings have opened contract talks with Milan Lucic.
TSN: Pierre LeBrun reports the Los Angeles Kings and the agent for pending UFA left wing Milan Lucic have exchanged contract proposals, noting the two sides are in the early stages of negotiations. Citing the Kings’ limited salary-cap space, LeBrun suggests talks could be lengthy, noting the amount of time it took to get Anze Kopitar under contract earlier this season. However, Lucic has a genuine desire to re-sign with the Kings and they believe he’s a great player.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: TSN’s Bob McKenzie also thinks the Kings and Lucic can get a deal done before his UFA eligibility in July. There was some talk of Lucic perhaps signing with the Vancouver Canucks if a deal falls through with the Kings, who have over $64 million invested in next season’s cap payroll. That will be reduced by over $2 million when Vincent Lecavalier retires at season’s end. Still, with Lucic coming off a three-year, $18 million deal, he’ll be a tight fit even if he’s willing to accept less money to stay in Los Angeles. The Canucks could be Lucic’s plan B, though signing him would push their payroll to around $65 million for 2016-17
Darren Dreger reports there’s been some “back and forth” between pending UFA right wing Kyle Okposo and the New York Islanders, but they don’t appear to be even close to a deal. It’s more likely Okposo will test the free-agent market in July.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Okposo could seek over $6 million annually on an eight-year deal, a significant boost in salary over his current $2.8 million annual cap hit. I think he’s playing his final season for the Isles. Despite Okposo’s speculated asking price, there will be considerable interest in him this summer.
Highlights from Friedman’s latest “30 Thoughts.”
SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman reports Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Jared Cowen won’t be filing a grievance against the club for sending him home to ensure he remains healthy for a contract buyout in June. He’s also been given permission to speak with other clubs regarding a new contract, but his agent doesn’t intend to do so until season’s end for most clubs.
The possibility of a flat salary-cap next season contributed to the trade market fizzling out by the deadline. Friedman cites last summer’s trades involving younger players like Dougie Hamilton and Brandon Saad, suggesting teams interested in pursuing young players on clubs in need of shedding salary this summer were saving their trade assets. Friedman speculates one of those players could be Montreal Canadiens forward Alex Galchenyuk, though his improvement of late also makes him worthwhile for the Habs to retain.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hamilton and Saad were restricted free agents last summer, while Galchenyuk has another year at an affordable $2.8 million remaining on his contract. Until a few weeks ago, I had a feeling Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin might be running out of patience with Galchenyuk. However, in his last seven games, the youngster has nine goals and an assist. He’s finally getting more playing time at center. The Habs aren’t likely to get equal value by trading him. Unless Bergevin’s gets an offer too good to pass up, he’ll likely stick with Galchenyuk next season.
Friedman speculates pending restricted free agent winger Mike Hoffman could be playing his final games for the Ottawa Senators, who is a year away from UFA status and has arbitration rights this summer.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hoffman’s also been in head coach Dave Cameron’s doghouse in recent weeks. Considering the Senators are usually a budget team, it wouldn’t be surprising if they shop Hoffman in June for a more affordable player.
Lots of trade rumors involving Columbus Blue Jackets left wing Scott Hartnell leading up to the deadline but Friedman doubts there was anything close to a deal. The Blue Jackets apparently weren’t interested in a salary-for-salary swap. The Minnesota Wild, Nashville Predators and Pittsburgh Penguins were believed to be interested but ultimately backed away. Hartnell has a no-movement clause and would’ve had to approve a trade.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hartnell’s contract ($4.75 million annually through 2018-19) is difficult to move but not impossible. As I frequently said leading up to the trade deadline. tradiing a contract like his usually takes place in the offseason. Don’t be surprised if the Hartnell trade rumors flash up again by mid-June.
Friedman wonders if an NHL GM tried to acquire both Mikkel Boedker and Martin Hanzal from the Arizona Coyotes. Boedker was eventually dealt to the Colorado Avalanche at the trade deadline.
Lucic is a beast ! ( and I don’t mean points ) Will be worth every penny. He will probably live and die in LA. A lot of teams need a player like him- Oilers for one, Vancouver for two.
Will the Kings move a veteran defenseman to fit Lucic under their cap? Luc can play on my team anytime.
I can’t see it. They have Doughty, Muzzin, Martinez, Greene & Scuderi signed for next season. That means either Muzzin or Martinez who both make 4 mil per for 4 & 5 more years respectively. Moving either of those D or even Greene at 2.5 to sign Lucic makes LA worse not better.
