Latest on Derek Stepan, Nick Foligno, Kevin Shattenkirk, Nick Bjugstad and more in your Sunday NHL rumor roundup.
Updates on Stepan, Foligno, Shattenkirk, Vanek, Bjugstad and more.
OTTAWA SUN: Bruce Garrioch reports Calgary Flames GM Brad Treliving, who has the sixth overall pick in the upcoming NHL draft, wants to move up into the top three or four.
The Columbus Blue Jackets have more than $70 million invested in next season’s payroll. They’re trying to move left wing Scott Hartnell and defenseman Fedor Tyutin. They’re also listening to offers for captain Nick Foligno. There’s also concern a rival club could pitch an offer sheet to defenseman Seth Jones, though the Jackets will match any offer.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: I expect they’ll move Hartnell before Foligno. This is to be a salary dump so they won’t want much in return.
Are the Rangers entertaining offers for Derek Stepan?
The Detroit Red Wings could be interested in Tampa Bay Lightning center Steven Stamkos but they’ll have to move Pavel Datsyuk’s cap hit to afford him. A league executive said they’ll have to sweeten the pot to move that salary.
There’s talk the Florida Panthers are trying to move center Nick Bjugstad and are listening to offers for defenseman Dmitry Kulikov.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Given the Panthers depth at center, I can understand the Bjugstad rumors. The Kulikov one, however, doesn’t make sense. Having traded away Erik Gudbranson, potentially losing Brian Campbell to free agency and concussions forcing Willie Mitchell into retirement, trading Kulikov would leave them thin on experienced defenders.
There’s also talk the New York Rangers are listening to offers on center Derek Stepan.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s believed the Rangers are willing to entertain offers for all but a handful of players. Still, they won’t just give guys like Stepan away. They’ll want a return with a good young roster player (who’s also affordable) as part of the deal. There’s also no guarantee they will move Stepan.
Sounds doubtful that Eric Staal could return to the Carolina Hurricanes as an unrestricted free agent.
It’s believed the Boston Bruins contacted the St. Louis Blues about defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk. The Buffalo Sabres and Edmonton Oilers are also looking for help on defense. Ideally, the Blues would prefer to re-sign Shattenkirk, who’s eligible for UFA status next summer.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s widely assumed Shattenkirk could be deal within the next couple of weeks. Given the emergence of Colton Parayko, I think the Blues can afford to move Shattenkirk now. Several clubs, including the Blues, Sabres and Oilers, will be interested.
The Minnesota Wild have to reach a decision regarding struggling left wing Thomas Vanek. They have until the end of this month to buy him out. They’re also getting interest in RFA defenseman Matt Dumba.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Wild could try to trade Vanek first. GM Chuck Fletcher could also hang onto him to see if new head coach Bruce Boudreau can help him get back on track. As for Dumba, who’s coming off an entry-level contract and lacks arbitration rights, I expect they’ll re-sign him to an affordable short-term bridge deal
Teams are believed to have interest in Anaheim Ducks RFA goaltender Frederik Andersen. They also have decisions to make on defense. They were getting calls on blueliner Sami Vatanen before re-signing him yesterday to a four-year contract.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: With Vatanen re-signed, the focus will likely shift toward RFA Hampus Lindholm as a trade candidate. Given the promising rise in his young career, however, I’ll be very surprised if they trade him. They also have some promising blueliners (Shea Theodore, Brandon Montour) waiting in the wings. Something’s gotta give here. There’s been suggestions Cam Fowler could be traded, but perhaps they try to move out a veteran like Clayton Stoner.
Updates on the Rangers, Islanders and Lightning.
NEW YORK POST: Larry Brooks reports the New York Rangers “are not getting Jacob Trouba out of Winnipeg unless Ryan McDonagh goes the other way. He’s not.”
Brooks claims the New York Islanders reportedly aren’t close to a new deal with pending UFA center Frans Nielsen. It’s possible the Islanders could part ways with Nielsen and fellow UFAs Kyle Okposo and Matt Martin.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Isles GM Garth Snow already wished Okposo well, so he’s out the door for sure. If they lose Nielsen too, they’ll have to find a top-line right wing plus a second-line center for next season.
