Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – January 14, 2024
The latest on Flames goalie Jacob Markstrom and Penguins winger Jake Guentzel, an update on Corey Perry plus some Blackhawks and Senators speculation in the Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup.
LATEST ON MARKSTROM AND GUENTZEL
SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman reports the Calgary Flames aren’t commenting about recent trade rumors regarding Jacob Markstrom. He doesn’t believe they’ve approached the 33-year-old goaltender about a trade.
Friedman also noted that Markstrom has a full no-movement clause and the Flames have set a high bar in terms of what it would take to prompt them to approach the former Vezina Trophy finalist. It would have to be a massive return for the Flames or somewhere that Markstrom would want to go before they’d consider going to him.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Some observers feel the Flames should strike while Markstrom’s trade value is high to move out an aging, expensive asset to make room for promising netminder Dustin Wolf. Perhaps if the Flames were near the bottom of the standings they would consider it now. However, I don’t see them making that move now after climbing back into playoff contention.
Calgary Flames goaltender Jacob Markstrom (NHL Images).
Even if trading Markstrom were possible during the season, his cap hit ($6 million through 2025-26) would be difficult to move with so many teams carrying so little cap space. The Flames would have to do a dollar-for-dollar swap or retain up to half of his cap hit to make the deal work. It’s not impossible but it’s still not easy to pull off, especially as the Flames would want a significant return.
If the Flames want to move Markstrom or if he wants out, the best opportunity would be this summer when the salary cap is projected to rise by $4.2 million. His trade value would remain high if he continues playing well over the remainder of this season and they’d have an easier time moving his contract.
Friedman also reported there have been no determinations made yet regarding Jake Guentzel’s future with the Pittsburgh Penguins. However, he thinks the biggest factor could be where the Penguins see themselves going in a few years.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Guentzel, 29, is due to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1 unless he and the Penguins agree to a contract extension before then. His agent raised some eyebrows in a recent interview where he suggested contract talks could get difficult though he remains hopeful of working something out.
I don’t see the Penguins moving Guentzel while they’re jockeying for a playoff berth. That could change if they tumble down the standings but I think general manager Kyle Dubas will allow his current roster to prove itself as a playoff contender.
THE LATEST ON THE BLACKHAWKS
THE ATHLETIC: Scott Powers and Mark Lazerus recently looked at what could be in store for the rebuilding Chicago Blackhawks in 2024.
They wondered if the Blackhawks would re-sign or trade forwards Nick Foligno and Jason Dickinson and goaltender Petr Mrazek (SPECTOR’S NOTE: This was written before Foligno signed his two-year contract extension).
Powers followed up two days later by reporting general manager Kyle Davidson is considering re-signing or trading Dickinson and Mrazek. He’d like to keep them as he’ll have to go shopping for a two-way center and a starting goaltender if they should decide to leave. Powers has heard the Blackhawks would sign them to more than fair contracts provided they’re not seeking long-term deals.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: There could be interest in Dickinson and Mrazek in the trade market if those two don’t intend to re-sign. Mrazek, however, sounds like he’d prefer to stick around, crediting the move to Chicago with saving his career.
Davidson hinted he might not be as busy as a seller at this year’s trade deadline compared to last year’s. Part of the reason is they don’t have as much desirable trade bait this time around but also whether they have too many draft picks and need to start spacing out when their prospects turn pro.
Despite a recent rumor linking Vancouver Canucks center Elias Pettersson to the Blackhawks, don’t expect them to sign the 25-year-old restricted free agent to an offer sheet. For that matter, don’t hold your breath waiting for them to pursue Tampa Bay’s Steven Stamkos, Florida’s Sam Reinhart, Toronto’s Tyler Bertuzzi or Carolina’s Teuvo Teravainen in this summer’s free-agent market.
Davidson is playing the long game with the rebuild with the blessing of team ownership. Maybe in 2025, he’ll be ready to spend to the salary cap. With so many of their high-end prospects due for new contracts in the coming years, most of their cap space will be spent internally.
UPDATE ON COREY PERRY
Elliotte Friedman also spoke about Corey Perry receiving permission from NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman to speak with other clubs. It’s believed interested teams are conducting due diligence while Perry is also doing the same with those clubs.
