NHL Rumor Mill – July 10, 2024
Check out the ongoing speculation that the Panthers might trade Aaron Ekblad, an update on Jacob Trouba, and nine possible offer-sheet candidates in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
LATEST ON EKBLAD AND TROUBA
TSN: Jay Onrait spoke with ESPN’s Emily Kaplan on Tuesday regarding speculation the Florida Panthers could trade Aaron Ekblad to free up some salary-cap space.
Kaplan said it will be difficult for the Panthers to maintain their roster despite being a destination franchise. Nevertheless, their front office isn’t afraid to make hard decisions. She can’t confirm that Ekblad’s on the trade block but wouldn’t be surprised if the Panthers explored that possibility.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Ekblad trade rumors stretch back to June 2 when the Toronto Sun’s Steve Simmons speculated they could move him to free up cap room to re-sign Brandon Montour, who has since signed with the Seattle Kraken.
Ekblad has a year remaining on his contract with a cap hit of $7.5 million and a 12-team no-trade list for 2024-25.
New York Rangers defenseman Jacob Trouba (NHL Images).
The Panthers are above the $88 million cap by over $933K. They can easily become cap-compliant before their season opener in October by demoting a lower-salaried player rather than moving a high-salaried core player like Ekblad. Montour’s departure could make the Panthers less likely to move him if they intend on staging a successful defense of their Stanley Cup title.
Onrait and Kaplan also discussed the recent trade rumors swirling around New York Rangers captain Jacob Trouba. The Rangers reportedly had a deal on the table with the Detroit Red Wings. However, the 30-year-old defenseman didn’t want to do it with his wife still finishing her residency as a medical doctor.
Kaplan believes Trouba will be in the Rangers lineup when they start the season in October even though it was a really uncomfortable process over the last days and weeks. She noted Trouba used his no-trade protection in his contract to nix the deal with the Red Wings.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Rangers general manager Chris Drury attempted an aggressive move to trade Trouba in the week leading up to the start of free agency. He hoped to shed most of his captain’s $8 million cap hit to Detroit to free up room for a foray or two into the UFA market.
Trouba used his no-trade protection to reject the deal as was his contractual right. He now has a 15-team no-trade list. Drury could peddle him to any club not on that list but it’s pointless to do so at this stage with all the top free-agent talent now gone from the market. Trouba isn’t moving unless Drury finds a return that improves the Rangers right away.
POSSIBLE OFFER SHEET CANDIDATES
SPORTSNET: Emily Sadler looked at nine restricted free agents who could become offer sheet targets this summer. She acknowledged the rarity of offer sheets, noting the last one occurred in 2021 when the Carolina Hurricanes successfully signed away Jesperi Kotkaniemi from the Montreal Canadiens.
The longer Jeremy Swayman goes without a new contract with the Boston Bruins sows another small seed of doubt about this deal and how soon it’ll get done.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Someone could pitch an offer sheet to Swayman but that depends on his willingness to sign one. The same goes for every restricted free agent. It’s pointless to attempt if they’re not interested.
Swayman knows he’s got the Bruins’ starting goalie sewn up. He loves being a Bruins and playing in Boston. He also opted not to go to arbitration when he had the chance. That should tell us all we need to know about his interest in an offer sheet.
His negotiations could take time but that’s common. Most RFA contract talks can take most of the summer before a resolution is reached. It’s doubtful there’s any real concern here.
The Canadiens could make a “revenge play” against the Hurricanes by targeting Seth Jarvis.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canadiens could make that move if Marc Bergevin was still their general manager. His attempt at signing Sebastian Aho in 2019 prompted the retaliatory Kotkaniemi signing two years later. The current Habs management probably isn’t interested in going down that road.
Swimming in cap space, the Detroit Red Wings can match any offer for Moritz Seider and/or Lucas Raymond. Whether someone attempts to set the market for them is the bigger question.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s doubtful that any club will attempt it. That move will only succeed in pissing off every general manager around the league for setting the market value for comparable players.
A rival club could attempt to squeeze the cap-strapped Edmonton Oilers by pitching an offer sheet to Dylan Holloway or Philip Broberg.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Possible but unlikely. Holloway and Broberg are in the early stages of their NHL careers. They might not pan out as hoped.
Sadler also suggested Quinton Byfield of the Los Angeles Kings, Cole Perfetti of the Winnipeg Jets and Dawson Mercer of the New Jersey Devils. An offer sheet to any one of them could mess up their team’s plans to sign them to an affordable bridge contract.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Another possibility but only if the player is willing to entertain offer-sheet proposals. Those three might not be interested in such deals.
Lyle, when Googling aspects of the “offer sheet” there is plenty on its history but nothing is available as to what the thinking was at the time of its introduction. Any idea how the concept was formulated and who, exactly, was the instigator?
It was introduced in the 1988 CBA that ran to 1994. At the time, there was no unrestricted free agency as we see today but four different groups of restricted free agents all eligible for offer sheets.
Which makes you wonder – given the predominant reluctance to use it – why it continues to hang around? Surely the NHLPA sees no real validity in the concept.
