NHL Rumor Mill – May 18, 2022

by | May 18, 2022 | Rumors | 28 comments

Check out the latest on the Leafs, Penguins and Predators in today’s NHL rumor mill.

LATEST ON CAMPBELL, NYLANDER AND GIORDANO.

TORONTO SUN: Terry Koshan reports Maple Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas said his assistant GM will be meeting soon with Jack Campbell’s representatives for contract negotiations. The 30-year-old goaltender is slated to become an unrestricted free agent this summer. Campbell professed his love of playing for the Leafs and the city of Toronto but is leaving contract details up to his agent and Leafs management.

Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Jack Campbell (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman doesn’t believe there have been many negotiations between those two sides. Nevertheless, I believe the Leafs will re-sign him given how thin this summer’s market will be for goaltenders. They know what they have in Campbell.

Koshan also reports William Nylander acknowledged his name frequently surfaces in Leafs trade rumors. However, he doesn’t want to be moved. Koshan pointed out that general manager Kyle Dubas has indicated he has little appetite for making big changes.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Nylander’s not going anywhere. He carries the more affordable contract among their foursome of top forwards plus he elevates his play in the postseason.

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman believes there have been talks with defenseman Mark Giordano about bringing back the 39-year-old defenseman at a lower salary.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Giordano’s current AAV is $6.75 million. How much lower is he willing to go to finish his career in Toronto and for how long? Time will tell if they can get something done before the free-agent market opens on July 13.

MALKIN AND LETANG HOPE TO REMAIN WITH THE PENGUINS

TRIBLIVE.COM: Seth Rorabaugh reports the Pittsburgh Penguins’ long-time core of Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang hope to remain together for a few more years. Crosby has three years remaining on his contract while Malkin and Letang are due to become UFAs in July.

Malkin said he’s leaving his contract business to his agent. He also dismissed a report out of Russia claiming he would return to his hometown of Magnitogorsk next season, stating he wants to stay in the NHL.

Letang declined to discuss his contract citing an agreement with GM Ron Hextall not to talk publicly about the matter.

Meanwhile, fellow UFA Bryan Rust said he felt he’s taken his play to a higher level than the salary he’s been earning the past few years. He indicated he’s seeking a fair and reasonable new deal.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Elliotte Friedman cited The Athletic’s Rob Rossi recently tweeting that the Penguins’ best offers to Malkin and Letang were three years and $15 million. Friedman said he’s heard the Penguins and the Malkin camp have discussed a three-year term to line up with Crosby’s contract but they’re far apart on salary. Letang, meanwhile, is apparently seeking a four-year deal for slightly less than his current $7.25 million annual average value.

As for Rust, it doesn’t look like he’s interested in a hometown discount. He earned $3.5 million annually on a four-year contract. He could seek around $5 million per season.

PREDATORS

THE ATHLETIC: Making a decision on Filip Forsberg’s future topped Adam Vingan’s recent list of offseason issues the Nashville Predators must address. The 28-year-old left winger is due to become a UFA in July. They must also decide if they’ll pick up the option year in head coach John Hynes’ contract and find a competent backup for starting goaltender Juuse Saros.

Vingan cited Evolving Hockey’s contract project model indicating Forsberg could get $8.5 million annually on an eight-year extension with the Predators or $9.5 million on a seven-year deal on the open market.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Forsberg has stated his goal is to remain with the Predators. As I’ve noted before, the concern for GM David Poile is he already has two forwards earning $8 million annually in Ryan Johansen and Matt Duchene. He might not be keen to have another in his lineup. We’ll find out by July 13 which direction Poile wants to go.







28 Comments

  1. Just looking at Lyle’s blurb above regarding key players in need of new deals, as well as CapFriendly’s listing of 19 teams with 0 to pocket-money in cap space and another 4 with between $1.5 and $5 mil – and so many RFAs seeking new deals, I get the feeling we could see quite a few hold-outs this coming season as he 32 teams begin to juggle their rosters within a minimal cap increase.

    • Good points George. Perhaps this will be the year when a small amount of sanity seeps in and players realize that $6.5m for 5 years is still a very good contract? There’s just not enough money to go around if they all think they’re worth $8+.

    • “Kyle Dubas has indicated he has little appetite for making big changes”

  2. Gio not worth anywhere near his expired contract at his age and skill set.
    Half or less for a couple
    Askarov should be the Preds backup but they may want him to to get lots of minutes in the minors first. Although it did not seem to hurt Oettinger
    Campbell has Dubas over a barrel .

    • Silver Seven, as you say, Campbell has put Dubas in a most uncomfortable position – especially with his playoff performance which was right up there with that of Vasilevsky.

