Coaches feeling the heat, plus updates on Zdeno Chara, Jonathan Drouin, Nail Yakupov and more in your Sunday NHL rumor roundup.
Highlights from Garrioch’s “Insider Trading.”
Another early playoff exit by the Blues could prove costly for coach Ken Hitchcock.
OTTAWA SUN: Bruce Garrioch speculates this year’s playoffs could determine the futures of head coaches like Anaheim’s Bruce Boudreau, St. Louis’ Ken Hitchcock and the New York Islanders’ Jack Capuano. San Jose Sharks GM Doug Wilson could also feel the heat if his team comes up short again in the postseason.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Early playoff exits could be costly for Boudreau and Hitchcock. Not so sure about Capuano as Isles management still appear to have faith in him. Wilson’s been around a long time with the Sharks. Building them back into playoff conteners after missing the postseason last year will likely ensure he sticks around even if the Sharks bow out early again.
Garrioch claims there was “discussion” last month about the future of Boston Bruins defenseman Zdeno Chara but no one contacted the Bruins before the trade deadline to inquire into his availability. He claims Chara isn’t going anywhere because the Bruins know what he means to them.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: I’m also sure Chara’s contract ($6.917 million cap hit for 2016-17 with a full no-movement clause) was also a factor.
While Tampa Bay Lightning left wing Jonathan Drouin has ended his holdout and returned to the AHL’s Syracuse Crunch, his trade request apparently remains on the table. Garrioch expected the unhappy winger will be moved by the NHL Draft in late-June. It’s believed the Montreal Canadiens, Ottawa Senators and Minnesota Wild expressed interest in Drouin before the trade deadline but the right fit couldn’t be found. The asking price from the Senators was believed to be defenseman Cody Ceci and the Wild’s was blueliner Matt Dumba.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: I don’t see the Senators parting with Ceci or the Wild giving up Dumba. I have a feeling the Buffalo Sabres could get into the bidding for Drouin this summer. The St. Louis Blues could also revisit their earlier interest in him.
The Washington Capitals, Boston Bruins, Chicago Blackhawks and Dallas Stars all showed “genuine interest” in Vancouver Canucks blueliner Dan Hamhuis before the trade deadline.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: If the Canucks decide to part ways with Hamhuis, one of those clubs could be his ultimate destination via free agency.
Highlights from Matheson’s “Hockey World.”
EDMONTON JOURNAL: Jim Matheson recently wondered if the New York Islanders might trade for a goaltender with starter Jaroslav Halak sidelined for the remainder of the regular season. A player acquired by trade at this stage in the season is ineligible to play in the postseason. Matheson suggested Buffalo’s Chad Johnson and Calgary’s Jonas Hiller as trade options.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: So far, the Isles haven’t felt the need to go that route, sticking with backup Thomas Greiss. Still, it could be worthwhile keeping an eye on their goaltending situation over the remaining weeks of this season.
Matheson claims the Montreal Canadiens were never interested in struggling Edmonton Oilers right wing Nail Yakupov. “They know he played junior with Alex Galchenyuk but question his on-ice savvy.”
SPECTOR’S NOTE: If the Habs weren’t interested in Yakupov before the deadline, they won’t be interested in him this summer.
Like most observers, Matheson expects the Tampa Bay Lightning to trade left wing Jonathan Drouin by the NHL Draft in June.
Noting the “rampant” talk of the Winnipeg Jets swapping defenseman Jacob Trouba for New York Islanders blueliner Travis Hamonic, Matheson noted Dustin Byfuglien and Tyler Myers are “1-2” on the Jets’ right side. Unless Hamonic, a right-handed shot, can move to the left side, Matheson thinks it makes no sense to acquire him to be a third-pairing rearguard.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Unless, perhaps, they do a swap of Myers for Hamonic?
Speaking of Trouba, his agent may be seeking big money but the young defenseman (who’s coming out of an entry-level contract) didn’t have a good year compared to his previous seasons. Matheson speculated Trouba could get a two-year bridge deal at $2.75 million annually.
The Montreal Canadiens would love to bring back winger Dale Weise as a free agent this summer, but that could prove expensive. Matheson thinks he’ll look at Calgary’s Lance Bouma ($2.2 million per season) as a comparable.
Is it just me?
If I am a team interested in further developing Jonathan Drouin’s 200 foot game, amd I willing to trade away a young defenseman already playing with regularity for that chance?
If I am a GM, I probably would jump at the chance to trade a mid-first rounder for the opportunity to try.
