Latest on Milan Lucic, Dmitry Kulikov, Justin Faulk, Mikkel Boedker, Rasmus Ristolainen and many more in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
More on Lucic, plus updates on Kulikov, Faulk and the Avalanche.
Can the Kings afford to re-sign Milan Lucic?
TSN 1040 (via TODAY’S SLAPSHOT): Bob McKenzie wonders if contract term is the sticking point in negotiations between the Los Angeles Kings and pending UFA left wing Milan Lucic. He’s starting to get a sense that Lucic could hit the open market on July 1. If so, it’s speculated the Vancouver Canucks and Edmonton Oilers could be interested in Lucic’s services.
MAYOR’S MANOR: John Hoven reports Kings GM Dean Lombardi intends to make his club’s best offer to Lucic early next week. Multiple sources earlier this week suggested not much changed, with the Kings still holding for a three-year term at $6 million per season.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Both sides would love to make a deal, but the Kings’ limited cap space probably means Lucic will hit the open market on July 1.
TSN 1260 (via TODAY’S SLAPSHOT): Bob McKenzie doubts the Carolina Hurricanes will part with defenseman Justin Faulk.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: There’s been some “wishful thinking” speculation this spring (almost all of it coming out of Edmonton) suggesting the Hurricanes could move Faulk for a scoring forward.. They already acquired forwards Bryan Bickell and Teuvo Teravainen (the true prize in the deal) from Chicago earlier this week. If they want to add another forward, they have the salary-cap room to do so via free agency. They can also target cap-strapped teams by dangling a quality draft pick or a prospect.
NBC SPORTS: James O’Brien cites a reports by CSNNE.COM’s Joe Haggerty claiming the Boston Bruins have looked into acquiring defenseman Dmitry Kulikov from the Florida Panthers. However, the Panthers asking price would be expensive (Boston’s 29th pick in the first round of this year’s draft plus a Frank Vatrano-like prospect) for a player who’s a year away from UFA eligibility, plus the Panthers hope to re-sign Kulikov to an extension.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Panthers already traded away a defenseman in Erik Gudbranson, concussions will force Willie Mitchell into retirement and could lose Brian Campbell to unrestricted free agency. Dealing away Kulikov would leave them thin on experienced blueline skill.
THE DENVER POST: Mike Chambers reports Colorado Avalanche GM Joe Sakic hopes to improve his club this summer without making a splash in the UFA pool.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: That doesn’t necessarily mean the Avs won’t make any UFA signings, but they won’t be pursuing any of the big-ticket names.
Fleury, Boedker, Eriksson, Lucic and Goligoski.
ESPN.COM: Pierre LeBrun is the latest pundit to speculate over goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury’s future with the Pittsburgh Penguins after he lost his starter’s job in the playoffs to rookie Matt Murray. While Penguins GM Jim Rutherford ideally prefers retaining Fleury and Murray, a possible expansion draft next June and the Penguins limited salary-cap space could force Rutherford to move Fleury this summer. LeBrun suggests the Calgary Flames as a possible destination.
LeBrun also wonders if the Penguins speed game could make Colorado Avalanche winger and pending unrestricted free agent Mikkel Boedker attractive to clubs seeking to get faster next season. While the Avs will be kept in the mix, it appears Boedker will test the UFA market next month.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Boedker could be a popular UFA target this summer. He’s fast, possessing slick playmaking skills, can skate on either wing and is only 26. He also won’t cost anywhere near as much as some (Stamkos, Lucic, Eriksson) in this summer’s free-agent market.
Boston Bruins GM Don Sweeney hasn’t give up hope of re-signing right wing Loui Eriksson before July 1.
The Los Angeles Kings are “formalizing their best offer” to left wing Milan Lucic and intend to present it next week. Other clubs can begin talking to Lucic on June 25.
The Arizona Coyotes are hosting recently-acquired defenseman Alex Goligoski and his wife on Monday and Tuesday in hopes of selling them on signing a new contract. The Coyotes swung a deal earlier this week for his rights with the Dallas Stars.
Oilers first-round pick, Yakupov, Ristolainen, Okposo.
