NHL Rumor Mill – April 25, 2024
Check out the latest on the Penguins, Red Wings and Blue Jackets in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
LATEST PENGUINS SPECULATION
THE ATHLETIC: Rob Rossi reports Sidney Crosby wants to stay with the Pittsburgh Penguins and they want to keep him. Contract extension talks have not started yet between the two sides.
Sources told Rossi that both sides expect to have a new deal in place before or soon after July 1. The length of the contract and annual average value are the main elements to be worked out.
The Penguins prefer Crosby’s next contract to take him up to retirement. They’re also believed willing to do a short-term deal.
Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby (NHL Images).
Crosby’s earned an AAV of $8.7 million on his last two contracts. It’s speculated his annual cap hit could be $10 million to $10.5 million on a two or three-year deal.
The Penguins prefer a longer contract that keeps Crosby’s AAV at or below $8.7 million.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Crosby will re-sign with the Penguins before next season. It’s just a question of how much and for how long.
Rossi also reported Bryan Rust was told by Penguins management before the March trade deadline that he would be back with the club next season. Multiple teams called about the 31-year-old winger but general manager Kyle Dubas retained him because he was preparing to trade Jake Guentzel.
Dubas shopped Reilly Smith before the trade deadline but found no takers because he wasn’t on an expiring contract. That will change next season and Dubas expects a more favorable market for the 33-year-old winger in the offseason.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Hockey News’ Nick Horwat cited Rossi’s colleague Josh Yohe reporting Penguins sources claim Smith never wanted to come to Pittsburgh. If that’s the case, it’s best to move him out this summer if there’s a market for his services.
UPDATE ON THE RED WINGS
DETROIT HOCKEY NOW: Kevin Allen reports the Red Wings have a projected cap space of around $28 million for 2024-25. However, that will shrink quickly once restricted free agents Moritz Seider and Lucas Raymond are signed to new contracts.
The best comparables for Seider are Ottawa’s Jake Sanderson (eight years, $8.05 million AAV) and Buffalo’s Owen Power (seven years, $8.35 million AAV). However, his agent could seek over $9 million annually on a long-term deal. Raymond’s best comparables are Ottawa’s Tim Stutzle (eight years, $8.35 million AAV) and Montreal’s Cole Caufield (eight years, $7.85 million AAV).
Allen speculates Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin’s $8.75 million is the team ceiling. Assuming Seider and Raymond come in at $8.3 million and $8.1 million respectively, it will take a big chunk out of the Wings’ cap space.
General manager Steve Yzerman might have to shed salary to retain Patrick Kane and Shayne Gostisbehere. Allen suggested moving defenseman Justin Holl, who is earning $3.5 million through 2025-26, but that’s questionable unless Yzerman retains some of Holl’s cap hit.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Athletic’s Max Bultman noted that Yzerman hopes to bring back Gostisbehere. He indicated that Kane hasn’t shut the door on returning with the Wings for another season. Bultman also suggested Holl as a trade candidate and didn’t rule out Yzerman buying out his contract.
BIG DECISIONS FACING THE BLUE JACKETS’ NEXT GM.
THE ATHLETIC: Aaron Portzline looked at some of the big decisions facing whoever takes over as the next general manager of the Columbus Blue Jackets.
One of those decisions is whether Elvis Merzlikins deserves another chance as the Jackets’ starting goaltender. He was better on the ice this season but is also a constant source of dressing-room drama and has been hampered by illnesses and injuries.
A change of scenery might also be needed for Patrik Laine. The 26-year-old winger has struggled with injuries and is currently in the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program.
The Blue Jackets have a glut of wingers. They must ensure veteran players don’t get in the way of a young player’s development.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The new Jackets GM might have no choice but to stick with Merzlikins given the issues mentioned by Portzline. It’ll be interesting to see what happens with Laine once he comes out of the player assistance program. Given those injury issues, he could prove difficult to move. The Jackets could stick with Laine for next season to see how he performs.
Looking at Detroit’s roster situation, Yzerman’s problems in using his $28 mil cap reserve are a lot bigger than just Raymond and Seider.
He also has to decide on 6 pending UFAs and one other RFA of note.
The latter is Valeno, coming off an $825,000 ELC and having just finished with 12g 16a 28 pts in 80gp. He’s likely looking at a bridge in the $2,5 mil range.
As for the UFAs, there’s Perron (expiring $4,750,000) qho had 17g 30a 47 pts in 76gp; Patrick Kane ($2,750,000) who has 20g 27a 47pts in 50gp; Daniel Sprong ($2 mil) who had 18g 25a 43 pts in 76gp; Christian Fischer ($1,125,000) who had 5g 14a 19pts in 79gp; Ghostisbehere ($4,125,000_ who had 10g 46a 56 pts in 80gp from the back end); and James Reimer ($1.5 mil) 3.11gaa and 0.904 save %.
Some obviously won’t be offered new deals but, aside from Reimer, each of the others – if not re-signed – will need to be replaced with players of at least equal skills – and that won’t be cheap.
That $28 mil will disappear fast.
Looks like Perron will get a deal, George. Reimer and Ghost may come back also……I can’t see Reimer wanting to be a participant in the 3 ring goalie circus though……..
All other UFA’s go to FA, it is thought.
I don’t think Joey V gets above $2M AAV.
Stevie has to improve the RD situation. Ghost is a 3rd pairing, 1st PP guy, Petry, Holl should not be a 2nd pair option. I dunno how Y will handle it, but it will be costly if addressed!
I think Patrick Kane gos to a contender who need a top 6 RW like the Oilers ….?
Steve Y has lots of work to do in Detroit…..❓
It certainly will be an interesting off season in Detroit, between the 2 RFA’s, the UFA’s, an attempts to improve the team.
