NHL Rumor Mill – September 12, 2024
Updates on Nikolaj Ehlers and James van Riemsdyk plus some Leafs speculation in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
THE ATHLETIC: Murat Ates recently wondered if winger Nikolaj Ehlers will stay with the Winnipeg Jets.
Winnipeg Jets winger Nikolaj Ehlers (NHL Images).
Ehlers, 28, was the subject of frequent trade speculation during the offseason. Ates noted the Jets approached the idea of shopping the winger before the 2024 NHL Draft. He isn’t sure if the Rutger McGroarty trade derailed things, if the Jets came close to trading Ehlers or changed tack for other reasons.
Ates suggests Ehlers could be everything from a first-line star who signs a surprise contract extension to a trade candidate by the March trade deadline.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: A strong season by Ehlers will improve his value to the Jets and boost his stock in next summer’s free-agent market. The Jets performance this season will also factor into the winger’s future in Winnipeg.
TSN: James van Riemsdyk is expected to sign a professional tryout offer before training camp opens next week.
Chris Johnston reports the 35-year-old free agent winger is considered a “high-character veteran” and has been approached by multiple teams.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: There’s been a recent flurry of PTO signings since last week. It’s likely that van Riemsdyk signs one before the end of this week.
TORONTO SUN: Terry Koshan speculated Leafs defenseman Conor Timmins could be waived if Jani Hakanpaa was signed.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hakanpaa inked a one-year deal on Tuesday.
Let’s see if Hakanpaa can skate first.
I bet he is on LTIR before Canadian Thanksgiving . Kind of like Klingberg last year.
Good point. But to have given him a $1.4 mil deal with all the recent speculation about the state of his health, the Leafs doctors must think he’s ready to go.
In the other thread I mention they are now $1,069,667 over the cap with a full 23-man roster – 13F 8D 2G. It’s unlikely they choose to go with 8D so Timmins and his $1.1 mil deal being waived would cover the over – just – leaving them with a 22-man roster and about $30 grand in cap space.
Even Reaves and his $1,350,000 deal being waived would only give them $280,333 in cap reserve – not enough to even cover an ELC call-up.
If it’s Timmins, he’ll be snatched up. If Reaves, likely not.
And hovering in the background are p.t.o.’s Lorentz and Pacioretty! What if one – or both – are retained?
George, I think the goal of every team trying to compete is to be as close to cap ceiling as possible to start the season, at that is your ceiling for remainder of the season. At least that is how I remember it.
I think your right about Reaves, or at least somebody they think won’t get claimed.
II would think you can sign the PTO guys after the season starts? If you have an injury, send a guy down, trade or whatever.
Ray that strategy is to maximize the LTIR relief; however, during the year, most teams’ goal is to accrue cap space and that can only be done if your under the cap and not on LTIR; the more cap space you have, the more you can accrue the more you can add at the deadline.
It is interestIng with Hakanpaa and Pacioretty, not to forget Klingberg and other low risk with questionable ability to play due to injury and/or older players have signed on and in some cases continued their careers elsewhere. I really love to know what is the deal with the Leafs’ team doctors (their health science dept.) know and do to of been able to help some of these best past date players. You know, it is Toronto, so there’s also the chance it’s all smoke.
Yes Ron, I know, we agree.
LTIR is the main reason you want to be up against it to start the year.
Or, as SilverSeven suggests, he and his $1.4 mil go on LTIR soon into the season, giving them a bit of cap room.
Ray it isn`t how close you are at the start of the year. It`s how close you can get just before you place a player on LTIR I believe. That`s how Bob Pridham made a name for himself, the ability to manipulate the cap space so good
Can someone please explain what I’m missing about Conor Timmons. He’s 6’2 206 pounds had 10 points and was a plus 9 in 25 games last year. He has offense, throws his body around and based on plus minus is not a defensive liability. He’s also a right shot defensmen.
yeah thinking same but the 2023 series the Leafs could not breakout the puck against the Panthers they sat Erik Gustafsson over others…. Gus strength is being mobile
Timmins while decent defensively is prone to major gaffes. While everybody makes bad passes, Timmons seems to have the knack to do it at the wrong time and wrong place. He`s got the tools for sure, it`s just a bad case of brain farts that ruins it for him. But he was in the same boat as Robertson as far as Keefe was concerned, make a mistake and ride the pine. I`m hoping Berube gives Timmons and Robertson a longer look before they decide to ship them out
Waive him and we’ll take him in a hear-beat. We only have 2 RDs now. One person on here thinks we can chance the youngster St Ivany (with only a few NHL games under his belt) but Timmons at just $235 K more than St. Ivany…. That’s a no brainer (even for Dubas)
They`ll waive Reeves first I think before Timmons
Waiving Reeves only nets $200 K savings; that’s it.