The PA still wants it because anything that can help set the market value for players, even a rarely-used tactic like an offer sheet, is worthwhile.
the only unmatched offersheets in the past 20 years didnt pan out for the ‘winning’ team
Dustin Penner
Kotkaniemi
Swayman situation drags out…….
SENS put Norris on LTIR…..and offer sheet 9m Swayman. With a projected 20m in cap space next year they reunite the Bruins successful goalie tandem – and good chums and sign them both.
Crazy? Could happen. They’d need to move Forsberg. And it would help if they could move him for their own 2nd pick back because they’re lacking that next year.
Crazy? Yes. Could happen? Doubtful. Again, you’re assuming Swayman is open to signing an offer sheet. And I doubt very much the Senators would pitch Swayman $9 million as that would cost them a first, a second, and a third round pick in 2025
I think Ottawa would need their own 2nd round pick next year to offer sheet that value. Dark G stated above they don’t have it
I cannot fathom at all why they would do this… Sens fans begging for a starter and suddenly that’s not good enough…? lol
Think about what you are proposing? Ullmark and Swayman would cost you between 16-20 million a year! Why do you think Boston traded Ullmark?
Plus there’s the “put Norris on LTIR” suggestion – certainly a possibility sometime following opening day (assuming he makes it through training camp) – but as matters now stand, indications are that his latest surgery recovery has progressed to the point where he should be at camp opening day. From there, it’s finger-crossing time. For the kid’s sake, I hope this is the surgery that works.
It is my understanding that Ottawa (Dorion) forfeit the Senators 2025, 1st round pick due to the non disclosure of Dadonov’s LNTC when he was sent to Vegas.
Without a 1st round pick Ottawa can not offer sheet a player in the $9 million range as they would need their own 1st, 2nd and 3rd round picks.
Sigh… Capfriendly is now done and gone… sad day.
As for offer sheets, I wonder about Colorado, recalling that Sakic signed a big offer sheet in his playing days. While Colorado matched the deal, Sakic choose to sign it and it benefitted him greatly from a finanical perspective. It also contained that $15m bonus amount up (poison pill clause) front that almost put Colorado in finanical ruin in order to meet it. With that in mind, I don’t see Sakic holding back from a market or ethics standpoint when it comes to signing RFA’s. I think the only thinking holding him back is his desire to maintain trading relations with other clubs, but if he sees a player he must have, I think he would do it.
Hi Lindsay, he’s on the other side of the table now, and by everything I have seen in how he operates he is an intelligent guy. So, I would be very surprised if he offer sheeted anyone.
If he really wants a player he will try and trade for him.
Lyle, it is probably a misnomer to suggest that Detroit is “swimming” in cap space. Detroit has a bit more than $20M in space, but contracts for Seider, Raymond, and RFA’s Veleno and Berggren could consume as much as $19M of that space.
Since Veleno filed for arbitration, I believe that the Wings will have another buyout window, which could affect Justin Holl or Ville Husso, opening up another $2 – 3 M.
And they also have 6 LH defenseman under contract, so a trade to move one of them is another possibility.
Holl is safe from a buyout. One has to make 4M AAV or more in the 2nd buyout. Wishful thinking on your part.
Thanks for the correction Johnny. So it would seem that the only candidate for abuyout is Husso.
Yes, wishful thinking on my part about Holl.
I’m citing the author of the article, Iago. I’m fully aware of the Wings’ cap situation
Good to know that you understood the Wings actual cap situation Lyle, although citing the authors mistake without stating the reality kind of perpetuates the mistake, one that Adam Gretz also made in a recent article, although Gretz is known for printing thoughts of his that bear little resemblance to reality.
What mistake, Iago? She’s referring to the fact that they have plenty of cap space (nearly $20 million) to match any offer for Seider or Raymond, which is why I doubt any club will make the attempt.
Thanks for the correction Johnny. So it would seem that the only candidate for abuyout is Husso.
Yes, wishful thinking on my part about Holl.
How about Andrew Copp? $5.625M is a lot of money for a 33 point producer.
it seems like all it does is create “ill will” between organizations? i don’t think it’s a good thing even though it is legal! look @ carolina & montreal, everyone will just have long memories. Look it you are still talking about Sakic signing one eons ago? it’s kind of like a bobby clarke “slash” on the wrist. back then, you migh have gotten away with it but today it’s not a good thing? probably not a good analogy but some humour.
Re; The NHL & Offer Sheet for RFA Candidates
I think its time for the NHL to Revisit and make some Major Adjustments to the current offer sheeet Set…. up and make it more Exciting for the Fan Base and Teams…..⁉️
Treat it like a home morgage and when the cap gos up its ajusted accordingly and review it every 5 years.
up to $3M, a 4th pick,
Up to $5M, a 3rd pick
up to $7M, a 2nd pick
up to $9M, a 1st pick & 2nd pick
up to $13M 2X1st picks
Over $13M 2X 1st picks & 2X2nd picks
just a thought ….🤔 then you would not have this hanging over the Players and teams ALL Summer
and for sure make it way more Exciting for the NHL
Fan Base….👏👌
Agreed. The current structure seems more punitive to the offering team than compensatory to the team that holds the players’ rights.