NHL Rumor Mill – June 30, 2021
Could the Blues shop Vladimir Tarasenko? Could Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar receive an offer sheet? Are big moves in store for the Blackhawks or the Coyotes? What’s the latest on Frederik Andersen and Tony DeAngelo? Find out in today’s NHL rumor mill.
BLUES SHOPPING TARASENKO
DAILY FACEOFF: Frank Seravalli reports the St. Louis Blues are exploring a trade for Vladimir Tarasenko. The 29-year-old winger has a full no-trade clause but has informed management of several preferred trade destinations. Tarasenko has two years remaining on his contract with an annual average value of $7.5 million. He’s been limited to 34 games over the last two seasons due to shoulder surgeries.
St. Louis Blues are reportedly shopping winger Vladimir Tarasenko (NHL Images).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Seravalli indicates Tarasenko’s recurring shoulder injury has been corrected and he’s healthy. When he’s healthy he’s a consistent 30-goal scorer.
Still, there could be clubs on his trade list leery of acquiring him because of those three surgeries. His cap hit could also prove difficult to move with the salary cap remaining flattened for this season.
COULD MAKAR GET AN OFFER SHEET?
TSN: Pierre LeBrun reports there are different sources around the league who believe Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar is the one player who could receive an offer sheet this summer. The Avs have several players (Makar, Gabriel Landeskog, Philipp Grubauer, Brandon Saad) due for new contracts. They must also ensure sufficient cap room to re-sign Nathan MacKinnon to a monster extension next summer.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: LeBrun indicates Makar wants to remain with the Avalanche and the club is “guarding internally” again a possible offer sheet. He said there are some who believe rival clubs could come calling if the 22-year-old blueliner isn’t signed by July 28.
Offers sheet signings are rare but do happen from time to time. Bear in mind, however, the player has to be receptive to receiving one. Just because other teams would love to sign Makar doesn’t mean he’s interested in going that route.
BIG MOVES COMING FOR THE BLACKHAWKS OR COYOTES?
TSN: Darren Dreger reports media has linked the Chicago Blackhawks to Buffalo Sabres captain Jack Eichel. He finds it hard to imagine they can fit another $10 million player into their lineup with Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane already there. He also noted winger Alex DeBrincat will soon become a big-money player.
Dreger also indicates Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman is trying to add an elite-level defenseman. They’ve been linked to Carolina’s Dougie Hamilton and Columbus’ Seth Jones.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Bowman could be performing due diligence by looking into Eichel’s availability. I don’t see them acquiring him unless the Sabres pick up half of his cap hit, or if Toews is going on permanent long-term injury reserve, or Bowman intends on shedding a significant salary.
DAILY FACEOFF: Frank Seravalli reports the Boston Bruins could revisit their interest in Arizona Coyotes defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson. He also wondered if a potential trade package could involve Coyotes winger and Boston native Conor Garland.
The Bruins were on Ekman-Larsson’s list of preferred destinations last fall but discussions between the two clubs failed to produce a deal. The Coyotes were willing to shave $1.25 million off the blueliner’s $8.25 million annual average value last year. Seravalli wonders if they’ll retain more to facilitate a trade this time.
SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman recently expressed his belief that Ekman-Larsson and winger Phil Kessel could get traded this summer. He also recommended keeping an eye on Garland and goaltender Darcy Kuemper.
Ekman-Larsson’s trade value is unknown right while Kessel as a rental player won’t fetch a lot of young assets. Garland and Kuemper, however, could bring the picks and prospects the Coyotes need.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Bruins have expressed a need for a top-four, left-side defenseman. Ekman-Larsson’s declining numbers over the last three seasons are cause for concern but perhaps he’ll bounce back playing on a deeper roster. The Coyotes will have to pick up a bigger chunk of Ekman-Larsson’s cap hit if they hope to move him.
The Bruins could have interest in Garland if unable to re-sign Taylor Hall or if they finally decide to put Jake DeBrusk on the trade block. The 25-year-old winger is a restricted free agent completing a two-year, $1.55 million contract. He’d be more affordable than Hall, perhaps costing as much as DeBrusk’s annual cap hit ($3.675 million) to sign.
Like Kessel, Kuemper will become an unrestricted free agent next summer. With Adin Hill looking like a potential starting goalie, they could peddle Kuemper if they feel he doesn’t fit into their long-range plans.
COULD ANDERSEN REMAIN A MAPLE LEAF?
