NHL Rumor Mill – September 20, 2023
As training camps open, check out the latest on William Nylander, Connor Hellebuyck, Mark Scheifele, Trevor Zegras, Jamie Drysdale, Elias Lindholm, Mikael Backlund, Brett Pesce and Shane Pinto in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
NYLANDER
TSN: Chris Johnston said he doesn’t think there’s been a whole lot of progress between the Toronto Maple Leafs and William Nylander over a contract extension. There is some hope that discussions might pick up now that the 27-year-old winger is back in North America after spending the offseason in Sweden.
SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman believes Nylander will play this season with the Leafs whether he’s signed or not.
Toronto Maple Leafs winger William Nylander (NHL Images).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Not much different from what was reported throughout the offseason. This has the potential to become a long-running story for the Leafs and Nylander through 2023-24.
HELLEBUYCK AND SCHEIFELE
TSN: Darren Dreger reported there’ve been contract discussions between the Winnipeg Jets and pending unrestricted free agents Connor Hellebuyck and Mark Scheifele. However, those talks are now on the back burner as training camp begins.
Dreger said Scheifele hasn’t asked for a trade nor has he said he wouldn’t sign an extension. For now, however, the 30-year-old center intends to park things and focus on the coming season.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: That’s the first real piece of news regarding Scheifele, who kept silent about his intentions throughout the offseason. He evidently learned his lesson after innocuous comments he made following the 2021-22 season about needing to look out for himself and his future blew up in the media.
Like Nylander with the Leafs, questions about the future of Hellebuyck and Scheifele in Winnipeg will hang over the Jets season.
ZEGRAS AND DRYSDALE
TSN: Pierre LeBrun indicated there’s a “tangible gap” in contract talks between the Anaheim Ducks and agent Pat Brisson, who represents Trevor Zegras. The 22-year-old restricted free agent is the face of the Ducks and their offensive star. It’s believed the two sides are willing to agree to a three-year deal but they’re far apart on the average annual value.
Meanwhile, LeBrun said there’s no sign of progress in contract talks between the Ducks and Jamie Drysdale. The defenseman’s agent, Dave Gagner, is in Anaheim conducting negotiations with Ducks management.
SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman believes Zegras and Drysdale could end up with bridge contracts.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Having those negotiations dragging on into training camp and preseason could see those two key players miss a portion of their preparation before the start of the season under new head coach Greg Cronin. That could lead to a slow start for the rebuilding Ducks.
LINDHOLM AND BACKLUND
SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman noted that many of the Calgary Flames players who departed frustrated following last season’s disappointing performance have returned with more positive mindsets. It doesn’t mean contract negotiations will be easy but everyone seems to be feeling better.
Friedman thinks Elias Lindholm and Mikael Backlund will be the first pending UFAs that the Flames attempt to re-sign. He noted that the Colorado Avalanche looked into acquiring Backlund before adding Ross Colton and Ryan Johansen.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: A big reason why those players are feeling better is the departure of head coach Darryl Sutter. Hiring Craig Conroy to replace Brad Treliving after the latter stepped down as general manager was another factor. The affable Conroy has been working tirelessly throughout the offseason to keep as many of his pending UFAs in the fold.
PESCE
SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman said the Carolina Hurricanes gave some permission to teams to speak to UFA-to-be Brett Pesce. However, that’s now ended as the club is all in to win the Stanley Cup this season.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Pesce could be shopped later in the season if the Hurricanes stumble or there’s a need to address a significant roster weakness. However, I wouldn’t be surprised if he plays out this season in Carolina and tests the UFA market in July.
PINTO
TSN: LeBrun also talks about the ongoing contract talks between the Ottawa Senators and RFA center Shane Pinto. The Senators are pressed for salary-cap space but talks remain very positive. He believes a deal could be done at any time if the Senators can come up with the money for Pinto.
Dreger said teams like the Philadelphia Flyers have inquired about Pinto. However, they’ve been told by the Senators that they’re not trading him.
SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman reported the Flyers offered to take on an additional contract from the Senators in a potential trade for Pinto. However, he’s not convinced they want to jettison the young center.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Senators hold the hammer in negotiations with the Pinto camp. It sounds like they’re trying to find a way to free up the cap space needed to sign him. However, they could be getting squeezed by clubs seeking a sweetener in the deal.
Tre…. $2.9 M in Cap space needed (and that’s already counting LTIR…., another $4.8 M if Murray heals before season’s end)…. Leafs don’t need the WW contract distraction; can’t afford to remain at 1/2 Cap on 4 Fwds….
