NHL Rumor Mill – November 18, 2022
Could the Sharks trade Erik Karlsson this season and could the Senators be a destination? Are the Islanders interested in Canucks captain Bo Horvat? What’s the latest on the Jets, Coyotes and Kings? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
THE LATEST ON ERIK KARLSSON
THE SCORE: cited The Athletic’s Corey Masisak reporting Erik Karlsson remains “fully invested” in the San Jose Sharks despite general manager Mike Grier being open to trade offers for the 32-year-old defenseman.
Karlsson indicated he’s putting his focus on helping the Sharks win games. He said he understood Grier’s comments about being open to a trade. The blueliner also indicated the question of a trade would be between himself and Grier. So far, that issue hasn’t come up so he’s not worried about it.
San Jose Sharks defenseman Erik Karlsson (NHL Images).
Off to a hot start to this season, Karlsson is garnering plenty of hype in the rumor mill. However, he carries an expensive $11.5 million cap hit through 2026-27 while his full no-movement clause gives him complete control over where he plays.
OTTAWA SUN: Bruce Garrioch doubted the Senators will be able to bring back Karlsson this season or anytime soon. While there are reports of the Senators and Sharks discussing the blueliner, his hefty contract would be difficult to absorb.
THE ATHLETIC: Ian Mendes believes Karlsson would waive his NMC to come back to Ottawa, where he still maintains a home and professes to love the city. However, Mendes admits it would be quite complicated to pull off a trade because of his $11.5 million cap hit, putting the chances of such as deal happening at 10 percent.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Karlsson doesn’t sound like someone who wants to be traded. Perhaps that changes if the Sharks fall out of playoff contention and postseason contenders come calling near the March 3 trade deadline.
Even so, his contract will be tough to trade during the season given the flattened salary cap and the high number of clubs with little or no cap room. If Karlsson is willing to move and the Sharks can drum up sufficient interest, I think that deal takes place in the offseason when teams have more cap space and a willingness to make big trades.
That won’t stop the Karlsson trade speculation. TSN’s Mike Johnson suggested the Detroit Red Wings as a destination citing their cap space as one factor in their favor.
COULD THE ISLANDERS PURSUE BO HORVAT?
NYI HOCKEY NOW: Stefen Rosner believes the time is now for the New York Islanders to pursue a trade for Vancouver Canucks center Bo Horvat to bring stability to their forward lines. The 27-year-old Canucks captain is slated to become an unrestricted free agent next summer and is off to a blazing start with 14 goals in 17 games.
Rosner believes a package deal for Horvat would depend on whether the Isles could get him signed to a contract extension. He proposed offering up Josh Bailey, prospect William Dufour, plus their first and fourth-round picks in the 2023 NHL Draft.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Rosner is merely musing over what it might take the Isles to acquire Horvat. Still, we must remember that Islanders GM Lou Lamoriello was reportedly interested in Canucks center J.T. Miller during the first round of the 2022 Draft. The Isles could be a club worth monitoring if they’re in the playoff chase by the trade deadline and looking to add a rental player or a more long-term impact option.
LATEST RUMOR TIDBITS FROM TSN INSIDERS
TSN: Darren Dreger reports the Winnipeg Jets will look within their organization for short-term help to replace sidelined forwards Nikolaj Ehlers, Mason Appleton and Mason Barron. However, he also expects they’ll consider trade options as well.
Chris Johnston expects trade rumors to pick up once sidelined Arizona Coyotes defenseman Jakob Chychrun returns to action next week from offseason wrist surgery. A lot of teams have had discussions with the Coyotes but want to see him play first.
Pierre LeBrun indicates the Los Angeles Kings are a club that teams in need of blueline depth will be monitoring. They currently have four right-shot defensemen and have two promising rearguards in Brian Clark and Jordan Spence within their system.
Jets can pick up. Smith from bruins for a low mid rd pick I would assume
That’s not bad Mrbruin4, i forgot about Smith.
The jets would know the player from his Nashville days. Could be a fit. Also being a ufa at season end.
Like it geter done.
Caper. Problem is that everyone knows the teams in cap hell so they wont make hockey trades they want additional assets from the teams in cap hell. Even if the player would help them
Bruins looking for a 1st rounder for Smith he’s a 20 goal scorer for C sake!!
If the Kings can trade 1 of their right-shot blue liners for a 1st, they could offer up 2 1sts and Kupari as long as Chychrun proves he is worth that package once he gets back on the ice.
With the way the Oilers early season has unfolded, I have an uneasy feeling the Oilers might be one of the teams looking at Chyckrun.
Sharks ownership seem to be without a plan. In the off season they announced that the team could offer their fans ‘entertainment’ without a rebuild. Lowest attendance records in 30 years say the fans don’t buy it.
Where do they start? They are somewhat cap strapped, have some bad contracts (Vlasic) and a poor pipeline, other than William Ekland.
What possible return would make it a good idea to trade their best defenseman and carry 5 million in dead cap space for the next four years?
I can’t see one. I’m hoping you guys can help me out.
