NHL Rumor Mill – March 20, 2024
Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins expects big changes for the club this summer, plus a look at possible offseason moves by the Bruins in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
MERZLIKINS FACING UNCERTAIN FUTURE IN COLUMBUS
THE ATHLETIC: Aaron Portzline recently reported Elvis Merzlikins expects big changes for his club when a new general manager takes over during the offseason. The 30-year-old Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender raised eyebrows in January when he told the media he requested a trade, only to have his agent follow up by claiming his client had misspoken.
Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins (NHL Images).
Portzline noted the difficulty the next Jackets GM will face attempting to move Merzlikins. He has three years left on his contract with an average annual value of $5.4 million and a 10-team no-trade clause.
A contract buyout would mean the Jackets would carry $1.75 million in dead cap space each season through 2029-30. Trying to trade him could mean retaining up to half of his AAV. They could try to move him to a team with plentiful cap space by bundling him with a draft pick or prospect.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Retaining half of Merzlikin’s AAV in a trade seems the best option. Even that might not be enough to tempt a club given his inconsistent play in recent years. It wouldn’t be surprising if he’s still with the Jackets at the start of next season.
SPECULATION ON THE BRUINS’ OFFSEASON PLANS
THE ATHLETIC: Fluto Shinzawa recently looked ahead at what might be in store for the Boston Bruins during the offseason. With a projected $21.5 million in cap space this summer, they’re expected to be buyers.
Shinzawa believes the Bruins could kick the tires on Elias Lindholm if the Vancouver Canucks center hits the open market on July 1.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Lindholm was regularly linked to the Bruins in the rumor mill before his trade to the Canucks on Jan. 31. There was also talk in the days leading up to the trade deadline of a three-way deal involving the Pittsburgh Penguins that would’ve sent Lindholm to Boston, winger Jake DeBrusk to the Penguins and winger Jake Guentzel to Vancouver. That deal, of course, never materialized but it raised questions over Lindholm’s future with the Canucks.
The Bruins could turn to free agency to replace pending UFA defensemen Kevin Shattenkirk, Matt Grzelcyk and Derek Forbort.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Speaking of former Calgary Flames, the Bruins were rumored to be interested in Noah Hanifin before the 27-year-old defenseman was shipped to the Vegas Golden Knights on March 6. They could look into signing Hanifin if he and the Golden Knights part ways on July 1.
Shinzawa expects the Bruins will attempt to trade goaltender Linus Ullmark. He turns 31 on July 31 and carries a $5 million cap hit and a modified no-trade clause for next season. They’d love to get a first-round pick for Ullmark but that could be too high a return. Shinzawa speculates they could get a second or third-round pick, plus moving him would clear his cap hit from their books.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The potential availability of Flames goalie Jacob Markstrom and Nashville Predators netminder Juuse Saros could affect Ullmark’s value in this summer’s trade market. If they’re not on the trade block it would make it possible for the Bruins to set a higher price for Ullmark that includes a first-rounder.
Ullmark and a 3rd to Detroit for Berggren sounds about right to get rid of his cap hit.
One of two things will happen this offseason for Boston:
– Trade Ullmark to LA for Dubois (LA retaining $1M or so) solving the C issue then signing Hanifin too; or
– Signing both Lindholm and Hanifin and trading Ullmark as more of a salary dump (maybe taking back a legit backup with a low salary).
PLD solves an issue? Lol
why would ANYONE want that locker room cancer and diva PLD?
Seriously… Blake could lose his job because of DuBois. What a horrible waste of money and resources.
LA could retain 3/4 of PLD salary and it would still be a bad deal. No one in their right mind wants this guy infecting their locker room. LA you are stuck with this guy. Lokk at it this way he won’t whine to be traded until late next year.
We hear Elias Lindholm name a lot as he is considered the best available ufa Center available.
The price tag might be to high for this player who has two good season during his career, only once has he scored more than 30 goals which was 42 in the 2021-22 season.
There is another center who is available who is good in the faceoff dot and solid defensively and who has revived his career in Montreal and now has picked up 15 pts including 8 goals in 20 games with the Winnipeg Jets.
Sean Monahan would come at a much cheaper cost then Lindholm. Confidence is a scary thing and Monahan has apparently got his back.
Yes i know Calgary gave a 1st round draft pick to dump his salary; however the 1st round pick Montreal got from Winnipeg was a solid investment by the Jets. Good on Montreal in turning the player into a solid trade asset.