TORONTO SUN: Steve Simmons reports “a lot of hockey people expect Stamkos’ negotiation rights to be dealt within days.” He also claims there’s “whispers” all isn’t well between Lightning GM Steve Yzerman and head coach Jon Cooper, as the latter “has had difficulty” with Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Drouin and apparently Nikita Kucherov.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Those “whispers” about the relationship between Yzerman and Cooper seem to emanate from Toronto. Assuming there’s truth to those rumors, why didn’t Yzerman replace Cooper when he supposedly had issues with Stamkos last season? Or when Drouin wasn’t seeing much playing time? Or when Drouin tried to force a trade in January? Or when the Bolts fell short of reaching the Cup Final this season? Kucherov is thriving under Cooper, so it seems odd that he would be unhappy playing for him.
According to Craig Custance, If the Islanders don’t resign Frans Nielsen he believes that Detroit could be a potential landing spot and believes that if Detroit strikes out with Stamkos that they will heavily pursue Nielsen. Sounds good to me.
Nielsen wound fit in with just about any team. Very underrated
Totally agree, Nielsen would be a great fit with pretty much just about any team. He’s definitely very underrated.
Not a good organizational sign if the Jackets are entertaining offers for their captain Nick Foligno. This is the guy they just signed long term, now possibly trying to trade him. Jackets’ current management better get a move on and put a winner on the ice or they will be moving on.
Crazy how two years ago CBJ seemed to be an up and coming club. Now they are almost like Flyers-level dirty but even worse at playing hockey. They are a mess.
Much of their recent issued started with the Johansen mess. At the time I was very critical of Davidson for publicly going after Johansen and his agent. There are some things you keep in house, JD was wrong for lashing out publicly.
Agreed and it seems all Torterella teams are cheap and dirty and dirty….. and Torts blames every one else…. 🙂
Can’t really understand why anybody would hire Torts.
Don’t ask me how but Columbus made 4.5 mil in 2014-15 having the 24th worst attendance, good enough for 16th overall in operating income. They sit 28th in the US for Metropolitan area with a population of 2.3 mil by 2012 CSA. with the NHL’s new TV deal adding profit for all teams this season & expansion fee’s coming Columbus isn’t going any where.
They do need to take a step up as a team though & start competing for a playoff spot regularly & they appear close. The foundation in Columbus seems to be improving & most had them competing for a playoff spot last season. They should be a better team next season.
Columbus is moving Hartnell to gain cap relief how is taking RNH making 1.5 more than Hartnell essentially going to help?
Now Columbus may have to move a Dman depending upon the expansion draft rule so add a Dman in like Johnson & the salry’s wrok but Edm would have to add something.
if Columbus still needs a centre and has to get rid of Hartnell’s salary they should look at Edmonton. The Oilers could trade RNH (2nd line centre imo) for Hartnell+
To Columbus: RNH/4th pick
To Edmonton: Hartnell/3rd pick
Oilers would look better with Hartnell and Puljujarvi on the wings
That is hopelessly one sided.
RNH making more than Hartnell makes me think something like this is unlikely. I think the point is for Columbus to shed salary.
I take back comment above. I read it wrong.
steep price to move up on spot. not bad though. Cbus would likely have to throw in a small sweetener.
No offense but your on some good stuff under valuing RNH. He’s a top line Center on any team and easily 2nd line yes but he’s worth way more than an over payed aging hartnell. Just because Preds rejected RNH for Jones doesn’t mean that’s not equal value. RNH value is Seth Jones coming back. Nuge is an excellent two way Center now. Young lots of upside. Had a down season with a freak injury piece of his knuckle was completely broken off from blocking a puck. This guy can still put up a good 60-70 points a year upside. It’s not unreasonable expectation. Regardless oilers trade RNH it’ll be a package for top D-man or 3/4 D-man straight up which I still think oilers would lose out on unless it’s a top 2 D-man
Also of note it’s expected a player like RNH and Eberle which of the two based on position and importance RNH has higher value in trade one of the two would most likely be apart of a deal if they were to try to get shattenkirk,Barrie,lindholm etc. Just an idea what those players will fetch. Certainly not hartnell. Oilers can attempt to sign okposo and lucic trade eberle and pouliot. Chiarelli knows this. He will either plsy the game and be successful and has stated if he isn’t getting fair value in return on players he’s not trading them including yakupov…who I’m sure would flourish with top 6 minutes on any team including oilers. And he did with mcdavid almost PPG before mcdavid got hurt.
I think they believe Puljujarvi can play center.
No chance Edmonton makes that trade.
Columbus is paying for falling into the classic scenario of throwing bucket loads of money to a player who is coming off their only good season (on a contract year).