SENATORS STILL SHOPPING FOR VETERANS
Elliotte Friedman reports the Ottawa Senators continue to shop for “pros” who can help them with the overall play and direction of the club. The club has also made it clear that some “real untouchables” are on their roster. While the new front-office staff are trying to gauge the market value of their players, Friedman doesn’t think anything’s imminent.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Those untouchables likely include captain Brady Tkachuk, center Tim Stutzle and defenseman Jake Sanderson.
The Sens…wouldn’t it make more sense to shop for help in the off season ? What’s the point now ?
I look at them a d the Sabres and keep hearing how ‘this is the year ‘ followed by ‘nezt year will be our year’
The Penguins are 7th in their division, 7th! Not much room to tumble…
They are also 2 pts out of a playoff spot with a game in hand. As a Devil’s fan i hope they tumble down, but I never rule out a Crosby led team….
Penguins overall play well 5 vs 5 hockey. They’re missing the boat with their power play and their overtime 3 vs 3 play. From a source heard Penguins don’t practice 3 vs 3 play? Start of this season Kris Letang paired with Ryan Graves and Erik Karlsson paired with Marcus Pettersson. Ryan Graves struggled and Sullivan switched defensive pairs pairing Pettersson with Letang and pairing Graves with Karlsson factoring Karlsson cooling. Lately Graves playing on third pair. Physical defenseman Ludwig injured now doesn’t help. Winger Reilly Smith now injured heard isn’t happy being traded from Golden Knights to the Penguins. Ever since Patric Hornqvist was traded Penguins lack net front presence and become much easier team play vs. Would the Penguins benefit by not re-signing Jake Guentzel using allowed salary money for power forward like Tkachuk brother?
Not sure we get one of those unless Keith gets pumpin! Then maybe in about 19 years?
Winnepeg and Calgary were in the exact same place at the start of the year! Winnepeg acted right away moving people out before the season began and they have been rewarded!Calgary has held on to and waited for something to happaen! The longer they wait with their player decisions the less they will get!Being reactive like Calgary rather than being proactive like Winnepeg looks like a big mistake!The only reason I can see in doing this is if the owner is pressuring them to make the playoffs!
It’s Winnipeg.
I’m on your page. Like everyone in business! 💸
Considering they are in rebuild mode still would Chicago consider trading Dickinson and Mrazek to EDM for Campbell along with the 1sts and prospects that it’d take to accomplish that?
I am sure with their cap space Campbell is easy to absorb and they draft capital and prospects like a Broberg to add to their young D would be useful no?
If you are going to lose might as well get more draft capital no?
To EDM: Dickinson (2.65) (50 % retained) & Mrazek (3.8)
To CHI: Campbell (5) , Broberg and say 2024 1st and a 2026 1st?
Can resign Dickinson in the summer as EDM doesn’t have space but get max value for a hot hand right now
Would Samsonov and a top prospect and a 1st and another draft pick be enough for CGY to send Markstrom 25% retained to TML at the deadline work?
What is feasible for an off season trade since TML will have added flexibility with all their UFA. Not as if they will re sign 6 goal scorer Bertuzzi for 5.5 again.
I know Nylander takes a good chunk but space is there. Tight but there.
Hill, Holtby, Murray, Kuemper, Crawford, Binnington. Hall of fame names, not sure. Stanley cup champs, yes. The Leafs need coaching to play proper positional hockey in their own end. Do that before you sell the farm for a goalie, just because they make lots of money and Toronto media is telling us that they are good.
It’s been the Toronto Truth for a long time. No defense. But their offense has been so good it gets them out of trouble. The Senators going through the same thing. Except they thought their defense was actually good enough. Then the roof caved in.
Isn’t Guentzel just another guy in a long line of “Crosby made this guy look good” ?? If he goes somewhere else will he produce at the rate he does with Sid?
We don’t want your goalie when we have Wolf. We’re not interested in making the money work. We want cap space after your GM hamstrung us with the worst contract in the league.
Toronto & Calgary would be all over that trade 100%……⁉️
Just spitballin here but what about a Bertuzzi for Kuzmenko trade. Both 5.5 cap hits. A change of scenery trade. Tocchet might be able to get Bertuzzi going like Kessel. Kuzzi might be fire in the Leafs top 6 again.