NHL Rumor Mill – April 19, 2024
Check out the latest on the Senators and Penguins as they head off into the offseason in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
THE LATEST SENATORS SPECULATION
THE ATHLETIC: Ian Mendes looked at the burning questions facing Ottawa Senators general manager Steve Staios heading into the offseason.
Topping the list is determining the Senators’ next head coach. Staios will have competition as the Buffalo Sabres are also in the market for a new bench boss while the Los Angeles Kings, New Jersey Devils and St. Louis Blues have interim coaches.
Candidates could include established NHL coaches like Craig Berube, Dean Evason and Todd McLellan, AHL coaches such as John Gruden and Joel Bouchard, or current NHL assistant coaches like Doug Houda and Chris Kelly.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s rumored Gruden is at the top of Staios’ wish list.
Goaltending is another area to be addressed as Joonas Korpisalo and Anton Forsberg didn’t have good seasons. Staios believes the duo is better than their stats suggest and expects they’ll have a better offseason in preparation for 2024-25.
Korpisalo has four years and $16 million left on his contract while Forsberg has a year left. Mendes suggested bringing in a third goalie if trading one of the other two isn’t possible and sorting things out during training camp.
Ottawa Senators defenseman Jakob Chychrun (NHL Images).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Ottawa Sun’s Bruce Garrioch claimed the Senators kicked tired on Boston’s Linus Ullmark before the March trade deadline and could revisit their interest. However, Ullmark has a 15-team no-trade list. The Senators could be on that list.
Mendes pointed out that Jake Sanderson is evolving into the Senators’ No. 1 defenseman. Staios might have to choose between Thomas Chabot and Jakob Chychrun.
Chabot’s no-trade clause kicks in on July 1 while Chychrun is a year away from unrestricted free-agent eligibility. Like Sanderson, they’re left-shot defensemen who are more comfortable on their natural side.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Ottawa Sun’s Tim Baines reported Chychrun is uncertain about his future with the Senators. He was the subject of trade speculation leading up to the trade deadline that bothered the 26-year-old blueliner.
It’ll be interesting to see if Chychrun or Chabot are still with the Senators after July 1. One of them could be traded for a right-shot defenseman.
Who do you prefer as a trade candidate, Senators fans? Let me know in the comments section below.
Mendes also wondered what Staios would do with aging defenseman Travis Hamonic. He has a year left on his contract with a $1.1 million cap hit but he holds a full no-movement clause. Restricted free agent blueliner Erik Brannstrom could become a trade candidate.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Garrioch suggested a contract buyout for Hamonic. He also believes forward Mathieu Joseph could get peddled in this summer’s trade market. He lacks no-trade protection and has two years left on his contract with an average annual value of $2.95 million.
UPDATE ON THE PENGUINS
THE ATHLETIC: Rob Rossi speculated on possible offseason changes for the Pittsburgh Penguins.
He expects head coach Mike Sullivan will be back but assistant coaches Todd Reirden and Mike Vellucci could be replaced. Offseason acquisition Erik Karlsson will be back given his large salary-cap hit and full no-movement clause.
The goalie situation remains murky. Struggling starter Tristan Jarry’s contract won’t be easily moved, at least for a quality return. Alex Nedeljkovic is due to become a UFA on July 1 while promising Joel Blomqvist is their most NHL-ready prospect.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette columnist Joe Starkey believes the Penguins need to move on from Jarry. He suggested retaining some of his $5.375 million AAV to make it happen but he could still prove difficult to move.
General manager Kyle Dubas couldn’t find any takers for winger Reilly Smith at the trade deadline. Finding a deal this summer isn’t guaranteed. Rickard Rakell’s trade value might improve given his late-season surge.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Dubas isn’t planning on rebuilding his roster but must find a way to shed some salary and bring in some younger, affordable talent this summer.
Brady Tkachuk said he is tired of missing the playoffs. he has played six season in the Nhl and 0 playoff games.
Tkachuk will be 25yrs old in September and 6 years in has he maxed his potential? 3 consecutive season of 30 or more goals, finished with a career high 37 this season and 74pts in 81 games.
One thing that i was surprised when looking at Ottawa, I didn’t realize that Chabot is older than Chychrun.
I don’t think Ottawa can gamble on trading Chabot and having Chychrun walk out the door at the end of the season. Chychrun would need to be signed first.
Brady for now can follow Matthew around and cheer on his brother.
Re Sen’s Jakob Chychrun
it looks more & more like he is the one that will get Traded at the draft….
Sens will be looking at Saros & Ullmark
Chychrun for Ullmark right up, Ullmark sign’s a 5 year Extension,
Boston gets there 2nd pairing RD/man they need now Haniffin is staying in Las Vegas
Or
The Sen’s look at UFA goaltender 28 yr old
Alex Nedeljkovic
and trade a LD man Chabot or Chychrun for a RD/man…
❓
Im Surprised Jay Woodcroft name is not out there with Coaching vacancies….🤔.
I can see the Sen’s going after Coach John Gruden
Craig Berube being the most established NHL coach will be in Big Demand…!