Sabres will target Brodin or Fowler, but relatively young and both left handed shots.
Good choices but who would Buffalo move ? Minny does not want salary and I dont think the Sabres have what ANA wants.
I wouldnt move the Sabres 1st rd pick but any of the 2nd rd or any one or 2 of the 3rd rd picks would help Minny as they have few picks this year.
I would look at moving Larsson and Fasching in any deal.
I think they would move Girgensons if the deal was right.
seems like I am the only one who thinks stepan is extremely overpaid and overrated. Never watched him play and said “sign me up for that guy at over 6 million a year!” I see an overpaid second liner on any contending team.
also… it must be nice to be the isles and be able to jetison top 9 talent left and right for nothing.
stepan plays both ends of the ice. look up his points-per-game average and +/-.
the issue is he has not raised his offense in the playoffs. he is about a million over paid imho.
Yeah, Stepan is quietly a very good player. Maybe a million or so overpaid, but he pretty much stirs the drink when it comes to the Rangers’ offence.
I can see a possession team like Detroit or Minnesota interested in Stepan. Minnesota has Koivu, Granlund, Coyle signed @ center already.
My defense is you just don’t know what you’re talking about… This is the 2nd time in 2 weeks you bring this up, and nor a single person agrees with your list!
Again, you cannot compare a 2 way center to a scoring winger. More than half your list is made up of wingers or deals that were signed 4, 5, 6 years ago…. Had Stepan gone to arbitration, ROR would have been the obvious comparable. He signed his new deal before Stepan signed his.
Again, Staal, Kadri…….Bolland ? Not only do I think you haven’t seen Stepan play enough to evaluate the guy, but obviously a bunch that you mention in the same breath! You called Kesslers deal ” the worst in hockey….. Then use J Staal as an example?
I believe too many people think the bar is set off the Crosbys, Malkins, Toews, Stamkos, and even Tavares…. These guys are the exception and not the rule. They also come with 8,9 and 10 million dollar price tags!!!!
Before throwing out random names off of a salary list, you may want to dig a little deeper into what those players bring to the table.
When you compare him to similar players (ROR, Kesler, etc) his contract looks pretty good.
if you have to use one of the worst contracts in the league-kesler- to compare your in rough waters.
Show me an equal or better player that is making less? Not including elc or bridge type deals!
ALL below arguably would be better either based on talent, age, or contract… or all the above.
Jordan Staal
Center $6,000,000
Taylor Hall
Right Wing $6,000,000
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
Center $6,000,000
>Logan Couture
Logan Couture
Center $6,000,000
>Joe Pavelski
Joe Pavelski
Left Wing $6,000,000
>Matt Duchene
Matt Duchene
Center $6,000,000
>Tomas Plekanec
Tomas Plekanec
Center $6,000,000
>Jordan Eberle
Jordan Eberle
Left Wing $6,000,000
>Brandon Saad
Brandon Saad
Right Wing $6,000,000
41 >Aleksander Barkov
Aleksander Barkov
Center $5,900,000
>Tyler Seguin
Tyler Seguin
Center $5,750,000
50 >Blake Wheeler
Blake Wheeler
Right Wing $5,600,000
52 >Gabriel Landeskog
Gabriel Landeskog
Left Wing $5,571,429
53 >John Tavares
John Tavares
Center $5,500,000
>Dave Bolland
59 >Jeff Carter
Jeff Carter
Center $5,272,727
>Jamie Benn
Jamie Benn
Left Wing $5,250,000
64 >Derick Brassard
Derick Brassard
Center $5,000,000
>Michael Cammalleri
>James Neal
James Neal
Right Wing $5,000,000
>Valtteri Filppula
>Gustav Nyquist
Gustav Nyquist
Right Wing $4,750,000
>Carl Soderberg
>Bryan Little
Bryan Little
Center $4,700,000
77 >Clarke MacArthur
80 >Nazem Kadri
Nazem Kadri
Center $4,500,000
>Mats Zuccarello-Aasen
>Brad Marchand
Brad Marchand
Left Wing $4,500,000
>Max Pacioretty
Max Pacioretty
Left Wing $4,500,000
86 >Mike Fisher
Mike Fisher
Center $4,400,000
87 >Brandon Sutter
89 >Sean Couturier
Sean Couturier
Center $4,333,333
91 >Patric Hornqvist
Patric Hornqvist
Right Wing $4,250,000
>James Van Riemsdyk
James Van Riemsdyk
Left Wing $4,250,000
>Justin Abdelkader
98 >T.J. Oshie
T.J. Oshie
Right Wing $4,175,000
99 >Nick Bjugstad
Nick Bjugstad
Center $4,100,000
101 >Carl Hagelin
Carl Hagelin
Left Wing $4,000,000
110 >Wayne Simmonds
Wayne Simmonds
Right Wing $3,975,000
124 >Mark Stone
Mark Stone
Right Wing $3,500,000
>Kyle Turris
Kyle Turris
Center
forgot to delete sutter and fisher… oops.
and soderburg, fillpula…. missed a few… but tons of better players making less… not tough because stepan is about 2 million dollars a year overpaid.
