NHL Rumor Mill – September 13, 2023
Check out the latest on the Blues’ Torey Krug, the Canadiens’ Carey Price and the Canucks’ Tyler Myers in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
TOREY KRUG’S LATEST INJURY AFFECTS HIS TRADE VALUE.
THE ATHLETIC: Jeremy Rutherford noted that oft-injured Torey Krug will miss the start of the St. Louis Blues training camp after injuring his right foot during off-season training. He will be re-evaluated on Oct. 1.
Rutherford pointed out that the Blues attempted to trade Krug this summer to the Philadelphia Flyers. However, the deal fell through when the 32-year-old defenseman invoked his no-trade clause.
St. Louis Blues defenseman Torey Krug (NHL Images).
It doesn’t appear as though the Blues were any closer to moving Krug after that. His latest injury along with his $6.5 million average annual value over the next four seasons could further dwindle any interest in him in the trade market.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The most realistic way for the Blues to trade Krug would be to retain 50 percent of his cap hit or swap him for a comparable player with a similar AAV. Neither scenario seems likely heading into this season.
CAREY PRICE IS OPEN TO A TRADE
TVA SPORTS: Carey Price said he’d be open to having his contract traded if the Montreal Canadiens. The 36-year-old goaltender admitted yesterday that the injured knee that sidelined him since last season has likely ended his playing career.
Price said the decision wouldn’t be his. He understands that teams have to manage their contracts and salary cap space. The former Vezina Trophy and Hart Trophy winner said he’d accept it if they had to move his contract for salary-cap reasons.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Price also said that he sees himself one day taking a role with the Canadiens once his children are older. He stated that he would be a Montreal Canadien “for the rest of my life.”
The Canadiens shed the salary of a permanently sidelined player last year, shipping the remainder of Shea Weber’s contract to the Vegas Golden Knights in June 2022 for winger Evgenii Dadonov. In February, the Golden Knights sent it to the Arizona Coyotes for minor-league defenseman Dysin Mayo.
LATEST ON TYLER MYERS
TSN: Travis Yost suggests the possibility that Vancouver Canucks defenseman Tyler Myers could be on the move later this month.
While the 33-year-old Myers carries a $6 million salary-cap hit for this season, $5 million of that was paid out as a signing bonus. That means he’ll earn $1 million in actual salary for the remainder of this season.
With so little money owed and the Canucks in need of cap space, Yost suggests Myers could be an intriguing option. Teams that need to reach the salary cap minimum or clubs that feel the blueliner still has something left in the tank could come calling.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Yost also noted that Myers carries a 10-team no-trade clause.
There was speculation in July claiming the Canucks had a deal in place to send Myers to the San Jose Sharks once his signing bonus was paid. So far, this rumored trade has yet to materialize.
Krug is a good example of one dimensional . I know they say size doesn’t matter (at least for hockey ).
I say it definitely does and especially for defence. Height is one thing but they need some body weight. Ideal 6’2 and 200 lbs and I would never take one regardless of offensive capability less than that. The Phil Housely type are rare. Blues are stuck with Krug and his 40 games or less until they can buy him out or 50% with a sweetener for a middling pick .
Really? So in a draft you’d automatically exclude Makar, Fox, and Hughes (Quinn or Luke) for their size? Even Heiskanen is under your threshold.
There are a bunch of high end defensemen under that criteria.
While size is good, blindly excluding smaller defensemen doesn’t make sense.
All those D are not 5’9 and a buck something.
What was the average height in Bobby’s and Terrible Ted’s eras 5”8 ?
I believe current NHL average 6”1 201
Bobby Orr
6 ft, 197 lbs.
Ted Lindsay – 5’8″, 163 lb.
Bruins made a good decision not giving Krug a big contract.
The Bruins offered more money but 1 less yr
I would say he is close, doesn’t need to be 6ft2, what does matter is weight.
Right around 200 is a good number for a defenseman simply because of the beating they take along the boards.
Skill set can offset a lot but you still need the weight.
Blues went south with the Krug/Faulk pick-ups. The team would’ve been better off paying Petro his money and not signing either one of them and saving over 4mil in the process.
Think everyone knew Krug contract wouldn’t age well, it never does with smaller dmen.
I had hoped for Army and Stevie to work another deal (once Krug is fully healed):
Chiarot to the Blues
Krug to Detroit (50% retained) + something a little sweet (3rd round pick)
Fair?
IP