NHL Rumor Mill – April 23, 2024
A roundup of recent speculation involving the 16 non-playoff clubs in today’s NHL Rumor Roundup.
ESPN.COM: Kristen Shilton and Ryan S. Clark recently looked at what went wrong for the 16 NHL teams eliminated from playoff contention and their potential plans to address their problems in the offseason.
The Anaheim Ducks will have a projected salary cap space of $34 million next season. They could use some of that to strengthen their core.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Ducks are a young team with promising talent but could use some seasoned depth to help them.
Looking at the former Arizona Coyotes who are moving to Utah, they could use their salary-cap space to replicate what they did in free agency last summer. Part of that was parlaying their cap space into trades with cap-strapped clubs while signing UFAs to one-year contracts knowing they can move them if necessary at the trade deadline.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: General manager Bill Armstrong had to go that route last summer because he was dealing with an owner who gave him a shoestring budget. His club’s new owner, Ryan Smith, could be willing to spend to the cap this summer. That could enable Armstrong to pursue more talented players who could improve the club’s long-term fortunes.
Turning to the Buffalo Sabres, there’s a critical need for veteran depth, and consistent players at that.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Sabres GM Kevyn Adams could look at adding a scoring forward after his club’s production declined this season. It’ll be interesting to see how their hiring Lindy Ruff as their head coach affects Adams’ plans.
Calgary Flames goaltender Jacob Markstrom (NHL Images).
The Calgary Flames have eight picks in the first four rounds of this year’s draft. They could use those picks to strengthen their farm system or to acquire some veteran help. It depends on how management approaches things.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Flames GM Craig Conroy insists he’s retooling rather than rebuilding his roster. He could use some of those picks to bolster his prospect pool and others as trade bait to add a veteran or two.
The Chicago Blackhawks are another team with draft capital to use as trade bait to bring in some immediate help. They have five picks in their first two rounds and seven in the first three of this year’s draft.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Blackhawks are rebuilding but management has indicated they want to take steps forward next season. That could include signing one or two veteran free agents to provide additional depth in experience and leadership for their young players. It could also include going the trade route as well.
Hiring a new general manager is the priority for the Columbus Blue Jackets. That new GM must decide if the Jackets will pursue a full rebuild or attempt to build around their core of young talent. They’ll also have to decide what to do with Elvis Merzlikins, who could use a change of scenery after making noises about requesting a trade in January.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Merzlikins has three years left on his contract with an average annual value of $5.4 million and a 10-team no-trade clause. The Jackets will have to retain some salary to move him.
Goaltending is an issue the Detroit Red Wings must address. Ville Husso and Alex Lyons each have a year left on their contracts. Shilton wondered if GM Steve Yzerman might attempt to trade Husso and target someone else to work with Lyon.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Several notable goaltenders such as Calgary’s Jacob Markstrom, the Boston Bruins’ Linus Ullmark and the Nashville Predators’ Juuse Saros could be available in this summer’s trade market. Maybe Yzerman will take a stab at acquiring one of them.
Buying out Zach Parise and Ryan Suter continues to hamper the Minnesota Wild’s efforts to build up their roster. They have limited cap space for next season.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Clark wrote this anticipating goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury would depart as an unrestricted free agent with Jesper Wallstedt replacing him. Fleury’s re-signing has instead sparked speculation over Filip Gustavsson’s future in Minnesota.
The Montreal Canadiens are expected to be busy at this year’s draft. They had 12 picks (including two first-rounders) that they can use to continue restocking their prospect pipeline or as trade bait for players who will have a more immediate impact.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Canadiens GM Kent Hughes has acknowledged his club’s need for more scoring forwards. It wouldn’t be surprising if he used one of his two first-rounders packaged with one of his many promising defensemen to address that issue.
Goaltending is among the New Jersey Devils’ major needs. They need a wide search for someone with a veteran pedigree as their starting goaltender.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: GM Tom Fitzgerald acquired seasoned backup Jake Allen at the trade deadline. He made no secret of his intent to pursue a high-quality starter. Markstrom, Ullmark and Saros will be high on his list of offseason trade targets.
