NHL Rumor Mill – February 28, 2024
Check out the latest on Elias Pettersson, Jake Guentzel, Juuse Saros, Tyler Toffoli and more in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
DON’T BUY INTO THE ELIAS PETTERSSON TRADE RUMORS
THE HOCKEY NEWS: Ken Campbell noted recent reports about teams calling the Vancouver Canucks regarding Elias Pettersson. The gifted 25-year-old center becomes a restricted free agent with arbitration rights on July 1. While the Canucks are said to be interested in signing Pettersson, he’s not indicated what his long-term intentions will be.
Campbell believes it’s far too early for any trade talk about Pettersson. The Canucks own his rights for the next 17 months and it would make no sense for them to move him now, especially when they’re hoping to stage a deep playoff run this spring. He also doubts they’d get equal value in return by moving him at the trade deadline.
Vancouver Canucks center Elias Pettersson (NHL Images).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: I don’t doubt that some general managers are calling the Canucks to find out what’s going on with Pettersson. However, they’re not trading him because there’s no reason to do so now.
Pettersson made it clear at the start of this season that he wanted to put his focus on his play rather than contract talks. It’s rumored Canucks management has gently tried to broach the issue with an eight-year offer worth over $12 million annually. If so, it hasn’t had the desired effect.
We’ll learn Pettersson’s true intentions once this season ends. If the Canucks keep playing well and look like a Cup contender (or even win it all this season), he could sign a lucrative long-term extension making him one of the NHL’s highest-paid players. If not, it’ll be worthwhile to ponder where he’ll play next.
PENGUINS SET HIGH ASKING PRICE FOR GUENTZEL (FOR REAL THIS TIME!)
TSN: cited ESPN’s Emily Kaplan recently reported the Pittsburgh Penguins have set a sky-high asking price for Jake Guentzel. The 29-year-old winger is slated to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. While currently sidelined with an upper-body injury, he’s expected to return to action by mid-March.
Kaplan said she’s heard Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas seeks multiple first-round draft picks or a first-rounder and equivalent in top prospects or roster players. She cited one rival executive calling the price tag for Guentzel “ridiculous.”
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Earlier this month we had a rumor circulating that Dubas had set a high price for Guentzel. It was dismissed because he claimed he hadn’t spoken to other clubs about the winger yet. That’s likely changed by now with the Penguins struggling to stay in the race for a wild-card spot as the trade deadline draws near.
There’s no question Guentzel is drawing attention in the trade market. Whether someone steps up to meet Dubas’ price remains to be seen. That rumored high price tag could be reduced if he doesn’t get sufficient interest leading up to the March 8 trade deadline.
DETROIT HOCKEY NOW: Kevin Allen cited Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman saying that some observers think the Red Wings could be a fit for Guentzel. Allen has his doubts given the winger’s nearly 30 and seeks a seven or eight-year contract. He noted that Friedman pointed out that Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman never hands out such contracts to 30-year-old players.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: I expect Yzerman will be a buyer at this year’s trade deadline. He could pursue one of the notable trade candidates but I think he’ll pass on a big-ticket player like Guentzel because of the high cost of acquiring them.
LATEST ON THE SENATORS
OTTAWA SUN: Bruce Garrioch reports the Senators were linked to Nashville Predators goaltender Juuse Saros. He believes they’ve likely “kicked tires” there. Predators general manager Barry Trotz has publicly dismissed the possibility of trading Saros but that hasn’t stopped teams from making inquiries. The asking price, however, would be sky-high.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: If the Senators want Saros they might have to wait until the offseason with other rumored suitors like the New Jersey Devils. Nashville Hockey Now’s Michael Gallagher cited Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli’s reporting the Predators have told teams they’re not moving Saros while they’re in a position to make the playoffs.
