NHL Rumor Mill – May 20, 2024
Check out the latest on the Bruins and Senators in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
LATEST ON THE BRUINS
NHL.COM: Amalie Benjamin reports goaltender Linus Ullmark faces an uncertain future in Boston after being supplanted by Swayman as the Bruins’ starter during the playoffs.
Ullmark has a year left on his contract with an average annual value of $5 million. He’d like to spend it with the Bruins but they could go in a different direction, something they reportedly look into before the March trade deadline.
“I have my (no-trade) list and my list is there. We’ve worked very hard for it,” Ullmark said. He indicated there’s a reason why certain teams are on it, including what he called “personal things”.
THE ATHLETIC: Fluto Shinzawa reports Boston Bruins goaltender Linus Ullmark had reservations about being moved at the March trade deadline as it would’ve meant uprooting his family. Whether he feels the same now is another matter.
Boston Bruins goaltender Linus Ullmark (NHL Images).
If Ullmark is willing to work with Bruins management on an offseason trade it would help both parties. He’d be a better option for clubs seeking a starting goalie than those available in this summer’s free-agent market. It would allow the Bruins to clear the way for Jeremy Swayman to take over as their full-time starter with promising Brandon Bussi as his backup.
BOSTON HOCKEY NOW: Jimmy Murphy reported the Bruins had a deal in place for Ullmark by the deadline but the 30-year-old goalie rejected it. While speculation suggested it was the Los Angeles Kings, Murphy is standing by his report that it was the Colorado Avalanche. He believes it might take a lot for Ullmark to accept a trade to a club on his no-trade list.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Calgary Flames goaltender Jacob Markstrom could be peddled this summer. Juuse Saros is another possibility but less of a certainty. Ullmark will draw lots of attention from clubs that lose out on Markstrom or Saros.
The Bruins have a projected $20.9 million of cap space for 2024-25 with 17 active roster players under contract. They’ll have the dollars to make a splash or two in this summer’s free-agent market. Moving Ullmark would give them even more wiggle room.
Ullmark has a 16-team no-trade list, which drops to 15 clubs on July 1. Some speculated that his list was made up entirely of Western Conference clubs. Regardless of which teams are on it, his NTC will hamper efforts to move him.
THE ATHLETIC: Winger Jake DeBrusk and defenseman Matt Grzelcyk top Shinzawa’s list of players who won’t return with the Boston Bruins next season. Both are slated to become unrestricted free agents on July 1.
DeBrusk wants to remain with the Bruins. However, general manager Don Sweeney has a number in mind and won’t exceed it. Unless the two sides compromise, the 27-year-old winger will hit the open market.
Shinzawa considers the chance of Grzelcyk returning to be very low. The same goes for defensemen Derek Forbort, Kevin Shattenkirk and forward James van Riemsdyk. However, he’s not ruling out Patrick Maroon and Danton Heinen returning with the Bruins.
UPDATE ON THE SENATORS
OTTAWA SUN: Bruce Garrioch recently updated us on everything on the offseason plate of Senators GM Steve Staios.
League sources told Garrioch that Staios attempted to deal Joonas Korpisalo before the March trade deadline. However, he doesn’t expect much of a market for the 30-year-old goaltender unless the Senators retain some of his $5 million AAV and include a sweetener. They could instead attempt to ship out backup Anton Forsberg and his more affordable $2.75 million cap hit.
Garrioch claimed the Senators “kicked tires” on Bruins goalie Linus Ullmark before the deadline. They could revisit that interest this summer.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Senators could be on Ullmark’s no-trade list, which might explain why they didn’t get past the “tire-kicking” phase.
Staios took calls on Jakob Chychrun before the trade deadline. Garrioch believes that the talk could become action this summer, likely before the NHL Draft on Jun 28-29.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Staios indicated after the trade deadline that he’d held discussions with some teams that could continue in the offseason. Chychrun has a year left on his contract with an AAV of $4.6 million and will be eligible for UFA status next summer. He could be moved for a right-shot defenseman or to clear cap space to add one via free agency.
