NHL Rumor Mill – August 31, 2022
Could the Maple Leafs acquire Patrick Kane? Will the Canucks look to add to their roster? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
THE CHRIS JOHNSTON SHOW: NHL insider Chris Johnston was asked about a recent trade rumor linking the Toronto Maple Leafs to Chicago Blackhawks right wing Patrick Kane.
Chicago Blackhawks winger Patrick Kane (NHL Images).
Johnston was dismissive of the possibility, pointing to the Leafs’ tight salary-cap constraints and Kane’s $10.5 million salary-cap hit for the coming season. Even if the Blackhawks agreed to retain half of it, he doesn’t see how that makes sense.
Making the point that it’s almost impossible to build an all-star team of talent in the salary cap world, Johnston pointed to the Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche losing Nazem Kadri to free agency. “They weren’t able to retain everyone. It’s unfortunately how it works,” he said.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The same logic can also be applied to the recent rumors suggesting the Edmonton Oilers should attempt to pry away Kane from the Blackhawks.
Kane has to agree to waive his full no-movement clause. So far, he’s given no indication he wants to do that. Reports out of Chicago earlier this month claimed the Blackhawks were going to let him decide what he wants to do. There’s a belief he and long-time teammate Jonathan Toews intend to see how this season unfolds before making decisions about their futures.
It’s been pointed out that Kane is only earning $2.9 million in actual salary this season. Nevertheless, the $10.5 million still counts against the cap unless the Blackhawks retain part of it.
It’s been suggested that the Oilers attempt a three-way deal to spread the cap hit around and thus ensure they only pick up $2.625 million of his cap hit. It sounds easy to do but it’s really not that simple. Even if the Blackhawks agreed to retain half of his cap hit, finding a third club willing to take on $2.625 million of dead cap space for the entire season isn’t an easy sell.
Leaf general manager Kyle Dubas has shown creativity in the past to bring in players he needs. Landing Kane, however, could be beyond his capability. The Blackhawks are rebuilding and the Leafs lack depth in first-round picks and promising young talent to meet what’s sure to be an expensive asking price.
THE ATHLETIC: Rick Dhaliwal and Thomas Drance recently reported sources said the Vancouver Canucks considered signing Evan Rodrigues. However, they’re not among the teams bidding for the 29-year-old forward.
The Canucks believe they have about $1 million in salary-cap flexibility to add another player. It appears they’re focused on bringing in a defenseman and are said to be among a small group of teams in the mix for Calvin de Haan.
I am hearing these Patrick Kane rumours to the Leafs – all over the place – podcasts , here , wherever
1. He is 33 years old
2. He is a right winger – left hand shot
3. I am sure Chicago would have to absorb a strong portion of his 10.5 mil deal
Still , he will want a minimum of 5.0 mil to resign – again the cap
4. Who do you give up for him
Who leaves , what position is he going to play , or is Nylander expendable …
I am all for Kane being a Leaf , I am not sure what the end game is ?
Ken, that is a very valid point, in all the conversations being had, it’s all about bring in Kane and maybe a third team to bring down the cap hit.
Kane is still a very productive player scoring 26g and 66a for 92pts.
It would seem like the conversation is simply to add him as a playoff rental and no thought of resigning him. He won’t be signing anywhere next season for a league minimum.
I believe both (Kane, Toews) players will wait out the season and see where they believe their best chances to win a cup.
Toews could be a nice deadline pickup for the Av’s.
Chicago will make it happen at the trade deadline. Both will need 50% held and likely two third teams involved . With that , a lot of potential teams involved . Toronto will not be one of them. Any trade will involve multiple assets and first round picks
Someone floats the idea wishful thinking and now it is a Rumor ?
Re “Even if the Blackhawks agreed to retain half of his cap hit, finding a third club willing to take on $2.625 million of dead cap space for the entire season isn’t an easy sell.”
“isn’t easy” is subjective….it’s certainly not impossible
It would come down to asking price (middle team) for retaining cash.
Obviously has to be a team with Cap space that they definitely won’t be using this year…. Yotes and Sabres for sure; probably Ducks
Setting aside Kane has to agree to waive for that final destination team….
