NHL Rumor Mill – January 8, 2024
Check out the latest on Jake Guentzel and Andrei Kuzmenko as well as some recent Canadiens speculation in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
LATEST ON GUENTZEL’S CONTRACT SITUATION
THE ATHLETIC: Rob Rossi reported Sunday that Jake Guentzel’s agent seemed to suggest that his client might not be with the Pittsburgh Penguins for much longer. The 29-year-old winger is slated to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.
Agent Ben Hankinson said his client loves living and playing in Pittsburgh. He also indicated that he has a good relationship with Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas.
However, Hankinson didn’t rule out the possibility that negotiations could get ugly. He thinks Dubas must determine his club’s plans before the March 8 trade deadline and his client’s place within them. Hankinson said he’ll “lean on conversations” he’s already had with Dubas and with his client. “What’s going to happen, I don’t know.”
Rossi believes a lot can be read into Hankinson’s comments. One open question is whether he and Dubas discussed a new contract for Guentzel since the start of this season. Another is whether the two sides agreed to wait until the end of this season for serious negotiations.
Pittsburgh Penguins winger Jake Guentzel (NHL Images)
Guentzel declined to comment about his agent’s comments. “I’m not going to go too much into detail about it,” he said. “I’m just trying to play, and we’ll see what happens as we go.”
Rossi speculates this could go three ways. Guentzel could test the free-agent market on July 1, he could be traded by the March 8 deadline, or he and the Penguins agree to a contract extension. So far, there’s no indication which way it will go.
Guentzel is currently earning an average annual value of $6 million. Rossi thinks he could get a $2 million pay bump over that on his next deal. He could get a maximum of eight years with the Penguins and seven years on the open market. Given his production, Guentzel would be one of the most sought-after players in this summer’s free-agent pool.
THE HOCKEY NEWS: Adam Proteau suggested the Seattle Kraken, Colorado Avalanche and New York Islanders could use Guentzel if the Penguins shop him before the March 8 trade deadline.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Another factor to take into account is what Sidney Crosby would think about Guentzel moving on at the trade deadline or via free agency. He’s had Guentzel on his wing for several productive seasons now and could exercise his influence to keep him there.
However, Rossi noted that the Penguins already have several over-30 players on expensive contracts. While the resilient Guentzel is currently the club’s leading scorer, Rossi pointed out that he also has an injury history.
If the Penguins decide to move Guentzel before March 8 there won’t be any shortage of suitors. He could become the most coveted player in this season’s trade market given his scoring ability and Stanley Cup experience.
WHAT NEXT FOR KUZMENKO AND THE CANUCKS?
THE ATHLETIC: Thomas Drance and Rick Dhaliwal noted the Vancouver Canucks are continuing to work with struggling winger Andrei Kuzmenko to help him improve his performance.
Kuzmenko and his agent Dan Milstein want to make this work with the Canucks. Milstein has a good relationship with management and the two sides have regularly kept in touch. Nevertheless, the 27-year-old winger has yet to show signs of real improvement in his overall game and was a healthy scratch from some recent games.
Drance and Dhaliwal believe some teams have expressed some interest in Kuzmenko. However, his usage by the Canucks has distressed his value in the trade market. The Canucks would also be reluctant to retain part of his $5.5 million cap hit to facilitate a trade.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Drance and Dhaliwal believe something’s got to give if this situation doesn’t improve soon. It’ll be interesting to see how much longer this goes on.
The Canucks are currently jockeying for first place in the overall standings. They could be in a position to become buyers at the March 8 trade deadline. Perhaps Kuzmenko becomes part of a hockey trade that fetches a winger or defenseman who can help them stage a deep playoff run. Bear in mind, however, that his cap hit and 12-team no-trade clause could hamper those efforts.
UPDATE ON THE CANADIENS
THE ATHLETIC: Arpon Basu wondered if Christian Dvorak’s season-ending injury could make Sean Monahan too important for the Montreal Canadiens to trade.
Basu believes the Canadiens will maintain its rebuilding program and that will include shopping Monahan even if he’s helping the club remain competitive this season. He suggested that perhaps a market for Monahan won’t develop that would fetch a sufficient return. However, the added responsibility he’ll have by replacing Dvorak could raise his trade profile.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canadiens would trade Monahan simply for the sake of doing so by the deadline. I also doubt that they’d do so for a middling return. They’ll want substantial for him.
TVA SPORTS: With Los Angeles Kings backup goaltender Pheonix Copley sidelined for the season by knee surgery, perhaps general manager Rob Blake will call Canadiens GM Kent Hughes about Jake Allen.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: For now, the Kings will stick with their tandem of starter Cam Talbot and call-up David Rittich. Nevertheless, I think Blake will keep an eye on the trade market to add a little more depth between the pipes. Whether Allen will be on his radar remains to be seen.
I think Lyle meant to write that Hughes WON’T trade Monahan just for the sake of trading him.
At this point id try to re-sign Monahan to an extension as long as it would be 3-4 years tops for reasonable coin. He’s quite valuable to Habs as a second line center and on PP. solid on the draw. Then try to pick up a winger or two who could be productive playing with him.
We agree on something, Howard! And he’s a good insurance policy against the next time Dach puts on a heavy coat and then has to go on LTIR.
Precisely what I was thinking LJ. The Habs need a solid #2 center to support Suzuki (just like any other team) and Dach obviously hasn’t proven that he can remain healthy for a full year.
The leafs might consider a trade for hannifin and tanev for brodie, lilligren, robertson and McMann or holmberg.all on expiring contracts. The flames reduce their cap hit by 1.0 million, the leafs pick up 1.0 million and use klingberg money money to give them raises on new contracts.