Without much information from Yzerman, here are some possibilities:
Reading into Kanes post season comments, odds are that he is a goner. I think the Wings also let Sprong and Reimer go, while resigning Gostisbehere and Perron (at a $1M+ discount over his last contract). Fischer is a toss up.
One of the open forward spots probably goes to Jonaten Berggren, who has been a point per game player in Grand Rapids for 2 seasons, is out of waiver options, and would be claimed in a heartbeat. The other will come from outside the organization – either a UFA center like Monahan, or a gritty LW.
The most interesting scenario is what happens on the D core. Simon Edvinsson will Bea regular, and another NHL ready prospect is Albert Johansson, who is also out of waiver options, and would be claimed.
With that in mind, one option would be to move 2 or 3 defenseman from this past seasons roster. I think Holl is a goner, as well as one or two of Jake Walman, Ben Chiarot, or Oli Maatta. It could take buyouts, salary retention, or sweeteners to move them, or a combination, but it may be required. Edvinsson and Johansson take two of the open spots, and Yzerman may go after a #2 RHD.
I don’t see any new goalies this year, due to the need to rework the D core. Improved team D is needed to really evaluate the goalies, and Sebastian Cossa probably assumes the net in 25/26.
Not entirely correct. Veleno’s ELC expired last year, SY signed him to 1 yr/$825k, which was a pay cut. Question becomes can Veleno do more than what is available thru FA (I.e. Fischer, Sprong).
Frankly, I wouldn’t be surprised if Elvis was bought out to give Tarasov and Greaves the opportunity to be the 1A/1B combination.
theSaint, yesterday you commented “I think Ottawa should flip a pick or two to Minnesota to get Gustavsson back. Make him and Korpi a duo to see if maybe it can make Joonas better. Forsberg then traded with one of the two LD as a package somewhere?”
Although I replied briefly by saying I still like Anaheim as a trade partner, given their large cap reserve, I meant to also respond to that specific aspect, but circumstances here didn’t allow that until late in the evening. So, I thought I’d comment on it here.
Recently, on another subject dealing with the 5th overall pick in the draft, I listed the 5th picks dating back to 2014 to show that picking in that spot was certainly no guarantee of nabing a good, serviceable player – at any position.
At this upcoming draft Ottawa (unless they get incredibly lucky) will likely pick 7th while Minnesota’s pick will come in at 13th.
If Ottawa could get Gustavsson back by trading picks with the Wild along with a roster player like Brannstrom and/or perhaps one of their better prospects, I’d do it. Simply because the history of the 7th pick is no better – and perhaps a tad worse – than the 5th;
2014 – Hayden Fleury – journeyman
2015 – Ivon Provorov – decent 4th/5th type D
2016 Clayton Keller – Grade A Pick
2017 Lius Andersson – bust
2018 – Quinn Hughes – Grade A Pick
2019 – Dylan Cozens – Very Good Pick
2020 – Alexander Holtz – just finished 1st full season – looks to be a solid 3rd/4th line F
2021 – William Eklund – 1st full season – similar to Holtz
2022 – Ken Korchinski – 1st full season – projecting to be a decent bottom-pairing D
2023 – Matvbei Michkov – ? – still floundering in the KHL
So, unless someone initially projected to be in the top 5 drops a couple of rungs (and this has happened before), or Ottawa scouts are extremely high on a lower-rated player who they believe should be drafted higher, set the groundwork with Minnesota now and, if things fall into place, complete the deal at the draft table. That, too, has happened before – a lot.
I fully agree George.
I think that Staios is done with keeping the team young. The only way I foresee him using the pick this year is if he can nab a solid Left D that could start playing immediately. But of the D men available, I doubt any would be solid to make a good impact during this rebuild/polishing.
So yes I agree, swap picks and Brannstrom or someone to get their pick and Gustavsson.
The Sens would still have the low Bruins pick as well (we will see how low it is soon) so these picks could be used primarily to fill out the B-Sens rosters and move up a couple of them to the big club.
There is more to do after that, but those are good starts.
I was tired when I typed that and I meant “nab a solid RD” lol
I wonder where I can lay down a c note on Crosby resigning at 8.7 again. He’s a weird superstitious dude.
LOL. Even Vegas wouldn’t give you odds on that, chrisms.
With the early play of Swayman, his value keeps rising and he is going to want to get paid.
Ullmark hopefully continue to play well and makes his trade return more lucrative.
I don’t see Boston having $12m tied up in two goalies
@George O….. Kevin Korchinski is without a doubt going to be a top pairing Defenseman. Projecting him to be a bottom pair D-man with only one full season under his belt with a Hawk roster full of AHL caliber talent is not fair. I’m sure you don’t watch Hawk games as you are a Sens guy. I mean you think his name is “Ken” so I’m guessing your assessment isn’t based off watching him. You are definitely a knowledgeable guy regarding hockey as I’ve read your comments for many years so no disrespect to you at all. I just think you should watch a few Hawk games on the nights Ottawa isn’t playing. I’m certain you will have a different outlook on him. Cheers.
Thanks LincolnHAWK, and you’re right, I don’t get to see a lot of Chicago’s games.
Admittedly I was solely looking at his size (6′ 1″ 185 lbs – not small but not huge either) and his seasonal stats and that -39 jumped out at me, combined with some modest offensive stats.
I should have realized he wasn’t alone when it comes to a -39 when it comes to the Hawks’ season, with a couple (including Bedard) at -44.
Her certainly had decent numbers at Junior in Seattle.
Tell me, is he from the pick Chicago got from Ottawa in the DeBrincat deal? If so, now I hope he’s a bust – LOL 🙂
RIP, Bob Cole.
Yeah. Sad to hear. He was certainly a familiar voice every Saturday night during a season.