Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – September 22, 2024
Check out the latest on the Ducks and Blue Jackets in the Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup.
THE ATHLETIC: Eric Stephens reports Cam Fowler hopes the trade talk surrounding him won’t be a distraction to his Anaheim Ducks teammates during training camp.
The Ducks and the 32-year-old Fowler are looking at a potential trade that might be mutually beneficial, though when that happens is anyone’s guess. The veteran defenseman said he remains focused on being the best player he can be for the Ducks, adding that he has a good relationship with general manager Pat Verbeek.

Anaheim Ducks defenseman Cam Fowler (NHL Images)
Meanwhile, the Ducks and goaltender John Gibson are also believed to be open to finding a trade. However, his contract and the decline in his play make it difficult to move him.
Young forward Trevor Zegras “has had to fend off suggestions that he isn’t the type of player Verbeek wants as a long-term leading piece.”
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Fowler seems the more likely to be traded during this season. He’s an established veteran top-pairing defenseman with two years remaining on his contract who would be enticing to a playoff club. He carries a $6.5 million annual cap hit but the Ducks could be willing to retain part of it to facilitate a deal near the March 7 trade deadline for the right return.
Gibson’s been a fixture in the rumor mill since 2022. He has an average annual value of $6.4 million running through 2026-27 and a 10-team no-trade list. No one will be surprised if he’s still with the Ducks after the March 7 deadline.
Zegras had a difficult 2023-24 campaign. He missed training camp because of his contract negotiations and most of the season due to injuries. His performance this season could determine his future in Anaheim.
THE ATHLETIC: Aaron Portzline reports the Columbus Blue Jackets are currently projected to be $3.4 million under this season’s $65 million salary cap minimum due to the recent death of Johnny Gaudreau.
The Blue Jackets are awaiting word from the league and the NHL Players’ Association as to whether they’ll get a one-time concession given the circumstances. They don’t have to be cap-compliant until rosters are settled two days before their Oct. 10 season opener.
SPORTSNET: Luke Fox wonders how Blue Jackets GM Don Waddell will wield his $24.8 million in cap space this season.
“Does he try to trade for an impact forward? Pound the waiver wire like crazy when spendy teams get forced into cap compliance in a couple of weeks?
Does he weaponize that budget by taking on a problem contract and further stocking the Jackets’ pool of picks and prospects? Or by acting as a third-party broker, eating money in deadline deals?”
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Fox pointed out that Waddell has options and could make news this season with some significant moves. The Jackets will be a team worth monitoring in the rumor mill.
Anaheim has some interesting players to move if they feel it s the right thing to do!Gibson,Fowler,Zegras Vatrano and even Guda s although he has just been named captain!
Any moves Anaheim makes have to be done with one eye on the cap floor. The currently sit with $21,718,333 in cap space and a projected cap of $66,281,667 – just $1,281,667 above the cap floor.
If they were to find a taker for Gibson and his $6.4 mil per, and/or Fowler and his $6.5 mil, there would need to be some hefty contracts coming back just to keep their nose above water.
Interesting is putting it mildly.
Retaining salary on either one would probably keep them above the floor with a replacement on an ELC.
True. And then there could also be a contract player coming back.
Man if ever there was a team you hoped could stumble into some good luck/fortune other than your own it’s gotta be Columbus. I’m afraid though it will be another agonizing season on the ice for the Jackets. Lots of really talented youngsters and a few still useful aging vets but not much in between those groups. Hopefully they can weaponize their cap space and make sound personnel decisions this year. Their fan base deserves to have some positive things to cheer for a change. Besides my Jets, Go Jackets!!
Ducky,
The new front office has been very good about preparing the Jackets fans for this season, carefully explaining that, especially with the loss of Johnny Hockey, reaching the playoffs is probably not happening. But to expect more consistent and better play with the team being more entertaining. Both Don Waddell and Dean Evason have been quite open and honest about their expectations for this season.
From various posts to Jackets fan blogs, I think the general feeling amongst Jackets fans is that Kekalainen was kept a little too long, though he has rebuilt the prospect pipeline such that Waddell could lead the Jackets back to the playoffs in a couple years.
Thanks for your best wishes. May the Jets have another good season.
I’m with you there Ducky10.
If it wasn’t for bad luck, Columbus would have no luck at all.
With $24,798,334 to use and currently shown at Puckpedia with a full 23 man roster (13F 8D 2G), they will certainly be a player if and when those teams currently over the cap or smack up against it decide they need to move a decent contract to free up space, or an albatross contract with sufficient sweeteners to make it palpable for Columbus.
Unfortunately, they will have competition in that regard with 6 other teams also having large chunks of cap space
Anaheim $21,718,333 – 23 of 23 (14F 7D 2G)
Calgary $19,986,666 – 23 of 23 (14F 7D 2G)
San Jose $10,420,830 – 23 of 23 (13F 7D 3G)
Utah $9,920,357 – 23 of 23 (14F 7D 2G)
Buffalo $6,999,484 – 23 of 23 (13F 7D 3G)
Chicago $6,677,500 – 22 of 23 (14F 6D 2G)
Boston has $8,636,667 with 22 of 23 (14F 7D 1G) – but if the Swayman impasse drags on into the start of the season and the Bruins feel, after the end of training camp/pre-season, that they can be competitive in the early going with a tandem of Korpisalo and someone like Busso or Dipietro, they might decide to use that $8,636,667 elsewhere, including trading for a goalie, and dealing Swayman before the December cut-off date for signing RFAs.
