NHL Rumor Mill – September 18, 2024
In today’s NHL Rumor Mill, the latest on the notable remaining restricted free agents and the Blue Jackets are looking to make a trade.
UPDATES ON SWAYMAN, SEIDER AND PERFETTI
TSN: Chris Johnston reports the status quo remains in contract negotiations between Jeremy Swayman and the Boston Bruins. He wondered if they might go the short-term route if they can’t bridge the gap on a long-term contract.
Boston Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman (NHL Images).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s rumored the Swayman camp seeks around $8.5 million annually while the Bruins countered with $6.2 million. One report had the 25-year-old goalie seeking $10 million annually.
The Detroit Red Wings and Moritz Seider are working on an eight-year deal but it sounds like it could be something a little shorter, perhaps six or seven years. That’s because the Wings are reluctant to exceed captain Dylan Larkin’s team-leading $8.75 million annual cap hit.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Wings recently signed winger Lucas Raymond to an eight-year deal with an average annual value of $8.075 million. Seider’s AAV could be around $8.5 million.
Darren Dreger reports contract talks remain delicate between the Winnipeg Jets and forward Cole Perfetti. There’s a significant gap in negotiations, prompting Dreger to suggest Perfetti could miss some time in training camp.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman recently said the Jets were reluctant to offer Perfetti a deal similar to that of Shane Pinto’s with the Ottawa Senators. Pinto is on a two-year deal with a $3.75 million AAV.
The Jets have $5.77 million in cap space for this season but they probably want to keep as much of that available as possible for other roster moves, especially near the March 7 trade deadline.
BLUE JACKETS SEEK A TRADE
Chris Johnston reports the Columbus Blue Jackets are looking to add a forward through the trade market.
They recently signed free-agent winger James van Riemsdyk to a one-year contract. However, general manager Don Waddell wants to add more forward. They’ll also look at professional tryout offers and the waiver wire.
HF30, I liked your idea of trading Admin and Dvorak to CBJ but I think Beck, Roy, and others need to show what they can do in training camp first.
Monahan and a 1st for Marner. Columbus is close to home and has the cap space to resign Mitch. Mitch could be the star player that he craves to be and nobody would question his playoff performance for a couple of years. I think Monahan would be a good fit in Toronto and it would give Berube the flexibility to either move Domi or Tavares to the wing. I think Columbus would have 3 great reasons to resign Mitch, close to home, he`d be the star of the team and Columbus has the cap space to get it done.
Yogi, when did Brad Treliving suffer a brain injury? That’s the only explanation why he’d even remotely consider that proposed deal. That’s assuming Marner would waive his NMC to go to Columbus, which I doubt very much he’ll do.
Brain injury, you`ll have to ask Brad that one. Everyday that goes by making a deal for Marner fades. At this point Brad isn`t looking for a big haul if he`s trading Marner, mostly it`s to get something reasonable in return, while giving him cap space to make a future move. Monahan strengthens the centre position and gives Berube a couple of options. Being close to home seems to be what Marner wants, he seems to also want to be the top guy or one of them, along with being overpaid. Columbus is one of a few teams that fits the mold. Would Marner waive to go there, only Marner knows. We`ll see July 1st where he signs. If Treliving resigns Marner at what sounds to be Marner`s asking price, then I want to know when Brad suffered that brain injury and why he`s still running the team. The team needs a change, Brad admitted that. Is it a great trade for Toronto, hell no. Do you really want to hang onto Mitch and hope he grows a set of balls and shows up for deciding games, hell no. If you`re happy to see good regular season results and another no show in the playoffs, then keep Marner. Brads options aren`t very good right now and they aren`t going to get any better down the road
Pretty weak argument for a Monahan and a first for Marner, especially since the latter holds the hammer with his NMC and made it clear he’s not going anywhere.
