NHL Rumor Mill – September 21, 2024
Are the Bruins considering trading Jeremy Swayman? What will the Kings do with Arthur Kaliyev? Is former Oilers GM Ken Holland joining Utah HC? What’s the latest on Flyers goalie Alexei Kolosov? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
SPORTSNET: During the Sept. 20 edition of “32 Thoughts: The Podcast”, Elliotte Friedman said he’d had some people ask if the Boston Bruins might consider trading Jeremy Swayman.
Negotiations between the Bruins and the Swayman camp have stalled, keeping the 25-year-old goaltender out of training camp.
Boston Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman (NHL Images).
Friedman said he hasn’t spoken with Bruins general manager Don Sweeney. He said Sweeney is trying to keep a low profile, but he isn’t always happy with some of the reporting on this situation. Nevertheless, Friedman doesn’t believe the Bruins want to trade Swayman.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Bruins see themselves as Stanley Cup contenders. They need Swayman between the pipes to achieve that goal. Trading him over this standoff would derail those plans. They also know they won’t get equal value back in return.
I doubt this situation would’ve reached this stage had Swayman not gone through arbitration last summer. He admitted it was a bruising experience having to hear what he said were things that no player should ever hear from management.
Swayman is digging in, using his leverage to his advantage, especially with Linus Ullmark traded to Ottawa in June. The Bruins’ front office might not think he’s worth between $8.5 million and $10 million annually (depending on who you listen to) at this stage in his career, but they could have little choice but to pony up and get Swayman back into the lineup as soon as possible.
THE ATHLETIC: Eric Stephens wondered what the Los Angeles Kings have in store for Arthur Kaliyev after signing him to a one-year, $825K contract earlier this week.
Stephens doubts the new contract means Kaliyev’s place with the Kings is resolved. He pointed out the 23-year-old forward rejected the club’s qualifying offer. Frustrated by fourth-line duty and healthy scratches, he reportedly requested for a trade earlier this year.
Kaliyev saw his ice time further decline despite a midseason coaching change, sending his trade value plummeting.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Stephens believes the Kings should play Kaliyev to showcase him to other teams. That’ll mean giving him more ice time than last season. They’ll also have to work with him to address the deficiencies in his game.
SI.COM: Nick Horwat cited a report by former NHL player turned podcaster Jordan Schmaltz claiming former Edmonton Oilers general manager Ken Holland could be joining Utah HC in some capacity.
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported Holland was invited to Utah’s training camp as a guest by people he knew within the organization. There’s nothing formal in terms of a position for him at this time.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: We can’t rule out the possibility of Holland joining Utah or another club at some point. He’s well-respected around the NHL.
PHILLY HOCKEY NOW: Jonathan Bailey listed some possible trade destinations for Alexei Kolosov if the Flyers should decide to trade him. The 22-year-old goaltender remains home in Belarus after refusing to report to Flyers training camp. That’s prompted some NHL clubs to come calling.
Bailey suggested the Calgary Flames, Chicago Blackhawks, Ottawa Senators, New Jersey Devils and Minnesota Wild as destinations.
SPECTOR’S NOTE Kolosov reportedly wants a guaranteed spot with an NHL club. Those other teams likely won’t give him that opportunity without him spending at least one season with their AHL affiliate.
Some NHL teams might be interested in Kolozov but I doubt they’re banging down the door of Flyers GM Daniel Briere to get him.
Swayman and Kastelic and a 5th to the Canes for Necas and Kochetkov
Canes sign Swayman to a $7.2M x 3 or 4yr deal
or if they can’t get Necas:
Swayman for Kotkaniemi and Kochetkov and the Chicago 3rd
JZ
If that is what Swayman would sign for he would be in camp already
If Swayman would sign for $7.2 he would have been signed back in July or August.
Kotkaniemi has next to no value.
Swayman coming off a little childish if he’s holding a grudge about last years arbitration. It’s bisineesss. Grow up.
And I know players want to maximize $ but he is now hurting the overall team by not being there.
Teammates will always say they support other teammates during contract disputes, but I believe some do get a bit irritated when the absence impacts the teams preparation and practice.
Growing up is, of course, a two-way street.
Why, for example, is it OK for teams to belittle one of their players during RFA negotiations in the interest of shaving as much as possible off any arbitration award, but not OK for a player to demand what he trhinks he’s worth … and for how long?
Bingo!
This is Big Leagues poker, and if I were a betting man, I’d say Swayman has the better hand, and a grudge to push the issue to the brink.
Swayman owes the Bruins nothing. He’s given them value way beyond his previous salary. It’s time for Boston to pay full market value.
