NHL Rumor Mill – April 18, 2022
Check out the latest on the Blackhawks and Rangers in today’s NHL rumor mill.
LATEST ON THE BLACKHAWKS
CHICAGO SUN-TIMES: Ben Pope recently wondered if Jonathan Toews can stomach another season of losing as the Blackhawks rebuild their roster. He hasn’t hidden his feelings about his poor performance and that of the club this season.
Chicago Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews (NHL Images).
Head coach Derek King sympathizes with Toews and Patrick Kane. He acknowledged it can’t be easy at this stage of their careers for two players accustomed to winning. The Blackhawks captain has one season remaining on his contract. As far as anyone knows, he hasn’t made a decision on whether to request a trade.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: If Toews wants out it won’t be easy for the Blackhawks to move him. He carries a $10.5 million cap hit and a full no-movement clause that gives him complete control over potential trade destinations.
Toews remains a respected player around the league but the 33-year-old is no longer playing at the same level as he was during the Blackhawks’ glory years. Kane, also 33, has an identical contract but his productivity would make him more valuable in the trade market.
With the salary cap rising by only $1 million to $82.5 million for 2022-23, there won’t be a lot of teams with the room to take on Toew’s full cap hit. The Blackhawks would have to retain 50 percent of it to facilitate a trade. The same goes for Kane despite his offensive output.
THE ATHLETIC: Mark Lazerus recently wondered if Kevin Lankinen will lose his job as the Blackhawks starting goaltender. The 26-year-old is an unrestricted free agent this summer. He was relegated to backup duty when the Blackhawks acquired Marc-Andre Fleury last summer and he’s struggled since taking for Fleury following the latter’s trade to Minnesota.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Lazerus suggests the rebuilding Blackhawks could bring Lankinen back for another season to give him an opportunity to regain his form. Nevertheless, management could let him walk this summer if they feel they can find better goaltending options through trades or free agency.
Lazerus also wondered if Tyler Johnson still has a future with the rebuilding Blackhawks. The 32-year-old is signed for two more seasons with an annual salary-cap hit of $5 million. They have the cap flexibility to retain part of his cap hit if they can find a team that can better utilize him. A buyout is also possible but a trade would be preferable.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Johnson would be of better value to a playoff contender seeking a versatile forward with championship experience. Retaining part of his salary, however, would likely be needed to make a deal happen.
UPDATE ON THE RANGERS
NEW YORK POST: Larry Brooks believes the Rangers will try to sign Andrew Copp to a contract extension given how well he’s adjusted since joining the club in a trade deadline deal from the Winnipeg Jets. He’s fit in well on the second line alongside Artemi Panarin and Ryan Strome.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Copp is due to become a UFA in July and is completing a one-year deal worth $3.64 million. The versatile 27-year-old forward will get much more than that on a long-term deal if his solid chemistry with Panarin and Strome carries over into the postseason.
Whether it’s with the Rangers or another club remains to be seen. The Blueshirts must also re-sign or replace Strome this summer. They have over $70 million invested in 16 active players for 2022-23.
Alexandar Georgiev’s solid late-season improvement could allow the Rangers to get something in return for him in this summer’s trade market. A club seeking a potential starting goalie could be willing to take on the $2.65 million qualifier he’s due rather than take their chances in this summer’s free-agent market.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Georgiev’s inconsistency is a sticking point. Nevertheless, a club could take a chance on him on a one-year deal this summer.
When you make as much money as Toews and Kane suck it in and play hockey you got what you wanted financially stop Bellyaching
Agree! Toews JUST started to get to NHL game fitness and jump, but his voice still uttered, “I need to meet with new GM KD to discuss what my role is as captain…”
The droves of Blackhawk fans scratching their heads wondering if he means being captain/teacher of a non-CUP challenging team, or the fact that he was continually merry go round linemates during his on the job rehab, while the management patiently let him try to get up “playing speed”to the current new NHL that is even faster than the one he left at the end of 2019-2020, sucking air after the shifts.
Kane says he wants to be a Blackhawk for life. He may get the playoff itch and help a rebuild before it is over with a trade.
BTW, I started adding the player profiles of my 7 round mock on Lines.
sorry for the repeat, fellas.
Agree! Toews JUST started to get to NHL game fitness and jump, but his voice still uttered, “I need to meet with new GM KD to discuss what my role is as captain…”
The droves of Blackhawk fans scratching their heads wondering if he means being captain/teacher of a non-CUP challenging team, or the fact that he was continually merry go round linemates during his on the job rehab, while the management patiently let him try to get up “playing speed”to the current new NHL that is even faster than the one he left at the end of 2019-2020, sucking air after the shifts.
