NHL Rumor Mill – May 4, 2024
What could be in store for the Predators in the offseason? What’s the latest on the Kings and Canadiens? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
WHAT NEXT FOR THE PREDATORS?
ESPN.COM: Ryan S. Clark looked at the offseason keys for the Nashville Predators following their first-round elimination by the Vancouver Canucks.
The Predators were 10th in goals per game during the regular season. However, their lack of production against the Canucks could prompt them to find more options for next season.
Decisions must be made regarding Anthony Beauvillier, Alexandre Carrier and Jason Zucker. They’re slated to become unrestricted free agents on July 1.
Clark wondered when promising goaltender Yaroslav Askarov would make his full-time NHL debut. He could share the crease next season with starter Juuse Saros, who has a year remaining on his contract. Askarov could take over as their starter the following season.
THE ATHLETIC: Joe Rexrode suggested trading Saros this summer to free up salary-cap space to bring in some help for Predators stars Filip Forsberg and Roman Josi. Re-signing the 29-year-old goalie to a long-term deal in the range of $8 million annually would be an unwise course of action with the gifted Askarov on the rise.
Nashville Predators goaltender Juuse Saros (NHL Images).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Saros was the subject of trade speculation this season. General manager Barry Trotz refused to move him and was rewarded when Saros helped the Predators clinch a playoff spot.
The Predators have over $18 million in cap space with 17 roster players under contract next season, including all of their core players. There’s room to make additions without trading Saros if he wants to keep him around next season to begin the transition to Askarov. However, that could also cause an unnecessary distraction for next season.
Keeping Saros for next season also means losing him for nothing to free agency next July. He would fetch a decent return in this summer’s trade market while freeing up his $5 million cap hit. That would clear room for Askarov’s promotion, but Trotz must ensure he has a reliable veteran backup to mentor the young netminder.
THE LATEST ON THE KINGS
THE ATHLETIC: Eric Stephens looked at the five questions that will shape the Los Angeles Kings’ offseason. Who will be their general manager and head coach top his list, followed by what to do with underachieving center Pierre-Luc Dubois, the futures of their UFAs, and the club’s direction in the future?
Dubois has seven seasons left on his contract with an average annual value of $8.5 million. They could buy him out at one-third of the deal’s remaining value if the buyout occurs before his 26th birthday, which is June 24, which is the last possible day of the Stanley Cup Final. The buyout window opens on June 15 or 48 hours following the end of the Final, whichever is later.
The Kings could also push for a trade before Dubois’ no-movement clause begins on July 1. They would probably have to retain up to half of his cap hit to spark any interest in the trade market. Their other option is retaining him and hope that a new head coach and a new system might bring out the best in Dubois.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Stephens acknowledged a buyout, even at 1/3 the remaining value, would be on the Kings’ books for the next 14 seasons. Nevertheless, he pointed out that it could reshape them on the fly, providing salary-cap flexibility to address their roster needs. A buyout could be more palatable than trading him and retaining $4.25 million annually over the next seven years.
I don’t believe the Kings ownership wants to buy out Dubois. For his part, he admitted his first season in Los Angeles didn’t go as planned but said he’s committed to a better performance in 2024-25. “I’ll do anything to be better,” he said.
It’ll be interesting to see how this situation plays out. If the Kings intend to buy out Dubois they’ll hope the playoffs end well before his birthday on June 24. If they go the trade route, they’ll have a limited window of opportunity that will slam shut on July 1.
THE HOCKEY NEWS: Spencer Lazary noted the Kings and winger Arthur Kaliyev didn’t see eye-to-eye for most of this season, affecting his performance and development. He recommended offering him to the New York Islanders for a draft pick or a prospect.
The Islanders badly need more offense. Kaliyev, 22, could be an affordable option for them.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Kings could retain Kaliyev and see how he does under a new head coach but it’s more likely he’ll be traded. Whether the Islanders would be interested is another story.