Trade WW for D upgrade and with gaining at min $1.5 M in net Cap space from trade
You got to feel very sad for Deliberatore; Dzingel; Juolevi; and Pogsnski
4 guys , battling for only a POSSIBILITY of 1 spot ; to MAYBE play for League min for the lowly Yotes and playing in front of (at best) a massive 4,600 crowd
More likely…. One of them MAYBE gets less and plays in Tuscon
Why …. Yotes already showing 23/23 on CapFriendly and because they are at 49 contracts…. Only 1 spot left in the organization…. Of course unless Bill Armstrong makes a trade with more players exiting than coming in
you can feel sad for them because their previous teammates in other orgs greedily grabbes money for themselves rather than leaving some on the table to build a winning team.
Hi AHN
Apologies for my repeated rebuff of your team…. my anger and terse anti Yotes’ posts are steeped in my disdain in Betman and his error; repeated errors; and refusal to do what is best for the NHL; NHLPA; owners; hockey in general; overall fans; etc etc etc)
I definitely can’t blame former teammates for negotiating a contract that gets them as much as they can…. Average NHLer doesn’t have a lengthy career; and most NHLers don’t have an Education (pre NHL) that can set them up for a post NHL career
So maximize the NHL contracts when you can
Note…. I’m referring to average NHL careers; not the Sid’s ; Kane’s; Toew’s; Ovi’s types of careers
Cut/paste from web:
“The average NHL player plays on average 4.5 years. However, when looking at the data in detail the top 25% of players played an average of 12 years, whereas the bottom 75% played an average of 2 years. ”
Source: “Hockey Answered” (Jones)
This isn’t NHL23.
Pengy, it’s not $2.9 million because that overage amount is based on 25 players. So, jettison Robertson and Martin Jones, reducing the overage to $1.3 million.
Send 2 players to the minors and Leafs are cap compliant with a roster of 21 players.
However, only Knies and Holmberg are Waivers Exempt, along with Nick Robertson. Knies will likely make the opening night roster. Can see Dylan Gambrell being placed on waivers.
IF Noah Gregor impresses the coaching staff in training camp, he could be signed to a minimum contract, adding another 4th line piece.
Ideally, Tre completes a trade that frees up at least $500k in cap space. Willie gone with only $5 million coming back would be a home run.
Trade Nylander for Pesche works for both teams
Pesce has a 15 team M-NTC that includes all Canadian teams. The only team’s his agent talked to were Nashville, Buffalo and some reported Dallas which fell of when his term and demands were not even a starting point…Pesce reportedly wants Orlov like money $7.75 X 8 which won’t happen unless a contender loses a top D man.
Mark Scheifele may wait to see how the season progresses.
I’m not concern with the forwards on the Jets, with the like of Scheifele, Connor, Ehlers, Iafallo, Niederreiter, Vilardi and Perfetti there is enough scoring.
The defense outside of Morrissey and Dillon isn’t anything to get excited about maybe Samberg can progress.
Hellebuyck makes the defense look better than it is, if he resigns maybe Scheifele does as well.
Folks are waiting to see what Scheifele mindset is now that his partner in crime is applying hiss craft in New York.
More then enough talent in Winnipeg to compete for a playoff spot; however, can’t let Hellebuyck and Scheifele walk for nothing, throw all their ufa’s into category.
Pesce and Ryan Suzuki for Nylander might start a conversation .
Likely not much trade action . Teams and players are in a wait and see mode which could lead to a record setting trade deadline
Pesce and Nylander are both on expiring contracts. One team currently needs to dump salary while the other one doesn’t.
TOR needs D
CAR needs O
I don’t see why Carolina would need to add anything. If anything, maybe going the other way to account for taking on salary. (CAR would need to dump salary if the trade goes through)
Nylander is not being given away. No disrespect to Pesce but Nylander is worth more.
Carolina has had trouble generating offence each of the past three post seasons, where else are they getting a game breaking forward – yes, game breaking, over a point a game, playoff consistency and that too on the second line.
Prior to this year he wasn’t on the first PP either.
A fair deal would involve Pesce+.
Leafs can move a contract like Jarnkrok without adding anything if they are desperate to get under the cap. Jarnkrok and demoting Robertson gets them compliant.
40 goal scorer vs a 4-5 defensive defence-man that might chip in 4-5 Oranges and Orangutans
No way straight up regardless of their respective needs
Pinto looking at Lafreniere’s deal…going…”ya…I’m better than this guy”
Not sure with that plus minus..but there’s a case there.
Dark G, I think the wheels are turning within the management/coaching structure when it comes to Pinto.
With Norris and Stutzle at #s 1 and 2 there’s no way they pat Pinto anywhere close to what he and his agent are supposedly seeking to play 3rd line minutes. And Greig muddies the water even further if, as has been reported in the media, the decision-makers truly believe in their assessment that he is as every bit as good at C – at this stage – as Pinto.
If that is the case, and being factored in already at CapFriendly at his ELC, he covers the 3rd line C role and Pinto is dealt for solid futures costing nothing off the cap (e.g., top pick/prospect type of return).
