NHL Rumor Mill – December 30, 2023
Dissecting a rumor linking Elias Pettersson and William Nylander to the Blackhawks plus the latest on the Leafs goaltending in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
PETTERSSON AND NYLANDER TO THE BLACKHAWKS?
SPITTIN’ CHICLETS: Matt Murley told hosts Colby Armstrong and Mike Grennell that he’d heard Vancouver Canucks center Elias Pettersson and Toronto Maple Leafs winger William Nylander could be interested in joining the Chicago Blackhawks.
“Do not be surprised if you see Elias Pettersson try to make his way to the Chicago Blackhawks to be with (Connor) Bedard next year,” said Murley. He also claimed there was “a lot of talk about Nylander going to Chicago as well.”
Vancouver Canucks center Elias Pettersson (NHL Images).
Murley acknowledged Pettersson’s status next summer as a restricted free agent so he’s “not exactly sure” how that will work. However, he noted the Blackhawks will have a lot of salary-cap space.
SPORTSNET: During Friday’s “32 Thoughts” podcast, Jeff Marek and Elliotte Friedman discussed Murley’s rumor linking Pettersson to the Blackhawks.
Friedman didn’t discredit or denigrate Murley. “He’s not an idiot. He hears things. I’ve seen the stuff that he reports. He gets information. People talk to him,” he said.
However, Friedman called Murley’s report “premature”, adding that he believes the Canucks will throw a significant amount of cash toward re-sign Pettersson when he’s ready. He doubts that Pettersson is giving much thought to his contract status right now as he’s focused on playing this season.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: I have a few questions.
First, why would Pettersson want to leave a team that’s currently jockeying for first place in the overall standings for a rebuilding club that’s near the bottom of the standings? For that matter, why would Nylander leave a reliable playoff contender (albeit one with just a single playoff-round victory) to join a club that’s several years away from postseason contention?
During an Aug. 23 interview with Friedman, the Canucks star indicated he wasn’t sure if he wanted his next contract to be long or short-term. It’s also believed that he wanted to get a better sense of the Canucks’ direction after several losing seasons. In other words, he seemed reluctant to commit to a long-term deal if the Canucks failed to improve.
Nylander, meanwhile, has stated his wish is to remain with the Leafs. Unless his contract talks have reached a serious impasse, the intent on both sides is to get a deal done before his eligibility for unrestricted free agent status on July 1.
Second, why would Pettersson want to play with Bedard? The latter is a promising rookie who has no prior connection to the Canucks star. This isn’t like wanting to play with a more established superstar such as Edmonton’s Connor McDavid or Toronto’s Auston Matthews.
Third, why would the Blackhawks sign Pettersson and Nylander? Sure, they’ve got a whopping $52 million in projected cap space with just six players under contract for 2024-25.
They’ve got several restricted free agents such as Lukas Reichel and Taylor Raddysh but they won’t be expensive to sign. They must also re-sign or replace pending UFA goaltender Petr Mrazek, though that also won’t be costly to do.
The problem is Pettersson and Nylander could easily cost at least a combined $22 to $24 million to sign, taking a big chunk out of that cap space. That’s not troublesome for next season but having those two on the books could make it difficult to re-sign Bedard when their supposed crown jewel will be due for a new contract (with a whopping big raise) in 2026. It could also complicate other signings or make it difficult to improve the roster.
Adding Pettersson and Nylander would work for the Blackhawks if they already had a solid or promising supporting cast. However, they’re still in the middle of a major roster rebuild and still need depth at every position. A roster featuring Pettersson, Nylander and Bedard might be more entertaining but it will still lose more games than it wins until the roster depth issues are suitably addressed.
Why would the Blackhawks deviate from their rebuilding program in such a sudden and dramatic fashion? Wasn’t the game plan to build around Bedard with promising young players and affordable veterans with experience and leadership abilities? Why invest in two expensive superstars who’ll be on the downside of their careers when the Blackhawks are finally ready to become Stanley Cup contenders?
In short, Pettersson and Nylander to the Blackhawks makes no sense for the players or the team.
WHAT WILL THE LEAFS DO ABOUT THEIR GOALTENDING?
THE HOCKEY NEWS: David Alter believes the Toronto Maple Leafs could be running out of patience with struggling goaltender Ilya Samsonov. Before Friday’s 6-5 loss to the lowly Columbus Blue Jackets, head coach Sheldon Keefe expressed his belief that general manager Brad Treliving “is going to consider everything.”
