NHL Rumor Mill – November 20, 2024
In today’s NHL Rumor Mill: the fallout from the Bruins coaching change, the trade market for Ducks goalie John Gibson, and Commissioner Gary Bettman weighs in on speculation about a higher-than-projected salary cap next season.
FALLOUT FROM THE BRUINS COACHING CHANGE
TSN: Pierre LeBrun reports the Boston Bruins want to give interim head coach Joe Sacco a real shot at the job. Sacco was promoted from associate coach after the club fired Jim Montgomery on Tuesday.
LeBrun said the Bruins will give Sacco a legitimate chance at being their head coach. They have no plans to conduct a search for a new bench boss and won’t reach out to any legitimate candidates at this time.
Former Boston Bruins head coach Jim Montgomery (NHL.com).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: LeBrun and Chris Johnston also said that general manager Don Sweeney deserves some blame for putting the Bruins’ current roster together. They indicated there’s a feeling the players deserve their share as most haven’t played well thus far.
THE ATHLETIC: Fluto Shinzawa looked at possible destinations for Montgomery if a new head coaching position arises. He suggested the St. Louis Blues, Montreal Canadiens, Detroit Red Wings and Pittsburgh Penguins.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Those clubs are struggling through their own disappointing performances thus far. There’s a sense in Montreal that the Canadiens won’t replace head coach Martin St. Louis but he could use an experienced assistant coach. Montgomery might not be interested in being anyone’s assistant unless head coaching offers dry up.
SPORTSNET: Rory Boylen included the Bruins among his list of teams that need to consider an early-season trade. The Penguins, Buffalo Sabres and Nashville Predators were also on Boylen’s list, published before the Bruins fired Montgomery.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Those four clubs have frequently surfaced in the rumor mill recently. Their respective general managers are believed to be seeking help for their rosters.
The fact that the Bruins opted to replace their coach probably tells us all we need to know about the caliber of talent currently available in the trade market.
The Bruins could be in the market for a defenseman if they continue to look for a trade. Boston Hockey Now’s Andrew Fantucchio recently observed that Hampus Lindholm’s injury leaves them with a significant hole on the blueline.
THE ATHLETIC: Sean Gentille looked at other coaches who could be on the hot seats with their respective clubs. They include Derek Lalonde of the Detroit Red Wings, Luke Richardson of the Chicago Blackhawks, and Mike Sullivan of the Penguins.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Gentille listed several others but Lalonde, Richardson and Sullivan seem most in danger of losing their jobs.
UPDATE ON JOHN GIBSON
THE ATHLETIC: Pierre LeBrun looked at the market for John Gibson if the Anaheim Ducks were to retain half of the 31-year-old goaltender’s $6.4 million annual cap hit through 2026-27.
LeBrun suggested the Carolina Hurricanes and Colorado Avalanche as potential fits. Both teams are contenders but there are concerns about their goaltending depth.
However, LeBrun reports the Avalanche are okay sticking with their goalies because they currently don’t see any significant improvements in the trade market. He speculates it might be a different story for the Hurricanes if starter Frederik Andersen remains sidelined.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Ducks have reportedly been unwilling to retain salary to move Gibson. That might change now that he has only two more seasons left on his contract after this one. The rise of young goaltender Lukas Dostal might also feel more receptive toward that notion.
NO BIG INCREASE IN THE SALARY CAP, SAYS BETTMAN
THE SCORE: Josh Gold-Smith reports NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman dismissed recent rumors suggesting the league and the NHL Players Association could agree to raise the salary cap for next season well beyond original projections.
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman raised eyebrows over the weekend when he reported the two sides would discuss increasing the cap between $7 million and $8 million instead of the originally projected $4.4 million.
“I don’t know where that came from,” said Bettman. “The numbers that were being thrown around were not accurate, and any change would require an agreement between us (the league) and the players’ association in terms of how it’s computed, and we haven’t had those discussions. So somebody, I think, floated something on a slow news day.”
The standard raise to the cap is five percent which would see it rise from $88 million this season to $92.4 million for 2025-26.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Bettman didn’t rule out the possibility that it could be higher but it sounds like it won’t be near what Friedman suggested.
I have read a lot of comments about the Detroit head coach. Not very positive. So Montgomery could head there under the Yzerplan.
A few teams Boston, Detroit, Pittsburg are teams where the coach is NOT the problem… look upstairs and start there
Boston and Pittsburgh are where they are because they have tried to win and should have retooled/rebuilt a few years ago, like when Malkin and Letangs contracts where up for renewal. Detroit is another matter, feels like Yzerman went out of the rebuild a year or two to early and now they are stuck in the middle
Hi Don
I disagree re Pittsburgh
Sullivan may not be THE (top) problem; but he certainly IS a problem
Yes , I’d say 65%-75% of the issue is on Dubas
That said; even though he’s been handed a sub-optimal roster; his job is to get the best out of the team he has. To that end, he has in no way done so.
