NHL Rumor Mill – October 29, 2024

by | Oct 29, 2024 | Rumors | 38 comments

Check out the latest on the Leafs and Canadiens in today’s NHL Rumor Mill

WHO SHOULD THE LEAFS SIGN NEXT?

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Adam Proteau looked at which players the Toronto Maple Leafs should sign next after inking Jack McCabe to a five-year extension.

Proteau believes Matthew Knies is part of the Leafs’ long-term future. The 22-year-old forward is off to a strong start this season. He carries an average annual value of $925K and will get a significant raise on his next contract.

Toronto Maple Leafs forward Matthew Knies (NHL Images).

Former captain John Tavares knows people expect him to accept a significant pay cut from his current $11 million AAV to stay in Toronto. Proteau believes the 34-year-old center still has value under the right circumstances, suggesting a $6 million AAV on a two or three-year deal.

Proteau suggests the Leafs should consider moving on from Mitch Marner if he wants more than $11 million annually, citing his lack of playoff success. He thinks Leafs general manager Brad Treliving could feel pressure to get something for Marner in the trade market if his contract price is too high.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Knies is in the final season of his entry-level contract so the Leafs hold all the leverage unless he signs an offer sheet with a rival club or stages a holdout. Treliving will likely want to avoid those scenarios, especially if Knies maintains his strong performance throughout this campaign. He could get a bridge deal as Proteau suggests to between $5 million and $6 million but Treliving could also attempt to lock him up on a longer term.

Tavares wants to finish his career with the Leafs. He could accept between $5 million and $6 million annually on a two or three-year deal.

Marner currently carries an AAV of $10.9 million and probably won’t accept less than William Nylander’s $11.5 million. He also has a full no-movement clause and shows no intention of waiving it. As Sportsnet’s Nick Kypreos recently observed, the Leafs can either re-sign Marner or treat him as a playoff rental for this season and watch him depart in next summer’s unrestricted free-agent market.

LATEST ON THE CANADIENS

SPORTSNET: During the Oct. 28 edition of “32 Thoughts: The Podcast”, Elliotte Friedman mentioned the Montreal Canadiens are seeking a forward who plays with an edge and a right-shot defenseman.

Friedman mentioned San Jose Sharks defenseman Matt Benning. However, the Canadiens would prefer a player on an expiring contract.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canadiens are reportedly conducting due diligence to see which players are available in the trade market. It’s unknown if Benning is among them. There’s no trade activity right now and it’s believed the Canadiens have no deals in the works.

Benning, 30, is signed through 2025-26 with an AAV of $1.25 million. That affordable cap hit could make him a worthwhile trade target despite the extra year on his contract.







38 Comments

  1. I just dont understand why they would give Tavares anything more than 1 year at a time! Are you telling me that there isnt a UFA that will take less and is better than a soon to be 35 year old JT? Why is this team so blatantly loyal, they have won nothing, and why are leaf players so damn greedy. He doesnt want to leave TO, use that.. 6 mill is rich but I can live with 1 year at a time. Joe Pavelskli took 1 year deals I beleive and he was far better at his age than JT is. Team has to be willing to be a business and not an exclusive club for alumni. You want to stay here JT, you get 4.5 with bonuses – you think you get more and want to leave? More power to you…

    Reply
    • Sam, on Jul 1 2019, Joe Pavelski signed a 3 year deal worth $21M. He was 34 years old, and turned 35 on July 11 that same year. The only reason I fact checked is because that is what I remember happening. The 1 year deals came later. He’s 40 now.

      So not the best example for your argument!

      I would be surprised if the Leafs and JT haven’t already discussed this in general terms.

      It sure seems like JT wants to stay, but if you low ball him vs what he is worth on the open market there is a chance he decides to check it.

      So if the Leafs want him to stay, they will feel out JT and his agent, and take it from there. If he says he is willing to take a big discount to help the team add more elsewhere, by all means take it, but usually they take a bit less, not a lot less.

      If JT produces what he did last season, a down year for him, he is worth $6M all day and some team will be more than happy to pay him that for 2 years, even 3.

      Reply
      • Fair point Ray, I was actually alluding to the fact that Pavelski signed those 1 year deals when he was actually better than JT is now…
        If he leaves- he leaves…he can be replaced

    • Nothing is certain about Tavares so I don’t get your take Sam. I’m sure you don’t know but the past couple of seasons his take home pay is something like $5.5m per year. To think he will ask for more after looking at his reduced dependency and usage/role must be just specific to him?
      Talk about a guy that last night went something like 15-4 in the dot and potting 3 goals is something that all teams would be concerned about what to do about because it’s guys like that you can’t win with, right?

      Reply
  2. If Brad wants to make a trade with Marner I am sure he could make a decent one

    Reply
    • Provided Marner waives his no-movement clause. Don’t hold your breath on that, especially if the Leafs are playoff bound

      Reply
    • Except he can’t.
      Unless the destination is to Marner’s liking he aint waving to go. You gotta think there’s less than 5 teams Marner would wave to be traded to.

