NHL Rumor Mill – January 25, 2024
Zach Parise could soon sign with the Avalanche plus the latest on the Flyers, Bruins and Kraken in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
REPORT: PARISE COULD SIGN WITH THE AVALANCHE
COLORADO HOCKEY NOW: Evan Rawal cited The Athletic’s Michael Russo speculating winger Zach Parise could soon sign with the Colorado Avalanche.
Appearing on the “Talk North” podcast, Russo said that he expects the 39-year-old Parise to sign within the next couple of days and make his debut following the All-Star break.
Unrestricted free agent winger Zach Parise (NHL.com)
“I think he’s going to Colorado, by the way,” said Russo, though he also mentioned the Boston Bruins as a potential landing spot.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Rawal noted the Avalanche’s need for depth on the wing with Valeri Nichushkin last week entering the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program. Parise would be an affordable signing for the Avs or the Bruins. Perhaps we’ll know for certain by the end of this week.
FLYERS WON’T SACRIFICE FUTURES FOR QUICK FIXES
THE ATHLETIC: Kevin Kurz reported Philadelphia Flyers general manager Daniel Briere admitted to being pleasantly surprised by his club exceeding expectations by holding a playoff berth in the Eastern Conference. Nevertheless, he maintains that his eye remains fixed on the club’s future.
Briere insisted that he’s not going to trade prime assets like first and second-round picks to make a run for the playoffs this season. Noting that he traded Cutter Gauthier recently to the Anaheim Ducks, Briere said that was a different situation and he got a return (Jamie Drysdale) that helps his team now as well as in the future.
The Flyers do hold some potential trade chips in pending free-agent defensemen Sean Walker and Nick Seeler. Meanwhile, blueliner Rasmus Ristolainen and forward Morgan Frost have appeared on various media trade boards. Nevertheless, Briere said he won’t be making trades just for the sake of doing so and a lot would depend on the marketplace.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: I think Briere might consider a low-cost playoff rental or two but his focus is more on adding long-term assets. He could also be content to stand pat if the Flyers are still playing well by the trade deadline.
LATEST BRUINS SPECULATION
NBC SPORTS BOSTON: Nick Goss noted the speculation suggesting the Bruins might focus on adding a middle-six forward with some scoring punch. However, the recent increase in their offensive production could shift their focus toward bolstering their blueline.
Goss believes the Bruins could use a shutdown blueliner who can play tough minutes in the playoffs. He noted that promising Mason Lohrei’s defensive game remains a concern, Matt Grzelcyk has trouble handling heavy forechecks in the postseason and Derek Forbort has missed plenty of games with injuries. Adding another quality defenseman would also help reduce the heavy workload on Charlie McAvoy and Hampus Lindholm.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: That type of defenseman could be more affordable for the cap-strapped Bruins than adding a middle-six forward. Of course, they might be able to address the latter more cheaply if Zach Parise opts to sign with them.
KRAKEN COULD RETAIN THEIR THREE GOALTENDERS
THE SEATTLE TIMES: Geoff Baker noted the Kraken hold three potential No. 1 goaltenders in Philipp Grubauer, Joey Daccord and Chris Driedger.
It’s been assumed the Kraken might peddle Driedger by the trade deadline as his contract expires at the end of this season. However, Grubauer’s injury history has Baker suggesting they’d be better off retaining Driedger for the remainder of the season as they push for a playoff berth.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: I daresay Kraken management shares Baker’s assessment.
A lot of what Briere does from this point on will be based on the play of Ersson and Peterson moving forward. If the price is right, he might put an offer in on Zegras. That is, if he hasn’t already.
Zegras is definitely NOT Tortorella’s type of player.
It would be easy to see a conflict quickly developing between a coach who demands two way, defensive responsibility from his players and a strictly offensive player like Zegras!
Parise would be a good fit with the Avalanche, I think! He goes to the net and the team needs more of that than the trying to make the pretty plays. For a long time with the Wild, he aggrivated the Avalanche by just going to the net. As long as he is healthy and in game shape, he would be an asset in my opinion. I didn’t realize he scored 20 for Islanders? On a team that has issues with scoring, that’s impressive. On a team that dosen’t have issues scoring, that would be a bonus.