If you want any hope of being a contender you need to have 1 of the best top 4 D in the NHL. My concern with Chicago potentially going the distance this year as their #4 is a ? mark with Gustafsson & or TvR being so young & I don’t see Ehrhoff as a solution. Although the forward group & top 3 D they have put together may be enough regardless. I was shocked Bowman didn’t find away to get Hamhuis out of Vancouver.
Of my 5 favorite teams to win the cup based on what I think I know today, 4 come out of the west; Chi, LA, Anh, & SJ, & that doesn’t even count StL, Nas or Dal which are all great teams. Any of the 7 would push the cup deep with Was being the only powerhouse in the east, although TB, Flo & NYR are very good teams & Pit or Bos could surprise if the planets align & their goalies play lights out. I just don’t think they are as strong as most; at least 4, of those teams in the west.
The west is just brutal to even get out of the 1st round. Just ask StL who has been taken out by the cup winner in Chi & LA repeatedly early in the playoffs for years.
Chicago has a real issue with the #4 defenseman spot
he has no shot at resigning there
I don’t want to see him in Vancouver but as I’m giving up my season tickets after more than 20 years I don’t really care. It doesn’t make sense to bring Lucic in when Vancouver has finally seen the light & is heading into a full scale rebuild. It’s just unfortunate they delayed it by 2 years. They missed out on the opportunity to have a kick at 3; McDavid, Eichel, & Matthews, generational talents had they conducted the rebuild properly. I guess they still have a chance at Matthew’s although only 6.5% as we speak.
Hoffman is another one of those players – much like Kessel – who has ALL the offensive tools – speed, size and a blistering shot – but whose approach to the game is summed up as “best leave mundane chores like back-checking to the other guys.” Someone will take him on and Ottawa should get a decent return either at the draft or in the summer.
I agree George Hoffman just doesn’t seem to wanna help in his own end Hoffman will want 5 mill I would think and that might lower his trade value a bit
Hoffman if unhappy with his handling by both Murray & Cameron has the potential to really screw Ottawa if so inclined. Hoffman is 1 arbitration hearing settlement; 1 year, from being a UFA. He can be traded now as he has no no movement or no trade clause. That said his current position limits his value unless he’s willing to resign with the team he possibly gets traded to but what if he refuses to sign with the team he’s traded to & goes to arbitration & chooses to test the UFA market the season following. Ottawa would be looking at nominal compensation for what appears to be a future 30 to maybe even 40 goal scorer. Can’t the his center or other winger help cover for some of his defensive deficiencies or can’t he continue to be deployed solely in offensive situations.
Is Hoffman angry? Does he want to potentially stick it to Murray & Cameron for his treatment? I know if I were Hoffman I wouldn’t be happy with my handling. I agree with you he’s incredibly 1 dimensional but young goal scorers that score at his rate don’t grow on tree’s. He’s only in his 2nd full season in the NHL so will improve eventually but never going to be a solid 2 way player.
What I don’t understand is Hoffman seems to get punished far quicker than any other player who plays soft or makes mistakes in Cameron’s system. Prince is a great skater with solid fancy stats yet Chiasson plays all the time in all situations & can’t produce regardless. The only thing he has going for him is size.
Cameron seems to punish strictly defensive lapses his players commit unless that player is named Karlsson. He also seems to hold some players to the fire more so than others. Prince, Hoffman, Weircoich, jump out to me of players who were given short leashes while players like Chiasson, Karlsson, Stone seem to be allowed to find their way on their own out of their slumps.
I don’t agree with Cameron’s methods this late in the season. The players should be all up to date with the game plan. It has long been time to stop coaching and managing every micro second of the game and allow the players to play. Cameron has told them and showed them what he wants them to do. Let them try. Hoffman lacks a defensive game, so don’t put him out in those situations but don’t bench the guy. Play him during offensive zone faceoffs and PP’s.
The Sens are pretty much one more loss and done. I thought for the last month it was time for Cameron to just let his guys play. Find ways to best utilize them by putting them out in areas that best suit them but stop trying to change how they play this late in the season. It’s been some time now that the Sens needed to just live or die by their swords and stop putting shields up.
Cameron has been coaching not to lose and it frustrates the hell out of me. Put your best players out their and let them win the game for you. If they don’t they don’t. It is apparent constant line shuffling isn’t winning them games.
