NHL Rumor Mill – December 21, 2023
The holiday roster freeze is in effect from Dec. 20 – 27 but that hasn’t stopped the trade and free-agent speculation. Here’s the latest on the Senators plus updates on Corey Perry and Andrei Kuzmenko in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
LATEST ON THE SENATORS
TORONTO STAR: Nick Kypreos wonders if it could be long before the Ottawa Senators decide to become sellers leading up to the March 8 trade tradeline. If they go that route, Kypreos wouldn’t be surprised if Jakob Chychrun resurfaces in trade talks.
Kypreos noted that there are several teams (Toronto Maple Leafs, Vancouver Canucks, Edmonton Oilers, Winnipeg Jets and Dallas Stars) in “dire need of shoring up their blueline for a playoff run.”
Ottawa Senators defenseman Jakob Chychrun (NHL Images).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Chychrun was the subject of two years of trade speculation before he was acquired by the Senators before last season’s March trade deadline.
I would have my doubts about the Senators moving Chychrun if Pierre Dorion was still the general manager. With Dorion gone, perhaps it’s not that far-fetched if they go into sell mode in the New Year. Interim GM Steve Staios wouldn’t have the same attachment to the current players on this roster.
Chychrun still carries an affordable $4.6 million average annual value through 2024-25. He’s also slated to become an unrestricted free agent in July 2025, which could also factor into where he fits in their plans.
Unlike last season, however, there are a couple of sticking points if the Senators decide to move Chychrun. He carries a 10-team no-trade clause plus there are a high number of clubs this season with limited cap space.
Speaking of the Senators, Kypreos claims there are some within the organization pushing for them to hire former St. Louis Blues head coach Craig Berube as their new full-time bench boss. He wonders if the new ownership group is ready to make that kind of commitment right now.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The latest word out of Ottawa regarding the Sens’ coaching situation is they’re going to take their time and cast a wide net before making a decision. You also have to wonder if Berube would want to coach the Senators. The Blues are still paying him through next season so he can afford to take his time and find the right fit.
UPDATES ON COREY PERRY AND ANDREI KUZMENKO
TORONTO STAR: Nick Kypreos reported last week the NHL Players Association remained undecided over whether they’d file a grievance on Corey Perry’s behalf regarding the termination of his contract last month. He indicates that hasn’t stopped some teams from considering adding him to their roster before the trade deadline once he receives clearance from the NHLPA player assistance program and NHL commissioner Gary Bettman.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: One of those clubs could be the Edmonton Oilers. Last month, the Edmonton Journal’s Jim Matheson speculated Oilers GM Ken Holland might look into it.
THE PROVINCE: Patrick Johnston reports Vancouver Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet is running out of patience with winger Andrei Kuzmenko. While his offensive skills are undeniable, he’s not an adept skater or forechecker and those flaws are becoming apparent as his production declines.
Tocchet made Kuzmenko a healthy scratch on Tuesday against Nashville, marking the fourth time in recent weeks that he’s benched the 27-year-old winger. Johnston suggests Kuzmenko could start running out of opportunities to improve his game.
THE HOCKEY NEWS: Adam Kierszenblat cites an interview with Kuzmenko’s agent Dan Milstein claiming his client is very happy in Vancouver and there is constant communication with management. “We have a plan and everything is going to be okay,” said Milstein. He added that his client should regain his form “with a few minor adjustments.”
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Speculation over Kuzemenko’s future in Vancouver surfaced earlier this month after he’d been scratched three times and had his playing time reduced. The front office has also maintained that they want to help the winger improve his overall performance. However, he’ll likely remain the subject of trade conjecture if he fails to pick up his play.
Perry to Edmonton would be hilarious. Kassian, Kane and then Perry? Might as well pick up DeAngelo while they’re at it. Nothing says “last chance” like getting picked up by Edmonton.
They put a try on Virtanen too.
classssssssssy
just …. no
The Oilers need immediate help in nets, although it may already too late to salvage what was supposed to be a legitimate run for the Cup. Letting Skinner play a No. 1 role is counter-productive, unfair to him and may affect his career long term.
At best, Skinner should be a 1-A or a reliable back-up at this stage. A buy-out, the sooner the better, of Jack Campbell is inevitable but in the meantime, Edmonton’s season is all but over without more consistent goaltending.
You’t can’t buyout Soup’s contrat, they need to trade him with a bunch of sweetner
FDT,
24 yr old Stu Skinner Won the job from Campbell last season and again this season Stu now 25 is not the Problem in Edmonton,
Its the Defence over all and attention to detail from the forwards ,
Cody Ceci is not a 1st paring d/man … more like a 3rd pairing d/man
that need to be addressed, after a Jack Campbell trade out of edmonton.
Skinners last 4 game’s in November, if you look at his numbers…. Over the past 4 season he starts to play really good starting each season in Mid to late November each year…
After Paul Coffey took over the D…
November, His Last 4 Games were
GA, 1.64 his Save % 932
December his First 6 games played
GA, 2.66 his save % 8.96
His last 10 games he is at
2.15 GA ✔️and SV% is at 9.14✔️ pretty good numbers for a young Goaltender……👍
Thoughts….❓
Caper, a few days ago you raised the issue of Ovi’s lack of scoring. From Sportsnet, here is a quote from Mike Matheson on the change in penalty killing, which may account for at least some of Ovi’s lack of scoring:
“Fronting diamonds were, I think, invented because of the (Alex) Ovechkins and (Steven) Stamkoses, who were just sitting in the same spot taking one-timers over the last 15 years,” Matheson said. “That kind of old-school thing — I don’t know if I should call it old-school, but it is — where you’re just going to fake a shot at the point and tee up the one-timer is kind of in the past now. It’s just the way teams kill now. The weapons are shifting.”
LJ i found that kind of funny, the last 15 years. oh there just catching on now.
Washington plays a different style now also no Backstrom or Kuznetsov also major contributing factors
I’ve noticed that Pastrnak isn’t shooting many of the top of the slot one-timers on the power play. That used to be the feature of the B’s PP.
Not sure if it’s related, but that is interesting.
I don’t see the logic of the Sens, a rebuilding club, selling off valuable assets; particularly as Chychrun is contributing offensively. Indeed, he is their leading D in points.
Tarasenko and Brannstrom come off the books after this season freeing up $7 million, and then there is the boost to the cap. That should give the Sens ample room to add value to their roster.
It’s not like the Sens are going to make the playoffs this year, and they have three first rounders in the next two years, and 16 picks overall.
Agree LJ, I think patience is the right way to handle it in OTT. Staois needs to learn the team and the organization and not make snap judgements.
Great time to see which players can deal with the adversity, keep pushing, and which ones can’t or won’t.
We’ll see at the TDL & off season when he will have a better idea of who his players are.
Re Sen’s d/man Jakob Chychrun 🍁
Nackered Nick Kypreos wonders if it could be long before the Ottawa Senators decide to become sellers leading up to the March 8 trade tradeline. If they go that route, Kypreos wouldn’t be surprised if Jakob Chychrun resurfaces in trade talks.⁉️
There is no way we trade Chychrun, he has played very well for the sens getting 21 points in 27 games👌
this year on a injury riddled Ottawa team
They need him on there Top 4 d,
They need to move out LD/RD man Erik Brännström as there #5 and bring in an Experienced Big Physical d/man to help develop there young d coming up at the same time play Top 4-5 for the Sen’s when needed next season like a ChrisTanev from the Calgary flames
maybe a Swap there as they need NHL d/men in Calgary…..