Their second Rd man is Carlo,they need a LHD!
Chyc is a LD.
Chychrun is a LHD not RHD who is much more comfortable on his natural side.
Chychrun straight up for Ulmark???
Can’t see Boston being interested in doing something like that.
Chychrun was a -31 this season not exactly a good look for a defenseman.
I’m sure Boston can do much better elsewhere if they decide to trade Chychrun.
Boston should be all in on Tkachuk and Chabot or Chycrun! They already missed out on Hanifan! They need a no.3 LHD and a top 6 forward at least!
The only players in Boston that get you Tkachuk is McAvoy or Pasta. I don’t think OTT does it for Pasta.
Ray say What! I would certainly hope the Bruins wouldn’t trade a 60 goal scorer an a 2 consecutive 100 point season for Brady Tkachuk.
I think you’re under valuing Pastrnak. I don’t think Boston makes the playoff without Pastrnak.
Pasta has over 100 goals the last 2 years! Tkachuk hit 37 ! Marchand was almost 40 pts. Behind Pasta! I think you are overrating your boy who is tired of not making the playoffs! How many points would Pasta have had if he had a center like Stutzle to play with?
Easy boys… still a Bruins fan.
That got a reaction!
I get it, Pasta is a great offensive player and Tkachuk will likely never put up Pasta’s type of point totals or goals. I would bet my truck on it.
Tkachuk is the Captain and unquestioned leader of the Sens. 6’4″, 212 lbs, tough as nails competitor. 24 yrs old and has scored 30, 3 times already on a bad team. A team that seems to be coming around. He’s the heart beat. I luv players like him, and can’t stand his brother. And there ain’t many like Brady.
He brings a bunch to the table other than points, plus he is younger and makes $3M less.
I stand by it, I don’t think OTT would trade him for Pasta. Heck the B’s might say no too, he’s a fixture in Boston, but I would bet $20 they would if Pasta said he would go. Which he won’t.
For fun lets ask a Sens fan:
George, The Saint, Dark G – would you trade Tkachuk for Pasta?
Straight up, no $ held.
@Ray
I would not. Brady is a power forward who brings so much more to the table than just points. There are games the Sens won purely because Brady carried the team.
He’s also never afraid to drop the gloves. He’s got heart. I also get the distinct impression that to him “tired of not making the playoffs” does not mean he wants out so he can join a team that will. I really believe he is tired if HIS TEAM not making the playoffs.
You build around a guy like that, you don’t trade him.
theSaint, I would like to see Brady play come playoff time, methinks that will be his time to shine.
They’ll get there soon enough IMO.
Bostons LD on the 2nd pair is Matt Grzelcyk’s is a UFA july 1st @ $4,250, M
He is Small side at 5ft 9 and they have been trying to move him for 16 month now,!!
Chychrun is a LD/man at 6.ft2 & 210lb
now hanifin is staying in Vegas, he would be much better in the 2nd paring on the Boston d….❓
PS
Tkachuk going no where….
I would try to trade Chabot before Chychrun. Trade Chabot before July 1st when his M-NTC kicks in… and, although his cap hit is $8M, he’s owed $10M over the next three years. Trade the injury prone Chabot (whose season-high games played are 70 and 71 games in 18/19 and 19/20) , and keep the younger Chychrun.
I mean I know it sounds easy but he’s an 8 million dollar man with a lengthy contract that is about to have a NTC kick in. For every reason a Sens fan may want to dump him, those may be the same reasons other teams are not interested…
and lord knows you cannot buy that type of contract out…
Chychrun and Chabbot both shoot left. And stink on the right side. That is the issue. Also both of them are more offensive than defensive minded and need a “caretaker” Zub to keep things under control. It perplexed me that some how Hamonic, a year younger, go none of the love that Tanev got. But, when you lose a step you lose a step.
My inclination is that, if one must go, it should be Chychrun. Hamonic can go. Brannstrom can go. Find some good stay at home right handed D. I wonder if the Penguins would be interested in giving the Sens their coach? He has a brand new 5 year deal that hasn’t kicked in yet.
I mean the one major glaring advantage that Chychrun has over Chabot right now is health… which is rather unexpected after his previous history.
Only way Chabot gets moved is part of a package. But I also feel like Staios is at the point where he would be okay with shipping a LOT out and building around a different core.
Brady, Tim, Shane, and Jake are not going anywhere.
Other than that I think a lot could change IF Steve can swing it.
Re Chychrun or Chabot – I’d have to say trading Chychrun would be infinitely easier given his current cap hit coupled with the fact he finally played a full season. Whatever they’d get for him would cost them ONLY Chychrun.
Chabot, on the other hand, has several years to go at $8 mil – with a limiting clause due to kick in, and he seems to be the new Chychrun when it comes to missing games for a wide variety of reasons.
Dealing him would require sweeteners (withheld cap? roster player? – high pick? – a combination of all 3? And a return that would likely have to be a high-cap player. Way too convoluted in his case.
We’re stuck with him … but we might get something decent at another position for Chychrun.