I remember win Maclean said he was afraid not only of the opposition players but who he selects to put on the ice. After saying that he lost his job. I see much the Same in Cameron. He has little faith in some of his players and afraid to put them on the ice. He appears to lack the ability to select the best situations to put them out their and hides them on his bench for fear they may commit an error.
Look deeper. Everywhere Hoffman’s played he’s bounced around, from Kitchener in the OHL to the Q with Gatineau, then Drummondville, then Saint John and back and forth between Binghamton in the AHL and Elmira in the ECHL. There has to be an underlying reason for that. Yeah, he could become a 30 to 40 goal scorer somewhere – but then so was/is Kessel but in the end his total rejection of defensive responsibilities cost him in Boston and then Toronto, and it wouldn’t surprise me to see Pittsburgh soon looking for a way out.
Hoffman to Buffalo at the draft…book it! lol
Ennis for Hoffman
That wouldn’t be much of a stretch Lenny, since it was Tim Murray who essentially was responsible for him being drafted by Ottawa in the first place.
Would it be prudent for Ottawa to use Hoffman in a trade to get a goalie back. The one reason a few years ago I thought it was great that Murray signed Anderson for 3 years when everyone thought the reigns should be handed to Lehner was for it to give lehner more time to mature as I long felt for the most part goalies don’t claim that top spot till they are around 26 to 27 year of age. The moved Bishop and then Hammond appeared and quite frankly I am not enamored with his work this season. the 20-1-1 record of last year looks to of been a flash in the pan yet the Sens over all are struggling. So as Anderson ages should it now be time to look to bring in his replacement. Perhaps put him and Hoffman together in a trade.
Maybe bring Bishop back from Tampa. haha, or go after his backup.
Perhaps it is to early to be worrying about this. Perhaps Hammond and Dreidger may work out as a good combo in a few years.
Just some thoughts.
Assuming Lecavalier does in fact retire LA has 62,355,227 committed to 17 players next season, meaning they need to resign or replace 7 players. Is Lucic taking a reduction in salary & if so how much of a discount? LA only has 5 D signed 1 of which is Scuderi.
2017-18 is shaping up to be even more exciting than this summer as many of the contenders, LA, CHI, TB etc have even bigger names looking at huge raises the summer following this 1. They all have significant RFA’s to resign. Taffoli, Pearson, Teravainen, Panarin, Johnson, Palat & Drouin; if relationship is repaired & he’s not traded. TB is facing Hedman being a UFA after next season. I assume he’s addressed this summer after July 1st but he’s moving into the top 10 salary’s for Dman. 7 to 8 mil per for 8 years.
Expansion can’t come soon enough for these 3 teams. Going to be very interesting to follow & see how it plays out.
Yup. Cameron is annoying. So tired of his system and approach to his players. The constant, useless line juggles are tiring. Hate that the sens have had a constant revolving door of coaches in the last few years, but cameron’s system, if he even has one, blows. Hoffman has the offensive skills to be an elite player. I know he has a chip, but that is partly due to his treatment. Who are we going to get that is cheaper and better? Why did prince all of a sudden go packing just to see lame Gomez come in? I agree that Cameron seems to come down on his hardest. Can’t we move on from Cameron? He looks like he’s got no confidence and that manifests in taking shots at his players….We are in the same spot as we were with Maclean a couple years ago. Horrible D, can’t get it out of our zone, and players starting to lose patience….somethings got to give.
owen I agree the sens d is the major problem they allow way too many good scoring chances and if Hammond or Anderson aren’t standing on there heads the sens aren’t winning
I agree although as it relates to Gomez I see Gomez more brought in as a short term solution to losing Turris but not sure why Prince wasn’t given a fair chance. It doesn’t make sense. The fancy stats loved this player & even the old world #’s show him to have been quite productive given his opportunity.
I watched Prince’s 1st game in NYI & NYI last night against Pittsburgh. I hadn’t really watched Prince prior. I though from George’s comments he wasn’t a very good skater but he is in fact a very good skater which shocked me.
He took shifts in game 1 with Tavares but has since played with Kulemin at C & Lee seeing limited minutes in a 3rd line role & will get bumped to spare when Grabovski returns but he looks to have an NHL future as a 3rd line winger potentially, given proper development time. Great value for a late 3rd round pick for NYI.
And who keeps hiring these coaches owen? Paddock, Hartsburg,Clouston, Maclean, Cameron – all within 9 seasons. Not one of which has ever been given a head coaching job in the NHL after leaving Ottawa. They need to be reamed out with a wire brush right from the top down – and NOT with Murray’s replacement being Dorion or Lee. That would just be perpetuating the the mediocrity. As for ownership, I’m still hoping that other conglomerate bidding on the downtown project (which includes Le Cirque de Soleil) wins and buys the team.