So Flames are just going to do the leafs a favour. 2 top four D (on the leafs Tanev would be in the top 4 – probably 3rd pairing on a good team) for 3rd liners/3rd pairing D at best.
If I’m the flames I want a first rd pick and 2nd round pick in any deal for these players.
At least. If Hanifin signs Extension he is worth more than a first and Tanev is worth a low 2nd so for the Leafs that means a 2nd plus a 3rd/4th
Hey Jeff,
I would be asking for Top Prospects if the flames want to re-tool on the fly….. picks may take them to long, these are the leafs Top Prospects.
for Hanifin & Tanve
A first Round pick
and
one of these 2 ….❓
-Big Matthew Knies RW/LW
-Topi Niemelä RD/man
and
one of these 2….❓
Nicholas Robertson LW.
Fraser Minten’ C.
Ok, we’ll take Brodie, a guy your GM let walk for free while GM of the Flames and a couple of nobodies for our two best defensemen. The Flames are not going to help Brad out.
Monahan is 2nd line center on the Habs but won’t be on any other team. He has value but what does “a substantial” return entail?
1st and prospect. Similar to the Toffoli deal. That’s the return that would provoke Hughes to part with Monahan.
Not worth that
Nope – at that price, Monahan stays in Montreal.
Kent/Iago….and Montreal is good with that…very happy to keep him.
Re; LA Kings Goaltending Situation
With backup goaltender Pheonix Copley sidelined for the season by knee surgery, The kings now need an Above Average Goaltender to help 36 yr old Talbot carry the load, Remember Talbot tails of every year about this time if he plays a lot…❓
GM, Rob Blake will call two Canadian Teams on the east cost….
Habs GM Kent Hughes about Jake Allen and
Sen’s GM Steve Staios about the Sens starter,
Joonas Korpisalo
Korpisalo had lots of Success last year in LA and they wanted to sigh him….⁉️🤔
The Trade
Joonas Korpisalo $4.M
( Kings get there Goaltender they wanted) 2X1A
for
Phillip Danault $5.5M
(Sens get there older player to mentor the kids)
Or
its a pick they can trade for a player…?
If they had wanted Korpisalo they probably would have found a way to sign him.
BL,
They LA offers him $3.5M for 4 years
The Sens offerd $4M for 5 years….. 🤔
i can see him going back to LA when Talbot starts to fall apart, to much work load for the 36 year old tender… LA are in a win mode now…
So now they’re going to want him for more money and term and for an important player that they value? It’s not like Korpi has been good this season…
IMO he reason LA didn’t sign Korpisalo is because he wasn’t very good in the playoffs and has been a mediocre tender most of his career with some hot streaks thrown in. I wouldn’t take him for free with that contract.
If LA trades Danault (a very valuable player IMO) for Korpisalo I will eat my shoes.
Hot and cold tenders like Korpisalo aren’t worth much because you never know what you will get from year to year. There are a plenty of them out there. If LA wanted one of those they could have picked up Samsonov on waivers for free, less AAV and his contract expires after this season.
I could see the Leafs offering Guentzel at least $12M a season, maybe more.
Imo he’s worth a high 2nd… at most.
If the Habs want to hold onto a guy whose value will continue to drop over the next several years, they are more than welcome to do so. The guy is 29 and has some injury history. I would trade him now, while you can actually get something for him. This is a chance to continue the rebuild by adding future assets.
I think there’s a chance Chevy sends the Habs back their own 2nd round pick for Monahan. We’ll see…
IMO, the TMLs keep shooting themselves in their foot. $11.5 per year, for a really good player, but same team that has only proven they are not a playoff winning team.
I’ve had a look at the Leafs on cap friendly, not just the $ hit but also the demographics. No team could let Nylander walk so the signing is no surprise.
IMO Matthews and Nylander are still young enough to be top tier productive for another 5 years. Tavares drops off after next year, and they gain another 8.5 million when Domi and Bertuzzi expire then.
What gets very interesting for the Leafs is what they do with Marner. Do they keep him at a 2025 price and continue to hope that their now Big 3 will win a Cup, or do they trade him for help on D and in goal. They have traded a lot of picks away and are not loaded with prospects.
Whatever they do this year and next I see no legit shot at the Cup.
The problem with Marner is that Dubas gave him a full no trade clause.
To trade Marner (a Toronto born player) Leafs would have to have his full co operation which he might not give considering he does not want to leave Toronto.
About all Leafs can do is finally put their foot down with these escalating contracts, tell Marner he gets roughly the same ($11.5 – $12) as Nylander if he wants to stay, otherwise he can walk!
As far as I’m concerned if the Leafs were to cut bait on any of the top players, they would have by now. Like it or not but these three forwards are here to stay especially when all three might end up being all time greatest Leafs to play for them. It’s on one hand great since the Leafs never had players like these guys and to draft this successfully is great but the cap makes it not ideal. They will continue to tinker around the point producers but it’s never going to be ideal.
At least they have locked up their core stars for a while and haven’t given money to grunts just because the same people who thought the Leafs should draft Ritchie or Nylander are crying how you need it to win.
As for the playoffs, only one team is able to overcome their shortcomings, luck aside to become champs…everyone else are losers whether it happens the first or final round. A 82 game schedule speaks more about a team than a winner take all 7 game series does.
Nylander signs for 11.5 million.
Seems like a lot to pay for a marshmallow.
Ron, you should watch a game or two before posting.
But that might get in the way of your bias.
Nylander has been the leafs Best Forward in the playoffs…
Willie Nylander has been Way better then both
Mitch Marnier and John Tavares….?