Full year of Kane ; retaining 25% (50% of 50%); after escrow …. ~ $640 K cash
It would come down to what middle team demands to be paid for the $0.6 M investment and whether final team would see that investment plus what they have to pony up to BlackHawks , as being worth it for full year of Kane
Yes slim chance it happens pre-season; but not impossible
Now @ TDL….. cash outlay by middle team is a tad over $200 K…. Recent years ; outlays of $200 K – $300 K in actual cash retentions…. Typically a 4th rounder; perhaps late 3rd
To me …. getting Kane (at his level of last year) at TDL; could very well be a move that puts a team over the top…. A 4th (to middle team) plus BlackHawks demand for 50% retention…. Worth it; IMHO, for an all in team
Again…. Decision lies fully with Kane (and Toews in a lesser return scenario )
Leafs and Kane….I don’t buy it. Leafs can score already; and already over the Cap. Leafs performance uncertainty; and that leads to playoff run uncertainty…. Lies not in the forward group
Let me throw this ships ‘n giggles thought out there….
@ TDL Flames are first in PacDiv and pressing for Prez trophy; AND Lucic has Chi as 1 of his 10 teams he can be traded to….
With a mid team involved taking 25% ; Chi 50%; and both (Toews and Kane) agreeing to go to Flames….
Kane and Toews @ 25% flipped for Lucic…. zero Cap change to Flames….
What does mid team want for the ~ $0.4 M cash outlay (in retention)??
What does Chi want?
Would Tre agree knowing that those moves skyrocket their Cup chances, but does not guarantee it?
I seriously doubt the two stay together on a move…. But this was just a ships ‘n giggles “food for thought” , late off-season , early morning post
Pengy,
Interesting “ships & giggles”
Unfortunately Toews is on a fast down slide and not worth very much I’m afraid.
Kane is still very good and will probably play at a high level for another 3 years so he would be a valuable acquisition. He is just what the Flames need. However by the sounds of it this draft year is very strong and Treliving does NOT want to part with his first round pick and even went out of his way not to include his 2023 1st round pick in the deal with Montreal.
I would be quite certain that Chicago will want a 1st round pick in 2023 in any deal for Kane.
Treliving loves trading away draft picks (it’s a sore spot for me) but for him to even say he won’t trade this coming years 1st is quite a statement that this is a very strong draft class
Hi FF
I’m sure Chi will ask for a ‘23 first… methinks part of the eventual package WILL have a first… but more likely a ‘24 First
I’m in the minority that believe Toews will have a rebound…. The health issues certainly had a dramatic impact on fatigue and his performance last year
Toews at 3C (and with his vet presence) would be something a few teams would certainly like
There is also the possibility (slim but a possibility) that Kane (who has the power to refuse a trade) might insist Toews be moving over with him
I’d certainly love both Kane and Toews on Pens replacing Zucker and Carter…. Alas , only a nice dream
Yes, Dubas has certainly shown real creativity in bringing in the players he needs to lose in the first round.
Hi Howard
Sure…. Kick us Leafs fans when we’re down …. LOL
Sad …. But true
“Obviously has to be a team with Cap space that they definitely won’t be using this year…. Yotes and Sabres for sure; probably Ducks ”
Can you really see the Sabres doing anything to help the Leafs? Anaheim has no history of that sort of middle-man finagling. Hell, can you see ANY team doing something like that if it helps the team that forked over huge gobs of up-front money to lure Tavares to Toronto – figuratively thumbing their nose at 90% of the league that simply doesn’t have such cash reserves?
Dubas could probably do it IF he paved the way first by dealing the cap hits needed to open the door – but in the end all he’d be doing is robbing Peter to pay Paul.
This is just one example of the stuff we hear in the “Silly Season” of August.
George, I haven’t used, heard or seen the word ‘finagling” in years. Let alone how to spell it. 🙂
And could you imagine Buffalo sending a local boy like Kane to the Leafs???? They would get destroyed in the Buffalo media.
