NHL Rumor Mill – October 10, 2023
What’s the latest speculation about Canucks center Elias Pettersson? Are the Bruins working on a trade? Could the Devils pursue a goaltender? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
LATEST PETTERSSON SPECULATION
SPORTSNET (via Jason Brough): In Monday’s “32 Thoughts” podcast, Elliotte Friedman talked about Elias Pettersson’s contract situation. The 24-year-old Vancouver Canucks center is slated to become a restricted free agent next summer with arbitration rights.
Vancouver Canucks center Elias Pettersson (NHL Images).
Friedman noted Pettersson stated in August that he wasn’t sure yet about signing a long-term extension with the Canucks. Since then, he thinks management has also indicated that they’re not sure yet either.
If there’s any doubt that Pettersson wants to commit to the Canucks, Friedman isn’t convinced that they want to make a commitment.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: One can’t fault Pettersson’s caution regarding a long-term commitment given the Canucks’ struggles over the course of his tenure thus far in Vancouver. He appears to be taking a wait-and-see approach to determine if there is a noticeable improvement in 2023-24 that puts them on the path toward being a contender.
The Canucks’ position is also understandable. They’ll want to see how well Pettersson plays and if he can build on last season’s 102-point breakout performance.
Some observers will view this as a standoff, anticipating that contract negotiations could get testy. However, it could also become much smoother than anticipated if Pettersson and the Canucks perform well over the course of this season.
It’s far too early to tell if this means Pettersson will never sign a long-term extension and will depart in a couple of years via free agency or a trade. Nevertheless, this situation will be worth monitoring over the course of the season.
BRUINS GM “WORKING THE PHONES”
BOSTON HOCKEY NOW: Jimmy Murphy reports an NHL executive source said Bruins general manager Don Sweeney was trying to make a trade over the weekend in order to fit rookie defenseman Mason Lohrei into the lineup.
The Bruins and all NHL teams had until 5 p.m. ET yesterday to submit their opening-night rosters. Sweeney admitted yesterday morning that they had one more roster decision to make before then, adding that the 22-year-old Lohrei made that decision more difficult.
Murphy noted that Sweeney had been gauging the trade market during the offseason for interest in Bruins defensemen Matt Grzelcyk and Derek Forbort.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Lohrei was ultimately sent to the Bruins’ AHL affiliate in Providence yesterday. However, don’t be surprised if this kid returns to Boston at some point during this season, perhaps as soon as Sweeney can swing a trade to free up space for him. Injuries to any of their blueline regulars will also ensure his recall.
DEVILS MONITORING THE GOALIE MARKET
NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: James Nichol cited Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman indicating that Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald has continued to look around in the goaltender market. The Devils are starting this season with the tandem of Vitek Vanecek and Akira Schmid.
Nichols doesn’t consider the search for a goalie to be imminent. He believes Fitzgerald will start the season with his current tandem to determine if the Devils will need an upgrade between the pipes before the March 8 trade deadline.
I think there is a limited market for Grizz and no market for Forbort. This is not the time to give up trade capital or to add a sweetener.
Both players have a salary cap over $3m only a handful of teams have the cap space.
Lohrie will have to wait for an injury or the Bruins put Forbort on waivers.
I think the Bruins and Flames might be talking about something.
So many rookies this year. It certainly is turning into a young man’s league.
A young man’s game on entry level or league minimum more like it. It’s a shame teams can trade cap space to lower a player’s high cap hit to another team like they can when they involve a third party team to retain cap hits of their deadline acquisitions. Trading picks for space should be allowed not only when trading for players but more importantly, keeping them.
They need to fix this bad cap before more good teams suffer the same fate as Tampa has.
This year is yielding a stellar rookie crop. Too many to list.
My pick is Cooley if Bedard is upset somehow. There are always surprises