Kane says he wants to be a Blackhawk for life. He may get the playoff itch and help a rebuild before it is over with a trade.
BTW, I started adding the player profiles of my 7 round mock on Lines.
and Ben Pope, the Sun-Times “writer” is only a few years graduated from college, so you wonder how many hockey games he has seen live.
Hawks would have to retain half of Toews salary and either pay another club with a 3rd to retain another half or include a sweetener to trade Jonathon.
Example: Toews (half retained), Kubelik, for a 3rd line winger on a bottom feeder, or a 4th liner on a competitor.
Kaner to home-town Buffalo would be a good move now! They could absorb his cap hit to get well past the floor. Mittelstadt, and the Florida 1st and take the full cap hit! Kaner can then decide to move on or re-sign at the end of next season.
Really not a bad deal for both!
Kane isnt worth a first at full cap, he is at half though, I mean why pay a full cap when you dont have to?
Hawks will get a boatload at next years deadline for Kane way more then a 1st. Giroux got a 1st. A top prospect and a 3rd. Kane worth more
I bet they will get two first rounder at veery least and eat some contact, but I don’t envision a trade until right before this deal ends … like the 2023 tarde deadline and to a contender. (Who knows maybe Sabres will be!)
Toews might not stomach statin Chicago? More like they can’t stomach keeping him. A has been who was overrated when he wasn’t a has been. May be the worst contract in the league.
Re Toews (and Kane for that matter)
All in their hands…. But I’ve posted the following solution before:
“ Kane move (if at all) will all be up to him…. And if he decides he’d like another crack at a Cup …. Hawks would need to retain 1/2
That said…. Top point getter on Chi still… 82 G pace of 27-72-99 (on a weak team)…. What team wouldn’t want him as their top line winger @ only $5.2 M (and then obviously with the rights to re-up)
If GMs were throwing 1st + + for UFAs that were not as productive as 3 time cup winner Kane…. Would 2 1sts (or equivalent) to get Kane for a full year @ $5.2 M be unreasonable? I think it’s reasonable.
He’s owed $4 M in SB, then only $2.9 M after SB paid
I proposed before that since Chi cash rich, Arz cash poor but in need of Cap space to get to floor…. And trading to one team (without retention) , then back to same team later is allowed….
Ladd (pre signing bonus) to Chi for. 7th…..
Chi pays Ladd SB, Kane SB, Toews SB….. retains 50% on Kane and 50% on Toews and flips ….
Kane (50% ) , Toews (50%) , Ladd (full whack) to Arz
Arz then retains another 50% on EACH of Kane and Toews…. Flips on to one final team
Final team gets BOTH Kane/Toews for a TOTAL Cap hit of ONLY $5.25 M and total cash of only $1.45M
Arz would have (without above trades) paid Ladd a total of $4 M and had a Cap hit of $5.5 M;
With this trade (post SB paid by Chi)….. Arz with Ladd back, total Cap hit (including Toews/Kane) of $10.75 M, but only paying Ladd $1M in Sal and $1.45 M total retention on Toews/Kane combined Sal….total Cash outlay…. $2.45 M…. Saving $1.55 M cash while increasing Cap by $5.25 M
I would argue that benefit to Arz must be worth at least 2 2nds (they have 3 2nds in ‘24) AND a prospect
Receiving team getting BOTH Kane and Toews for only total Cap hit of $5.5 M…. That has to be worth a 1st, a 2nd, 2 prospects
So… Hawks could in effect “buy”… a 1st, THREE 2nds, 3 prospects for their rebuild
This of course is complicated , would appear as Cap circumvention (but under the rules for sure) , and a long-shot
However…. Well…. actually VERY well, worth it for Arz; advantage huge to cash rich Chi for rebuild; receiving team gets 2 vets (EACH with 3 Cups) , including a top line winger (3rd for RW’s in entire league this year) and at worst, a 3C
For Toews/Kane… they remain team-mates… have team of choosing
I’ll even throw out a suggested end place for Toews/Kane
If Chi can be convinced to accept Horny in the trade ….
Cats (already one of the two favs to win cup this year); convert Horny Cap, into Toews and Kane Cap with $50 K bonus in trade; Toews/Kane go to Cup contender; which happens to be a tax free state franchise
Again…. Long shot… but food for thought
Toews will be the 2023 Giroux