No way he belittled sway like you think. Arbitration works like this. Player thinks he deserves X management believes he’s worth Y. Arbitrator asks why the play is and isn’t worth that money. Sway can’t handle having weaknesses exposed in a hearing. Too much made about it
How do you know that during the RFA business, swayman swallowed his ask and took the low ball offer? If he did that (or if you were him in this case) wouldn’t it be sweeny’s time to suck it up and pay up?
You can’t have a player take a cut then ask for them to do it again. No one here would do that no matter their jobs so how can you expect a dedicated and super specialized talent do otherwise? Fans need to remember players are regular people who can do something specialized and unique sooooooo much better than most us can even dream of doing.
So, pay up!
I can’t blame Swayman agent for trying to get all the money that he can. However, I agree with Sweeney that their ask is premature because he is not proven to be a top goalie over a long stretch . I think that he will be just that but he is getting a substantial raise in the meantime.
Re;Bruins
Swayman is going to end up signing a 1 year deal
just to get to camp after they play
Joonas Korpisalo for 5-8 games and he starts to fall apart in goal,
The Bruins need to come out and say they have made a offer to JS… in not they are starting to look bad for them, and yes im sure JS has a bad taste in his mouth by now
i dont think they trade him, if the did it would have to be for an Established goaltender like a $6.M Gibson++ from the ducks or something like that…❓
All they have is 3 back ups with very little experince
Dipietro with 3 NHL games….
Bussi Both 0 NHL games
Kaskisuo with 2 NHL games ( not signed)
This is going to drag out for months, he may come out and just say Sign me or Trade me…..❗️
It seems Jonathan Bailey might be confusing Alexei Kolosov with Vladislav Tretiak. The former’s goaltending stats at Minsk in the KHL, while decent enough, are nothing to suggest he’s a “can’t miss” in the NHL. He was, after all, a 3rd Rd pick 78th overall in 2021 with nothing to suggest since that he was a “steal” by Philadelphia.
Sure, the teams he listed might be interested in having a goalie project somewhere in their system but that is what he would be – in any one of those organizations … or Philadelphia for that matter.
Right now the Flyers would be lucky to get a 3rd round pick for him.
I wanted Yzerman to draft Kolosov with the latest of the 3 2nd round picks he had instead of spending 3 picks on Cossa. Cossa has consistency issues but is improving rather steadily, while Kolosov has ego and homesickness problems. Goalies are voodoo!
Interesting to note, too, that Kolosov wasn’t the first G to go in that 2021 draft. Minnesota took Swedish goalie Jesper Wallstedt 20th overall in Round 1 … and he’s had, I think, one game in the NHL since.
Speaking of that draft, Calgary took a D-man 89th overall who has, I think, one of THE best names ever when it comes to hope – Cameron Whynot.
Bruins and Swayman deserve the pickle they are in.
Bruins for trading away 1/2 a great goalie tandem before solidifying the net.
Swaymen for thinking he’s hot stuff before proving anything.
Bruins can comfortably wait it out as you just need to make the playoffs before things get serious.
Swayman could have his career derailed by being inactive so long.
Ken Dryden sat out a year BUT that was after winning the Conn Smythe, the Calder and 3 Stanley Cups.
To paraphrase an American politician, Jeremy Swayman, we know Ken Dryden and you’re no Ken Dryden.
Habfan
Enjoy it while it lasts. It hurts when habs are irrelevant.
Give them a few more years is the new catch phrase for Montreal fans I still remember bergevin was the best gm in League. Lol.
Shall we talk of the Bruins playoff record the last 5 years Mrubruin4?
Do you really think the addition of Lindholm is going to put them over the top this year?
Don’t lead with your chin.
MrBruin4.
I’m enjoying the Habs rebuild very much thank you 🙂
The team will be a contender shortly as the development continues.
The success or failure of the Bruins is irrelevant to me, I don’t enjoy the history of Bruin failure nor am I upset by the rare successes.
Hughes certainly is one of the best in a long time though. Plus what’s strikes me the most about the Bruins management is them thinking that they will be cup contenders
Just by looking at their offence :
Marchand is not getting younger plus had several surgeries and/or treatments in the summer
Charlie Coyle is now 32 and he is not the one that will fill the oposent’s nets
Lindholm turns 30 in December and he only has a carreer average of 55 points a season
Zacha will get what 55-60 points
Then there is Pastrnak who is an all star offensive player but a peripheral player
To be honnest even with the D corps I don’t see how the Bruins can envision going to the finals.
