NHL Rumor Mill – January 4, 2024
What’s the latest on William Nylander’s contract situation? Will the Devils pursue a goaltender? Could the Capitals become trade-deadline buyers? Which Ducks could hit the trade market? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
THE LATEST ON NYLANDER’S CONTRACT SITUATION
NHL NETWORK: Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman believes the Toronto Maple Leafs and William Nylander’s representatives are working right now on a contract extension. He wouldn’t be surprised if this gets done soon and considers signing him their No. 1 priority.
Nylander declined to talk about the rumors regarding a contract extension following the Leafs’ 3-0 win over the Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday.
Toronto Maple Leafs forward William Nylander (NHL Images).
Nick Kypreos claimed they’re talking about an eight-year deal in the range of an $11.25 million average annual value. Friedman isn’t sure about that but doesn’t think his colleague is off by much (if at all) with his estimation.
Nylander is on pace for a career-high 117 points. Friedman believes he’s earned that potentially hefty raise.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Some observers (like the Toronto Sun’s Steve Simmons) are concerned that the Leafs winger could be a “one-year wonder.” They fear he’ll come crashing back to earth once he’s signed a lucrative long-term deal.
I think what we’re seeing from Nylander is the real thing now that he’s in his playing prime. He has steadily improved over the past four seasons, including an 80-point campaign in 2021-22 and 87 points last season. He’s also been arguably their most consistent playoff performer.
ARE THE DEVILS IN THE HUNT FOR A GOALIE?
Elliotte Friedman talked about the difficulties facing the New Jersey Devils in upgrading their goaltending. He believes they’ve been looking for help but teams with goaltenders to trade hold the position of leverage.
Friedman listed Anaheim’s John Gibson, Calgary’s Jacob Markstrom, Columbus’ Elvis Merzlikins, Montreal’s Jake Allen and San Jose’s Kaapo Kahkonen as potential trade candidates.
Acquiring Gibson would mean getting the Ducks to retain part of the goalie’s $6.4 million average annual value through 2026-27 and that would be difficult to do. Markstrom would have to agree to waive his no-movement clause.
Merzlikins is available but he’s struggled at times and carries a $5.4 million AAV through 2026-27. Allen carries a more affordable $3.85 million through 2024-25 but no one as yet is willing to meet the Canadiens’ asking price.
Kakhonen is playing well this season and is slated for unrestricted free-agent status this summer. However, he’s never been in a position where he’s had to lead a team into the playoffs.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Gibson and Markstrom are the only starters on this list with playoff experience. The former’s hefty contract and the latter’s NMC likely ensure they won’t be moved by the trade deadline.
Merzlikins only has two games of postseason experience under his belt. Allen has seen playoff action but he’s no longer a starter. Kahkonen has yet to play a postseason game.
Friedman also believes the Devils are looking for blueline depth. He could see them pursuing someone like Calgary Flames defenseman Noah Hanifin.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: With defenseman Dougie Hamilton sidelined until possibly the end of the regular season, the Devils could put his $9 million AAV on long-term injury reserve if they wish to add a goalie, blueliner or both.
If the Devils pursue Hanifin, they have depth in tradeable assets (especially young players) that would interest the Flames. The two clubs also have a recent trade history with last June’s Tyler Toffoli deal.
WILL THE CAPITALS BECOME TRADE-DEADLINE BUYERS?
Friedman believes the Washington Capitals could become buyers at the trade deadline given their better-than-expected performance this season. However, it still thinks it’s early yet as they’ll likely wait and see how the season develops leading up to deadline day. If they do dabble in the trade market, they could pursue a top-six forward.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Capitals have to be mindful of their cap space. They placed Nicklas Backstrom on LTIR for the season but they currently have a projected $3.18 million in trade-deadline cap room.
WHICH DUCKS WILL HIT THE TRADE BLOCK?
Asked which players the Ducks will move at the trade deadline, Friedman considers Adam Henrique as the most likely option. A UFA at the end of this season, he’s a very good center with big-game experience who will draw interest in the trade market.
Friedman hasn’t heard much trade talk about Jakob Silfverberg. He believes the Toronto Maple Leafs would be interested in bringing back pending UFA defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin.
