NHL Rumor Mill – April 30, 2024
Check out the latest on the Penguins and Devils in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
SHOULD THE PENGUINS TRADE RICKARD RAKELL OR REILLY SMITH?
PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: Dan Kingerski noted that one reason behind the Penguins’ struggles this season was a lack of production from winger Rickard Rakell and Reilly Smith.
Some suggest the Penguins should attempt to trade Rakell this summer. However, Kingerski pointed out that the 28-year-old winger played most of the season wearing a shoulder brace. He also noted Rakell when healthy tallied 28 goals and 60 points in 2022-23. Trading him would create a need for a higher-priced option plus he’s shown he plays well skating alongside Evgeni Malkin.
Pittsburgh Penguins forward Rickard Rakell (NHL Images).
Kingerski instead puts Smith at the top of his Penguins trade list. He noted the 33-year-old winger denied rumors he was unhappy playing in Pittsburgh. However, his production declined and he was relegated to third-line duty.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Sometimes acquiring a player who seems like a good fit doesn’t work out as hoped. If there’s a market for Smith it would be worth exploring it.
It’s rumored Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas explored moving Smith at the trade deadline but didn’t find any takers because he wasn’t on an expiring contract. With one season left on his deal and a cap hit of $5 million, he could draw more interest in the offseason trade market.
WHO COULD THE DEVILS TARGET TO ADD MORE GRIT?
NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: James Nichols believes the Devils need more grit on their forward lines for next season.
Nichols suggested Utah’s Lawson Crouse, Seattle’s Eeli Tolvanen and Florida’s Sam Bennett as possible trade targets.
Crouse signed a five-year, $21.5 million contract two years ago with the Arizona Coyotes. Nichols wondered if the 26-year-old winger would be happy with the move to Utah.
Kraken GM Ron Francis cited a potential roster overhaul this summer. That could mean the 25-year-old Tolvanen could be available. He’s a restricted free agent completing a three-year deal with a $1.45 million cap hit.
Bennett could become a cost-cutting casualty for the Panthers. High-scoring forward Sam Reinhart is slated to become an unrestricted free agent unless he and the Panthers agree to a new contract before July 1.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: It doesn’t hurt to look into the availability of these players during the offseason. However, there’s no certainty these three will be available.
Crouse has become a reliable 20-goal scorer for the Coyotes. He could be keen to stick with the club and help them become a playoff contender in Utah.
The Kraken fired head coach Dave Hakstol on Monday. That suggests Francis could be less inclined to overhaul his roster. If he does shake things up he could prefer sticking with Tolvanen, who blossomed into a good two-way forward in Seattle.
Bennett has one year remaining on his contract at an affordable $4.425 million. Still, he could become available if the Panthers need to free up cap room for Reinhart. He’d be the one worth pursuing.
Dan Kingerski, it’s time to face reality: no amount of tinkering is going to reverse the ravages of time when it comes to the Penguins. Their best years – with the sole exception of Crosby – are fading in the rear-view mirror.
The amazing Sid, who turns 37 in August) just racked up a 42g 94 pts season when most his age are entering retirement. And that was 27 pts better than their next best, Malkin, who is fading as he approaches his 38th birthday this July.
Then it dropped to pedestrian totals of 56 pts for soon-to-be 32 Rust, another 56 for Karlsson, who turns 34 in May, 55 for a still-young Bunting, 51 for just turned 38 Letang – then it drops off a cliff with 27 pts for Smith, who just turned 33.
Whether their management or their fans would like to admit it or not, with nothing much in the prospect bank, this team is facing some very lean years, with probably the ONLY way they can shorten the seasons of pain that are looming is to deal Crosby and, if they can find takers, Malkin, Letang and Karlsson.
Agree 100% George. I’ve been saying this leading up to the deadline. Crosby without a doubt still gets a great return even at 37.
38-39? Probably not.
Malkin, Letang, Smith, Rackell and Karlsson difficult to trade. Karlsson being near impossible unless Pittsburgh is willing to eat a significant portion for 3 years.
With Dubas at the steering wheel, I’d have little to zero faith in what they do going forward.
And just to be clear, when I describe those pts results as “pedestrian” I’m looking at the 105 players in the 60 pts up range ahead of the 29 who finished with 52-55 pts.
And I agree – have always maintained that “sentimentality” and “loyalty” – while nice attributes in any number of facets of life – have no place in professional sports, where the only goal is to win – at whatever cost.
Crosby – now or, in my opinion anyway, at 38 or 39 – would draw a great return. The guy is a fitness freak who works out all summer in Nova Scotia with buddies Marchand, McKinnon and Batherson – all from the same area.
He could be like Gordie Howe who was still playing – and contributing -at a high level into his early 50s!
My biggest concerns are his concussion history and the inevitable Father Time. He’s managed to stay healthy for two years in a row, but that’s not been the case of his career.
Marleau was similar in working out / health regiment. But time catches everybody.
I’d imagine a significant drop off over the next 2-3 years. Which still makes him a good player. The inevitable slide from “elite “to “complimentary” is on its way.
Heh … nice way of putting it … “complementary”
Reminds me of a funny story involving Rocket Richard. In 1973/74 the Habs and Leafs were meeting in Montreal in a sort of “throwback” game, with the Leafs traveling to Montreal by train and the players sporting fedoras, etc.
The CBC’s Ward Cornell was at the Montreal train station with several of the Habs alumni to greet them, and Cornell had the Rocket for an interview. He asked him (in essence – not word for word) “Maurice, with the way players are racking up goals and points these days, how many goals do you think you’d have scored in a season if you were playing today?”
The Rocket smiled and said “oh, I don’t know …. maybe 20-25.”
