NHL Rumor Mill – October 18, 2023
What’s the latest Patrick Kane speculation? Could the Jets attempt to acquire Canucks winger Conor Garland? Which member of the Ducks could attract the most interest by the March trade deadline? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
LATEST ON PATRICK KANE
TSN: Pierre LeBrun reports Pat Brisson, the agent for free-agent winger Patrick Kane, said his client is progressing well in his recovery from offseason hip surgery. He could be medically cleared to resume playing in early-to-mid November.
Free agent winger Patrick Kane (NHL Images).
Brisson indicated that he doesn’t want to start speaking with teams until Kane is cleared to return or close to being cleared. About a dozen teams reached out on July 1 asking to be kept in the loop and several clubs have kept in touch.
DAILY FACEOFF: Frank Seravalli reports that it’s still open speculation as to where Kane might end up once he’s ready to return. The Buffalo Sabres, New York Rangers and Detroit Red Wings could be among the suitors.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: We’re now getting a clearer picture of when Kane will be ready to return to action. Until then, it’s anyone’s guess where he’ll end up.
This isn’t the first time we’ve heard the Sabres, Rangers and Red Wings mentioned as possible suitors or destinations for the future Hall-of-Famer. The Florida Panthers reportedly expressed an interest in him back in July while the New Jersey Devils and Vegas Golden Knights have also come up as possible landing spots. I’ve previously gone over my pros and cons of each club.
I daresay we’ll probably start hearing more about where Kane might land once the calendar flips to November.
COULD VILARDI INJURY PROMPT THE JETS TO PURSUE GARLAND?
WINNIPEG SUN: Scott Billeck noted that Jets winger Gabriel Vilardi suffered an apparent leg injury in Tuesday’s loss to the Winnipeg Jets. If the 23-year-old Vilardi is out for an extended period of time, Billeck believes it’ll be interesting to see how general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff addresses the issue.
The Jets were mentioned last week as a possible trade destination for Conor Garland. Billeck observed that the chatter linking them to the Vancouver Canucks winger had died down in recent days but a long-term injury to Vilardi could change that.
If Vilardi ends up on long-term injury reserve, it would free up some cap space to fit the 27-year-old Garland into the Jets’ lineup. The Canucks are believed willing to retain up to 30 percent of his $4.95 million average annual value. He’s signed through 2025-26.
Billeck also speculated that Cheveldayoff could look east toward the Ottawa Senators. They’re trying to free up cap room to re-sign restricted free agent Shane Pinto. It’s rumored winger Mathieu Joseph ($2.95 million annually through 2024-25) could be available.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Joseph would be more affordable in terms of salary and return for the Jets if Vilardi ends up sidelined for a long period of time. We should learn more about his status in the next couple of days.
WHICH DUCKS COULD BE MOVED BY THE TRADE DEADLINE?
THE ATHLETIC: In his 10 questions for the Anaheim Ducks in 2023-24, Eric Stephens wondered which players could be shopped by the March 8 trade deadline.
Stephens believes Adam Henrique would be their most attractive trade chip. He’s on an expiring contract and scored 20 goals in 62 games last season.
Winger Jakob Silfverberg is also a pending UFA but it wouldn’t be shocking if he finishes the season in Anaheim and returns to his native Sweden. Defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin is another UFA after this season.
If Billick is reporting, you can ignore the information.
Tripper it’s not reporting. Just merely speculation and throwing sh!t out there.
Not one single insider broke the news of both Hellebuyck and Scheifele new contract. They found out when we found out.
Fair point, he’s not a reporter, he’s a speculator.
Winnipeg should not accept a trade or trade for Garland…no need for smallish forwards…they should let this team mesh for a while and work on their defence
Tough luck for Vilardi, fresh start and he will likely go on IR. Jets can get Kubalik from Ottawa on the cheap , say a 4th or 5th pick
Hey Fergy,
I think Your right there, the Jets could pick up The LW, RW Real Cheap in Dominik Kubalik👍
this year his salary is $2.5 mill for the rest of the year then he is a UFA
over the past 4 season he has scored on average
20 goals…..