Wouldn’t it be a laugh if the Habs fire Therrien and he’s hired in Ottawa to replace Cameron.
Ottawa has more depth of talent than Montreal. They need to make themselves harder to play against. Enter Therrien. It could happen. Ottawa should be active on the trade market as well – not saying they will, but they should be. Too many forwards of one type. They need an edge.
If he cant get a deal in LA the Ducks would be the logical place for him to go. He fits their style perfectly. By the time Oilers or Canucks are a factor he wont be?
the way galchenyuk is playing i cant see why the habs wouldn’t take a chance with bringing yak in in the summer his value would be pretty low right now and only making 2.5 million right now i think
Agreed Bigbear. Just a question of cost. RW in Montreal for NHL ready players is weak, essentially Gallagher & little else. Andrighetto looks to be an NHL player but will need a few years to fully develop although a smurf. Is McCarron going to be a RW or C. Does he start on the wing & eventually move to C? Scherback will be ready eventually & plays either wing. Nor would I be shocked to see Weise brought back as a UFA but he shouldn’t be playing top 6 like Therrien liked to do but I guess had few other options for, although I would have liked to see Andrighetto moved into a greater role faster.
It’s worth taking a chance on Yakupov but at what cost? What do you pay to try & get him? Edmonton isn’t going to just give him away yet but his value is certainly tainted & not increasing at present although still very young.
i think weise will be back too unless someone blows his doors off with a big for him contract. i don’t know what the cost for yak would be maybe a dman prospect and a 2nd or 3rd i don’t think yak gets a first
Edmonton has really painted themselves into a corner with Yakuoov. No idea what the market value might be but I don’the pay a 1st either & certainly not if it’s a lottery pick.
Edmonton really needs to try & rebuild some value by getting him some quality ice time & minutes. Thankfully injures have him playing with McDavid & Eberle down the stretch. I’m just not sure there’s enough games left to significantly alter his value.
A GM may overpay for him based on late-bloomer potential, but I think in terms of actual value, Yak is not worth much more than a 2nd at this stage. His book is all but written: 3rd line, scoring forward.
The only outstanding chapter may be whether a coach can teach him defense and/or a specialist role (faceoffs, PK, etc) so that he can expand his usefulness and could increase his value – right now he’s a defensive liability.
So if you’re saying 2nd and a prospect, that prospect is going to be a B/C prospect. I would expect the Oilers to go for a high-ceiling (high risk) type so they can claim that they might eventually get strong production out of what today is obviously an epic bust of a 1st overall.
dan he is not a 3rd liner putting him there would be a waste he needs to play top 6 he could definitely be a 20 goal scorer with the right fit
Bigbear, this is his 4th NHL season and he’s only got 6 goals.
I hear you Dan39 but agree with Bigbear as crazy as that sounds. He’s not a 3rd liner, really can’t check well enough to play that role. Another team will try to see if he can be salvaged given a different opportunity. To young to write off but I agree with you as well, 239 games & only looked good as a rookie really scoring 17 goals & 31 points in the 48 game lock out season.
There are a few potential mitigating factors which might help explain his situation. A complete lose of confidence partly due to a different coach & system every year he has been in the NHL & the gong show that is Edmonton not only in his 4 NHL seasons but extending to his teammates going back a decade.
Will a fresh start salvage his career? I have no idea, I can’t & don’t even want to speculate. I avoid him like the plague in all pools I participate in at any cost. That said numerous NHL teams will take a chance if the cost justify’s it. The question is what is that cost? Who knows but we may find out soon enough.
dan… striker is right with the confidence part Edmonton has a big problem with confidence putting him on a 3rd line makes no sense
Bigbear & Striker, I misunderstood what you were saying to mean that you saw him as more than a 3rd line player on merit.
I agree that he is defensively inept and not suitable in a traditional 3rd line, checking role; my only point was that he isn’t suitable in a top 6 role given his anemic production.
I also agree that if any GM trades for him, it is on the basis of a redemption project. I just think it’s misguided for the reasons I mentioned.
