NHL Rumor Mill – October 26, 2023
In today’s NHL Rumor Mill: the latest Canadiens speculation plus a look at why the Jets didn’t opt for a rebuild during the offseason.
LATEST ON THE CANADIENS
MONTREAL HOCKEY NOW: Marco D’Amico recently noted that the Canadiens’ early-season injury woes provide them with an advantage in salary cap space.
The Canadiens have $15 million in relief space with Carey Price and Christian Dvorak on long-term injury reserve. Dvorak is expected to return to action in November but Kirby Dach’s season-ending knee injury would still ensure they have over $13 million in cap relief once Dach is placed on LTIR. Defenseman Chris Wideman is also out indefinitely and can also be placed on LTIR.
Montreal Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes (NHL.com).
D’Amico suggests the Canadiens could use this wiggle room to help teams shed some salary, like the Vancouver Canucks, Columbus Blue Jackets, Washington Capitals and Ottawa Senators. He noted that the Canucks’ Conor Garland, the Blue Jackets’ Adam Boqvist, the Capitals’ Anthony Mantha and the Senators’ Mathieu Joseph are all currently on the trade block.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: If Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes was inclined to help those clubs directly or as a third-party broker he’ll want them to include a draft pick or prospect as part of the return.
Hughes could keep his powder dry for now as he accrues cap space over the course of the season. Making an early-season move might bite into that when he could be in a good position to get a better return closer to the March 8 trade deadline.
THE FOURTH PERIOD: Dave Pagnotta recently noted the Canadiens recalled Joel Armia from their AHL affiliate in Laval. He pointed out that they attempted to trade the 30-year-old forward during the offseason and re-engaged in trade talks last week. Armia has a year remaining on his contract with an average annual value of $3.4 million.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Armia also lacks no-trade protection so the Canadiens can send him anywhere if they find a trade partner. His cap hit is difficult to move this early in the season with so many teams pressed against the $83.5 million ceiling.
Nevertheless, they could try to sweeten the deal by retaining part of his cap hit. They’re already retaining salary on Joel Edmundson and Jeff Petry for this season but have one retention spot left.
There’s a rumor flying around suggesting that the Canadiens could use Armia as a trade chip to broker a deal that would involve sending Vancouver Canucks winger Conor Garland to another NHL club. The Habs were a third-party broker in the August trade that sent Erik Karlsson from the San Jose Sharks to the Pittsburgh Penguins.
WHY DIDN’T THE JETS REBUILD THIS SUMMER?
TSN: Darren Dreger reported Winnipeg Jets co-owner Mark Chipman explained why his club opted to re-sign Connor Hellebuyck and Mark Scheifele rather than start rebuilding the roster this summer.
Chipman talked about how long it would take to stage a rebuild as well as the cost. Dreger indicated that it was decided that the market couldn’t sustain a historic rebuild and instead is investing in the here and now.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: That doesn’t bode well for the Jets’ long-term future unless they can draft and develop young players who transition well into their lineup. Enticing veteran talent via free agency or acquiring it via trade could prove difficult.
They’ll eventually need replacements for Hellebuyck and Scheifele when their skills inevitably decline in the coming years. Having both players under expensive long-term contracts will still take a big bite out of their cap space even with the cap rising significantly in the coming years.
The Jets seem to be hoping that their fans will return if the team plays better. If they don’t improve, however, their supporters could have less incentive to show up. In addition, the high cost of attending NHL games in the league’s smallest market is bumping up against the rising cost of living. If that cost remains high while the on-ice product stagnates, the Jets could be in a world of hurt in a few years.
I wouldn’t trade for Garland because he has term left after this year. Unless quite a sweetener is thrown in. I’d consider Mantha because he’ll be a UFA in July. If the sweetener is worthwhile. Boquist would be a good option as a hockey trade. He still had long term promise. I wouldn’t retain salary on Armia. Better to send him to minors and buy him out after the season. They’ll get nothing for him.
Big New out of Ottawa this am😳
Its Not the kind Senators fans wanted. Instead
of a New Contract,
The Young Senators forward Shane Pinto
will be Suspended 41 games by the National Hockey League for sports betting-related activity…‼️
Very disappointing as he has so much potential for a 1st year player getting 20 Goals
Now they would have to make a Jerk trade untill late January or February time….
