NHL Rumor Mill – September 5, 2024

by | Sep 5, 2024 | Rumors | 37 comments

In today’s NHL Rumor, what a Sidney Crosby trade might look like, whether Penguins center Lars Eller could be a trade candidate, the latest Jeremy Swayman speculation, and an update on the Canucks’ goaltending.

TSN: Travis Yost admits it’s unlikely the Pittsburgh Penguins trade Sidney Crosby. The 37-year-old Penguins captain has a year remaining on his contract and is slated to become an unrestricted free agent next July.

Nevertheless, Yost thinks the hockey community underestimates the possibility of Crosby being moved by the March trade deadline.

Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby (NHL Images).

Yost raised a scenario where Crosby accepts a trade to a contender at the deadline if the Penguins are out of contention by then, ensuring the type of return that accelerates their rebuild. He could return to the Penguins when free agency begins on July 1.

The Penguins also have the cap flexibility to retain part of Crosby’s $8.7 million cap hit in the deal.

Yost suggested the Dallas Stars, Winnipeg Jets, and Colorado Avalanche possess the flexibility and pedigree to compete for the Stanley Cup with Crosby in their lineup. He doesn’t rule out the Vegas Golden Knights given their mastery of salary-cap gymnastics and their “win-now” mentality.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: I doubt Crosby will be playing with another NHL team by this season’s trade deadline. Still, Yost raises an interesting scenario of what could become one of the biggest trades in NHL history. It would certainly provide additional excitement leading up to deadline day.

PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE: Matt Vensel wonders if the additional forward depth brought in by Penguins management this summer could lead to Lars Eller getting traded before the start of the season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Eller put up solid numbers last season as the Penguins’ third-line center. He’ll return in that role unless another player successfully challenges him for that job.

THE BOSTON GLOBE: Kevin Paul Dupont recently reported the possibility of the Bruins and Jeremy Swayman agreeing to a short-term contract to end their current negotiation stalemate.

Dupont wrote the Bruins were looking at offering Swayman a bridge deal of 3-4 years at between $22 million and $24 million. Once the deal ends, he would become eligible for UFA status at age 29.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: A three-year, $22 million deal would be worth an average annual value of $7.33 million while a four-year, $24 million contract would be worth $6 million annually.

The Bruins will have to raise those numbers to get Swayman to sign. His camp reportedly seeks around $8.5 million annually on a long-term deal.

THE PROVINCE: Patrick Johnston reports Vancouver Canucks president of hockey operations Jim Rutherford is waiting until training camp opens to get a clearer picture of the health of goaltenders Thatcher Demko and Arturs Silovs.

Demko recently resumed skating after surgery earlier in the offseason believed to be related to the knee injury that knocked him out of the 2024 playoffs. Meanwhile, Silovs was held out of competing for Latvia in their Olympic qualifier due to knee ligament inflammation.

Johnston indicated the Canucks have put out feelers to free agents Kevin Lankinen and Antti Raanta regarding professional tryout offers. However, Lankinen would prefer a full-on contract offer.

Rutherford admitted he’s hoping the Canucks can avoid starting the season with players on long-term injury reserve. The longer they remain under the salary cap when the season begins, the more cap space they accrue to put toward adding players by the March trade deadline.







37 Comments

  1. Another day, another clickbait piece from Yost.

  2. cant imagine Sid going to Vegas but I could imagine Ovie breaking the record as a Golden Knight
    Sid agreeing to go to the Avs for a run seems the one route but i still dont think he does it

    • Im just waiting for a reporter to write that he is a Leafs target…….

  3. Trade rumor, Crosby for PLD, Penguins get a much younger player, Caps get a centre for Ovechkin.

    Fans get to see the last hurrah of aging faces of the NHL.

    • Zero chance Crosby plays for Caps

      • Saw on Pgh Hockey now there SUPPOSEDLY have been three offers for Sid.

        3 years $ 33 million

        1 year $ 12 million

        4 years $ 48 million

        mmmmhh anyone hear on this?

        I would go 3 years $ 33 million if he is staying

        1 year $ 12 million if he wants another cup to go elsewhere

  4. Reports yesterday was Boston offer Swayman 4yrs @$6.2 and Sweeney hasn’t returned Swayman calls in 3 weeks.

    One thing for sure this isn’t being leaked by the team.