I stated when he was drafted that he would be the best player of this draft year. Right now Forsberg, Maata, and Reilly are ahead but we will see in two years? I also think getting Yakupov to play with him would make both better? I am saying this as a Leaf fan.
a lot of scouts said galchenyuk would have gone number 1 if he didn’t take the knee injury in the draft yr, but what he has shown this yr he will be the best of that draft
That applies to Reilly, too, Bigbear. Galchenyuk needs to do more than string together 9 games to be considered the best of that draft. It was only a few weeks ago, he was considered to be expendable.
for sure it has to be more than 9 games but just watch him he has looked like a different player this yr he wasn’t getting the points early but had the chances all yr. reilly still needs work in his own but offensively is doing good!
and he was never on the market bergevin did an interview after the deadline and laughed about pk and galchenyuk being available
“Considered to be expendable” by whom?
Elliotte Friedman and the other talking heads who are “in the know”?
Misused by Therrien who thinks his pint-sized buddy, DD, is the Habs’ true #1 Center, stating “Galchenyuk – no chemistry with Pacciorety” despite their quite remarkable 9 game stint together last year.
Our affable, but somewhat dim, Head Coach is the source of many of the Habs’ problems.
But hey, apparently it was Therrien, you know, who groomed Crosby into the high-end boyo that he is today – if you believe certain other talking heads.
Galchenyuk – going nowhere now, and never was.
Have you guys been messing around with the draft simulator? It’s kind of fun. Gives you some perception how the odds play out but really meaningless. Just amusing.
http://nhllotterysimulator.com/
It has no relevance on what might actually happen but it is using the same weightings.
I run it 20 times a day just for laughs. Here’s today’s results.
Teams 1st’s, 2nd’s & 3rd round picks, Top 3.
Toronto Maple Leafs 6 times 1st, 4 times 2nd’s, 3 times 3rd, for 13 picks in the top 3 rounds 13 out of 20 times.
Edmonton Oilers 6, 2, 4, 12
Buffalo Sabres 2, 2, 0, 4
Winnipeg Jets 2, 1, 2, 5
Vancouver Canucks 2, 0, 1, 3
Arizona Coyotes 1, 2, 4, 7
Columbus Blue Jackets 1, 1, 1, 3
Calgary Flames 0, 4, 2, 6
Montreal Canadiens 0, 3, 2, 5
Ottawa Senators 0, 1, 1, 2
Sorry. 1st, 2nd & 3rd overall picks by lottery round.
I always run it for a laugh too! lol I have noticed a lot of higher ranked teams winning it lately
I quickly ran it through 100 times to give nice numbers…
Of the 100 simulations these are the top 5 teams, based on how many times they got to pick 1st:
Toronto drafted 1st 20 times, 2nd 20 times, 3rd 10 times (50% of the time in the top 3)
Edmonton drafted 1st 17 times, 2nd 20 times, 3rd 8 times (45% of the time in the top 3)
Buffalo drafted 1st 12 times, 2nd 7 times, 3rd 13 times (32% of the time in the top 3)
Calgary drafted 1st 10 times, 2nd 10 times, 3rd 6 times (36% of the time in the top 3)
Winnipeg drafted 1st 10 times, 2nd 9 times, 3rd 14 times (33% of the time in the top 3)
Next teams: Columbus, New Jersey, Vancouver, Arizona, Montreal
O’Niel at TSN said it the best “go with experience and Oilers have the experience at winning the lottery.” I am a Leafs fan so if the Leafs won I think they would have to see if they could turn the pick and another asset (Bozak, a prospect or a 2nd round pick) over to Coyotes for their 1st, Strome, OEL or Domi and a prospect. I am probably dreaming in techicolor because Oilers will win the lottery?
I’m a Leafs fan and I’ll be happy either way. Matthews is only marginally better than the Finns and I like the lower-ranked Finn’s style more than the other one.
Anyway, Matthews isn’t a generational player – not an Eichel, certainly not a McDavid. And in terms of need, we desperately need to have a Dman.
I would have taken Hanifin at #4 last year, and I’d take Chchyrun at #4 this year. I’d even like to see the Leafs trade back and take a pair of Dman if possible – there’s a good number in that group around the 10 slot.
With Hunter and crew, we’re supposed to be good at finding the gems – let’s see it.
Lucic and Kings exchange proposals.
Probably goes like this.
Lucic 8 million 8 years
Kings 5 million 5 years
Lucic would be crazy to take a discount at this time in his career.
Habs a lottery team how is that possible starting 9 and zero ranked number one week after week. Picked to win Lors Stanley and now ranked as horrible. Is Price that good or hockey fans are the Habs that bad ?