Repetitive lost leads; hyper line juggling and D-pairing changes to the team’s detriment; dressing players that are not as good as others available; never sitting (or heaven forbid putting them in the press box) individuals who are only 100’ players AND/OR repeat defensive miscue offenders AND/OR apathetic players AND/OR players who only “play” for 2 periods then give up; id all on Sully.
He often rewards (more ice time) those same mistake ridden/apathetic/100’/2 period players with more ice time
So 65%-75% is on Dubas but 25%-35% is on Sully
It IS time for a coaching change for Pens
Detroit most definitely has a coachspectorshockeying problem and NOT a problem upstairs. Yzermans plan is all based on prospects building the core and then bringing in all of the right pieces in a year or two. He said he wanted to do this , inorder to manage the CAP for a LONG term rebuild. Please open your ears ! I t is not his fault that some fans are ignorant and don’t listen when he answers there questions. Copps supposedly bad contract and many others will be of the books in 1 or 2 years. Then the REAL TEAM will be put together. The only real mistake He’s made was picking a novice coach , when our core really needed a tried and true, compatent coach. I think he should bring in Quenneville now, because the timing is perfect! He can coach this team right to the cup like he did in Chicago ! It is almost exactly the same scenario he had there.
Sweeney put together tge best possible roster he could’ve. If you think he paid too much for Lindholm and Zadorov he did just like almost every other team in FA does. Don did his job the coaches and players take up from there. As they say you can’t fire a player and it’s kinda early for a trade. I think all the new faces learning the system Marshy coming back from injury at 36 and the whole Swayman ordeal are where the issues started. Leadership hasn’t been great either. So Monty paid the price. Outside of 2 games the Bruins have looked like bear leaguers all season. Zero chemistry and no team identity
Honestly, I can’t believe Cam Neely still has a job with the Bruins! Poor management over and over.
Anyone else think Yzerman might be one of the more overrated GMs inthe league?
Bob,
A Re-build takes time….. i think we see 2-3 more years of Re-build in Detroit
they still dont have a young supperstar forward
maybe its in this year or next years draft….❓
7878,
I think its an other crappy year for the Pen’s
Same as last year they need a other few 4-5 high draft picks… they have no young player thats a WoW to get Excited about…..❓
the Pen’s – & Dubby will never like to call it a Re-build But untill Sid says i want a shot at the cup with one of his buddies Nate with the Ave or Conner with the Oil
The Pen’s will be bottom feeders and Not be a threat to any one in the playoffs, however they wont make it that far….
and now they want to trade a top 4 d/man in 28 yr old LD Marcus Pettersson……..⁉️
Williew
Rangers sent out “the letter” in 2018. Officially starting rebuild 2018/19 season. In 2021/22 they went to conference finals. Detroit hasn’t been in playoffs since 2016. They’ve had 7 top 10 picks since. 2-3 more years?
Should of been a 3 way trade…. Sullivan to Boston, Montgomery to Detroit & Blashill to Pitt.
Sullivan isnt the problem and who can do more with the Bruins
Overrated? Have you been watching the Grand Rapids Griffins lately? Record pace of wins ! Also we have some elite looking prospects in Sweden & Russia. More great prospects in juniors, aswell ! (A FULL CUPBOARD). The problem right now is the coach, period!! He no longer seems to have control of the room. I think they have totally lost belief in his system!
“Floated something” sums up Friedman pretty well. The one time guy to go to is nothing more than a social media whore these days. I find he often floats something as one does passing gas: lets one out and looks around to see if anyone notices.
There’s so much, “I’m hearing” or the classic BSer’s BS line, “people say” or “someone once said” accompanying his blurbs to the point that if you listen, he’s not really giving any information other than the general musings of his followers on his socials…ie pandering to the ignorant masses starving for insights.
This will be one of the few times I’ll say this, but, good on Bettman for calling out his BS. In all honesty a cap going up that much that fast will certainly help the richer teams come out from hitting the cap ceiling and definitely hurt smaller market teams we need like the Jets. What Bettman needs to do is find a way to help the smaller market teams thrive not just survive and if he’s not up to the task, the door this over there.
Ron Moore, great post couldn’t agree more on Friedman he talks constantly and says nothing.
Also my take on the Bruin’s situation is that Neely has to something more than throwing water bottles in his sky box and throwing his players under the bus when they hold out.
Freidman never posts anything Ive havent read or heard elsewhere.
Channel gets changed every time he starts with his usual “im hearing”, “i heard” or my favorite “i think”.
Just regurgetated fluff.
What are the chances the players union won`t agree to raise the cap as much as possible. Make it so Gary
Overrated? Have you been watching the Grand Rapids Griffins lately? Record pace of wins ! Also we have some elite looking prospects in Sweden & Russia. More great prospects in juniors, aswell ! (A FULL CUPBOARD). The problem right now is the coach, period!! He no longer seems to have control of the room. I think they have totally lost belief in his system!