“Is that all?” asked Cornell? To which the Rocket replied with a smile “well, Ward, I am 52 years old after all!
George,
Ward Cornell….a blast from the past…takes me back to my youth.
Foster Hewitt & Ward Cornell in Toronto
Danny Galivan & Dick Irvin in Montreal
I have made some wonderful suggestions regarding Ottawa and Karlsson. Pens fans seem to think the Sens should pony up big time for the privilege of reacquiring the 3 time norris winner. Um…no. You’ll pay Ottawa to take him. Seeing as how it’s the only place who he might wave for who could afford him.
To Pitt:
Chabbot (nothing retained)
Branstrom
Forsberg
To Ottawa:
Karlsson (1mill retained)
the other Joseph brother
Riley Smith (nothing retained)
No thanks. Chabots contract is nearly as unmovable and Joseph is part of the young future. Rather have karlson and the pick we get for smith.
George O.. The speculation that the Penguins can’t retool is well BS. They beat every high quality team in the league this year.
They missed because their power play was terrible god awful, they blew 15 one goal leads, 4 / 2 goals leads, 2/3 goal leads, and one 4 goal lead.
They will have $12 -$14 million in cap space.
They can also Move Reilly Smith, Tristan Jarry and maybe Rakell.
I know Karlsson will gladly move his no trade clause to go home to Ottawa where his best friend is the assistant coach and maybe head coach, he still has a house there and the fans love him.
Some kind of Thomas Chabot $ 8 million for Karlsson $ 1 million retained making him a $ 8 million dollar player. There is a deal with Ottawa for sure.
Dubas if nothing is creative and he has had to undo 2 years of damage by Hextall and Burke,..who were useless…
Crosby is still great 94 points, Malkin can be the new 3rd third line center. Letang has played through serious injuries and will have surgery this iff season..he will be ok
This team can easily be restocked in to a solid playoff team…..we missed by 3 points for god sakes Washington made it with a -37 goal differential we were plus.
The Penguins will b back… you’ll see
Wonder what the tax system is like in Utah! Can see their owner looking to make a big splash and spend some money!
“Nichols wondered if the 26-year-old winger would be happy with the move to Utah.”
But Nichols believes he’d be thrilled with Newark?
Not exactly a vacation or summer home destination.
LOL. Well, at least Newark didn’t make this list, CaptainObvous (But Salt Lake City did)
https://realestate.usnews.com/places/rankings/most-dangerous-places
Hello George O, I have a question for a fellow old timer, with the passing of Bob Cole and the mentions of other legendary hockey announcers I haven’t seen Dan Kelly’s name come up. As an original Blues season ticket holder and life long fan his voice still resonates in my mind, what’s left of it, and I wonder if you are any other readers remember him. I believe he did Hockey Night in Canada also.
Also regarding your link ie dangerous American cities the fact that New Orleans isn’t in the top 3 is suspect. I’ve lived in the metro area for 38 years and there are many areas I won’t even drive through even with a weapon at the ready. I only mentioned this because prior to the NBA we had a minor league team and the facility is NHL ready.
Snold49, Dan Kelly – born here in Ottawa 2 years before me in 1936 – was one of THE best sports play-by-play announcers – and not just hockey. He did football and baseball (St. Louis Cardinals) and before that the Canadian Football League, including a few Grey Cup games with equal aplomb and a voice that was as recognizable as any.
He left us way too early at age 52.
Re The Big Easy, I was only ever there once – way WAY back in 1958 when 6 of us piled into a guy’s vintage Lincoln and drove there for Mardi Gras. We knew of its reputation beforehand so only moved about as a group.
A big traditional Jazz fan, I had a ball as we visited clubs in the French Quarter and were lucky enough to get in briefly at Preservation Hall.
George O thanks for the reply, yes Kelly did all that and more, he regularly hosted the evening sports call in show, along with Jack Buck and others, on KMOX radio and was on of the many mentors from that legendary station that helped form Bob Costas career.
https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-d&q=voice+of+sports+personality+Dan+Kelly+#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:d95fa840,vid:SmyJ4S6IzHo,st:0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9IvHC2q6TDc
George O awesome man thanks for the share and memories, the Big Red Hart, Green, Wherlie, Anderson, Wilson, Stump Mitchell etc a great era until cheap Bill Bidwell sold out the St Louis fans for the money. Ironically the same thing happened to the Blues twice. First was Harry Ornest trying to move to Saskatchewan then Ralston Purina dumping them on the NHL’s doorstep. Blues fans survived alot of crap over the years, the tyranny of Emile Francis, the lunacy of Ron Caron, the excess of Mike Shanahan, the Scott Stevens drama, Mike Keenan driving Gretzky away just to name a few.
Dubas is lucky.
Most GMs dont get a chance to ruin a 2nd franchise.
Keep Reilly Smith. Solid 3rd liner that can slot to 2nd if need be. Hate the pens so I hope they don’t heed my advice.
Ray..Well the Penguins hate you to oh well..LOL
Reilly Smith underachieved in Pittsburgh and was reported never really wanted to go there so move him back to Vegas..
Smith to Vegas 50 % retained making him $2.5 plus a sweetener.
Nicolas Hague $2.294 million to Pittsburgh. Vegas has a surplus of LHD especially since the extended Hanfin !!
works for both teams.
would like readers opinions here. wouldnt it be wiae for blue jackets to have a gm in place before the nhl draft may 7th
norman d crum, you’d certainly think so … unless Davidson is comfortable enough to go into the draft himself and, with the input of various assistants and relying on the recommendations of the scouting department, make their selections … and then hire a GM to manage, in effect, a fait accompli.
Kind of like putting the cart before the horse.
Ottawa could be doing something of the same … unless Staios has already decided that HE will continue in the GM role in addition to his other functions.