      Reply
      • Ya Dark G, plus what contending teams have the cap space and the assets for a return? Bottom dwellers aren’t trading for Marner, and he ain’t goin there. He has stated publicly he wants to stay, so maybe he simply won’t accept a trade. Bottom line his choice, and if he does agree it will likely be the team of his choice.

        The Avs maybe if they keep accruing LTIR $ they send Nichushkin back to TOR?

        Tommyboy, would the Avs want Marner and what would you be willing to give up for him?

        LA Kings?

  3. So Tavares is $11M this year and Knies is $1M.
    If they cost $6M each next year they are in the same spot – – – the same players and same combined cap hit.
    It’s going to be interesting to see if they make some hard decisions around Tavares and/or Marner so they can free up $ to spend elsewhere.

    Reply
  4. Jt will finish close to point per game again. could he take a one year massive discount to try to get to the finish line as a leaf? who knows
    Either way the days of Top Heavy Toronto needs a change.

    A team like Seattle has no threat like a Marner but do they have pieces for the Leafs?

    Reply
  5. I just don’t understand the thinking that keeping JT, at any amount is better than keeping a super star in Mitch Marner. Why wouldn’t you pay Mitch and let JT hit free agency. Pay Marner what he’s worth and fill out the rest of the roster with players that don’t make JT money.

    Reply
    • Marner a superstar, you don`t watch Marner play much do you. You must be Mitch`s dad or his agent

      Reply
  6. Tavares should see what Marchand gets for a comparable! Or follow the lead of Tampa Bay/ Stamkos and Vegas/ Marchessault,did and wave bye- bye!

    Reply
  7. When you have GMs who try to replicate building teams from Sony PlayStation games you end up in the mess the Leafs find themselves in

    Look to Patrice Bergeron and David Krejki in Boston and their 1 million dollar 1 year deals to help their club build a winning team. Do you think John Tavares is worth more than Patrice Bergeron?

    Tavares is good on face offs and good in front of the net on power plays against weaker half of NHL teams who give him and Marner time snd space. He skates slower than my aunt Sally and he’s been overpaid for the last 7 yrs. He’s never accept what Bergeron did do let him walk out the door with his pyjamas and let another team overpay him and use a fraction of that 11 million to replace him.

    Reply
    • Frank & Sam if your neighbour goes out and buys a truck, do you. U2 sound like that type of person and if that`s the case you better hope your neighbour doesn`t jump off a bridge. Different players, different teams, different circumstances. If your friend takes a job for a $1 an hour because he likes the place where he works, that means you have to

      Reply
      • Bergeron was 37 when he signed his 1 year deal and the AAV was $5M, a portion was carried into next season as it was paid as a bonus. So a lower cap hit the year he played, but were still paying him for a year when he retired. When Bergeron was JT’s age his salary $6.875M when the cap was lower.

        Krejci’s AAV was $3M, he was 36, again with a bonus paid the following year. He also was coming back from a season away from the NHL.

        Neither is a good comparable.

  8. Question to all here

    Is there (under the current CBA) a max Performance Bonus that can be offered

    And, are performance bonuses only based on games played and/or how far a team goes in playoffs (i.e. can they be based on individual goals/assists?)

    If there is no Performance Bonus ceiling AND bonuses can be earned from individual production; is there not an offer to Tavares that has moderate Sal Cap but with the ability to earn (what performance merits) a very good income?

    Say???… hmmm? $6 M guaranteed but set levels to earn up to $10 M (say if he gets 95 points in a season?)

    Reply
    • The bonuses for 35+ contracts still count against the cap. The difference is a team usually defers the cap hit to the next year, unless they have the cap space to include it in the same years cap and no LTIR space can`t be used to pay out bonuses. There has to be limits on the bonuses and I think the bonus can`t exceed the actual salary for that year

      Reply
      • Yes I knew it counted against cap ; IF earned/paid out and teams have choice of deferring 1 year

        If not earned; no cap hit for bonus

        Sounds realistic that Performance Bonus can’t exceed Salary. Is that an assumption, or for sure?

        Also, CAN the performance bonus be based on point production?

        If so 3 years at $5 M Sal guaranteed with performance bonus (different point levels for each bonus level) up to $5 M

        So if he tanks; $5M

        But if somehow he gets 35 G, 60 A he gets $5 M more

        $10 M for a 35-60-95 player (at any age) would be worth $10 M cap hit wouldn’t it?

        And , years 2 and 3 are just $5M Cap hit and cash received guaranteed.

        Reasonable?

    • JT (the snake) is staying with the Leafs. We all know what PJ’s he is wearing.

      Reply
      • You`re the perfect example why players leave. Wah wah wah. You think it might be time to give the whining up

      • Potvin sucks!

      • RayBark,
        I don’t know if the Avalanche would seriously go after Marner. I guess if they do, nichushkin would be part of that potentially happening? Marner, is awesome but I don’t like the effort in the playoffs as many Maple Leafs fans don’t like it either! I feel the Avalanche are reckless enough on defense the last several years and Marner would just add to that problem but at the same time, he is seriously skilled!!! What else do you think would need to happen for that to happen? To me, the Avalanche could use some beef up front or on the back end as well? I wouldn’t mind them moving big Val even though I love the way he plays. I am having trouble having faith in him. With Landeskog already missing, that is two big pieces missing!