TSN: Pierre LeBrun reports there’s a chance Frederik Andersen could remain with the Toronto Maple Leafs. His agent, Claude Lemieux, said he was asked by the club if his client was interested in potentially signing and staying put. Lemieux said yes but LeBrun points out getting a deal done could be difficult within the Leafs’ limited cap space.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Andersen will have to accept less than his $5 million annual average value of his expiring deal. LeBrun said he’s ready to share the Leafs’ goaltending duties with Jack Campbell. So what say you, Leafs fan? Should they bring back Freddy on a reduced cap hit as a backup?
RANGERS TO BUY OUT DEANGELO
DAILY FACEOFF: Frank Seravalli reports the New York Rangers have finalized plans to buy out the remaining year of defenseman Tony DeAngelo’s contract. It will become official once the first buyout window opens within 24 hours after the Stanley Cup Final concludes.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Everyone expected this after the Rangers couldn’t find any takers for DeAngelo via trade or waivers during the regular season. He’ll become an unrestricted free agent on July 28. Seravalli said the annual cap hit to the Rangers is $383K for 2021-22 and $883K for 2022-23. It’ll be interesting to see if other clubs will take a chance on him when he’s no longer carrying a $4.8 million cap hit.
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Can’t imagine DeAngelo never playing again. Before last years fiasco, he was coming off a season where he tied Quinn Hughes for 2nd in league for points by a dman. Kid will have to understand he’s on a last chance and keep his nose clean wherever he ends up. Somebody will be getting a dynamic offensive player on the cheap if they’re willing to take the risk.
I figured if there was anyone who could straighten him out it would be Gallant . Guess he will need to carve out a career in the KHL with hopes of screwing his head on straight and attempting a comeback in the future.
OR … deangelo could be MORE really bad news for a new team. History repeats itself so many times and many times, the older the player gets the more he’s full of bad news. Doug Wilson seems to like the bad news guys. Maybe he will give deangelo $7mil for 7 years (then live to regret it less than half way into the contract like he’s doing with Evander Kane – what was he thinking???).
OEL preferred Boston over any other destination why not revisit?????????????? A change of scenery from a losing team does wonders look at what happened to Hall. Please let Rask walk I’d be content to never see hear or have to look at that clowns face again. Let someone else have to deal his shenanigans.
So Rick, you would like to see Rask gone and add OEL and what, you think that makes the Bruins a better team?
Please please no to OEL …. they need Dmen with size that can actually play D
caper,
Dont forget its a 100% certainty the Bruins are adding Eichel as well.
Swayman will be better than Rask I’ve watched his progression since the minors he was unbelievable in Providence the best goalie they’ve had down there in decades. They don’t need another year of mind games with Rask. OEL will revitalize himself in Boston
It’s gonna be awfully hard to fit OEL in the lineup after they acquire Eichel.
I read somewhere that Eichel is a done deal to Boston. I’m not sure why they even bother mentioning any other team?
Are the Bruins giving up Pasta to get him ?
No way, he’s going west
Well said Rick–agree on all points but cant pay the OEL contract in Full. I’d say Rask is definitely gone, wouldnt mind seeing MAF in Boston if Vegas picks up half his contract. Would be a great goalie to mentor Swayman. Need to get rid of Debrusk, not going to work for him in Boston
DeAngelo will keep it clean for a while but in 12-24 months it will be the same story again, guy cant help himself
It is probably just too difficult trying to be a different person (when you’re not). Faking it as a good teammate probably gets old real fast then he’s back to the old deangelo and in the news AGAIN.
https://twitter.com/jonathantoews/status/1410244274986303488?s=21
Chicago in on Eichel, if he’s healthy,
Any two of Brett Connolly, Dylan Strome, Alex Nylander and Nikita Zadorov and they have 3 picks in the first two rounds. #11, #44 and #62.
It’s a big give but they hold on to their future in Boqvist, Dach and Reichel. and add a 24 y/o centre.
That’s just silly.
The only way Chicago can be in the running is to send a combination of players who come off the cap and draft picks.
They need to free up close to $10 million to make an offer.
#11 is projected to be G Wallstedt or LW Sillinger, guys who could help both teams if they pan out.
The only way Chicago can be in the running is to send a combination of players who come off the cap and draft picks.
They need to free up close to $10 million to make an offer.
#11 is projected to be G Wallstedt or LW Sillinger, guys who could help both teams if they pan out.
Why would the Sabres as incompetent as they have been want back Nylander or Zadorov. Dach, 11 and Strome.
If Chicago wants to hang on to Dach, a package of Reichel, 11, Regula and Strome could be enough.
