NHL Rumor Mill – October 11, 2024
The latest on Igor Shesterkin, Mikko Rantanen, Sam Bennett and Alexis Lafreniere, an update on the Islanders, and more in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
TSN: Darren Dreger provided updates on the contract negotiations between Igor Shesterkin and the New York Rangers.
Dreger said Shesterkin is just focusing on playing his game now that the season has begun. The recent report claiming he rejected an eight-year, $88 million offer hasn’t fazed him at all. Some believe his range is $11.5 million and $11.7 million, which would make him the highest-paid Ranger.
RG.ORG: Marco D’Amico cited a source who believes Shesterkin wants to set the market for goaltenders so high that no one will top him for a while. He knows that the Rangers need him and have to sign him.
D’Amico’s source said the Rangers don’t have an issue making him the NHL’s highest-paid goaltender. “Where the number starts with an 11 or 12, he will be the standard.
Both sides are still negotiating. Shesterkin wants to stay in New York and the Rangers want to keep him.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: We’re not even a week into this season and Shesterkin’s contract situation is dominating the rumor mill. This risks becoming an unnecessary distraction for the Rangers this season.
Turning to Mikko Rantanen, Pierre LeBrun doesn’t think anything’s imminent regarding his contract talks with the Colorado Avalanche. He believes Rantanen’s agent will factor in the rise of the salary cap and the percentage of the cap.
LeBrun thinks Nathan MacKinnon’s $12.6 million average annual value is a bit of an internal cap for the Avalanche. This could get done but not everyone knows for sure if it will.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: $12.5 million annually for eight years could do it but the Avs could be trying to keep it in the $11 million range.
The Florida Panthers signing Carter Verhaeghe to a long-term extension earlier this week prompted Dreger to wonder whether they’ll re-sign versatile two-way forward Sam Bennett.
Dreger believes the Panthers want to keep Bennett. However, he could become a big-ticket player in next summer’s free-agent market.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Bennett is that guy you hate to play against but love to have on your team. He’s making over $4.4 million annually on his current contract and could seek an average annual value of around $7 million.
THE SCORE: cited Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli reporting the Rangers have been working on a new contract with Alexis Lafreniere since the summer. Different options are on the table, including an eight-year deal with an AAV of $8 million.
Lafreniere, 23, is in the final season of a two-year deal with an AAV of $2.33 million.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Lafreniere’s breakout performance last season signals better things to come for the 2020 first-overall pick. Getting him locked into a new long-term deal as soon as possible could pay significant dividends against the salary cap down the road.
PHILLY HOCKEY NOW: Jonathan Bailey believes New York Islanders winger Pierre Engvall could be a great trade target for the Philadelphia Flyers.
Engvall, 28, cleared waivers earlier this week and was sent to the Isles’ AHL affiliate in Bridgeport. He’s in the second season of a seven-year contract with an average annual value of $3 million.
Bailey believes Flyers head coach John Tortorella might be able to unlock something more from Engvall, whose inconsistent play with the Isles led to his demotion. He pointed to the winger’s size, speed and solid puck possession numbers.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Some of you might suggest that if the Flyers wanted him they could’ve claimed him off waivers without giving up anything in return. However, trading for him now means he doesn’t have to pass through waivers again if the Flyers decide to demote him to their AHL affiliate.
Nevertheless, I doubt the Flyers will be interested. Engvall may be an analytics darling but his overall game needs improvement. He failed to produce more offense as a middle-six forward. The length of his contract is also a concern.
TSN: Chris Johnston reports Mark Giordano, John Klingberg, Kevin Shattenkirk and Justin Schultz remain available. The four defensemen are unrestricted free agents still hoping to land NHL jobs. Johnston indicated Schultz turned down some NHL offers and could play in Europe if he doesn’t find the right fit.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: They could still land jobs if injuries strike early in the season or if cap-strapped clubs find themselves seeking affordable blueline depth.
Re Shesterkin and “This risks becoming an unnecessary distraction for the Rangers this season.” you can almost bet it will where the media is concerned, both when and if he struggles or goes on a hot streak they’ll doggedly probe with questions about his future in NY, and the less candid he is will only prompt all kinds of wild speculations.
The NY/NJ/Philadelphia intense hockey media pressure was probably one reason Gaudreau signed with Columbus. On one of the NY/NJ teams or Philadelphia, the media would expect him to lead the team to a Cup almost immediately and ask demanding questions when he had a less than perfect game. The Columbus hockey media consists of three newspaper/Internet reporters, a handful of bloggers and four tv reporters. And all he needed to do is help make the Jackets better. Kinda easy choice, isn’t it?
Good points Paul
Full media blitz and personal exposure for sure has an impact re signing decisions.
If Schultz is the only one known to have turned down NHL offers you can almost bet that any team which contacted him with a firm offer only went as high as the league minimum. He just had a decent season in Seattle, earning $3 mil and has gone as high as $5 mil in his career today. He’ll never get those totals again … but something in the range of $1 to 1.2 mil would likely do it.