UPDATE ON THE CANADIENS
THE ATHLETIC: Arpon Basu believes the Montreal Canadiens prefer to avoid signing free agents to long-term contracts, at least until they’ve sorted out those of Kaiden Guhle, Juraj Slafkovsky and Kirby Dach, and determined how much money will be at their disposal as the salary cap rises. If someone like Vegas Golden Knights winger Jonathan Marchessault were to agree to a two or three-year deal, that’s something Basu believes they might consider.
The Canadiens could consider acquiring a young forward coming off an entry-level contract who their teams might undervalue. He suggested forward Cole Perfetti might be an option if the Winnipeg Jets don’t consider him ready to contribute right now. The Jets could use depth on their blueline, prompting Basu to suggest offering up the first-round pick that the Habs got from the Jets for Sean Monahan and/or one of their excess of young, cheap NHL-ready defensemen.
Basu also mentioned the possibility of taking a bigger swing in the trade market by pursuing Anaheim Ducks forward Trevor Zegras or Carolina Hurricanes forward Martin Necas. Of the two, Necas would be the more affordable to acquire as the Ducks will set a high asking price for Zegras.
MONTREAL HOCKEY NOW: Marco D’Amico also pondered the possibility of the Canadiens acquiring another young forward at the draft. In addition to Zegras and Necas, he mentioned St. Louis Blues winger Jordan Kyrou. He suggested the possibility of a smaller move for someone like Winnipeg’s Cole Perfetti, Columbus’ Kent Johnson or New Jersey’s Alexander Holtz.
The Canadiens will likely draw on their depth of promising defensemen for trade bait. D’Amico suggested Logan Mailloux, Adam Engstrom or Justin Barron as trade options. He didn’t rule out the possibility of shopping veteran David Savard, who garnered interest at the March trade deadline.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Canadiens management acknowledged their need for more scoring and are expected to add one or two forwards via trade or perhaps free agency. GM Kent Hughes could pursue one of the players mentioned by Basu and D’Amico but could also have his eye on a forward that no one expects to be available.
Zegras will be very costly with the asking price starting with Montreal’s first-round pick and defense prospect David Reinbacher. Necas, Perfetti, Johnson and Holtz would be much more affordable. Kyrou probably isn’t available but it never hurts to ask. The Jets likely won’t give up on Perfetti but they might be open to offers.
DuBois’ actually salary next season will be higher than McDavid’s. You can’t make up comedy that golden. 😂
Vilardi almost had as many points as Dubuis in 35 less games…
Vilardi is amazing, absolutely love watching him play in Winnipeg.
Sometimes teams bid against themselves on UFA’s. Dubois is a clear cut example.
He’s an average 45-50 point guy who’s playing 3+ less minutes per game and put up 40 points.
This isn’t a “bust signing “ this is grossly overpaying and getting exactly the player you overpaid for!
Putting more $$$’s in a contract doesn’t miraculously make a player better.
Total flop by LA. Especially considering they already had Kopitar, Danault and have promising young guys like Byfield and Turcotte (who is being blocked and wasted in the AHL).
Find a way to get his minutes back up and you’ll get those extra 6-8 points you overpaid for back.
CO, to say PLD is a 45-50 pts guy is incorrect.
PLD:
21-22 81gp 28 goals 32 assist 60pts
22-23 73gp 27 goals 36 assist 63pts
This is the player LA traded for, a Power forward with 30 goal potential
A Player whose development was hitting full stride. The question should be what happen in LA. Could it be the player got to comfortable after signing his deal? Maybe the system or style LA plays does lend itself to offense.
Two players Adrian Kempe and Kevin Fiala has publicly said the 1-3-1 is no fun to play and wish they played a different style.
I’m not taking blame away from PLD he needed to be better; and if the trade was Ullmark for PLD, Boston lost out.
Potential ? With PLD’s track record, the only thing you can expect if he gets off to a slow start next year is him whining to be traded. The problem with PLD is he thinks he’s the greatest thing since sliced bread.
Co he was down 34% in goals over his last two season. This is significant.
We knew he wasn’t staying in Winnipeg. Yet no one in the locker room complained about him and said he was a good teammates and didn’t effect his on ice production.
