Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – September 29, 2024
Some predictions for the coming season in the Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup.
ESPN.COM: Greg Wyshynski made bold predictions for every NHL team for 2024-25. Among them were some trade and free-agent forecasts.
Wyshynski expects this season will be Jim Montgomery’s last as head coach of the Bruins. He cited the lack of contract extension talks between the two sides and the club’s inability to get past the Florida Panthers in the playoffs.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Another early postseason exit could spell the end for Montgomery in Boston.
Linus Ullmark’s tenure with the Ottawa Senators will only last this season. Wyshynski noted the 31-year-old goaltender is in the final season of his contract and the Sens are giving him time to acclimate before trying to re-sign him.
Toronto Maple Leafs winger Mitch Marner (NHL Images).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ullmark could enjoy his time in Ottawa and want to stick around, especially if he backstops them to their first postseason appearance in eight years. Where it could get sticky is how much salary he’ll want and for how long.
Wyshynski expects Mitch Marner will re-sign with the Toronto Maple Leafs. He pointed out how stories that he’ll get traded this summer gave way to stories that he’s open to negotiating a contract extension during this season, remaining unwavering in his intent to stick with the Leafs.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’ll cost a fortune to keep Marner in the fold, perhaps over $12.5 million annually. However, John Tavares’ big contract comes off their books next summer and if Tavares wants to stay he’ll have to do so for less money. They’ll have enough to re-sign Marner, even if it means carrying a top-heavy roster that struggles in the playoffs for the foreseeable future.
Igor Shesterkin will get his hefty new contract with the New York Rangers, probably before the start of the season to avoid an average performance on his part bringing down his average annual value. Whyshynki predicts they’ll reach common ground at around $11 million annually.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Rangers are believed to be willing to go as high as $11 million while the Shesterkin camp reportedly seeks an average annual value of $12 million. They’re not that far apart if those reports are true.
Wyshynski predicts the rising salary cap could make it possible for the Chicago Blackhawks to find a trade partner willing to take defenseman Seth Jones and his $9.5 million AAV off their hands.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Maybe, but that also depends on Jones’ willingness to waive his full no-movement clause. Until that happens, the 29-year-old defenseman isn’t going anywhere.
Expect the Anaheim Ducks to move Cam Fowler by the March 7 trade deadline. The 32-year-old defenseman has had discussions with management about his future. He’s signed through 2025-26 with an AAV of $6.5 million.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Fowler will be enticing to contenders seeking a top-pairing defenseman who will be more than a rental player for one postseason.
Speaking of the Ducks, Wyshynski predicts they’ll move forward Trevor Zegras in the offseason when he’ll have a year remaining on his contract. The 23-year-old center can become a restricted free agent with arbitration rights in 2026.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Zegras emerged as a trade candidate in January. His name continues to float to the surface of the rumor mill. A strong performance on his part this season could silence that chatter or bolster his value in the trade market.
I think both Narber and JT will stay in leaf land. For around same cap hits. The difference will be Narner will get the 12 ish. Jt 6ish. IMHO
Depending on what happens to Swayman,could Ullmark conceivably make his way back to Boston As a FA!
Of course! And the Pope could get married.
Elliot Friedman help up a sign
“Ottawa will make the Playoffs!”
I might have to agree with him …
That defenseman they drafted in the first round is going to be a “dandy” – 30 goals, 41 assists , 120 PM in last year in junior and just turned 19
But the question is, in that very , very competitive division , who bows out ?!?!
Nick Robertson has had a very strong pre-season and should continue to have a breakout out season .
GOOD on him !!!
My question is , Will he want to resign at year end ?!?!?
Ps .. Ullmark will resign eventually in Ottawa
Ken, I hop[e you’re wrong and he doesn’t “resign” – what I hope he does is “re-sign” 🙂
All joking aside, though, the suggestion he could go back to Boston as a UFA – raised in the same quarter EVERY time his name pops up in somebody’s column – has less chance of happening than does re-upping in Ottawa. What does he owe the Bruins?