I don’t know why you say that williew. I think it’s great how the Sens kept all this quiet and after thorough investigations he’s fine and will take his punishment like a man. The Sens can sign him after the suspension and by then the Sens will have the space to do it. The way I look at it, they are definitely making the best of an unfortunate circumstance.
I can’t believe how much we are consumed by nothing but sports betting, so much that years ago I brought up how bad it was getting to a point that they feed us betting odds in the guise of sports reporting and stats. Players are people too and like us, they can get into it very easily and like alcohol abuse, the league needs to look into this similarly because no one can say how negatively this betting BS is having on everyone.
Doesn’t he have to be signed to start the 41 game countdown?
I predict that the Jets will move, the market, unlike Phoenix, is just to small when it comes to large businesses willing to pay the big bucks for suites. Sad but true. This is also the reason why no team will ever move to Quebec
I think the Jets are doing the right thing by holding onto Schiefele and Hellebuyck. They still have several good years left and the Jets playoff window is still wide open. The Dubois trade had allowed them to work some youth into the lineup. Not time yet for a rebuild in Winnipeg.
I agree, its what happens after this window is closed that is the problem
Never mind rebuilding it s time to pack up and move!
Agreed.
I can not see the Jets surviving, long term, in Winnipeg.
There are numerous lucrative markets in the US looking to spend $1 billion or more to buy a franchise.
The 2 contracts that Winnepeg gave out signifies that they are on life support! The area is not a draw for any veteran looking for a change of scenery!With all the available and attractive markets in the US,not to mention the tax advantages this move is inevitable!
Shane Pinto be suspended by NHL for Gambling, Crazyness….
Yup. Sens won’t need to trade anyone to open the space for pintos contract for awhile. Wonder if that was the case for awhile.
I think this sheds a little more light on why the negotiations suddenly stalled… and maybe the Sens already knew something was in the pipes and that’s why they offered few details.
I wonder if this also changes their tune on whether to re-sign or trade his rights… Ottawa does not need another season with drama.
He the Saint,
I think they will definitely keep young Shane Pinto
Pinto is a big Strong winger that can also play the Centre position🤙🏿
Ron, i think this works out best for the sens right now they dont have to dump a player they dont want to loose…
I think if its any player it UFA forward
28 yr old RW/LW Dominik Kubalik’s
his salary is $2,500,000 for they year they can probliy get a 3rd round pick for him….⁉️
Curious – How can he be suspended if he’s not under NHL contract?
Unless the gambling was in the past while he was under contract and playing.
Great question.. but think because he is still in the NHLPA they can keep him from playing. Correct me if I’m wrong, you have to be union member to play? Agree very disappointing… solid season last year. He’ll land right side up.
And when does that suspension “begin” if he’s not signed? You would think the 41 game suspension begins once he’s under contract and on the roster.
The suspension starts as of Ottawa’s first game of the season. I read that Ottawa, Pinto and the NHL agreed on this.
A bit ironic , check the Pinto pic on TSN. Look at sticker on his helmet , BET 99. An online sports betting site.
fergy22, that’s what i was thinking! it’s amazing how every sport promotes gambling, then seems to be amazed that human beings succumb to the temptations of gambling? the avalanche games pre game and in-between periods discuss odds of who will get goals and who has the best odds to win the stanley cup, etc. Yet, we are all surprised that someone like Pinto gets caught up in this. It;s a big mistake to promote gambling and people don’t care until it somehow effects their lives, just like other addictions but drinking and gambling enjoy acceptable status in our society but we tend to forget the destruction in can bring?
Excellent comments tommy boy pro sports should have learned years ago with Alex Karras, Paul Horning, Pete Rose that bringing gambling mainstream was a rabbit hole that will never be closed. Same thing is happening in the NCAA with NIL deals. You cannot put the onus on young people with excessive spending money and expect them to resist temptation, especially when the adults than own the teams and run the universities can’t resist the money being thrown at them by the gambling industry. I believe this is just the beginning and there’s worse to come because the can of worms has been opened and won’t be closed because it can’t be closed.
