NHL Rumor Mill – October 1, 2023
Are there Atlantic Division teams that could pursue Patrick Kane? Are the Senators any closer to signing Shane Pinto? Will the Canucks trade Tyler Myers? Find out in the Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup.
ATLANTIC DIVISION TEAMS PURSUING PATRICK KANE?
DETROIT HOCKEY NOW: Kevin Allen cited hockey insider Pierre McGuire telling Montreal’s TSN 690 last Thursday that three Atlantic Division clubs are keeping tabs on Patrick Kane.
Kane, 34, underwent a hip resurfacing procedure in June with a recovery period of four-to-six months. His agency released a video last week showing him rehabbing and performing skating drills.
Free agent winger Patrick Kane (NHL Images).
McGuire believes that the Detroit Red Wings, Buffalo Sabres and Toronto Maple Leafs could be a fit for Kane. He believes the future Hall-of-Famer could make a “massive difference” to the Red Wings, who acquired his former Chicago Blackhawks teammate Alex DeBrincat in a July trade with the Ottawa Senators.
Allen noted that the Red Wings have $5.1 million in salary-cap space while the Sabres have $8.7 million. The Leafs, however, don’t have any cap space remaining. He also pointed out that it was reported that Kane was interested in reuniting with his old linemate DeBrincat.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Leafs would have to shed sufficient cap space for Kane. Given the uncertainty over their blueline and goaltending depth, I don’t think they’re going to be serious suitors once he’s ready to return to action.
As I’ve said before, Kane playing for his hometown Sabres makes a great story but they’re loaded with plenty of scoring punch. Goaltending is a big question mark for them so they shouldn’t waste their cap space on something they don’t need.
The Red Wings could be a more suitable destination for Kane but his agent indicated during the summer that his client would evaluate offers from teams that would give him the best chance to win the Stanley Cup. With all due respect to the Wings, they haven’t even proven yet that they’re a playoff contender. Unless Kane doesn’t get any offers from Cup contenders, Detroit might not be on his list.
BOSTON HOCKEY NOW: Jimmy Murphy contacted McGuire on Friday to find out if the Bruins might also be among Kane’s potential Atlantic Division suitors.
“Hard to think that he would come to Boston,” replied McGuire. “They are a team that is going into a mini rebuild.” He also noted that Kane needs to be healthy if he’s to help any team.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Bruins’ biggest need could be shoring up their top two centers if Charlie Coyle and Pavel Zacha should struggle in those roles. They also lack the cap space to outbid other clubs for Kane’s services.
SENATORS AND PINTO GROWING APART IN NEGOTIATIONS
SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman reports the gap between the Ottawa Senators and restricted free agent Shane Pinto has widened. Sources said the 22-year-old center was disappointed with a recent offer in the one-year, $1-million range.
The Senators are pressed for cap space while Pinto lacks arbitration rights and is ineligible to receive an offer sheet. They’ve been attempting to move another contract to free up cap space to sign Pinto, who’s believed seeking a salary in the range of $2.5 million.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: I don’t blame Pinto for being disappointed with that offer. He’s coming off a 20-goal season that had him finishing fifth among NHL rookies in that category last season. His camp has reportedly cited Philadelphia Flyers center Morgan Frost as a comparable. The 22-year-old Frost inked a two-year, $4.2 million contract ($2.1 million average annual value) on Sept. 6.
Pinto’s not making an unreasonable request. The fault here lies with general manager Pierre Dorion for spending $5 million on a one-year contract for Vladimir Tarasenko before signing Pinto or ensuring he’d have enough cap space for the latter.
LATEST ON TYLER MYERS
SEKERES & PRICE: During an interview last Tuesday, Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli said he doesn’t see the Vancouver Canucks moving Tyler Myers anytime soon. There was anticipation of a trade after he received his $5 million signing bonus on Sept. 15 but nothing materialized.
Seravalli believes the Canucks want their team to be as competitive as possible this season. Keeping Myers among their top-six defenseman will help them plus he could potentially be a worthwhile bargaining chip at the trade deadline.
Regarding rumors in July of a trade sending Myers to the San Jose Sharks, Seravalli believes it was to be a one-for-one deal involving winger Kevin Labanc.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: It sounds like the Canucks may have had second thoughts about moving Myers to free up cap space. Since July, they got additional cap room with Tucker Poolman going on LTIR, trading Tanner Pearson to Montreal and having Spencer Martin plucked off waivers by Columbus.
This season is in all likelihood Myers’ last with the Canucks. He’s an unrestricted free agent at season’s end and is a defenseman in decline. Still, they could try to move him near the trade deadline if they’re out of playoff contention at that point.
Rumor has it that if Thompson clears waivers, that he and Joseph go to the Sharks for a 6th or 7th.
This also makes sense because the Sharks just claimed Ty Emberson, a RD, off waivers, and are NO longer pursuing Tyler Myers, another RD.
Stashing Thompson in the AHL now makes perfect sense.
Interesting if Thompson clears the whole league . If claimed the team has 30 days to send him down without clearing again. That gets us into a couple weeks of the season.
I would grab him what the hell
Tarasenko would not have been available by now. Pinto is and that is why Dorian did it in the order he had to. You could always give Joseph away
Dorion literally threw money at Tarasenko for 1 yr knowing Pinto was a higher priority longterm and now Pinto gets $2.1m for minimum term and says goodbye…Can’t blame him..Tarasenko only signed because Dorion went high on the offer and wasn’t on his contenders list, if I were Pinto I demand a trade and leave Dorion with a gaping hole down the middle.
Rob – gaping hole?? Norris is # 1 – he’ll be back – and Stutzle # 2 – with Ridley Greig (on his ELC) already regarded as just as good – if not better – at C than is Pinto. They also have natural C Claude Giroux. Hardly a “gaping hole.”
Would you, as a GM, pay a C ticketed to be the # 3 C somewhere in the area of $4.25 mil? I sure as hell wouldn’t.
Right now, with their cap where it is – Pinto becomes one of THE best trade commodities on the market – and not for a term/salaried player, but rather a high pick and a good prospect at another position.
Relax.
Rob, not only did he throw money at Tarasenko, he didn’t and doesn’t need him.
Pinto filled the 2C role already and isn’t asking for the moon, should have locked him up months ago instead of creating an own goal.
At 2.1-2.5 that Pinto is looking for, her’s a solid asset , perfect to have on your team if Norris goes down again and cheap insurance if he doesn’t.
Well George already covered my points so I have nothing to add haha.
I wonder if the Sens should look at dangling someone like Batherson. Not ideal I know especially since Tarasenko is likely here only a year.
But honestly Dorion should give Philly Detroit’s #1 if that is what they want. Lottery protect it and claw back a pick as well.
Jospeh and a top 10 or 5 protected 1rst round pick. Should allow them to get this deal done. Bring back a 2nd round or 3rd pick.
I don’t know if anyone is going to show interest in Batherson while that whole 2018 Canada junior scandal is still waiting for resolution.
I fully agree with Frank on Myers, I think he’s a big body defensemen and come trade deadline time if the Canucks are out of a playoff race they’ll likely get a 2nd pick for Myers from a top team which might be in the 50-64 draft position.
Canucks haters always laugh at that though
I don’t see much of Myers , but his play at this past WHC was appalling.
Watching him on the ice was cringe worthy and the Canucks couldn’t move him for a bag of hockey pucks.
Seems to me that Tyler Myers has been “a defenseman in decline” since his second year in Buffalo (2010).
Anaheim Ducks Claim Lassi Thomson From Ottawa Senators
hearing detroit offering joe v. and a mid round draft pick for shane pinto