They had such a chance to get things right in 2015 with 3 first rounders but drafted guys like Senychyn, Zboril and Debrusk instead of Barzal, Boeser, Conner, Chabot etc
In the pas 2st years they fell 43 points in their points total
I think they are strating to look like the struggeling/patching Canadiens before Hughes and Gorton arrived. Signing Lindholm until he is 37 yo at almost 60M dollars and Zadorov at 30 is the best exemple of a team that is trying to stay afloat. Not to mention the weight of those contracts on their cap flexibility in 3-4 years
I think they also should start thinking about a rebuilt. There’s no point making the playoffs if you have no chance of winning the big bowl other than putting money in the owner’s pockets..
And when you speak about the canadien’s management, I think you should remember that Jeff Gorton gave the Bruins their last cup by drafting Marchand, signing Chara and trading Raycroft for Tukka Rask 😉
Ho and the prospects cupboard is pretty emplty besides Letourneau and Lysell
LJ
What’s your team? Hard To rebut when I don’t have clue who you cheer for ?
Ps my chin is iron
Habfan
Maybe your habs turn the corner but you have to admit it is a very long turn. I will enjoy the best rivalry in sports when the Habs right the ship someday
I would have thought it was quite obvious from my posts that I’m a Habs fan, MrBruin.
Why is this knowledge necessary for you to make a rebuttal?
LJ
Only one team can win cup and everything must fall in line to do so ex. Lucky bounces , bad calls , power play pk probably most important thing is to stay healthy. Just because a team doesn’t win the cup does it make for bad season. I look forward to seeing the Habs become relevant again but it has been a long long time. Doubt it is this year either
Ps. At least bruins make the playoffs 😉
👍👍👍👍👍
Again sorry for my english 😉
Your English is fine, better than my French and better than 8787’s usual posts.
LOL – amen to that – comment more often Mike … please!
Mieux que mon français
Thanks guys lol habsfan excellent français ! 😉
Will do Georges thanks ! 🙂
LJ I’ll don,t put me in trouble, i’ll pass on answering that LOLOLOL
You know what Georges you made me think about something else..
You have to 1A goalies, you trade one without having the other one signed than you spend 90 millions on Lindholm en Zadorov and end up trying to be cheap with your other goalie that you put down a year before in arbitration.
Please explain me how Sweeney still has a job after the 2015 draft, the 43 points drop and this ?
Can’t understand 😉
It is a bit of puzzle Mike – perhaps even to some diehard Bruins fans.
One thing is for certain, for 3 seasons Boston knew they had two pretty damned good goalies and so they essentially played it right down the middle
2021-22 – Ullmark 41gp – Swayman 41 gp
2022-23 – Ullmark 49 gp – Swayman 37 gp
2023-24 – Ullmark 40gp – Swayman 44 gp
Totals – Ullmark 130gp – Swayman 122gp
Unfortunately for Sweeney, events caught up to him earlier this summer with Ullmark who, on July 1, could have altered his no-trade list, thereby increasing the difficulty of dealing him for a quality return. And he had to deal one or the other since there was no way he could re-sign both within his cap limitations. Lyle posted this link a few days ago explaining that move
https://www.yardbarker.com/nhl/articles/insider_reveals_why_the_bruins_decided_to_trade_linus_ullmark_before_july_1st/s1_17448_40893729#:~:text=Friedman%20said%20that%20the%20reason,trade%20list%20on%20Canada%20Day
The best offer he had for Ullmark had come from Ottawa and, with the clock ticking, he simply couldn’t take the chance that, by dragging the deal past July 1, he could kill that Ottawa deal should Ullmark amend his list by placing them on it.
I didn’t really get the Zadorov signing either … I mean, he’s a decent defense-first LD but with limited offensive contributions (over 642 career gp his 82-game averages are 6g 13a 19 pts). $5 mil per for 6 years, when he’ll be 35 y/o, seems a bit much, especially when you know you have to sign your now sole # 1 goalie.
Imagine if Boston got the right deal for Swayman,and signed Ullmark to a free agent next year?
SR,
that will never happen JS and LU are bestis…
They will help each other 100%
Eny bets how long a contract JS signs for…?
if he sits for 2-3 months its a 1 year deal to get to camp,
OR
he go’s home to Anchorage, Alaska
and has some family time after spending a week in Ottawa with his other family the Ullmarks👍
then they go to arbatration bye that point he wont care any more……….
Not signing for 1 year.
One because of the Lindholm and Zadorov signings they’ll have to do gymnastics with the cap. Two that would prevent them from adding another foward to that already shallow foward lineup, therefore not making them better.
I dont see that happening
Unless, after being in Ottawa on July 1, he amended his no trade list to include Boston which, of course, would mean he’d not want to sign there as a UFA.
Make Swayman the 6th highest paid goalie in the league . That is roughly around 6.3. Term should be flexible at that number
Interesting. Made me wonder how he stacks up against the 9 highest-paid goalies in the league.