Kelser is 1 of the top 10 best 2 way centers in the league, #1 penalty killer & a machine in the face off circle. He does all the heavy lifting for Anh.
That’s what these types of c’s cost. Watch what Backes gets.
When these players signed what there bargaining positions were RFA with or with out arbitration rights, UFA status etc all come into play. I wouldn’t take a ton of those players before Stepan nor are all C’s which carry a premium especially solid 2 way C’s.
when stpan signed he had arbitration rights. “solid” is a termn used to describe a lot of nhl players. IMO stepan is an ok second line center getting paid first line center money.
Yet you put Bolland, and Rnh above Stepan? Lmao
I did say “comparable players” Tavares take off that list, what do you think he’s getting on his next deal where he has some leverage?….the dozen wingers take off that list….J.Staal that 6 per is only what….6 years old? What would that number be in TODAYS market?? Kadri? Come on MAN!!! 11 out of 10 gm’s would take Stepan over Staal. Marchand signed his deal before he had arbitration rights…I believe …take him off that list.
I think the truest statement you made today….”seems like I am the only one who thinks stepan is extremely overpaid and overrated. “
Stepan is much better than Plekanec, Bolland, Cammalleri, Neal, Nyquist, Soderberg, Little, Kadri, Fisher, Sutter, Couturier, Turris.
I think you need to watch his game more
I don’t see stepans deal being bad at all? a whole lot worse contracts around the league
I pointed out that there are some errors on the list. Its copied from a salary list. Its funny you asked me to find one player and I found many and your defense is “lmao”.
I may be a bit Biased as I have not seen many games of Stepan, but I do agree he is a great two player, yet he still a bit over paid, however, you can name a ton of players who are overpaid as well as underpaid, it depends on when they received there contract. I say he should be making around 4.75-5 million per year, if I were a team looking for a good team player, I would pick him up in a quick second though
Calgary Flames / GM Brad Treliving may very well be looking to add a different kind type, a heavy forward, with a trade up. Pierre-Luc Dubois orMatthew Tkachuk both project as possibles over any of the big three (four -Bean) defenders…
The Ducks won’t trade Lindholm, it will be Fowler. Having seen what Theodore can do last season at the NHL level, they’d be crazy to keep him in San Diego. The only way the keep everyone is if they spent to the cap and Anaheim won’t do that
James:
While I think that Fowler might be in play Vatenan still is too. Don’t rule out Bieksa as he will be paid 4 mil a year for two years which is in the range of Fowler & Vat. I’d give away Bieksa if it means keeping the other two long term. Also yes, the Ducks have an internal cap floor but that doesn’t mean ownership would not allow them to spend more for a year or two if the end result would be keeping a lot good young hockey players long term. I doubt it’s locked in stone.
Sorry, I should have said CAP CEILING not floor
While I agree they will try and move Bieksa first, don’t assume they can without taking back a chunk of salary that is also a player who is overpaid. Not sure they can pull that off.
There is an expansion draft looming as well.
If it is either Fowler or Linholm, there will be a plenty of suitors to bargain with. Demand is high for proven young D, supply is low.
The return would be substantial.
Also agree that ANA could raise their budget to take a run.
Murray said in his season closing news conference Anaheim’s budget was increasing next season as revenue was up but that said they won’t be spending to the cap ceiling. With expansion looming something has to give at D depending upon what the protection rules will actually be. We will have clarity on that issue before the draft on Friday.
Bieksa has an NMC on his new 2 year deal that kicks in July 1st. His previous contract contained an NTC & it doesn’t expire until June 30th at midnight. To move Bieksa prior he needs to approve the trade.
