NHL Rumor Mill – June 17, 2024
More suggested contract buyout candidates plus the latest on Pavel Buchnevich in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
MORE POTENTIAL BUYOUT CANDIDATES
THE ATHLETIC: Thomas Drance and Harman Dayal listed 12 players to monitor when the NHL’s contract buyout window opens following the Stanley Cup Final.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Most players on this list also appeared on Daily Faceoff’s recent buyout candidate list. You can read my take on those here.
The list includes Tampa Bay Lightning forward Conor Sheary, Seattle Kraken goaltender Philipp Grubauer, New York Rangers defenseman Jacob Trouba, Detroit Red Wings blueliner Justin Holl, and Winnipeg Jets rearguard Nate Schmidt.
New York Rangers defenseman Jacob Trouba (NHL Images).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Lightning are squeezed for cap space for 2024-25, hampering efforts to re-sign captain Steven Stamkos. Buyout out Sheary will only free up $1.4 million in cap space for next season, but every bit helps now.
Buying out Grubauer would save the Kraken over $4.9 million for 2024-25. However, they might not be ready to hand the starter’s job to Joey D’Accord just yet. If D’Accord can carry that burden next season, they can explore trading or buying out Grubauer next year.
The Rangers won’t buy out Trouba. Granted, he’s overpaid at $8 million per season through 2025-26. However, his postseason struggles were likely tied to playing on an injured ankle since March. For a team with Stanley Cup aspirations that needs more toughness, getting rid of their most physical player doesn’t make sense. If they wish to part ways with Trouba, they’d be better off shedding his salary through the trade market.
Buying out Holl now makes sense if the Red Wings can’t find any takers for Holl in the trade market. The authors observed he was a health scratch for 38 games this season. They also pointed out that the Wings have a glut of bottom-three defensemen with Ben Chiarot, Olli Maatta and Jeff Petry signed for next season. The Wings have nearly $30 million in cap space for next season but buying out Holl adds another $2.2 million annually to the kitty for the next two seasons.
The same goes for Schmidt. He has a year left on his deal with an AAV of $5.95 million, which is a lot for a third-pairing defenseman. The Jets have $13 million in cap space. Buying out Schmidt frees up $3.2 million for 2024-25.
LATEST ON PAVEL BUCHNEVICH
DAILY FACEOFF: Frank Seravalli included Pavel Buchnevich in his recent Trade Targets list. He wondered if the St. Louis Blues are prepared to pay the 29-year-old winger a big raise on a long-term contract.
Buchnevich has produced 206 points in 216 games with the Blues. The winger has a year left on his contract with an average annual value of $5.8 million. Seravalli expects that he’ll be in line for a raise in the $8 million-plus range.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Seravalli noted that Buchnevich was a hot commodity before the March trade deadline but the Blues’ asking price was three first-round equivalents. That price could drop as the winger would now be a one-year rental unless inquiring teams intend to re-sign him.
There was talk earlier this year that the Blues were interested in re-signing Buchnevich and he wanted to stay. We’ll find out soon enough whether those discussions get serious.
Buying out Trouba is an absurd comment.
Could never figure out the Yzerman plan to sign Holl for that kind of money and term in the first place. One of his few mistakes .
In our current era you need two reliable goalies . There is no goalie playing 100 plus games (including playoffs) ala Grant Fuhr and Richard Brodure . Grubauer moves at the trade deadline .
Trouba has been a target of Ranger fans on social media. I was always a fan of acquiring him, but have to admit he’s kind of regressed over the years and they can probably get an equally talented player for far less money. With the continued development of baby Trouba (Schneider) I wouldn’t be shocked if they try to move him, but a buyout doesn’t seem likely. Ironically, Detroit would be a team I can see being interested. They did take Staal and his big cap hit off our hands a few years back. Still, I can also see Drury running it back with his captain. Cap space isn’t really an issue.
If Trouba goes to Detroit, Holl would have to go to NYR…………so you have that.
Hi Lyle..or anyone posting
Curious to know what the implications would be for a TAVARES BUYOUT
THANKS
Hi, Kal el. Here you go:
https://puckpedia.com/player/john-tavares/buyout
Ya JT is almost all bonus. He is buyout proof 😉
I think along with Holl you could include Petry, Chiarot and Matta as big mistakes by Yzerman.
Here’s a trade idea — from a JETS fan so keep that in mind:
JETS send EHLERS to BUFFALO for 2024 1st, 2025 2nd (becomes a 1st in 2026 if he re-signs) plus one of their forward prospects TBD
JETS take the 2024 1st and package it with SCHMIDT possibly one 4th line roster player (to equal out some cap hit) to PHILADELPHIA for RISTOLAINEN & JOHANSEN with 33% retained.
Any chance for something like that or is it a pipe dream?
Wingers on last year of. Contract never get that return, but I am sure we could work it out. We want Ehlers. Still can’t believer we turned down him for Risto.
Sabres aren’t making that deal with Winnipeg, high picks and a top prospect? They would look to St Louis first and Pavel.
I never understood why the Rangers traded Buchnevich. Every time I see him play for the Blues in person, he’s far and away their best player.
Of course he is. Ask drury, a real clown, comes in and gets rid of their best winger.
Cap space issue. It was either trade or lose him for nothing.
Overpay Trouba to lose a PPG player – logical.
Does having a no movement clause prevent a player from being bought out?
No
Thank you
No. According to Capfriendly, Zach Parisé had a NMC and was bought out by Minnesota. So did Ryan Suter.