Speculation over possible offseason moves by the Vancouver Canucks, Dallas Stars & Pittsburgh Penguins in your NHL rumor mill.
No Lucic, but maybe Eriksson for the Canucks?
Is Loui Eriksson a good fit for the Canucks?
TSN 1040 (VIA TODAY’S SLAPSHOT)/THE PROVINCE: Bob McKenzie and Ben Kuzma rule out the possibility of Los Angeles Kings left wing Milan Lucic signing with the Vancouver Canucks this summer, citing Lucic’s desire to re-sign with the Kings. Both suggest Boston Bruins right wing Loui Eriksson might be a good fit with the Canucks because of his national team history with fellow Swedes Daniel and Henrik Sedin.
Kuzma also speculates veteran winger Alex Burrows, who’s now a fourth-line winger and in the final year of his contract, could become a buyout candidate. He also doubts the Canucks will re-sign pending UFA right wing Radim Vrbata.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Unless Eriksson is willing to accept a two-year contract, it makes no sense for the Canucks to pursue him. The Sedins only have two years remaining on their respective deals and there’s no certainty those aging stars will re-sign when their contracts expire in 2018.
With the Canucks supposedly transitioning toward a younger roster, they shouldn’t be signing a 31-year-old winger like Eriksson to an expensive long-term contract. I’m not saying they shouldn’t look at bringing in a scoring winger, but preferably it should be one who’s under 30 and fits well into their long-term plans.
As for Burrows, I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s bought out, though I expect Canucks management will try to trade him by perhaps offering to pick up part of his remaining salary. Vrbata won’t be re-signed.
Stars to pursue a “big fish” this summer?
THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS: In a recent live chat, Mike Heika responded to a reader’s question over the identity of the “big fish” Stars GM Jim Nill is rumored to seek this summer. Heika didn’t shed much light on the subject, suggesting it’s a big trade none of us can imagine yet, citing as an example the Stars’ acquisition last summer of Patrick Sharp as an example of what he means.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: My guess is that “big fish” is a top-two defenseman. Alex Goligoski, Kris Russell and Jason Demers are slated for UFA status this summer. At least one of them won’t be back. The Stars have over $56 million invested in next season’s payroll, so there’s room to pursue one or two blueliners in the offseason via free agency. Keith Yandle is the best of this summer’s UFA blueliners. If he wants to go the trade or offer sheet route, Anaheim’s Hampus Lindholm or Sami Vatanen are possibilities, depending upon how their contract negotiations go.
Which pending free agents will the Penguins keep?
PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE: Dave Molinari recently speculated over which pending free agents the Penguins might keep. He sees UFAs Matt Cullen, Ben Lovejoy and Kevin Porter returning, while Steve Oleksy and Jeff Zatkoff probably won’t be back. He doesn’t rule out the Penguins working out a reduced wage for RFA defenseman Justin Schultz if he proves to be a good fit, while noting management faces a tough call with oft-injured winger Beau Bennett, who shows flashes of top-six ability when healthy.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: I wouldn’t be surprised if the Pens decide to cut ties with Bennett. Maybe they re-sign Schulz to a one-year deal to gauge his effectiveness over a full season before deciding if he has a long-term future in Pittsburgh.
Shattenkirk would fill that spot pretty well for the Stars
i think they would be going for a defensive dman with klingberg and honka on the rise a shutdown d looks in the stars sights. no slight against shatts but he isn’t a great shutdown guy
He would fill in nicely on the Oilers as well, but if the Oilers and Blues it will have to be a sign and trade as who ever the Oilers trade that player will still have term on there contract unlike Shattenkirk who is a UFA at the end of the 2016/17 season.
Now that brings up a question. Is that negotiation allowed under the CBA?
Yes. After July 1st teams are allowed to negotiate extensions with players having only 1 year left on their contracts.
I assume we will see this with Hedman in TB & Marchand in Bos for sure. Numerous others as well obviously but Shattenkirk may want to test the UFA market. Not convinced he wants to stay in a place like Edmonton if traded there long term. I’m sure he would love to stay in StL they just can’t afford to do so unless they moved another Dman out.