TSN: Darren Dreger reports it’s unlikely the Senators will move defenseman Jakob Chychrun at the trade deadline. He’s signed through next season so there’s no rush to move him. It’s something that could be revisited in the offseason.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: That will depend on whether he signs a contract extension. They could peddle him during the draft in late June if they fail to agree to a new contract.
DEVILS HOPE TO RE-SIGN TOFFOLI
TSN: Darren Dreger reports the New Jersey Devils prefer to re-sign winger Tyler Toffoli rather than shop him at the trade deadline. He’s slated to become a UFA but his agent and Devils management have had some discussions about a contract extension. Dreger thinks they could explore some of the interest they’re getting in Toffoli if they decide they’re not playoff-worthy.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The cost of re-signing Toffoli could be the determining factor. It wasn’t something they were going to worry about if they were holding a playoff berth but they’re currently five points out of a wild-card spot. If they can gain some ground over the next week they’ll likely hang onto Toffoli and try to stage a run for that final Eastern playoff berth.
UPDATE ON THE FLYERS
TSN: Pierre LeBrun believes Jamie Drysdale’s upper-body injury won’t affect the Philadelphia Flyers plans for the upcoming trade deadline. Defensemen Nick Seeler and Sean Walker continue to garner trade market interest. They could move someone like Walker if a rival club steps up to meet their asking price
RANGERS LINKED TO WENNBERG
THE ATHLETIC: Peter Baugh and Thomas Drance noted the recent rumors linking the New York Rangers to Seattle Kraken center Alex Wennberg. They speculated the Rangers could offer up a second-round pick and a lower-level prospect.
Meier for Markstrom ($.5M retained) and Tanav (1/2 retained)
Not sure about the package, think Calgary wants picks and prospects but they would both be good for the team. And Meier has been pretty bad this whole season
Moving Timo is still possible ..the guy has proven he can score…and how much is injury related?
I am not sure it makes sense for the Devils to rent any players or make big moves right. does not seem like the right year to go all in
I do not see any possible way Calgary would be interested in taking on Meier’s $8.8) salary then also taking back $.5M of Markstrom’s salary for two more years.
Flames would be going from a $6M dollar cap hit for Markstrom to an equivalent $9.3M dollar cap hit for Meier who has been a complete disappointment in NJ this year.
Plus you want Calgary to just throw in Tanev for nothing and retain 50% of his salary for good measure?
Think Dawson Mercer or Alexander Holtz or both plus a 1st round pick (top 10 protected) for Markstrom and Tanev!
The whole Sens team looked like absolute dog crap last night. Chychrun included. Norris, who I was hoping we could peddle to Nashville, is now injured again securing his Turris 2.0 legacy. Who would want any of these guys? Staios is not dealing from a position of strength.
The Senators better look out or Tkazchuk will do to them what his brother did to Calgary! He won t stay there if it continues to flounder! Giroux is not enough to stop Ottawa from becoming the next Calgary!
Can you blame Tkachuk if he does go that route?
He’s one of the very few with this bunch who does give supreme effort every shift. Sanderson and Bernard-Docker are two others, along with Zub, Giroux, Pinto and Greig.
The rest are along for the cushy ride – they’re making millions or hundreds of thousands … why push themselves?
Finally a sane comment by a sports journalist. Meanwhile the reporters in Vancouver are going bananas because Pettersson said he wasn’t discussing his contract until after the season, AND now he isnt discussing his contract until after the season. The fans are the same, he is doing what he said he was going to do, and therefore many are saying that they should trade him because he isn’t discussing his contract which of course is exactly what he said. The situation is as absurd as trying to write this response correctly.
Any speculation about the Sens and goaltending is ridiculous. They are stuck with Korpo for at least another 2 years due to his contract and Forsberg until the trade deadline next year, when he will be a good depth acquisition (BIG IF HEALTHY). And no goalie is going to want to come to OTT until they prove they are a playoff team. If the Sens are spending capital to make move now or this offseason it is to improve the RD position. Like EVERY OTHER TEAM IN THIS LEAGUE, it seems.
