NHL Rumor Mill – December 10, 2024
In today’s NHL Rumor Mill: more on the Senators’ claim about “soft tampering” on Brady Tkachuk, the latest on Ducks defenseman Cam Fowler, and the clock could be ticking for Sabres GM Kevyn Adams.
MORE ON THE SENATORS CLAIM OF “SOFT TAMPERING” REGARDING BRADY TKACHUK
TSN: Pierre LeBrun reported Ottawa Senators owner Michael Andlauer didn’t hold back his frustration and anger over a recent report claiming the New York Rangers made Senators captain Brady Tkachuk a trade target.
Ottawa Senators left wing Brady Tkachuk (NHL Images).
Andlauer claimed it’s the third separate occasion over the past year that he and the team had to “put out a fire” about trade rumors regarding Tkachuk. He made it clear to LeBrun that he and his club have never spoken to another team about Tkachuk at any time, adding that the winger will remain with the Senators for the long term.
Chris Johnston wonders if this will be discussed during the current NHL Board of Governors meeting. He pointed out the league wasn’t happy about how this summer’s free-agent period began, noting the league sent around a memo warning the teams of fines or forfeiture of draft picks in cases of tampering.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The league was reportedly displeased over how quickly some of the top unrestricted free agents were signed within the opening hours of the free-agent market. It’s not unusual for those types of players to be quickly snapped up but some of this year’s signings occurred within minutes of the market opening.
Darren Dreger claims those warnings from the NHL are considered toothless by pretty much every owner around the league. He noted this seems to impact Canadian teams more, especially smaller markets, as there’s an opinion players in those markets would prefer going to greener pastures with lower taxation. Dreger thinks there’s little the league can do unless a team like the Senators files formal charges.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Some players in those markets prefer moving on but most tend to stay. The most notable recent examples are Leon Draisaitl re-signing with the Edmonton Oilers, and Connor Hellebuyck and Mark Scheifele re-upping with the Winnipeg Jets last year.
Accusations of tampering are easy to make but difficult to prove. Andlauer may be frustrated with dealing with these rumors but it comes with the territory. The best way to silence that speculation is to win. The Oilers dealt with rumors of Draisaitl and Connor McDavid moving on but that chatter faded once the club became a Stanley Cup contender.
OTTAWA SUN: Bruce Garrioch reports Andlauer is expected to address this issue with NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman and NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly before the Board of Governors meetings end on Tuesday.
Garrioch indicated the issue is someone gave New York Post reporter Larry Brooks this information about the Rangers targeting Tkachuk. Brooks has covered the Rangers for three decades, cultivating numerous sources. Garrioch also indicated Andlauer and Senators GM Steve Staios assured Tkachuk that he wouldn’t be traded.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: LeBrun and Garrioch defended Brooks and I agree that he didn’t make up this story. A trusted source passed that info along to Brooks, who duly reported it.
NEW YORK POST: Mollie Walker noted Andlauer saying his club hasn’t spoken to another team about Tkachuk. She indicated that was not mentioned in the Post’s original report.
ESPN.COM: Kevin Weekes reports his sources told him the Rangers have had no internal or external discussions around Tkachuk.
THE LATEST ON CAM FOWLER
SPORTSNET: In the latest “32 Thoughts: The Podcast”, Elliotte Friedman reported hearing the Anaheim Ducks wanted to send defenseman Cam Fowler to the Rangers as part of the return for Jacob Trouba.
Friedman believes Fowler wanted to be included in the trade as he wants to play for a contender. However, the deal couldn’t be done because the Rangers wanted cap flexibility and couldn’t take on Fowler’s $6.5 million cap hit.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Fowler is signed through next season and carries a four-team trade list. However, he’s indicated he’s willing to expand that list for the right offer.
IS THE CLOCK TICKING FOR SABRES GM KEVYN ADAMS?
DAILY FACEOFF: Lance Lysowski of The Buffalo News believes Sabres GM Kevyn Adams is running out of time to turn his club into a contender. They’re mired again near the bottom of the standings and risk missing the postseason for the 14th straight season.
Lysowski noted Adams tried to make moves this summer to bolster his roster, including going after Carolina Hurricanes forward Martin Necas. However, most players he pursued had no move or no-trade protection and blocked a move to Buffalo.
SPORTSNET: During Monday’s “32 Thoughts: The Podcast”, Elliotte Friedman reported Sabres fans are “all over Dylan Cozens.” He thinks teams have inquired about the struggling forward, but if he were Adams, he’d be fearful of Cozens becoming the next player to go on and win elsewhere like Jack Eichel, Ryan O’Reilly and Sam Reinhart.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Lysowski pointed out Adams is the longest-serving Sabres GM since Darcy Regier. That tenure could end soon if this club fails to improve.
The Sabres put a lot of faith in their young players. Some, like Rasmus Dahlin, have blossomed into stars but others like Cozens are struggling. Something must happen soon if this club hopes to end its long playoff drought.
Dreger: I’m still confused by the term “soft tampering.” I mean, can you just sort of cheat? You’re either tampering or you’re not tampering, “soft tampering” or otherwise.
Love this take. I said earlier that I don’t think any discussions have taken place between NY and Ottawa about Tkachuk, maybe I’m wrong? Maybe discussions DID take place and Ottawa is scrambling because it leaked? Otherwise, he is just grasping of delusional “soft tampering “ accusations.