  9. The Habs aren’t the only ones seeking a F with an edge and a RD – with Pinto apparently out indefinitely with an injury that the specifics of which – like any and all non-obvious dings – is apparently none of our business, and Zub seemingly on his way to being a repeat concussion probability, Ottawa is in much the same search.

    Deep organizations can usually find help within – at least for the short term – but where Ottawa is concerned any call-ups would also have to shoe they are capable of something I’ve been harping on for going on 3 seasons now – consistency of effort. At least the local media has finally recognized the same need – in his article in the Ottawa Sun this morning, Bruce Garrioch writes:

    “Eight games into this first season under head coach Travis Green, this group is trying desperately to find consistency and though no one expected he’d be able to flip a switch, it would help if the Senators gave a consistent effort for 60 minutes.

    File that under “No S*^t Sherlock.”

    Reply
    • Ottawa`s not the only team trying to find consistency under a new coach, Toronto`s yet to play a complete 60 minute game this year. Berube noted that under pressure certain players panic and revert to old habits which lead to breakdowns and goals against. A work in progress and one must remember that it`s not where you are now, but where you are in April.

      Reply
    • George, I can’t watch the Blues v Sens tonight but I really would like your opinion on the Blues as a team to get a fresh assessment from a source I trust to be honest. Particularly your thoughts on Broberg, Holloway, Kessel, Bolduc and Texeir. Thanks.

      Reply
  10. Regardless of JT is worth the $$. Leafs need to make a shift on how they allocate cap $$. This makes JT the odd man out. Sign Marner but remaining $$ should go towards a top 4 D if possible.

    I can see Nylander being ok to be moved at some point. Maybe in that scenario you keep JT

    I can see Trouba signing with the leafs next year.

    Reply
    • Ttouba is signed by the rangers next year.

      Reply
      • In that case leafs trade for Trouba. It will be a salary dump so return probably not to high.

      • If they arnt on his no trade list it’s possible

    • Trouba isn`t a free agent next year and I don`t see him signing in Toronto when he does become one. Marner`s playoff performance show`s he`s not the player you build a winner with. Marner` great at 2 things, regular season stats and disappearing in important playoff games. I`d rather pay JT around 5 million per than keep a disappearing act. Let Marner take his act to maybe Anaheim where people still might be impressed with his float like a butterfly, sting like a butterfly act

      Reply
      • On one hand sunny Anaheim young up n coming team with not a massive amount of pressure…. The other hand cold agingish Toronto in a pressure .

        I’m sure that would devastate Marner.

      • The only way it would devastate Marner, if he couldn`t declare himself a hockey god and hold court, where he can tell them all that. Every April he can have his charitable golf tourney instead of having to worry about going into corners or in front of nets. Oh wait, he doesn`t do that anyways, so why worry. Yep, Anaheim would be the perfect place for Marner to hide

  11. I honestly cannot figure out the Leafs ?
    Maybe they are jinxed ?
    Far from great power play last year , Horrific -This year ?
    Hello Mark Savard – What R Your Thoughts?
    Every year , We hear about the marriage break up of the Core 4 ?
    R We doomed for another 1St Round Exit ?
    Is the core 4 finally coming to an end , come next season ?
    Matthews has defensive blunders , resulting in goals – mind boggling!

    As for Tavares – He is the best they have as a number 2 center , trial periods with Nylander and Domi as the the second center role did not work out
    Hopefully the line of Tavares, Nylander, Pacioretty can continue with its momentum .. healthy is another concern
    The additions to the defense have been rewarding
    Stolarz has been more than adequate , but Leafs need Woll to finally arrive ..:

    I am really “keen” to see your thoughts

    Reply
    • Ken, congrats you made it to game 10! Hopefully the next 72 will shed more light for you.

      Reply
  12. Savard did nothing for Calgary. I think they fired him but not certain and gone in short order.

    The NHLPA has something to say about compensation. Would they let Tavares sign for $3m and Marner for $8 m if they agreed .” Don’t think so Tim”

    Why is the Pinto thing a secret. Only raises suspicion . Gambling again 🙂 Mono or worse. Something is rotten in Denmark.

    Reply
  13. Signing what will be a 35 year old, 3rd line center, Tavares to a $6M x 3 year deal would be a truly foolish thing for Treliving to do, though typical of the Leafs.
    If Tavares wishes to continue his career as a
    Leaf (which we all assume pajama boy does) then a $4M x 3 years should be more than enough.
    If Tavares wants more than that, then let him uproot his family and move to a completely new city and reestablish himself and them.
    One would think that the Slafkovsky and Lafreniere contracts in the $7+ million range, would set the guidelines for Leafs to resign Knies.
    As Lyle points out, there is absolutely no way Marner accepts less than Nylander’s $11.5 million on his next deal.
    With Nylander receiving $11.5 and Elias Pettersson receiving $11.6 the least I would think Marner would accept would be $11.75 and most likely Darren Ferris will be holding out for $12+

    Reply

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