I would put as much credence i the thought that, after reaching UFA status, he signs with the NYR who will come to the conclusion that a very good Ullmark, at around $7 to $7.5 mil per, is an easier pill to swallow than a very good Shesterkyn at $12.5 mil per.
Re Robertson – the kid is showing his goal-scoring skills and, as long as he concentrates as much on the defensive side of the game, he will earn the coach’s trust and get increasingly more ice time.
Re Yakushev (the young Ottawa D), he certainly has the size and offensive skills to become a very good RD … but he does need to continue to work on his skating and defensive zone puck handling. Unfortunately, given the current idiotic rules that benefit only Europeans, he can’t do that with time in the AHL with Belleville and must go back to Calgary Hitmen of the WHL if the decision is not to keep him in Ottawa.
The ONLY possibility of that depends on the health of RD Artyem Zub. If he’s to be out long-term that might open the door for Yakushev to stay. In fact, I think they could do that up to a certain date, and still send him back a bit later, especially to play for Team Canada in the World Juniors in December.
Lots of wheels turning.
After this coming season the Senators will have $65,305,000 committed to 8F (Stutzle, Tkachuk, Norris, Batherson, Perron, Pinto, Amadio and MacEwen – 4D (Sanderson, Chabot, Zub and Jensen).
Withe cap projected to be $92,000,000 for 2025-26 that will leave Staios with $26,695,000 with which to sign 11.
They will have 5 UFAs to reconsider:
F Giroux – expiring $6,500,000
F Cousins – expiring $800,000
D Hamonic – expiring $1,100,000
G Ullmark – expiring $5,000,000
G Forsberg – expiring $2,750,000
Any re-upped of Cousins (turns 32 next July), Hamonic (turns 35 next August) and Forsberg (turns 32 in November) should be settled for something similar to their current deals (totalling $4,650,000), leaving $22,000,000 to sign 8.
Their RFAs will include
F Greig – expiring $863,334
F Gregor – expiring $850,000
D Kleven – $916,667
D Bernard-Docker – $805,000
What their new deals will look like depends, of course, on their performance during the upcoming season, but barring some explosive performance, their raises should be average as those things go.
Bottom line, Giroux – who will turn 37 in January – if retained, likely won’t cost anywhere near his current $6.5 mil, so there will be plenty in the bank to meet Ullmark’s demands – if he decides this is where he wants to be. A good team season will go a long way to deciding that for him.
Ottawa with solid goaltending has a real shot at a wild card spot. If Ullmark has a strong start, it`ll give a lot of confidence to the kids knowing that any mistake won`t end up in the their net all the time and kids with confidence will make a huge difference. Just look at what some confidence has done for Robertson, along with some hard work that is. Funny, Robertson did an interview where he said that he knew all along he would be back in Toronto and he said it with a big smile on his face. Confidence can change a lot in a kid
Yogi, confidence is always something that gets overlooked in the media when they toss out opinions on a young player’s performance. A “one mistake and you’re in the press box” coach can truly crush confidence. Berube seems to be willing to give his players plenty of leeway. Last night Robertson had 17.39 of ice time, 4.49 on the pp, 2 goals and a takeaway. By season’s end he could well turn out to be THE bargain on the roster at $875,000.
One thing is for sure, if the decision is to retain both Pacioretty and Lorentz, Robertson won’t be among those optioned/waived to make room.
It`s not just a coach George, Ullmark bails a player out when he screws up, that player is more willing to backcheck harder or block a shot to help Ullmark. Players start thinking you got my back, I`ll get yours kind of thing. It`s the little things that helps a team blend together as much as a trade. Teams trade for a player that makes a difference, which is usually a player that does the little things
Pretty sure the name of that defenseman is Yakemchuk not Yakushev.