The Jets could use him and im sure they could get him for a 4th pick and its good deal for the sens they free up $$ to re-sign Pinto….🤔
If KLINGBERG were put on waivers would the LEAFS cap hit be lessened ?
I believe the contract would count for only only $3.023 against the cap because sending to the minors would reduce the cap hit by $1.125 I think it still is.
I wonder why you think the Leafs would waive Klingberg? In 3 games he has 3 assists, is -1, and is playing over 22 minutes a night. I’ve watched two games and thought he looked pretty good.
Klingberg is needed in TO. Reilly lost his puck touch somewhere
Trying to figure out why anybody would trade for Garland..
5 million for a whole lot of nothing.
I agree Ron. I don’t think anyone is thinking that adding him would make any real difference, even with some salary retention. Someone might be interested as long as there is a significant sweetener attached, but that’s it.
Mathieu Joseph has actually had a great start to the year and he had a good camp. I wager Pierre Dorion would much rather dump Kubalik.
Kubalik and Brannstrom with a 4th for a 2nd rounder is very much a possibility
Deal.
I’m not sure what, beyond ego is keeping Dorion from making a move at this point.
The ego would need to concede:
He has mismanaged things slightly.
1.The Joseph deal was too much – he likes the player but likes Pinto more.
2.Brannstrom has never materialized as the “proudest moment of his career” in the Mark Stone trade. And really isn’t good enough.
3. Yzerman hoodwinked him and snuck a dud Kubalik deal into the DeBrincat trade.
Pretty sure what’s stopping him is teams with cap space are demanding sweeteners. That’s the market.
I’d be good with this , but it’s going to look bad on PD’s resume.
There’s no way that deal happens. Why would Dorion give away both? And a right handed d-man who has been getting better every year is worth way more than that. Dealing Brannstrom would make a decent hole on the third pairing with losing D-depth. There’s no way dorion makes a deal like that.
Lots of people were criticizing Dorion for his handling of the situation, but now that Norris is back, the line-up is looking solid without Pinto. Injuries to the Sens or other teams was going to happen, and now he can let other teams come to him.
Great GMing in my opinion.
Dark G, you sound like a leaf fan the way you criticize Dorion. None of things you say are true. Joseph had a down year last year, but he’s playing up to his contract to start this year.
Kubalic on a line with Norris and Batherson will be sizzling (especially considering this is their 3rd line). Remember, Kubalic was 4th in scoring for the Wings last year, so hardly a throw-in.
Lastly, Brannstrom is playing great hockey. They made sure not to rush him like they did Ceci, and he’s in a perfect spot to continue developing. Suggesting he’s going to be above the current top 4 is a far fetch.
All in all, Dorion is doing great, and with 5 million coming off the books next season and the cap going up, he’ll have lots of room to maneuver.
Owen , Brannstrom is ok as a 5-6, the organization has depth in Belleville and coming up in the ranks , Donovan will soon be in the discussion. I think Brannstrom’s time in Ottawa is limited.
You might be one of the few people in Ottawa who think Dorion is doing a great job. He F’d up not getting Pinto locked up.
If I’m Ottawa,
I’m trading Dominik Kubailik $2.5M 1st as a forward ….?
and
2nd choice RD/LD man
Eric Brannstrom, the LD/RD man @ $2,M
But as a forward Kubalik could fit in lots of top six rolls as a LW/RW on most teams…..
As the season gos on November well will see a deal go down for a pick for one of these guys
Then they can get pinto signed…..🤙
I would agree with Branstrom, that after this year, it will be tough to keep him if they resign Chychrun. But to give him up this year would be risky.
I think you it’s much to early to judge Dorion. Personally, I think he’s assembled a great team, and if they can stay healthy and get decent goaltending, they are going to be tough to beat with or without Pinto.