NHL Rumor Mill – March 29, 2024
The relationship between Evander Kane and the Oilers hits a rough patch, re-signing Sam Reinhart is getting expensive for the Panthers, and the latest on the Devils in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
HAS EVANDER KANE WORN OUT HIS WELCOME IN EDMONTON?
OILERS NATION: Michael Mazzei believes the relationship between Evander Kane and the Edmonton Oilers has hit a rough patch. The 32-year-old winger started the season strong but has just 15 points in his last 36 games and no goals in his last 18 contests.
Kane voiced displeasure over his reduced ice time and was a healthy scratch in a recent game with the Ottawa Senators. Mazzei cited Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli suggesting there’s a disconnect between Kane and the Oilers’ front office over the state of things.
Edmonton Oilers winger Evander Kane (NHL Images).
Seravalli thinks Kane’s act is wearing thin in Edmonton, suggesting it may be something the Oilers end up having to address before his contract is up in two years. He added that there’s nothing imminent in terms of the club trying to move off his contract.
THE HOCKEY NEWS: Adam Proteau believes the Oilers will need Kane to ratchet up his game when the playoffs start next month. If not, he speculates they might approach the winger in the offseason to see if it makes sense to move him elsewhere.
Proteau points out that Kane carries an average annual value of $5.125 million. He also carries a full no-movement clause to the end of next season.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kane could still be feeling the aftereffects of that horrific wrist injury he suffered last season. However, he seemed to return to form during the first half of this season.
Unless Kane’s battling an undisclosed injury, he must step up over the remainder of this season and the playoffs. As Proteau points out, they’re not getting their money’s worth from him lately.
Kane’s history of wearing out his welcome with the Jets, Sabres and Sharks will make it difficult for the Oilers to move his contract this summer if he’s open to another trade.
REINHART GETTING MORE EXPENSIVE FOR THE PANTHERS TO RE-SIGN
TSN: In Tuesday’s edition of “Insider Trading”, Darren Dreger speculated Sam Reinhart’s career season could make it difficult for the Florida Panthers to sign him to a new contract.
Reinhart is completing a three-year contract with an AAV of $6.5 million. The 28-year-old winger can become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. He recently reached the 50-goal plateau (51) this season for the first time and also reached a career-high in points with 85 and counting.
Dreger said negotiations haven’t started yet but there is good dialogue between them. He believes it will be expensive fro the Panthers to re-sign Reinhart, pointing to what William Nylander got from the Toronto Maple Leafs (eight years, $92 million) and Elias Pettersson recently signed with the Vancouver Canucks (eight years. $92.8 million).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Dreger believes the Panthers will take a run at signing Reinhart. However, he wondered how many big-number contracts they could comfortably afford.
The Panthers already have Aleksander Barkov and Sergei Bobrovsky with AAVs of $10 million, Matthew Tkachuk at $9.5 million (and doesn’t that look like a steal now) and Aaron Ekblad earning $7.5 million annually through 2024-25.
Reinhart might be willing to leave some money on the table to stay in Florida. However, I now doubt he’ll accept less than Tkachuk’s $9.5 million.
LATEST ON THE DEVILS
THE ATHLETIC: In a recent interview with Pierre LeBrun, New Jersey Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald indicated which areas of his roster he hopes to build up for next season.
Finding a starting goaltender remains his priority. He attempted to acquire Jacob Markstrom from the Calgary Flames and inquired into the availability of Nashville Predators netminder Juuse Saros.
Asked if Flames GM Craig Conroy should expect to hear from him again this summer, Fitzgerald replied with a chuckle, “Not just Craig.”
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Fitzgerald said following the March 8 trade deadline he’ll be going “big-game hunting” for a goaltender in this summer’s trade market. He acquired Jake Allen from the Montreal Canadiens but sees Allen sharing the net in a 1A, 1B system.
Besides Markstrom and Saros, Fitzgerald could also target Linus Ullmark of the Boston Bruins or John Gibson of the Anaheim Ducks.
Fitzgerald will also look for a full-time head coach after firing Lindy Ruff on March 4.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: During Thursday’s “Insider Trading”, LeBrun said interim coach Travis Green is a serious candidate to take over the role full-time. However, he thinks Fitzgerald will probably still consider other candidates.
The Devils GM is happy with the amount of skill on his roster. However, he’d like to add more physicality on the wing.
They lost Miles Wood last summer to free agency. Earlier this year, they lost Michael McLeod after he was among five players charged with sexual assault in London, Ontario stemming from an alleged incident when they were members of Canada’s 2018 World Junior team.
Evander Kane causes trouble wherever he goes. Trading him will be very difficult. The Oilers would have to eat half his salary and/or throw in quite the sweetener or take back a bad contract. May be best off letting his contract expire in two years and then letting him go.
Kane in an oiler uniform.
