NHL Rumor Mill – May 29, 2024
The status of contract talks between the Golden Knights and Jonathan Marchessault, questions about Kaapo Kakko’s future with the Rangers, and the latest on the Kings in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
NO TALKS YET WITH GOLDEN KNIGHTS, SAYS MARCHESSAULT
LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL: David Schoen reports Jonathan Marchessault said he hasn’t heard from Golden Knights management regarding a contract extension. The 33-year-old winger is due to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. He’s completing a six-year, $30 million contract.
Marchessault said management told him they were “definitely interested” in re-signing him. He noted that they have until June 30, “so we’ll wait how it goes.” The veteran winger believes they’re exploring all their offseason options. He also said that he was keen to sign last summer but the team wanted to wait.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Golden Knights general manager Kelly McCrimmon expressed his willingness to sign Marchessault during his end-of-season press conference, touting his value to the club.
Vegas Golden Knights winger Jonathan Marchessault (NHL Images).
Limited salary-cap space is why the Golden Knights didn’t re-sign Marchessault last summer and the reason why he hasn’t heard from them yet. They have a projected cap room of $1.797 million with 18 active roster players under contract.
The Golden Knights will get another $5 million of cap flexibility if Robin Lehner remains on long-term injury reserve next season. That could leave enough room to re-sign Marchessault but not enough to suitably fill the remaining roster spots.
It’s believed McCrimmon could make a cost-cutting trade to free up additional cap room.
Defenseman Shea Theodore could be a candidate. He’s a year away from UFA eligibility and carries a $5.2 million cap hit and a five-team no-trade list.
Another option is goaltender Adin Hill, who’ll be a UFA next summer and has a cap hit of $4.9 million. He has an eight-team no-trade list for this season which becomes a five-team list on July 1.
MORE QUESTIONS ABOUT KAKKO’S FUTURE WITH THE RANGERS
SPORTSNET: Luke Fox noted that New York Rangers winger Kaapo Kakko wasn’t happy with being a healthy scratch from Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Final.
The 23-year-old Finn has struggled this season with just two points in 13 playoff games. An injury during the regular season limited him to 19 points in 61 games.
Kakko is a restricted free agent with arbitration rights this summer. Fox speculates that contract negotiations could be tense, suggesting rival general managers should inquire.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Alexis Lafreniere was the subject of trade speculation heading into this season but that’s died away with his breakout performance this season. Kakko could have the same opportunity next season if the Rangers don’t retain Jack Roslovic, who is currently skating as their second-line right wing behind Lafreniere. However, his struggles this season could result in a one or two-year contract at a lower rate than he’d prefer.
The Rangers could listen to trade offers for Kakko but the decline in his stats this season will hurt his value.
SHOULD THE KINGS SHOP TREVOR MOORE FOR A GOALIE?
THE HOCKEY NEWS: Connor Doyle believes the Los Angeles Kings lack sufficient cap space to make a major move in this summer’s trade market. They’re also further hamstrung by the high number of players carrying no-movement or no-trade clauses.
Doyle suggests Trevor Moore as their only viable asset who might fetch a decent return. He pointed out that the 29-year-old winger lacks a no-move clause, carries a reasonable $4.2 million annual average value through 2027-28, and is coming off his first 30-goal season. Doyle believes it’s worth the cost to peddle Moore for a starting goaltender.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Kings have over $19 million of projected cap space with 13 active roster players under contract for next season. They must re-sign or replace starter Cam Talbot and must also sign restricted free agents Quinton Byfield and Jordan Spence. That’ll eat up most of that cap space.
Moore has a 10-team no-trade list until July 1. After that, he lacks no-trade protection for the remainder of his deal.
The Kings might prefer waiting until July 1 to shop Moore for a goalie if that’s their intent. They would have to move quickly as teams with available cap space will quickly use it up in trades and free-agent signings.
If Vegas prolongs the re-signing of Marchessault he’s one I’d love to see Staios go after. If they could land him, and with Giroux as rhe 2nd line RW, they then could deal Batherson for either an established 3/4 D or a couple of 3/4 two-way wingers
I agree with you on Marchesault. Personally, I’d like to keep batherson and move Chycrun for help at RD. If it was me, I’d keep the goalie tandem and work more on the getting the D right. Demelo coming back might work as a good partner for Chabot.
That crossed my mind at first Owen (trading Chychrun instead) – but if Marchessault WERE to be signed he’d become the 1st line RW – likely with Norris at C IF he can stay healthy – and Tkachuk at LW. Coming off a $5 mil per cap hit, and with a 42g 27a 69 pts season just past, you know he’s looking at something in the range of $7.5 mil + per – maybe a bit more.
Giroux would remain as the 2nd line RW with Stutzle at C and Greig at LW, which means Batherson – costing $4,975,000 off the cap – would be dropped to the 3rd line at RW, with Pinto at C (also due a big increase this coming season) and Joseph at LW.
That’s a LOT of cap hit to be forking over to the 3rd line. Great combinations, mind you, and might doable – but something would then have to give cap-wise elsewhere.
Send Batherson to Boston for Ullmark!
I haven’t seen anything new about Robin Lehner in awhile; is there ANY chance he plays hockey next year, or has he permanently retired to his reptile farming? As far as Adin Hill, I would love to see him wearing the winged wheel next year. As long as he is healthy, he is a huge upgrade over anyone currently on the team.
Lehner is expected to remain on LTIR next season.
Rumor – Jake Guentzel wants 70 million dollars 7 years deal, 10 million per season.
Love Jake (also love Jake Skakes) so would love to see him back in Pens; but unfortunately it is very unlikely happening
I’m sure Jake would like 7 @ $10 M; just can’t see any team going that high
Ullmark doesn’t get you Chychrun and the Sens do not need Ullmark anyway maybe for a 5th rounder
Don O Ray, your probably right about Ullmark not getting you Chychrun, and this B’s fan is happy about that. No desire for a team worst minus player. (more than once and more than one team)
I keep repeating myself on here as some folks over value Ullmark, and some under value him like yourself, although you were probably just chirping B fans.
Over under is a first round pick for Ullmark. Or as part of a larger deal. If not the B’s just keep him, check back at the TDL after he has another excellent season, just like all of the 7 NHL seasons he has played at least 20 games. SEVEN. Even when was younger and only played a few, he was excellent in those games as well.
And not just on a good defensive team like Boston, he was excellent on brutal Buffalo teams as well.
Show me another tender who has never had a bad season and has been around as long as Ullmark, good teams and bad. Shesterkin could in a couple years, and Vassy for a stretch. Noth those guys better in the playoffs.
You and at least five other teams WISH they could get Ullmark for a 5th rounder.
Sweeney …. Go get Lawson Crouse, get a legit center who can win faceoffs and put up pts … go get a tough large Dman to keep the crease clean ..sprinkle in some depth
Joe,there aren t many legit centers out there,that fit that description!
Get Matt Duchene
Can’t understand why talks haven’t at least started with Marchessault yet.
McCrimmon said he’f like to get s deal done; fans love him; he loves the city
Can’t get a deal done without discussing first
Once started, talks don’t have to move quickly; but it is in McCrimmon’d and Marchessault’s best interest to at least start
Once started if the gap is too big; then McCrimmon can start thinking of alternative moves; and Marchessault can start discussing with agent; places he’d like to focus on
Strange
A lot can happen in 30 days .
We could see some deals at the draft .
Agreed everyone broke by July 5 and gone fishing until August
You can bet Vegas is exploring Marner before any decisions are made on Marchessault
And immediately put him on IR until the playoffs!