$11 million for a winger is insane.
It will be interesting. I’m sure that Treliving will point to Kucherov and his $9.5M contract and ask why Nylander thinks he is worth $1.5M more than that, while Nylanders agent counters with Tavares $11M. Contract, and compares performance of Tavares in last years playoffs and this year’s stats, and asks Treliving to explain how Nylander isn’t worth more than Tavares makes. Toronto may have painted themselves into a corner here.
Trade Willy for Hanafin and Tanev if they want to be serious about winning.
Have you considered neither the organizations nor the players want that?
Good points, sort of, until you do compare apples to apples. Unfortunately the leaf crest makes people blind?
A fair comparison to any player production to pay needs to be looked at what the percentage of cap that contract will be the first year – namely because every year after, that percentage will decline as the cap rises.
Second, we know s#it when it comes to evaluating players in terms of skill or worth because we are fans and are biased, see the first sentence. Nylander, despite his shortcomings has been a consistent player putting up over 60pts preseason since he joined the team and now can be seen as a point per game player who has shown to be able perform in the postseason.
Good players cost and great players cost even more. Every team will always pay market value for a player of quality. I can’t fault the leafs for finally being able to draft great players and the result of that is one day they will need to be paid either by you or someone else.
So the real question is, keep your star player or let him walk?
Tampa is in a no tax state and Kucherovs contract is a few years old. The big question is what do they offer Marner since I cant see that he is worth more
Lago
Treliving may point out Kucherov’s contract but Nylander’s agent merely needs to mention the differences in tax structure where each team is located.
Kucherov isn’t a great comparable as it was signed 4 years ago.
The best comparable is his buddy Pastrnak as it was just signed this offseason. $11.25M
Same age, same position, close to he same size, very similar offensive production including in the playoffs over last 3 + years.
Can’t see the Leafs willing to let him walk unless the request is crazy, which it isn’t if rumors are true. Looks like Pasta’s contract!
And before folks simply say let him walk and use the money for D and a tender, who is that?
Cap space is great, but it doesn’t score goals or keep them out of your own net. Every playoff team tries to keep their best guys unless the player wants to leave, or they simply can’t get them under the cap and that is rare.
Yey, but Tavares has the pajamas, and that accounts for 80% of his cap. I doubt that Nylander wore Leafs pajamas as a kid ?
… asking for a friend.
Doubly insane as the Leafs will have two.
Marner at $10.89 with a new contract coming next summer and Nylander.
Outside of a very few players like McDavid, MacKinnon, Matthews and in his prime Crosby I just don’t see the value in paying wingers that kind of money, let alone two of them.
It will be extremely difficult for the Leafs to balance their team next season.
Resigning Bertuzzi and/or Domi would seem to be impossible.
There will be a lot of players earning the league minimum on the roster.
Gregor, Holmberg, Benoit, Lagesson, Robertson, McMann and possibly 3 ELCs in Minten, Cowan and Niemala to go along with Knies.
Brodie will have to take a substantial cut in pay if he hopes to return to the Blue & White next season.
Liljegren will need a raise and the Leafs are fortunate to have McCabe for one more year at $2M.
You have forgotten about Nylander’s chum Pastranak and his $11.25M dollar deal.
Kucherov’s contract was signed a number of years ago and is no longer a comparable.
Tavares was a free agent and free agents always extract more money than they are perhaps worth from the team that signs them.
If Nylander goes to free agency next June he will have no trouble whatsoever getting an $11.25M dollar contract from somebody!
Re; Salary’s
Looking at the Canucks and Leafs forward RFA pair
27 yr old William Nylander Going to get 8 yr $10.5 M to $11.5 M range….. in his next leaf contract
He has 51 point ‘s 19 goals & 32 A & playing Way better that Mariner & Tavares ….🤔
Especially in the playoffs ❗️
25 yr old Elias Pettersson has 45 points 15G & 30A he is going to be about the $11-$12M range…?
But could it be a 2-3 year deal like Mathews went for as the Caps gos up about $12.M range over the next 3 season ………🤔❓
To me Willie has all the leverage right now. Either the Leafs pay him 11.5 mill (like rumoured) or he can sit and hit FA and likely get close to that anyways.
