Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – December 31, 2023
Are there any goalie options to help the struggling Leafs? Is there interest in Hurricanes winger Michael Bunting? Find out in the Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup.
CAN THE LEAFS FIND HELP BETWEEN THE PIPES?
SPORTSNET: Luke Fox examined several options facing the Toronto Maple Leafs to address their goaltending with Ilya Samsonov continuing to struggle.
One is to stick with their current netminders and ride Martin Jones in the hope that he stays healthy until Joseph Woll returns healthy and in form sometime in February or hope that something pops up on the waiver wire.
Their second option would be sending Samsonov through waivers to their AHL affiliate and recalling a prospect they don’t want to rush. The third option is to look outside the organization.
Fox noted that Jaroslav Halak remains available in the free-agent market. Middling trade options include Montreal’s Jake Allen, Buffalo’s Eric Comrie, Ottawa’s Anton Forsberg and Calgary’s Dan Vladar. However, the price for those netminders is abnormally high plus the New Jersey Devils, Carolina Hurricanes and Edmonton Oilers are also believed sniffing around the trade market.
Nashville Predators goaltender Juuse Saros (NHL Images).
According to Fox, the “dream scenario” would be Juuse Saros, who has another season remaining on his contract with the Nashville Predators with a $5 million cap hit. However, the Predators remain in the playoff chase and he’d likely cost more than Leafs general manager Brad Treliving is willing to spend.
Fox suggested the best low-risk option could be New York Rangers’ third-stringer Louis Domingue.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: According to Fox’s colleague Elliotte Friedman, it’s believed the Leafs don’t have much enthusiasm to go shopping for a goaltender. They’d prefer to hang on until Woll returns to action. They don’t have a lot they can afford to trade in terms of draft picks and prospects. He said they could consider bringing up promising Dennis Hildeby to play in one game during their upcoming California road trip.
I keep seeing Saros occasionally surface in the rumor mill. Predators GM Barry Trotz made it clear on two occasions earlier this season that he has no intention of moving his 28-year-old starter and plans to open contract extension talks with Saros’ agent in July. He’s not going anywhere this season.
A LOOK AT THE GOALIE MARKET
SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman looked at the teams in the market for goaltenders and the clubs who could be sellers.
The Leafs, Oilers, Hurricanes, Devils and Los Angeles Kings are believed to be among the buyers, with the Kings seeking a depth option.
The Canadiens, Anaheim Ducks, Columbus Blue Jackets, San Jose Sharks and Chicago Blackhawks are among the sellers.
Friedman believes Canadiens GM Kent Hughes has a price and won’t waiver much from it. The Ducks are setting a high ask for John Gibson, especially if salary retention is involved. The Sharks’ Kaapo Kahkonen has been good this season but his experience is an issue.
The Calgary Flames, Detroit Red Wings and Florida Panthers could be among the sellers but they’re not there yet. The Red Wings are dealing with injuries while the Panthers could need to move a goalie once Spencer Knight is ready to return.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Leafs, Oilers, Hurricanes and Devils need reliable starters but that’s not what’s available in the trade market. The Kings are happy with Cam Talbot but it’s believed they have concerns about backup Pheonix Copley, who was struggling before becoming sidelined by an injury.
The Ducks’ John Gibson is the best of the bunch among available goaltenders. His stats have improved this season and I think there are clubs with a genuine interest in him.
Gibson’s contract is a sticking point. He’s signed through 2026-27 with an average annual value of $6.4 million and a 10-team no-trade clause. With so many clubs pressed for cap space, I don’t think that’s a contract that gets moved during this season.
TEAMS REPORTEDLY INTERESTED IN BUNTING
SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman reports teams have expressed an interest in trading for Michael Bunting. The 28-year-old winger is in this first season of a three-year, $13.5 million contract with the Carolina Hurricanes but is on pace for his lowest goal total since 2020-21.
Friedman said Bunting’s name came up when the Hurricanes were looking to clear some salary-cap space and maybe make a move for a goaltender. He was lower down in their lineup at the time and is seventh or eighth in ice time on the Hurricanes.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Hurricanes could be getting calls about Bunting but that doesn’t mean he’ll be moved. His goal numbers may be down (he’s got eight this season) but he’s tied for third in points (25) with Martin Necas among Hurricanes scorers and has eight points in his last 10 games.
Maybe that’s why teams are interested in acquiring him. Perhaps he could become trade bait if the Hurricanes need to shore up depth elsewhere. He’s also got a 10-team no-trade list which could complicate things.
It is amazing that woll had a terrible time just getting to play one game with the leafs and now the balance of the season rests on his shoulders.
Goaltending is the most important position in hockey.
If the Leafs don’t solve their goaltending problem soon they could very well be out of a playoff spot by the time Woll returns.
Also keep in mind Woll is a rookie with no guarantees he’ll be as effective as he was before the injury.
Kakhonen or Blackwood from San Jose might make sense if the Leafs can send Samsonov the other way.
Leafs just need reliability
Is there any way that Binnington would be a goalie trade option since the Blues are in a “retool”??
I realize that contract is an issue and I believe he would need to approve trade, but I believe there would be interest!? Oilers? Leafs?
IP
The Leafs have been so hard headed and stubborn in their approach to goaltending. They seem to think goaltending is not an important position and aren’t willing to spend money for a good goalie and aren’t willing to trade one of the big 4 players to fix this long standing problem.
