Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – July 9, 2023
Are the Devils interested in John Gibson? What’s the latest on Vladimir Tarasenko? Who could the Islanders target in the trade market? Could the Canucks ship Tyler Myers to the Sharks? Find out in the Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup.
DEVIL INTERESTED IN GIBSON
NEW YORK POST: Larry Brooks reports sources tell him the New Jersey Devils are “sniffing around” Anaheim Ducks goaltender John Gibson. He noted that the Devils are weighing whether their current tandem of Vitek Vanecek and Akira Schmid can carry them to the Stanley Cup in a division that features the New York Rangers’ Igor Shesterkin and the New York Islanders’ Ilya Sorokin.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Gibson is signed through 2026-27 with an average annual value of $6.4 million and a 10-team no-trade clause. His stats have suffered over the past three seasons with the rebuilding Ducks but could improve on a talented team like the Devils.
The Devils currently have over $5.6 million in cap space with 19 active roster players under contract. They would have to convince the Ducks to retain part of Gibson’s cap hit, send a contract or two to Anaheim as part of the return, or make a cost-cutting deal or two with another club to free up the cap payroll to acquire him.
THE LATEST ON TARASENKO
NEW YORK POST: Larry Brooks reports Vladimir Tarasenko had a multi-year contract worth an AAV of $5.5 million in place with the Carolina Hurricanes before rejecting it (and other offers) and changing agents.
Vladimir Tarasenko (NHL Images).
Tarasenko wanted to remain with the New York Rangers but it was never a realistic possibility. The club didn’t extend the 31-year-old winger a single offer and he wasn’t going to stay with them on a cheap one-year contract.
Brooks believes offers will still be there for Tarasenko. He doesn’t think the Hurricanes will drop out. The Ottawa Senators will be major players once they’ve found a trade partner for Alex DeBrincat. Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello could be interested if he doesn’t land DeBrincat.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Perhaps Tarasenko is waiting for the outcome of the Senators trading DeBrincat to see how it will affect the offers he’s getting.
WHICH SCORERS COULD THE ISLANDERS PURSUE IN THE TRADE MARKET?
THE HOCKEY NEWS: Stefen Rosner was asked by a reader which top-six scorer would be a good fit with the New York Islanders if they can’t land Ottawa’s Alex DeBrincat. He suggested Toronto’s William Nylander, Philadelphia’s Travis Konecny and Anaheim’s Adam Henrique.
The Leafs could end up peddling Nylander rather than risk losing him next summer to free agency. He reportedly seeks an average annual value of $10 million.
Konecny has two seasons left on his contract with an AAV of $5.5 million. However, TSN’s Pierre LeBrun has reported the Flyers would need to receive an offer that blows them away. Rosner doubts the Islanders have the prospects to make that pitch.
There was talk near the March 2023 trade deadline that Henrique was available before he was sidelined by an injury. Despite his age, he’s still good for around 20 goals and 40 points. A UFA at season’s end, the Ducks might wish to try and move him near the March 2024 trade deadline.
NYI HOCKEY NOW: Andrew Fantucchio noted the Boston Bruins will need centers if Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci retire. He suggested the Isles package Jean-Gabriel Pageau and RFA winger Oliver Wahlstrom to the Bruins for winger Jake DeBrusk.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Lamoriello has been trying to add scoring to his roster since last summer. He acquired Bo Horvat midway through last season but still needs a goal-scoring winger.
It’s rumored that Lamoriello has an interest in DeBrincat but the Detroit Red Wings are considered the front-runners to acquire the Senators winger.
He knows Nylander from his days as Leafs GM so he could pursue the 27-year-old winger if he ends up on the trade block. However, I don’t know how keen Lamoriello would be to pay him $10 million annually.
Konecny seems unavailable at this time though that might change as the season progresses. Even so, the Flyers will set a steep asking price. Henrique seems the most likely to be traded but I agree with Rosner that he might not be available until later in the season.
The Bruins will certainly be in need of centers if Bergeron and Krejci depart. However, I think they’d want more than Fantucchio’s proposed package for DeBrusk, preferably a younger and more affordable center.
UPDATE ON MYERS
DONNIE & DHALI: Rick Dhaliwal recently spoke to player agent J.P. Barry regarding a rumor that the Vancouver Canucks and San Jose Sharks have a possible deal on the table that would send defenseman Tyler Myers to the Sharks.
Barry denied knowledge of such a deal for Myers, saying he’s not aware of anything connecting his client to the Sharks. “I can’t react every time because I think that’s the 13th team in two years that’s been connected to him,” he said.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Barry went on to say that Myers loves Vancouver but he’s aware that the coming season will be his last with the Canucks given his UFA status next summer. He believes he’ll become a more interesting trade asset near the March trade deadline.
MeLander at 10 million sound ridiculous until you remember Pajama Boy is raking in 11.
Suddenly Wee Willie wanting 10 doesnt seem all that outrageous.
I wouldnt give it to him, but somebody will.
If the cap goes up as expected 10 mil for a top line winger isn’t far off what I expect most young top liners will ask.
Same old, same old, Jon Rull.
All right I guess I’ll say it one more time. Judging by what’s happened in free agency this summer, reports of Tarasenko getting offers of multi year contracts at $5.5m. are nothing but hogwash.
The aggregate cap space left in the league seems substantially below the aggregate salary requests of the unsigned players; one doesn’t want to be the last to sell one’s property in a deteriorating market.
‘value’ is a chimera until a transaction is completed.