      Which is why I doubt they can keep Giordano even at half his current cap hit, which would be around $1.65 mil (assuming he’d even agree to that). Any trades Dubas makes will have to be with the purpose of freeing up enough cap space to re-sign Campbell (or someone just as good), along with RFA d-men Sandin and Liljegren (currently costing a combined $1.5 mil off the cap) – if not them then who and will they be just as good or better and at what cost? – RFA Fs Kase and Engvall (coming off the same combined $1.5 mil).

      Dubas also will have to try and find a replacement for Mikheyev’s 21 goals because there’s no way he can afford to re-0sign that UFA who is going to want a LOT more than his expiring $1,645,000 mil deal.

      Contrary to some suggestions, they can’t free up Holl’s $2 mil cap hit as part of the process since Dubas gave him a M-NTC clause, nor can anyone he does deal bring back substantive cap hits since that would only contradict the purpose of dealing them in the first place – to free up space to re-up Campbell and his RFAs. Talk about a rock and a hard place.

      • Of course “right up there with Vasilevsky” was near the bottom of goalies in Sv% after the series … he didn’t lose the series but he didn’t win it either … and his regular season was good, but not great … as a non-Leafs fan I am comfortable with them sticking with Campbell.

      • Friedman recently report he “heard” the Leafs are looking to sign him just over two and a half million (I can’t remember the actual figure but it was over 2.5) which is wishful thinking but they are not at all that far from what I expect them to offer him.

        The Leafs need to fix the top 6 LW position and upgrade the 4th or make the 3rd line more than where offense goes to die.

        For the broken records on here, if they decide to trade Nylander, the return would have to be a Miller type player but the idea of trading him or anyone who plays a major role on a 100+ point team only shows the lack of understanding of the game. I doubt anyone wants to argue that 80 games is a better gauge of a teams ability and quality than just 7 or less games, right?

        Again before someone retorts how the Leafs have had 6 kicks at the can I say, so the first year, took 7 games with the Caps and the Caps won that year (?) but it was the first year the leafs got in after finishing last the year before…the next year was Boston, again to 7 games and the Burins went how far that year and the next after more 7 game series.

        I far as I’m concerned there really are only two series that there’s no excuse for the Leafs and that was against the Blue Jackets if you count that as a round one defeat which I don’t and last years stinker against the Habs and didn’t look like they had it at all that series. This year the better team lost again; however, no one knew which team was going to win this series…you know, the way it ought to be in the playoffs, two great teams enter a series and one sadly exits. That’s life.

      • Just for the record Ron, that series with the Capitals went 6 – not 7 – with 5 of them going to OT, the Leafs winning 2 of them 4-3 and losing 3 by scores pf 3-2, 2-1 and 2-1. A bounce here and a deflection there and everything’s different.

    • I don’t know about being over a barrel? If you feel he is the guy give him FMV – if not Kuemper is there, as of now. Varlamov is available and you know with Sorokin’s breakthrough they are eager to move on
      There are always options- just depends how they feel about him . At age 39 Gio is no more than 2.5 per..
      Leafs do have options, but this talk of moving Tavares is just silly. They aren’t asking to waive NMC after he came home, and what message does it send to Matthews ?
      Try to move Kerfoot and Holl to free up some space…Max Domi Rakell- UFAs- on bargain deals ?
      At the end of the day- this is still an ultra talented team others would kill for..

      • So how many more Buntings are there out there for Dubas to exploit??? Are they lining up at Dobie’s office with resume’ in hand?? I know Toronto is a Meca for FA’s to flock to, but only if they wanna get cheated on the salary. Gonna pay a premium too rid yourself of Mrazek and sign Campbell. I still say deal one of your core 4 forwards and get a more balanced team.

      • Sam, unless you’re looking at things under the “new math” set-up (have no clue what FMV is), Dubas doesn’t have the cap to sign a goalie at $5 mil, never mind what Campbell will demand, as well as his 4 RFAs – not without dealing away some significant cap (which CAN’T bring back substantive cap in return).

        Kuemper, coming off a season of 57gp with a 2.54gaa and 0.921 save % will want at least that with his $3.5 mil expiring, and if Colorado doesn’t sign him there are other teams in need of a goalie who DO have the cap space to offer him that – or more. But he’ll likely re-up with Colorado – so the point is moot.

        Varlamov already costs $5 mil off the cap and he has 1 year to go. Besides, I don’t see Lamoriello doing Dubas any favors.

        Ultra-talented? Sure. But overall, especially on D, still not good enough to win 1 playoff round, never mind a Stanley Cup.

      • Hey Geo, Kuemper makes $4.5M, $1M was retained by AZ…..sooo he is not signing for less than $5M and probably gets north of $6M on the open market. But at his age, 4 yrs would ideal, but someone will give him 5 yrs…..If the Avs win the cup, he has even more value….does he bolt? This is going to be a very interesting summer!

      • Damn, just got FMV – Full Market Value. That late afternoon coffee did it!