EDMONTON JOURNAL: Jim Matheson considers the odds of the Oilers retaining their first-round pick (fourth overall) in this year’s draft to be good. There’s a fair chance they trade from fourth to sixth to get defenseman Mikhail Sergachev. He thinks there’s only a slim chance they’ll trade the pick for a top-two NHL defenseman or trade up to No. 3 to land winger Jesse Puljujarvi.
It’s expected the Oilers will trade winger Nail Yakupov and could search for takers for forward Lauri Korpikoski’s $2.5 million salary.
The Oilers pitched a winger to the Buffalo Sabres in hopes of landing defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen but that’s a non-starter for the Sabres.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: You’re not getting Ristolainen away from the Sabres. You’re just not.
Matheson believes the Oilers should make a push for pending UFA right wing Kyle Okposo. He also thinks Marc-Andre Fleury could be a good fit with the Calgary Flames.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Oilers top priority is to land a top-two defenseman. Signing Okposo to a $6 million per season deal (which is what it could take) would not address that need.
If the Oilers expect to find a taker for Korpikoski and his $2.5 mil (all that for 10 goals!) they’ll need to engineer a deal similar to the Lamoriello-Murray multiple-player package involving Phaneuf that saw Murray finally get rid of Greening and his 2$+ plus deal, even considering he becomes a UFA next year. He’s just one of several Oiler over-payments that are getting in the way of correcting glaring needs on D.
The Oil acquired Korpikoski and his $2.5M/yr for Boyd Gordon and his $3.0M/yr. if I recall correctly. Gordon was a gross overpayment, Korpikoski is just making twice as much as he should. If we are making list, the Oil should deal with Fayne, Pouliot, and (god-willing) Ference. I agree with you George, guys like Korp, and I will add Fayne and Ference would need to be part of a larger Phaneuf-like deal; however, there may be a taker or two for Pouliot. I am Oilers fan, and am optimistic that we are close to scrapping the crap off of our shoes from years of bad management. We are still a few significant trades away from competing for a playoff spot but there is hope in our city.
Vince what makes you think oilers can just unload all there crap that easy? Trading fayne ference korpi etc, what would your expectation in a return?
I don’t think they can unload all these guys, I was just dreaming. But if we were to postulate their trade values: Ference will be re-habbing his hip and then riding the press box. He will see ice time a month or so prior to the trade deadline and Oilers will be lucky to get a seventh in 2020 for him. Fayne, outside shot to the Leafs, as he is an x-Lou guy, but the Oil would have to eat some salary and take back a contract. Pouliot has trade value and could be part of a larger package with one of the young core to help land a dman.
The Oilers have a ton of cap space. With a cap of 73 million they have 13 million they can spend & currently have 22 players signed. Financially they are in a great spot. Korpikoski’s cap hit isn’t an issue. Ference can’t be bought out unfortunately as injured but it doesn’t even matter. When healthy & fit to return he will be sent down & Edm will take the 900K cap relief again this season.
They can take on a significant UFA contract or player in trade with a significant cap hit & it causes them no issues. When they move RNH to get a # 2/3 Dman & they sign another or take 1 on in trade they will be better. Still not a playoff team really but anything is possible I guess.
The future looks bright in Edmonton. Finally. Just 2 top 4 Dman away from being a significantly better team.
“Just” 2??? When ever y other team almost without exception is also looking for the same infusion? Good luck Chiarelli, because you aren’t getting them for the like of RNH or Yakupov!
Were you expecting korpi to be a 20 or 30 goal scorer? Last years pace was pretty much his career average he’s always been a defensive, pk guy. Also the oilers never signed him to his so called big contract he came here in a trade. I’m not saying the oilers should keep him but get your facts straightened out.
I wasn’t expecting anything of the sort. But clearly the Oilers were since only a moron GM would pay $2.5 mil for a plugger.
Get serious there are 50 players doing the same job that Korpikoski does and making 2 to 2.5 mil so they must all be overpayed,and he is a lot better player and does more for a team than Greening!
Name 10 out of that 50!
Howard AND Reimer in Calgary would go a long way . I think the Oilers are one deal away from a play-off team.
Wow. Now THERE’S optimism!
Oilers 1 deal away from playoffs….I just pissed myself from laughing so hard.
It’s going to take more than 1 trade to make the Oilers a playoff team. Even if they move RNH to get a 2/3 Dman, some how get Yakupov & Pouliot traded & Fayne & Ference off the books, they are still at least a year probably 2 from making the playoffs in the west. Just to many good teams & Klefbom & Nurse need time to develop.