With Joseph Woll sidelined until late January, the Leafs have been using the tandem of Samsonov and Martin Jones. The latter has been shouldering the load but it means they need to use Samsonov in back-to-back games.
Alter believes the Leafs don’t have many options. They could call up promising young goaltender Dennis Hildeby but he’s playing in North America for the first time and they want to avoid bringing him up too early.
THE ATHLETIC: Jonas Siegel has seen enough of Samsonov’s performance and believes the Leafs cannot play him any longer. He also acknowledged their reluctance to call up Hildeby but believes they have little choice, suggesting he wouldn’t need to play a lot. He also suggests that Treliving explore the trade and free-agent markets for short-term help.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Samsonov’s confidence is shot right now, Jones is an effective but aging backup while Hildeby has little North American hockey experience. With Woll’s return still a few weeks away, they’ll need to find a short-term fix between the pipes or risk sliding out of playoff contention.
Matt Murley has clearly been drinking too much of the office party punch.
Re; The Maple Leafs Goaltending & Team Defence
Watching Ilya Samsonov on Friday nights 6-5 loss to the CBJ❗️ looks like he has the Jack Campbell confedence thing going on…
I think he need a good stint in the Minors to see if he can get his game back first…
But they have No Goaltender to bring up to help out
Martin Jones…. No cap space to bring in a back up type tender? then you have Joseph Woll Not back till late Jan or early Feb, get in game shape then your at the trade deadline……🤔 not prety in Leaf land
The Leafs dont look like a good or even Aveage Playoff team, far from it, even with Horable Goaltending they got last night from ES,
it could be an other 1st round Exit for the Leafs,
The Whole Team Defence looks very poor…
Great offence but we know where that gets them Every year,
Maybe the Leafs need to do a Re-set this season and get it sorted out for next season as it looks like Mission Imposable this season for the leafs….❓
The Leafs need D which would make they’re goalies look much better, and instead of resigning Nylander sign two top 4 pairing D men or the results will be the same.
The marlies have other goalies that could be called up before Hildeby.
the Marlie Goaltenders All have Zero NHL experience… So thats not going to help at All⁉️
Spector, if you were running the Hawks, would you really keep Raddysh and Reichel instead of getting Nylander and Petterson? sure glad you’re not running the Hawks
Next, maybe Petterson sees the way Tocchet has gotten on players like Kuzmenko and doesn’t like the tough love act? Luke Richardson seems to be more of a players coach, so don’t discount it. Who wouldn’t want to play with Bedard?
I believe I pointed out that Raddysh and Reichel would be affordable signings but please continue to ignore the other points I made about why Pettersson and Nylander to Chicago makes no sense for the teams or the players.
The only way I can fathom it is if those two are only interested in the money and don’t care if the Blackhawks miss the playoffs for the next five or six years.
If these guys want to play for winners as has been the expectation, why join a rebuilding club that is several years away from that? And why would the Blackhawks pony up big money on two players who’ll be in the downside of their careers when they’re finally ready to contend for the Cup? Why suddenly deviate from their plan to rebuilding around Bedard and their other young players?
As for Tocchet, Pettersson doesn’t seem to have an issue with him considering how well he’s played under him thus far.
Luke Richardson may be more of a players’ coach but there are plenty of other coaches who are the same way. Some of them coach for contenders.
Lyle, good argument. You had me the 1st time. Your explanations make sense to me. You give out boat loads of money to those two, what’s left for filling in the other parts of the roster? Throwing around all your big money dosen’t guarantee anything. It seems like the successful teams build through the draft and have to suffer through the aches/pains of growth: Avalanche, Pittsburgh, Chicago(T oews, Kane era of course) come to mind?
And let’s not forget that Pettersson is a restricted free agent with arbitration rights this summer. If he’s unwilling to sign beyond next season, the Canucks will likely trade him. If the Blackhawks want him, the asking price will be steep. They won’t be able to pry away Bedard but they could soak the Blackhawks for a couple of firsts and either two top prospects or two promising young NHL roster players (say, Reichel and Korchinski) as part of the return. They won’t just give him away.
The Blackhawks could offer sheet Pettersson but ensuring the Canucks can’t match will cost them five first-round picks. Either way, a steep price to pay.
Lyle I generally agree with your arguments but if the Canucks do decide to trade Petterson, they wouldn’t just want picks and prospects. They’d want at least one top player who could help them right away. Aside from Bedard, who obviously won’t be traded, the Hawks don’t have anyone who the Canucks would want.
