Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – October 6, 2024
In the Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup: bold predictions for the Stars, Red Wings, and Rangers and the possibility of the Canadiens’ Arber Xhekaj starting the season in the AHL.
SPORTSNET: Ryan Dixon recently made bold predictions for all 32 NHL clubs this season. Among them was some trade speculation regarding the Dallas Stars and New York Rangers.
Dixon believes the Stars are all-in on a Stanley Cup run this season. He predicts they’ll deal from a position of strength (young forwards) to address an area of weakness (right-side defense) by shipping center Mavrik Bourque to the Calgary Flames for defenseman Rasmus Andersson.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Bourque was the Stars first-round pick (30th overall) in the 2020 NHL draft. He has one game of NHL experience but could become a full-time roster player this season.
Andersson surfaced in trade rumors over the summer. The 27-year-old is a solid top-four defenseman with an affordable annual cap hit of $4.55 million through 2025-26. He also has a six-team no-trade list but could be open to joining a Stanley Cup contender.
Anaheim Ducks defenseman Cam Fowler (NHL Images).
With the Flames rebuilding, they could be open to solid offers for Andersson before the trade deadline. Bourque could tempt them, especially if he plays well this season.
Dixon predicts the Detroit Red Wings will acquire local boy Cam Fowler from the Anaheim Ducks.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Wings have the depth in prospects and promising young roster players to make a competitive offer to the Ducks. Fowler would bring skilled, experienced depth to the Wings’ defense corps. He has a three-team trade list but reportedly expanded that list to double digits. Maybe the Wings are among those preferred destinations.
Dixon predicts the New York Rangers will include winger Kaapo Kakko in a trade package to the Winnipeg Jets for winger Nikolaj Ehlers.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ehlers isn’t going anywhere if the Jets are playoff-bound by the deadline, especially if he’s played a significant role in getting them to that stage.
RG.ORG: Marco D’Amico suggests the Montreal Canadiens could send Arber Xhekaj to their AHL affiliate in Laval, not because they’re unhappy with his performance, but for salary cap reasons.
D’Amico explains the Canadiens hope to avoid using LTIR until the season begins. Their goal is to maximize their LTIR relief space and performance bonus pool in one move.
They could demote Xhekaj as $1.15 million of his $1.3 million salary would be buried in the minors. That would move them to within $900K of the salary cap before placing sidelined Rafael Harvey-Pinard on LTIR to start the season. That would allow them to hold off putting Carey Price or Patrik Laine on LTIR.
Xhekaj also doesn’t have performance bonuses, so the Canadiens can quickly recall him on Oct. 8 once they place Price or Laine or LTIR.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: D’Amico goes into greater detail on how the Canadiens could do this. In short, this would be a paper transaction for salary cap accounting purposes, meaning Xhekaj wouldn’t spend time in Laval.
Stars might have to send Lundkvist along with Bourgue for cap reasons and still have to shed more salary to fit in Andersson.
That’s for sure. As things stand down, with the Stars having $693,759 in cap space, Andersson costing $4,550,000 off the cap and Bourque just $894,167, they’d suddenly be $2,962,074 over.
Of course, if this were to be a trade deadline type deal, lots can happen between now and then to clear the decks.
“as things stand now …” … bloody auto-correct
Holl + 2025 protected 1st for Fowler at half salary???
Dunno if that would fly with Y.
“Dunno if that would fly with Verbeek”. Fixed it for you.
A first for a 32 year old vet? I don’t think Yzerman is that desperate.
Since Fowlers contract in until 2026, I doubt that will be enough for half salary
Detroit needs a #2 RD much more than another LD, and may well be more interested in Andersson than Fowler.
If my memory serves me right, the last time the Flames and Stars made a major trade involving a young Star and an established Calgary veteran, it worked out pretty well for the Stars to send Jerome Iginla to Calgary for Joe Nuindyke. That trade lead to aCup….And the Flames didn’t make out to bad in that deal either.
Exactly, & Conroy has really stocked the pipeline with young D that are knocking on the door, which makes Anderson expendable if the price is right. With Flames having cap space coming out the ying yang & that isnt going to change next year as well, retaining 50% to get extra goodies from the Stars in a deal we cant refuse even more enticing. Interesting times & Flames havent even started weaponizing their cap space yet.
Yes Conroy has gotten a lot of D back in his trades, but many of they are 3rd pairing guys, not top 4, except maybe Brzustewicz
Conroy has gotten a lot of D back but most are at best projected as 3rd pairing guys, except maybe Brzustewicz who has put up good numbers as an overage junior player
Ramus Andersson is no Joe Nieuwendyk.
Dallas traded one of, if not their top prospect at the time for Calgary’s number one centerman who had scored goals in consecutive years of 51, 51, 45, 45 & two other seasons over 35. Plus Nieuwendyk had already won a Stanly Cup.
