NHL Rumor Mill – December 4, 2023
The latest on the Oilers’ recent scouting of the Blue Jackets plus updates on the Senators and Sabres in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
LATEST ON THE OILERS’ RECENT SCOUTING TRIP TO COLUMBUS
THE ATHLETIC: Aaron Portzline took note of the Edmonton Oilers scouting the Columbus Blue Jackets last week even though the two clubs don’t play each other until late January.
The Oilers need goaltending help, sparking rumors that they might have been looking at the Blue Jackets’ netminders or their opponents. Jackets starter Elvis Merzlikins’ $5.5 million annual average value through 2026-27 would be difficult for the Oilers to take on unless Jack Campbell ($5 million AAV through ’26-’27) was included in the deal.
Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins (NHL Images).
With the Jackets playing the Boston Bruins and Montreal Canadiens last week, Portzline wondered if the Oilers were scouting the Bruins’ Linus Ullmark or the Canadiens’ Jake Allen, though the latter didn’t play against the Jackets.
The Jackets could end up placing Spencer Martin on waivers with Daniil Tarasov due to return soon from his AHL conditioning stint.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Martin faced the Bruins last week, giving up three goals on 28 shots in a 3-1 loss. If he was being scouted by the Oilers, they might pick him up if he hits the waiver wire.
Martin carries a very affordable cap hit of $762,500, though the cap-strapped Oilers might be able to squeeze into their payroll if he becomes available on the waiver wire. However, there is persistent speculation that the Oilers could recall Campbell from their AHL affiliate in Bakersfield.
ARE CHANGES COMING FOR THE SENATORS?
OTTAWA SUN: Bruce Garrioch reports Senators interim general manager Steve Staios has a lot on his plate these days.
The club’s ongoing on-ice struggles have Senators fans calling for head coach D.J. Smith to be fired. The front office wants to be patient with Smith as they like his approach and management is trying to give him more support. However, Staios’ patience could soon wear thin.
Garrioch doesn’t expect Staios to swing a blockbuster trade. Teams have called about Drake Batherson but the Senators don’t want to go in that direction. Staios is working the phones and there’s a chance Dominik Kubalik could be traded before Shane Pinto returns to the lineup in January. Kubalik is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent in July.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Staios could find that a coaching change could be his easiest route considering the difficulty of making a significant trade that improves his roster with so many clubs pressed for cap space this season. I think that’s more likely to occur if things don’t improve soon for the Senators.
UPDATE ON THE SABRES
THE BUFFALO NEWS: Mike Harrington weighed in on the Sabres’ recent struggles. While forwards Tage Thompson and Jack Quinn are sidelined, others have regressed so far this season.
General manager Kevyn Adams didn’t do anything to replace Quinn when he suffered an Achilles injury in June. He also lost out to the Detroit Red Wings in the Patrick Kane sweepstakes.
Harrington believes the Sabres cannot wait until the trade deadline as they need an injection now to snap them out of their funk. They need help up front and have plenty of draft and prospect capital to entice a rival club to make a deal.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Sabres are four points out of a wild-card berth. A string of wins could propel them into a playoff spot but those have been difficult to come by thus far.
Adams could be working the phones but he’s likely finding suitable deals difficult to come by right now. The Sabres will be worth monitoring in the rumor mill if they don’t start gaining ground in the standings.
That Ottawa sits dead last in the Eastern Conference can. for the most part, be attributed to the fact that they’ve played the fewest number of games – 19 – in the entire league.
With 18 pts they sit 8 out of a WC slot with the one saving grace being they have games-in-hand (gih) on every team in front of them:
Columbus – 20 pts – 7 gih
Buffalo – 22 pts – 6 gih
Montreal – 23 pts – 5 gih
N.J. – 23 pts – 3 gih
Pittsburgh – 24 pts – 4 gih
Tampa Bay – 25 pts – 6 gih
Philadelphia – 26 pts – 5 gih
NYI – 26 pts = 4 gih
Toronto – 28 pts – 3 gih
Of course, now they have to start winning on a regular basis so it’s time for the players – who say they hate the schedule so far and that they can better develop on-ice chemistry by playing “every other night” coupled with back-to-backs – to put up or shut up.
The losses of Chabot, Brannstrom, Greig and Kastelic for extended periods has been off-set by the limited number of games so far – but now they’re either all back – or expected back soon.
Excuse time is over. Now we’ll see if Smith’s “system” is suitable for the talent at hand. If not, either he changes his approach – or goes.
And I still say their best trade chip – at the moment – is goalie Korpisalo, given the need scattered around the league for goaltenders – and go the rest of the way with Forsberg and the giant Sogaard.
Well George, if there is an upside to playing so few games lately, it is that they have had there highest paid D-man out during that stretch, so he missed fewer games than would be normal.
The OTT players also said they were tired of the constant change and drama. They want some stability, which sometimes requires patience.
It’s not like their record is totally brutal, but I think expectations are higher. I think he gets another few weeks and if still haven’t got it going, he gets the axe.