      • Hi George

        FMV….Fair Market Value

    • Friedman recently report he “heard” the Leafs are looking to sign him just over two and a half million (I can’t remember the actual figure but it was over 2.5) which is wishful thinking but they are not at all that far from what I expect them to offer him.

      The Leafs need to fix the top 6 LW position and upgrade the 4th or make the 3rd line more than where offense goes to die.

      For the broken records on here, if they decide to trade Nylander, the return would have to be a Miller type player but the idea of trading him or anyone who plays a major role on a 100+ point team only shows the lack of understanding of the game. I doubt anyone wants to argue that 80 games is a better gauge of a teams ability and quality than just 7 or less games, right?

      Again before someone retorts how the Leafs have had 6 kicks at the can I say, so the first year, took 7 games with the Caps and the Caps won that year (?) but it was the first year the leafs got in after finishing last the year before…the next year was Boston, again to 7 games and the Burins went how far that year and the next after more 7 game series.

      I far as I’m concerned there really are only two series that there’s no excuse for the Leafs and that was against the Blue Jackets if you count that as a round one defeat which I don’t and last years stinker against the Habs and didn’t look like they had it at all that series. This year the better team lost again; however, no one knew which team was going to win this series…you know, the way it ought to be in the playoffs, two great teams enter a series and one sadly exits. That’s life.

    • I disagree about Jack Campbell. Mrazek might have Dubas over a barrel if he doesn’t get healthy over the summer.
      Campbell, who seems like a great guy, has to decide how much he feels he’s worth and how much he wants to stay with the Leafs.
      I hope he’s back but it’s his choice.

  3. Also, after the team exit interviews, it has been decided that the Maple Leafs will play next year’s first round with golf clubs! 😆

  4. The first two priorities will be to sign Jack Campbell and Ilya Lyabushkin for as fair as possible before they hit the open market and you won’t be able to compete. I think Campbell at 4 mil x 5 yrs is fair as they know what they’re getting with him. Dump Mrazek’s contract by adding a sweetener to a team that will go for it to pay for Campbell.

    Lyabushkin should be 2.5 mil x 4 yrs which would be a steal as he can play with Reilly.

    Giordano won’t sign until he sees what’s out there snd the offers he’ll get will be much higher than Totontos. Blueliners have longer shelf lives than forwards so I doubt he’ll sign for anything g less than 3.5, to which I’d say keep Muzzin, lock in Lyabushkin and find another cheaper option. He’s from Toronto so if you can lock him in for under 2 that would be improbable but a great deal given salary cap implications.

    Mikheyev will want 5 million and if so he’ll be going elsewhere. But if he’s willing to stay under 4 getting rid of Kerfoot will pay for that,

    Spezza for one more year is a good thing. He’d play for less than minimum if he could. You can’t buy class and dedication like that. Do the right thing Kyle Dubas and sign him for one more year.

    Tavares is getting older and slower. He needs to shave more often and move to left wing. Have him on face offs and PP but he is no longer productive as 2C. He should also be stripped of the captaincy. Time for Matthews to lead.

    As Elliott Friedman stated in his podcast, not only should Tavares go to left wing but they need to bring in a power forward who can add grit that will rub off of the top 6 forwards.

    Bring back Kadri? Is that possible if they trade Muzzin?

    In the system there is Matthew Knies and Curtis Douglas that should be given a look.

    • Douglas is a long shot and 6’9” late bloomer and a player. I’m kinda looking forward to seeing him up on the Leafs if he can continue his development.

      The nice thing about the Leafs is that unlike many teams and as much as some here want you to believe, the team is a top 5 team, have many really good players and prospects, so they have a lot to work with and as far as the cap goes, I think they have shown that it’s not a problem as seen by their record over 82 games. Failure in the post season doesn’t mean complete failure but a insight as what more needs fixing. Nothing is done until your name is on the cup.

      • Pretty fair assessment short of stating this “core” has had 6 kicks at the can without advancing.

    • not a Leafs fan but this is a very good sumary on what seems like a logical plan. Nice job Frank.

    • A power forward…someone like Zach Hyman ?

      • That is Karma in da face!

      • Trade Nylander for Josh Anderson??? That would be rich!!! And then they BOTH do better? Wow!
        Anderson + Clague + Bolts 4th for Willie

  5. So Backup Jack is so important to the Leafs future plans that Scooby Dubas has an assistant negotiate with him.

    Goaltending only matters if you dont have it and according to LeafsNet sage Luke Fox Soupy Campbell is a Vezina candidate so no issues in Leafsville.

    Anyone know which channel is covering the Leafs round two games? LeafsNet? TorontoSportsNetwork? Asking for a friend.

    Cant seem to find it anywhere in the guide listings.

    • Ron, are you thick ?

      The golfing channel is covering the leafs for the rest of the season !

      Duh..

  6. Try the golf channel.

  7. “Kyle Dubas has indicated he has little appetite for making big changes”

    yuk