153 games
59G 47A 106PTS +15
Playoffs
27 games
14 G 6A 20pts -1
For 5 million , his physicality and production is well worth 5 million. 1 interaction caught live with draisaitl and a game in the stands and all of a sudden the other 180 games vanish lol. He hasn’t been an issue , like any player , was not happy with the benching , and last night responded with a great effort with both the coach and captain commending in post game media . Knoblauch said that line may have been there best 5v5 and Evander was the best of the 3. Big hit on doughty to set the tone. How many oilers games you watch Howard ?
I’m not saying that he’s not a talented and good player. He certainly has produced. But wherever he goes, drama follows. That can’t be denied. And that always winds up undermining the team. Not sure the whole package is worth it.
Teams will chance the drama for a player like him. For better or worse. They certainly wouldn’t have to sweeten the pot or hold money. Big challenge would be getting face value with that nmc.
Wouldn’t it be funny if draisaitl demands more than Edmonton is able to pay and he walks.a year later mcdavid without his pal decides to test free agency and signs with toronto the team he always wanted to play for.
It would be even funnier if he signed with a club other than Toronto…
^ Canucks fans feeling the footsteps behind them. 17 behind , 14 , 10 , 6 with 2 games in hand ! Getting nervous , running mouth. Won’t it be funny when the oil jump the nucks for 1st in the division!
Re; Leon Draisaitl
Word in Edmonton and the Circle
Leon wants to stay in Edmonton with Connor McDavid, Leon is more than likly coming in at $12.5M on an 8 year deal, = $100M ❗️
Its no Secret that these two are Very Tight & they both like Edmonton, they are everywhere together with there girlfriends…
They both know the cap is a big challenge, for the Oil, by the time #97 sign’s up in two years time, the cap could be at $92Mto $94M range
They know they need cash to saround them self with good players, they have a good d with Bouchard 23 yrs, Broberg 22 yrs coming up and will play a top 4 role with Elkholm & they have some good young forwards coming and 25 yr old Skinner will be a top 10 Goaltender for the Next 10 Years
I see Connor McDavid signing his deal for $13M for 8 years =$104M
they make more money outside promoting stuff than there Salarys 🤔
Friendships aside, Mcdavid isn’t leaving 20-25% on the table. His last time around he left 750k or 5.66% on the table. Almost enough for a prospect call up.
Today a max cap hit is 16.3, in 2 years it will be probably in the 17-17.5 range?
I’m not begrudging this guy, but most normal people don’t take a pay shave for friendship, good of the team etc.
I can tell you first hand, I don’t have a single friend or relative that I’m leaving 24-26 million on the table for!!!! Do you? Lol.
It would just be easier and cheaper to fly them in every other day!
All of this being said, the oilers Re-signing both Mcdavid and Draisaitl will be a death sentence to their future success.
Teams can’t win with 3-10+ contracts today. How will they manage a 13+, a 16+ , a 9.25 and still a expect to re-sign their younger guys and fill out the roster?
The Leafs would never be able to fit contracts for McDavid and Mathews under the cap.
Howard never say never. Look at Vegas. They seem to fit any player they want, Florida does that too….the bottom line is if a team wants a player, they will find a way to fit him in. I don’t think any team would not find a way to fit him in, cap or no cap.
Don’ t underestimate the league. For Leafs, Rags, Pens, they will change ,or invent new loopholes to accomodate them. Ratings
mean $$………and the league is all about the $$.
Isles forever,
I’d love to see one example of how the league changes rules , loopholes they made for any one of those franchises.
I don’t mean the ones in your head, but an actual example that has been reported / confirmed.
I’ll go ahead and guess on NY and Pittsburgh.
Pittsburgh = Crosby / Lemieux?
NY = Laffrienere and Kakko?
NY rangers have had a whopping TWO top three 1st rounders in the last 55-56 years?
So the 4-5 top 3 picks the islanders have had over the last 30-40 years must also be a conspiracy also?
Please do reply! As I said about a week ago, I LOVE a good conspiracy theory. Especially when they exist only in someone’s head!!!
Re; Florida Panthers Sam Reinhart.
with
$21.5M in Cap space this year 2024 its going to be a tough year for the panthers and there Salary cap ❗️
& $44.M in 2025
-28 yr old Aleksander Barkov @$10.M + 7yrs
-35 yr old Sergei Bobrovsky $10.M +2.3yrs
-26 yr old Matthew Tkachuk at $9.5.M +7yrs
I can See Sam Reinhart 26 yrs old coming in at the same as Tkachuk $9.5M for 8 years❓
especaly with the low Taxs in Florida that like $11.5M in most other places
They also have RD-man UFA 29 yr old Brandon Montour @$3.5M to re-sign $5.M deal for 7-8 years
leaves them about $6.5 to $7M
if Spencer knight is back thats $3.5M…
Evander Kane 0 goals in 18 games. I would say he’s a little more than a little frustrated.