Pettersson plays as 1C and is worth more, would be surprised if he comes in at below 12,5 on a 3-4 year deal
Insane is 8.5 million for Dubois, yet there it is. If that is the bar, Nylander is worth 11.25 million per year.
Dubois was instantly one of the worst contracts the day it was signed. I would have been fine with the Jets letting him walk for nothing over giving him that contract. Awful stuff.
Doubly insane as the Leafs will have two.
Marner at $10.89 with a new contract coming next summer and Nylander.
Outside of a very few players like McDavid, MacKinnon, Matthews and in his prime Crosby I just don’t see the value in paying wingers that kind of money, let alone two of them.
It will be extremely difficult for the Leafs to balance their team next season.
Resigning Bertuzzi and/or Domi would seem to be impossible.
There will be a lot of players earning the league minimum on the roster.
Gregor, Holmberg, Benoit, Lagesson, Robertson, McMann and possibly 3 ELCs in Minten, Cowan and Niemala to go along with Knies.
Brodie will have to take a substantial cut in pay if he hopes to return to the Blue & White next season.
Liljegren will need a raise and the Leafs are fortunate to have McCabe for one more year at $2M.
11 million for Nylander. Hard pass. His rink doesn’t have corners… he’s afraid of them. Don’t care what his stats say… he’s not the type of guy you want in the trenches when things get playoff ugly.
Not true at all, zimmer. He’s been their best forward in the playoffs while Matthews and Marner draw heat for their inconsistent play.
Mark my words: Willy Nylander is having a career year that he’ll never repeat due to his desire for a fat new contract.
Once signed, he’ll return to being a driveby player who avoids physical contact at all costs.
He’s extremely talented without a doubt – but desire is $$$ motivated
Silly comment. If the Leafs has more players who played like Nylander in the playoffs, they might have won more.
Re Goaltending in NJ & Avalable Goaltenders
Its has been Brutal by Goaltender Vitek Vanecek
his numbers this year G.23, GA 3.35 SA% 0.883❗️
and NJ have a Very good d core
The Goaltending is the #1 Area NJD need to fix❓
Who are the Top Starters that could be Avalable and teams that need a Top Starter,
Hear are to top 3 teams that Really need top starters NOW
1/ Carolina,
2/ NJD,
&
3/ The Leafs..?
Can 33 year old Martin Jones & Rookie Joseph Woll with only 25 NHL games get them over the hump,❓ Samsanov is done for the year he has lost all confidence in his game.
Leafs also need to fix there d…
Top 2 Goaltender that could be avalable,
The cost will be High for these 2,
3 peices ….1st rd Pick & Top young Prospect playing in NHL and a young prospect….
1/ Juuse Saros, NSH 1.5 years left
2/ Linus Ullmark, BOS, 1.5 years left
Next level Goaltenders that could be avalable
3/ John Gibson AN 3.5 yrs @ $6.4M?
4/ Kaapo Kähkönen SJS A 27 yr old UFA
5/ Scott Wedgewood, Dal 31 yr old UFA
6/ Jake Allen Habs $3.8M for 1.5 more Season’s
7/ Petr Mrázek Hawks 31 yr old UFA
Expencive Very Long Shots nobody is going to touch
7/ 33 yr old Jacob Markstrom 2.5 more years at $6.M But really slowing down…(thats a Salary Dump)…⁉️
8/ 29 almost 30 Elvis Merzlikins CBJ, 3.5 more years at $5.4M and poor season numbers and 2 playoff games (thats a Salary Dump) …⁉️
9/ One of Both Ottawa Goaltenders..Joonas Korpisalo & Anton Forsberg (Salary Dump’s)…⁉️
Wild Card….
Carter Hart, Philly A RFA this season, But i dont think Philly will trade him he is part of there Re-build Re-tool…..🤔
My thoughts on Goaltending.
Markström has been very good this year, better than his numbers suggest. I would not consider him a cap dump but if Calgary wants a good return they will have to eat about 2m. He should also be ok since its only 2 years left after this season and he doesnt have a lot of miles on him. He does have a NMC but if Lindholm is moved and they go into a retool he might be open to a Devils or Canes move as they are both good teams. Him in a package with Hanifin/Tanev sounds like a good fit for NJ, or alone ti the Canes.