Silver says after suggesting TWO DEALS….
One deal……. Pouliot, rnh and yakupov for Gretzky, Messier and Coffey
If Edmonton wanted to go to 3 to get Puljujavi what would it take 4 and 32 which might be to much so say 69? Can’t believe all you read but I read somewhere that the CBJ may not want to take Puljujarvi so dropping to 4 and getting an extra 2nd or 3rd would make sense and they still get the player they wanted.
Wonder what forward Edm offered for Ristolainen? If true, doubt it was RNH as the Sabres don’t need a center, don’t think Eberle is going to get you Risto…so Hall? I’m sure Murray countered with Bogosian plus which I could see if it was Eberle or Murray might’ve wanted to make it a bigger trade which included swapping 4 & 8.
I think we are in for one of the more interesting week heading into the draft…
Buffalo is hosting the draft so I could see the aggressive Murray trying to move up in the draft and realistically the best chance is the Oilers pick. It would cost him a bit though; however, we have seen in the past he is not afraid to make bold moves (see Myers, Kane, and O’Reilly). I could see their 8th, Girgensons, and Pysyk for the Oilers 4th and middling prospect like Musil or Pitlick. Not a blockbuster by any means, but would allow the Oilers to still draft one of the big three dmen in the draft, while adding some pieces. Girgensons would be a very good option as your #3 centre and allow the Oil to trade RNH for a 2/3 dman. Not perfect but something along these lines I could see happening.
Huhhhh? Girgs and pysyk are first round picks groomed to
Blossom for the Sabres. Not saying never but NO ONE would give them
Up to move up 4 spots. Sabres stand pat and draft chychrun is my guess. If they do trade it’ll be for a very good nhl experienced dman.
I heard that it was Hall,and the 4th pick for Sam Reinhart, Bogosian and the 8th pick.
The only way Ristolainen leaves Buffalo is if they’re offered Toronto’s 1st overall pick. He’s their stud D-man for many years to come.
Bob – even then, Sabres are more interested in Laine than they are in Matthews. Ristolainen is the anchor of the Sabes defense.
4th that’s because they prefer sloppy seconds
Even then they decline. Ristolainen is a stud in the making, teams don’t trade these assets unless the have no choice.
I believe that Ristolainen could perhaps have been had 1.5 years ago for a substantial offer, but not now.
Lucic to isles to replace KO and play with JT.
JT would be better feeding a right handed shot, right winger.
If LA cannot work out a deal I could see Anaheim chasing Lucic. The Ducks could use some higher end depth at LW, and if they move out a D man which they have a greater abundance of than most teams, it could work. Certain Sports Radio insiders have suggested Leafs trade JVR or even Lupul (if he is not permanently sent to Lou Island, never to be seen again)for a D man, but Anaheim might prefer Lucic and his heavy play and bite along with his skill.If Lucic likes California, there are only two other teams….
Jim Nill better pull his head out of his a– if he thinks Dallas can compete for the cup with D group assembled. The NHL isn’t a good place for young defenseman to learn to be NHL defenseman & certainly not all at the same time. I just can’t believe how Dallas’s defense is shaping up for next season & I’m not sure how Nill is getting the money to solve the problem. This team has to much money tied up in net & at forward. Fun team to watch play but if you can’t stop the other team from scoring that’s a problem.
Dallas finished 2nd in the NHL last season. Not a hope next season of finishing that high unless Nill can find away to get a #2, 3 & 5 Dman. They will make the playoffs as Dallas can score a ton of goals but this team is really constructed very odd.
I suggested a while ago he should go after some veteran d men who will be relatively cheap. He should target Lovejoy, maybe Polak. ( Polak is very big mistake prone however IMO ) He should also try to resign Demers.
All the kids will be fine but you’re right they will not be contenders with an inexperienced group of D.
I like all the kids they have coming at D just not all at once. Lovejoy, Polak or Demers help nominally. The D needed help last season, they finished 11th for goals against. People like to blame Lehtonen & Niemi but it’s a team issue more than anything. No goalie is putting up good #’s behind this team.
Agreed. Yet Nill may stick with the kids. Cant wait to see what happens.