While I can’t really see them going down that road … stranger things have happened in NHL history.
Edmonton could also creep into the picture, albeit with a plan in place to deal with the temporary cap relief.
Today, PuckPedia shows them with $945,833 in cap space and 22 of 23 – 13F 7D 2G, and that includes Evander Kane and his $5,125,000 cap hit.
But with his surgery Thursday in NYC, and his unavailability projected to extend into January he’ll likely go on LTIR once the season commences, and that will give them some $6 mil to temporarily play with. Of course, they’d better have a contingency plan in place for when he becomes close to a return to action.
Ducky10 – Paul Bowles – couldn’t agree more. Man, if it wasn’t for bad luck they’d have no luck at all.
However, they are – if you put aside how they got there – in a good position to weaponize their large cap reserve, including taking on a hefty albatross contract (preferably with just one season to go) with the right “sweeteners,” holding $24,798,334 at hand and currently shown with 23 of 23 (13F 8D 2G).
They will, though, have competition in that regard as there are 6 other teams with large cap reserves, according to Puckpedia
Anaheim $21,718,333 – 23 of 23 (14F 7D 2G)
Calgary $19,986,666 – 23 of 23 (14F 7D 2G)
San Jose $10,420,830 – 23 of 23 (13F 7D 3G)
Utah $9,920,357 – 23 of 23 (14F 7D 2G)
Buffalo $6,999,484 – 23 of 23 (13F 7D 3G)
Chicago $6,677,500 – 22 of 23 (14F 6D 2G)
Pending the Swayman decision, Boston sits with $8,636,667 and 22 of 23 (14F 7D 1G). If the Swayman impasse drags on into the start of the season and the Bruins feel, after the end of training camp/pre-season, that they can be competitive through the early going with a tandem of Korpisalo and someone like Busso or Dipietro, they might decide to use that $8,636,667 elsewhere, including trading for a goalie, and even dealing Swayman before the December cut0ff date for signing RFAs.
I can’t really see them going down that road … but stranger things have happened over the years in NHL history. Depends, I guess, on how bitter things become as the hours tick by.
What is the ownership status in Columbus?
Is the owner unable to spend to the cap ceiling?
Is it an undesirable location for UFAs?
The Blue Jackets’ ownership is stable.
The reason they’re below the cap minimum is the death of Johnny Gaudreau, as his $9.75 million cap hit comes off their books. They also traded away Patrik Laine and his $8.7 million cap hit to the Montreal Canadiens.
It’s not that undesirable as Gaudreau signed there two years ago and Sean Monahan this summer. But overall, it’s generally not a desirable destination because the club has struggled to put together a winning product.
Just to add a little detail, the Nationwide group is a significant minority owner of the Jackets and, some sources claim, part of the deal which transfered ownership of Nationwide Arena to Franklin County gives Nationwide right of first refusal should any other owners wish to sell. Basically, the Blue Jackets are more secure than all other teams other than the so-called Original Six.
The main problem the Jackets have had is that the team has been working hard to recover from conman Doug MacLean’s tenure as GM. Players who have been on the team love the city of Columbus and several former players still live in Columbus and suburbs.
Paul Bowles, Mclean was fired in 2006 – 2007 season
17 years isnt enough time to recover?
Lyle,
I understand the circumstances about Gaudreau, and trading Laine.
Was just wondering if they had a cheap owner like Melnyk was for the Sens.
They have some good pieces in Columbus, just curious if they simply couldn’t afford to spend to the cap ceiling.
Seems Waddell will be in a good spot at the end of training camps to scoop up serviceable players via waivers.
Daryl, you can call Eugene Melnyk a lot of things … but “cheap” can never be one of them. Please do some research on the situation when he essentially saved the team from moving and thereafter – including building a powerhouse operation for several years when their payroll was right up there with the top spenders
https://kencampbell.substack.com/p/eugene-melnyks-complicated-legacy
Caper,
The prospect pipeline was, effectively, empty and his questionable and outright stupid moves gave the Jackets the reputation of being where careers went to die. Yes, it’s taken that long. Another way to answer your question is to ask a question. Can you name any A list free agent, other than Johnny Gaudreau, who signed with Columbus?
If I’m Lou Lamoriello, I’m on the phone with Waddell to see if he’d be kind enough to take JG Pageau off his hands. Would help the Jackets get to the floor and provide some much needed cap space for the isles. Lou may have to throw in a sweetener, like a second rounder.
Unlikely. With Monahan signing, the Jackets have four solid centers for the first time since the league gave Columbus a franchise. Plus Cayden Lindholm and several other well regarded centers are in the system. While I never say never, I do believe Lou would have to give more than a second rounder to get Waddell to take JGP. Now, if he offered up a winger……
Seems like JGP could play wing for a while……….for the right price.
CBJ is at the 23 man limit and might have to have their return be a player…… I don’t think they want to send down Johson or Jirasek again.
Johnny,
My remark was partly intended to be a bit of snark since Howard is engaging in a popular fallacy. That Columbus is a dumping ground for old &/or unwanted players.
With 2 seasons to go at $5 mil per, turning 32 in November, and projected output of no more than 35-38 pts a season, Lamoriello would most definitely have to throw in a sweetener – or two – at that cost.
There are probably far better options to get over the cap floor.