8787
I disagree with you my friend. Dubas has had the unbelievable task of cleaning up Hextall’s and Brian Burke’s absolute shit show reign as the Penguins brass…everyone seems to forget that !!
They are way more responsible for what’s going on..Hextall passed on guys like Vinny Trochet who is killing it in New York the list goes on bro…list goes on !
Dubas continues to stock pile picks, got a solid return for Guentzel (who was leaving) Bunting / Ponomarev/Koivunen and a 2nd.
Yes he missed on Ryan Graves (who was good in Colorado and New Jersey) who knew he would fall flat and Karlsson he went for it and that hasn’t gone well at all….ALL TRUE
But this year I like when he added Blake Lizotte (injured alot), I like Cody Glass, and Anthony Beauvillier (6 or 7 goals already) good pick ups for bottom six..
Musharev is so good and will be the goalie soon ahead of even Blomqvist who has been up and solid.
The goaltending with Jarry has been atrocious and the defense with Karlson, Letang and Graves has been brutal….agreed
Pens have god youngsters coming in
Tristan Broz,
Rutger McGroarty, 21
Vasily Ponomarev, 22
Ville Koivunen, 21
Owen Pickering, 20
Sergi Musharev 20
Tanner Howe 19
They will have $ 20 million this off season to play with and the cap is going up again…so maybe next year they get alot better.
Rumor has it Pens are talking with the Sharks on Goalie Mackenzie Blackwood.
lots of moves coming…give Dubas a chance he has had barley 2 years to clean up Hextall’s mess..
Hey Blackgold,
I dont think the Sharks Mackenzie Blackwood is going anywhere he is only 27, i think the sharks give him a 3-4 year deal……❓
Blackwood will mentor the young Russian Yaroslav Askarov who will be there back up next season….
Vitek Vanecek will be Gone as a UFA he has been a $3.4M Bust….
The sharks have 3-4 more years of re-build
Willie….You are probably right was viewing a hockeybuzz post…
Blackwood was outstanding vs the Penguins in a 4-3 OT win by the Penguins.
One can dream though he would be a nice fit though..LOL
Sorry BlackNGold
I can’t disagree more
Dubas should have started the rebuild right from day 1, he didn’t.
When he decided against the rebuild; he then committed to making the team better.
Since then he has lost every single trade with one *exception). Every single one but that one.
He has failed (who, how much paid, term given) at every single UFA acquisition
To get Crosby to finally re-up; he promised he would make team better. He actually made team worse (by subtraction of Eller and no roster player coming back). His return on Eller was also much less than expected AND he traded with a div rival
*Only trade he won (at it was very vey marginal: 2nd day of ‘23 draft, we gained s 7th rounder so that Rangers could move up one spot late in 3rd round
We now have dwindling attendance, viewership, and merch sales; and a team with no collective desire to fight for s win
He’s ruining the twilight years of two first ballot HHoFers and another HHoFer (non first ballot)
He’s failed miserably
Hey Blackgold,
Re the Sharks,
the SJS are going a Very Good job at Re-building
They also have a Scoring Centre 60pts last season and doing well this season…Mikael Granlund
Maybe a trade with the Nashville Preds..as the Really need a Centre for a Mid 12-20 1st round pick ❓
This is what they have so far in SJ….
Up front the sharks have 3 very good young prospects with the team right now,
C. Macklin Celebrini, 18
C. Will Smith,19
LW. William Eklund 22
3rd line Centre Ty Dellandrea 24
Young d/men
RD. Jack Thompson 22.
LD, last year top pick,Sam Dickinson 6ft3 & 209lb Who will be there top pairing LD
–Yaroslav Askarov G 22, who will play NHL next season & maybe a few this season
They need to Add 1 Or 2 Top RD men in this draft But if they pick Top 4…? i think they will they will take a big Winger like
Michael Misa or Porter Martone’s if they are both gone…
They Also have
Mikael Granlund a Scoring Centre who they could get a 1st pick for with 50% retained Salary and then pick up a RD man most of them seam to be Ranked16-32 for RD in the Draft…🤔
they also have 2 d/men Cody Ceci & Jan Ruta they could get a 2nd & 3rd for…..??
Overrated? Have you been watching the Grand Rapids Griffins lately? Record pace of wins ! Also we have some elite looking prospects in Sweden & Russia. More great prospects in juniors, aswell ! (A FULL CUPBOARD). The problem right now is the coach, period!! He no longer seems to have control of the room. I think they have totally lost belief in his system!
Goal tending a bit of an issue in Detroit. Where is Cossa ? A first round pick.
Edvisson is and will be a stud. Drafting and prospects are not an issue. A good mix of vets . Coaching has to be it. They should be better but kinda starts with stopping the puck.
I think the Hawks know that they have and Luke Richardson ain’t the problem. They were scorched earth 3
years ago
I have a feeling Gibson ends up in Carolina once Andersen is done
( which I thought was 3-4 years ago )