The fact that blogger Eklund says that the only man whose trades and moves he understands is Jim Nill’s doesn’t bode very well. If anything, that is really big cause for alarm.
striker I guess you were wrong about the ducks moving vatenan he just signed 4yr extension and like I said it sounds like fowler will be the one on the move
I may well be. Could still be traded. Someone’s moving. Could be a sign & trade?
might still get traded I agree but that’s a friendly contract for the ducks don’t see him moving
imo vatenan will be a better all around dman than fowler in the long run
It may well be Fowler that gets moved.
There is one other possible option: Ducks really don’t want to move Vatenan it just that you can only protect so many players in the expansion draft. Vatenan and fowler are mentioned because they bring back assets and the Ducks have young D-men to replace them but there is one other option and that is trade Kevin Bieksa even if you get nothing back.
July 1 a new 2 year deal kicks in at 4 mil a year. While his best years are past him he can still put in the minutes and in a league where some teams are hard pressed to put 6 warm bodies out that can play at NHL level, he can. In the new contract he has some type of no movement clause of which I’m too lazy to look up but it may mean that Bieksa has to be protected in expansion draft. So what if BOb Murray intent is to trade Bieska and keep Vatenan and protect Vatenan in the expansion draft. For 2 years the dollars are a near trade off as far as cap management. All Murray has to do is find a team that is desperate for a D-man, even getting back a 7th pick in 2019 works if it means keeping Vatenan, Fowler and Lindholm on the team.
that could happen alfroducks bieksa could help a young d core might not be much of a return tho
I would love to see Nail Yakupov in Pittsburgh on Evgeni Malkin’s line…. This guy is fast, quick, explosive and is highly skilled. Talk about adding more speed to the speedy Penguins. His salary is only $2.5 and he just needs a change of scenery ala Carl Hagelin and Trevor Daley. I’m not sure what it would take to get him… a draft pick roster player ?
Malkin Rust yakupov thatis some speed and talent for a third line….
Well Pittsburgh will need to clear some cap space before they can do anything. They can’t afford Yakupov currently. With a cap of 73 million their already a million over & Dupuis’s LTIR doesn’t kick in until opening day. All teams need to submit a 23 man roster the day prior & Dupuis eats up a roster spot as well until the next day.
If they do indeed move Marc Andre Fluery they would have the room for Nail Yakupov…big if …?
I was thinking Chicago would be a good team for Yak. With Quienneville, a strong coach, and Toews, a strong leader, Yakupov could thrive there. Yakupov has all of the skill needed, he just does have the hockey sense needed to be a good successful player in the NHL.
Yeah Chicago would be a good place for him they are up against the cap too… If Pittsburgh does indeed move Fluery they will have room for Yakupov…
There are a lot of guys that could have success on Malkins wing. There must be a lot of candidates for that position.
True but this guy is super quick,fast fits the Coach Sullivan speed game…he is 22, his salary is very doable $2.5 million and Malkin would have a young Russain to mentor….can fly around with chirping in Russian…This kid has a motor that wont quit needs a change in scenery.
Many wings yes of course this one really works…and is on the block..
well its going to be busy mouth of june i hear big blockbuster might happen at the draft watch the jets
and arizona.
Vatanen just signed 4 years at 4.85!
4.875
Could be seeing Fowler go like Ive been suggesting. I said 4 yrs at 5 for Vat so thats a good deal for Ana.
Makes him a UFA in 4 years which seems odd.
I think the way ANA works is they will keep turning over their players to keep with in the self imposed cap. I’m not too worried about their D now and in the long run. I’m more concerned with guys like Kesler, Perry and Getzlaf becoming declining assets.
4 years is good for both sides, Ana can keep their cap managed and Vatanen can be a free agent if he chooses at 29.
Any guess on what they do with Lindholm ? Who does he compare with ? Does he bridge or go to arbitration ?
I’m surprised that no one has mentioned that the Sharks might be a good match for Boedker, as they need to replace Marleau on the second line. I also think that, in spite of having two goalies already, that Dallas might be inclined to buy out Niemi and go for either Fleury or Anderson, because goaltending appears to be their biggest need. Some of you folks are more aware of the cap space for these teams than me though, but still see these signings as making a lot of sense.
Sharks are in the middle of the league in terms of revenue, all while they are locked in on multiple expensive multi-year deals and also up against the stagnant/shrinking salary cap. How are they a good match for an expensive UFA like Boedker? Boedker is rumoured to be asking 5M+ for his services.
