NHL Rumor Mill – July 5, 2022

by | Jul 5, 2022 | Rumors | 45 comments

Could Claude Giroux sign with the Oilers? What’s the latest on the Leafs and Senators? Check it out in today’s NHL rumor mill.

OILERS INTERESTED IN GIROUX?

THE ATHLETIC: Pierre LeBrun reports there remains mutual interest between Claude Giroux and the Florida Panthers. With the July 13 start of the free-agent market fast approaching, there are other clubs that could pursue the 34-year-old forward.

Florida Panthers forward Claude Giroux (NHL Images).

The Edmonton Oilers could be among Giroux’s suitors if he hits the open market next Thursday. There were internal discussions over whether to pursue him if they’re unable to bring back Evander Kane. Giroux can play center or wing and the idea of his skating alongside Connor McDavid or Leon Draisaitl is an appealing option.

LeBrun also mentions the Ottawa Senators as a possibility. He wonders if the appeal of playing for a Cup contender might be more alluring for Giroux.

NHL WATCHER: cites Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman wondering if the Toronto Maple Leafs would give the Giroux camp a call to inquire into what it would take to sign him. Friedman pointed out that Giroux is building a new home in Ottawa and made it clear at the March trade deadline that he prefers playing in the East.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Bear in mind that there is no longer an interview process for pending unrestricted free agents to speak with clubs interested in signing them. The Oilers, Senators, Leafs or any team other than the Panthers must wait until the market opens at noon ET on July 13 to speak to Giroux and his representatives.

The Oilers could end up seeking other options to replace Kane if Giroux prefers staying in the Eastern Conference. I don’t think the Leafs can afford him unless he’s willing to accept a significant pay cut. Besides, they have other priorities as we’ll soon see.

Giroux’s been linked to the Senators for months because of the hometown ties. However, they’re still several years from Stanley Cup contention. Giroux wants to win now so there might not be a fit there.

LATEST LEAFS SPECULATION

TORONTO SUN: Terry Koshan believes the Maple Leafs must find a way to move goaltender Petr Mrazek and his $3.8 million annual average value through 2023-24. As of today, they can’t afford to sign any of the free-agent goalies (including their own Jack Campbell) who could make a significant difference.

Koshan dismissed the notion of shipping out William Nylander given his value to the Leafs. He suggested forward Alex Kerfoot ($3.5 million cap hit) or defenseman Justin Holl ($2.1 million) as trade candidates.

Maple Leafs management must also figure out a way to replace the 21 goals and energetic play of departing winger Ilya Mikheyev. They could attempt to shop his rights heading into the upcoming NHL Draft. Re-signing restricted free agent defenseman Rasmus Sandin is their blueline priority. Once that’s completed, general manager Kyle Dubas isn’t expected to add to his defense corps as he’ll have seven rearguards under contract.

THE ATHLETIC: Pierre LeBrun wouldn’t be surprised if the Leafs are among the clubs with an interest in Marc-Andre Fleury. The Minnesota Wild is interested in bringing back the 37-year-old netminder for another season. He also thinks the Colorado Avalanche could be a good fit for Fleury if Darcy Kuemper heads to free agency next week.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Cap Friendly shows the Leafs with just $6.4 million in cap space with 18 players under contract for 2022-23. Shedding Mrazek’s contract is a must but it could cost them a quality prospect or draft pick to get it done. Even then, Dubas still might have to shed another contract to free up sufficient room to re-sign or replace Campbell, re-sign Sandin and fill out the rest of the roster.

Speaking of Fleury, NHL.com’s Dan Rosen wondered if he’d sign with the New Jersey Devils. I’m not ruling out a return with the Wild, though the opportunity to play with the Stanley Cup champion Avalanche could be tempting if they come calling on July 13.

UPDATE ON THE SENATORS

OTTAWA SUN: Bruce Garrioch reports Senators GM Pierre Dorion is still open to shopping his first-round pick (seventh overall) in the upcoming draft. He’s in the market for a winger to skate alongside Tim Stuetzle or a top-four, right-shot defenseman.

The Senators made a serious pitch for Kevin Fiala before the Wild traded him last week to the Los Angeles Kings. They had no issue with the $7.9 million salary-cap hit of his new contract but balked at the seven-year term.

