NHL Rumor Mill – November 5, 2022
Could the Flames re-sign Milan Lucic? Will the Oilers trade a forward to make room for Dylan Holloway? What coaches are available if some teams consider making changes behind the bench? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
WILL THE FLAMES SIGN LUCIC TO A NEW CONTRACT?
CALGARY HOCKEY NOW: Steve Macfarlane recently mused over whether the Flames will re-sign Milan Lucic. The 34-year-old power forward is slated to become an unrestricted free agent next July. He’s been one of their steadiest players this season and is skating on the second line with Elias Lindholm and Tyler Toffoli.
Calgary Flames winger Milan Lucic (NHL Images).
In addition to Lucic’s improved play, he’s also become a leader in the dressing room. Macfarlane believes there’s little doubt he wants to stay in Calgary and would cost a lot less than the $6 million average annual value he’s earning split between the Flames and the Edmonton Oilers.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Flames have limited cap space ($1.7 million) for 2023-24. Fortunately, all their core players are under contract and Lucic is their most noteworthy pending free agent.
They might have to create some additional cap room even if Lucic’s next contract is a short-term one at a far more affordable rate than his current one. Still, I think the two sides can work something out if he wants to stay and management feels he can still contribute.
WILL THE OILERS MOVE A FORWARD TO MAKE ROOM FOR HOLLOWAY?
THE ATHLETIC: Allan Mitchell examined the Edmonton Oilers’ options to get promising winger Dylan Holloway more playing time this season. The easiest choice would be to send him to their AHL affiliate in Bakersfield and then recall the 21-year-old if he does well there after a few games.
Another would be finding a way to create room on the roster for Holloway to skate among the top-six forwards. That could come down to making a decision on moving Kailer Yamamoto, Jesse Puljujarvi or Warren Foegele.
Mitchell believes Yamamoto will stay put, in part because he’s signed through next season. Puljujarvi has frequently surfaced in media trade rumors but Mitchell believes the big winger helps the team even when he’s not scoring.
That leaves Foegele as potentially vulnerable. He‘s a left-shot winger filling the position Holloway is best suited to play.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Foegele hasn’t popped up as much as Puljujarvi in the rumor mill but he has been mentioned before as a trade candidate. However, general manager Ken Holland has found ways to balance his roster thus far without resorting to a trade. I think Holloway’s destined spend some time in Bakersfield.
AVAILABLE NHL COACHES
DAILY FACEOFF: Matt Larkin looked at the notable former NHL coaches currently available for any team that might be considering a shakeup behind the bench this season.
Topping the list, of course, is Barry Trotz followed by Rick Tocchet. Other familiar names include Alain Vigneault, Dave Tippett, Andrew Brunette, Travis Green and Jeff Blashill.
Larkin also listed “up-and-comers” such as Ryan Warsofsky, Jay Leach and Ian Laperriere. He also noted former NHL coaches Mike Babcock and Joel Quenneville are available but suggests both carry too much baggage to return to the league’s coaching ranks.
Claude. Julien. Would be near the top of available coaches I would think
Vignault and Tippett showed, from their last stops, that they are past their expiration date
Ruff’s contract is up after this year. no matter how good of a start the Devils are under, I think Brunette was hired (currently associate coach) to be his replacement. Forget Babcock and Quenneville — too much baggage.
I can see Green getting a shot again. Blashill might be best as an asst or associate coach
Trotz has his pick of teams, just like Tocchet. I think the Leafs would be wise to choose Trotz to make the team a better all around team, but his system might not appease Matthews. Tocchet has shown to be a very good coach, not sure why he isn’t behind the bench – maybe his agent was asking for too much $$$ ?
Media here in Edmonton also confirmed last year that Tippett has decided to retire after being fired as a coach. He is just not making it known and prefer to have a quiet retirement.
Word out west is the Canucks are seriously trying to move Brock Boeser but haven’t found any takers, his skating just isn’t up to par with the current NHL speed game and since his fathers passing there are questions about his motivation.
Since last years deadline there had been rumors that the islanders and blue jackets had been approached about Boeser but both teams declined to make a trade for him.
The Oilers are looking to move a couple of players, mainly Cap reasons… they need to get both these guys off the payroll as we have to meny forwards
1/RW Jesse Pujujarvi $3.M for a 2nd or 3rd rd pick
2/ Warren Fegele LW/RW $2.7.M for a pick 3rd or a-4th pick
3/ Ryan Murray $750,000 could be waved is not going to make the team as a 7th d/man?
They have JanMark in the minors and cant bring him up as they have no Cap room
I can see a Trade for a d/man thats the Edmonton Oilers weakest spot right now,
1/
Local boy Carson Sucey LD/RD man out of Seattle trade for oilers RW Jesse Pujujarvi, same money and both players need a change and make the same Salarys
2/
Trade with Arizona for LD/RD Jakob Chychrun after he has played 4-6 games to make sure the injury has healed and a 2nd or 3rd pick to make the salaries & trade work out…..?
-1st round pick
-Pujujarvi
-Warren Fegele
-Philp Broberg hate to seen him go but Oiler’s need help Now not in 2 years….⁉️
Re getting Holloway more playing time and ….” finding a way to create room on the roster for Holloway to skate among the top-six forwards. That could come down to making a decision on moving Kailer Yamamoto….”
For ships ‘n Giggles…
Yammo and Ryan (both from Spokane) for
Soucy (Viking) and a 2nd (later of Leafs or Jets)
Trotz would be welcome in Pittsburgh.
I think if Bees management wants to give Luc a team friendly contract he finishes his career where he started. I think his heart is still in Boston