NHL Rumor Mill – August 15, 2024
In today’s NHL Rumor Mill: the latest on John Tavares, more speculation over how the Oilers will counter the offer sheets to Broberg and Holloway, and some suggested offer-sheet targets for the Flyers.
LATEST ON TAVARES
SPORTSNET: Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving said that John Tavares no longer wearing the captaincy won’t affect his contract talks. The 33-year-old center is slated to become an unrestricted free agent next July.
Treliving said any talk about Tavares’ contract status will remain behind closed doors. He also believes the veteran center still has plenty of good hockey left in him. Tavares indicated his desire to stay but also said those discussions are private.
Toronto Maple Leafs captains John Tavares (NHL Images).
During his “32 Thoughts Podcast” on Wednesday, Elliotte Friedman felt that a contract extension for Tavares could remain in play. He thinks it’s been discussed and is something both sides are considering.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Tavares turns 34 next month and it’s clear that his best seasons are behind him. He could be effective as a middle-six forward if that’s a role he’s willing to accept to remain with the Leafs. He must also accept a shorter deal and a significant pay cut from his $11 million annual cap hit.
HOW WILL THE OILERS COUNTER THE OFFER SHEETS FOR BROBERG AND HOLLOWAY?
EDMONTON JOURNAL: Jim Matheson looked at how the Oilers could counter the offer sheets signed by defenseman Philip Broberg and winger Dylan Holloway with the St. Louis Blues. The Oilers have seven days from the date the contracts were signed (Tuesday) to match. Otherwise, both players will belong to the Blues.
The offer sheets push the Oilers above the $88 million cap by over $7.5 million. They could get some cap relief by placing winger Evander Kane and his $5.125 million cap hit on long-term injury reserve if he requires surgery for a sports hernia. However, there’s no guarantee Kane would miss the entire season, meaning the Oilers would have to free up cap room for his return.
Trading defenseman Cody Ceci ($3.5 million) or blueliner Brett Kulak ($2.75 million through 2025-26) are other options. Trading either one could mean attaching a sweetener to the deal.
Broberg has the higher ceiling talent-wise but Holloway’s offer sheet is the easiest to match. Matheson speculates the Oilers will keep Holloway and let Broberg go.
Matheson also brought up the possibility of retribution by the Oilers against the Blues by signing winger Jake Neighbours next summer when he’s a restricted free agent.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Much of Matheson’s piece on the Oilers’ options is a rehash of what he wrote the previous day but it’s still worthwhile to review them.
The Oilers could attempt to sign Neighbours next summer to an offer sheet but that’s unlikely. Neighbours would have to be willing to sign it and he could prefer staying in St. Louis.
More importantly, the Oilers lack the cap space to pull it off. They’ll open the vault to re-sign Leon Draisaitl and Evan Bouchard, leaving little money to pursue Neighbours, whose stock will rise if he builds on last season’s promising performance.
Matheson’s colleague David Staples believes the Oilers have a trump card if Kane ends up on LTIR. He cited Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman saying the 32-year-old winger could be sidelined for months if he undergoes surgery for his sports hernia and/or hip issues.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Oilers are over the cap by $7.225 million. Kane’s cap hit is $5.125 million. The Oilers would still be over the cap by $2.1 million, meaning a trade of Ceci or Kulak to make the dollars work if they hope to retain Broberg and Holloway.
THREE SUGGESTED OFFER SHEET CANDIDATES FOR THE FLYERS
PHILLY HOCKEY NOW: The Blues signing Broberg and Holloway to offer sheets prompted Jonathan Bailey to look at offer sheet targets that could benefit the Flyers in the short and long term. He felt the Seattle Kraken’s Matty Beniers, the New Jersey Devils’ Dawson Mercer, or the Winnipeg Jets’ Cole Perfetti could fit the bill.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: A retooling club like the Flyers could go the offer sheet route with one of those three, but it’s unlikely they will.
Beniers, Mercer and Perfetti would have to be receptive to an offer sheet, and it would have to be expensive to pique their interest. The Kraken, Devils and Jets also have more salary cap space to match such offers than the Oilers have with Broberg and Holloway.
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Tavares wants to stay. He’s got his Leaf pajamas. Marner loves being a Leaf. It’s a dream come true. Yeah, yeah, yeah, bla bla bla. If they were truly loving the Leafs, they now how ridiculous Leafland would be if they won the cup. They themselves would be made saints. So, in the long run what’s going to last forever, an extra couple of million or having your name in lights. Put the money where your mouth is.
I don’t think it will happen. Too bad.
Johnny’s pajamas will swing proudly from the Leafland rafters someday as a testament to his enduring legacy as an all-time great Leafs’ player and leader.
(yes, it’s sarcasm)
Only the true grades should have their names raised up to the rafters. It’s a real joke to how many players nowadays get their names raised.
Saints?
According to Muskoka Mitch tbeyre already Gods.
Regarding Tavares’ next deal.
Since he has a year remaining on this deal and he’s 34 now, is his next contract considered a 35+ contract because that will be his age when it begins?
He’s never been the fastest skater but has very good hockey IQ.
Would he sign a 6 year deal with Toronto at a low AAV to help the Leafs remain competitive?
The deal would start on Jul1 2025. JT would be 34 years old and not 35 til 9 20 2025, unless he holds out til 9-20-25????
I believe it has been posted on here before that the 35+ contract means the player is or turns 35 during he first year of the contract.
Also, Lyle has pointed out here that if the contract is not front end loaded; and has no signing bonuses after the first year; then the player can retire and the cap hit does NOT stay against the team.
8787,
According to Puckpedia, it’s “if the player turned 35 on June 30”.