Speaking of goaltending, that’s also an area the Ottawa Senators must address. Shilton also wondered if they’ll trade Thomas Chabot or Jakob Chychrun this summer. Both are left-shot defensemen and the Senators need right-shot depth.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: It appears the Senators intend to return with their goalie tandem of Joonas Korpisalo and Anton Forsberg, hoping they’ll improve in the offseason. Chychrun could be moved instead of Chabot given the latter’s long-term contract.
The Philadelphia Flyers could also look at improving their goaltending. Most of their improvements could come from within their system.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Flyer GM Daniel Briere said last year that he’s rebuilding his roster. He is sticking with that long-term plan despite his club exceeding expectations this season. Briere is open to hockey trades that make sense for his club. However, it doesn’t sound like he’s interested in pursuing big-ticket free agents or making a blockbuster move.
Turning to the Pittsburgh Penguins, Shilton wondered what they’d do with their goalie tandem of Tristan Jarry and Alex Nedeljkovic. Jarry struggled down the stretch and was supplanted by Nedeljkovic. She also believes the Penguins have no choice but to get younger.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: After this was published, Penguins GM Kyle Dubas and head coach Mike Sullivan gave Jarry a vote of confidence as their starter. It also appears Nedeljkovic will depart as a UFA on July 1.
The San Jose Sharks have a projected cap space of $38 million next season. That should allow this rebuilding club the flexibility to address their weak points. They could opt to sign veterans on one-year contracts that they can flip for draft picks at the trade deadline.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: GM Mike Grier acknowledged this season was a low point for his club and they don’t want to go through that again. The rebuild will continue but they need to add some veterans who can help their young players develop and improve.
As for the Seattle Kraken, the cost of re-signing forward Matty Beniers could affect their offseason plans. They could use some of their cap space to bolster their scoring.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: GM Ron Francis acknowledged the decline in his club’s production this season. Improvement could come from within if Beniers and Andre Burakovsky have bounce-back seasons. Still, Francis could shop around in this summer’s trade and free-agent markets for a scoring forward.
Salary cap space was an issue last summer for the St. Louis Blues. They carry four defensemen with no-trade clauses. There’s also the discussion of whether they can get Pavel Buchnevich signed to a contract extension.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Blues have a projected $15.4 million available next season with 17 active roster players under contract. Blueliners Justin Faulk, Colton Parayko, Torey Krug and Nick Leddy eat up $23 million of their cap space and all have no-trade clauses. GM Doug Armstrong attempted to trade Krug last summer to the Flyers but the defensemen spiked the deal. It’ll be interesting to see if he tries moving one of those rearguards again this summer.
for NJD, not only do they need a #1 goalie like Markstrom, they also need to rebuild their forward depth, notable faster players. One of the undoing this season was adding slower players like Toffoli to the lineup while losing fast players like McLeod.
I was thinking maybe Pavel Buchnevich as a target to play with J.Hughes?
Re; today’s NHL Rumor Roundup
1/
Sen’s really need to address Goaltending the 2 back up they have are NOT going to cut it with the team/Fan etc….Korpisalo & Forsberg @$2.75 for one more year maybe the easy one to re-place.
They should look at Pen’s UFA 28 yr old Alex Nedeljkovic, who on a poor Pen’s team posted better number’s that Starter Jarry @ $5.7.M….❓
Swap out a left d/man Chabott or Chyhrun for a top 4 RD man looks like it 25yr old Chychrun thats going…, I would rather move Chabot
with the Sen’s 1st pick @#7, they go for one of the top offencive RD/man
Bring up Big LD/man 22yr old to play 3rd paring Tyler Kleven
Sign a good UFA with leadership or trade for a
Scott Laughton type
Steve Staios has his work cut out for him…
I would rather see Chabot going as well williew, but circumstances say that that is highly unlikely.
With 4 more years to go at $8 mil per, and with a limiting move clause kicking in soon, coupled with a growing reputation of being “brittle,” and so many teams nudging up against the cap limit, there is NO way they’d be able to find a taker for the 6″ 2″ 205 lb LD without including a parcel of sweeteners – including withholding a substantial amount of that cap – to the extent that they’d just be weakening other aspects of their structure.
