NHL Rumor Mill – September 23, 2024

by | Sep 23, 2024 | Rumors | 20 comments

Check out the latest on the Flames and Oilers in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

THE ATHLETIC: Amid rumors of unrest among some Calgary Flames veterans not wanting to be stuck in a rebuild, Eric Duhatschek was asked by a reader what the trade market would be for Jonathan Huberdeau, Blake Coleman, MacKenzie Weegar, Mikael Backlund, and Nazem Kadri.

Duhatschek doesn’t see Huberdeau moving without the Flames retaining at least 30 percent of his $10.5 million annual cap hit. The 31-year-old winger must also re-establish himself as a point-per-game player.

Calgary Flames forward Nazem Kadri (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Duhatshek believes we should “never say never” but the Flames will find Huberdeau difficult to move with that hefty cap hit running through 2030-21. He also has a full no-movement clause throughout the deal.

Coleman, 32, could have the most value. He has a championship pedigree and a $4.9 million average annual value through 2026-27. Teams could come calling about the two-way forward near the trade deadline.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Agreed. Coleman has a 10-team no-trade list but that gives the Flames considerable leeway if the right offer is made.

The 35-year-old Backlund took a pay cut to stay in Calgary. He could draw attention near the trade deadline but finishing his career with the team he started with is important to him. “I don’t see him moving,” replied Duhatschek.

Weegar carries a $6.25 million AAV through 2030-31 and is an important piece of the Flames’ transition. Duhatschek believes it would take “something special” to pry him away. He thought the Ottawa Senators would’ve been a good destination for Weegar but the Flames asking price would be Shane Pinto and that’s a non-starter for the Senators.

Kadri, 33, has a $7 million cap hit through 2028-29. Duhatschek thinks he’d be a good addition to a club with a three-year Stanley Cup window. However, Kadri recently told reporters to “pump the brakes” on trade speculation.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Flames’ performance this season could determine Kadri’s willingness to stick around. His cap hit isn’t as expensive as Huberdeau’s but the Flames might still have to retain some of it to facilitate a deal because of his age.

Duhatshek considers forwards Andrei Kuzmenko ($5.5 million AAV) and Anthony Mantha ($3.5 million) most likely to move if they have decent seasons. Both are slated to become unrestricted free agents in July.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Jim Parsons noted the Edmonton Oilers could garner some salary-cap flexibility to add to their roster by placing sidelined winger Evander Kane ($5.125 million AAV) on long-term injury reserve.

If they do, Parsons doesn’t see them using it to sign PTO winger Mike Hoffman. Instead, he believes they could use it to bolster their defense corps, depending on whether offseason acquisition Ty Emberson can play top-four minutes.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: If the Oilers go that route they’ll have to be prepared to shed salary to make room for Kane if he returns to action in January or February.







20 Comments

  1. The only reason why Duhatschek thinks Ottawa would be a good bet for Weegar is because this is where he was born and raised.

    Ottawa did try and deal for him back when he was with the Panthers, but got dwarfed by that huge deal involving Matt Tkachuk and other big names.

    Calgary, at this stage of their restructuring (there – I didn’t say “rebuild”) would be nuts to part ways with Weegar. Not with him locked up to 2031 in what is a great cap hit of $6,250,000 per which is going to be a huge bargain in short order.

    They’re also sitting on almost $20 mil in cap space and, after this season, will add another $14,100,000 through expiring contracts that become UFAs, most of whom likely won’t be back.

    Expect them to be a BIG player next in next summer’s UFA spree.

    • Hey George! Yeah Weegar wont be going anywhere & is probably the next Captain once Backlund hangs them up. Trade talk of Flames eating salary to trade Huberdeau is laughable. He’s a vet, expectations of him & his contract have gone away with the fan base & we need his 10.5 mill to get to the floor. Kadri is more up to him. The one to keep an eye on is Andersen. That Bryz kid we got from Vanc is looking like he will be a stud, Poirier last night looked awesome & even Grush we got from Dallas was solid. Parekh will probably get another year in the OHL but next year, he’s with the big team. Conroy has really loaded up with some impressive young D & several are RHS. Andersen could very well be up for sale sooner than later, but our achilles heel is at Centre & thats what will need to come back, an up & coming young Centre. We’ll see who flinches first.

  2. Trade thought … Bruins give Joonas Korpisalo & Mark Kastelic for Ullmark

    • And why would Ottawa return Ullmark for Korpisalo, whom they traded to get Ullmark?

      • I think Joe was being facetious.

      • Yes George he is

  3. Lol … yeah …

    Much more likely is that Boston goes – at least in the early stages of the season leading up to the December cut-off date for the signing of RFAs – with Korpisalo and one of either Bussi or DiPietro.