Not enough
Waive Reeves and send down Knies (waiver exempt) gets them under; at 21 on roster; losing nobody
This also sets up for an equitable trade of Robertson…. only $875; only 1 year after which still an RFA…. What would the return be?
Also perhaps Hakanpaa on LTIR to start season maybe??
Waive Reeves, Hakanpaa starting on LTIR; Bring up Minton and Cowan for opening night 23 man roster has cap hit at $ 89.42 M (of course less Hakanpaa ) maximizing potential LTIR usage (can go over by $1.42 M (which is 97% of Hakinpaa’s $1.47 M)
With yesterday’s flurry of p.t.o. signings there are now 19 teams taking camp looks at 24 players, with probably several more still to come over the next few days, including two 35 y/olds -RW James Van Riemsdyk andC Sam Gagner – both rumored to be close to signing on.
The 19 teams and 24 players are:
Anaheim – Boris Katchouk LW 26 y/o; Mark Pysyk RD 32 y/o Gustav Lindstrom RD turns 26 in Oct
Boston – Tyler Johnson C 34 y/o
Calgary – Tyson Barrie RD 33 y/o
Colorado – Pierre Edouard Bellemaire LW 39 y/o
Detroit – Austin Watson RW – turns 33 in Jan
Edmonton – Travis Dermott LD – turns 28 in Dec
Florida – Matt Luff RW 27 y/o
Nashville – Cal O’Reilly C – 37 y/o
New Jersey – Jakub Zboril LD
New York Rangers – Adam Ernie LW 29 y/o and Madison Bowie RD 29 y/o
Ottawa – Nikolay Kulemin LW 38 y/o and Calen Addison RD 24 y/o
Philadelphia – Eetu Makiniemi G 25 y/o
Pittsburgh – Nicolai Knyzhov LD 26 y/o
Tampa – Logan Brown C 26 y/o
Toronto – Steven Lorentz C 28 y/o & Mac Pacioretty LW turns 36 in Nov
Utah – Kailer Yamamato RW – turns 26 on Sept. 29
Vancouver – Sammy Blais – LW 28 y/o
Vegas – Tanner Pearson LW 32 y/o
Washington – Jakub Vrana LW turns 29 in Feb
The Lindstrom p.t.o. with Anaheim is a bit strange. He was on their roster at the end of last season after coming over from Montreal. Anaheim has a ton of cap space – what do they expect to see from him that they didn’t in the games he played?
Any guesses as to what % actually get contracts?
One I forgot above is 34 y/o goalie Michael Hutchinson who is on a p.t.o with New Jersey.
Interesting 2022 web post pointing out that the prospect of a p.t.o earning a contract “has changed drastically over the last four seasons where although we say the total number of PTOs signed hover around the 30 number mark, the most successful season came during the COVID-19 season where out of just 24 signed, 17 players earned NHL contracts.”
This site also goes into some detail on their chances:
https://thehockeynews.com/news/nhls-fringe-players-getting-pro-tryout-offers-to-show-they-still-belong-in-hockeys-best-league
Just confirmed that 35 y/o C Sam Gagner has signed a p.t.o. with Carolina.
It’s odd to hear all these reports about Nikolaj Ehlers being traded.
He’s a steady scorer, playmaker , has speed and is only 28, not to mention a real class act.
He will always stick out in my mind as the player who crouched over and protected Jake Evans from the melee after that dirty Mark Scheifele hit at the end of the game.
still find it bizarre that there was a penalty (and then a suspension with all the benefit of replays to review) on the play, but totally right that Ehlers was class when he covered Evans in the melee.
Ehlers is effective when playing fast and more selfish. He is an average playmaker and his overall game really suffered when he tried to be a setup man for Laine and others. He is also guilty of taking a lot of low percentage shots that result in turnovers.
He usually plays a responsible defensive game, I would like to see Ehlers play lower down the lineup with Lowry. He would still get lots of ice time and would be a threat to score. He doesn’t use his teammates well anyway so no loss of production there. He can still play 2nd pp and would get 55-60 points overall.
I wouldn’t be heartbroken if there is a good hockey trade to be made with him going out for a 4-6mil dman.