Ken,
I hope your right Ullmark sounds like his family is really enjoying Ottawa so far.👌✅
I think they make the playoffs
Back End,
A Real startling Goaltender👌
A solid 2nd RD defender in N.J
A Tought hitting 3rd LD, in T.K.
Up front,
Much better 3rd & 4th line depth
PS
Young RD Carter Yarmchuck
Should go back to jr team in Calgary, next year to his JR team in Calgary to continue to develop his game,
However next year he will stick with the Sens 🤙🤙
With regards to Montgomery,this is the first time in his 3 years that he has in Boston that it is built for post season and not just the regular season! Evaluate him on this season and then go from there if he is worthy of an extension! Last year after losing his top2 centers,they still had a good year!
Sr they haven’t shown much recently. How does that make them a team “built” for the playoffs. Panthers, sure. Everyone else, not really though some better than others but only slightly more, or less depending on who you are and talking about. Right?
I can see Ullmark liking it in Ottawa, it’s a small city with character and a young team that should be climbing.
Boston is on a declining trajectory and dealt him away, there’s no reason he should want to go back there.
Hab’s fan
Agree 100% Ullmark won’t go back to Boston, his buddy Swayman if they keep fighting
Over this contract he will ask for a trade
Sounds like a Montreal fan! Boston s North End is a place you should visit if you want character! All I hear is how your team is trending upward! Wake me up when you make the playoffs!
And wake me up when Boston signs Swayman.
Boom.
Sr likes to trash talk and sometimes it’s from behind a veil. I see what’s you’re doing. No one has mentioned but I bet many have thought of it, at least a few seasons now, but this might very well be the year your beloved Bs flop and fail to make the dance. I know a lot, and I mean a lot are hoping.
Sr
As a Hab fan I happen to dislike the Sens….ever since the Gryba hit on Eller and coach walrus blamed the Hab D-man who passed the puck.
The Bruins are meh, not much interest to me. in my early years all they did was fight with the NYR for last place.
Well you should like the Habs the they are worst than Ottawa and raise goons to the pedestal re Ajax…was a habs fan for 66 years till they hired Bergevin/Therrien and traded Subban
Men just would like to see the Bruins- Canadians rivalry heat up again! It s great for the game! It used to remind me of the Red Sox – Yankee rivalry which has been missing the last few years!I previously mentioned the Laine injury because of your bad luck with the injury to Dach last year!I actually coached Jeff Gorton in football years ago so I have watched his career in management!
Heh … coach walrus … love it … can’t even remember his name here … but I do know he’s never had another shot at a head coaching position … although a Senators fan now home team and all . I can never “hate” the Habs … followed them from the late 1940s right through to the Sen’s return … and even then for a few years, including the 1993 cup.
Fondest memory of the Habs-Bruins rivalry came way WAY back when Rocket, knocked cold in a collision with Leo Labine and with a huge cut over one eye, came back to the bench in OT, surprising the Hell out of everyone there who thought he was done for the series, jumped into the play, skated the length of the ice and, with Quackenbush hanging all over him like a drape, scored the winning goal with a backhander on Sugar Jim Henry, who also had two black eyes from a collision in game 6. The crowd gave him a 4-minute standing ovation that sent chills up your spine (I watched that one on TV – would loved to have been at the Forum).
https://www.nhl.com/news/maurice-richard-amazing-goal-sank-bruins-in-1952-318841382
One of the greatest sports photos ever is the two of them shaking hands after the game
https://www.cafr.ebay.ca/itm/293615913911
Ullmark potential one year and gone is the bought of teams like Ottawa. Luck had it that the cost to acquire Ulmark and take the risk wasn’t prohibitive. I feel often this is the disadvantage small teams like Ottawa have. Do they risk letting assets go for players who may not stay. See Debrincat.
Time will tell it be something of Ullmark releases a decision of wanting to move before the trade deadline.