I don’t understand why a 3rd team needs to get involved.
Don’t the Hawks have over $7M in cap space with Kane on the roster and can absorb as much as they choose of Kane’s cap hit? The more they absorb the higher the cost to the team trading for Kane I would assume, but involving another team will add cost as well.
Can someone tell me what I am missing?
@Ray Bark: I think the maximum any team can retain is 50%.
Ray, a team can only retain a max of 50%
So If a 3rd team did not get involved the most Chicago could retain is 5m.
The acquiring team would need at least 5m in cap space.
If a 3rd team was involved they could also retain 50%, now the cap hit will only be 2.5 m
It would be a very expensive deal for the acquiring team because now they have to make deals with two teams.
My guess if Kane does move it would be a deadline deal when the cap hits are reduced and teams have more cap space.
Kane is a very good player and would make any team better but there are two things that get in the way, salary cap and his no move clause. But as usual why would those impossible hurdles get in the way of a good rumour
Hi George
There is always a point in which the offer just can’t be refused
Certainly the ask by Sabres (for retention) would be higher (to Leafs v other teams) …. It comes down to if Leafs couldn’t make a deal with Yotes and/or Ducks; and how pressured would they be to overpay Sabres just to land Kane
Is Kane likely coming to T.O. regardless of path taken…. Doubt it…. But not an impossibility
How many firsts would HexBurkie have to pay to flip Zucker for Kane @ 50%???? LOL
Vincois
Re “finagling” …. Must be commonly used in the UK… my mom used to say it all the time; still does it on occasion
There is a scenario in which it works for the Leafs. Lets be honest – he will be an easy acquisition, the Hawks will do right by him and let him go wherever he wants, he hurts their ability to tank as does Toews. Its an easy sell from PR perspective. That goes for whichever team he wants to go too- not just the leafs.
From the Leafs perspective, bringing in Kane in at 5.25 and then signing him to a reasonable extension for a few more years makes Nylander redundant. So if they have decided that they dont want to go to 8-9 mill on Nylander on his next deal…they bring in Kane and extend and try to move Nylander – or they bring in Kane worry about dealing Nylander next summer
Acquiring him from the hawks will be relatively inexpensive for reasons mentioned above- finding another partner to take on 2.6 mill is harder (if they were to keep Nylander) but not impossible, do they move Kerfoot or Engvall as the compensation? Involve other prospects?
Safe to assume if they dont move past the 1st round this year- Nylander will be the chip dealt anyway
Exactly, Kane (1/2 retained) for Willie. I am sure Davidson would request more, but this would be a fair deal. Maybe Dubas includes the Ottawa 3rd for cap retention.
Dont know why but something tells me Kane goes to US team. Rangers/isles/avs would be my first line choices for a destination. Florida/Canes/blues would be my second tier choices.
Toews is another story, a team like winnipeg could use his leadership skills but he is to expensive.
I think he goes to the US as well..but was just saying there is a way he could financially be sent to Toronto
Hi MP
Agree te more likely Kane to a US based team
Completely disagree re Isles even being in consideration
Kane in full control… I’m very confident that if he agrees to move from the inly NHL club he has ever played for it will be to a contender…. Eliminating Isles from any trade thoughts
Avs if they have a shot at a repeat
Don’t dismiss a Bolts try
As at now… my guess would be Rangers
As long as the leafs are co-owned by Canada’s two Sports Networks they will continue to lead the league in empty rumours and unjustified hype.
At the end of this season the Kyle Dubas era will be over…years late, but this is still good news for leaf fans. The lessons from the failed rebuild will be obvious – you can’t build a top-heavy roster where 4 guys consume half your cap. (Everyone knew this but Dubas.)
Matthews and Nylander will be traded by a new GM (those without experience need not apply)
who will kickstart the next rebuild by trading their final year of their current contract.
The leafs have a lot of UFA meat mercifully coming off the books next year, so the new GM will have a good shot at rebuilding the roster and possibly getting some more picks in the exception 2023 draft.
Hang in there leaf fans, one more wasted season and you can start the next rebuild.
