NHL Rumor Mill – June 2, 2020
Check out some recent Blues and Sabres speculation in today’s NHL rumor mill.
LATEST ON THE BLUES
STLTODAY.COM: During a recent live chat with Blues fans, Jim Thomas was asked if he sees them re-signing Alex Pietrangelo following their recent contract signings. The reader suggested they could let him walk and use the money to re-sign restricted free agent Vince Dunn. Thomas doesn’t rule out the possibility. He also raised the notion that perhaps Pietrangelo doesn’t want to be in St. Louis, but doesn’t think that’s the case.
St. Louis Blues captain Alex Pietrangelo (Photo via NHL Images)
Pietrangelo could test the free-agent market following this season to see what offers are out there. Thomas notes there will be several teams, such as the Colorado Avalanche, with much more salary-cap space even with the reduced revenue from the pandemic.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: As I’ve pointed out before, the Blues have limited salary cap space (over $79 million invested in 20 players for 2020-21, according to Cap Friendly) for next season. They must shed some considerable salary if they intend to re-sign Pietrangelo and Dunn.
Asked if center Tyler Bozak might have some trade value, Thomas believes he does, citing his all-around play and his work with younger players. While he’s got just one year left on his contract, he’s 34 and carries an annual average value of $5 million.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Bozak also has a 10-team no-trade clause. If he’s willing to waive it, the Blues might have to pick up part of his cap hit or include a significant sweetener to move him.
COULD THE SABRES SHOP RISTOLAINEN?
SPORTSNET: Luke Fox recently weighed in on potential off-season moves by the Buffalo Sabres after missing the playoffs for the ninth straight year.
Sabres defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen raised the possibility he could be traded if management decides to make sweeping changes. However, general manager Jason Botterill and head coach Ralph Krueger both spoke highly of the 25-year-old blueline. Botterill called him a core player while Krueger said he’s “a centerpiece,” adding he wants to coach Ristolainen next season.
Fox believes Botterill doesn’t need to move Ristolainen to remodel the roster. Considering the poor return the Sabres GM received in the Ryan O’Reilly trade two years ago, he could be forced to think hard here. Fox pointed out the Sabres will have sufficient salary-cap space that they won’t need to buy out Kyle Okposo or give up on Jeff Skinner after one bad season.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Sabres are allowed to make trades now, but Fox considers it unlikely they’ll do so until the playoffs are over. Ristolainen frequently featured in Sabres’ trade chatter this season. Perhaps the reason he’s still a Sabre is that Botterill and Krueger think so highly of him. Then again, it could be because Botterill didn’t get a suitable offer.
I do not watch too many Buffalo games, can someone explain why they want to get rid of Rasmus Ristolainen? is his Defense that bad or is it something else?
Also caught up on yesterday’s thread, I think the Devils would move Subban at 50% retained – his years do not align with the rebuild. To be clear, Subban was a completely different and better player once Hynes left. Any decent return that helps the rebuild would be considered.
TSN’s Travis Yost broke down Ristolainen’s play last summer. He suggested the blueliner was being miscast by the Sabres. He apparently struggles at even strength, especially handling forechecking speed and puck pressure. Maybe he could improve those skills on a deeper club with better coaching.
https://www.tsn.ca/ristolainen-has-been-miscast-on-sabres-blueline-1.1350067
Thanks Lyle! The link to the Yost article was very interesting. It seems it would be best for him to get a new start somewhere else. Does anyone know what Buffalo is seeking in return?
Subban didn’t really align last year when Devils traded for him. They’re a year late on realizing what they needed to do. That said, you need to keep some vets around, especially on defense. As long as cap isn’t an issue, keeping him might be smarter move. For now.
Risto played much better last season under Krueger. The Sabres need middle six centerman. A player like Kerfoot (Leafs), Zacha (Devils), Domi (Canadians), Roslovic (Jets) or Gaudette (Canucks). Could one of those be acquired for a package that would include one or more of Miller, Pilut, Montour and or a draft pick?
Maybe if the pick is your 2020 first rounder … those players are pieces, not assets that will get anything useful
Buffalo has Mittelstadt and Cozens should be coming in. I don’t think trading for another center would be a good idea if you’re weakening your defense.
That is the 1st time a “notion” of Pietrangelo maybe not wanting to be in St. Louis has been raised!? I’d be shocked. Unless the $$$s are simply unreasonable, I have always assumed an agreement would be reached. Under current circumstances, maybe $8 million for 5/6 yrs.—-makes him the highest paid Blue.
The Blues Actually have 21 players signed for 20-21 and roughly 2.9 in cap space. The formula on CF is incorrect as it doesn’t take into account the players on LTIR but it does calculate their Cap Hit. CF is also putting Foley into the Cap Hit for next season, and he will likely never play again.
14 Forwards, Scheen, ROR, Tarasenko, Schwartz, Steen, Perron, Bozak, Sanford, Blais, Sundqvist, Barbasev, Thomas, Kyrou, MacEachern
5 Defensemen, Parayko, Scandy, Faulk, Gunerson, Bortz
2 Goalies Allen and Binnington
78,528 Cap Hit