NHL Rumor Mill – July 28, 2024
Check out the latest on the Ducks and more musings over Bruins goalie Jeremy Swayman’s contract negotiations in the Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup.
LATEST ON THE DUCKS
THE ATHLETIC: Eric Stephens recently addressed questions from his readers regarding the Anaheim Ducks.
Stephens believes this season will be a big one for Trevor Zegras. He could bust out in a big way that establishes himself as an impact player. He could have a healthy and productive campaign but not one that convinces management he’s the piece they need to win big with, or he settles in as a complementary, 60-point winger.
Anaheim Ducks forward Trevor Zegras (NHL Images).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Whatever version of Zegras emerges could determine his future with the Ducks. A breakout performance means he’ll play a major role going forward, ensuring a more lucrative contract down the road. The other two scenarios could see him getting traded for a return that could be less than expected.
Asked why John Gibson remains with the Ducks, Stephens believes management’s unwillingness to retain part of the goaltender’s $6.4 million cap hit through 2026-27 is a major stumbling block. He believes Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek has tried trading Gibson on multiple occasions. A trade would be good for both sides to move on, but there’s a thought among the Ducks that they might as well retain him if they can’t get a suitable return.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Gibson frequently surfaced in the rumor mill over the past two years. His name came up again back in June but nothing came of it. His contract is a major sticking point and the Ducks’ unwillingness to retain some salary ensures he’ll remain in Anaheim for the coming season.
One reader asked if Mitch Marner might end up on the Ducks roster a year from now. Stephens is skeptical, suggesting Anaheim likely isn’t a desired destination if the winger sought a trade or becomes a free agent.
NO SIGN OF PROGRESS YET IN JEREMY SWAYMAN’S CONTRACT TALKS
BOSTON GLOBE: Kevin Paul Dupont reports Jeremy Swayman remains without a contract. The 25-year-old goaltender and the Bruins opted not to take this before arbitration. With training camp set to open on Sept. 18, there’s plenty of time to get a deal done.
Swayman hasn’t publicly commented yet on this situation. He won’t be able to report to training camp without a contract. Restricted free agents have until Dec. 1 to come to terms, or forfeit the rest of the season.
The last high-profile RFA to push it to the wire was William Nylander, who agreed to a deal with the Toronto Maple Leafs during the final hour leading up to the Dec. 1, 2018 deadline.
Puckpedia indicates the Bruins have $8.6 million in cap space this season. Swayman’s next contract will take up most, if not all of that surplus, perhaps forcing management to make a cost-cutting trade or placing someone on long-term injury reserve.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s speculated that Swayman could get an AAV of around $9 million, depending on the length of the contract.
Plenty of time remains for both sides to get this done but the longer Swayman’s unsigned the more speculation will grow over the status of his talks and his future with the Bruins.
This could be done by early September with the Bruins signing him to a seven-year deal worth around $8 million annually.
the fact that Gibson is incredibly fragile, always getting hurt, sure doesn’t help his cause either. He hasn’t been the same goalie since his early years in the league. GM’s have wised up. Ducks have to hope he can get through a season healthy so he can build up his worth
He and Matt Murray share an eerily similar injury history
John Gibson injury history https://www.foxsports.com/nhl/john-gibson-player-injuries
Matt Murray injury history https://www.foxsports.com/nhl/matthew-murray-player-injuries
If he didn’t have 2 more years at $6.4 mil per his option to keep his career going might have been to accept a 3rd string back-up role at a rock bottom cap hit
I think Boston is looking at Swayman as a cross between Ottenger making 4. Million as a RFA and Saros making 7.74 million! Both have played more NHL games than him!A bridge deal at like 3/21 would be fair! Then at 28-29 if he is what everyone thinks he is he still has time for a big payday!He stil needs to prove he can play 70-75 games a year including playoffs!
Boston V Swayman
I think Boston will drag this out with Swayman,
I can see him doing a 2 yr bridge deal,
that takes him to 27 & a becoming a UFA
then he will be in demand and get paid, with the cap going up $4.M in 25/26 season to $92M🤔
Lots of teams need a Good Starter over the next couple of seasons, Wings, Kings,Devels, Panthers, to name a few in 2 years time……⁉️
After a bridge deal for both of these two
Swayman next LTD deal will be $8.M range
Ottenger next LTD deal will be $8M range
williew, Sweeney isn’t going to walk Swayman to ufa status
Caper,
if Boston & Swayman cant get a LTD done, it will be a 2 yr bridge deal that takes hime to UFA,,….