Chicago Blackhawks winger Alex DeBrincat is the most mentioned name in the rumor mill. He’d be a good fit with any team but it has to be determined if he’ll sign a contract extension before going down that road. Other trade options include Vancouver’s J.T. Miller and Conor Garland, Edmonton’s Jesse Puljujarvi, and Winnipeg’s Blake Wheeler or Pierre-Luc Dubois.

The Senators could also look at signing Claude Giroux via free agency next week. A blueline option could be Arizona Coyotes’ defenseman Jakob Chychrun.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Senators’ status as a rebuilding club could make it difficult for Dorion to acquire most of those players listed by Garrioch. The best option could be Puljujarvi, who won’t cost their first-rounder to acquire. He could benefit from a change of scenery after struggling with the Oilers and might fit in well with the Senators’ young forwards.

Chychrun lacks no-trade protection until 2023-24 and is under contract through 2024-25. Coyotes GM Bill Armstrong could be very interested in the Senators’ pick but his asking price is said to be quite high, including a top prospect and a good young NHL player. That could prove too rich for the Senators.







45 Comments

  1. Chychrun potential trade is a mirage. Not real. How long is that speculation going to continue ?

    Leafs should move Kerfoot and will have some value . Might not be until the season starts.

    No buyouts yet ?? Didn’t that open on July 1

    • SilverSeven: That’s not unusual. Teams sometimes attempt to use that 12-day buyout window to work a trade before buying out that player if no suitors can be found.

    • Don’t forget that it took Sakic over a year to trade Dechesne.

      • Who Deschene?

      • Sorry about the typo.

        Duchesne.

  2. Bruins’ Jake DeBrusk Reportedly Rescinds Trade Request

    Good for him ….now trade him to Arizona or Seattle

    • This was duly noted in this morning’s morning coffee headlines.

      • Good

  3. Chycrun to the Sens for #7 OA ,Branstrom, Bolts 2nd

    • I’d do that in a New York Minute if I were Dorion. I’d also give Arizona a choice between Brannstrom, Bernard-Docker or Thompson in that deal.

      • George. Your. Fear of. Sens buying out white has finally happened.

      • Crap! Yeah, his stats say he “hasn’t lived up to the expectations” placed on him when selected 21st overall … but then again, for the most part anyway, he wasn’t exactly placed with linemates who could be described as A-1. He’ll be snapped up by somebody.

        As for the “savings” here’s an excerpt

        “According to the buyout calculator on capfriendly.com, it would cost the organization $5.25 million in real dollars to walk away from White. That’s a cost savings of $10.5 million so that’s why it was no shocker this happened.

        The decision means the Senators will carry a cap hit of $875,000 for five of the next six seasons through 2027-28. During the 2024-25 campaign, the organization will actually receive a $625,000 credit on the cap.”

      • Matt Smith of Habs Unfiltered Podcast made an interesting suggestion linking White to the Canadiens. He observed rumors during the season linking the Habs to White. Now that he’s going to become a UFA, perhaps they’ll sign him if they end up trading Christian Dvorak. We’ll see…

      • Yeah, Lyle, the Habs rumours crossed my mind as well when I learned he had been bought out. Wouldn’t surprise me to see him land there … and do well.

    • Hi JZ

      I think if that was the offer; Dirion wouldn’t wait to find a pen; he’d immediately nickpruck his own finger and sign in blood

      I can’t possibly think Yotes would entertain that deal

      Yotes (per all day n media) have been “insisting” that they want more than that in return for Chychrun

  4. Leafs can afford Giroux if they trade Mathews for Chychrun+. Sometimes your GM needs to take a risk, or do something controversial, to win that elusive cup.

    • Yeah, Matthews + Mrazek for Chycrun, Schmaltz, Keller, #3 OA. LOL!!!

      • Betting they would consider that in AZ… At least the fans would

    • Leafs need a goalie, and defencemen far more than adding another forward.

  5. Jbd, 7th pick, brannstrom, and Greg for Debrincat.

    • Hi Chris

      Return seems in line; BUT … DeB has to be qualified at $9M and will seek and get much more on his next contract… will Dorion go for it???