How about someone like Chandler Stephenson as a UFA out of Vegas! Less money ,very good player on a Vegas team loaded with centers!
And he might become available Sr. Vegas won’t be able to keep everyone, but Stephenson seems like a guy they would want to hang on to. But they have Hertl now as well. I suppose one could move to the wing. Or move one to 3C, but that will be an expensive 3C as Stephenson will get a significant raise.
I like Lindholm because of his play away from the puck. Gets Selkie votes, once finished 2nd. I think he has had 4 or 5 good years, and think he fits the B’s like a glove.
But your right Caper, he will likely cost too much.
I would go for Stephenson, Monahan while playing really good, is just an injury waiting to happen
I for one at this point would rather see the Bruins try to trade Ullmark & ? for a player of need and not a draft pick .. Sweeney seems to miss on draft picks more than hits
Good point Joe! Sweeneys strength seems to be in trades and free agents! Not drafting!what does that say about their scouting department!
Joe, that very well might happen.
It appears that Boston prospects might not be as bleak as once thought.
Poitras, Lohrei, Brasseau, Beecher all contribute to the team success.
Daniil Tarasov has surpassed Merzlikins as the Jackets’ #1 goalie. If the new GM can’t trade Merzlikins, put him on waivers for the purpose of assignment to Cleveland. If some other GM actually claims him, he becomes that team’s problem. Honestly, I don’t know what Jarmo was thinking, giving that diva such a ridiculous contract after two partial seasons.
Mr. Dubas
The gig is up for sure now
Massive changes are a must
Rierdon must go; that is easy to do
Maybe it’s time to move Sullivan (team is not playing for him)
You must also rectify the damage you did (last off-season plus the trades you made)
This team keeps hanging Jarry out to dry and is rampant with apathy.
Retain 50% on Karlsson and Accairi ; get the best deal possible
Leafs?
Karllson and Accairi , both a t50% retained
For McMann; Gregor; Timmins, 1st
It’s funny how time and reality have a way of settling in.
When Pittsburgh went out got Smith, Karlsson Accari, etc in the off-season some Pens fans were rejoicing. Today, a lot of Pens fans would shove them out the door for a bag of used pucks. The problem is finding that team willing to give up those used pucks.
Pittsburgh has no easy way out. Very doubtful they’ll hold 50% on Karlsson for the term he has left.
And even if they do, damned if you do damned if you don’t kinda thing. They’re still retaining on Petry for another year. 1.5 Karlsson 5 and Accari 1. About 8 million in retention, and still dealing with Jack Johnson buy out at nearly a million.
The better / more realistic idea was a rebuild 3 years ago. That ship has sailed and plunged to the bottom of the sea.
Brace yourself for a painful ride! I see this team as not good enough to make the playoffs, and not horrible enough to get top 5 picks for the next 3-5 years. And even a little pick luck ain’t saving them from a painful rebuild. Certainly not in this years draft!
They had a good run, but that run is in the rear view mirror. Hopefully, nostalgia can sell tickets? I don’t think so, but maybe?
Agree that pain is coming
Disagree that rebuild 3 years ago was the proper timing. They needed better defence then and still had talent at forward; and motivated players
The moves by Hextall and Dubas have sunk this team and fast
Hextall did some really bad moves. Dubas’ fix made them worse.
I was definitely not one of the Pens fans applauding the Karlsson trade.
I don’t know of anybody here that applauded the Dubas acquisition of all those older bottom line players (and overpaying in Cap and term) while completely ignoring the need for a 3rd line and size and youth.
Here are just a few examples on what Dubas could have had (ages at the time):
Drouin (28); 1 yr $885K
Logan Brown (25) ; 1 yr $775
Stetcher: (28); 1 yr $1.1 M
Sprong (26) ; 1 yr $2M
Steel (24) ; 1 year $885 K
Duchenr (32) -1 yr $3M (imagine him as 3rd line Centre)
Soucy (28), 3 years @ $3.2M
Blueger (29) 1 yr at $1.9 M (him instead of Accairi would have been a big improvement
Morgan Geekie !!!! (24) …. Was a UFA!!!….2 @ $2M
Honk if you think Markstrom is done with Calgary
Dubois is still young entitled and immature . As long as he produces plays tough and steps it up come playoffs there ain’t no cancer. There have been lots of problem child’s over the years.
Lindholm left a lot of money on the table. Good for him
Dubois showed up for 1 playoff game last year and then disappeared. I wouldn’t bank on him suddenly becoming an impact player.
Does anybody think that 8787 sounds a lot like pengy just wondering?