NHL Rumor Mill – March 15, 2024
Check out the latest on Sidney Crosby, Erik Karlsson, Jacob Markstrom, Linus Ullmark, Jeremy Swayman, Filip Hronek and more in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
LATEST PENGUINS SPECULATION
SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman doesn’t see Sidney Crosby walking away from the Pittsburgh Penguins next summer without giving management a chance to turn things around. His guess is the Pens will offer Crosby a two or three-year contract extension this summer worth around $10.5 million annually.
Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby (NHL Images).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Some observers wonder if Crosby might demand a trade to a contender this summer or sign with one next summer as an unrestricted free agent. The Athletic’s Penguins beat writer Rob Rossi maintains that Crosby intends to retire as a Penguin and will sign an extension this summer.
I’m with Rossi on this one. I don’t believe Crosby will demand a trade or sign elsewhere. He’ll finish his NHL career with the Penguins.
PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: Shelly Anderson reports Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson dismissed rumors suggesting he might make his way back to the Ottawa Senators.
“Yeah, that’s Canada for you,” chuckled Karlsson. “I played there for a long time so I kind of know how that game works. They’ve got a lot of things to talk about every day to fill a lot of air time, but they only have a few things to actually discuss.”
Karlsson added, “They like to make up these what-if scenarios. That’s just the way it is, and it’s not something that I really look into or worry about too much.”
SPECTOR’S NOTE: In other words, Karlsson isn’t heading back to Ottawa for a reunion with the Senators. Moving on…
RUMOR TIDBITS FROM FRIEDMAN’S LATEST “32 THOUGHTS” COLUMN
SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman believes this summer’s goalie market will be interesting. He noted the Calgary Flames pulled Jacob Markstrom from the market leading up to last week’s trade deadline as did the Nashville Predators with Juuse Saros. The Boston Bruins looked into moving Linus Ullmark but punted that decision to the offseason.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Markstrom, 34, has two years left on his contract with an annual average value of $6 million and a full no-movement clause. The 30-year-old Ullmark has one year remaining with an AAV of $5 million and a 16-team no-trade list that drops to a 15-team list on July 1. Saros, 28, also has a year left on his contract with a $5 million cap hit but he lacks no-trade protection.
All three clubs could be willing to listen to offers but they will set high asking prices. Ullmark seems the most likely to move as the Bruins will want to free up some cap space this summer.
The Bruins reportedly rejected “at least one ask about Jeremy Swayman.”
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Swayman is expected to take over as the Bruins’ full-time starter after this season. He’s on a one-year deal worth $3.475 million and has arbitration rights this summer. It’s believed they’ll try to move Ullmark to free up cap room for Swayman’s new long-term contract.
The Tampa Bay Lightning were “incredibly disappointed” that they failed to acquire Noah Hanifin from the Flames. Friedman wouldn’t be surprised if he signed a contract extension with the Vegas Golden Knights. He also believes the Dallas Stars will attempt to re-sign Hanifin’s old teammate Chris Tanev.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Cap Friendly indicates the Golden Knights have 15 roster players under contract for 2024-25 with less than $10 million in cap space. They’ll garner another $5 million if Robin Lehner remains on long-term injury reserve. It could cost them half of that cap space to re-sign Hanifin.
Meanwhile, the Stars have a projected $18.3 million in cap space with 12 active roster players under contract. Joe Pavelski and Matt Duchene will be due for new contracts as well as Tanev.
There are “debates” over Filip Hronek’s contract discussions with the Vancouver Canucks. Friedman doesn’t expect those talks to be anywhere near as complicated as Elias Pettersson’s recent negotiations.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The “debates” are over whether Hronek will be paid more than Quinn Hughes. He is pulling in an AAV of $7.85 million through 2026-27. Hronek, 26, is a restricted free agent with arbitration rights earning an AAV of $4.4 million. He’s enjoyed a career-best performance with 45 points in 67 games.
The Canucks have already tabled a contract extension to the Hronek camp. Some observers believe he could seek an AAV of over $8 million. Maybe the Canucks try to tempt him with an eight-year deal worth just under Hughes’ annual cap hit in the hope that he’ll prefer the long-term security.
The Edmonton Oilers showed interest in signing recently acquired forwards Adam Henrique and Sam Carrick to contract extensions.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Oilers have $14.2 million in projected cap space with 13 players under contract. As Friedman said, we’ll see how things shake out during the postseason.
>>>>and a 16-team no-trade list that drops to a 15-team list on July 1.
Ok, I am fascinated by this.
What possessed either side to make or agree to this tiny adjustment? What a (seemingly) odd condition.
George O agree Karlsson was spot on. I’m always amused when a talking head muse over something and folks just running with it, as if the statement has merit.