His 21 goals are still the fourth best on the Oilers
Edmonton isn’t a deep team and they will need Kane to produce, if they have hopes of a long playoff run.
They are not going to let Reinhart walk, so they need to cut elsewhere, Montour will get near $6M, so OEL walks. Vlad and Kyle walk and FLA has only $5M to fill 8 more roster spots. Would they give up Spencer Knight for futures????? and sign Stolarz for another year? Actually, I think the Wings would trade NHL-ready Berggren and BU Alex Lyon for Knight! That would certainly help the Cat’s cap for the next year!
Sam Reinhart is 28 years old (29 November 6th) not 26.
Fitz better have a real good off-season, his job depends on it. Fitz has done some really good things for this team and some head scratchers as well. IMO Markstrom is not the answer to their problems. The team needs a solid LD, more on the defensive side of his game. And under NO circumstances should Greene be back. This team needs a coach that teaches a sound game of hockey and holds players accountable. Getting rid of Palat and Haula would be a bonus.
Nj has some big holes to fill! Goalie is the biggest one! Their defensive corps is suspect ! Hamilton is not a no. 1 defensemen,hurt all the time and very soft in the D zone! No. 1 D men control play in all 3 zones ! Mcavoy is an example of that! Their skilled forwards are Smurfs,need to get bigger in your top 6 to protect Hughes,Bratt,Hischier! Also need a coach!
yep
Hey SR,
Both NJ & Ottawa will go after ether 31 yr old in June Ullmark from Boston as he wants to stay on the East Cost
Cost could be a 1st pick & A good d prospect❓
Or
Saros from the Preds, 28 yr old who are UFA at the end of next season,
Cost could be a 1st pick and a good young Roster player & maybe a 2nd or 3rd round pick for the rebuilding preds as they are old on the d
I could see the Sen’s Doing a 1st pick and
LD/man 27 yr old Chabot in a trade for ether Ullmark as Boston to make the money work as boston need a 2nd paring LD if the miss out on LD, 27 yr old Noah Hanifin
or
Same deal for 28 yr old Saros
Not sure what NJ would offer them…❓
A 1st pick Or a 2nd pick or both and a young prospect
Or
Maybe the Bruins & Preds have asked for
Alexander Holtz or A Dawson Mercer….
But i dont think they want to move ether one of these two very good young guys….🤔
But im sure it will happen at the June 28th draft
I have a rumour, if they keeping taking 5 minutes to decide if there is a. challenge only to have the officiating taking another 10 minutes with the review of the challenge , I am out
I get the need for accuracy but there has to be a better way.
Officiating has been weak . Concerning for the play offs
Markstrom not moving for some time.
Maybe next trade deadline.
We all knew not if but when with E. Kane. As long as he doesn’t take stupid penalties very valuable for a playoff run
Hey Silver,
if Markstrom dose not move at the draft,
He will be getting quite old at 35 in January with 2.2 year left at $6.M PA
The Flames were asking quite abit for him
Wolf will be the back up in Calgary for 2024-2025 season and they may sign Dan Vladar to a 2 year deal in 2025 untill Wolf takes over, or get a cheaper Starter…
I think the Flames will go after Centre Tij Iginla with
ther 1st round pick looks like they will pick around
6th, or 7th, or 8th…..in the draft..⁉️
Last night Carolina clinched their sixth consecutive playoff spot. A lot of people, including myself, doubted Tom Dundon when he bought the Hurricanes. During Rod Brind’Amour’s post game interview he gave Dundon credit for leveling the playing field for the franchise. There are several owners that are willing to spend money but he seems to stand out as one of a small group of owners that also spends wisely. That became apparent when Dougie Hamilton became a free agent.
This offseason will be Dundon’s biggest challenge since he purchased the team. He has earned the trust of his coach and Carolina’s fans. There isn’t any doubt that he will do whatever is necessary to ensure the team remains a Stanley Cup contender.
GP,
I wonder what they will do with there top 4 d parings
and 2 UFA d/men??
30 yr old Ld man Brady Skjei @$ 5.3M.. i see them bringing him back
But Not The other UFA
29 yr old RD man Brett Pesce @$4.25M❓
The oilers have been looking for a 2nd line RW to play with Leon…. i wonder if the would take a shot at RFA Martin Necas the Canes RW his name has been out there in the trade market all season as they are loaded at RW and they sound like the want to Re-sign Jake Guentzel 14 points in 10 games…..⁉️
21 teams have less then $700,000 in cap space
Of the 11 teams that have $1m+ only two have a chance at a playoff spot.
Detroit who has $2.8m in cap space
Nashville who has who has $6.2m in cap space the fourth most. Nashville will be in the playoffs
6 teams have a projected cap hit over the cap space limit.