Regarding possible offer sheets to Mercer of NJ, Beniers of Seattle and Perfetti of Winnipeg – it seems to me each could be a target of more than just Philadelphia – there are at least 3 teams with large chunks of cap to make a pitch.
Here’s the situation for each:
Beniers – 6′ 2″ 180 lb C who turns 21 in November – just had a 77gp season with 15g 22a 37 pts and a minus 11 and, in 167 career games, has 82-game averages of 21g 30a 51 pts – Seattle sits with $6.37m and 21 of 23 committed to – no other RFA to deal with
Mercer – 6′ 180 lb C who turns 22 in October – just had an 82g season with 20g 13a 33 pts and a minus 26 and, in 246 career games has 82-game averages of 21g 22a 43 pts – New Jersey sits with $4.98 mil and 22 of 23 committed to – no other RFA
Perfetti – 5′ 11″ 185 lb C 22 y/o – just had a 71gp season with 19g 19a 38 pts and a +13 and, in 140 career games, has 82-game averages of 17g 27a 44 pts – Winnipeg sits with $5.78 mil and 22 of 23 committed to – no other RFA
Since all 3 are Centers – one of the most sought-after positions – and just entering their prime, could any receive an offer-sheet that would make it difficult for the holding team to match? Especially from one of the re-building teams with large chunks of cap space seeking to speed up their re-build?
Cap space isn’t enough to submit an offer sheet. You have to have your own draft picks to give as compensation. Depending on how much it would take to get one of these three to sign an offer sheet, quite a few teams don’t have the draft capital to pull it off.
Habs would have everything they need to pull it off by placing Price on LTIR but I think Hughes said he doesn’t want to go that route
What about Tomassino and Parssinen? Both players have good numbers in AHL like Broberg and Holloway. Nashville with only 19 signes and doesn’t have much cap space to signe both, like Edmonton.
More offer sheets will make the league a more interesting, as more teams float above the cap in the off season.
fully agree Toronto St Pats
Oilers could give up Viktor Arvidsson with a sweetener and keep their lineup intact. he has 2 years on his contract.
That sweetener would be less than the one needed for Ceci and more attractive to other teams.
@ a healthy VikArk would go a long way for the Oilers for another long run. the dude can skate and generates alot by shooting first. he is a dice roll to stay healthy. he is more impactful than either RFA
A sweetener on arviddson at 2×4 ? Are you cracked ?
Ceci has 1 yr left at 3.25
Played 20/night
Pk
5-20-25 +12
60% d zone start
He’s a poor man’s Chris Tanev , the thought that this huge sweetener is needed is ridiculous.
lol not on his best day could he play d like Tanev. I think you are over valuing Ceci alot, and yes it would take a 2nd or 3rd pick to move him.
My question is which team would actually make a trade for him?
Only 1 I can think of is the sharks because the sweetener attached.
Poor man’s version , as in lesser version.
But an RD playing 20 mins a night , Pk, by all accounts great in the room , fresh off trip to finals on expiring 3.25 contract . We will find out very soon I believe what’s accurate on the ceci trade front.
They don’t HAVE to match both and won’t if they have to resort to that type of move. Kane on LTIR buys them enough time to not have to panic today with such a deal. Matching Broberg , getting the pic for Holloway , moving kane to LTIR and minor shuffling gets them compliant on opening night . Matching both , Kane on ltir, trading kulak also gets them compliant . They have several directions they can go
Ceci for Holl (1.4M retained x 2)
Oil saves 1M this year and still has a RD almost as good as Ceci
He just signed with the Oilers, I highly doubt he is going anywhere…
Loved the offer sheets, hope to see more.
Expect another strong year from John Tavares. He’s free at last. Berube will love this guy.
Me bags to differ: The PJ boy screwed the Isles, and somehow will do the same to the Leafs. He has no loyalty to anyone. Doesn’t care if he wins the Cup, it’s all about ‘I me mine’ He is a ‘Snake’, and that is his nature.
Yes, he did. The Islanders will never recover from his treachery. Shame, that.
How many more years will we hear this sad rant?
Forever it’s in his name
LOL … bazinga!
a 2nd and a 3rd for two NHL young players on the rise is not enough.
Make it work now; send any Cap/Roster decisions (including how to handle all Cap when Draisitl gets paid starting 25/26) down the road
Kane on LTIR and move Ceci gets Oilers through mid December . There just may be an injury of length for an LTIR in synch with or around time of Kane’s return.
Either way, matching the offer buys them time.
Pens only have 2 Righties on D (Letang and Karlsson).
Ceci and a 3rd to Pens for Nieto. Nieto sent down to Bakersfield.
Pens already are at $1.1 M in space. $2M losing Nieto off of roster.
This move puts them $1.5 M over and plenty of time before game 1 to get that fixed.
8787…. we have a young budding Jack St. Ivany RHD who came up and did well for himself.
Heck no to Ceci
The Penguins have got younger, improved their bottom six. (way better than last year)
Blake Lizotte 26
Anthony Beuvillier 27
Cody Glass 25
Plus Dubas picked up 4 more draft picks in these last two recent trades..
Look for Vasily Ponomarev, 22 , he will be in the line up and he did well in a brief call up last year with Carolina…until he got hurt
Ville Koivunen 20, tearing up the finish league and was a top player in the Penguins developmental prospect camp a couple weeks back…I was there as was 19 year old winger Tanner Howe a bulldog like a former Penguin Brandon TaNev..
Yaeger 19 number one pick isn’t far off nor is 20 year old d-man Owen Pickering
We can move guy like Accairi and Eller if needed especially come trade deadline they could help someone.
What worries me is Jarry and Graves… hopefully they bounce back..
There is going to e a lot of competition and motivated players this fall in training camp.
They will be a playoff team..