Questions-
Parise is not eligible for the playoffs because he did not sign before the December date?
The leave of absence players still count against the cap?
No, he has until the trade deadline to sign with a team and be eligible to play in the postseason.
thanks. I thought there was an issue where if PAtrick Kane did not sign by dec5 or so he was not eligible for the playoffs
The December 1st deadline is for RFAs, not UFAs. If an RFA hasn’t signed by Dec. 1st then they aren’t eligible to play for the rest of that season.
ahh thanks kev and lyle
The leave of absence still counts against the cap.
Does it free up a roster spot though?
Found my answer!
https://twitter.com/frank_seravalli/status/1750598229115171222
They do not count against the roster limit (e.g. non-roster status).
It’s hard to imagine that many people agree with Baker that Grubauer or Driedger are seen as #1 goalies. Grubauer was considered a starting goalie when he signed with the Kraken following his seasons with the Avs. Driedger if I recall played well for the Panthers in 2021 when Bobrovsky was struggling.
Just as it was hard for many people to see Adin Hill and Logan Thompson as No. 1 goalies for the Golden Knights at the start of last season.
I just wish Ottawa would hang on to a young tender for once
Can anyone really predict when a good tender will start to struggle, and one that hasn’t performed at a high level for a long time at the NHL level, if ever, suddenly finds it?
Grubauer was solid for years, now he isn’t. Daccord has never really done much, now he is.
Even in OTT, they lose Gustavsson, he stands on his head in Minny, earns a good contract, now he’s brutal.
Skinner, struggles in playoffs last year, starts the season even worse, now you can’t shoot one past him with a rifle.
Bob was the best tender in the NHL for 2-3 years, struggles for a few years, gets hot just in time to beat my B’s.
Ullmark, has a good a season as you can have, struggles in the playoffs.
Campbell plays great in TOR for a year and a half, now he couldn’t get a car to hit him.
I sure as heck don’t know the answer, not sure GM’s do either.
Ray, Jack Campbell’s recent Bakersfield stats look decent. Since Christmas, Jack has played 4 games, gave up 2 goals each game and was the winning goalie in all. Faced more than 30 shots per game. Save percentage above 930.
Only the AHL, but he is performing well. Maybe the Oilers call him up sometime after the All Star break.
I don’t think either are no1 goalies they were just the best options available for a cash strapped team wish a 5+mil goalie on LTIR.
The team in front of the goalies did the job to make there life easier but both goalies made timely save along the way.
Neither goalie would be considered a no1 on most team but Vegas isn’t built like most teams so the difference worked out well for them.
Maybe a return of Phil Kessel to the Bruins. Doesn’t address their perceived defense needs but he’d be had on the cheap. I wasn’t aware he was in europe.
Dark G, i would take Phil the Thrill for a playoff run. Might help the PP. Bet he still has decent wheels.
Re; $9.4M in Kraken Goaltenders❗️
32 yr old Grubauer $5.9M for 3.5 yrs
&
29 yr old Driedger $3.5 & is a UFA in July
The Kracken have a lot of cash $9.4M tied up in these two Goaltenders who have Not performed well,
Hopfully they can move Driedger as the hawks just signed Merazik to a 2 yr extention & Hart out now for how long..?
the Goaltender market may heat up ….
Joey Daccord the 27 yr old has posted the best numbers and has played the most games at 31
this season @ $1.2M for 1.5 more seasons….
G31 GA2.31 SV% 0.922
Always painful to see 2/3 “potential number one goaltenders” on a team that were both once on the Senators.
The more I look on the “legacy” of Dorion, the only things he got right were draft picks (for the most part)
The assets he traded away…just brutal… especially for the incredible lack of good return.
*sigh*
This just in…Boston is too slow to be considered a cup contender and won’t last one round in the playoffs.
Where s the track meet?
Jim Morrison and the Doors said it best
“ goalies are strange”
A lot has to do with the team in front of them and not just the D.
I would also hazard a guess coaches and coaching