    In that 3-2 loss to the NYR last night, Bussi played 30.14, faced 12 shots and gave up 2 goals, one on a NYR pp, while DiPietro played 27.09, giving up 1 goal on 10 shots.

    I think, barring a last-minute blink by either side, that Sweeney will go with the above-mentioned tandem, and could use his almost $9 mil in cap reserve to acquire either another tried-and-true back-up goalie … or a D … in a deal, and if they accomplish that, then another trade to move Swayman.

    One thing is certain, the longer Swayman sits out the harder it will be for him to “get up to speed” so to speak with the rest of the team, never mind the opposition.

    Same thing applies to Perfetti in Winnipeg who is likely looking at something similar to Dawson Mercer’s $4 mil per deal. Why that hasn’t been finalized yet is anybody’s guess because Cheveldayov has $5,776,309 in cap space with 22 of 23. That would still leave him with a $1,776,309 cushion.

    Is Perfetti seeking more than that, or is the issue term?

  4. Bruins should be able to weather a Swayman hold out mostly because of the system they play. Team D very strong It will also give them a chance to see what Korpi they are getting. The Sens version or La version. I bet something in between. Will also be good to see if Bussi can translate from AHL to NHL

    • I agree. Normally the goalie is the most important position on any team but on this years Bruins team I don’t think that is. Necessarily so. With this defense they currently have, just an average goalie would survive considering the style of play the Bruins employ.

  5. Another RFA still unsigned is 6′ 177 lb C Nikita Alexandrov of St. Louis, taken in Round 2 62nd overall in 2019.

    Puckpedia currently projects him to be part of the 23-man roster, coming off an expired ELC of $816,667. His QO was $874,125.

    The Blues have $1,267,792 in cap space so it’s hard to see what the hold up is here. It’s not as if he’s been lighting it up anywhere. He’s played 51 NHL games with 3g 6a 9 pts and a minus 4.

    In the AHL he’s played 122 games with 37g 43a 80 pts and a +27 – not bad, but nothing in either location that suggests he should be seeking anything more than the QO.

  6. George .. problem with Bussi who’s going to be a real good goaltender is that if he makes the team I think he has to clear waivers to go back to the minors .. Although I could be wrong

    • I believe you’re right Joe – if you click here you’ll see which of their NHL and AHL rosters are waiver exempt (the little downward-pointing arrow). Neither he nor DiPietro have it.

      https://puckpedia.com/team/boston-bruins

  7. Same as in any sport if you lose time in training camp it’s never a good think .. players usually don’t preform well during season

    • That and being required to play seasonal games at the start somewhere overseas. Always seems to translate into a crappy season.

  8. Huberdeau is not moving . Flames ownership will not take that retention % for years even if only 30% . Tight wads
    Likely would have to be 50% and another team involved.

    There was a plan for E. Kane all along. February is 16 weeks. The Oil will accrue cap and add a D rental at the TD and get Kane back for the playoffs

    • So you’re saying Kane will stay on LTIR after he has recovered.

    • Re- Oilers & Kane,

      its been said Kaine will be out till late Jan, or early Feb, here in Edmonton with the cash saved on EK.

      The Oil would like to get a RD-man Trade with term on his contract flames RD Rasmus Andersson has been talked about a lot in edmonton media as a good 2nd pairing RD
      Blues RD man Colton Parayko gets mentioned quite a bit also…..

  9. Don’t see how this could ever be done in a way that make sense for both teams, but I’d love to see Kadri on a Berube-coached Leafs team at half salary.

  10. Huberdeau has career earnings of $55M and still owed $73.5M on his contract.

    Not that it will happen but could the player and team agree to void the contract and Huberdeau would then become a UFA.

    I would think teams would be happy to take on Huberdeau at a decent cap hit for 3 years $5M per year.

    Me personally I would like to be known for betting on my self and not be known for having the worse contract in the league over the next 6 or 7 years and playing on a rebuilding team.

    First team I think of is Buffalo. up and coming team who needs leadership and I would think Huberdeau would fit in perfectly.

    We praise for Crosby for leaving money on the table. Would Huberdeau not be respected for doing the same?

    Besides $$. I can’t imagine the mental health of trying to live up to that contract. 7 years is a long time.

    • Not sure I have this right.
      Do I understand correctly?
      Huberdeau is owed 6 years x $10.5 = $63 million over the balance of his contract.
      You are suggesting that he bet on himself, void that $63 million deal and take a 3 year – $5 million = $15 million dollar deal as a free agent.
      And you call that “betting on himself?”
      The math says he is short $48 million dollars.
      Not you nor anyone else in their right mind would do something like that!