Pete, in that scenario does Shanahan keep his job? You’d think by Year 9 of The Shanaplan they’d have something positive to show for it when it comes to the playoffs. After all, isn’t the lack of that one of the main reasons why they hired him in the first place?
Year 9 of the Shanaplan has a team consistently at the top of the pack and in the playoffs 7 out of the last 10 years.
Prior to this TML missed the playoffs 7 consecutive years.
I’m certainly not a TML fan but they are an exciting team and play a brand of hockey that is fun to watch.
Some/many love to point out no SC since ’67, no getting past the 1st round since 2004 and gloat about it ad nauseum watching their own teams miss the playoffs.
No one -NO ONE especially me – “gloat” about it. Some of us do comment on it when the Leafs are part of the subject matter and, for the most part anyway, point to the lack of suitable bottom-half of the roster to become factors in the playoffs thanks to cap cost of 5 or 6 players. That’s it.
As I say elsewhere, if Leaf fans are happy with having a seasonal power that sputters in playoff-style hockey then fine. End of argument.
But you know what? I’m fed up with this “hater” crap which, according to some, should preclude trying to point to possible reasons. So – in the form of a New Year’s Resolution – that’s it for me insofar as commenting on the Leafs is concerned. Or the Habs, Or the Bruins. Or the Penguins. Screw them. Let the fawners wallow in mutual-admiration.
I’ll keep my comments only to the team in my home town.
Outstanding tripe. The only correct thing said was about the owners being media companies and the value of dumb rumors.
Broken record here. Good players cost money, money that counts against the cap. The better the player, more cash he gets, period. My opinion on the JT signing is mixed and perhaps the culprit for their current situation; however, if your team lacked a bonafide true #1 center and he was available to you cheaper than he would be elsewhere, who won’t sign them? Hindsight tells us that our projections of Matthews and Marner, etc where correct that they would blossom to star players, so much to the extent of being among the very best in the game. Again great players get PAID.
The Leafs being the first team to lock up good young talent (a trend now developing as we’ve seen in Ottawa and Buffalo) by avoiding the super expensive follow up contract after a bridge contract for what you know will be a core part of your team. They opt to take the risk now to play top dollar for that player while entering their prime and becoming what you hoped they’ll become and paying them top dollar during their most productive years seems pretty smart, as long as the players turn out as planned, which in the Leafs case, all four of these ‘horrible contracts’ belong to very good players and not anchors as you often see with long contracts given to veteran players like Seguin in Dallas as one example.
The fact remains that the market dictates prices and you either pay to play or you don’t. If you don’t, well, good luck on being a successful team in the NHL.
@Ron Moore – these are comical takes. I dont know how you endure it lol. This Leaf vitriol is devoid of logic sometimes
empty rumors lol…whats a full rumor? Do you not think that many teams have asked about Kane? Hence a rumor….coincidentally what this site is all about.
GMs without experience need not apply?- so they should have kept Lamoriello- yeah he did well for the Isles…he put lipstick on a pig with Barry Trotz and then he fired him when he couldnt hide the franchises lack of talent any longer..
Based on this assessment- Joe Sakic would never have been hired…and the team dismantled after its failings…Steve Yyzerman should never have been hired and the team dismantled…..etc etc
who is the GM that coaches this team past the 1st round?
I see the the hate for this team but at least be consistent…habs hired a GM with no experience and ditto for the coach…
Daly just talked about the potential 10 mill rise in the cap in 23-24- you do realize that was supposed to happen prior to COVID right? Maybe Dubas should have seen that coming prior to signing Tavares..
So they are supposed to fire the GM and President of a team that is clearly top 5 in assembled talent? Another first round exit I can see a coach being fired but the GM who built this juggernaut – lol come on..
So you suggest the Leafs should rebuild when their stars are in their mid 20s…lol…come on
Sam, we are talking about the team that hasn’t been able to get past the 1st round of the playoffs in 18 years aren’t we?