Then if Boston dont want to pay him he will get the deal he wants basically from one other team
with the cap going up yr 25 $4M & yr 26 $4M to $92M
I cant remember what it is for 2027….?
as for the Ducks Gibson, they will again try to trade him at the deadline, they are still on the Re-build with Lukas Dostal as the goaltender of the future there, they also have 3 young goaltender 22 & 21 & 22 in the system
williew that’s my point Boston isnt going to give him a 2yr deal and let him walk away.
I don’t see it happening.
Gibson has been on the trade block for about 6 years now. Unless the Ducks are heavily retaining salary, I don’t see him traded for another 2 seasons, if the wheels haven’t totally fallen off yet.
caper
Im sure he is asking for 2 diffrent deals but has 3 choices,
Boston are probly trying to get him cheap on a LTD
1/ LTD $8X yrs ?
or
2/ 2 year Bridge, ?
or
3/
He dose a 1 year deal with a “Bitter Taste” in his mouth from Boston then says trade me and I will test the UFA marketing 2026….⁉️
Starting to get a bit like the Jake DeBrusk situation!
The Swayman situation got me to wondering how each team stacks up in terms of total cap devoted to their expected goaltending tandem headed into next season … here they are from most to least (with 2 qualifiers as noted by *) – draw your own conclusions – lol
Florida – $14,500,000
NYI – $11,000,000
Tampa – $10,275,000
Winnipeg – $9,500,000
Pittsburgh – $7,875,000
Ottawa – $7,750,000
Chicago – $7,550,000
Detroit – $7,250,000
Anaheim – $7,212,500
Seattle – $7,100,000
NYR – $6,941,667
St. Louis – $6,775,000
Vegas – $6,700,000
Nashville – $6,500,000
Columbus – $6,450,000
* Boston – $6.475,000 (to change with Swayman’s new deal)
Minnesota – $6,250,000
Los Angeles – $6,250,000
New Jersey – $6,050,000
Vancouver – $5,850,000
Buffalo – $5.750,000
San Jose – $5,750,000
Carolina – $5,400,000
Dallas – $5,000,000
Philadelphia – $4,725,000
Utah – $4,875,000
Colorado – $4.237,500
Montreal – $4,040,000
Edmonton – $3,600,000
Toronto – $3,266,667
*Calgary – $2,200,000 (to change with Wolfe’s new deal)
Washington – $1,866,667
Rangers will be 2X+ their current number very soon.
Yeah, with both Shesterkin and Quick becoming UFAs next season the Rangers have decisions to make there.
Heading into this coming season they’ll spend 7.9% of their cap on the goalie tandem. Shesterkin ($5,666,667 now), for sure, will likely be in the $8.5-$9 mil range by 2025-26. As for Quick, they may opt to seek out a cheaper – and younger – back-up after this coming season.
Mind you, Quick, at 38 y/o, still posted very decent stats in 27gp – 2.62gaa and 0.911 save % – almost identical to his career averages of 2.47gaa and 0.911 save %
If Shesterkin has a great year they’re looking at $10-$11M a year on his next contract. Hard to have a decent backup for anything less than $2M as well.
In terms of % of the cap ($88,000,000), Florida will use 16.5% on their 2 goalies, while for Washington it will be 2%
Certainly works for Florida.
Good signing by the Leafs.
Nylander part deux might just be coming into his own.
Yeah, I was hoping Ottawa would have gone after him in a similar deal with Belleville.
Signed by the Marlies, it’s not clear – from what I could find – what his cap hit would be at the NHL level if called up.
Maybe he gets a chance to play with his brother.
Ahh … found the answer here
https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/marlies-sign-alex-nylander-to-a-one-year-ahl-deal/
where it says “Since it is not a two-way deal, he won’t be available to get called up to the Maple Leafs and play alongside his brother unless the team offers him an NHL deal.”
Strange arrangement … why wouldn’t the parent team simply sign him to a 2-way deal at the rock-bottom price?
Looks like a try out.
Plenty of time to sign him to the league min if he pans out with the Marlboros
Gibson and Lacombe and a pick for Laine and a pick . No money held
For fun the picks are hinged to games played
Treliving – AkA- Cliff Fletcher is trying to build from the goaltender out !
I have watching the Alex Nylander scenario closely
Nice a plan came together
I predict Max Domi will have a very good year
He has been training hard , and bulking up
are there any teams desperate enough to offer sheet Swayman?
Swayman isn’t worth over $6m per season because he hasn’t proven that he can play 50 plus games. The more he takes from the Bruins, the less chance he has of winning a cup. It’s not always about the money….especially in Boston. Players have to realize that there’s a cost for trying to squeeze out every penny. Fans won’t be happy if he holds out!