For what? The hit on Stutzle? Stutzle himself said it was his own stick that rose up and clipped him, and that he should have done more to protect himself because he saw Xhekaj coming.
No player has to check the other guys IQ to decide whether to protect himself or not…can’t understand why it was the sticks fault…the league missed out on the appropriate penalty like they do quite often…some teams get preferential treatment…such as Boston, Pittsburg Montreal at times and Toronto…Powerful owners I would think
Well, we’ll soon see where Ottawa is concerned … Andlauer doesn’t exactly have to run two newspaper routes to make ends meet 🙂
So Swayman signed 8.25×8, At least it`s done
Yeah, at least that drama is off the board.
Depending upon how widespread the fan disappointment ran with his stance, he’d better start off playing well when he does get back in.
I will be surprised if Ullmark doesn’t put up better numbers than Swayman and more importantly if Forsberg doesn’t become the goalie he was expected to be.
Ulmark seems to be the glue in a platoon.
Now send Korpisalo to Providence and hope that someone claims him! Sway now time to back up your contract! Get ready for 55-60 starts!
habfan30 check the defensemen on Ottawa and Boston! It s not even close! You better hope Ullmark has a good year or no playoffs and he is gone to UFA!
Bussi on waivers
With Ned on ir if pens wants blom to get starter minutes maybe they claim bussi to back up Jarry. Then they can flip him later for a mid round pick when Ned returns?🤷♂️
So D’Amico is also suggesting that Xhekaj be recalled before the opening game against the Leafs.
“Xhekaj will likely be recalled as soon as possible and part of the starting lineup against the Toronto Maple Leafs on October 9.”
Thus the title of his story is only click bait IMHO.
Report: Don’t Be Surprised If Canadiens Send Arber Xhekaj To Laval
As for Dixon & his Mavrik Bourque trade for Andersson, I highly doubt Jim Nill will move either of his prized prospects in Bourque or Stankoven.
Bourque led their AHL team in points at the age of 22 last season. The Stars will need to have some good young players on cheap contracts next season when they have to resign the likes of Benn, Oettinger & Johnson. I suspect Oettinger will be looking to cash in on the big push for higher goaltender salaries.
Plus there is a veteran D-man in Kevin Shattenkirk who could be had on a much cheaper contract without giving a Class “A” prospect.
Also, I believe Brendan Smith can play both sides, left & right.
Big difference between Shattenkirk & Anderson, cmon now. Reason Shatts isnt signed anywhere. If Nill thinks Anderson is that piece to get you to the Cup, you have to pay the price in futures. Windows of contention are open indefinitely in the NHL cap world.
Agreed, the comparison between Andersson & Shattenkirk is correct.
But giving up Bourque to add Andersson seems like a huge over payment.
I see where Edmonton has placed 6′ 5″ 220 lb RD Josh Brown on waivers – after just signing him as a UFA on July 1 for 3 years at $1 mil per.
see this article just posted by Staples
https://torontosun.com/sports/hockey/nhl/cult-of-hockey/edmonton-oilers-josh-brown-noah-philp-raphael-lavoie
George,
The Oilers have to manny beter RD/men than
Josh Brown…he would be 8th guy on d
I hope someone like a bottom dewling team picks him up for there 3rd pairing RD❓
Coming thick and fast williew – just thought the Brown thing was a bit strange given that they signed him back in July as a UFA for 3 years
Utah signed p.t.o. Kailer Yamamaoto to a 1 year $775,000 contract, and Detroit has placed Justin Holl on waivers
Some notable players placed on waivers today or releaswd from p.t.o.
Carolina released p.t.o.’s Rocco Grimaldi and Sam Gagner
Brandon Bussi placed on waivers by Boston
Marshall R ifai and Matt Murray placed on Waivers by Toronto
James Reumer placed on waivers by Buffalo
Dustin Tokarski released from p.t.o by Ottawa and Adam Gaudette and Jan Jenik placed on waivers by Ottawa
Coming off of the double hip surgery Murray probably won`t be picked, Bussi will be the first goalie to go of the ones placed on waivers today. Rifai, like Brown have a bit of a poison pill attached to them an extra 2 years on their contracts to scare others away
That’s true enough.
I see where one of Ottawa’s 1st round picks back in 2017 – 28th overall – C Shane Bowers out of Boston U. has been placed on waivers by the Devils.
When Ottawa dealt his rights to Colorado in the Matt Duchene deal. a long-departed regular in here was positive Ottawa would soon regret that move.
Well, they did eventually regret it … but that has nothing to do with Bowers who just never could crack an NHL line-up anywhere. Of course that was the same guy who assured me Ottawa would regret losing Curtis Lazar … another sure thing in his view.