    4yrs at $7.2

    if you split the difference between 10 and 6.2 that would be $8.1 imo that’s to high.

    • Just trade him for Elvis (1M retained) and Kent Johnson and a 3rd
      CBJ signs Swayman to an 8M x 8 and reaches the cap floor
      AND EVEYBODY IS HAPPY! 😉

      • Johnny, you do put some whacky trade ideas out there, but this one actually made me ponder it.

        The ex CLB tender combo of Elvis and Korpisalo isn’t top shelf by any means and both were mediocre at best last year. Both have had some hot stretches in the past. Both played on crappy teams. Bruins defend better than both.

        Johnston was a high end prospect, started good, struggled, got hurt, only 21. Also a C, but not sure he played there in CLB. The B’s don’t have a prospect of his caliber and haven’t for a while. Scrawny bugger though, needs to put some meat on.

        Can’t see rolling the dice with 2 question marks in net when trying to win, but the idea of Johnston is appealing, and is at the age when players start to fillout, and catch up to the NHL.

        Not gonna happen, too risky for Sweeney, but interesting idea.

      • I just think that CBJ could push for a young RFA yet to be signed, overpay him slightly (they have the space and need to get to the floor) rather than pick up a cap dump on a vet over 32 yo, that comes with a “sweetener” that is well into the future.

      • So why were you making this proposal:

        “Maybe Kadri comes to CBJ
        Kent Johnson for Kadri (retain 1.5M)”

      • Well Lyle, it is not my job to be right on everything. I am only throwing stuff out there for thoughtful discussion. Besides, I got my 1 trade proposal right for the summer. The Askerov trade. 😁

      • I’m not saying you have to be right on everything. I was merely curious as to why you felt Kadri should go to the CBJ for Johnson only to turn around and say they should pursue a young RFA rather than an aging veteran in his early-30s.

      • I was looking at Kadri because of cap hit, playing ability, and his desire to go East. His desire to win a cup in his last few years of NHL play would ultimately exclude the Jackets, unless he felt he would be a better TDL trade if Calgary reduced his salary, and the Jackets would add to that reduction in salary at the TDL.

      • So you’ve changed your mind about that and now believe the CBJ is better off pursuing a younger player rather than someone like Kadri.

    • Highly unlikely but…. NYR are counting on Chytil health and other young players to take next step. Rangers will accumulate cap space up till deadline. If Chytil concussion issues persist, they could ltir him and pursue 87 if he’s available. Crosby has full control over where he goes, much like Kane did a couple seasons ago. Sid on Broadway raising cup could be quite a story.

  5. Sidney Crosby and Jeremy Swayman aren’t going anywhere…

    • Re; Boston

      its looking like Swayman will not get a long term deal done befor camp, both sides have not talked in over 2 weeks….🤔
      its looking more like a 1 year deal or he will just sit
      there….. next year he will go back to arbatration and take a 1 year deal then become a UFA at 27…
      To much bad blood there now❓

      • Honestly I think a 1 year deal is the best option. I’d be a little worried giving any goaltender a 7-8 year big cap deal when they haven’t shouldered a full workload.

        How will he respond to playing 55-60 games?

      • Sounds perfectly reasonable to me Captain.
        They have the time, take it with a 1 year deal.

        At very least it brings him back to the table to consider less $$ on a longer term one. If you’re all that Jeremy, prove it as the clear #1 guy next year, or take what’s behind door #2 – long term security but at a reasonable AAV. I would propose 4-5 years, Swayman’s camp likely doesn’t want that, but we are getting to decision time where he runs the risk of not getting paid for a stretch.

        It’s not like they are negotiating with Shesterkin who has played over 50 games for 3 straight seasons and never had a bad season. And will be a UFA after this season. He is getting paid, and I would suggest the Rangers will pay him.

  6. There was a lot of chatter earlier this year when Crosby didn’t sign on 8/7. With all the talk (& panic) leading up to that day, I honestly didn’t realize he was still under contract for this upcoming season.
    Knowing that, I would definitely not sign a deal this year. Crosby needs to see what the team is this year and what their near term future really looks like.
    While I get that he wants to retire a Penguin, does he really want to battle these next 3-4 years to miss the playoffs every year? He should definitely play out the season and then make a decision best for his playoff chances.