Agreed especially considering the cap hit but the 1 year remaining on his deal is cause for concern as I’m not sure Dallas could afford to resign him moving forward.
But what does Dallas have that StLouis would want. Spezza, Sharp & Hemsky at their respective cap hits aren’t very appealing. Benn is a UFA after next season & he’s moving into superstar range for cap hit.
Dallas may have 1 of the worst constructed rosters in the NHL as it relates to the cap monies being paid out & when these existing contracts are up for renewal. Who puts their team in a position to only have 10 to 12 million in cap space going into the summer needing 2 top 3 Dman & 9 players in total?
Ehh its not great but I dont think its awful either I think with some of the younger guys they maybe able to replace guys like Eaves Fiddler and Morrow for around equal if not cheaper, maybe Johns or another younger guy can fill a spot in the bottom 4 on the bluline…possibly. at anyrate I think they maybe just possibly could find someome to take Hemsky off their hands with only 1 uear left (hold a bit of salary maybe include a pick) and looking at the young players that they could move I dont think its out of the question Dallas could make a deal for a player, instead of going after a UFA.
Wrong Mo lol Moen not Morrow
I find the cap situation being faced by so many teams in this cap market fascinating. Can’t wait to see what all these teams do to solve their respective roster cap issues.
This lends very well to the youth movement we have been debating. Teams are being forced to play younger players at significantly lower cap hits than what we saw say a little over 10 years ago with veterans, the 35 year old guys that we’re hanging on for 2 or 3 more years for big money.
I’m surprised more teams aren’t trying to follow the Ana & Nas models. 2 very competitive & good teams that build their teams at great value. No team gets more bang for their buck than Anaheim. 24th in the league for payroll. That’s almost bottom 5!
Lindholm is the prize. Ducks r in tough with RFA’s n it will interesting to see who is traded.
I’m wagering Vatanen & Andersen are moved. Although Anaheim has the money to sign everyone if so inclined just not Murray’s MO.
Simple contact the might contract eraser knows as MSLE.
Dallas has 9F signed at 40.833, 3D at 8.9, 2 G at 10.4 & 900K in retained salary; Garbutt, for 61.033 committed to 14 players next season. 4 of their top 6 D are UFA’s Goligoski, Demers, Russell & Benn. That’s their #2; Goligoski, & 3; Demers, Dman looking at significant raises.
Dallas; Jim Nill, has put his team in cap hell. Even if the cap hits 73 million which seems a tad high, that only leaves potential 12 million to spend to replace 9 players but most importantly a #2 & 3 Dman if Goligoski & Demer’s are allowed to walk & that will cost at least 9 million to replace! If Yandle is a target he alone will cost at least 7 mil per year on his own & a # 3 in or around 4. That’s 11 & the cap space just doesn’t work unless a significant contract is moved out.
If Heika considered Sharp to be a big fish I wouldn’t be getting to excited about what’s ahead this summer. No slight to Sharp he’s a solid diminishing asset; 35 in Dec, but at 5.9 in today’s cap world probably over some what overpaid & part of the cap problem Dallas finds it`s self in. Hem,sky`s 4 mil cap hit doesn’t help either. Paying 2 average goalies a combined 10.4 million when your D is below average & will be extremely hard to reconstruct & move into the top half of the league with so little money available to spend.
Dallas may be facing the biggest roster cap issues of any team in the NHL. No other team has this issue facing them at D with so little cap space to address & still needing so many players to get to the 23 man roster limit.
Right on concerning the Stars’ goaltending situation. B
During the telecast the other night, the commentator mentioned that teams don’t mind the back to back games so much but they find 3 games in 4 nights are very difficult. I took a look at the Atlantic Division to see who has the most and least 3 games in 4 nights; Det 15, Tor 14, Flrd 14, Bos 13, Ott 13, TB 9 and Mtl 8. I’m guessing some might feel TB and MTL got an advantage on the schedule.
I would think Vancouver would be better off trying to land Boedker over Ericksson for long term help.
