NHL Rumor Mill – September 28, 2023
How might John Tavares’ contract talks with the Leafs pan out next summer? Are the Sabres interested in Ducks center Trevor Zegras? What’s the latest on Blues defenseman Torey Krug? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
WILL TAVARES HAVE TO ACCEPT A PAY CUT TO REMAIN A LEAF?
TORONTO STAR: Kevin McGran wonders if contract extension talks between the Maple Leafs and captain John Tavares will pan out like Steven Stamkos’ situation with the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Stamkos, 33, raised eyebrows last week when he voiced his disappointment to reporters over the lack of contract extension discussions with Lightning management this summer. Bolts general manager Julien BriseBois said that his captain will have to wait until the end of this season for those negotiations to begin.
Toronto Maple Leafs captain John Tavares (NHL Images).
McGran wonders if Leafs GM Brad Treliving will ask Tavares, who will be 34 next summer, to accept a pay cut like Evgeni Malkin did with the Pittsburgh Penguins last summer. Malkin’s pay dropped from an average annual value of $9.5 million to $6.1 million. He also mused over whether Treliving might have other ideas.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Tavares is earning an AAV of $11 million on his current contract, which expires at the end of the 2024-25 season. He’ll have no choice but to accept a pay cut if he hopes to continue playing for the Leafs, especially if his production declines between now and then. That’s assuming management intends to keep him once this contract is completed. How big a cut will depend on his performance over the next two seasons.
SABRES EYEING ZEGRAS?
TVA SPORTS: Renaud Lavoie recently weighed in on the lack of progress in contract talks between the Anaheim Ducks and restricted free agent Trevor Zegras. He claimed the Buffalo Sabres have an interest in the 22-year-old center, believing Zegras will help them end their 12-year playoff drought.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: I missed this one when it was first reported last week. The Sabres are already set with Tage Thompson and Dylan Cozens centering their top two lines. Zegras can also play wing but they’re loaded at those positions too. Goaltending and blueline depth are the bigger concerns for the Sabres entering this season.
If the Sabres are looking into Zegras’ availability I doubt the Ducks are willing to part with him. If they are, the asking price will be significant plus there’s also the cost to the Sabres of re-signing him to a new contract.
The Sabres have the depth in assets to make a competitive trade offer for Zegras and the cap space to sign him if he’s seeking under $8 million annually starting this season. Long-term cap space, however, could be an issue with Rasmus Dahlin, Owen Power and Casey Mittelstadt due for new contracts (and big raises) next season.
LATEST ON KRUG
THE HOCKEY NEWS: Lou Korac reports Torey Krug recently addressed the media regarding his unwillingness to waive his no-trade clause in June to facilitate a trade to the Philadelphia Flyers.
The 32-year-old defenseman cited his unwillingness to uproot his young family from St. Louis, his closeness to his Blues teammates, and the fact that he didn’t want to join a rebuilding club in Philadelphia.
Krug acknowledged he was upset that Blues management was looking at trading him. However, he said he took some time to deal with the aftermath of the situation and insists he has a great relationship with general manager Doug Armstrong.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Korac and The Athletic’s Jeremy Rutherford noted that Krug was within his rights to reject the trade. However, Rutherford believes the pressure will be on the blueliner to step up his game in 2023-24 and prove that he wants to be part of the solution after the Blues missed the playoffs last season.
What’s the Over under on Krug and 45 games played this year
Tavares is overpaid right now.
The twin towers on Buffalo’s D will have to get their money. Both first overall and both excellent at an early age that will log a ton of minutes Forget Z not a fit.
I have a feeling that Levi will lead the Sabres out of the desert this year and beyond . I also predict Bedard Cooley and Levi finalist for the Calder
I did a quick look at a few teams with star D and found only Tampa has two D paid at an average of 8 million – and they are in cap hell.
While the Sabres currently have lots of cap room paying two d big bucks will definitely be an unusual approach to cap distribution on a team. Going to be interesting to see how the Sabres manage as they try to keep good players all blossoming around the same time.
Guess you didn’t look at Ottawa then? Or are you factoring in that Sanders’s contract hasn’t kicked in yet? You gotta at least respect the Sens for their “all in” concept on the young core and contracts. The Sens d-corp is EXPENSIVE!
Correct, I didn’t check all teams and forgot the Sens, DarkG.
Maybe the Sens are at the cutting edge of a new trend. I think the Sens are gambling with Sanderson and likely banking on constant gap growth. Look at the issue they are having with trying to fit in Pinto.
There’s no “issue” when it comes to Pinto. When they are certain that Norris is healthy (and he’s been cleared to play) and he shows no adverse effects in upcoming ex games, there will be movement on Pinto.
Bottom line – there is NO way they are paying a 3rd line C upwards of $4 mil per. Is he capable of being a to 2 C? Yes. But with Norris and Stutzle ahead of him he becomes expendable. Especially if Grieg’s play convinces them he is as good as – or potentially better – that Pinto.
There’s absolutely no pressure on Dorion to settle matters “tomorrow.”
That’s the nature of the way free agency works – either the player has “pressure” or he doesn’t – right now Pinto has zero pressure.
I seriously doubt that Zegras will be moved. But if for some reason he does, Detroit should be the first ones to call Mr, Verbena. They could certainly use a high ceiling center, and have enough solid prospects they could part with to make a competitive offer.
Who is r. Verbena ? Lol ! Mr. Verbeek !
Iago, it will interesting to see what Detroit does in next couple seasons. Haven’t had much lottery luck, but seem to have drafted pretty good considering.
Have their stud D, maybe a couple of them.
Grabbed Cossa right before the Oil were gonna take him, and he has a chance to give them their tending for a decade.
From what I just read on Kasper, he will be a quality NHL C, only question is how much offence he can generate at NHL level, basically is he a 2 or 3C? Danielson is a high end skilled guy, but just turned 19, so gonna be a couple years, likely more before he can play a prominent role. And maybe he doesn’t at all, never know for sure.
So do you give up high end assets when you might have guys who can do the job in a couple years in your system already? Good question IMO.
Depends what they think of those 2 guys I guess. I would bet $20 on the waiting to see what their C’s will be, they have a good idea on Kasper already.
Ray, I’m not sure about Kasper as a center. From what I have seen in Traverse City, he may turn out to be a better power forward than in the middle.
The only way Zegras goes to Buffalo is if Cozens goes the other way. In other words: It ain’t gonna happen!
Zegras should definitely be staying a Duck…. Don’t mess with your upcoming star…, just a numbers game and negotiating …. I say he stays
Zegras to Sabres…., can’t see it
Krug traded …. With (as at now due to NTC and reports of who he’d agree to) Flyers as only true bidder; and his Cap hit; and his size; and injury possibility….Can’t see Army winning that trade over Briere
Tre/Tavares…. Yes re a Gino and/or Tanger type of deal; yes haircut in Cap and Sal…. $6 M….. 5 year max 👍👍👍👍. Incentivize (again) with massive SB’s …. League min for 5 years; $26 M in SBs spread out…. Max NT list in final year; of say 10 teams…. That way; after his final SB is paid…. Can be traded to 21 teams who only pay league min Sal for him
Dooby or Tre need to make a trade with Kyle Davidson for LaClapBomb Bardownski:
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/B7Q518XYo4s
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/B7Q518XYo4s
Gedderdone
Any ‘Misery’ to Pajama Boy is music to my ears…and I hope he never wins a Cup….
Ha ha…rent free islanders, rent free !
Andrei Vasilevskiy Out Two Months After Back Surgery
Vlader to the rescue!
That’s the one injury that Tampa cannot afford.
Ouch for Bolts
👏 for Leafs and Pens
Brisboise must get a goalie….Johannsson for two months might just be too many losses early…. Making Bolts bubble team come end of season
Dreiger (Krakken)…. 1 year left????
Buffalo has the best prospects in the league, if they wanted Zegras they could do it easy, they don’t want him
Tavares will be 35 when his contract expires. He will have slowed to a snails pace by then.
Time to move on from him.
F. Minten or some other younger option will be ready to take his place by then.