Artem Zub could draw attention in this summer’s trade market. Moving the 28-year-old defenseman could be an option for Staios if he wants to shake up the blueline. The Senators could attempt to trade rearguard Erik Brannstrom or pass on tendering him a qualifying offer.
Garrioch suggested the Senators could use a veteran forward like Tyler Toffoli to help take some pressure off Claude Giroux. He also indicated Staios had been in contract talks with Shane Pinto’s representatives. The 23-year-old center seeks a five or six-year contract with an annual cap hit of around $5 million.
I see Debrusk as a possible option for the Habs if a trade for a young forward can’t be worked out. I think he can fill a second line spot and chip in 25 goals 50 points per year.
I’d rather have Toffoli or Monahan, both of whom enjoyed their time in Montreal and showed they are fine with playing in a Canadian city with its pressure and scrutiny.
Depends on price, Monahan is injury prone and Toffoli is getting slower and slower, so keep term at a minimum
Kent: Toffoli scored 33 goals this year. If that is slowing down, I’ll take it.
Monahan was dogged by an injury that he had operated on last year, and managed to play 83 games this year.
That said, three years max a piece.
Debrusk will drive anyone that signs him crazy! He has holes in his game and long droughts, but he is a proven playoff scorer! I think he will price himself out of the market! Boston had Frederic at 2.5 and Geekie at 2 million being as effective as JDB!Use his money for that 1st line center or top 4 D man!
Agree SR-well said
Jets will need a total revamp on the right side of the blue line this summer. An emphasis on size and toughness that plays during the playoffs. Both Schmidt and Pionk are on expiring deals and somebody else(hopefully) will pay Demelo and his inflated numbers as a UFA. With nothing in the pipeline the only way I see Chevy accomplishing this is to deal from forward depth and dare I say revisit a Hellebuyck trade?? Fans have seen the playoff disappearing act too often to simply run it back. Would love to hear some legit trade scenarios from everyone.
Even with a 15 team trade list ullmark has lots of power to prevent being moved. Pick teams with established starters. He has close to total control over where he could go. So that limits his trade value. I was kinda hoping to see what he would bring back on the trade market without that caveat.
I truly doubt Ullmark will become a Senator – whether by design (no trade destination) or simply because Staios would not be prepared to offer what the Bruins would want in return (e.g., their 7th pick overall +?)
They’ll go again with Korpisalo with the added better overall defensive system also requiring the Fs to step up their 2-way game, additions to bolster the woeful pk, and probably 2 or 3 new faces \on the D (including a spot for big rookie Tyler Kleven).
A different back-up goalie will also likely be a priority while finding a new home for Forsberg – if possible.
I still believe that 7th overall pick could come into play if it means getting the right veteran F to lessen that aspect of the load on Giroux. They need help NOW – not in the 2 or 3 years it might take for anyone picked at # 7 to crack the line-up (the longer period would likely apply to any D chosen as none at that position are projected to be immediate NHLers).
Hey GeorgeO, What if Boston started with Chychrun plus a prospect for Ullmark? They want another d-man to replace Gryz, Forbort and Shattenkirk.
While I think Staios would consider that, the problem then becomes the necessity to unload Korpisalo and Forsberg with every other team in the league knowing he is in a bind and, of course, taking advantage.
I do believe Chychrun will be dealt … but it will be to a team in the Western Conference, perhaps Edmonton or Vancouver.
I’m with George. Think they’re gonna give Korpi another season and some better defensive structure/coaching (fingers crossed) He makes too much, and is practically immoveable. I don’t think for a second Staois seriously tried to trade him and I believe 1 out of every 10 things that are linked to Garrioch. If I had to guess. They’ll keep Chychrun. Move Chabbot, not sign Brannstrom. Buy out Hamonic. Chabbot is going for pics or a depth winger. They’ll use the freed up money to sign DeMello and Pinto.
Forsberg might get peddled for picks and Sogard becomes the back up.