Yuk. No thank you. Boedker will be to expensive for what he produces, a 5 million plus player annually who has yet to score 20 goals in any season & who’s career high for points is 51 in 8 years & 450 NHL games. Granted that was playing on some pretty bad teams but regardless no thank you.
I would prefer to see Vancouver do nothing. Follow the proper rebuild model. Play some kids & surround them with a few veteran dregs on 1 year deals. The model Toronto is using right now is the perfect way to rebuild.
The Sedin’s will retire Canucks. They will be resigned to 1 or 2 year deals at the end of these deals assuming significantly reduced roles, 3rd liners, 2nd when injures dictate, getting 2nd line PP time, to mentor the kids now that Vancouver is going into a full & proper rebuild. 2 years wasted.
I meant 2 years wasted on starting this rebuild properly not potentially resigning the Sedin’s for 2 more years. They will sign for very reasonable monies at that point. Depending upon the cap, using today’s market as an example in or around 3.5 per season. Should there be a remarkable increase in 2 years nominally more.
No thx.
Complete players up front only.
Power forwards after the D is rebuilt..
I’m not saying I want them resigned just that I think they will be. Not sure they will be ready to retire at 37 turning 38. Maybe but they deserve to retire Canucks & if they accept the diminished roles & money so be it.
Any one of the Stars’ UFA defenseman would look nice on the Sabres’ blue line. Tim Murray will make a deal, either at the draft or on July 1. Just hoping “Captain Overpay” doesn’t do it on this deal.
Here is a summer trade rumour from left field for you all to ponder
To Ottawa. Drouin and Bishop
To Tampa. Hoffman, Anderson or Hammond
there will likely be needed some addional pieces added to balance it out or make the dollars work. I’m not sure if Anderson would be viewed to expensive. Or perhaps additional moves to accommodate the salaries. Yet I was thinking Anderson now 35ish and Hammond not looking like a starter that the Sens will very soon be in the hunt for a tender. Dealing with Tampa who have cap issues might make this trade work and rumoured to long be wanting to make room for their back up. Perhaps Ottawa can get the back up instead of Bishop.
Thoughts?
Actually I should not call it a rumour. It is just my mind pondering.
I think tb could get more if they are packaging bishop and drouin together
You think so. Goalies haven’t been bringing back huge returns of late. But perhaps your right.
ya you never know
There are aspects of it that make sense. Anderson has cost certainty for 2 more seasons at 4.2 which potentially timelines well with Vasilevsky’s advancement.
The potential disadvantages are financial & player related. Hoffman is due a significant raise if you want to lock him up long term. If not he selects arbitration & no way he doesn’t get significantly more this time regardless. Lasts years award was shockingly low & made no sense. After that 1 year award he becomes a UFA. Swapping him somewhat in a deal for Drouin who is not eligible for UFA status for 7 years doesn’t make financial sense nor does the added cap hit to Hoffman make sense. Any monies saved on the goalie swap is more than swallowed up.
If Hoffman doesn’t like playing for Cameron he will like Cooper less. Ha-ha!
Anything is possible but I think Yzerman plans to keep Bishop & look to sign him for around 5 years in or around 6.5 per, slightly less if the term is longer. The biggest & most important contract this summer is extending Hedman not Stamkos. TB’s forwards are solid even with out Stamkos. Lose Hedman & serous trouble at D moving forward. Those #1 Dman are impossible to replace, you pretty much need to draft & develop them, no easy feat if your not picking in the top 5. He will get at least 7 mil per for 8 years probably nominally more.
I’m not convinced yet Drouin will be moved. Not saying it won’t happen but this may be fixable. Something has to give in TB moving forward cap wise but if Mackenzie is to be believed & he’s 1 of the most connected & well respected journalists in hockey chances are Stamkos is leaving. Cap problems solved, unless he’s willing to accept money from TB at or near 8.5. His situation guarantee’s he’ll get 10+ as a UFA but is Stamkos really deserving of being in the top 4 for salary in this cap world? To many teams other than TB sure & if he doesn’t sign his rights will be traded for something.
Your deal with other assets is possible. Any are just seems unlikely.
good points.
While I think those names mentioned for both teams will be the subject of legitimate trade rumours in coming months, I just don’t see a fit involving Tampa and Ottawa. First of all, if Yzerman is ever considering dealing Bishop it will be from a cap perspective as his $5,950,000 hit to the end of next season might be seen as a block to re-signing Stamkos. If so, getting Anderson and his $4.2 mil cap hit to 2017-18 doesn’t free up a whole lot. And Hammond just wouldn’t do it, even though his hit of just over $1 mil would be easier to swallow. As for Hoffman, he and his agent – faced with the possibility of becoming a UFA after next season – are going to want a pretty hefty increase over his current $2 mil cap hit – and for at least 5 years – before relinquishing that opportunity. And Tampa is trying to find ways to make cap room for Stamkos, Kucherov et al.
Yes, very reasonably put forth. Yet it is fun to ponder.
Your dead on George.
The easiest solution to TB’s cap issue may simply be letting Stamkos leave to go where he wants moving his rights for what ever is available. A team like Toronto, Buffalo, Detroit etc that we hear being bandied about might like the extra month to negotiate before everyone starts throwing stupid money at him.
The other odd factor in play is what happens if TB wins the Stanley Cup? Would he want to stay if that happens & take his proper value or is it going to be all about the money for him? I’m not sure Stamkos is 1 of the top 10 players in the NHL today. He’s certainly in the top 20 but as a UFA the teams bidding have no investment nor are they facing the same cap issues TB is so they can afford to pay him. We’ve heard rumors Toronto might be willing to make him the highest paid player in the NHL at 11 mil per for 8 years. Crazy but I guess if you can afford it why not. TB just can’t, I’m not sure they can afford more than 9 tops.
I recognize most people disagree, but I don’t think it would be a good idea to sign Stamkos.
The period of contention for the rebuilding Leafs is not set to begin until the 2021-22 season IMO (the earliest a top D core could be assembled, primarily through draft and developed near to their prime at +24 years old).
Stamkos would be 31-32 then, which on average is right around when scoring forwards begin a fairly rapid decline. Signing him now would be paying $70-$75m for a few years of a top center when you actually need one.
Anyway, if he wants to come to the Leafs, it’s for sentimental reasons – it won’t be about the term or money, which is pretty well established with the Towes and Kopitar deals – even though he is not quite as complete a player, he’s going to be in the same narrow spread of $10-$10.5 x max term. It won’t have anything to do with getting in his ear first.
i agree dan the leafs shouldn’t go after stamkos if they are going thru a real rebuild! to be honest I really don’t think stamkos would want to come to Toronto at this point in his career and the leafs state he will get his money no matter what team he goes tb could resign him aswell
Agreed Bigbear. Now if he were a 26-year old elite Dman, with a longer likely useful window, then that would be a different discussion. It’s beyond the point of being critical for the Leafs to bring some solid, defense-oriented young Dman into the system. I really think it should have started at last years’draft, but better late than never!
Subban to Dallas! You read it here first.
Slightly leaning towards Spector’s point with Eriksson in Vancouver, age and likely contract may pose as an issue if the Canucks are trying to go younger, which it certainly looks like they are.
I also don’t see Lucic resigning with the Kings unless he’s taking a pay cut, which if he does would be minimal cut in my opinion. Eriksson and Lucic both are looking for that big contract with term, I see both players signing elsewhere come the off season.
IF Eriksson wants to come to Vancouver I’d hope say 3yrs n a cap friendly hit. I like M Martin here n if we go for Stamkos thats my Xmas.
Gordie,
From what I’ve read in articles and social media it seems Eriksson is keen on receiving a new contract that starts at the very least with 5 years. Bruins offered 3 years and around $20m and then increased the offer to 4 years and $24m… I believe both of those to be correct from my understanding. A lot of people reported that those were what the figures and terms looked like from the side of Boston.
If those are in fact correct then I think those are both fair offers from the Bruins perspective but if Loui Eriksson is in fact looking for a minimum of 5 years then I think it’ll be difficult for Boston to make that work, I also think it wouldn’t be in Vancouver’s best interest either, especially if they’re looking at going younger and with the Sedin’s contracts coming due in a couple of years.