But…wouldn’t I if I was the GM in Ottawa, or the GM in Minnesota, have to have already decided that there is a limited upside to Cody Ceci and Matt Dumba?
(and believe me, i am not even attempting to guess at where both teams respectively see where their present development is, or if they are already backsliding or presently project to lower levels of goal expectations as pros.)
I am simply saying if you are a team with young defender that you see as on the right path towards being a buildimg block guy, do you easily send him packing for a FORWARD? (Sure your organization has all those old evaluations from Drouin’s draft year, but…)
It seems a deal of a young defender that is being suggested really only takes place if you see the writing that that young defenseman isn’t a long term keeper.
Bill,
I completely agree with this, which is why I DON’T think Yzerman will ultimately get his asking price for J. Drouin…. may make Tampa’s situation slightly more difficult because they could end up keeping him for another season to see if the relationship between player-team-coach ect. becomes stronger.
If I am a team interested in Drouin though, as you said why not jump at the chance to trade a mid-first rounder… makes complete sense unfortunately I feel Yzerman and Tampa value Drouin much more than that even though the track record in terms of performance isn’t there yet and he certainly has a selfish/attitude/entitled persona or whatever other words you want to add or mix in. A good young defenseman for Drouin would be a mistake for the team sending the defenseman in my opinion.
I would not give up Ceci for Drouin. I MIGHT relinquish Chabot who is in his last year of junior in Saint John based upon the premise that a young D is, on average, at least 3 years away from becoming a regular in the NHL. In his case, however, he is apparently head and shoulders above other Q Dmen and COULD crack the Sens line-up next fall.
I wouldn’t do it either.
Leaf scouts at Syracuse’s game last night….which I found odd given the depth of young forwards the Leafs currently have and lack of D.
Trouba isn’t the only disappointment on the Jets this year who have floundered like a fish out of water all season after being touted as a playoff team in the west.
Jets is a team primed for future success if they can limit the stupid minor penalties and get consistent goaltending from day 1.
Maybe Trouba only gets a bridge deal, as opposed to a deal that buys into his free agency. But no way a bridge deal would cost $2.75M as proposed by Matheson. Rather 3.75M-4.25M range. (Any long contract with UFA years tagged on it, each UFA year would cost around $6M annually.)
There are comparable both in the recent past. Subban & Murray just signed a bridge in Columbus for 2 years at 2.85. There have been others as well.
I think its not goimg to be a pretty negotiation if it starts anywere under 3 myself, yes there are comparables and Subban is one of them but seeing how that went and what the subsequent contract negotiations went… I wouldnt be surprised if Trouba ended up getting moved. Agents would know better than anybody about teams trying or moving towards younger lineups for the cap savings and I thinkif you look aroud the league at alot 8f young players anymore the agents seem to take these type players negotiations to the next level anymore Drouin Hamilton ROR Johansen…they are not going to let GMs exploit these guys and will use every means (including holdout) available to them.
I don’t think catching Trouba in a down year will impact his value much. Also there’s the “cold tax” that is partly myth, partly true and doesn’t work into Jets favor. I’d think it would be close to impossible to get Trouba signed under $3M annually. The final result would be closer to $4M.
2 points this morning.
1. Wouldn’t you think Murray would have fired Beaudreau when they sucked out of the gate if he wanted to make a coaching change. No coach can be held responsible in the west for getting taken out by any of the power houses early in the playoffs. Unfortunately only 1 team can win & there are far more factors in play than just coaching. Hitchcock may have used up his shelf life in StL but StL’s failures in the playoffs aren’t a coaching issue. Playing Chi & LA repeatedly is the primary problem. Goaltending has been a serous factor though & Hitchcock has decided I assume who the starter would be & even when they sucked stuck with that goalie regardless so maybe it is Hitchcock’s fault.
2. Thomas Greiss has played far better than Halak this season & has the 2nd best save % in the league for active goalies having played a minimum of 25 games. He’s made 31 appearances & has a 18-7-0-4 record. Why would NYI possibly trade for a goalie now when he wouldn’t be eligible to play come playoff time. What a waste of assets. That makes ZERO sense.
Now in fairness Garrioch & Matheson aren’t the 2 brightest bears in the woods. Must be a slow rumor day.
Firing a coach misd season and firing a coach in the off season are 2 completely different things, not saying Boudreau does or dosent kick rocks at the end of the season, but mdaybe Murray wanted to see how the full season plays out before making his decision knowing that there will be a better choice of candidates in the summer if he did have to make such a move and avoiding the smaller pool of candidates or the headaches of “interm” coaches.
