NHL Rumor Mill – March 13, 2024
More speculation on the Devils’ offseason plans to pursue a starting goaltender plus a look ahead for Sharks forwards Mikael Granlund and Alexander Barabanov in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
LATEST ON THE DEVILS’ OFFSEASON GOALIE PLAN
THE ATHLETIC: Pierre LeBrun reports the New Jersey Devils intend to pursue a starting goaltender during the offseason. That includes revisiting their interest in the Calgary Flames’ Jacob Markstrom and the Nashville Predators’ Juuse Saros.
LeBrun mentioned that the Devils would also look at a few other options. He indicated they plan to find a stud goalie to create a 1A-1B setup with Jake Allen, acquired last week from the Montreal Canadiens.
Saros’ situation intrigues LeBrun. The 28-year-old Predators netminder is signed through next season and slated to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, 2025.
Nashville Predators goaltender Juuse Saros (NHL Images).
LeBrun wondered if they’ll sign him to a contract extension and have him share the Predators’ goalie duties with young Yaroslav Askarov or attempt to trade him this summer rather than risk losing him to free agency next year.
THE TENNESSEAN: After the trade deadline passed, Alex Daugherty reported Predators general manager Barry Trotz said all options remain on the table for Saros. Trotz suggested a trade was just as likely as a contract extension. “If something comes along from now until July 1, then maybe that situation gets defined and clear.”
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Fitzgerald has already indicated he’s going “big-game hunting” this summer for a starting goaltender. His interest in Markstrom and Saros is well-documented. He could also investigate whether the Boston Bruins intend to part with Linus Ullmark this summer.
The Devils were also linked to John Gibson of the Anaheim Ducks and Elvis Merzlikins of the Columbus Blue Jackets. However, they’re likely further down on Fitzgerald’s goalie wish list.
As for Saros, Trotz could be signaling to teams that the possibility exists for a trade to be done this summer. However, the Predators GM made it clear before the trade deadline that he wasn’t giving Saros away. The asking price for Saros will be expensive.
No general manager was willing to meet Trotz’s price for Saros before the trade deadline. That might change in the offseason when teams have more cap space and a greater willingness to make major moves.
WHAT NEXT FOR SHARKS FORWARDS GRANLUND AND BARABANOV?
THE MERCURY NEWS: Curtis Pashelka reported San Jose Sharks GM Mike Grier indicated last Friday that there was some interest in forwards Mikael Granlund, Nico Sturm, and Luke Kunin. They all have a year remaining on their contracts and expressed an interest in being part of the club’s rebuilding plan.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Granlund might’ve moved at the deadline if the Sharks retained part of his $5 million cap hit. However, they used their final salary retention spot to trade Tomas Hertl to the Vegas Golden Knights.
All three of those retention spots are filled for next season. Any team interested in Granlund this summer or next season must take on his full cap hit.
SAN JOSE HOCKEY NOW: Sheng Peng reports Sharks forward Alexander Barabanov was disappointed that he wasn’t traded to a playoff club before last Friday’s deadline. “That’s life, you can’t control that,” he said.
Barabanov was scratched from last Thursday’s game against the New York Islanders for trade-related reasons. It was believed a deal was in place that would’ve sent him to the New York Rangers. However, it would’ve involved retaining part of his $2.5 million cap hit. The Sharks instead use that retention slot for the Tomas Hertl trade with Vegas.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Barabanov will likely test this summer’s free-agent market. The Sharks will lose him for nothing but they still got a better return in the Hertl deal than anything they might’ve received from the Rangers for Barabanov.
“Big game hunting”, when everyone knows what your looking for, it is “big overpay coming”. And no offense to Mrkstrom or Saros, they are better that what the Devs have, but I do not think an overpay for either is worth it. Fitz needs to be flexible and creative here, his job depends on it. Find a true long term 1a goalie.
Both he and Staios … let the competition begin
The way I rank the supposed “available” goalies based on skill, age, contract:
Ullmark
Saros
Markstrom
The question I have is there a 1a unknown at this time? That is who needs to be identified. The Devs current first round pick must be attractive to some teams. Devs can afford to trade that at this point of their rebuild. Uncertain other teams in rebuild can trade their first.
The benefit of Markström is that he has two years on his deal and you might get Calgary to retain 1-2m, while Saros and Ullmark only has one year, so you basically have to sign them without knowing how they fit. Of those two, Saros has more pedigree of being good longer, while Ullmark has been good only the last 3-4 years. However Ullmark is bigger and Saros might regress due to his age combined with his smaller size, ha hasnt been good this year for instance. My order would be Markström, Ullmark and Saros
Appreciate that!
Perhaps if the cost for one of the big boys is too high, I might interest them in Campbell for a bag of pucks with up to two million retain?
Teams wouldn’t necessarily have to assume the whole cap hit. They would need a third party broker. Even playoff teams were purchasing extra picks this year doing that.
In most instances where a third team is involved, the original club retains 50 percent with the other two teams retaining half of the remainder.
Sure. Maybe the compensation is more then?🤷♂️
Re; Goaltending for NJ & Sen’s
-Both teams need a starters,
-Both teams are young
-Both would have to do a Sign and Trade for #1 & #2
he are my choices for 1,2,3….
1/ Saros was 28 in April
he is young enough to grow with Both teams at 28,
and he has he has 7-8 more good years
2/ Ullmark is 31 in July.
he still has 4 or 5 more good years
3/ Markstromos was 34 in January
he has 2 more good years then at 36yrs old Goaltenders really slow down,
if they think one of the young kids is going to be good enough then go for #3….❓
NJ have young 23 yr old Nico Daws & Jake Allen who is more of a back up
Ottawa have 2 young but un-proven goaltenders🤔both 23 yr old….
Mads Søgaard & Kevin Mandolese
and 2 back ups in the starter role for the Sen’s who are not that good.
Probably get Jarry from Pittsburgh for pennies on the dollar. Who knows, Scooby might even toss in a 1st rounder to move him.