Sweeney/Neely…. do you see how the Bruins are getting beat in the playoffs the last 3 seasons…..teams taking the body, forechecking, and leaning on their D …. you have two offensive Dmen don’t need another, bring in a couple of Dmen with size that can clear the net and get the puck out of the D zone ….don’t need anymore small wingers who just play in the middle of the ice ….. there’s the top line …. sign Hall sign 46 to a one year contract…..you have a center for the 3rd line get a couple of wingers ….4th line rebuild it with strong checkers with size …. forget Rask … bring in a vet goalie for all season and let the kid goalie play ….no to EOL and C Garland
I’m not one to get wrapped up in trade speculation myself. And at such a young age, I don’t think home town matters much. But Conor Garland straight up for DeBrusk is intriguing. JDB seems to have stalled and frustrates the front office. Garland has improved each of his 3 seasons. At a loss as to why Arizona might be looking to unload him.
As much as I dislike D’Angelo the person. D’Angelo the offensive Dman is a valuable asset and will likely land on a team on a prove it deal for one or two seasons. Hockey wise, he could end up being the steal of the summer. However, if he has failed to improve his personality than you can almost guarantee this will be his last shot in the NHL.
Also helps his case that he is a natural RD that CAN play on the left! This year RD seems to be a bit more abundant than usual, but I expect he still finds a place. I think a contending or bubble team who needs to make affordable acquisitions with their cap space will take a flyer on him.
I’m also going to have to disagree on Kessel, I think he could net a decent return for Arizona. People love to bash him, love to say he is out of shape. But since his sophmore year, he has had ONE bad season. He put up 20 goals this year, 40+ points, has 6 30+ goal seasons, multiple 20+ goal seasons, has over 80 points in just over 90 playoff games. His cap his to production level at 6.8 is actually pretty good. He’d make a great 2nd line RW, with powerplay time, and be even better if he had some very solid defensive minded players on his line, not that I think he is as bad as stated.
A team could take him and if he puts up 22-27 goals next season, they could get him on a 2-3y extension at around $5million to finish out his career. If Stuetzle was moved to Center in Ottawa, I wouldn’t mind taking him for a year and seeing what a Brown – Stueztle – Kessel line could do.
LA, ANA, NJ, OTT are four teams that I think may take a look at Kessel… Winnipeg & Calgary could be outliers on that list as well.
OEL to Boston for Coyle, a case of beer and a recording of Kiss Me I’m S**tfaced by Neely and Sweeney
Eichel to Boston for DeBrusk, a case of beer and a recording of Kiss Me I’m S**tfaced by Neely and Sweeney
Lyle,
My apologies, I wasn’t thinking when I copy pasted the dropkick murphys song.
I’ll be sitting back in my lazy boy recliner bud light in one hand remote in the other tonight watching the habs get their fannys spanked by Tampa reversing back every goal even after the instant replays are done.
bud light? you call that pony pee a beer?
Yeah! George can wring a stronger brew out his depends any Saturday morning after bingo night!
lol, right on George
I’ve been wanting to try Molson Common Bond but haven’t found it here yet.
To AZ: Yandle (provided he waives his NMC) & Stralman
To FLA : OEL
FLA gets young Dman
AZ gets Long term cap relief. Can even trade Stralman at deadline to contender if not
they both provide Veteran leadership since their other Vet D are all UFA.
How does OEL qualify as a “young defenceman”?
I felt old at 30 and at 29 i felt young.
That is my barometer.
I cant even remember 30, lol
There was a 30? Wait … oh yeah, that’s what I turned the year after the last Leafs cup.
Makar if open to it, is a perfect offer sheet candidate. Look at the situation in Colorado. About $25 million in space … they will be forced to buyout Johnson this summer, particular if he refuses to waive his NTC to be exposed. This will cost them $2 million against their cap. Francouz is going to be back, another $2 million against their cap.
So $21 million … Let us assume though, Seattle is nice and pulls Kadri and gives you $25.5 million in space to put your team together. Landeskog is going to cost around $7.5, Grubaur is going to cost around $5 in order to keep … That is HALF your cap gone … An offer sheet of 9.5-10 on Makar is low enough the Ave have to match it, but eats the space they would have for signing. Signing all three at that point would only leave you with at best $4 million in cap space to sign 5 forwards & a defenseman to fill out your team.
Either you are going to get Makar or you are going to force the Avalanche to let a key player in Grubaur or Landeskog go. Particularly when you think that MacKinnon is going to command probably a 4.5-6 million raise next summer as well.