I don’t disagree Shticky. All your points about change are valid. I just don’t like most of Garroch’s examples.
The only 1 I see on that list of coaches & GM’s being let go is Hitchcock. His contract is up & his message has become stale. Coaches have a 3 to 5 year life span with the odd exception. Babacock, Quenville, Ruff, Trotz etc & Hitchcock appears done. Unless they at least make the conference final. No easy feat.
I like Capuano about as much as Cameron but Snow seems happy with him & realistically NYI isn’t a contender.
Garrioch had to fill out his Sunday column and he was never shy about letting a lack of of genuine rumours get in the way of a commitment.
Hahahaha
You know it George. He’s nothing if not entertaining. Makes me shake my head often but he makes it interesting.
I’m still hopefull the Drouin situation can be fixed. Not saying it can be but have concerns about the return for Drouin. Not certain he will return the value of the player he will eventually be.
Not saying it’s going to happen just that I hope it does. To me the best scenario in TB regardless of what plays out with Drouin is TB moves Stamkos’s rights to a team he’s happy with & the only compensation coming back is the team acquiring Stamkos taking Carle’s contract.
Extend Hedman; 8 years, & Bishop; 5 years, & the other existing RFA’s. Take the savings getting Stamkos & Carle off the books & bring in 1 or 2 solid UFA’s. Although not even essential.
TB has a great team as crazy as it sounds with out either Stamkos or Drouin as that sounds but if not retained both will return something.
If Stamkos isn’t re-signed the BEST he returns to TB is $4-6 million in cap space to use elsewhere. No one is going to waste much for the “rights” to negotiate. Not with the way he’s kept mum about everything so far. Why would they if he’s going to see what falls out of the tree? Drouin will not bring back a Top 4 D. If that’s what Yzerman is intending to hold out for he’s in for a major disappointment.
I think several teams would pay a reasonable return for the right to negotiate early with Stamkos before others have the ability to lock him up.
These types of deals & sale job’s, city, meeting kep management & coaching personal who help close the deal take time. All teams are allowed to approach UFA’s now 2 weeks prior to July 1 to at least talk but that still gives a team that acquires his rights 3 more weeks to close the deal.
That’s worth something. Not sure what it is though as we have never had a player like Stamkos, this young at this level, franchise player become a UFA.
George,
“No one is going to waste much for the “rights” to negotiate”
Don’t forget the Boston Bruins received a 6th round draft pick in 2016 for trading the rights to Carl Soderberg to the Avalanche last off season… I’d certainly expect something better than that for the right to negotiate with Stamkos early. Some people have also speculated that with Loui Eriksson, if he doesn’t end up signing with the Bruins (certainly don’t feel he will) will net a 4th round pick for negotiating rights.
Shooting from the hip, my guess is Drouin will end up being a NHL regular putting up 45-60 points, with little impact on the ice throughout his shifts in aspects other than production. 2nd liner in his prime years, 3rd liner at the back half of his career.
I would say there is a better chance of Drouin + you have to take Carle’s contract. What Yzerman want’s and what he get’s are two different things. Maybe a forward is the return.
Problem with Drouin is Yzerman is overvaluing him. He still sees him as a top 3 pick. While other GMS see him as a unproven kid with attitude problems which is quite a gamble. I sure as hell ain’t giving up a young defenseman for him. Play for the team that drafts you till you EARN your free agency just like everyone else.
Dave,
I definitely agree with you that Yzerman is overvaluing Drouin if he thinks the return should be a comparable player but as a defenseman… not sure why he’d think Drouin at this point is worth a good young defenseman unless like you say he still sees him as a 3rd overall pick. It would be a gamble for any team because of the baggage he’s going to bring, what if the coach doesn’t play him right (to his liking), not enough minutes, sends him down to AHL again… is he going to react similar to how he has in Tampa. Those are unknowns at this point. Good news for him is he decided to stop the holdout and return to the AHL… I do, however, understand his standpoint with the entire situation as well. I think the organization could have been more proactive with everything, played him more, ect. the player sees the other guys taken in the top 5 in that same draft where they all have played 3 times as many games and with much more TOI. The player clearly has a lot of skill, he obviously took the who situation as a disrespect on him.
The irony is Yzerman could have just picked Seth Jones, Darnell Nurse, or Ristolainan in the draft that year and avoided this entire ordeal. Hindsight is definitely 20/20 but Tampa was already loaded up at forward with prospects. They should have just taken one of those 3 who are all at this point much better players.