Chychrun, on the other hand, has a reasonable cap hit – for now – and has just completed a FULL season for the first time in his career (I think, unless he played in all games of one of those shortened seasons).
Having said that, williew, and in the category of “stranger things have happened (in these pages a number of years ago I said there was NO way Toronto would deal Phaneuf to Ottawa – later that day it happened). perhaps some team in the midst of a re-build might want to take chance that a LD who has 82-game average of 12g 37a 49 pts and, considering he has played so far on a team with obvious goaltending inconsistencies, quite decent +/- stats (-3 this past season) while playing upwards of 28-30 minutes game,
One team that jumps to mind is Anaheim and their $34 mil cap reserve, although there isn’t much there who might be available that I could see Ottawa wanting (and no – I don’t want Gibson).
Would love if the Sens tried to get Gustavsson back…
So would I.
You know George, im just think out loud about a
rebuilding team that maybe exactly what they need to help develope there young d/core…..
1/
Duck have $34.M in Cap Space, they could swap out Chabot for Trevor Zegras
2/
Hawks have $38.M in Cap space they could trade for RD man Connor Murphy & a 2nd pick
3/
Preds have $20M. in cap space d is very old, 32& 32 & 33 & 34 they need to get younger on d, they have the 12th pick in the draft, they also have Rd/man Luke schenn,
4/
Salt Lake
Have $43M ❗️… to Re-build there d,
The best d/man is Sean Durzi …??
they have 2d UFA players & 3d RFA players
They could be a good trade partner as they only have 1 guy in there top 4 today the rest are All 5,6,7,8 d/men
Big LW/RW Lawson Crouse could be a good fit up front, they also have the 6th pick over all…..🤔
I’m talking about Sen’s trading
Chabot the d/man…..
I’d make those seals … not sure the suggested receiving teams would, however.
See my post yesterday re Jarry and Nedjelkovic
Nedjelkovic was not statistically good down the stretch with majority of his games at .88 save percentage OR LESS
Team results were very good down stretch as offence came through
Jarry was supplanted by Nedjelkovic because of 3 consecutive games where 15 total goals hit mesh behind him
What media forgets is that Pens were horrific in front of him in those games snd 12 of those 15 were impossible to stop (deflections/tips with huge angle changes; multiple bounce multiple players in crease goals; full eclipse screens; etc etc)
Jarry tied for first in league for shutouts. Take out those 3 games; his 11th in league in save percentage
Some manager will overpay Nedjelkovic because 18 players in front of him played collectively great down the stretch artificially raising Nedjellovic’s winning percentage; when statistically during that stretch he was not that good. Let that overpaying GM be ANYBODY but Dubas
On the flip side; since Sullivan effectively sat Jarry for 3 weeks; and didn’t even let him play in the “nothing” final game; Sully effectively has made Jarry’s market value much less than what it should be. Any trade out with Jarry, Pens lose
Pend must politely say goodbye to Nedjelkovic and bring up Bloomy (save Cap. Gets team better, gets team younger)
Agree 87 Pengs, Ned is just the latest one hit wonder. They are a dime a dozen. Wings tried him after 1 good year in CAR didn’t work. Then DET tried Husso who had a one good year, paid him the $$, didn’t work.
Washington went after Kuemper, paid him, he wasn’t good, and rolled with a journeyman Lindgren who played 27 of 30 at the end of the year and gets them in the playoffs. Anybody see that coming?
Jarry has had more good years than bad and overall a good tender. Good a bet as any that are in the UFA market.
Korpisalo is good every 2nd year, roll with him, why not.
Other than 5 or 6 guys, tending is a crapshoot. Try not to spend too much.
“Getting younger” – in and of itself – is no guarantee of anything. Ottawa has done exactly that – including some very high draft picks – and they are now entering their 7th straight season without a playoff berth, Buffalo is even worse.
And I’m sure the management of both teams – people who have had years of management experience – thought their teams would “get better” in addition to getting younger.
So, how can a fan, whose experience is confined to watching games along with hundreds of thousands of others, be so certain that a goalie, who has exactly 0 NHL game experience, can automatically make them better by replacing a goalie who just had a season of 2.97 gaa and a 0.902 save % – far better than a host of other goalies in the NHL, and behind a defensive structure that is full of more holes than a Swiss cheese?