It has NOTHING to do with “hate” and everything to do with simple facts and logic, i.e., despite having arguably the 5 best collection of players of any 5 in the league – and I – a non-fan – would argue that point even with fans of Colorado and Edmonton – when you continually lose in the playoffs due to 1) shaky goaltending; 2) a porous D beyond the first 2; 3) the inability of your best 5 to shake off the increased (and often illegal) checking that goes with the playoffs; and 4) the inability of your 3rd and 4th lines to pick up the slack – take your pick – it can’t always be attributed to “luck.”
If you acknowledge that, then the question becomes “how long do you tolerate the losing when it counts and who do you hold accountable?”
Covid’s been around for 3 years now and so has the limp annual increases in cap limits. Why no changes to meet that reality? The players aren’t getting any younger. Maybe … and right now with the virus not going anywhere and health system in both the U.S. and Canada on the verge of collapse – that’s a BIG maybe, the cap could rise by $10 mil at some point (I wouldn’t hold my breath) – it rises for EVERYBODY so it won’t be just the Leafs taking advantage of it in that event.
Correct Sam. What is good for other teams is not good for the Leafs. Teams think about a rebuild after the core ages out which in Toronto, according to many who freely engage in Leafs talk is early 20s.
One problem I see here is often people, no matter how knowledgeable they are, can’t resist repeating what George just said. First, someone needs to tell me in 18yrs where all the players the same, both on and off the ice? No? Well that comment is questionable at best. PS hello panthers you took 20 odd years!
But let’s talk about the current team, with the current players and management…the Dubas/Matthews era. Did this team win past the first round? No. Did they get swept? No. Did they lose to terrible teams? Well maybe two but the Blue Jackets did sweep the cup champs TB. Is it logical to think a rookie core would easily beat experienced playoff teams? No.
The boring truth is the Leafs got beat by better, more experienced teams that in no way should of lasted 7 games if the Leafs are soooo terrible as many say.
The question persists of ho much time or excuses is one to deem acceptable? I don’t know, you tell me if after four try’s with this young core is enough to throw in the towel? It seems around here it definitely is, by the way they are talked about.
Ron, not one person in here has ever said the Leafs were “terrible.” The simple question was – at what point do you hold management/coaching accountable? Over 18 years – almost 2 decades – if your team hasn’t won ONE playoff round the reasons why (good teams – swept or non-swept – bad luck – whatever) become irrelevant and start to take on the flavour of excuses.
https://champsorchumps.us/drought/longest-nhl-playoff-win-drought
I suppose that, if a fan is content with good seasonal records where their star players fatten their stats against whoever passes as the dregs of the league at the time – then the argument becomes moot. But as that chart above shows, the double-digit droughts are confined to 3 teams, with Toronto leading the pack. Are you – as a fan – satisfied with the Shanaplan’s results?
Sorry for the late reply and hope you come back to read this. I can answer only one of your questions and that would be a big yes on the stupidly named rebuild. Shanahan has done what many felt could never be done in Toronto which was to basically scorch the earth type rebuild…that was 7-8 yrs ago. To come from a place that never saw good teams since the original expansion with either complete incompetence management or selfish gains, this team was trash since Ballard took over and mercifully ended when Shanny took over.
I don’t know everything he did but his first few years was just watching and when he saw enough, it was a red wedding. I know the organization never had any success until they won and been a top AHL team, a sign most good NHL teams have, we all know the coaching and front office changes and in some respects, copied around the league.
As I said before and if you want to only compare apples to apples, then yes I do have more patience for this team and do not think this current team make up from execs down have had their shot and we need new blood. It’s comical to think that. I don’t even know why you entertain that notion. So I don’t see excuses for this team other than it’s still a work in progress, they are still a top ten team. The experience they gained so far in losing might help them…it also could mean nothing like others may imply.
All I do know is for the past couple of years they are close, even without the success. Those (I’m hoping a return of) battle of Ontario teams, took a long while to happen when you consider the Leafs had Sundin (super underrated) young and those battle of Ontario teams where at the end of his long career. So all I’m saying is it’s gonna take what it’s gonna take and as long as they don’t go back to the Ballard Leafs it will be fine.