Hi Richard
Logical
Poetically stated
Agree 👍👍
Still Hoping and praying that someone will take Petry an Rutta (even at 50% retained); and Dubas buys out Granlund…
Petry/Rutta replaced by Dumba/Friedman
Cheaper (Cap); younger; faster; better
Rutta is more expensive than Friedman but is a much better player.
Another ex-Devil who is over the hill? Lou stop it all of our centers are better than Henrique. Need Tarasenko or the cat. Go big or go home.
Hi Pete
Pens would embrace Henrique at 3C if a deal can be swung that has Petry exiting (combined with a Granlund buyout)
Dumba/Henriques instead of Petry/Granlund….. very big uptick for Pens
Retention possibly; pick(s); prospect(s)????
Pageau does not move the needle as a center the Bruins should acquire.They need more of a top 6! He is really closer to a 3 than a 1,which they desperately need! Better options include Lindholm and Schieffle although they will cost Boston more in assets! Wahlstrom is intriguing though!
I seen someone suggest Nylander for Gibson, straight up. Anaheim can make do with an Alex Stalock or Thomas Greiss.
As long as Gibson doe not come to the Devils!!!
John Gibson isn’t waiving for any Canadian team, He already said no to Toronto in the past. He’s not waiving to go there. Devils could be an option or Buffalo would be my guess.
More like Nylander and Samonov and McCabe for Gibson ($1M retained) and Fowler
The fact that Tarasenko seems lukewarm about coming to Canada, I’d really rather not have him on the Sens. They are literally trying to shed Debrincat for this very reason.
I highly doubt that Tarasenko gets another opportunity from Carolina. Tom Dundon just doesn’t work that way.
If the DeAngelo trade doesn’t happen today it may mean that Carolina and Philadelphia have an agreement to wait until Carolina gets an answer on a pending trade.
Im hoping Pengy gets his man Karlsson!
I’m still wondering why they bother with TDA after signing Orlov. You’ve got 3 LDs now, why pay $2.5M for a fourth to sit on the bench? I”m all for depth, but not at that price.
I’d say the same for Karlsson, but I assume Pesce’s out if he comes in.
With any luck, Pengy’s boy Dubas vastly overpays for Karlsson and kills their cap for years.
The cap won’t be an issue at all. Especially if it goes up as predicted. The cap is the least bit concerning thing about a karlson deal beyond this year
WC, TDA IS A RH D
Ah, yes, Johnny, true on TDA. I knew that, but my brain decided to type something else.
Nevertheless, the theme holds, he’s still be the 7th D. (Burns/Pesce/Chatfield)
Detroit may have been the frontrunner for Debrincat but if the report out of Detroit is true, that is not the case anymore.
“DeBrincat wants an eight-year deal valued at between $8.75 million to $9 million per season.
Yzerman won’t move off five-years at $7.5 million a year.”
They are not even close a on contract extension and unless Debrincat is willing to sign for a lot less salary and term, this deal is dead.
Personally, i hope the deal is dead and the Wings move on from Debrincat. I never wanted him and didn’t think he was a good fit for the Wings. He needs an elite playmaker to make him a 40 goals guy again and the Wings don’t have one. Better off spending assets and cap space on a player that will make other players on the roster better, not one that needs someone else to make him better.
Hey Boston fans, any interest in Chytil? Starts 4 year contract at reasonable 4.4 mil AAV. Lacks any trade protection. I don’t see him taking 2C spot from Trochek, who has full nmc. 23 years old and could benefit on another team offering a top 6 role. Rangers could use the cap flexibility.
Boston doesn’t really have cap space to trade. It would have to be close to a dollar in dollar out deal.
This continued story of the salary cap increasing by as much as 4 million next year solving all problems is funny. Divide 4 into 21 players people and it doesn’t work out to all your top players getting raises of 1 or 2 million.
Let’s not forget the poor bottom 4 lines and 5-6 dmen. They want raises also. Then we have to calculate the fact that the minimum will rise likely to 825 or so. Cap issues will always be an issue if you don’t spread the salaries around judiciously
Exactly! On several teams there are top UFA players AND top-of-the line RFAs seeking their first big contracts n 2025 alone that will eat up that $4 mil in a flash.
C’mon Lou. Go get Hoffman, 50% retained by the Habs. Give up a 5th round pick.
We won’t even insist on the 5th round pick.
Re; John Gibson
just reading over coments about this goaltender over the past few days…and what fans want to trade for him…
he will be 30 yrs old this month…. is the best yet to come or is this the slippery road down hill at 34 yrs old About 90% of NHL Goaltender are Backups bye that age
His SV% Average over the past 5 years is 9.05..
His GA Average over the past 5 years is 3.20❗️
Trade proposal Jay Z wanted to trade Nylander and Samonov for Gibson and a d/man…
Not a chance😳
Just look at young Samsonovs numbers this year playing more games and becoming the starter in Toronto
Games–42
GAA–2.33
SV%– 0.919
❓
I see The Leafs and Flames doing a Trade with these two as the main parts
Flames need Scoring & Leafs need Defencive help in the top 4 ….Nylander & Hanifin,
No Gibson (or Hellebuyck or S. Knight) for Devils. Too expensive & inconsistent. GM’s give away stupid contracts & can’t unload them.
Nylander imo deserves 10 mil. Trade him to a team that’ll accommodate. Or, trade Marner (after you resign #34) cause he’ll be angry.
At least the Debrincat saga is already over. I’m not complaint about the return at all.