I see Burrows bought out cuz simply no room for him now. JB has too many kids pushing for a spot n he continues to add players to compete. The D overhaul is tops on his list. More speed n offense n tough ess from the back line is needed. I see a few deals to come yet. I’d OS Lindholm 5-7yrs @$5.74m.
Lose out on Lindholm then OS Vatanen next.
JB has traded inside our division n time to play hard ball.
Is everyone sold on Sami Vatanen? For some reason I’m just not entirely sold on the player… now Hampus Lindholm I can see the attraction, big player 6’3, can produce but I feel Vatanen is much similar to say a Torey Krug. Similar physique, age, even production the last couple of years has been close but granted Vatanen hasn’t played as many games per season but to this point in each of their careers they’re about a 0.5 PPG. Just not fully sold on going the offer sheet route or trading the necessarily pieces that Anaheim would likely request for Vatanen. I would be more interested in Lindholm, if not then maybe Jacob Trouba.
Chad.
Your points are dead on, that’s why Lindholm won’t be moving. Future #1 very close to being a #1 now. Your also correct on Vatanen, the reason I assume he will be moved. There will be numerous suitors for Vatanen not the least of which is Edmonton & Buffalo.
Striker,
Yeah I can’t see Lindholm moving, Vatanen will move before Lindholm does but I certainly hope it’s not the Bruins who trade for him. I’d be much more interested in a Lindholm, Trouba, ect. type defenseman coming in and becoming the next cornerstone for your defense. I think whatever team chooses to trade for one of these big named young defenseman, that’s what you’re trading for, a cornerstone defenseman for your organization and I feel it’s going to take a lot of pieces to acquire that type of player.
Hey Spector, don’t actually disagree with the general thrust of what you say, but the arc of the rebuild is not the most important thing here. Selling tickets is, and that is not what the Canucks are doing right now. Since the beginning of the year, the arena has been more and more empty each game. Generously half full last night. Given that the Canucks have no legitimate prospects older than 22, they are not likely going to be competitive for 4/5 years. To sell the seats in the years between, they are going to have to market “hope” and entertaining games. Watching the team last night, there was not a lot of entertainment value for your ticket dollar. Eriksson could help with this. The Sedins, we are hearing, may sign an extension of maybe two years. Given the large number of rookies and preliminary contract players on the roster, the Canucks will have no cap problems in coming years. The NHL is a commercial enterprise, and that is why signing Eriksson –if he has any interest (which I expect is actually quite limited – he will go to a better team than the Canucks)then the Canucks should sign him.
If I had to speculate & I’m a 20 year+ seasons Canucks ticket holder, some where between 3 to 4 thousand season ticket holders will be giving up their tickets this off season including myself. Almost everyone I know that has tickets & portions of suites said they aren’t wasting the money next year. It should be interesting to see how many follow through.
I have told the Canucks I’m not renewing & have been offered a serous discount to do so but have no intentions of doing so regardless & have told them there is nothing they can do other than giving them to me free that will convince me otherwise.
You guys sound like us old Atlanta Thrasher fans. The Thrash were mismanaged for most of their existence to the point that people told them to stick it. I believe the worst thing that can happen is for fans to go to the rink game after game because they feel they are obligated to do so. Make them earn your support.
I just wonder how tyler seguin would have turned out if put in the same position as yakupov hall and rnh? Four different coaches,1 that was a terrible coach and basicly threw them under the bus every time he could,no veterans to teach them and lead them in the right direction,having to be the go to guys every night at 18 and 19 year olds.Ya i think seguin got luckey going to boston with the good veterans they have,coaching stability,and the pertection he got,and now the same in dallas.At least toronto is starting out right with a very good veteran coach that gives support to his players as he teaches them the right way to play the nhl game,temper your excitement as it gets harder for these young guys to play not easier after the first year.Oilers finally have some stability in a few areas and will start to show progress now as these young guys start to mature,so cut them some slack as they have had to take the hard road to where they are now! Just my thoughts.