Howard, my estimated return was merely meant as a baseline. They’ll also want someone in the deal who can help them right away. And you’re right, the Blackhawks wouldn’t have anyone other than Bedard (who they won’t give up) who qualifies.
As per last nights Leafs game. Happens almost every game. Puck goes in the corner and 3 Leafs go in the corner after it. Puck goes in front of the net, too the opposing team, player all by themselves, and score. If a coach can’t see that and doesn’t correct it. The coach has to be replaced. No goalie makes those saves.
You are so right Keefe is not a good coach Pulls goalie with 3 minutes left and after leafs get scored on watch him put out the fourth line time after time his time is up time for a coaching change
In regards to rumours of Pettersson and Nylander joining the Hawks I have a question…..how do you pay Bedard, Petterrson and Nylander and yet keep the team competitive with the remaining money?
At best, you have a team like the Leafs that has invested big money in a handful of players and have little left to suitably address key roster issues. At worst, you’ve got a club with three big stars that regularly miss the playoffs. If that’s what the Blackhawks want (and I doubt they do), good luck to them.
If Chicago wants to build a Cup contender why would they spend 25 million on two marshmallows that couldnt find the corners with a map?
Makes zero sense.
Ron,
Willie Nylander would be a Great RW for young Connor Bedard in Chicago….
Petterrson Re-signs in Vancouver for sure
Hawaks have 5 X 1st picks and 8 nd picks
in the next 3 drafts⁉️
Hawks do need to Add to there d and need a good starter in net, they are probably going to have the first pick in the draft and go after Bedards buddy
6 ft centre Macklin Celebrini from Vancouver, BC
I feel Calgary is an ideal trade partner , unless Calgary ownership has mixed feelings with Treliving
1. Calgary has “3” capable goaltenders
2. Players – that are not likely to resign
Leafs have Brodie , Samsonov , Bertuzzi on expiring contracts – as per salary dump
They will have to include a high end prospect – there is no way around it , if that is even enough to make an ideal transaction
The entire city of Calgary has hard feelings against Brad. He left a total disaster and ran away from it. I find it hard to believe Conny and/or ownership will cut any deal that helps him out.
H
Your 100% Right…he left a complet MESS in Calgary ✅
and did a Really Bad Trade before he left town moving out 24yr old Chucky for the $10M dollar man Mr.Hurberdeau and MW
it will take the Flames years to get back to contention with the peices that are left….⁉️
I like the reset. Wonder what Matthews would fetch on the trade market.
Not that I don’t think Matthews is awesome but I think k it would be the quickest way to fix goaltending, defense, depth and cap issues.
Maybe seatle for Dunn, Larsson and beniers.
To Toronto:
Jack Campbell (50% salary retained)
1sr round draft
To Edmonton:
Ilya Samsonov
Haven’t looked at how numbers work but that would be the core components. Edmonton gets half of campbells cap hit off the books and can either sign Samsonov for less or let him walk
At the cost of a 1st rd pick? Holland would be strung up by his you know what’s is he did that trade. I’m sure he could just tag Campbell with his 1st unprotected. And move Campbell with a pylon coming back
How does re-acquiring Campbell solve the Leafs’ perpetual goalie problem?
And how does it help the Oil’s goalie problem?
Hey Frank,
Oil & Leaf trade thats the worst one i have seen Sugested all year……😂
Regarding The Leafs…. i think need to do a (Complet Re-set this year )
Stop wasteting picks and prospect to get kicked out in the 1st round of the playoffs
if willie is not signed… they need to trade him at the NHL dead line ❓
-Re-buld the D. get a real top 4 d..🤔
-Get a Goaltender✅
-John Tavares $11.M ..! wont be back after 1.5 years he will be 35 and has a no trade….🙈
Mitch marrnier is a UFA in 1.5 years..❓
to toronto carter hart to flyers knies timmins and toronto first 2024
That would be quite a trade for Flyers, I don’t know if I would do that if I were Toronto? Timmons is developing well. We should have kept him in Colorado. I think he was traded for Kuemper? But I thought he would be good. Regardless , him knives & 1st for Hart is a little too much for goalie IMHO but you never know?
Walker and Hart for that package makes sense.
Knies, Timmins, 1st for Walker and Hart?
I don’t think Philadelphia would trade Hart while they’re battling for a playoff position?
I saw an article where San Jose was mentioned as a trade partner…involving Kakhonen and Ferraro.
San Jose is in full rebuild mode and could use a terrible goalie like Samsonov to get them better odds at the 1st overall pick
To Edm: Mrazek
To Chi: Campbell and 1st