May also have something to do with the fact that they are 9-10. I do like your gloss though. Ottawa fan by any chance?
What clue gave you that notion?
If Staios does decide to replace his coach, I would love to see him hire Woodcroft.
Woody would be Great hire for the Sen’s as there New Coach…đź‘Ť
I hope they can trade Winger Dominik Kubalik
maybe Chicago will take him back for 4th or 5th pick and help there forwards now they are missing
these 3….?
-Taylor Hall$ 6.M done for the year
-Perry $4.M Gone…
-Athanasiou $4.25M back sometime next yr
I can see the Rebuilding Chicago Balckhawks
as a destination for Goaltender Jack Campbell Salary dump
with all the cap space the Hawks have and rebuilding…?
The have 2 first round picks in 2024 & 2025….
The hawks GM likes his picks🤔
The Trade
-A 1st pick and a good prospect with Campbell to Chicago for fiture and maybe a RFA player
coming back the other wayâť“
williew, at $2.5 mil and 4g 1a 5 pts in 19gp and a minus 10 I seriously doubt anyone is going to take a gamble that Kubalik will suddenly “discover” his game to the extent that he’d be worth $2.5 mil.
Unless he – and Tarasenko – turn things around in Ottawa – soon – neither will be sought even at the trade deadline. Right now, the best thing about both is that they are both UFAs at season’s end and will not be offered new deal in Ottawa – freeing up $7.5 mil for more astute spending.
So. Again, Garrioch is simply a Sens payroll parrot. Unfortunate the way print media has gone. If I had millions…..Sunshine Girl would be back asap. Website would be gone, and SUN in paper would be everywhere in new concrete filled newspaper boxes.
Back to the Sens. I hadn’t considered trading Korpisalo. Interesting. For me, Chabbot and Bagtherson can seek life elsewhere. And take the coach with you. Fascinating to me when Ottawa has such great coaches in their own back yard they just don’t care–come on down Luke Richardson and Andre Tourigny. Nope. I do get the “coach stability” thing. But this guy is in what?…year four? He didn’t develop the kids. He play dumb vets instead. They still were rebuilding and he didn’t need to. Now his “system” is to vomit people on the ice and hope they get it done. And when they get scored upon a guaranteed parlay is that his fourth line will take the next draw–home or away. He has to go.
The Sens pretty much play every 12 hours for the next month. This is it for the coaching staff and probably a few of these no-show players.
Formenton, by his own actions and the league and hockey canada’s in-action is in permanent limbo. The victim has settled. The police are done. it’s over. Except HC didn’t like the fact that there was no pound of flesh (they appealed? Appealed what exactly). So. It’s all been shelved and ready to rear it’s ugly head around Christmas.
Have to agree with everything you say Dark G.
I would like to have seen Garrioch – or one of the other puppets – act like an independent journalist and at least speculate on the total reason Dorion fell on his sword.
All we heard was that “the last straw” was the loss of the 1st round pick, coming on the heels of the Pinto suspension. So, ostensibly, there had to be previous “straws.”
The Tarasenko signing? Taking on Korpisalo for 4 years? (if Sogaard was regarded as the “next goalie” how long does he have to prove himself in the AHL while Korpisalo and Forsberg remain at the NHL level)? having to settle for Kubalik in the DeBrincat deal? Any of those or were there other “straws.” Ask for details and if not forthcoming, speculate! Then management has to either elaborate or – as most do – visibly obfuscate.
Shane Pinto still needs to be signed before he can return in January.
Oh, after that fiasco I think he’ll sign whatever Staios (or GM if there’s one by then) puts in front of him – likely a 2-year bridge deal. He really has no other options now.
if they can make a trade like Winger Dominik Kubalik
the UFA and his $2.5M, Im sure a playoff team would like him…
Shane Pinto will be first in-line to bring him back on a two yr deal for the sen’s đź‘Ť
1st year $1.2M for 41 games
2nd year $2.4+M range for the season….âť“
They do need some extra cash to cover a 12th forward to the group as
Speedster Ridly Greig is still out on LTI
What happend with the Sens Young LW…
dose anyone know
Alex Formenton ..âť“
If I was OTT I would give Pinto a 1 year deal, for as small an amount as allowed in the CBA. He doesn’t have any options, and the Sens had to do without him for half a season for a decision Pinto made. I dare say Tarasenko isn’t in OTT if that didn’t happen as he didn’t sign until late in July.
It’s only half a season and if he plays well, he can get a 2 year deal for even more than he would have as the Sens have the space. Actions have consequences, Sens had to go another route because of those actions, now they don’t have the space, just the way it is.
williew, Formenton is with Ambri-Piotta of the Swiss League where, in 14gp, he has 4g 3a 7 pts and is a minus 2
It’ll be a long time – if ever – we see him back in the NHL.
That 3-1 loss was last night. Martin beat the Bruins 5-2, last week.
See, I always thought the beginning of the week is Monday, with Sunday being end. Others say Sunday is the beginning and Saturday is the end.
Anyway, food for thought.
You don’t own a calendar, do you?