Penguins should sign any one of the three vet UFA RDs to League min and demote Grzlyk.
Immediately saves $340 K in Cap space and dramatically improves team.
Literally a no brainer move
The thing is, I doubt Schultz, at least, isn’t interested in “league minimum.” And it wouldn’t surprise me if that attitude was shared by the other three.
Hooking on at league minimum might be an attractive option at this stage of their careers if the offer came from Florida, Tampa, Vegas, NYR, Boston, Dallas, Carolina, Toronto, Edmonton, Winnipeg and maybe Nashville and Vancouver – but I don’t think any of them have such a burning desire to continue playing that they’d join a non-playoff team on a minimum basis.
I agree George re where their interest in playing may lay (and Penguins NOT being desirable)
However, a league minimum contract is better than no contract OR having to hang them up (retire)
At least one of them is likely to sign below $1 M; and $1.15 M of Grzlyk can be buried; all 3 righties are better than Grzlyk
Grezlyk has been the whipping boy. Since he entered the NHL!Who else does Pittsburgh have who is any better defensively! Blame your management team for overrating Graves and having to many Smurfs on D
Oh I definitely do blame Dubas for current roster; no ifs ands or buts
No challenge to Grzlyk’s offensive side.
Defensively is where he falters. Most of that due to (as you have poetically put) hid smurfosity (5’9 1/2”, 177)
Who’s defensively better than him…. All 3 of Pickering, Brunicke, Shea
All cheaper. All better defensively
8787, if you think Shattenkirk, Schultz, Klingberg or Gio is a better D-man then Grz, you have a very different opinion than I do on what makes a good D-man.
I get the math, they cost less in AAV, but to suggest they would make the Pens better is simply a wow.
He played the 3rd most minutes again last night for Pens D, so coaches see what they have. The guys is a solid, smart player who can skate and move the puck. The guy plays hard too. Come playoff time his size is exposed as he gets knocked around, but the guy can play the game, and to suggest the over the hill gang would be an improvement is mind blowing.
Heh … wonder if any of this comes into play with this guy
https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/science-think-right-rcna174691?utm_source=pocket-newtab-en-us
Hi Ray
Setting aside the 3 UFA righties I suggested; Penguins have Pickering, Brunicke, Shea who are all defensively better than Grzlyk
I don’t question him re potential offense snd outlet passes etc
Can’t speak so much on his time with Bruins other than playoffs where I obviously saw him in more games than regular season. There I was not in anyway impressed with his D game
With Penguins pre-season and these two reg season games (yes small sample size); unfortunately for Penguins (and him) hid size (5’ 9 1/2”, 177) has been bery apparent. He csn’t move anybody out of the way
Minutes played are obviously not reflective if what was shown in ice
Young St Ivany far outplayed (defensivrly) him, yet Grzlyk got a ton more minutes
We (as at now) unfortunately won’t see eye to eye on Grzlyk
Note; I am in no way saying he id another Jack Johnson. Johnson was brutal positionally; but at least when engaged in front of the net ; he easily moved his opponent
Grzlyk doesn’t have the size or strength to make that happen
Love the “dramatically improves the team” line. Should be “maybe improves the team…maybe. I dunno, I’m just guessing.” Which of those would sign for the league minimum on a Penguins team that is so horrific that you suggested Crosby should move on from them?
Hi Some Old Guy
Yes I was using hyperbole
But it is certainly not “maybe”
They would be an improvement (note defensively) over Grzlyk
What they will eventually sign for???? None have a contract now. League minimum is better than no contract or even forced retirement
Will one or more of them sign for over $1M ; hard to say
I do believe at least one will sign at $1M or less (note burying Grzlyk saves $1.15 M from cap; so any of those 3 who might sign with Pens at $1 M or less; saves team Cap space and improves team)
Would they sign with Penguins? Who knows
The answer is an unequivocal no if there is no offer made
My point is that Dubas SHOULD call all 3; start all 3 with a league minimum offer
If any of the 3 agree…. All good
None…. Slowly increase the offers
All offers up to $1.15 M; Pens are better off (once Grzlyk is sent down)
It’s just a phone call
Dallas and Edmonton could use some defence.
Wait until injuries start to happen.
Barkov went down last night.
First look – Celebrini Stankoven and L. Hutson …Calder finalists
Just for funzies. Philly gets engvall and a 6th round pick for each year of f his contract remaining.
I am hearing Sam Bennett would like to like to be in blue and white
Leafs need a second line Center , Bennett would fit the bill quite nicely ..
Another just for funzies! Good one Ken!
Unless Vancouvers D corps improves I can see a Klingberg move IF he is healthy ay league minumum for a year to get his career back on track. Having him on 2nd pair with Soucy and moving Myers to 3rd pair where he fits best.