What does Colorado do? They could look at a sign and trade with Landeskog or leave him as a UFA and let the Kraken sign him away and at least allow you to keep Kadri, Donski, Toews, Graves without worry and give you the flexibility to sign your roster and not worry about MacKinnon next year.
Makar is interesting because money talks but not if the team attempting to gain your service is a bottom dweller and only thing they bring to the table is cap space & cash.
He has been in cup contention every season he has been in the league thus far. Tough thing to give up.
Not many teams have the cap space to offer sheet and are contenders.
JJB, i don’t what you’re possibly thinking? You speak casually like the AVS would just consider moving Landeskog out. Cmon, you folks apparently do not watch Avalanche hockey. Gabe is the consumate pro, captain and leader of the team. I don’t care what rumors are out there. Landeskog will get a very good deal and remain with the Team. If he were to go, it would be like pulling a loose thread on a piece of fabric and watching the rest of it continously unravel which would not be good for the orginization that invested so much in him? He is the heart and soul of the Colorado Avalanche!!!! GO AVS!!!!!!!!!!!
I am not speaking casually as if he will just go, if I am Colorado I don’t want him gone. He is my captain and one of my best two way forwards and has been a key part of thr franchise for the past what, 8 years or so?
I am illustrating what a Makar offer sheet could do and a possible casualty of having such a stacked team could look like. Keeping Makar, Landeskog, and Grubaur + filling out your team and resigning MacKinnon next year will not be an easy task.
In order to make it happen, you are probably looking at trying to get Makar to take an undervalue bridge contract for 2-3 years until the cap starts increasing and trying to get Landeskog & Grubaur to sign contracts that are 1.5-2 under market value.
This could very well happen. But that is why I am stating a large offer sheet for Makar could conplicate things for Colorado. I don’t believe anyone wants to move on from Landeskog, nor do I think they should. Just illustrating a complication in the unlikely event of an offer sheet.
Then again, maybe someone gets bold and offer sheets Makar, they let him go and sign Hamilton or flip some picks for Jones and keep the team intact. It’s a what if scenario.
Skinner (1m retained) to AVS for Kadri & Johnson?
so 8 m per yr to COL &
then 10.5 per yr plus 1 m for retaining.
skinner replaces Saad/roster spot
and frees up 2.5 m extra room to sign contracts
Avs with their picsk and prospects can entice Seattle then to pick Skinner for the draft
Makar is definitely staying with the Avs… What about a Tarasenko,Kyrou,Dunn, 1st pick,2nd pick against Eichel and Mittelstadt ? I wouldn’t be surprised if the Coyotes sign DeAngelo, because they have the habit of taking bad reputation guy…
To the Leafs idea of Andersen back…. I cannot see them having more than 3 million to give for 1 year show me deal. I do it only with the idea he splits as 82 game seasons are back. Even a great season he will never make big money unless another team comes calling next year FA.
Calgary is likely to lose Giordano to the Kraken in the expansion draft. How about Gio to Boston with 2.5 million retained for picks and a young player.
Gio is still a decent dman and he gets a chance to play for a contender. Calgary doesn’t just lose him for nothing to the Seattle.
Grzelcyk did not take over the Powerplay from Krug like many thought…. maybe Bruins take a flyer on Deangelo for a season… there are enough vets to keep him in line
If I may not a bad idea just maybe the Bruins will leave Grzelcyk and that bad contract unprotected …. but like I said many times I hope they bring in two Dmen with size who can clear the net and get the puck out of their own zone
@Joe
Healthy Carlo and Miller would of made a huge difference for the B’s.
After every GM seeing the 4 towers on the Habs blueline the price tag for being tall is going to be inflated
Really like Miller and Carlo…but Miller will never be 100% and Carlo is a head knock away from possibly ending a career
grez & deBrusk for OEL
Now you’re talking IHC I like your strategy. I think OEL would elevate his game in Boston and be a key ingredient on their March to the cup Eichel, Oliver “bad a dah dah dah I’m loving it.”
Any Vancouver fans here? Guessing Virtanen also getting bought out. Any updates on charges against him?
nothing yet. police and team are still investigating.
What would the cost of Matthew Tkachuk be for the Blues?? Would a package of Tarasenko, Vince Dunn, and Zach Sanford be considered??
Hi Iowa Prince
Late to the game today
Can I interest you in Zucker; Ruhweedel; Lafferty for Taresenko ($2M retained)