Captain, if I had to guess what Andlauer is suggesting, it is that the NYR leaked it intentionally.
Hey if your listening Brady, we would luv to have you in NY, and if you want to read more into it, maybe it was even discussed with your GM!
Stirring the pot, trying to drive a wedge between the player and the team that is struggling? Just planting the seed in case he wants out?
I dunno, but if it didn’t happen, and someone from the team leaked that it did, then I wouldn’t be happy about it either if I was OTT.
If accurate why would the Rags do it? Not just for kicks, there would be a reason.
Or it’s what you suggested, they did and it got leaked. We will never know.
I think if NY was tampering, they’d probably not use a guy like Brooks to deliver the message.
This is 2 organizations in the last 2 weeks with ties to NY. Vancouver/ JT Miller and Ottawa with Tkachuk. Both Vancouver and Ottawa calling bs, literally.
NY is a struggling team at the moment. There will be speculation regarding their own players (as there has been) and about any player out there.
It’s just part of a high profile team with expectations that’s struggling. Specifically in the bigger markets, it’s just part of the game.
Again, I don’t believe Drury would use Brooks as the vessel to deliver a message.
It’s just noise. Gms and players just need to block it out.
NY, Tornado, Montreal, Boston etc will always have this kind of noise surrounding them.
No idea if Tkachuk is interested in leaving but this whole tampering thing is a bit out there. It wouldn’t take the Rangers a Larry Brooks piece to get Tkachuk the info lol. I’m sure it could be leaked a million more subtle ways. I have my doubts he will stay when his current contract expires but only real way to quell the “American stars want to leave Canadian teams” banter is for them to win. Ottawa seems to have many of the pieces needed to compete just not sure what the issue is there.
If the Senators were having a better season, this would be a non-story. The owner has a bee in his bonnet so he’s publicly flailing around over some unsubstantiated rumours in a known tabloid. Focus on the ice, not some worthless ink on paper.
I don’t get Buffalo. Some really good players . Maybe too young overall.
I still maintain you need a top third line to win consistently . It must have some speed grit & occasional finish ( not the nationality)
All 3 are defensively responsible and play with some truculence.
Sabres have to many holes bc the team isn’t constructed right.
No secondary scoring
No grit
Not one D-man that knows how to play in their own end. Can’t clear the front of the net, When pressured they turn the puck over.
Power and Samuelsson, big bodies who play like charmin.
Pegula keeps hiring first time GM’s and he hasn’t learned yet to find experience.
Say what you want about Murray and Botterill but they found trades, Adams is just terrible and I’d bet the ranch he has a longer leash then those other 2 had.
Silver screen,I hope Boston has that 3rd line in Frederic- Coyle- Kastellic trio!
Re; Buffalo and Ottawa,
They both need 1 more Older 2nd line forward who are good Like 33 yr old LW Chris Kreider
who can play top 6 and can Really Score Goals who
is 6ft3 and 230 lbs, he is tought and can Hit, he would be a Great addition to both teams✔️
The Sen’s really need a Big Physical TOUGH 4th line forward ALSO who can look after the young kids and so Brady Tkachuk does not have to do ALL the Fighting…..⁉️
Re; the Sen’s
I also think they could trade out Centre Norris
and Or LD d/man Chabot to teams in the bottom 6 that needs a good d/man or a good centre
For 2 X 1st round picks 1 in 2025 & 1 in 2026
( NOT ) Protected and open to top 10…..❓
Bottom dwellers that need a Centre or d/man
like
A Centre to the Ducks, Or Habs, or
Or
A LD man to the Sharks, or Hawks
as all 4 of these teams need players like that….❓
thoughts..
It would appear that insider info is being discussed by agents.I can’t see any NHL player agreeing to a new contract and moving family in a matter of minutes.
Buffalo and somewhat Ottawa miss some sandpaper in the lineup. Look at Ottawa for instance, a few games back Ullmark stopped the first shot, stopped the rebound but the opposing player put in the 3rd shot. You cant have all skill and we soft as a D. No fan of Trouba but both teams could have used him. Look at Power at Buffalo, big guy but many say to soft in front of the goalie. They both could also use a guy like Coleman from Calgary on a 3rd line who can play but still is a pain to play against, and that can skate, no goon like Reaves. Samuelsson was a potential big stay at home D in Buffalo but he is hurt all the time.
Is it tampering if internally you discuss how you would like to make a deal for a player like Brady T?
Andlauer is just not happy that Brady might day dream of coming to NYC and having Igor behind me. is that tampering or wishful thinking?
Brady can also see how Eichel+Reinhart left perennially underachieving small market Buffalo and won Cups elsewhere. and the obvious Mathew…
Rumors and media attention are good for the game. We want stories, attention and intrigue. The real story here is that small market teams (especially Canadian ones) struggle to attract and keep elite talent. The NHL has another problem, too: no state tax states have a huge advantage over everyone else. We can solve both problems with one rule change: ban no trade and no movement clauses. Without these clauses, teams could trade anyone anywhere (including small market teams). And without these clauses, no player would be willing to sign for less in a no state tax state knowing that he could be traded to a high tax state the very next day. The NHLPA would probably go on strike to avoid this, but it is a hill woth dying on for the league. As a fan, I would love to see the league ban these clauses even though I’m a Ranger fan and my team has no issues attracting and keeping talent.
Yeah but all that money and fame and all it gives you is a bottom feeder