NHL Rumor Mill – September 9, 2023
Patrick Kane in Detroit doesn’t make sense, the Senators and Canucks could be busy soon in the trade market, and the projected date of the 2024 trade deadline is revealed. Check out the latest in the NHL Rumor Mill.
NO KANE FOR THE RED WINGS?
THE HOCKEY NEWS: Sam Stockton dismissed a report claiming Patrick Kane could sign with the Detroit Red Wings to play alongside Alex DeBrincat, his former linemate with the Chicago Blackhawks.
Free agent winger Patrick Kane (NHL Images).
Stockton duly noted the report by Chicago Daily Herald’s John Dietz, who cited a source close to Kane claiming the winger would sign with the Red Wings to be reunited with DeBrincat. He also noted Dietz added a qualifier that there would have to be mutual interest from the Red Wings for this to happen.
According to Stockton, any reunion of Kane and DeBrincat in Detroit would lean heavily on nostalgia. He pointed out that the New York Rangers bringing in Kane late last season failed to recreate the offensive chemistry the winger once had with Artemi Panarin during the latter’s tenure with the Blackhawks.
Kane’s health and age are also factors that would work against it. Stockton pointed out that TSN’s Chris Johnston indicated the future Hall-of-Famer wants to see which teams will be the best fit when he’s fully recovered from his June hip resurfacing.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Prior to Dietz’s report, most in the media believed Kane’s preference would be signing with a club that would give him the best chance of winning the Stanley Cup this season. If that’s the case, the Red Wings won’t be on his radar unless they break out like the New Jersey Devils did last season.
COST-CUTTING MOVES COMING FOR SENATORS AND CANUCKS?
SPORTSNET: In his latest “32 Thoughts” podcast, Elliotte Friedman suggested the Ottawa Senators and Vancouver Canucks could be worth watching as the start of training camp on Sept. 21 draws near.
The Senators are pressed against the $83.5 million salary cap with restricted free agent center Shane Pinto to re-sign. Pinto, 22, is coming off his entry-level contract and carries little leverage. He’s also not eligible to receive an offer sheet as he’s on a 10.2 (c) contract, meaning he didn’t accrue a sufficient number of NHL games played to become eligible for Group 2 RFA status.
Meanwhile, the Canucks could be looking at clearing some cap room as winger Tanner Pearson is expected to be healthy for the coming season after missing most of 2022-23 with an injured hand. He carries an average annual value of $3.25 million.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’ll be interesting to see how both clubs handle this. They could free up some space by placing some players on waivers or demoting them to their farm team. Dumping salary through trades is another option.
Senators forward Mathieu Joseph popped up in this summer’s rumor mill as a trade candidate. He has an AAV of $2.95 million and is under contract through 2025-26.
Moving Pearson and his cap hit could be difficult given he’s coming off a serious injury. Wingers Brock Boeser ($6.65 million AAV) and Conor Garland ($4.95 million) have been mentioned in the past as trade possibilities but I doubt the Canucks will try to move either guy in this situation.
Canucks defenseman Tyler Myers is another frequent subject of trade rumors but his $6 million cap hit for this season and his 10-team no-trade clause are big obstacles. There was speculation of a deal that would send him to the San Jose Sharks on Sept. 15 once his $5 million signing bonus was paid by the Canucks. We’ll find out soon enough if that’s the case.
2024 NHL TRADE DEADLINE REVEALED
THE ATHLETIC: Pierre LeBrun reports the 2024 NHL Trade Deadline is projected to be Friday, March 8, 2024.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Mark your calendars, folks. You can turn this into a nice long weekend if you can get the time off from work or school.
Is Kane ready to take a minimum contract to be on a contender? Or is he willing to go to a bubble club and make more money that will deal him at the TDL to a bonified contender? Picking the SCF team in late November or December could be iffy, but being dealt to a league leading team in March is a lot more promising!
That’s funny Lyle because I always make the trade deadline a long weekend.
Let’s move the deadline back to Wednesday and make it a really long weekend.
The trend will continue over from last year and some players will be given away. Like Pacioretty to Carolina in 22’. Didn’t work out but nonetheless
P.Kane not back until Dec. might as well save a move and sign direct. It is a crap shoot anyway. See Boston and Florida last year.
There comes a time in every players’ career where it’s time to go home. Patrick Kanes’ time has come. Let the next generation of players take their turn. I’m sure there are plenty out there just waiting. By the time Kane gets up to speed the season will be almost over. His surgery was serious enough that it will take 4 to 6 months to recover. That’s a long time to be away from the game. I would move on from him if I’m the manager…..but what do I know?
I wouldn’t rule out a return to Rangers for Kane. He pretty much forced his way onto team last deadline with NY basically playing short handed for a couple weeks to create cap space. I don’t think money will be an issue, especially considering he won’t even be playing a full season. (Wheeler signed cheap)Playing through injury last season, he still put up 12 points in 19 regular season games in NY. 6 points in 7playoff games. Kane and NY have a chip on shoulders after disappointing way season ended. There’s a few months for guys like Laf and Kakko to step up and secure a top 6 role. Who knows what kind of injuries happen between now and then. Still, if Kane is willing to play at minimum salary, I don’t see why Drury wouldn’t want him back.
Dorion throwing cap room at Tarasenko without tending to his young players first in which the Sens are now in a cap pinch with Forsberg declaring he’s healthy and Norris can’t be injured forever. Should he have to trade a player like Pinto he needs fired for being not qualified to be a GM of a NHL team.
As long as Norris and Stutzle hold down the 1 and 2 C spots, Pinto will always be slotted in at # 3. And you simply cannot have a 3rd line C with those minutes making anywhere near $4.5 to 5 mill off the cap – which is likely what he is seeking (and I don’t blame him). Not when you have someone like Ridley Greig, still on his ELC deal and who many within the system feel is as good if not better than Pinto, perfectly capable of handling the 3rd line duties.
That doesn’t mean Pinto is not a good player – he’d be top 2 on several teams, and as a C – always in demand – he’d get a good return that wouldn’t include a veteran salaried player – more in the nature of a high draft pick and/or a good prospect.
As for Formenton, don’t hold your breath waiting to see him in a Senators jersey ever again. That ship has sailed. Indeed, until we see the final report and recommendations on the sex scandal issue, there is a very real possibility that
Batherson could be implicated. There were EIGHT involved, after all. And since most have issued statements denying their presence, SOMEONE is lying through his teeth.
At the moment, CapFriendly shows them with just under $900,000 in cap space and that includes the cap hit of Norris and Forsberg – for a roster total of 20 with RFAs Pinto and Sokolov still to sign. So, yes, some roster changes are in store and those will be accomplished as necessary once a final decision is made on Pinto’s future in Ottawa.
Relax.
Yup! WJC report come out, Batherson takes a bath and is suspended, Pinto resigned at 4 x $4.75M.
Hi George. Just an fyi. Apparently I owe you an apology. So I’m sorry pal. You had people worried though. Time to bust out mark Twain again