What do you think Marner`s worth Lyle? It`s pretty easy to sit back and tell people they have no argument or their argument is weak. Let`s hear your opinion. Do they approach Marner to waive his NMC, something both sides have said hasn`t been done yet. Do they give Marner what he`s supposed to be asking for and make liars out of themselves. Remember both Shanahan and Treliving have said a major change is needed. Do they just let Marner walk July 1st and get nothing, which is the worse case scenario
“They” don’t have any control of the issue yogi. Pretty sure that’s what Lyle is saying. Marner controls the issue. Unless leafs are completely out of the playoffs and he wants to compete why would he waive for a different team? He can pretty much dictate who he is traded to. And I assume it would be a team he might be ok signing with. If he gets traded for even just decent assets it further weakens said teams depth and weakens their chances at a cup in the coming seasons when he signs oh them. Makes sense to go to ufa and sign then.
Spot on, Chrisms. Couldn’t have said it better myself…;)
If Marner needs to “grow a set”, perhaps he should try to grow an extra pair for Johnny PJs. Marner has 57 career playoff games and 50 points in them. Pajama boy has 62 career playoff games and 46 points. Now, Leafs fans, let us subtract the 24 playoff games and 22 playoff points that Captain Jammy Jams had as an Islander. Where’s the problem? Right! It’s Marner. I forgot.
(stats from ESPN)
Yogi would you trade away a guy that has been flirting with 100pt seasons as well as being top 3 in selke voting for a few years now?
No right? Especially if he’s just entering his prime years, you know, the best this guy is going to be is just coming up.
Man I hope you don’t think like that with anything else of value. Listen, there’s this place between reality and your expectations and that where your at now, that place is called disappointment.
Folks who want to get rid of Marner need to think about who you replace that offence with vs the generic “cap space”.
Tavares will be 35 to start next season. Should still be an effective player, but fair to say should start to decline a bit each year.
Here are the 3 possible outcomes and my predictions:
1- Tre asks him to waive his NMC, knowing Marner has stated he wants to stay in Toronto. The return is 50-60% of what he is worth as he has full control. Or he just says no. IMO least likely outcome, in fact I wouldn’t even ask in this situation. A deal is a flippin’ deal. Better off keeping him for this year and why do it if you think you know his answer. I don’t see the upside being worth the cost. Leafs are in win now mode. It makes no sense to me. I would put it at 1% chance, or less. Likely 0.
2 -He stays, plays out the year, becomes a UFA and signs with another team. Happens if Leafs have a bad season, Marner still puts up points, but the environment and fans make it untenable. Who would the Leafs replace him with that makes them better? 30% chance.
3 – Marner re-signs and stays a Leaf, either next offseason or between now and then. Guessing in the Pasta range, say $1M more as cap has risen since then. He plays well, again, Leafs win a round. Tavares stays and signs a reasonable 2-3 year deal. Cap space used to add a 2nd pair d-man, who will be overpaid. Pionk or Provorov type guy. With some left over for bottom 6 depth. 4th line checkers who can play on the PK. 70% chance.
Happier ending the following season, Leafs get to SCF, still blame Marner for not winning it all even though he leads them in playoff points.
For one chrisms you`re giving Marner far too much credit. If any part of Marner caring about the team he`d would`ve been extended already in Toronto. Two, if Marner accepts a trade to a team of his choosing and nobody really knows which one that would be, he would be able to sign an 8 year deal instead of waiting till July 1st and only getting a 7 year deal. Money does seem to be the No.1 priority here, which kinda blows your argument out the water. Marner would be giving up about 13 mill to help out a team he really doesn`t want to go to, Yep that makes sense to me. Now if he `s willing to make less money to help out a team, why doesn`t he just accept a little less and get 8 years and stay with the team he claims he wants to finish his career with. Marner`s hoping Treliving will pull a Dubas and fold. But nice dodge of answering my question Lyle
No dodge on my part, Yogi.
It’s quite simple, Yogi. Marner owns a full no-movement clause and is not interested in waiving it. He wants to remain with the Leafs this season as has been reported several times during the offseason. If he were willing to waive it, it won’t be to a rebuilding team in mourning like the Blue Jackets.
If Treliving could move Marner, he would’ve done it by now. He can’t because Marner has full control over this situation. If he doesn’t want to leave (and he doesn’t, which has been frequently reported over the course of this summer) there is nothing – NOTHING – that Treliving can do about it. He can pressure, cajole, threaten, plead, none of it will do any good.