Re; Goaltenders
Toronto, NJ, LA. Kings,
2X Top Goaltenders
-Ullmark,30 yr old, wants to stay in the East
-Saros 28 yr old
Top UFA Goaltenders
1 -Alex Nedeljkovic 28 yr old
2- Ilya Samsonov 27 yr old
🤔 Wonder if leafs would look at Jordan Binnington
🤔 Wonder if the NJ & Flames re-visit Markström,
I think NJ will be after one of these $5.M tenders
Ullmark & Saros,❓
if not they look to the UFA Top 2 Goaltenders….
What about
To Detroit: Gorgiev and a pick from COL
To COL: Ullmark (50% retained via DET)
To BOS: Veleno via DET and pick from COL
Ullmark upgrade over Gorgi for COL
BOS gets bottom young center RFA and two picks to get younger. They can sign a back up UFA goalie
DET gets another young goalie to compete with Husso and Lyon
Thoughts?
George what about this Blockbuster
To OTT: Sorokin and JGP
To NYI: Korpisalo and Tkachuk
Ottawa gets goalie finally and center depth
Then
To TML: 1st this year and Norris
To OTT: Marner
Ottawa can figure what they have to send out in cap
They have Pinto still at center. Marner plays wing to replace Brady T. With stuzy and Marner they can play a more uptempo game
JGP more veteran center depth
Maybe trade pick to CHI to retain half of JGP salary
Thoughts on moves , which need to both happen to make my logic work
NYI can trade off Lee with high pick and have Brady play LW with Nelson and palmieri or horvat and Barzal
Norris can center line 2 and move Tavares to LW on his line
Nylander with Matthews and Knies
ihatecrosby, while I might engage in all sorts of scenarios involving the Senators, including those who I think might/should be moved – and have done for several years now in this site – what I have never engaged in is this guy or this combination of players for specific players on other teams – especially the Pengy-style convoluted blockbuster transactions -which hasn’t taken place anywhere in years.
I I’m on record here, for example, as advocating the moving out of a Chychrun, Chabot, Brannstrom, Forsberg or pick for a specific position and/or “type” of player – but I never get into actual names.
Having said all that – lol – I cannot see any scenario where they deal Brady Tkachuk just to get rid of Korpisalo and at the same time improve the team substantially by bringing in a marginally better Sorokin and taking back the soon-to-be 32 y/o Pageau whose highwater mark was 24g 43pts 10 years ago while with Ottawa..
Nor do I see the Leafs, under any circumstances, thinking a 7th pick overall and a C with what is clearly a chronic shoulder injury situation makes them a better team after giving up one of their better Fs.
Just looking at the cap numbers says those kinds of moves will simply never take place.
Right now the long-term signings by Dorion for Chabot, Tkachuk, Stutzle, Norris, Sanderson, Batherson has the Senators perilously close to the cap limit and they still have to sign RFA Pinto.
In the scenario you describe (moving out Tkachuk, Norris and Korpisalo) they’d be unloading $20,155,714 in cap, while those coming in Sorokin, Pageau and Marner) would cost $24,153,000 off the cap – an increase of $4 mil (which would then preclude signing Pinto who’s going to cost at least something in the vicinity of $5 mil per, probably in a bridge deal.
In addition, Sorokin’s $8,250,000 per cap hit runs to 2031-32 when he’ll be 36 y/o, Pageau’s $5 mil ends after next season when he’ll be 33 y/o, and Marner has 1 year to go on his $10,903,000 deal before becoming a UFA, following which he’ll either leave for a better location or, if remaining, seek an increase somewhere north of $11.5 mil!
Makes sense. Is there a legit market to reacquire the value back they sent out with Chychrun?
THAT is the $64,0000 Question ihatecrosby. At the very least – and especially with Chychrun showing he can play a full schedule without tweaking some part of his body (all 82 games this past season) – they’ll want back the equivalent of what they gave up to acquire him from Arizona – a conditional 1st-round pick in the upcoming draft, a conditional 2nd-round pick in the the upcoming draft, and a 2nd-round pick in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft.