NHL Rumor Mill – July 17, 2024
In today’s NHL Rumor Mill: An update on Rangers defenseman Jacob Trouba and winger Kaapo Kakko and suggested trade destinations for Jets prospect Rutger McGroarty and Predators goalie Yaroslav Askarov.
UPDATE ON JACOB TROUBA AND KAAPO KAKKO
THE ATHLETIC: Arthur Staple reports it doesn’t appear the New York Rangers will trade or buy out Jacob Trouba this summer.
The 30-year-old defenseman was the subject of trade speculation linking him to the Detroit Red Wings last month. However, league sources claim there was never anything close to a deal with the Wings.
Trading or buying out Trouba now would leave the Rangers in the market for a right-shot defenseman behind Adam Fox and Braden Schneider who kills penalties and can handle an occasional increase in playing time.

New York Rangers defenseman Jacob Trouba (NHL Images).
Staple indicated there was at least one conversation between Trouba and Rangers general manager Chris Drury. There may have been some fence-mending by the Rangers regarding those trade rumors but Trouba is a pro who won’t put his emotions over the good of the team.
However, Staple believes it’s nearly certain that Trouba will be traded next summer. He has a 15-team no-trade list, will have a year left on his contract, and his wife’s medical residency will be completed by then.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The silence we’ve heard in the rumor mill about Trouba since July 1 led most of us to conclude he won’t be traded or bought out this summer. Drury’s attempt to trade him before July 1 was to free up cap space to make one or two signings in the free-agent market. With that market picked clean, there’s no reason to move Trouba now.
Staple felt if the Rangers make a move this summer it would involve Kaapo Kakko. The 23-year-old winger signed a one-year, $2.4 million contract last month but was still considered a trade candidate.
However, there have been no offers that interested Drury or other teams. Staple believes Kakko could also be back if the Rangers don’t want to sell low and find another top-nine forward.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Drury could bring Kakko back and hope he has a breakout performance like Alexis Lafreniere last season. If he doesn’t, the Rangers GM could bundle the young winger with a draft pick for an established forward by the March trade deadline. Maybe he tries to bring back Frank Vatrano.
SUGGESTED TRADE DESTINATIONS FOR MCGROARTY AND ASKAROV
SPORTSNET: Ryan Dixon proposed some trade destinations for Winnipeg Jets prospect winger Rutger McGroarty and promising Nashville Predators goaltender Yaroslav Askarov.
McGroarty, 20, recently surfaced in the rumor mill amid reports he and the Jets disagree about the course of his development. Meanwhile, trade speculation about the 22-year-old Askarov has increased after the Predators signed Juuse Saros to a contract extension and signed veteran backup Scott Wedgewood.
Dixon suggested the Montreal Canadiens, Minnesota Wild, Boston Bruins, and Calgary Flames as potential trade partners for McGroarty.
The Canadiens are flush with defensemen they could use to add McGroarty to their rebuilding roster. The Flames are also rebuilding and could use a promising young winger. The Wild could use a winger with his enticing profile, while the Bruins are a contending team that could use an affordable injection of youth into their roster.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Dixon observed the Canadiens and Wild were linked to McGroarty during the NHL draft.
Meanwhile, the Columbus Blue Jackets and Carolina Hurricanes could use a promising young goaltender like Askarov. Dixon also suggested the New Jersey Devils and San Jose Sharks could benefit from landing both players.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Dixon suggested the Jackets offer up Kent Johnson for Askarov, a pitch that could tempt the Predators. Askarov and Pyotr Kochetkov could give the Hurricanes a reliable goalie tandem for years.
Between the Devils and Sharks, the latter could be better positioned to pursue both players. They’re carrying two first-round picks in next year’s draft, a deeper prospect pool and a lot more salary-cap space.
Askarov for what it would take in trade now, would be a good trade to reap benefits down the road
@8787
Hey I know you aren’t high what Dubas has done and the Penguins next season…
I just got back from Pittsburgh and the Penguins developmental camp in cranberry at the Lemieux sports complex and well it was terrific and there are some really good young players.
Is the Penguins farm system great no / no I’m not saying that but watching them for 5 days there are some good young players in their top 7 to 10 prospects.
Of the top 10, 3 or 4 have a shot in training camp or will be brought up at some point during this up coming season.
20 year Ville Koivunen was flying around with speed and skill and showed well in the final day which was all day 4 on 4 scrimmages.
Vasily Ponomarev will surely make the team in training camp.
Truitan Broz 21 coming off a a national championship at the University of Denver was strong he has put on 20 lbs and excelled all 5 days and his team won the tournament.
Tanner Howe 18 was strong, a pest who loves to bang, great forechecker, fast and and invited to the Canadian national team. He reminds of a young Patrick Hornqvist…
Braden Yager 19 2024 1st rounder leading his team to WHL title has gained some weight looked good he probably will start in Juniors… outside shot
This goalie Sergei Musharev 20, OMG he has brilliant in the 4 v 4 scrimmage that filled the final day of developmental camp he gave up 1 goal in 4 games and was exceptional in all the drills as well for the whole camp.
He will either sign his Entry level deal or go back to the KHL he will decide in the next 2 weeks. He is really solid /830 save % in 10 games khl and a
.920 % in the other Russian league he plays in.
He and Joel Blomqvist represent two stud young goalies in the system.
It was nice to see some of the prospects show their stuff..
The whole system does need work no doubt but the top guys are close..
.930 save % ooppss
Hey, not a Penguins guy but what a great a post to read! Thanks!
Props where it’s due.
It’s funny how Trouba wanted out of Winnipeg and was granted a trade, now the shoe is on the other foot where New York doesn’t want him. I hope they trade him this summer to a team he doesn’t want to play for.
He had a chance to be traded to his home state and blocked it, I’m sure he could have gone there for a season while his wife finishes her studies.
It will be hard for New York to mend fences with a player like that.
Bitter? It not that NYR don’t want him, it’s they don’t want his cap hit. He was given trade protection and used it. Be mad at management not the player.
That’s exactly what happened here. Sounds like both the team and player will get together for an understanding of his future.
Complicated. Trouba wanted to come to NY for his wife’s medical career. Perfect situation for him. His nmc changed to 15 team ntc this summer. I wonder if that was designed due to his wife’s residency at hospital, which should have been completed this year. They had a baby, which delayed her residency by a year. Not Drury problem, but also what options do they both have? What’s point of trading a guy you liked enough to make captain? Who wants him and how much salary can they take on? Who is replacing him in NY?
I have no problem with someone nixing a trade for family reasons. I respect Trouba for considering his wife’s career. That was the sole reason he asked to be moved from Winnipeg.
Ed, Dave’s “bitterness” as you interpret it is not about how Trouba has handled his situation in New York. Trouba demanded a trade out of Winnipeg.
Not sure if that characterization is accurate Jeff and Dave.
He asked for a trade in 2016, as he was playing his offside or outside the top 4, then rescinded it. Stayed for 3 years, was traded after 2019 season.
In 2019 did Trouba demand a trade? Or was he simply not willing to sign a longer than 1 year extension in WPG when he was an RFA and a year away from UFA? Which is exactly what I would do if I was that far away from my wife or future wife. WPG could have signed him for another year by simply refusing to trade him and have him go to arbitration.
Exact same thing Tkachuk did, after Johnny Hockey hemmed and hawed about signing and left Calgary with no return for the Flames. Would Jets fans have preferred that?
WPG had Trouba’s rights, he played there until WPG made the business decision to trade him vs keeping him for a year and getting no return.
He negotiated his terms with New York for family reasons, Rangers agreed, he has been playing there since. The Rangers tried to trade him and not honor the deal they agreed to, he told them to pound salt for well known and reasonable reasons. I would have done the exact same thing.
I wouldn’t have done what he did in 2016, but he course corrected, the rest seems like what any guy would do in that situation.
People still wondering why Crosby hasn’t signed yet?
Term and dollars should have already been worked out; but I’m sure Crosby (like all Pens fans) is trying to gage this year’s line-up before putting his John Hancock down
Dubas stated he wanted to get younger, bigger, stronger, better, faster. We ALL want that for Pens.
Just did a calc on opening night roster (23/24) and as at now what Pens will have opening night
Younger…. Nope… actually average age on opening night this year is older (30.55 years to last year’s 30.52 years)… small amount but actually older
Bigger…. Nope, average height dropped .21” ; average weight dropped 0.99 pounds
Better…. Nope
Bunting < Guentzel and by far; not even close
Lizotte < Smith …. Not as much of a difference as above, but a fair diff
P-O J….. no replacement yet; Grzlyk (older, much smaller, slower, less productive) will play 3rd pairing LD
Carter vs Hayes…. Saw off size wise (Carter 2” shorter but 7 lbs heavier). Carter actually faster, much stronger; grittier; on the face-offs about the same; Hayes (given better line-mates) better production; call it a saw-off
Bemstrom v Harkins (definitely lost grit and strength in that exchange)
Ruhweedel….. no replacement; we only have 2 RDs now. Aho (LD) is definitely not replacing Ruhweedel at 3rd pairing RD
So…..
Team older, shorter, lighter, weaker, less gritty, and definitely expected production is less than that of last year
Now there’s a good reason for Crosby NOT to be in a rush to sign
8787
I dont think Crosby Signs with the pens as they have done nothing to show they want to win the cup & they sure wont win with this team they are Rolling out for 2024/25 season…🤔
The way it sits right now the East is looking Very Strong & the Pens wont finish top 8…
They would have to beat out NJD, Sen’s & Buffalo and The Caps who loaded up….❓
PS
I see him going to the avs
Boston? He fit in a a centre there. Jersey’s colours are the same. Closer to Nova Scotia than Colorado?
It’s hard to picture Crosby elsewhere. Yet it is also hard to have a player spend his entire career with one team.
Sadly I fear the worst
Don’t want him to go but wouldn’t blame him at all
Fingers crossed
Had to read that twice Jeff
After the sentence “He fit in…” I knew you were referring to Bruins
Then I mistakenly read Jersey as referring to New Jersey (Devils)
Now I see what my students sometimes say regarding first read v second read
Doh!
Crosby won’t go to Devils for sure
Bruins, a possibility but slim
If he doesn’t stay here, I can realistically only see him as an Av (MacKinnon and chance at another cup); Oiler (chance at another Cup) and long-shot Habs (drafted his dad)
I’m on pins and needles
I haven’t heard this phrase before “a saw-off” I believe you are meaning it as a “wash” as it everything went in and came out largely the same?
Wash, tie, saw-off, even all meaning the same thing
Fairly indistinguishable between the two (looking at the overall picture)
The loss of grit, speed, strength and defensive game (Carter) is compensated for with age and expected (hopefully) offence from Hayes
Hayes still not worth the Cap hit
Bad trade (again)
He will sign…with the Penguins…on August 7th.
That wouldn’t be surprising given how superstitious Crosby is.
Hoping and praying with you on that Some Old Guy
I know he’ll eventually be gone from team (has to retire at some point) ; I just don’t want to see him leave so soon
Dubas has really screwed this team
It’s strange to say, but his moves have been (overall) worse. Than Hextall’s
He can blame some issues for the start of last year on Hextall but the brutal moves this summer are all on Dubas
Have already nixed renewing my season’s tickets. I’ll only pick and choose and go to only a few this year
Ehlers & McGroarty to Carolina for Necas and a pick (+prospect?). Carolina sure could use more depth in their top 6 and Necas doesn’t seem to want to stay there
Should Carolina guarantee McGroarty that he would be given ice time at the NHL level?
No one should guarantee him anything. Bloody well earn it.
100%, George. I think it was Jays pitcher David Price whose motto (via his dad) was “If you don’t like it, pitch better”.
If McGroarty had already made himself *undeniably* an NHLer, he’d be in the NHL. Instead of blaming the Jets’ development pathway, maybe he should “pitch better”
George, this kid has been made to be a villain based on rumors. Maybe he just prefers to stay in college as opposed to playing in AHL? Why sign in Winnipeg when he has option? They drafted him knowing he was committed to Michigan. The fact he would need 2 more years of college to become a FA makes me wonder. If Jets don’t currently see him as a full time NHLer, maybe they’re the ones dangling him to get a roster player that helps them now.
https://www.reddit.com/r/hockey/comments/1e02mjk/winnipeg_sports_talk_a_trade_for_rutger_mcgroarty/?rdt=37649
https://eprinkside.com/2024/07/15/whats-rutger-mcgroartys-real-value-and-is-he-ready-for-the-nhl
https://thehockeynews.com/news/opinion-winnipeg-jets-stalemate-with-rutger-mcgroarty-easily-rectified-just-lie-to-him
Slick62, there’s 3 links above where the suggestion that he and his camp want some guaranteed NHL ice-time is more than a rumor.
But OK, let’s say the situation has absolutely no basis in fact. He just wants to go back to University and so, won’t sign.
Why would Carolina give up assets for that?
George. 1st link is a podcast , which everyone seems to have now. The second just going off same rumors. The third has this quote: “if speculation is to be believed”. I’m sure part of reason for not signing in Winnipeg has some basis in his path to playing time ( jets have a lot of good young players. PLD trade did wonders for their depth) I just don’t agree with picture being painted of a kid “demanding” a roster spot. If his choice is AHL or NCAA, I have no problem with his decision. Kid has NHL size and I’m sure there’s plenty of teams he’d get playing time with.
I would also add that I think Rangers would have interest. Asst coach Dan Muse was his coach with USNTDP. NY has 2 of his former teammates already in pipeline, but not much in the way of centers. With uncertainty around Chytil concussion issues, I can see Rangers being very interested.
A Trade proposal for you….🤔
Winnipeg Jets prospect winger Rutger McGroarty
for
Nashville Predators goaltender Yaroslav Askarov.
Both teams get what they need Right up❓
im sure there are a number of teams chatting with both Jets & Pred’s right now….
Rutger McGroarty + Thomas Milic for Askarov
Askerov goes to the Moose until room can be made on the Jets’ roster.
Ed, if he was playing like an 8 million dollar player should play, they wouldn’t be trading him. He has regressed a lot in his play, so they don’t want him. For the sake of argument, it would be both, they don’t want the cap hit because of his poor play.
My point was, he wants out of playing somewhere and gets his wish, now he’s getting it from the other side of the fence.
Watch Trouba have surgery and be on LTIR to start the season.
Sid goes to a team in Canada @ TDL if the Pens are out of the race
The ONLY thing left to do in his career is bring the Cup back to Canada.
Wondering how many NFL fans here? I’ve been watching Hard knocks on HBO/Max. Last nights episode dealt with team meetings going on before the start of FA. Interesting to see what goes on behind the scenes and around the front offices conversations. I’m sure a lot of same in NHL. For all of us that 2nd guess and play armchair GM, a great watch.
I’m into the NFL Slick, thanks for the tip.
I am sticking with Tuch Krebs Johnson for Kakko Trouba No monies held.
Isn’t Buffalo in New York ? I bet Winnipeg was his no trade list.
Has anyone thought that being the captain you will have tear the sweater off his back. Has unfinished business He was also hurt and plays a lot of minutes. The other thing I am certain is your head had better be up.
Yeah, and don’t turn your back.