Kent Nilsson
How different do you think things would be in EDM if they signed Markstrom as a UFA instead of Calgary.
Rumour at the time was the GM didn’t want to give him the same term as Calgary…
EDM needs to go ALL-IN before McDavid or Draisaitl have had enough.
They need defensive help and a legit #1 goalie.
Could they make a deal
with BOS for Ullmark?
Hey Kent,
Jacob Markström has been playing in front of a very good d/ core again this year. but doing a re-tool and haveing him as a $6.M goaltender for 2.5 season dose not make sence if the can dump him…❓
They have Dan Vladar who has played quite well with a mild work load
22 yr old Dustin Wolf is going to be very good, Wolf was Last years Top AHL goaltender and he looks like he will win it again this year, he is wasting his time in the AHL now
Games in the AHL 19 GA.2.50 SV%. 0.924
If they dont bring him up next year he will ask to be traded out of Calgary with all the others…..⁉️
I don’t think EDM wants a redo on Markstrom. Most of the term of that contract EDM has had better tending than Calgary.
Edmonton is the hottest team in the NHL, they are rolling. since their 2-9-1 start and being tied for last in the NHL they are on a 17-6 run. Skinner has been the better tender most nights, but simply one area that has improved on this team. His #’s and play have improved greatly though so credit to him.
The Oilers have been flat out dominant most nights, and the underlying #’s back it up.
Coffey deserves a lot of credit for what he has done with the D, and I was skeptical he was the right guy. Especially with Bouchard, the kid has turned it around defensively and is racking up points at the same time. Nurse is playing like a #1 again as well. Edmonton’s D core is better than Calgary’s IMO.
I think Holland finds another tender, but not a guy to carry the load, that will be Skinner. But I also think they will give Rodrigue a call up first if he keeps it going in Bakersfield. Just can’t see him rolling with a rookie backup come playoff time. It would take a miracle or a hypnotist to fix Campbell. And add a depth D and FWD.
I would love John Gibson in Pittsburgh. We are missing that goalie who makes the timely save, can win a playoff series and play well in big games…not just regular season !!
We don’t have that!! Tristan Jarry is a 2 time all star but isn’t great in the clutch.
Gibson a Pittsburgh area native is big, strong and will make the Penguins way more dangerous…
Jarry was bad vs Washington and even in our win last night at Boston we almost blew a 5-2 lead nedeljkovic not great
More than a few contending teams for this years SC can use a goalie to help get them there …Ullmark at $5 million per is 1.5 years away from a UFA tag but he also has I believe a 15 team NTC…. Swayman a pending RFA this offseason but younger than Ullmark might fetch more in a trade but the RFA could pull back his value …So the question to ask is which one of these goalies will be leaving and when ? come next season both Ullmark & Swayman won’t be hugging after Wins
i would rather see bruins trade ullmark mid season this year and have the team trading for him have a year and a half worth of him then just one year before he hits free agency.i would think that ullmark would accept a trade to someone like devils.
Hey Daryl,
The Edmonton Oilers young 2nd year Goaltender
has only just Turned 25 in his 2nd full NHL year❗️
Stu Skinners numbers are Very Good since late November
In his last 15 Game he is 13 Wins and 2 loses …👌
The Oilers just need to up-grade RD man Cody Ceci he is Not a top paring d/man, more like a 4,5, 6,
They also need a top six forward as Connor Brown has been a Flop this year in Edmonton
Williew
Would EDM be wise to call MTL about the availability of Allen? While Skinner has been playing well lately he has lacked consistency at times.
Perhaps they could offer up one of their young French players and a pick for Allen and a defenceman?
Hey Daryl
I think thats some thing both teams would look at
That trade, The Habs may have to hold back 50% in Salary to make it work as Allen is at $3.8M next year
Maybe there 1st pick in 2020 Quebec born Xavier Bourgault the young 21 yr old centre & a 3rd or 4th pick going back❓
But
Calivin Pickard has played quite well, and i think they want to get the young 23 yr old AHL goaltender a look also before they make a goaltender trade
in Olivier Rodrigue
who has gone G,12 GA.2.48 SV% 0.924 👌