Bobrovsky – 700gp 2.59 0.915 44 SO $10.5 mil
Vasilevskiy – 477gp 2.56 0.917 34 SO $9.5 mil
Hellebuyck – 505gp 2.63 0.917 37 SO $8.5 mil
Sorokin – 192gp 2.53 0.919 16 SO $8.25 mil
Saros – 350gp 2.63 0.917 23 SO $7.74 mil
Gibson – 477gp 2.90 0.910 24 SO $6.4 mil
Markstrom – 483gp 2.73 0.909 20 SO $6 mil
Binnington – 280gp 2.79 0.908 15 SO $6 mil
Grubauer – 343 2.59 0.911 22 SO $5.9 mil
Swayman – 132gp 2.34gaa 0.919 12SO ?
Seems to me that, if anyone had a beef as to his current cap hit it’s Grubauer. # 6 appears to be where Swayman currently fits.
Swayman does have both the lowest gaa and best save % of the goalies listed.
Some may point to the fact that his 132 gp are 60 less than the next lowest in that department (Sorokin) … but it’s not as if we’re looking at stats developed over 25 gp. 132 games is fairly substantial.
And his shut-out total of 12 works out to one every 11gp (one every 12gp for Sorokin). The highest SO total of 44 belongs to Bobrovsky, but over 700gp that works out to one every 16gp, and for Hellebuyck, his works out to one every 13gp.
These are the sort of comparative stats his agent will trot out in negotiations.
You need to go a step further, how many games per season.
Binnington dropped when he had number one starts.
Grubauer numbers also dropped when he played starter minutes.
The rest have played starter minutes for years so their stats are correct.
Swayman has never been more than a platoon goalie, not in the same league as those guys yet.
Oh, I agree there. But that wasn’t Swayman’s decision. He played when the coach said so. And has done quite well in those games.
Both Binnington and Grubauer sagged when they began playing more starter minutes. Swayman hasn’t had that opportunity yet to show whether or not he can handle it … thanks to having someone of Ullmark’s calibre as part of the tandem.
If and when he does sign, once the season gets under way, unless Korpisalo suddenly improves his lack of consistency we’ll find out fairly soon
if Swayman can handle the extra load.
I should have mentioned too that Korpisalo … upon whom Boston will need to rely heavily if they can’t sign Swayman – has also demonstrated that he might not be able to carry the heavy load.
His busiest season was during the 70-game 2019-20 season in Columbus where he virtually split the season with Merzlikins. His best personal stats were in L.A. where he only played 11 games, and it was largely on that basis that Dorion got him and immediately gave him his current contract.
But, given 55 games to start with with the Senators he, too, sagged badly with consistency.
I don’t fault either side in the Swayman saga. I think Sweeney did what he had to do when he traded Ullmark. I can see Bruins fans getting mad at both sides. Sweeney for not getting him signed and Swayman for asking for a large salary (if what is reported was true) before actually proving himself.
I think a contract of 4-5 years at 7.5 would be right for both sides.
Boston needed Lindholm and Zadarov fills a HUGE hole in their biggest weakness…. clearing in front of the net. They also won’t need to do any cap gymnastics with the cap increasing each year. Both of them will be valuable signings in three years.
I like how you break down the stats George…. you’re one of my favs on here! The biggest difference as someone said…. he hasn’t filled a 1A shoes yet. He has been a 1B to Ullmark until the playoffs last year. He has always had the buffer, as did Ullmark, to have a quality guy replace him before he got into a funk.
The best part of many Bruins fans questioning Sweeney.. they all spewed hate at him for signing Ullmark three years ago! Just proof that all of us, as fans…. are just fans and there is a reason we aren’t GMs!
As for the Habs…. I like what they are doing and can not wait for them to be strong again.
I agree BosBrn32 … and have all along … that Swayman’s best bet is to settle for a shorter term like 3 or 4 years at $7.5 per. And I’m sure that something like that has been floated past him several times in these stalled negotiations.
That he hasn’t agreed suggests he’s in this for the long haul.
Unfortunately, I agree he is in it for the long haul, What he doesn’t understand is, he is not in the driver’s seat. He is an RFA and if someone gives him an offer sheet, the Bruins either match or get GREAT compensation for him.
I think the fans will turn on him eventually. Mainly because of the lack of proving his worth. Is he a great goalie? Maybe. He had Ullmark to lean on and vice versa. Is he a number one goalie? Yes! Is he worth being paid as the top goalie in the league? No!
As a Bruins fan and a hockey fan, I hope it doesn’t drag out much longer. He will only cost himself the longer it goes. I’m just excited that hockey is back!