NHL Rumor Mill – September 22, 2023
Are the Sabres interested in Patrick Kane? Should the Sharks trade Logan Couture and Tomas Hertl? What’s the latest on Jets center Mark Scheifele? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
SABRES INTERESTED IN KANE
TSN: Darren Dreger reported the Buffalo Sabres have an interest in Patrick Kane. The 34-year-old winger underwent an offseason hip resurfacing procedure and will require another month to rehab.
Free agent winger Patrick Kane (NHL Images).
The Sabres won’t be the only club that could have an interest in Kane. Dreger believes he could help a lot of teams when he’s healthy.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kane joining his hometown Sabres and helping them reach the playoffs for the first time since 2011 would make a great story. However, his agent indicated that he would be fielding offers from clubs that he felt would give him the best chance to win the Stanley Cup. Unless Kane’s changed his mind or if there aren’t any Cup contenders with the cap space or roster room to add him, the Sabres don’t meet his criteria.
The Sabres are a promising club loaded with good young talent. This could be their long-awaited breakthrough season following years of often inconsistent rebuilding by multiple general managers and coaches. If they bust out like the Devils did last season, perhaps they’ll be on Kane’s radar.
However, the Sabres have plenty of offensive forwards on their roster with Tage Thompson, Jeff Skinner, Alex Tuch, Dylan Cozens, Casey Mittelstadt, JJ Peterka, and Victor Olofsson. Granted, they lack Kane’s championship pedigree and leadership. Still, fitting him in there could prove difficult, especially when Jack Quinn returns from injury or if Matt Savoie or Jiri Kulich crack the roster this season.
A greater need could be between the pipes. They have two promising goalies in Devon Levi and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen but neither of them is a reliable experienced starter. That could become a more urgent issue to address if those two should struggle this season. Kane can’t help them there.
With over $8 million in cap space, the Sabres have the room to add Kane and perhaps bolster their goaltending. Still, there could be other clubs better situated as Cup contenders who could prove more tempting to him.
COULD THE SHARKS EXPLORE TRADING COUTURE AND HERTL?
THE SCORE: Cited Bay Area News’ Curtis Pashelka reporting that San Jose Sharks general manager Mike Grier would be open to moving forwards Logan Couture and Tomas Hertl if they asked to be traded.
Grier indicated that Couture and Hertl are committed to the Sharks for the time being. However, if they approached him about being moved, the Sharks GM said he would listen and explore it if a trade made sense for his club.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Good luck moving either guy if the day comes if they request a trade. Couture, 34, is signed through 2026-27 with an average annual value of $8 million and a three-team list of acceptable trade destinations. The 29-year-old Hertl is in the second season of an eight-year contract with an AAV of $8.13 million and a full no-movement clause until 2025-26 when the no-trade portion reverts to a three-team trade list.
Yes, Grier was able to move Erik Karlsson and his hefty contract but that was because the 33-year-old defenseman was coming off a career-best 101-point performance that won him the Norris Trophy for the third time. Couture and Hertl aren’t in his talent class and that will hurt their trade value.
LATEST ON SCHEIFELE
THE SCORE: Winnipeg Jets center Mark Scheifele is open to signing a contract extension. “I’ve told them I’m open to staying,” Scheifele told the media yesterday. The 30-year-old center noted how long he’s been with the club, pointing out he’s starting his 13th training camp with them.
Scheifele has a year remaining on his contract with an average annual value of $6.125 million. He indicated that there haven’t really been any contract talks with management.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff has said that he’s going to evaluate the club’s performance this season as well as that of Scheifele and fellow pending UFA Connor Hellebuyck.
Couture to BOS for Grez and pick
BOS can figure the cap out later albeit ASAP as season is about to start
Hertl to WSH for Mantha and a top package. Few caps contracts up and Hertl and Wilson can lead the next chapter
WSH would be around 3m over cap and will have to find another trade partner to make room
Maybe oshie Mantha and top picks and prospect for duclair hertl to make cap work
Sabres seemed to give Levi the starters job at the end of this past season, and seem to have more confidence in him over UPL. So they may be more interested in veteran 1B or backup goalie, instead of Helleybuck from Winnipeg
They’re going with UPL and Levi. Levi is a future star, maybe even this year. There won’t be any changes in the Buffalo crease unless these guys both blow up, but that won’t happen.
Book it.
Sabres will need to dump Olofsson at some point this season though. He’s not a guy you want to try and make the playoffs with. His 28 goals looks good but it’s not. Unless a miracle happens and he starts playing like a man.
and Schiefele’s issue isn’t so much on the ice as it is off. Jets may feel his troubles aren’t worth the long term investment, and get rid him like they did with PLD
The team has felt in need of a refresh, especially after last season.
Issue with Helleyebuck is they don’t have a stud goalie coming up in the ranks, and no one will trade their prospect unless CH signs an extention, which is tough to give a $9-$10M (per) long-term extention to a goalie in his 30’s
mikeP would you like to elaborate on Schiefele off ice issues?
As a Winnipeg resident and hockey fan, this is the first i heard any reference to off ice issues?
Curious of what they are.
Caper I agree . I think wheeler and him may have had a click in the room that needed addressing so we will see . Off ice other than dressing room rumours he has been an amazing jet from day one of there drafting him first .
It is ON-ICE issues. His 40 plus goals is great but he plays Junior hockey defense.
Strangely Scheifele remains an assistant captain. For someone who has such a bad rap, why would they keep him as a part of the leadership group. Don’t believe everything you read.
Well let’s just state the obvious the Jets need Helly and Shief signed long term. In order to stay competitive for the next 5 or so years it has to happen. There are no replacements available to the team that could fill the gap.
Maybe the Jets got fortunate with Chevy making a decent deal on the DuBois trade but lightning might not strike twice.
My take is sign them both long term at 8.5 each. Both get a 2.3 million raise bump and security until 38. It’s to long but it’s a cost the Jets have to pony up.
This is a playoff team with them and not without so it’s simple in a small market like the Peg.
I believe Shief takes it but Helly is a wildcard. I have to assume both players agents know the players value by now to other teams. It’s a fair arrangement to both sides