    • Re “does he really want to battle these next 3-4 years to miss the playoffs every year? ”

      Absolutely not

      Crosby staying (if he does) will be all out of his loyalty to our city; our team; our fan base

      I’m confident that his delay in signing; is his way of saying to Dubas….”pick up the damn phone and get me a roster that at least has a remote chance at playoffs this year”

      There is still time to improve the D

      He could still (tough but could) trade to improve the top 6

      These future picks that Dubas got does nothing for Crosby as their NHL impact (if they do make the NHL) won’t be until after Crosby retires

      • 8787
        Are you actually a Penguins fan? Dubas has done a good job getting younger, faster and deeper.

        Eller is going to be moved that is coming, Nieto is going on LTR, and Accairi maybe going as well.

        The Penguins missed the playoffs by 4points total the last two years. 1 point 2 years ago and three last year you act like they are cellar dwellers.

        They have added 5 20 somethings to their line up. Glass, Beauvillier, McGroarty, Lizotte, Ponomarev already in their lineup Bunting 28 and Oconnor 26…

        This team will be faster, better and more fun to watch..if they figure out the power play they will be in the playoffs.

        Out Carter, Nieto Eller (Trade soon) Smith, Bemstrom Puljujarvi.

        In Mc Groarty, Glass, Lizotte, Beauvillier, Ponomarev with any luck Koivunen

        Third line
        Hayes O’Connor Ponomarev
        fourth line
        Lizotte McGroarty Glass

        This is a much better bottom six than last year.

  7. 3-4 years? Buffalo has missed for 13 years, Detroit 8, Ottawa 7, Anaheim 6, San Jose 5 and Arizona/Utah, Chicago, Columbus and Philadelphia 4 each … and counting (Utah could break their drought).

    Montreal sits at 3, while Calgary and St. Louis joins Pittsburgh at 2 each, with none showing any indications that they are ready to join the playoff crowd (although that Laine signing could work for the Habs).

    A variety of reasons for the droughts – poor drafting, ill-advised trades, free agent signings, key severe injuries … I doubt Pittsburgh has some magic wand that has avoided the above 12 franchises, nor is there any reason to believe that their prospect pool – currently ranked 23 out of 32 – has superior prospects that have somehow escaped the notice and assessment of The Hockey Writers who are much closer to the scene than any of us ever hope to be.

    I sincerely doubt Syd sees the playoffs again should he play out his career in Pittsburgh.

    • Even if he does see the playoffs, a cup run is very doubtful without a major overhaul to that roster.

      That being said, I don’t think they have the assets for a quick retool to make those changes.

    • Totally disagree with you George read my above Post.

      Penguins will be in the playoffs this year….bank on it.

      They missed the playoffs by 4 points the last two year 1 point 2 years ago and three points last year and everyone acts like they are cellar dwellers.

      If they missed the playoffs by 10 to 15 points ok but that didn’t happen…

      They have added better, younger, faster, and better players to the bottom six which was their issue last year.

      Lizotte 26
      Mc Groarty 20
      Glass 25
      Brauvillier 27
      Ponomarev 22

      And if they have just an average power play they will b good.

      Stanley Cup no
      Playoffs yes

      • Well, blackngold, if we agreed with each other all the time this site wouldn’t last a week.

        We’ll know by mid-December who’s right on this one. I just don’t see the “sure things” you seem to in Lizotte – a 5’9″ 175 C who has all of 37 goals in 370 NHL gp, Glass whose best year was 35 pts in 66gp and little else in other seasons, Beauviller, whose best seasons came with the NYI – 3 years ago, and Ponomarev, who has played 2 NHL games with Carolina and has been a fixture in the AHL.

        All the right age, for sure, but that alone means squat. You have to show consistent production and none have done so. Surely you are not suggesting that, just because they are Penguins that that alone will turn things around.

        One or two might do reasonably well, but none in that group are going to contribute in a way that pushes the team into a playoff spot. And at whose expense?

  8. At the end of this past season, odds of Crosby not playing out his entire career here was as close as you can get to zero

    Still not re-upped as of today; plus a surrounding cast that won’t get them to the playoffs; odds have now climbed.

    I’m hoping he plays out his career here; but I certainly wouldn’t blame him if he didn’t.

