NHL Rumor Mill – November 13, 2023
Catching up on recent speculation about the Penguins’ Rickard Rakell, the Jets’ Nino Niederreiter, and the Predators’ Yaroslav Askarov in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
COULD THE PENGUINS SHOP RAKELL?
PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: In a recent mailbag segment, Dan Kingerski was asked if the Penguins might attempt to trade Rickard Rakell. The winger is struggling to score with just three assists in 13 games. He’s in the second season of a six-year contract with an average annual value of $5 million.
Kingerski believes Rakell could end up on the trade block, not because of his slow start but due to his contract and style of play. He thinks the 30-year-old winger could have some value in the trade market.
Pittsburgh Penguins forward Rickard Rakell (NHL Images).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Despite Rakell’s slow start, he would have value in the trade market. He had 28 goals and 60 points last season.
Trading Rakell’s contract probably won’t happen during a season where so many clubs are pressed for cap space. With the salary cap projected to rise by at least $4 million for 2024-25, a better time to shop him would be next summer when teams have more cap space.
NIEDERREITER SEEKS LONG-TERM EXTENSION FROM THE JETS
WINNIPEG SUN: Scott Billeck recently reported sources said Jets winger Nino Niederreiter seeks a three-to-four-year contract extension beginning in 2024-25. His salary asking price is said to be between $4 million and $5 million annually.
Nieddereiter, 31, is in the final season of a two-year with an average annual value of $4 million. Rather than becoming an unrestricted free agent next July, he’d prefer re-signing with the Jets.
Billeck suggested Niederreiter’s former Minnesota Wild teammate Marcus Foligno as a comparable. Foligno recently signed a four-year, $16 million deal with the Wild. The Penguins’ Reilly Smith (three years, $15 million) is another.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Having recently signed Connor Hellebuyck and Mark Scheifele to expensive long-term contracts, the Jets signaled that they are in “win-now” mode. Given Niederreiter’s desire to stay in Winnipeg, it wouldn’t surprise me if they ink him to a deal comparable to Foligno.
SHOULD THE OILERS TARGET ASKAROV?
NASHVILLE HOCKEY NOW: Michael Gallagher responded to recent speculation by TSN’s Ryan Rishaug suggesting the Edmonton Oilers attempt to acquire Yaroslav Askarov from the Nashville Predators.
Askarov, 21, is playing very well for the Predators AHL affiliate in Milwaukee. Rishaug acknowledged his lack of NHL experience and the high cost of acquiring the promising goaltender. Nevertheless, he felt it could be worthwhile for the Oilers to dig into their assets to fix their goaltending.
Gallagher noted that Predators general manager Barry Trotz prefers to retain Askarov and starting netminder Juuse Saros. However, a source believes Trotz could move the youngster for the right offer, noting that he shopped Askarov leading up to this year’s draft in the hope of landing a top-five draft pick. Gallagher also noted that Trotz hopes to re-sign Saros to a long-term extension.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Trotz acknowledged he was willing to peddle Askarov to move up into the top five of this year’s draft. The reason was this draft was loaded with quality centers and that was an area he felt they had to address.
I don’t see Trotz moving Askarov until he gets Saros’ future sorted out. The Predators will have to start preparing Askarov as Saros’ heir apparent if the latter decides to test the 2025 free-agent market. Trade him away now and they’ll be left scrambling to find Saros’ replacement.
Askarov has plenty of potential but I don’t think he’ll fix the Oilers’ goaltending woes. They need an established NHL starter who has the experience to handle the workload and pressure.
Considering the blame game the Oilers’ front office is playing for firing Woodcraft, can they do anything to improve the team?
Although it’s a small sample size, Saros’ play so this season bears watching. In 12 games, his GAA is 3.24 and his save % is .894. He’s only 28 but he’s a mere 5-10 and 179 pounds. He’s played in 67 and 64 games the past two seasons. As I say, it’s a small sample size but it’s possible he’s showing the wear of playing so much with a slight physique. I expect Trotz is considering this if he ever thinks of trading him.
Rackell for Garland make sense to me
Woof. No spank you.
Rackell isn’t getting points but his line is playing great. He’s opening up space etc. he has chemistry as evidenced by malkins and smiths strong starts. Pens don’t move him unless it’s for a good return… which would be hard to get due to cap hit and lack of more tangible production. It’s a hang tight type of situation.
Good analogy Chrisma , I don’t watch the Pens so can;’t speak to his on ice contribution outside of point production. Just 5 mil @ 5 more years…..
Personally I think he’s just snake bit. But I’m also a pens fan do I also hope he’s only snake bit. But as I said. It’s not a dire situation do pens can wait it out at this point.
According to the Hockey Writer’s, that isn’t even considered as Pittsburgh’s worst contract
https://thehockeywriters.com/every-nhl-teams-worst-contract/
Hockey Writers consider Erik Karlsson’s contract the Penguins worst contract – hah – why? How about Jeff Carter’s contract or Tristen Jarry’s contract ??
Oh, I don’t know …. maybe because Karlsson will cost $10 mil per for 3 more seasons after this when he’ll be pushing 37, whereas Carter and his $3,125,000 cap hit is off the books at the end of this season.
As for Jarry, there are a number of teams with monumental goaltending issues who would give their eye teeth for one sporting a 2.23gaa and 0.920 save % after 10 games played. And that behind a spotty D. Even at his cap hit.
I don’t consider Rackell’s contract that bad. He’s in a slump. He has historically done pretty well.
Fergy…I agree with you fair swap…
Rakell for Zadorov.
Rakell for Zadorov makes a lot of sense with each teams needs!
This makes zero sense for the pens. They don’t have a replacement top 6 winger and their biggest need is top 9 talent.. which they can’t get due to cap space.
They seem to be doing ok of late “without” Rackell. Well at least with zero production from him so far this season. What team doesn’t need a big, hard hitting defenseman that battles every night?
The pens don’t need a guy who’s whining about being a bottom pair d man when he’d be in their bottom pair unless injuries. In fact unless a team has a glaring hole in their top 4 that they are willing to trade assets for a guy who hasn’t proven he belongs in that role then most teams don’t need it. He isn’t a fit at all on the pens.
Same old…This is another trade I would make I have been a big fan of Nikita Zadorov.
Calgary needs some scoring and someone not a UFA and Pittsburgh needs the toughness and stability on defense.
If the Flames are about to embark on a rebuild, I might venture to guess that the last thing they would want is a 30 year old with 5 years left on his contract a $5M per year?
If NJ really wants Zadorov:
Z + 4th for Bahl and Colin Miller
Then the Flames can trade Hannifin to AZ for all futures. A 1st and 2 2nds, or their equivalent.
I think there would even be more interest in Zadorov than Hanifin for various reasons.
Z is Big – 6’5” and can actually move . A definite mean streak and battles most nights. Very good in the bottom pair and only 28;. All that for a low low price of $3.5 m
Flames should get something of value in return
Except $3.5M is waaaay too much for a bottom pairing D. You can’t say he’s a top 4 when Calgary isn’t playing him there.