First of all its too bad oilers didn’t leave nurse for Buffalo that year and took ristolainen. I knew it at the time they should of drafted ristolainen. But oh well..yea Buffalo will not trade him that’s for sure. Pretty well untouchable. Second regarding okposo…if oilers take at the draft are able to talk to okposo and work to sign him eberle could be traded for a top 4 Dman and pick/prospect. I suspect if chiarelli knows anything this is in his mind. Therefore signing okposo would be great for oilers for an option only if it can work out they trade everle knowing they can negotiate with okposo. Third if lucic can become available of the oilers trade pouliot again…upgrade second line left side. Little more cap having okposo and lucic than eberle and pouliot but huge upgrade in skill, size and toughness. There are tons of options. Doubt this will happen cuz oilers can’t seem to ever do what’s right to address this club. For some strange reason it’s bizarre…either they are stupid, don’t take chances or everyone hates Edmonton which is ridiculous.
If Buffalo wants to make a splash at the draft they should consider an incremental step. Trade their #1 and Bogosian to Oilers for the third pick and RNH. Sabres will have to keep about two million salary, take a bad contract back, or take Yakupov instead of RNH? That gives Oilers an experienced dman that is overpaid plus a chance to draft a good dman.
The Oilers then can look to free agency? There is Yandle, Demers, or Goligoski (if he doesn’t sign with Coyotes) to consider. One thing they should consider is taking Luke Schenn and get him to shed about 20 lbs to increase his quickness. If he is only paid about two million then no one would be critical of him. He is an experienced 5/6 defenseman that can play on the second pair with the right partner. This adds two right-handed dmen that can make a decent first pass along with what they got and one of the top three d prospects in the draft. That is only one trade that gives the Oilers a completely different look then the coach needs to get them playing responsibly. that could get them into the play-offs.
I am not an Oiler fan but this makes sense. Love to hear constructive comments.
Pass. Bogosian is overrated and his contract is an anchor. Admittedly he is better than most of the Oilers dmen, but he still isn’t a top pairing guy. Our d is filled with 3-7 guys. Free agency is our best shot, in fact I would suggest that they trade a late pick for Yandle. Tour him around the new facility, pimp out McDavid, and pray he considers us.
I agree the Oilers need to address their D issues. While Bogo may be a nice fit that leaves the Sabres light on D with perhaps Casey Nelson next in line, but they would need to address the hole left by moving Bogo. I think the Sabres stay at # 8 and pick one of the top 3 d men available.
The problem I see is if the Oilers move # 4 for a good d man, most of those guys have NTCs.
I’d like to see a deal revolving around Hall and Fowler. ANA would have to give up more I think, problem is Fowler only signed for 2 more years and I think ANA would be reluctant to give up their 1st rd pick as they are short on picks. ANA needs to add something but Im not sure what.
Deal works for both teams , ANA get the winger they want and Oilers get a top d man. Oilers draft Tkachuk to replace Hall.
OK i can’t stand any more of these stupid trade ideas some of you guys come up with,so lets put the bottles down,clear your heads and give it another try?
Then let’s here YOUR trade ideas Mr. Potato Head.
If MTL is interested in adding a top 6 winger, Boedker could be a good option. You could trade Desharnais to VAN for Janick Hansen…do an all Dane line: Boedker, Eller, Hansen
Dijonnais for Hansen? We have our “small forwards” quota filled, thanks. Hansen didn’t get the nickname honey badger for playing small. Plus the guy is a defensive stud, and can move up and down the lineup. Dijonnais, not so much. Thats a fleecing if it were to happen.
Why would anyone voluntarily want to pay Desharnais 3.5M over 2016-17 AND give back value in a trade? I could see a team maybe biting on Desharnais at the trade deadline in 2017, when most of his salary is paid already. But to think that a trade, regarding Desharnais, could happen before the season and bring back value, is delusional.
Gotta agree with Patrick here….no way should we trade Handen for “Dijonnais”. I think we need wingers, since we have Henrik, Sutter, Horvat and Gaunce down the middle right now. Also, the guy is tiny. A decent player, no doubt, but he’s get swallowed up playing against guys like Kesler, Toews, Thornton and others.