Having watched the hit again from an angle I hadn’t seen before, Scheifele was closer to Evans than I originally thought.
I now agree, that was not suspension worthy.
Typical internet nonsense, my post wasn’t about relitigating the hit, it was all about a dangerous melee breaking out and Ehlers being a class act in covering and protecting Evans.
lol … the lesson being here Habfan30 … don’t turn over rocks. Maybe if you hadn’t included the word “dirty” the tangent would have been avoided.
I believe Ehlers will be re-signed prior to the start of the season. With teams like Winnipeg, and you have a star like Ehlers, you either have to trade him prior to the season or re-sign him. The reason I say that is if they are in a playoff position at the trade deadline, how can you justify trading him at the deadline? And if you don’t trade him, you will most likely lose him for nothing.
I think it will be like last years signing of Scheiffle and Hellebuyck, only this time it will be Perfetti and Ehlers.
Two days after the Gaudreaus were buried and the first suggestion about covering some of Johnny’s cap hit. Not bad.
Paul I don’t think for a moment anyone is forgetting the tragic and totally unnecessary deaths of the brothers. It’ll take a long time to put that out of our everyday thinking as we discuss various aspects of the game we love.
But, to use the hoary old quote “the show must go on.” And a new season is fast approaching. At some point there has to be observations as to what possible moves are there for the Blue Jackets to try and fill that horrible loss.
Is any time a “good” time?
Well said, George.
Ehlers nickname is Elf. Need you say more when it comes to playoffs
I will give A+ on speed
George, wouldn’t it be in their best interest to wait and see if they can work a trade where they get a veteran and a sweetener/draft pick rather than a guy nobody is in a hurry to sign? Seems like for a little bit, time is on their side.
There is certainly that aspect as well Ed. and with 5 teams currently over the cap – some with no LTIR possibility – and 7 with less cap space than an ELC-level deal – you have to think there will be deals designed to give them cap wiggle-room if nothing else, and Columbus is in a perfect position to take advantage with the addition of quality “sweeteners.”
The Leafs need to give their young players a fair chance to develop. Lately they only give low-risk minutes/situations that don’t allow them to flourish.
The Leafs WILL make the playoffs. They should take advantage of this and give younger guys like Robertson, Timmins and liljegren a chance to build confidence and learn in high pressure situations.
If they did this 3 years ago, as they did with the “core players” when they were young, the team would be better off today.
To me, restricting the young guys is a form of “playing scared”, and that’s not how you win, or develop.
Btw, I think Jani Hockeypuck is a great nickname!
Is that what they’re calling Hakanpaa? Perfect one. Either that or Hackey Sack.
No, just what I came up, as a reminder, when trying to learn how to pronounce his name properly. I think it’s a fitting nickname, though.
So do we know if CLB has to add to be compliant to the cap floor? If somebody has something please share, I have not seen it.
They were cap compliant before the accident, why should they have to add because of it?
They are rebuilding team, if they can use their space to pick up an asset – pick or prospect – they should and likely will do it. If the deal doesn’t make sense don’t do it.
Just my opinion. Why should they be penalized?
I always figured JVR to be a perfect fit for Carolina.
Hi Ray
No ruling/decision yet
They should do something ; but there must be a formal decision before the season starts as this is not covered under the CBA
Loads of good ideas circulating
No matter what, when they get to 23 on roster (now at 22) they’ll be less than $2 M under
Not sure if currentCBA says they must be at Cap floor game 1 only or for entire season?
Tongue ‘n Cheek; but If they could convinceJohnston to retire (Cap stays on ) and bring up McKown and Brindley for game 1; I think that gets them to floor
Columbus may also choose to reap the benefits of picks and/or prospects for taking on 1 year contracts that were front end loaded and/or that have SBs already paid this year)
Just as a “for instance” ; Hayes remaining Cap hit is basically $3.6 M per year; but he’s only still owed (by Pens) $4.6 M for the balance of 2 years (so about an average of only $2.3 M)
We could give Hayes and a 2nd in ‘26 for future considerations
Jackets reach Cap floor cheaply and gain a 2nd in ‘26. Could gain more at TDL (perhaps even more with further retention) by trading Hayes
Penguins Net: basically turned a 5th in ‘26 into a 3rd in ‘25 just for doing 3 sets of paperwork and zero cash; AND immediately got better (than today) , younger, faster, and freed up $3.6 M in Cap space (for viable moves) this year and next.