So you see, that’s why suggesting Monahan and a first for Marner was not a worthwhile suggestion. You can make all the trade proposals about him that you want, Yogi, but he’s not going anywhere as long as he refuses to waive his NMC.
St. Louis becomes the 22nd team to bring in p.t.o,’s with Scott Harrington LD 31 y/o in Swiss league last season – last in NHL with Anaheim in 2022-23; Matthew Peca C 31 y/o past 2 seasons with Springfield AHL; and Sam Bitten C 24 y/o in Sweden & Czechia 2020 yo 2023 – past season with Springfield AHL
Edmonton, meanwhile, has added Mike Hoffman C 35 y/o past season with San Jose and who joins LD Travis Dermott in looking for a job
In the event anyone is interested, here’s the updated p.t.o situation incorporating the above:
showing cap space, main roster complement and, where applicable, RFA(s) still to re-up
Anaheim – Boris Katchouk LW 26 y/o; Mark Pysyk RD 32 y/o; & Gustav Lindstrom RD 26 y/o – $21,718,333 – 23 of 23
Boston – Tyler Johnson C 34 y/o – $8,636.667 – 22 of 23 – G Jeremy Swayman still to sign
Calgary – Tyson Barrie RD 33 y/o – $19,974,166 – 23 of 23 – LD Ilya Soluvyov still to sign
Carolina – Sam Gagner C 35 y/o, Skyler Brind’Amour C 25 y/o & RW Rocco Grimaldi 36 y/o – $79,913 – 22 of 23
Colorado – Pierre Edouard Bellemaire LW 39 y/o – $2,066,250 – 22 of 23
Detroit – Austin Watson RW – 32 y/o – $8,748,194 – 22 of 23 – still RD Moritz Seider to re-sign
Edmonton – Travis Dermott LD – 28 y/o; Mike Hoffman C 35 y/o past season with San Jose – $945,833 – 22 of 23 –
Florida – Matt Luff RW 27 y/o; John Leonard 26 y/o LW, Aiden McDonough 24 y/o LW – $766,666 – 22 of 23
Nashville – Cal O’Reilly C – 37 y/o – $1,495,801 – 21 of 23 – RW Philip Tomasino still to sign
New Jersey – Jakub Zboril LD 27 y/o; Michael Hutchinson G 34 y/o; Kevin Labanc RW 28 y/o & Andy Welinski 31 y/o RD – $4,976,103 – 21 of 23 – C Dawson Mercer still to sign
New York Islanders – Keith Kinkaid G 35 y/o & Matt Martin LW 36 y/o – $0 in cap space – 22 of 23
New York Rangers – Adam Ernie LW 29 y/o and Madison Bowie RD 29 y/o – $623,476 – 23 of 23
Ottawa – Nikolay Kulemin LW 38 y/o & Calen Addison RD 24 y/o – $1,109,285 – 22 of 23
Philadelphia – Eetu Makiniemi G 25 y/o – $829,763 OVER – 22 of 23
Pittsburgh – Nicolai Knyzhov LD 26 y/o – $874,233 – 23 of 23
St. Louis – Scott Harrington LD 31 y/o; Matthew Peca C 31 y/o; Sam Bitten C 24 y/o – $1,267,792 – 23 of 23
Tampa – Logan Brown C 26 y/o – $730,000 – 22 of 23
Toronto – Steven Lorentz C 28 y/o, Max Pacioretty LW 36 y/o, John Gillies G 30 y/o – $1,069,667 OVER – 23 of 23
Utah – Kailer Yamamato RW – 26 y/o, Robbie Russo 31 y/o RD, Dylan Wells 26 y/o G, Peter Diliberatore 24 y/o LD, Ryan McGregor 25 y/o C, Austin Poganski 28 y/o RW, Cameron Hebig 27 y/o C, Hunter Drew 26 y/o RD – $9,920,357 – 23 of 23
Vancouver – Sammy Blais – LW 28 y/o & Dylan Ferguson G 26 y/o – $190,833 – 22 of 23
Vegas – Tanner Pearson LW 32 y/o – $3,639,983 OVER – 23 of 23
Washington – Jakub Vrana LW 28 y/o – $10,270,001 OVER – 22 of 23
22 teams – 46 p.t.o.s
The most prominent UFAs still hoping for jobs or p.t.o.:
RD – Tony DeAngelo 28 y/o; John Klingberg 31 y/o; Justin Schultz 33 y/o; Kevin Shattenkirk 35 y/o
LD – Mark Giordano 41 y/o
RW – Cal Clutterbuck 36 y/o; Jakub Voracek 36 y/o
LW Oscar Lindblom 28 y/o
C – Tyler Pitlick 33 y/o
G – Kevin Lankinen 29 y/o; Malcom Subban 31 y/o
10 teams have so far chosen not to go that route: Buffalo, Columbus, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, Minnesota, Montreal, San Jose, Seattle and Winnipeg
Nashville signed a p.t.o with 27 y/o LD Lucas Johansen who has just 9 NHL gp – all with Washington – split last season between Washington and Hershey of the AHL.