If they retain 5M for the term then I can realistically see a 1A prospect, a first, another 2nd or 3rd and a couple more assets like a bottom 9 forward and potentially a 6/7 defenseman both with middling term left on their contracts.
Sharks will get paid if Karlsson can be had with term at only 6.5M.
I’ll throw a couple of random teams out there that aren’t being discussed. Winnipeg, if Karlsson ever decides to waive for them, they haven’t had any real PP1 QB since buff left and Seattle, the latter having the cap space and assets.
I won’t even pretend to understand how Winnipeg would make the cap hit work.
To be truthful HUD, I don’t think Karlsson is going anywhere until teams can see that he can go injury-free for a whole season. There’s no one more surprised and pleased than me to see the man off to a great start. Without him, the Sharks would be struggling to be even the least bit entertaining.
Hud, one glance at the Sharks roster and their cap situation and you can see the mess that Wilson left for Grier.
They have zero cap space now – nest season CapFriendly shows them with 15 signed and $16,294,999 with which to sign 8. The problem is an albatross like Vlasic costing $7 mil per for 3 more years at the end of which he’s close to 40 years old. On the surface he looks like another candidate for either a trade while holding back a large chunk (good lick with that), or a buyout.
But they already have $2,725,001 tied up in buyouts next year (Jones and Balcers) to go along with $2,720,000 in dead cap for Burns, which has 2 more years to run. So there’s $5,445,001 they can’t touch.
Then there’s their 5 UFAs, none of whom are likely to be brought back (with the possible exception of Reimer) – Bonino ($2,050,000), Nieto ($850,000), Harrington ($750,000), Reimer ($2,250,000) and Nutivaara ($1,500,000) – currently accounting cumulatively for $7,400,000 off the cap. If none are retained is their system deep enough (and good enough) to replace them with ELCs? If not, whoever they do get is going to cost.
And of their 5 RFAs, the one big ticket is Meier, coming off a cap hit of $6 mil. What is he going to cost to retain? Do they bother or deal him at the trade deadline?
The others – Gregor, Gadjovich, Svechnikov and Knyzhov – cost cumulatively $3,300,000 off the cap now. What will their new deals total?
So trading Karlsson while holding back $5.5 mil for 4 more years, added to what they already have in dead cap for the next couple of seasons anyway, doesn’t make it easy to also take on salaried players in the deal. Especially a bottom 9 F who likely would add nothing but cost.
I sure don’t envy Grier.
I may be wrong on this George but I think Meier’s qualifying offer needs to be 10M or thereabouts. So if they are retaining him it’ll be pricey
Taz
My guess is Meier is moved at deadline for some very good assets
Taz, I didn’t think it was necessary to qualify UFAs. Learn something new every day . LOL.
Even so, one way or another he isn’t going to come cheap – big body (6′ 1″ 220 lbs) with 8g 8a 16 pts in 19gp and a +1
I agree, Mrbruin4, it makes no sense for Grier to hold onto Meier – alone he isn’t going to turn them around and with a 4-year rebuild staring them in the face and little in the way of top assets in the system, they’re far better off getting a TD day haul for him – and they would.
Far and away their best trade asset. Reimer could also bring back something decent from any playoff-bound team with goalie injuries.
Just checked and it is in fact 10M that he needs to be offered at a minimum if he is to stay a shark.
I wonder if it works similar to an RFA and they can convince him to sign for less.
He needs to play another 41 games this season to qualify for the qualifying offer, at least based on what I read.
GeorgeO, do you really think the Senators would entertain bring back Karlsson? My understanding is his ego and sense of entitlement was poison in the dressing room not to mention he was a coach
killer.
So, do they pull a Charles Comisky (with the White Sox – Black Sox scandal) and cut him off at 40 games? “Sorry, 40 ain’t 41 – no qualifying offer.”
I don’t think the Canucks would consider trading Horvat for a 33 year old winger, a player picked in the 5th round, a late 1st round and a 4th round pick. Lots of teams could use a two way work horse centre that’s good at face offs and has 14 goals in 17 games so there could bet far better offers. A trade with the Islanders could begin and end with Dobson.
The more you read into that locker room, you realize it seems to be a total division. Sounds like one full side of that “division” is going to be heading out of town. Horvat, Myers, Pearson, Schenn, Garland, are all looking to leave.
Reminds me or the Messier/Linden locker room issues.
I’ve noticed that after a Horvat goal the team has a celebration Horvat doesn’t even acknowledge Miller, I’m not a big Horvat fan never have been, but I’d trade anyone and Horvat’s value will never be higher so I say move him.
Would the Nucks consider Karlsson instead????
Bo + Myers + 1st + Martin for Karlsson ($1.5M retained)+ Reimer
Sharks flip Bo for mo picks/prospects.
Jets need a forward? Perhaps give the Habs a call? they have several that i’m sure they would be willing to part with for a late pick just to clear the logjam at forward.
The Pens don’t have the assets for Horvat. Maybe Kapanen and prospect/pick for Garland? They could certainly use some character on their team!
Come on Karlsson is not going back to Ottawa.
Well, he does maintain a house here. 🙂 But you mean with the Senators … and I agree 100%.