    If Dubas had secured a Guentzel replacement (e.g. Laine) then Crosby’s odds of playing out career here; again becomes nigh certainty

    But with only 5 top 6 players; a weaker D than last year; and still uncertainty in the bottom 6; and now with almost assuredly a 3rd missed playoffs; and then for sure at least another 3 beyond this… would anybody be right in blaming Crosby for moving on? I don’t think so

    If he does wave his full trade protection; you’d figure it would be to play with MacKinnon and have s great shot at another cup

    Proposal at Trade deadline:

    Note at Trade deadline Crosby only still owed about $725,000-$750,000

    1) Penguins pay another team a 3rd to retain 25% (about $185,000)

    2) Penguins retain 50% on Crosby; so Avs get him at just a Cap hit of $0.54 M (25% and season only has 25% left)

    3) Avs must take Accairi (but they’ll bury him)

    Pens get 1st (‘26); Ritchie; 2nd ‘27

    That boosts Avs to top 3 favs for Cup

    Dubas commits to Crosby that he’ll use the 25/26 space and WILL acquire a Guentzel replacement and WILL improve D

    Crosby signs (s contract to take him to retirement) as a UFA with Pens on July 1st , 2025

    Crosby ends career with Penguins

    The 25/26 team actually has s chance at playoffs

    • I’m not so sure I would assume he knows for sure he will keep playing after this season.

      He will be 38 when next season starts, seems like a time when high end players start to decide from year to year. The vast majority of players have already packed it in. Yes I know how good he still is.

      Maybe he plays again in PIT, maybe elsewhere, maybe he retires. I dunno, Sydney might not either.

  9. If the Habs are sniffing around a wild card spot at the trade deadline, could they possibly make an offer for Crosby if the Pens are behind them??

    They have seven picks in the first three rounds. They numerous prospects & several young players they could offer.

    Say a 1st, a 2nd, 3rd, Newhook, Mailloux, & one of Kapanen, Tuch, Engstrom or Mesar. Overpay, absolutely, but could possibly be worth it over the next couple of seasons. Sid mentoring Nick would be amazing.

    That would be with Sid willing to sign an extension as part of the deal.

    Imagine a line where Sid would be centering Laine & whoever you on the other wing, maybe , Armia, Anderson or Gallagher down the stretch????

    A third line of Dach, Roy & any one of the three mentioned above not used with Sid.

    *DREAMING in Technicolor*

    Blame it on the Pineapple Gummies, HaHaHaHa!!!!

  10. Hey, who thought at the time that a 27 y/o Gretzky would go to L.A. … and then St. Louis and New York where, combined, he would score 311 of his 894 goals and 1,188 of his 2,857 total seasonal points, 41 of his 122 playoff goals and exactly half of his 260 playoff points?

  11. I have learned to never say never when it comes to the NHL

    Not many players of any tenure play
    with one organization in the modern era.
    I think Sid does. . Yzerman with the Wings Henri Richard with the Habs

    Blue Jackets are going to need some proven offence . Could always use goal tending but they find themselves in a very unique situation. Losing Johnny and Laine. That is a first line you have to reconstruct and a lot of goals to replace. They still may band together and come up with a motivated season that is surprising.

    • Would the NHL give them an extra week or 2 to be cap compliant? It seems there are trades made in the 1wt week or 2 of the season.

      • The NHL bloody well should.

  12. Lyle!
    I respect your hockey knowledge but….
    Kadri for Johnson?
    Please!!
    That’s in the realm of ridiculous.
    34 years old in 4 weeks for a 21 year old high end prospect/player???
    Even the Leafs don’t make trades that foolish.
    At least not since Kyle Dubas departed for Pittsburgh.

    • Um, Allan? It’s Johnny Z you should be directing that toward, it was his suggestion, not mine.

  13. I can imagine a scenario (if not very likely) where Sid accepts a trade where the contract is already set for the next two years. Say 10 million a year. After that he returns to Pittsburgh (by then contenders) and plays for a lower salary. If That what he wants.

    Given Pens is underperforming halfways this season.

    This in an era with two international tournaments.

    Is Columbus close to Pittsburgh?

    Sidney Crosby – Sean Monahan – Kirill Marchenko…Yegor Chinakov- Adam Fantilli – Boone Jenner…Kent Johnson – Cole Sillinger – Dmitri Voronkov…Mathieu Olivier – Sean Kuraly – Justin Danforth