They also signed RFA Philip Tomasino to a 1-year $825,000 contract leaving themselves 1 short of the max 23 and just $670,801 left in cap space.
Washington has placed T. J. Oshie and his $5,750,000 on LTIR.
Detroit just signed a p.t.o with Alex Chiasson RW 34 y/o – last played in 2022-23 with Detroit
Calgary signed RFA Ilya Solovyov to a 2-year $1.55 mil deal – $775,000 per and now have 23 of 23 and still over $19 mil in cap space!
When did Brad Treliving suffer a brain injury , Lol !
Marner has been working out with Crosby and McKinnon for a good part of the off season
Marner – being around “2” character guys of this nature can only inspire Marner to another level !!!
Ps
I really like what Treliving has done with the defense ..
Leafs were 23 rd in the PK last year , hopefully that will drastically change with the new additions and a revamped coaching staff
Being around character guys hasn`t helped Marner in the past, so, why would this be different.
@ Yogi
I understand your frustration !
I also witnessed Sam Reinhardt go to the bitter end , as per free agency and resigned for 8.7 million – why is Marner worth more than Sam Reinhardt – splendid 200 ft player ?!?!
I am a huge Sidney Crosby fan , as per character, his drive , his passion , skill level , U name it…I just feel Marner needs to mature , being around Crosby is like no other IMO
We will wait and see ???
Marner has to be his own person , and keep his dad out of the equation , whom is a bad influence , if he truly wants to a Leaf , sign for less money , as did Sid just signed to only remain a Penguin
If another team wants to sign Marner to an assanine 12 million contract at free agency , so be it , but I doubt it ?!?!?!
Marner holds all of the cards , who knows , maybe Treliving did inquire on a change of scenery for Marner and he jinxed it …
Ps – Tavares is off the books next July , but still does not give the Leafs reason to buckle and resign Marner to ludicrous $$$
Ken for the most part you`re right, Marner`s been around character guys before and it`s never made a difference. You have a lot of wishful thinking and I hope you`re right.. Marner just isn`t the go to guy in deciding games and that probably will never change no matter how much time he spends with Sid. Both Chris Johnson and Freidman have said they`ve heard rumours Tavares resigns between 4 and 5 for 4 years
$4 – $5 for 4 years seems like far too much for too long for a 35 year old, 3rd line center.
If Tavares wants more than $3.5 – $4 for 3 years then let him go and find it in free agency!
Just because Tavares owes Canada Revenue Agency $6 million in back taxes is no reason for the Leafs to overpay him.
Yogi, you’re in for a long tough year unless you can find a couple more scapegoats.
There’s a guy who writes about the Penguins who could help you in that regard.
Marner elite offence in a league of great offence. You don’t flush that away for a player in their thirties with an injury history and a fist which can always be a miss. Regardless of where you get to select.
What is JT going to be worth as a 2-3 center next contract . Half ?
I feel a Swayman offer sheet coming very shortly. 9m even for 4 years from Utah or Calgary. Both of whom have the compensation to offer something like that and both of whom would love a young goalie locked in.