With Karlsson and Letang as their top tier defensemen goalies aren’t the problem…age and defence need work
HABS – Struble and the 5th overall for LAK’s Byfield. Book it.
Will take a lot more than that to land Byfield
That’s for sure Don O Ray. Why on Earth would a team that just finished with 99 pts give up a 6′ 4″ 215-lb C taken 2nd overall in 2020 for a 2nd rd LD pick from 2019 (46th overall) with limited NHL experience and a probable 5th pick this year who’d be at least two years away from an NHL spot – if ever?
If they ever indicated that Byfield was available there’d be offers that would dwarf that.
That sounds suspiciously like the “book it” deals we saw in here a couple of years ago from a Boston fan.
George it doesn’t matter if Byfield was picked 2nd overall or 3rd round it matters how good he is. In saying that he is a good young player just coming in to his own & I don’t see any reason for LA wanting to trade him.
While I can’t normally dispute what you say, Premier, the scouts and L.A. management thought highly enough of him to take him 2nd just back of the consensus # 1 (Lafreniere) and ahead of following picks like Stutzle, Raymond and Sanderson.
The fact he is a giant of a C, one of THE most coveted positions when it comes to the draft, suggests that, if an offer came in for him it would have to include a player with a lot more NHL experience than Struble and a probable 5th pick who might not be ready for the NHL for several seasons.
Looking back over the past 10 drafts and the # 5 pick suggests the odds of getting someone even close to the promise of Byfield are long, albeit the past 3 can’t really be assessed as NHL players until they get their fair share of development
2014 – Michael Dal Colle – 112 NHL games in total
2015 – Noah Hanifin – decent 3rd/4th D
2016 – Olli Juolevi – bust
2017 – Elia Petterson – Grade A pick clearly
2018 – Barrett Hayton – still developing
2019 – Alex Turcotte – apparently hurt a lot
2020 – Jake Sanderson – high hopes for him
2021 – Kent Johnson – still developing in the minors
2022 – David Jiricek – still developing in the minors
2023 David Reinbecher – still developing in the minors
So, over 10 years 3 (Petterson, Sanderson and Hanifin) jumped right to the NHL, 2 are legitimate busts (Dal Colle and Juolevi), while the rest continue to mostly get seasoning in the minors.
I agree, teams don’t trade players like Byfield especially when that team is already in the playoffs . Every team in the league want these kinds of players.
I think Buffalo make the playoffs 100% for 2024-2025 season
with Ruff back as head coach
I dont think they bring any of there 4 UFA forwards back next year…..⁉️
They need to replace 2 in the top 6 & 1 or 2 more in the bottom six,
Re-sign young Goaltender UPL
Left over cash, Just wait till the trade deadline in 2025…..
They also have a 1st pick @ 11 over all….🤔
Another case of NHL teams recycling coaches! I wonder if Lindy still has his house in Buffalo after being fired there!
Lindy Ruff returning to the Buffalo Sabres for his second stint as Head Coach is initially exciting. The Sabres need a coach who wins and has his players disciplined and accountable. Ruff delivers on that.
Welcome back to Buffalo, Lindy!
I wouldn’t have minded seeing Ruff offered a contract by Ottawa. Ah well.
Thoughts on the Penguins:
* Alex Nedeljkovic has earned an extension as he stepped up when Jarry had issues. Blomqvist could use another full season with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton before coming up in 2025-2026.
* Defense and power play are the Penguins’ problems. The problems could begin to resolve with Todd Reirden being fired.
I don’t see the Wings going after Saros, Ullmark, or Markstrom. I agree with Ray – goaltending can be a crapshoot. If Detroit doesn’t fix their team D, it won’t matter who is in net. It’s up to Yzerman to upgrade the talent on D, and up to Lalonde to instill the discipline to play a defensive system that works.
i don’t think there are enough quality players to fill all the teams needs that all of you have discussed here.
Bingo … and there, in a nutshell, is THE basic problem with a 32-team league (and actively thinking about adding more).