I get folks don’t like him because he wanted to control where he went.
Pld is a good hockey player and can take over a game when he is engaged.
I would agree he needs to be engaged more often.
Hopefully he can be traded to Boston for Ullmark.
Career, he’s 50 point player. Add in this year he’s a 48 point player.
He is what he is. Playing 20% less per game isn’t going to fix that problem. He really wasn’t that far off his career average all things considered.
Sorry, Lyle, but Kent Johnson isn’t going anywhere. Despite his sophomore slump, he’s expected to develop into a top 6 man for the Jackets.
I don’t believe he’s going anywhere either, merely suggesting that he’d be easier to acquire than some of those other targets suggested by Basu and D’Amico. Besides, I think the Canadiens are looking for a more established young scorer rather than another with potential as they did with Dach and Newhook.
Both Monahan and Toffoli are UFAs who played well in Montreal. There might be a mutual attraction and they might be amenable to a three year contract.
Mittelstadt also might be available. Has been underwhelming so far but the Habs have such woeful forwards he’d be an upgrade.
Reinbacher is not going to be traded, and it would take an awfully attractive offer to move Maillioux.
Mittelstadt been underwhelming?? Did you watch Jets vs Avs?
No I didn’t, Brock. Watching playoffs while my team is golfing is like sitting through a slide show of someone else’s vacation pictures.
I see that his stats suggest he played well in this series. I am referring to his 6 regular season stats, which are underwhelming.
Maybe he is a player who can elevate when placed with other high end players. But if that’s the case, the Habs don’t have many of those.
I’d take him as the Jets second line center next season in a heartbeat.
Toffoli is already 32 years old. He’d probably want too much money and term. Monahan could be a possibility. Forget Marchessault. He’ll probably want at least 4 years and will start slowing down before long.
Best option may be a trade. I’d look to pick up Necas, Zegras or Perfetti. Would trade the Jets pick but not their own. Would offer up Harris, Mailloux or Barron.
Re; Preds lack of Scoring and good goaltending
looks like they need to go into a re-tool and get younger and add more Scoreing
Yaroslav Askarov if he makes his full-time NHL
and the preds get a good back up signed,
Then they could trade starter Juuse Saros at the Draft for a good young forwards who can score
like the
-Ducks Zegras,
-Canes Necas, or
-NJ Alexander Holtz, or Dawson Mercer
or
-Sen’s 2nd 1st round pick and Erik Brännström package maybe a goaltender too..?
Or
A 2nd pick & Centre Joshua Norris ….🤔
I think both Boston and the Preds trade goaltenders at the NHL draft Ullmark & Saros… to address there teams scoring needs
Ottawa….stay away from Saros..overhyped small goaltender
Hey Don
Saros played Great again last night in the 1-0 win for the Canucks, 👌
Nashville just can Score…. and the have a mediocre d after Josi & McDonagh
Saros in the playoffs playoffs,
G,6 GA,2.02 Sv% 0.900…. i wonder what it would be like in front of a good d/core❓
The Sen’s have a Huge problem that need to be addressed asap…..
They have 2 Goaltenders that cant Stop a
Beach ball 😳
Sen’s need a Real Starter for the 2024/2025 Season, if not its the same old same old….🙈
Looking at the potential PLD buyout with basically $7 M in each of next two years, then $6 M, then averaging about $5 M for next 4 years after that in Cap SAVINGS; this is not a bad move
That at the small expense of 7 years @ $1.1 M of dead cap , starting in ‘31/‘32 when the Cap will be over a $100M; even better
The financial hit (spread over 14 years) is $27 M while retaining 50% (and getting a small asset return) is about a $35 M hit, and much less in Cap savings (over buyout)
Buyout looks like the best move
He’d then sign a 1 year “show-me” deal and be a 3rd line Center on a top third (of league) team or maybe a 2nd line Center on a weak or “rebuilding” team.
Nah, he’d retire in shame.
Or go play for a small fortune somewhere in the KHL
Logan Mailloux for Jonathon Berggren! Bergers is lighting it up for Grand Rapids!!