Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – September 24, 2023
Could the Hurricanes land Patrick Kane? Is a new contract coming for the Flames’ Mikael Backlund? Will the Canucks shed more contracts? Who could be a cost-cutting candidate for the Senators? Find out in the Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup.
COULD THE HURRICANES BECOME PATRICK KANE’S NEW TEAM?
SPORTSNET: That’s the question Ryan Dixon asked among his biggest questions for each team this season in the Metropolitan Division.
Patrick Kane is still rehabbing from an offseason hip resurfacing procedure. Dixon believes the Hurricanes are in no danger of missing the playoffs but felt they could use another offensive player to get them over the postseason hump.
Free agent winger Patrick Kane (NHL Images).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Dixon noted the Hurricanes’ experiment with Max Pacioretty last season failed when he was sidelined for all but five games by a twice-torn Achilles.
During the summer, Kane’s agent said his client was expected to be ready to return to action by December. By that point, he’s supposedly going to weigh offers from clubs that he believes will give him the best shot at winning the Stanley Cup.
The Hurricanes could be among that group as they’re considered among the Cup favorites. Finding the cap dollars, however, could be difficult as they’re entering the season with just over $920K in cap space.
IS A NEW CONTRACT COMING FOR BACKLUND?
CALGARY SUN: Wes Gilbertson reports there are rumblings of contract extension discussions heating up between the Flames and Mikael Backlund. The 34-year-old center is slated to become an unrestricted free agent next July.
“We’ll see what happens,” said Backlund on Saturday. “It’s pretty quiet right now, but we will see what happens. We haven’t made a decision yet.”
Gilbertson cited reports from earlier in the week suggesting Backlund is open to re-signing with the Flames. He also indicated that his teammates believe he should be wearing the captaincy. He noted that the Flames intend on naming a new captain before their season opener on Oct. 11.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: As Gilbertson pointed out, that date for naming their next captain could also be the deadline for getting a new contract done for Backlund if he is to wear the “C”.
MORE COST-CUTTING MOVES IN STORE FOR THE CANUCKS?
THE HOCKEY NEWS: In the wake of the Vancouver Canucks trading Tanner Pearson to the Montreal Canadiens, Jeff Paterson reported Canucks hockey ops president Jim Rutherford indicated his club is “probably a contract or two away” from unraveling their salary-cap issues.
Rutherford didn’t single out any specific contracts but Paterson believed he was referring to Tyler Myers, Brock Boeser and Conor Garland. Myers is on an expiring deal with an average annual value of $5 million, Boeser has two years remaining with an AAV of $6.65 million while Garland has three years left at $4.95 million AAV.
Paterson pointed out that Myers, Boeser and Garland have floated repeatedly in the rumor mill. However, Rutherford blames the flattened salary cap for the Canucks’ difficulty in shedding unwanted contracts.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Myers could still come off the Canucks’ books before the end of this season. All but $1 million of his $6 million AAV was paid out in a signing bonus. That could make him enticing for budget-conscious clubs seeking an experienced playoff rental defenseman.
If the Canucks still intend to move Boeser and/or Garland, they might have better luck next summer. That’s when the salary cap is projected to rise by at least $4 million.
WHO COULD THE SENATORS TRADE TO CLEAR CAP SPACE FOR PINTO?
SPORTSNET: Limited salary-cap space is complicating the Ottawa Senators’ efforts to sign restricted free-agent center Shane Pinto. They’d prefer not to part with the 22-year-old center, especially with Josh Norris starting training camp wearing a non-contact jersey.
They’ll have to trade somebody else to make room for Pinto. Mathieu Joseph keeps popping up as a trade candidate. The 26-year-old winger carries an annual cap hit of $2.95 million through 2025-26. They might have to include a sweetener in the deal to make it work.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The article also cited Elliotte Friedman saying the Philadelphia Flyers “have been buzzing around the situation.” It was rumored they (and the Boston Bruins) were interested in Pinto. Perhaps the rebuilding Flyers would take Joseph off the Senators’ hands if he comes with a pick or a prospect.
Outhouse to Penthouse for Backlund . Do you want to be here or not ? I think he is going to want north of $5m which is going to prove difficult. I would have traded him to Colorado .
I would take on Joseph . Young aggressive and can skate. Ideal third liner .