All speculation, of course, but without others off the roster (who they might prefer to keep in depth roles) being moved to make room, there is just no way they can fit Pinto in. So, move him now for the best non-salaried/term return possible. There are enough re-building teams in need of a good C to ensure some competitive offers.
George if all 3 play up to their potential they could be faced with moving Norris or Pinto to the wing or trading one of them in the off season next year. Not enough minutes to go around. Stutzle is anchored as the #1 pivot IMO. We might see Tarasenko leave after this year and Norris on the wing.
Brad Marchand captain Boston Bruins the perfect choice
Perfect choice? Maybe if you need a guy to help send out wedding invitations
I couldn’t disagree more.
Horrific choice.
McAvoy or nobody should have been their planning.
Dark G totally agree Marchand will skilled and talented is dirty cheap and calculating.
Mc Avoy best choice maybe even Pasta.
The only way i take Marchand is if the only other choices are Putin kim jung un or xe zing ping.l
Disagree. Perfect captain. Always a gamer, cup resume, been there 3 times. As much as people love to knock him, they would love him on their team.
He has grown up a lot over these last 5 years. If you don’t see it, that is fine. To each their own.
With Ottawa signing Sokolov to a one year, and if he cracks the line up full time, that leaves Ottawa with like 125, 000 bucks to sign Pinto?
Something has got to give… I fear more and more that Pinto will be traded. I also fear that he will be reminiscent of Mike Peca and be a big star and captain a team one day.
Cursed with riches the Sens are right now.
Cursed with riches and a GM who can’t pull it all together.
I was a supporter of Dorion until this summer , I am becoming a doubter now , unless he pulls a rabbit out of his butt and gets Pinto signed without major sacrifices.
I don’t know if the Sens are cursed with riches or cursed with mismanagement.
They have missed the playoffs 6 years in a row, aren’t a lock for this year so it may be 7 consecutive years.
Up against the cap, unable to pay Pinto because they chose the shiny object, Tarasenko. this year, DeBrincat last year.
Pinto stepped in for Norris but who will do it when he goes down again with the oft injured shoulder as there’s no room for Pinto on the team.
Dubas is looking for a 3rd line centre and could be interested in having a chat with Dorion.
I will agree on the Tarasenko… I do not really see why that was done.
The rest of the arguments I would have agreed if it were not for a pandemic and subsequent flat cap for multiple years.
You can fault the Sens for not making it into the playoffs IF you also fault the Leafs for not making it past first or second round for all the same reasons.
I honestly think the days of “bulletproof GMs” are long gone and people need to accept that.
And by “riches” I mean actually having chips to trade and having most of your roster already filled with some damn good players. Some teams are absolutely SADDLED with horrible players and contracts.
3 million dead cap comes off the Sens books next year and at least 4 million more when cap goes up so it’s really just this season Dorion is trying to navigate without giving everything up.
habfan30,
to me watching Ottawa was one of more interesting teams along with Buffalo from the east during last year. I think they might possibly beat out other teams from the east. good young players plus veterans on that team. i had no problem with DeBrincat on that team but I guess Senators fans don’t like him but regardless they are going to be much better. Korpisalo if he’s healthy is a good goalie, they have that going for them , too! Takes a bad rap because he has been injured lately and was in Columbus but he is good if healthy
theSaint,
Half the league gets into the playoffs when you don’t make it for 6 consecutive years, management isn’t doing the job.
DeBrincat is a good player, so is Tarasenko, but Ottawa has a decent young forward group and scoring isn’t a problem.
Putting oneself in the position of being unable to sign a young guy like Pinto is mismanagement.
Whataboutism re TML is nonsense and irrelevant to Sens situation.
Habs are in year 2 of rebuild and there’s an expectation of being in the playoffs next year and a hope (prayer?) of this year but HuGo would be run out of town before missing the playoffs 6 consecutive years.
@habsfan sorry, but I am in NO way considering the Habs appearance in the Covid 2021 final a REAL Cup Final.
That whole thing was a farce to keep people entertained and try to recoup any kinda of cash they could.
Other than that les Canadiens have been in perpetual rebuild for years. 3 playoff appearance since 2014/15… and you weigh them WAY too heavily this year.
But that’s expected… you are a Habs fan.
theSaint,
LOL get real.
The Habs were in the playoffs ,2020 and made it to the Finals in 2021.
You may not want to count it but they beat Winnipeg, Toronto and Vegas before losing to Tampa….and I don’t think anybody intimates that their Cup win doesn’t count.
Furthermore GM and coach were run out of town when the team face planted after that.
As for weighing them too heavily this year…..a hope and a prayer isn’t exactly a high expectation
Nailed it, Dorion went backwards on his roster interest.
Absolutely. The Bruins need an emotional leader now that show by example Bergeron is retired. As mentioned Marchand has matured but still has the kind of fire the team needs. McAvoy is too young to right the team when adversity strikes. He will follow Marchand as captain when Marchand retires.