Hi Pete
“empty rumours”…. I think all Leaf rumours are “full of it”
Hi Pete
So reassuring
Leaf fans feel so much relieved now !
Lol !!!
@Ron Moore – these are comical takes. I dont know how you endure it lol. This Leaf vitriol is devoid of logic sometimes
empty rumors lol…whats a full rumor? Do you not think that many teams have asked about Kane? Hence a rumor….coincidentally what this site is all about.
GMs without experience need not apply?- so they should have kept Lamoriello- yeah he did well for the Isles…he put lipstick on a pig with Barry Trotz and then he fired him when he couldnt hide the franchises lack of talent any longer..
Based on this assessment- Joe Sakic would never have been hired…and the team dismantled after its failings…Steve Yyzerman should never have been hired and the team dismantled…..etc etc
who is the GM that coaches this team past the 1st round?
I see the the hate for this team but at least be consistent…habs hired a GM with no experience and ditto for the coach…
Daly just talked about the potential 10 mill rise in the cap in 23-24- you do realize that was supposed to happen prior to COVID right? Maybe Dubas should have seen that coming prior to signing Tavares..
So they are supposed to fire the GM and President of a team that is clearly top 5 in assembled talent? Another first round exit I can see a coach being fired but the GM who built this juggernaut – lol come on..
So you suggest the Leafs should rebuild when their stars are in their mid 20s…lol…come on
It certainly bears repeating……😉🤣
A lot of Interesting scenarios
Commencing with Pete
Dubas tenure coming to and end – YEARS LATE – REBUIlD
Pengy – Matthews EXIT – Unless He sees a Stanley Cup within the next 2 years !
George – I luv giving this guy the gears , with any Ottawa Senator flavour !
This guy is pretty well rounded , as per what’s going on out there ! His expertise will be next to precise !
SOP – Predicting an Edmonton vs Toronto final – A true Bruin fan here – but maybe he knows something we don’t know , or he has the skill level to make a valid prediction !!
My thinking – I have “wishful” thinking – the goaltending will Surprise !?!?!
Supposedly Jordan Benn is a nice upgrade, minute muncher , Strong on the PK ..as per feedback on the Spector site !
Leafs are in need of a “gaping” hole at LW
I will climb on the SOP bandwagon if the LW position is attended to !
Actually, Ken. My prediction is Bos vs Cal in the finals. Same pick every year.
I said I wouldn’t be surprised to see EDM vs TOR in the finals, and that it would be incredible hockey to watch.
We most likely won’t see either of these scenarios play out.
Thanks for the shout out all the same.
The leafs are a very good and talented team in the regular season.
The end.
Signed…this leaf fan.
Seconded/Co-signed by this Leafs fan
George , can’t lay 18 years of futility at Shanahan’’s feet . His tenure is fair game but recall he rebuilt this sorry franchise from scratch and dubas has got them to where they are currently (playoff success aside).
Yes for sure first round exits are what they are but Doug Wilson in san Jose lasted a long time before he was let go
What is your Covid adjustment,? if there was a deal to be made to improve this team I’m sure it was investigated , don’t you ?
All gms make multiple mistakes., as far as I’m concerned dubas mistakes were small and corrected or induced by Lou Lamoriello . .
You seem extremely knowledgeable George , I’m sure you would admit there are some silly takes stated here , but leafs tearing it down to rebuild takes the cake
All this talk of a porous D, goodness sakes are the oilers better ? Are the flames better ? Aside from the Avs and Blues don’t see any that are substantially better
Just my two cents
Leafs top 10 in both PP and P.K. last year. Lost a lot of game sevens in those 18 years.
It is strange and maybe there is something to the rumoured curse of what’s his face from the 60’s died or wasn’t found and and didn’t get his cup ring. Last time .
I called Kane and I said Patty would you like to be a leaf and move your family to Canada? He politely said no I’m not leaving the USA and Austin is leaving in a couple years and we’re meeting in Arizona. It’s warmer there and we love all there golf courses. Can kinda see his point so there you have it Patty will not be a Leaf and Toronto needs players who can skate backwards and play in own zone.