NHL Rumor Mill – October 10, 2022
The Maple Leafs make Wayne Simmonds available in the trade market plus the Jets enter what could be a consequential season. Check out the details in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
LEAFS SHOPPING SIMMONDS
SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman reported the Toronto Maple Leafs are making Wayne Simmonds available in the trade market. The return is not as important as “doing right by the player.” Friedman indicated the 34-year-old winger is in good health and very much hopes to play this season.
Toronto Maple Leafs winger Wayne Simmonds (NHL Images).
Simmonds is in the final season of a two-year contract with an annual average salary of $900K, though in actual salary he’ll make $1.050 million this season. He also carries a 10-team no-trade list.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Simmonds was once among the best two-way forwards in the game. However, his performance has been in decline in recent seasons. He lost his job to Zach Aston-Reese, who signed a one-year, $840K contract yesterday with the Leafs.
Simmonds could have value for a club seeking affordable leadership, experience and toughness in their lineup. The Leafs placed him on waivers yesterday but their willingness to trade him indicates they’re expecting he’ll go unclaimed today.
So why would a team trade for Simmonds when they could’ve plucked him off waivers for nothing? Perhaps an interested club sitting high up in the waiver order prefers to save that spot for a better option. Maybe there’s a team that’s also looking to offload a player via trade. There could be a team hoping to squeeze an extra asset from the cap-strapped Leafs to take Simmonds off their hands.
JETS FACING A CONSEQUENTIAL SEASON
NHL.COM: In a recent mailbag segment, Dan Rosen agreed with a reader that the Winnipeg Jets face a “make-or-break” season. Changes to their roster core could be coming next summer if they miss the playoffs again or make another first-round exit.
Former captain Blake Wheeler, center Mark Scheifele and goaltender Connor Hellebuyck could be part of that roster shakeup. Each is slated to become unrestricted free agents in 2024. Rosen suggested management could try to get ahead of things by trading them, especially if Pierre-Luc Dubois declines to sign a long-term extension.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Dubois is a restricted free agent next summer who will be a year away from UFA eligibility if he doesn’t sign a long-term deal.
I agree with Rosen that it could be time for a major roster shakeup if the Jets stumble again this season. They’ve been slowly declining since reaching the Western Conference Finals in 2018. It could be time to move out some of the veterans and instead build around players like Kyle Connor, Nikolaj Ehlers and Dubois if he stays for the long term.
Simmond’s is washed up but compared to Nick Foligno he’s Wayne Gretzky. For g’s sake don’t pick up Wayne Simmons this right up Sweeney’s change one dud for another
I could just imagine the interest if Hellebuyck actually becomes available ..
As per the Leafs – I am interested in opinions on Malgin .He has played extremely well during the exhibition games .
A couple of highlife reels !!
Well, Malign did score a highlight reel goal against the Wings…against an AHL defenseman and goalie.
think Edmonton might put in a claim for Simmonds to replace the toughness lost by the Kassian trade?
Oilers dont have the cap space and have to start the season with 21 players on the roster.
Edmonton is so hard up against the cap I don’t think they will bring in a guy even if he makes less than 1 mil towards the cap
Looks like the Flyers are interested in both Simmonds and Foligno.
Torts getting what Torts wants?
Torts will literally turn the heat up for home games to slow the NHL teams down against this squad
I will deliver Foligno by limousine at any time.
The Flyer fans will definitely have something to enjoy !
Never a “dull” moment with Tortorella in the picture !
Not sure what Torts will think of his present GM ..
He might have to bring in RWM to help him save the sinking ship !
If we can just get Bob Hartley back in the league, in, say, New Jersey, fireworks, baby, fireworks!
So much for Gardiner’s return to action – placed on LTIR today. Pacioretty starts on IR.
Washington also placed Tom Wilson and Carl Hagelin on LTIR and Backstrom on IR
In Toronto, Simmonds, Mete, Gaidette and Clifford all cleared waivers.
Toronto also placed Benn and Liljegren on LTIR.
I se, too, where Vegas has signed Nicolas Hague to a 3-year $2,294,150 per deal – although he starts the year on IR. Right now CapFriendly shows them with 30 at the major league level and $20,436,294 over the cap. 7 will be cut, of course, but which 7 to add up to THAT much?
Goalie Adin Hill just cleared waivers.