NHL Rumor Mill – October 19, 2023
An update on the Hurricanes’ Brett Pesce, concerns over the Kings’ goaltending and a suggestion about a recent Vezina Trophy winner as a trade option for the Lightning in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
UPDATE ON BRETT PESCE
CAROLINA HOCKEY NOW: Bryant Baucom recently cited The Fourth Period’s Dave Pagnotta claiming the Hurricanes management hoped to get Brett Pesce signed to a contract extension worth between $4 million and $5 million annually during the offseason.
Pesce, 28, is slated to become an unrestricted free agent next July. Pagnotta claimed the blueliner wants to stay in Carolina and management still hopes to get him under contract.
Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Brett Pesce (NHL Images).
With the salary cap set to rise significantly for next season, Baucom suggested there’s a chance to extend a more reasonable offer to Pesce. He felt that the blueliner would likely seek something around the $7 million range. If Pesce is re-signed, it would likely mean the end of Brady Skjei’s tenure with the Hurricanes
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Hurricanes have over $32 million in projected cap space for 2024-25 but just nine active roster players under contract. Martin Necas and Seth Jarvis are restricted free agents in line for healthy raises as well next season. Management must also re-sign or replace pending UFAs such as Teuvo Teravainen, Antti Raanta and Jordan Martinook.
GOALTENDING COULD BECOME AN EARLY PROBLEM FOR THE KINGS
DAILY FACEOFF: Frank Seravalli suggested that goaltending could be an early-season issue for the Los Angeles Kings. Their tandem of Cam Talbot and Pheonix Copley struggled through the club’s first two games with Talbot giving up four goals in a 5-2 loss to Colorado and Copley allowing five in a 6-5 shootout loss to Carolina.
Seravalli acknowledged Copley’s record last season (24-6-3) was “pretty damn good” but his underlying numbers were not. The oft-injured Talbot, meanwhile, was not very good last season with the Ottawa Senators even when healthy.
Kings GM Rob Blake will likely be patient but Seravalli speculates he could start seeking help between the pipes if Talbot and Copley fail to improve.
Montreal’s Cayden Primeau, Philadelphia’s Felix Sandstrom or Samuel Ersson could be trade or waiver options. Calgary’s Dan Vladar could be available for a second-round draft pick or perhaps they could look into signing free agent Jaroslav Halak.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Talbot was solid in the Kings’ 5-1 win over the Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday, finishing with 27 saves and a .963 save percentage. A few more games like that could alleviate that concern about their goaltending. Nevertheless, this situation could be worth keeping an eye on in the coming weeks.
COULD THE BRUINS OFFER UP ULLMARK TO THE LIGHTNING?
THE HOCKEY NEWS: With Tampa Bay Lightning starter Andrei Vasilevskiy sidelined until early December, Stan Fischler recently suggested the possibility of the Boston Bruins offering up Linus Ullmark to the Bolts. He noted the Bruins have been grooming backup Jeremy Swayman as their future starter. However, sources informed Fischler that Lightning GM Julien BriseBois has no plans to trade for a goalie.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Bruins have no intention of trading Ullmark this season as they prefer to keep their award-winning goalie tandem intact. Besides, he carries a 16-team no-trade clause this season along with a $5 million cap hit that would be tough to move at this stage in the season.
Even if Ullmark was available, the Lightning couldn’t afford to acquire him. Yes, they have $7.7 million in cap space with Vasilevskiy on LTIR but they must become cap-compliant when he’s ready to return to action. Besides, the Bruins’ asking price would likely be too expensive for the Bolts, who don’t have much trade capital in terms of draft picks and prospects.
The rumor people rarely factor in teams ability to take on cap money when they’re already above or up against the cap. Great for clicks though.
I’m no Cam Talbot fan but he can be good with a good defense. To be fair to the Kings goalies, those two Stanley Cup finals projected teams they lost to. Might be more of the whole team needing to play tighter against better opponents.
Even during his short stay in Ottawa he played reasonably well, considering all the other factors that go into each game … when he was available to play that is. Unfortunately, he was Matt Murray Part Deux.
No No no! not you to Lyle! these baited tidbits
suggestion about a recent Vezina Trophy winner as a trade option for the Lightning in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
All headlines now are click bait to see what behind the message.
as a bruins fan i would rather bruins keep their goalie tandem and once again have one of the best defensive teams in nhl
👍👍👍
Stan Fischler is still writing somewhere?
What do you think headlines are? They’re to entice you to read the story!
Pesce is not signing below $6.25M.
Would have to agree on that unless they have some hidden photos 😎
Re; Brett Pesce
There will be lots of interest in Canes d/man 6.ft 3
big shut down RD/man as a UFA
Edmonton for one there has been chatter about him for the past 4-5 months, Nurse need a better d/man partner then RD Cody Ceci…….🤔
Pesce was given permission to speak to other clubs this past off season and his only interest was Nashville, Buffalo, and Dallas. The fact all Canadian teams were on his 15 team M-NTC makes Edmonton not a option. Pesce found out his value and now wants to stay as second pair 29yr old RHD that hasn’t scored over 30 points in a season doesn’t have the value he thought me might.
IF Arvidson wasn’t on LTIR Ullmark to LA would make sense.
Ullmark for Talbot and Arvidson(UFA)
Could LA take him off LTIR and trade him then BOS put him on LTIR?
It does not matter he is on LTIR. He can still be traded by kings But pretty sure bruins would want a ctr not a wing if they ever decide to move Ullmark
I would not take that deal for Ullmark,
for 30 yr old UFA Viktor Arvidsson
and
Cam Talbot is washed up goaltender…
Boston can do way better that that…
dont even know if they will deal him this season…🤔
trade Ullmark and Debrusk to Kings for Kempe and Michael Anderson
If the Bruins trade Ullmark it’s not for other teams trash. Neither player you mentioned is a fit or worth Ully lol the only need the Bruins have is a top line center so go thinking they would be dumb enough to help another team out lol
I don’t think you are going to get a top line center for Ullmark, goalies don’t usually get large returns back.
I think that the Bruins would consider trading Ullmark if it were up to them and not limited by the 16 team no -trade list. The Bruins have Swayman who they like for now and the future and Bussi as a prospective back-up. In return they would probably like prospects and an established forward preferably a center.
ullmark for stamkos
I feel like….more needs to be added there. But for whom? Who has more value?
What happens when Vasilevskiy returns from LTIR ?
Exactly Fergy22, that is why it makes no sense. I dunno Dark G, what are tenders worth?
Chrisms is right when he says only once has a goalie been traded for a first, and that was Schneider and it happened on the draft floor right before the 9th pick, so VCR knew who they were drafting. I forget who posted it the other day, but when do you ever see Vezina winning tenders traded? Tough to pull that trigger I would think. So not much history to work with.
Can’t see Stamkos leaving TB? Captain of 2 cup winning teams? Methinks they work it out from year to year, like Bergeron and the B’s did.
Word is Kaiden Guhle is day to day. Thankfully not more serious. Caught a break there.
Ullmark isn’t going anywhere, only players the Bruins might trade during the season are Grzelcyk or Forbert