John, re Korpisalo I fully agree that Staios is going to find it VERY difficult to find a taker under any circumstances … with the only plausible possibility being that the pot is sweetened to almost ridiculous extremes – e.g., their 1st round pick this summer (almost assuredly in the top 10 somewhere) and someone like Chychrun or Zub plus a prospect.
Even then, finding someone with a potentially better goalie who does not have Ottawa on their no-go list is probably next to impossible.
Not a good picture for the fans going forward.
I realize that part of the purchasing deal for Andlaur was that the team remain in Ottawa … but if they begin to have attendance problems – and decreased season ticket sales – along the lines suffered by Winnipeg, I can’t see the NHL holding him to that condition somewhere down the line.
Why would the Sens be any more vulnerable than the Jets to a move, George?
A big reason for the Jets’ attendance problems is poor corporate support and surely there is more in Greater Ottawa.
I sense your frustration with the Sens; you are further along in a rebuild than my Habs (who currently suck like an industrial vacuum cleaner.) Watching one’s team continually soil the bed is hard to stomach.
This is the winter of our discontent. As will next winter be.
There is not a whole lot of corporate support in Ottawa LJ. It’s largely a government town with public servants holding down the vast majority of their season-ticket base.
Should it ever deteriorate to the point where they are allowed to re-locate, those rabid fans who live in the Ottawa area but who choose to cheer for visiting teams will then have to find somewhere else to support their teams of choice.
According to Mike McIntyre of the Winnipeg Free Press, the corporate support for the Canadian teams excluding Winnipeg runs between 45 and 85 percent of the ticket base. I’m guessing the Senators are the 45 percent based on your comment, George. Still a lot healthier than 15 percent.
Dorion left a mess for Staios to clean up.
Dorion had to have been one of the worst GMs in the league ranking right up there with Ferguson Jr, Burke, Nonis, Hextal and in my opinion Kyle Dubas.
Trades like DeBrincat, Chychrun, and Gustafsson signings like Korpisalo and 1st round picks like Boucher, Lassie-Thompson and Bernard-Docker, screw ups like the trade of Dadinov to Vegas without disclosing his limited NTC costing the Sens their 1st round pick!
How can one GM have been wrong so many times?
Dubas must be back drinking the same goof juice he was on when he signed an RFA winger to an $11 million contract. Multiple 1sts? Lol
Brock..i agree multiple first nope nada.
If I’m trading with Edmonton for Guentzel
I would take Ryan Mcleod and a 1st that work work
Edmonton gets Guentzel to team with Draistl,
Mc David Nugent Hopkins, Hyman Kane
we get a good young player in return and a 1st
if its Vancouver
Nils Hoglander Mikhlevev and a 1st
if its Vegas package
Reilly Smith $ 5.0 million
Jake Guentzel $ 6.9 millionUFA
(some salary retained $3million)
(so $ 11 million turns to $ 8 million goes to Vegas)
To Pittsburgh
Nicolas Hague defenseman $ 2.3 million
Chandler Stephenson UFA center $2.75 million
William Carrier UFA left wing $ 1.4 million
# 1 draft pick to Pittsburgh
$ 7.0 million goes to Pittsburgh
Guentzel $ 6.0 not $ 6.9 oopppsss
it would have better to set the bar at the basement, right? That really would have maximized Guentzel’s value.
Set the bar high and you take what you’re happy with…set it low and you’ll never get an acceptable deal. This goes for every GM trying to move a player. Well, maybe not trying, but having to.
Doubt he expects that return but setting the bar on the market for the most valuable trade chip out there makes sense. See what bubbles up.
Exactly. Yet a big ask to start is somehow bat$@!t crazy.
Neely… a hard nosed Defender and a forward ….if both happens people will be leaving …
Skinny Petes playing on 3rd line. Wonder if Miller is having him Horvatted.
Lol