NHL Rumor Mill – November 20, 2023
Are the Sabres a fit for Patrick Kane? Could the Panthers pursue Nikita Zadorov? What’s the latest Canucks speculation? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
ARE THE SABRES A FIT FOR PATRICK KANE?
THE BUFFALO NEWS: In his latest mailbag segment, Lance Lysowski was asked why so many Sabres fans think Patrick Kane will sign with their club if he’s trying to latch onto a Stanley Cup contender.
Kane has links to his hometown Sabres including with Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams and head coach Don Granato. He noted that the club is among the few with the cap space, opportunity and supporting cast to entice the 35-year-old free-agent winger.
Free agent winger Patrick Kane (NHL Images).
However, Lysowski doesn’t see Kane selecting the Sabres unless they overpay or give him a multi-year contract. The latter scenario seems unlikely as they have several right-wing options for next season that include Alex Tuch, Jack Quinn and Matthew Savoie.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Sabres are among a handful of clubs (including the Carolina Hurricanes, Florida Panthers, Tampa Bay Lightning and Toronto Maple Leafs) that have been linked to Kane in the media rumor mill. He’s expected to decide by the end of this week as to where he’ll spend the rest of this season. The Sabres and Panthers have reportedly kept in touch with his camp since the summer.
COULD THE PANTHERS PURSUE ZADOROV?
FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW: In a recent mailbag segment, George Richards was asked if he thinks the Panthers will be in on Nikita Zadorov. The defenseman recently requested a trade from the Calgary Flames.
Richards believes the Panthers always have an interest in any player who could help them out. However, he doubts that they have what it would take to make a move for someone like Zadorov.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: That means depth in draft picks and prospects, something the Flames would want in return for Zadorov.
The Panthers have traded away their first-round picks for 2024 and 2025 as well as their 2024 second-rounder. Their prospect pipeline was ranked No. 23 by The Athletic back in August largely because of Anton Lundell’s success. They won’t part with Lundell as he’s a key part of their roster.
THE LATEST CANUCKS SPECULATION
THE PROVINCE: In a recent mailbag segment, Patrick Johnston was asked if the Canucks are continuing to search for more defensive depth with Carson Soucy sidelined for six to eight weeks.
Johnston noted that the Canucks were interested in the Flames’ Nikita Zadorov since before last summer’s draft. His teammate Chris Tanev loved his time playing in Vancouver and would probably welcome a return, especially with how well the Canucks are playing right now.
However, Johnston doesn’t believe the Flames want to trade either player to Vancouver. To make it work, the Canucks might have to find an Eastern Conference club willing to swing a three-team deal.
The Canucks would also like to add another winger or two. Conor Garland has been in the rumor mill for some time but no one’s sprung for him yet. If the Canucks could trade Anthony Beauvillier and his expiring contract, they could use the savings to add a more effective player to their lineup.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canucks strong performance of late means management doesn’t have to rush around trying to find a suitable deal this early in the season. They could end up having to wait until the calendar flips to 2024 before they start finding any suitable possibilities in the trade market.
“The rest of his season” for Kane could be about 3 games max. Any GM that either signs him to anything more than the absolute minimum for one year, even if they have cap space, or who moves out another asset in order to accommodate him, has s*&t -for-brains.”
Agreed. I think it’s kind of ridiculous that Kane is somehow shopping for the best offer from a legitimate contender. He should be hoping someone, *anyone*, will sign him on some kind of show me deal to prove he can still play after that surgery. (Ryan Kesler says hi.)
Curious to how it would play out, from a LTIR dollar perspective, if a team signs him to a deal, Kane plays a few games, and then is injured. Could his salary apply to the LTIR numbers? This could also benefit a club, like a Toronto or a Tampa Bay, that is bumping up against the cap.
Anyone familiar with the rules to know the answer to this?
It wouldn’t benefit a team like Toronto or anyone as they would have to fit Kane into their existing cap before he plays. If they sign him to a $2M contract, the need to make space for all of that $2M to fit before he plays game 1.
If he gets injured after a couple weeks and goes on LTIR for the rest of the season, a prorated portion of that $2M would come off the cap and they would be able to repurpose those funds to bring on another player, call someone up from minors, etc.
3 games? He might not last 3 shifts.
As per Zadorov- Is there a possibility Klingberg goes on LTIR
If so – Go for a mega deal with the Flames
2. Off topic – The Bruins are definitely a pleasant surprise – if “1” is trying to figure out the success, someone like me ??
Well there goals against – No close second – I can’t see them breaking up their goalie tandem
There is an awful lot of attention to be given to Zadorov as a third pair left D.Is he really any different than Derek Forbort of Boston?
Steve you’re 100% right with the only difference is that the talking heads mentioned how well he would fit in Toronto….boom the 3rd pairing d is a heavy hitting Bobby Orr!
Canucks are in a similar boat to a lot of teams. We need “this” kind of help and we have “these crap pieces” to get rid of. I’d love to say the GMs of this league are getting smarter about taking on crap expiring contract players or albatrosses from other clubs…..Like. Nobody wants Garland or Beuvilier. I do think there’s more than a few clubs that didn’t jump all over the Sens when they dangled Matthieu Joseph. He’s had a great start.
Sens offer Chabbot for Tyler Myers and one of the Canucks high prospects from the last couple years. Take your pick.
I’m not quite on the same page as George but I do agree a one year deal for Kane is probably best but if he does well and you want to keep him the next contract will triple. I think best fit may be Colorado or Vegas.
Curious to how it would play out, from a LTIR dollar perspective, if a team signs him to a deal, Kane plays a few games, and then is injured. Could his salary apply to the LTIR numbers? This could also benefit a club, like a Toronto or a Tampa Bay, that is bumping up against the cap.
Anyone familiar with the rules to know the answer to this?
Kane will not become injure, he is injured. He’ll feel spiffy for a handful of games and out he’ll go. I am with George 100%. If some idiot signs him….well, no amount of Pooph will fix that stink.
Wingnut my understanding is it always better not to be in LTIR because you cannot accumulate cap space/dollars for future moves. In one boat it saves you by replacing a player at equal or less cap hit but at the same time, you’re never going to get out of cap hell.
My guess with the Leafs is Klingberg will be shipped to Robidas Island. When I heard he couldn’t play in Sweden and the plane ride made it worse sounds like chronic back or hip pain/injury…aka he will never be close to 100% fit or healthy.
The Bruins will probably finish out the year with the 2 goalie system… but this will be broken up next offseason