When the Leafs traded for Matt Murray, the Senators couldn’t wait to get rid of him for a reason, yet the Leafs still traded for him. Samsonov was not offered a contract by the Capitals because of how bad he performed in the playoffs and his poor overall performance, but once again the Leafs still signed him. When they lose, the coach blames Kampf not the supposed leaders of the team. They should have traded one of the big 4 in a package deal for a goalie and defenseman. Until they get a real goalie, they won’t be able to move up. Samsonov is not an NHL caliber goalie.
I’m not a Leafs fan but how exactly were the Leafs supposed to predict he’d be this bad? Eliminate this season and his stats pretty much showed he was a NHL goalie. 1 season une .900 and at 3.02.
I’m not making excuses for Ilya but Brad came in and saw 2.33 and 9.19. it’s not like he Samsonov didn’t put up numbers the year before. What did he do ? Offered 1 year prove me contract.
Ilya let the Leafs down, not the GM.
Not looking into a bolstering their D is on Brad.
Just my un-requested opinion
The Leafs errors in judgement regarding personnel can be pinpointed to the signing of Tavares. Several other blunders were made after that but that was the beginning.
He was not the player they needed when he was signed as a UFA. They had a more than capable #2C in Kadri making $4.5M a season. That $6.5M would have gone a long way to shore up the D or goalie position.
Marleau was another bad signing. It cost the Leafs a 1st round pick to get out from that poor contract.
If you look back to the signing of Tavares the Leafs could have kept Kadri and Hyman for nearly the same money.
Agreed!
I have mentioned these exact points on numerous Leaf sites over the past few years.
Tavares is good, there is no doubt, but he was not needed and has cost the Leafs dearly.
Kadri at $6.5 cheaper would have been just fine.
Those savings would have gotten the Leafs a very good defenseman.
Signing Tavares forced the Marleau trade which cost the Leafs the #13 pick in the draft whom the Hurricanes turned into RW, Seth Jarvis.
If Leafs had Jarvis it would be a lot easier to stomach trading Nylander now.
Had the Leafs selected Jarvis at #13 they would likely not have selected another winger (Rodion Amirov) with the #15 pick but could have looked at the best defensemen available (Kaiden Guhle or Bradon Schneider).
Mistakes for Dubas to hang his hat on.
john you are so right on
Been watching the Spenglar Cup Team Canada over in Davos,
there are a couple of players there that NHL teams should look at that played Very Well…..
The bottom 3 D was weak for team canada at the Spenglar Cup,
The Team also got hit with the Flu on the 29 & 30th and the Ran out of gas both days…❗️
However there were some really good players who could be avalable to the NHL Teams before the trade deadline playing over in Europe
1/Goaltender 33 yr old Aaron Dell, played well stoped lots of good shots could be a nice back up on a NHL team….
Lots of team looking for back up tenders!
2/ RW/C 27 yr old John Quenneville
Team Canada Leading Scorer in the tournament
Could be a nice 3rd or 4th line addition to any NHL playoff team, played Centre & RW in games
He was X Chicago Blackhawk 3 years ago
RE; SPECTOR’S NOTE: 👎
The Leafs, Oilers, Hurricanes and Devils need reliable starters..
3 out of 4 do…
The Oilers Have a Starting Tender in Stu Skinner❓
His last 12 Games
GA– 2.08
SV%–.920
In the Top 10 for sure over the last 12 games..👌
williew did you miss the word “reliable” Skinner has a 2.86gaa and .892 sv% yes he has played well lately.
Can he maintain
Hey Caper
i just posted what his last 12 games played
Skinner always starts to play better after Mid November on-ward….
This is Basicly all of Decembers games played maybe 1 or 2 in Late Nov.
My point is the Edmonton Oilers Dont need a goaltender
His last 12 Games
GA– 2.08
SV%–.920
The Oilers have an inconsistent goaltender in Stuart Skinner. He played well as a rookie last season but wilted in the heat of playoff pressure. He got off to a crappy start to this season before stabilizing his performance over his past dozen games.
It remains to be seen if he’ll maintain that form over the remainder of this season. If he does, then the Oilers will be fine. Until that happens, the risk remains that he could struggle again, which is likely what’s feeding the ongoing trade rumors.
Another Leaf game and again 3 Leafs go to the corner in their own zone. The puck goes to the front of the net and Bunting scores. A top goaltender and defenceman won’t help if this is the system Keefe wants to play. It’s ridiculous. House league the kids get yelled at if both defencmen are behind the net.
How can Treliving and Shanahan not see this.
Don’t have to trade any of your top 4 or a draft pick for a new coach.
Yes Guy
Hard to argue with your point.
I’ve often wondered what the Leafs defensive structure is supposed to be as well.
I was always of the opinion that the centre is supposed to help the defence but far too often I see the wingers down low too…leaving the point wide open.
I do wonder what point Keefe is trying to make by benching Kampf?
There have been plenty of mistakes by the top forwards too. Where is they’d captain holding his players accountable?
Attitude reflects leadership.
Yes Daryl
I’m not the only one too see that as well. How many goals are scored by the other team’s defenceman at the point. As they are wide open to take shots because the wingers are beside the net.
I agree and until the Leafs stop selling out high priced tickets the same will continue as the only way the ownership will take action is through the wallet.
Hard to believe less than 2 months ago LeafsNet scribblers were writing :
Matthews, 200ft game, Selke, Hart and Richard candidate.
Woll, Vezina contender.
Giordano playing like a Norris contender.
Nylander playing at Hart level.
Leafs off season adds look like winners.
All Luke Fox musings and missives.
Until Leafs fix defense and goaltending issues, it will be the same out come. 1st or 2nd round exit.