NHL Rumor Mill – November 14, 2024
In today’s NHL Rumor Mill, an update on the Penguins plus the latest on the Ducks’ John Gibson, the Kings’ Vladislav Gavrikov, and the Sharks’ Mackenzie Blackwood.
LATEST PENGUINS SPECULATION
SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman believes the Pittsburgh Penguins trading Lars Eller won’t be the last player move they make this season. He claims they’ve let teams know they’re “open for business.”
The Penguins seek young NHL players, followed by already-drafted prospects, followed by draft picks. He believes pending UFAs Marcus Pettersson and Drew O’Connor will be among those to follow.
Friedman doesn’t see Sidney Crosby wanting out given he signed a two-year extension in September. He doesn’t think the Penguins want to trade Evgeni Malkin nor does Malkin want to be moved.
Kris Letang has three years remaining with a no-movement clause. Friedman believes his history of injuries and ailments makes the 37-year-old defenseman a gamble for other clubs. even if he wanted to be traded.
Erik Karlsson also has no-move protection and still carries a hefty salary-cap hit. However, Friedman noted that his actual salary will decline over the remaining two years of his contract, prompting him to suggest there would be interest in the talented defenseman.
Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson (NHL Images)
Friedman also wondered about the future of Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan. If they fire Sullivan, he believes it’ll be because they feel they need a new voice in the dressing room, not because he’s a bad coach. Sullivan would draw interest from other teams if he becomes available.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: One of those Penguins stars could agree to be traded. However, their respective cap hit would make it difficult to find a suitable deal. Age will also be a factor as they’re in the mid-to-late thirties.
Some folks took to social media following the Penguins’ humiliating loss to the Dallas Stars on Monday calling for Crosby to be traded to a better team, believing he deserves better than this. That’s his call, folks, not yours.
Maybe Crosby will one day accept a trade to a contender. However, that day doesn’t appear to be coming anytime soon.
MORE RUMOR TIDBITS FROM THE LATEST “32 THOUGHTS”
SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman reports a lot of teams expect the Los Angeles Kings will re-sign Vladislav Gavrikov. Doing so would shrink next summer’s pool of UFA defensemen.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Gavrikov was the subject of considerable trade speculation before the Kings acquired him from the Columbus Blue Jackets before the 2023 trade deadline. He’ll draw lots of interest if he tests next summer’s UFA market. Gavrikov could also become a valuable trade chip for the Kings if they become sellers before this season’s trade deadline.
Anaheim Ducks goaltender John Gibson has two years remaining on his contract. He’s made it clear he’s willing to consider more trade options than his trade protection states. However, the oft-sidelined Gibson must stay in the lineup.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Gibson has a 10-team no-trade list.
During Monday’s “32 Thoughts: The Podcast” episode, Friedman claimed the Colorado Avalanche revisited their interest in San Jose Sharks goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood. They’ve had an eye on Blackwood since last season.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Blackwood is eligible for UFA status next summer and probably won’t re-sign with the rebuilding Sharks. They could peddle him by the March 7 trade deadline.
Maybe Pens will make a move for Blackwood? He seems better than everyone they currently have by a country mile
Re, Hab’s, Pen’s & Buffalo, Goaltenders & d/men
James Reimer picked up by buffalo….👍
he is a very good back up @36…
Now they can send young Devon Levi 22 yr old down to the AHL
Levi is Not ready for the NHL and need at least one more year down there……🤔
The Habs..
the other team that i thought may take a run at him is the Habs as there Goaltending is poor..🤔 however i think they are looking at add a high Quality goaltender who can challenge and Or take
Sam Montembeault for the starting job….⁉️
Keep an Eye on the Preds, if the continue to fall
the Hab’s will be at the Top of the list chasing
Juuse Saros with a Top 1st pick Pick and Top d prospect and a salary dump to make it work for the hab’s Winger Josh Anderson..@$5.M
More on the Pen’s today….
if dubby wants to do somthing he better get going lots of team looking for player D & forwards if they want to start a re-build or Re-tool
Nobody is taking Erik Karlsson for 3.5 more years at $9,990000, he is slowing down and a bit of a defencive liability❗️
However if the Pen’s Retained 30 to 35% of Kris Letangs Salary i could see the Habs trading for him
maybe a 2nd pick to take the 2nd pairing RD spot
Re sharks
27 yr old Blackwood is eligible for UFA status next summer and i think he stays with them,
and
they dont bring Vitek Vanecek back❓
I have never seen a team- so willing to sacrifice 3 or 4 years o to please a sunsetting group of stars. Im a huge Sid fan, but isn’t this bordering on ridiculous? If I was a Pitt fan I wouldn’t attend a game. I am not a Dubas fan at all, but what is he supposed to do here? Can’t move on from the old core, let alone deal them and then sit and accumulate draft picks that are nowhere near lottery picks. You can make the argument for SId but bringing all of them back?
Sam; as you know Crosby, Malkin, Karlsson and Letang get to decide if they want to move. 3 of the 4 got multiple cups and maybe very comfortable in Pittsburgh and don’t want to uproot their families.
Rackell, Bunting and Hayes have limited protection and can be moved. Next season Bryan Rust loses his protection.
Be great full that Crosby, Malkin and Letang brought you multiple cups. I’m still hanging onto the bruins 2011 cup.
Yes, Caper, they do get to decide. But they wouldn’t be the first players to get approached by management and asked to consider moving.
Imagine being a player and management saying: “we’d like to give you a chance for another Cup, and several contenders are interested in you. Would you consider X, Y, or Z?”
Caper,Pittsburgh is close to becoming the Chicago BlackHawks! Substitute Kane,Toews,Keith for the Pittsburgh gang! That s the downside after winning multiple cups!
Lol Im not a Pens fan. I wasnt referring to trading them- they clearly all signed was referring to the actual signing them..
You mean the Cup the NHL refs stole from Vancouver right 👍
I agree that Dubas is a little hogtied… but please do not forget that HE wanted to make that big Karlsson splash and that is the albatross that now prevents him from doing anything further.
There were a lot of empty seats in Pensville at last night’s game! Trading off the core would certainly help their future!
Unfortunately Sid is part of the problem for signing off on the deals for Malkin,Letang and the Karlsson trade!By not signing Guentzel was an indication of the direction they were going!
Bigger question is how loyal do you need to be to your superstars? If Crosby wants to stay great BUT you cant let him decide he gets to bring everyone back- that is bad business, and that is how you lose a whole generation of the fan base you worked so hard to grow. Winning creates fans, 10 and 12 year old dont care was that core did- they just see them getting pumped every night
On the subject of goaltending, the Oilers also need help desperately in that department.
Any hope for another deep run cannot rely on the tandem of Stuart Skinner & Calvin Pickard who are making less than $4 Mil. combined which is less than what most legitimate No. 1 goalies earn. Skinner is a hometown boy and came up through the Oiler system but with a .881 SV% and an unfortunate tendency of letting in soft ones at the wrong time, it might be time to look at alternatives, if there are any out there.
The Leafs have three goalies in the minors that could be considered- two prospects and one with Stanley Cup credentials.