He s a very expensive 3rd line center and old at 34!I would think the Flames need to get younger at some point!
True, but as a third line C he is one of the best in the league. Can still skate and is often mentioned in Selke conversations, and point wise last season was his best
3rd line center that played 2nd most forward minutes for the Flames last year lead the team with plus 21 and was second fittest in fitness testing this year. He will easily play and be effective until around 40.
‘Nucks $2 M over for 23/23 contracts…. Includes Mikeyev (currently listed as IR on CapFriendly)
Easy solution forCap compliance
Retain 50% on Meyers
Middle team retains 50% of that (25%)
‘Nucks receive 7th rounder from middle team
Middle team gets 3rd (for retaining ~ 230 K [after escrow] cash)
Final team gets *Meyers at $1.5 M Cap hit (costing them only a 3rd)…. They only need at most $725 K in space (as Meyers must fill a roster spot [replacing at least a League min …. $775 K player]. Replacing any player earning more than League min… lessons the Cap space needed
*Meyers has a 10 team NTC….. but can easily be traded because there are many teams that still have $725 K (or more) in space; or who would make it work
For those that feel Jimbo & Patrick wouldn’t do this…. Cite recent lopsided trade just for ‘Nucks to be able to free up $1.4 M (this Meyers move frees up $3M and gains a 7th) …..
Last trade “sweetener”…3rd AND Pearson AND forced to take on DeSmith
Pengy, everyone around here (Canucks area) is crowning DeSmith as a solid veteran backup goalie. Personally I liked their existing options. I think Spencer Martin could easily rebound from last year’s horrid numbers, caused imho by the horrid team defense in front of him. Anyway, is DeSmith that bad?
Desmith had a bad year last year. A subpar year the year before. The previous couple years before that he was one of the better backups in the league. Last year the pens wernt great overall but desmith lost them games they should have won. I guess cross your fingers.
Hi IWMCB
Martin > DeSmith
Too many inopportune losses on DeSmith’s shoulders last couple of years
Anything can happen/change; but I’m not confident DeSmith is a fair back up this year
The trade was NOT for DeSmith; it was to clear Cap Space
The cost to clear $1.4 M was 3rd, Pearson, and being DeSmith forced onto ‘Nucks by Hughes
Habs (Hughes) won last couple of trades for sure
Re the Senators, the guy I’d try and peddle is Kubalik – one year at $2.5 mil before becoming a UFA. Much easier than trying to trade Joseph who has 3 years to go at $2,950,000 per. Kubalik did score 20 goals 25 assists over 82 games with Detroit and, as such, might find a taker without a sweetener needed.
It’s less about his value than teams knowing they need the cap space. Only a few teams have space so it’s a cap space sellers market.
Kubalik and a 4th to Anaheim for a 2nd
I wouldn’t unless I had to. I am a fan of Kubalik’s and think he was a stellar pickup.
Would Ottawa do something off the board and combine Hospeh and Pinto in a trade for another young player and draft pick. Perhaps The flier’s, Frost, for example. They could move Crieg up into Pinto’s position also have frost and create cap flexibility. Not ideal I know but is the options only to move Pinto or a guy like Joseph to sign Pinto?
I really wonder if Calgary could re-sign both Lindholm and Backlund and trade Kadri to Boston.
Lindholm and Backlund play 1st and 2nd line C, trade for a 3rd line C and ++
Kadri and Coranado for Geeke, 2025 1st (top 10 protected), Debrusk
Kadri has a Full NMC, but maybe be willing to go to Boston.
Johnny Z: Odds of that happening are slim and none.
1. Bruins aren’t trading DeBrusk.
2. Without DeBrusk going to Calgary, there is no way Kadri waives his NMC to join his “buddy” Jake in beantown.
3. Even if DeBrusk is traded, still don’t see Kadri wanting to play for the Bruins.
Well then trade Linholm and Hannifin to Boston!
Lindholm + Hannifin for (drum roll)
Debrusk, Forbert (salary), Geeke, Boqvist, Lysell and 2025 top 10 protected 1st
It is a lot, but Boston is in win-now mode and this would greatly enhance their team this year and next.
This puts Calgary in a quick retool.
I like that idea except for losing Coronato.
Rumor going around phone 📞 is lighting up in Boston teams wondering if Brandon Bussi is available? I say trade Linus keep the Sway man and the Bus