NHL Rumor Mill – March 16, 2024
What next for the Ducks? Could the playoffs factor into a new contract with the Rangers for Kaapo Kakko? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
DUCKS NEED TO BECOME BUYERS
THE ATHLETIC: Eric Stephens believes the Anaheim Ducks must stop being sellers and become buyers in the trade market if they hope to progress in rebuilding their roster.
Stephens isn’t suggesting they blow their cap space on expensive free agents or that they shouldn’t trade a roster player or two for future assets. However, it’s time for general manager Pat Verbeek to use his projected $34 million in cap space and draft capital to add players who can help promising youngsters like Leo Carlsson, Mason McTavish, Trevor Zegras and Pavel Mintyukov.
Anaheim Ducks forward Trevor Zegras (NHL Images).
Verbeek brushed aside the trade rumors about Zegras. He said he wasn’t shopping the 22-year-old forward nor did he receive any calls about him leading up to the March 8 trade deadline.
“We want “Z” to play with us,” said Verbeek following the trade deadline. “Hopefully, he can get through this injury pretty quick and get back on the ice.”
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Ducks could be worth monitoring during the offseason.
They are well-stocked with young talent on their roster and within their prospect pipeline. With seven picks in the first three rounds of this year’s draft (including two first-rounders), they can afford to use some of it to acquire an established player or two. Verbeek could target clubs that are trying to shed salary this summer.
Zegras has been sidelined since Jan. 11 with a broken ankle. His recovery timeline was six to eight weeks. I don’t doubt that Verbeek wants to hang onto Zegras but I wouldn’t be surprised if the trade rumors flare up again in the weeks leading up to the NHL Draft in late June.
PLAYOFFS COULD DETERMINE KAAPO KAKKO’S NEXT CONTRACT
NEW YORK POST: Mollie Walker believes the 2024 playoffs could determine Kaapo Kakko’s next contract with the Rangers. The 23-year-old winger is slated to become a restricted free agent this summer with arbitration rights.
Kakko missed 21 games earlier this season with a lower-body injury. His production has been limited to eight goals and 12 points in 45 games as he’s bounced between the first and third lines.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kakko was the subject of some trade speculation before the March deadline. His performance over the rest of this season (including the playoffs) will factor into what type of contract he gets from the Rangers. It won’t be surprising if his name comes up in offseason trade speculation.
Anaheim and Arizona remind me of each other!They sell every year and keep ending up in the same place!Their rosters are revolving turnstiles! The Yotes have all these draft picks but when are they going to turn them into useful NHL players?The only consolation is that they are not in San Jose or Chicago,two wastelands and even with a player like Bedard on the team!Ottawa not far behind with young core players tied up at long term contracts with big money invested! And they might have the wrong players involved!
The coyotes are treading water waiting to see if they acquire land for their new arena.if they win the auction they will become buyers with all their draft picks to give the team 2 years to develop to make a arena opening splash. If they don’t get the land they will use their draft picks to raise the perceived value of the team prior to selling it.
They don’t have money for the land, let alone money to build a legitimate arena on that land. It’s just more smoke and mirrors.
No “might have” about it! The conundrum is, how do they decide definitively as to which players are wrong for the “mix” and, if they are among those with long-term deals in the $8 mil range, how do they move them?
Staios might want to hire a full-time GM simply to have someone to fire when the quagmire proves impossible to solve.
GeorgeO what’s your take on Thomas Chabot.. Keep him or trade him before his M-NTC and $10m salary kick in?
In terms of the cap, caper, his “hit” is $8 mil per to 2028-19
Dealing him before those clauses kick in would clearly be the way to go … but this is a D who has yet to play a full season since coming into the league full-time in 2018-19, missing 93 games (or 14%) for a variety of reasons.
Because there are so many teams edging up against the cap limit, that reduces the potential considerably unless the trade is an old-fashioned “hockey trade” where Ottawa gets a F, for example, making roughly the same money – in other words, some team with a surplus of Fs in his cap range needing a LD.
The progress of Maxence Guenette and Tyler Kleven in the system suggests both will be up full-time either next season or the following … meanwhile, there will be D UFAs with experience to consider on short-term deals.
Sens need to move 1 big contract out to make room for a full and competitive roster. I think that Chabot would be the easiest before his NTC kicks in this July. Chychrun, Sanderson, and whomever can hold down the LS. Chabot only has 4 years left on that deal and is in his prime. Ottawa just has to shop for a RD, like everyone else! ( there will be several in FA!)
I think Boston would consider Chabot if they Don t sign Hanifan!They will be looking for a top4 defensemen and a top 6 forward preferably a center, and they will have the cap money to sign both!
Sr…. Sweeney could go looking at Brady Skjei if Carolina can’t resign him as a pending UFA.
I d be ok with that!