Re: SPECTOR’S NOTE: In other words, Karlsson isn’t heading back to Ottawa for a reunion with the Senators. Moving on…”
I’ve been trying to say that for over a week now – even alluding to checking the skies for flying pigs
Bottom line: as Karlsson points out, the Canadian sports media leads the way in applying “click bate” in their endless pursuit of readers/viewers/listeners. With Freidman at the head of the class.
Crosby will bolt, if not this year it will be next. He has a life time job with Pen’s Mgmt. after his playing day are done.
Maybe – just maybe – he’d like to finish his playing career with his boyhood favourite NHL team.
Sure leave a team because they’re not going to compete for the cup the next few years for another team that won’t be competing for the cup over the next few years. Makes sense I guess.
That’s why I said “maybe … just maybe ….”
Boston has $21,559,166 in cap space with 16 players under contract
Moving Ullmark will be two fold freeing up $5m in cap space and bringing in assets that will help in other area.
Swayman and Boqvist are the only rfa’s and Jake Debrusk is the only ufa of any consequence.
Swayman will probably come in between $7m – $8m and it really hard to gauge Debrusk.
Debrusk is coming off a $4m contract, i find Debrusk to always be affected by his surrounding ie Cassidy coaching style, this year the unknown contract. 5yrs @ $5.5
Two players just took up $12.5m of the $26 still leaves $13.5 with 17 players
take 4 players at the $1m hit puts the roster at 21 players and $9.5 in cap space
Until Hanifin sign anywhere other than Boston, Sweeney will continue the chase.
No Elias Lindholm is not a $9m per season #1 C, let someone else pay that freight.
Crosby would be a great add to the Bruins! They even have the same colors to make Wid feel comfortable!
Sid! Lol
Good plan Caper, email Sweeney!
If Vegas has a cap crunch and lets Chandler Stevenson walk, the B’s could pursue him for another C.
Ray great choice in Stevenson! It looks like the shine on Lindholm has worn off!
Ya, which might be a good thing Sr?
I would take him on my team any day, the question is how much will it cost?
He is a 200′ player, who can produce offense with good wingers, he did it in Calgary. For whatever reason, it isn’t working in Vancouver.
Maybe the price comes down to a reasonable amount?
UFA Market
Dont see big centre Elias Lindholm getting more that $7.5 to $8.M in a New Contract…❓
He has been mediocre in Vancouver since the trade just under 0.4 points per game… 7points in 18 games🤔
I think Boston Still go after Noah Haniffin to fill there top 4 d/man hole….??
I can see that Sid is just frustrated that Hextall ruined the team around him which cost at least one more Cup. That said, I really do not think he will go anywhere… I think Dubas will be fired before Crosby gets moved…
Karlsson is not coming back to Ottawa and we all knew it. I mean I jokingly said I would like one trade proposed a couple days ago by someone here, but that was one that needed a magic wand an was nothing but win for Ottawa.
Anyway… we are now into the 4-5 months where they will keep on with these made rumours to get people watching.
Re; The Pen’s
They are going into a Re-tool for the next season 2024-2025… But when they are missing the playoffs a in march 2025 they will go into a Full Re-build and
Sid will go to a contender… like The Avs or the Oilers to play with one of his buddies #29 or #97
There Goaltending has not been Great,
The Back up Alex Nedeljkovic has been just as good at Jarry there Starter who has not been that good,he is signed for 4 more years, most of these player are signed up for 1 to 4 more years…
The D is Old not very good and Nobody is Taking
34 yr old Erik Karlsson at $10.M for 3 more years in this Cash straped league❗️
and Ottawa is Not taking him back….Why would they?
The Forwards are ALL Old age at the start of the season, Most of them have all started to slow down even the younger ones like Rickard Rakell, he only has 10G & 18A
36 Crosby
39 Jeff Carter
38 Malkin’
32 Matt Nieto
32 Noel Acciari’
34 Lars Eller
33 Reilly Smith
32 Bryan Rust
31 Rickard Rakell’
Regarding the Pen’s AHL farm team they have Nothing coming up to help them…
No 1st & 3rd & 5th picks this year in the 2024 draft….❗️🤔
They could have a 1st.
Lindholm left a boatload of money on the table in Calgary.
I believe Hanifin did as well but as larger mobile D he may get close
In both cases if they hit UFA leaves a year off the deal
Lindholm is tanking his value right now however it could recover by a solid playoff run or a UFA desperation, bidding war.
Crosby might have 4 good seasons left, let’s not pretend Father Time isn’t going to catch-up to him at some point. If he wants to remain a Penguin for Life, that’s great, but he may not play in another playoff game again.
That is why the Pens pulled the trigger on Guentzel . They are the oldest team in the league.