      • No! For a Smurf? Not a chance in Hell!

      • What is Chicago doing?

  6. And forget Giroux!

  7. Friedman : Giroux to the Leafs?

    Dorion : We’ll give you 2.5 Claude.
    Dubas : to rich for our blood.

    Nice article on LeafsNet by Luke Fox on the upcoming draft on who Dubas might pick in round 1. Only problem with that is everybody on the planet except Luke Fox knows Scoobys going to have to trade that pick away if he wants to move Mrazek.

    Leafs Goaltending Depth:

    #1 – Petr Mrazek
    #2 – Unknown

    Leafs Defence :

    mORRgan Reilly, Jake Muzzin, Mark Giordano and 4 AHLers

    Per LeafsNet the Leafs among the top Cup favorites.

    Please explain how.

    • Re….

      “Per LeafsNet the Leafs among the top Cup favorites.”…. For sure Leafs are in the top 32 Cup Favourites

    • Oh boy🙄 yes Brodie just got drafted recently ..troll much? Good lord 😂

  8. Giroux, and Malkin should say “F” it…and both sign with Florida for $1 million per. Haven’t they made enough money? Malkin wants to win again, and Giroux wants his name on the cup.
    Fluery should do the same with Colorado…”Hey, I’ve made enough money in my career to live comfortably for the rest of my life, I’ll sign with Colorado for $1 million and win a other cup.

    • Aaaaarrrrgggghhhh …. that would be the sound emanating from the NHLPA if that ever happened

      • Can the NHLPA stop that? Seems like they couldn’t do anything about it. Unless there is some rule I don’t know about.

    • Last time I remember someone in their “prime” doing that it was Karyia and Selanne in Colorado.

      Usually its broken down has beens desparate for one last shot like Spezza, Thornton, Marleau & Giordano.

      • Malkin 35, Giroux 34…Heck, Pavelski will be 38 in a few days…None of them are “in their prime” anymore. I would think at this point of their careers, they could say that they’ve made enough money. But as stated above, I’m not sure if there are rules against this.

  9. Like I said before marner and mazarek to New Jersey for 2nd OA, severson and Blackwood.

    This gives leaf cap space to address other holes and trade capital with the 2nd overall pick.

    • Except NJ doesn’t do that.

  10. Hey Luke,

    I read yesterday Florida was looking to trage Bobrovsky and retain 50% of his 10 mill cap hit.

    Any truth to this?

    I would be fine paying him 5 mill to play for the leafs as a number 1.

    54 games played last year 2.67 and a 0.913

    Thanks,
    Chris

    • Where are the Leafs going to find 5 million dollars.

    • Leaf Fans are no better – no worse than any other fan base. I get why teams love to hate them but I think everything else is blown out of proportion. I can appreciate why western conference teams hate them so much when their own season ticket holders bail on Leaf games to pay for half that season’s tickets in one game…lol.

      • I enjoy those Leaf games in Edmonton Swiss, the back and forth is great in the stands. I haven’t seen anything stupid, usually all in good fun.

        More fun when the home team wins of course!

      • Leafs fans are no better……..FULL STOP

        LOL

  11. Ottawa Senators To Buy Out Colin White
    White waves good-bye to George O., his biggest fan.

    • Never gave any indication that I was his “biggest fan.” What I HAVE said consistently is that I don’t believe he was ever given an extended opportunity to play RW alongside a top C and LW – such as Stutzle and Formenton. And I wasn’t the only one.

  12. LeafsNet :

    Yesterday: Giroux to the Leafs.

    Today : Fleury to the Leafs

    Tomorrow: Why the Leafs Should Trade mORRgan Reilly for Cale Makar (50% retained) and a 1st round pick.

    Gotta love silly season for the Muskoka Maple Leafs.

    • Dude you’re clearly here to troll. Your not even a true hockey fan because if you were, you would of at least mention your teams goalie prospect which was possibly poisoned and won’t be coming to the flyers as planned.

      Nope instead you say things that show how little you know. Go find something else to fill your time, we like hockey talk on here not you childish non-comments.

  13. and White was injured significantly twice. At at young age when you are learning to play a role not a recipe for success even a kiss of death . The good thing for him is he is a one and they are never done .