I don’t see anyone taking on Stoner at 3.1 per for 2 more years, he is a buy out candidate. Something has to give before the expansion draft. Bieksa; NMC, has to be protected unless they can convince him to waive his no trade clause, that leaves Fowler, Vatanen, Lindholm & Despres. Even if the 8 skater rule is still available & Murray choose to protect 4 D that would just expose a solid forward.
Interesting times. A Dman will be moved eventually but maybe not until near next seasons trade deadline? Just because Vatanen signed doesn’t preclude it being him as his NTC doesn’t kick in till year 3. Murray has a ton of options.
What a great contract. Vatanen at 4 years for 4.875. Barrie & Krug just had the market set by Murray. You have to love how these nordic players sign good market value contracts or even take a discount.
Theodore can play that’s for sure…… Cam Fowler also and excellent puck moving dman only 24 will get moved….I would love him in Pittsburgh with Letang/Daley/Dumolin/Matta….:) If we move Fluery we have the cap space..?
This should certainly be a fun week, with the draft, expansion announcement. Teams trying to rid themselves of players, getting assets back, trying to be careful of their trades, don’t want to trade for someone and have to leave someone else expose. Don’t really feel sorry for the teams like Columbus with all these NMC, if they all say “no we want to stay.” going to be losing a player you don’t want to lose and keeping someone you don’t want. Let the games begin should be a couple of weeks of solid entertainment. Then will drag thru the year as teams try to convince players to give up their nmc.
According to Newsday’s Staple, the Islanders and Nielsen are closer to a deal:
Steve Simmons would be better suited for working for the National Enquirer.
Hartnell & 3rd pick to Calgary for 6th pick + something or something.
I think Hartnell is definitely an option for MTL…Maybe MTL can offer 9th, 39th in 2016 & neg rights to Magnus Nygren…for CBJ’S 3rd in 2016 & Scott Hartnell.
Unless calgary can dump salary; Wideman, they can’t afford Hartnell.
NYR4life,
I would compare Stepan to Frans Nielson. Both are ok possession players, both have poor FOW %, and neither will score 25-30 consistently .when comparing those 2, Stepan is grossly overpaid. As for comparing him to ROR or Kesler, those to guys are very strong and possession machines. Also if those last two are your second line centre, you are deep down the middle.
When you look at Stepan, he may been more suited to play wing, then centre. He’s not nearly as physical as the other two, and draws very favourable match ups.
Not nearly as physical as the other two????? ROR had 3 hits in 20 games last year??????? Favorable matchups????? He plays the pk, pp, and is typically deployed against the other teams top line and players. His face off issues are the only legitimate gripe with this guy in comparison to the other 2.
Sorry , I meant 70 games
What the Oil need is too ship Hall out with the 4th get a real Dman, sign Milan L to take Halls P on the Left side. The last thing they need is to trade up and get the 3rd.
The drafting of Nikita Filatov began the free fall of quiting on and subsequently trading away early drafted Derick Brassard, Steve Mason, Jakub Voracek with little to show in return, the acquistion of big center Jeff Carter and not having having a vision on how he would fit, and the inability to harvest few prospects per draft year has lead to where Columbus is…along with ending 2015 with two bigger men (Johansen & Anisimov)at the center position now gone. Columbus now has to learn from their mistakes.
Every once in a while Steve Simmons says something sensible, but most of the time, it just feels like he’s making stuff up.
Talk is that toronto is trying hard to get Garth Snow interested in a JVR for an MDC and a first Swap but that Snow isnt interested since JVR is only sgned Short term. I cant see why Snow would be since Dal colle is Draft exempt and profiles to be a better sniper than JVR..Makes no sense whatsoever with the expansion draft coming and the Isles apparently wishing to protect Boychuck,Leddy, Dehaan and Hamonic with Pulock apparently exempt
If I were the Islanders I would not protect Boychuck, his contract is reasonable at this time, but in a couple of year when his level of play decreases, they will wish he was off there books. I think it would be good for them to shop Boychuck in return for a guy to replace Okposo, yet of course that depends on if he has a NMC or NTC
Inside that was just told to me , is that montreal is trying hard to sign K.Okposo
And that they are trying to acquire N.bjugstad for there 9th overall and L.Eller .
Saying is that if they could get that done ,T Pleckanec can get traded
Thoughts?
Habs gotta do something because right now they are simply treading water. Okoposo would be a idea catch for Montreal.
Hartnel & Rychel & Third for Bouma, H. Smith , 6th & 35th .
Okposo scares me. I see another Matt Moulson. Anyone can score 20 goals or more playing with a guy like JT.