Yep. And one of the greatest players to ever play the game of baseball is banned for life from the Baseball Hall Of Fame for “betting” without a shred of evidence that he ever made a bet on a team he played for or managed. And yet the hypocrites have allowed some of the most obvious racists to remain in the Hall.
George O, are you referring to Pete Rose? He admitted to gambling on baseball. He even admitted to gambling on his own team (but always betting on them to win, not lose).
Now if you are talking about Shoeless Joe Jackson, I agree with you.
Rumors that Ottawa has pulled offers and Pinto would need to sign QO to start suspension. Can’t serve until under contract.
The suspension began at the season’s start and he doesn’t need to be under contract either. He has 36ish games left and he can sign after the Dec15 deadline too.
Contrary to expectation, Pinto’s 41-game suspension has been applied retroactively to the Senators’ first game of the season, Friedman reports. That means the clock has already begun on his 41-game absence, and he does not need to sign a contract with Ottawa to begin serving the suspension. That means he will be eligible to return for Ottawa’s 42nd game of the season, a January 21 contest against the Flyers – assuming he’s signed to a contract by then. Coincidentally, Pinto will be eligible to play this season even if he does not sign a contract before the normal December 1 signing deadline for RFAs, says Friedman.
UN-FRICKIN_REAL!!!!!!!!!!!!
Total mishandling of a young asset who should have been signed months ago.
I think it’s sick that the league is so deeply in debt to gambling, before during and after games.
As fans we are constantly encouraged to bet on any and everything related to the game as opposed to actually enjoying the game.
I don’t know what Pinto did, I don’t like the Sens at all but this whole escapade smells bad for the kid.
I hope he can get out of there and get a fresh start to his career.
Wait… are you blaming the SENATORS organization for this? Man… you are the least level headed commenter I have ever come across. Your extreme bias is nauseating.
Ignore him theSaint. He has some giant bug up his butt when it comes to Ottawa.
George O this is my problem the NHL has said he didn’t bet on NHL games then why is he suspended, he’s of legal age to do what he wants within the laws of society, if he placed a bet in a casino at a crap table should he be suspended of course not this is simply the league trying to pretend that their greedy acceptance of gambling revenue is ok but we are still protecting the integrity of the game. Complete hypocrisy if it’s ok for owners it should be ok for the players if not get rid of gambling money altogether which won’t happen. Rules for thee but not for me.
the Saint,
I don’t blame the Senators for Pinto’s gambling related suspension, not that anybody knows what the kid actually did.
You appear to read my posts with preconceived notions.
I happen to like Shane Pinto and would love to see him become a Hab (no chance of it happening), and I think his treatment re contract has been shameful.
I’ve given my thoughts on Dorion’s mismanagement of cap, roster months ago.
I hope we find out a bit more on what he gambled on and sure we will. I hope he goes back on the NHL and says this is all he sees and hears about.
Every hockey game seems to promote this stuff and even his team and agent and not mention the league let him or ask him to support a gambling site.
hate to stick up for kids and dumb mistakes but this was going to happen and will again.
“I want to apologize to the National Hockey League, the Ottawa Senators, my teammates, the fans and city of Ottawa and most importantly my family. I take full responsibility for my actions and look forward to getting back on the ice with my team.”
https://www.nhl.com/senators/news/statement-shane-pinto#:~:text=Statement%20from%20Shane%20Pinto,the%20ice%20with%20my%20team.%E2%80%9D
The Pinto drama cast the spotlight back to K Subbans’ comments.It really is shameful that pro sports have become addicted to the income stream and show no remorse towards the damage being done. Perhaps a lawsuit or two with help them see the light.
I am putting this out to other Sens fans but have you heard that the Sens will lose their first round pick this year because of withholding information about Davydov and his no trade clause? This seems to be all over Sens rumour pages but I can’t find anything concrete.
Together with this is that Dorion will be fired and replaced by Peter Chirelli
I have not heard anything but I can honestly say I can see the path to both Dorion and Smith being shown the door before Christmas.
somehow Dorion just ended looking like a buffoon in front of the new owner, and it feels like DJ has just run out of time with this team. They need something new and fresh named Patrick Roy…
if the blue jackets were to package kent johnson and adam boqvist together what reasonable offer could they expect to get back