Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – March 15, 2020
Could this season be the last for Zdeno Chara? Have we seen the last of Henrik Lundqvist and Marc Staal as Rangers, or Zach Parise and Mikko Koivu with the Wild? Check out the latest in the Sunday NHL rumor roundup.
COULD THIS SEASON BE CHARA’S LAST?
THE BOSTON GLOBE: Kevin Paul Dupont reports Zdeno Chara‘s agent said he and his client aren’t thinking about whether the Bruins captain will return for another season right now. Matt Keator believes he, Chara, and Bruins general manager Don Sweeney will meet at the end of the season to sort it out. The 43-year-old defenseman becomes an unrestricted free agent on July 1. Dupont feels it would be an anti-climactic end to Chara’s long run with the Bruins if the NHL cancels the rest of the season and the playoffs and Chara opts to retire or management feels it’s time to move on.
Could this be Zdeno Chara’s final NHL campaign? (Photo via NHL Images)
SPECTOR’S NOTE: If the salary cap remains at $81.5 million or falls below that figure, the Bruins probably won’t have sufficient cap room to bring back Chara. Torey Krug and Jaroslav Halak are also UFAs, while Jake DeBrusk, Anders Bjork and Matt Grzelcyk are restricted free agents. With over $61.2 million tied up in 17 players, finding room for Chara on a cheap one-year deal could prove a tight fit if they re-sign everyone else.
HAVE LUNDQVIST AND STAAL PLAYED THEIR FINAL GAMES AS RANGERS?
THE ATHLETIC: Rick Carpiniello wonders if Henrik Lundqvist has played his final game with the New York Rangers. The long-time Rangers starter had been shunted aside in favor of young goalies Igor Shesterkin and Alexandar Georgiev before the league paused the schedule over coronavirus concerns. The 38-year-old Lundqvist has a year remaining on his contract worth an annual average value of $8.5 million.
Carpiniello doesn’t expect the Blueshirts will go into training camp this fall carrying three goalies. Buying out Lundqvist’s contract this summer is one option. A trade is another, provided Lundqvist waives his no-movement clause and the Rangers absorb half of his AAV. Either way, the Blueshirts will have some dead cap space for next season.
Long-time Rangers defenseman Marc Staal could face a similar fate. He has a year left on his deal with an AAV of $5.7 million and a no-movement clause.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: I believe a buyout is more likely for Lundqvist than a trade, especially if the salary cap remains at $81.5 million for next season. Even by picking up half his AAV, there won’t be many teams with available space as there might have been under a higher ceiling. The same goes for Staal.
END OF THE LINE FOR KOIVU AND PARISE WITH THE WILD?
THE ATHLETIC: Michael Russo wonders if this schedule pause spells the end of Mikko Koivu’s NHL career. The 37-year-old Minnesota Wild captain is an unrestricted free agent this summer.
Sources say Koivu is leaning toward retirement. He declined to waive his no-movement clause a few weeks ago, indicating he couldn’t see himself playing for another team.
STARTRIBUNE.COM: Before the NHL’s pausing the regular-season schedule, Sarah McLellan reported on how Zach Parise’s play had improved following the Feb. 24 trade deadline. Nevertheless, his future with the Wild remains unclear as trade speculation could reignite down the road.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Wild reportedly discussed a deal with the New York Islanders that would’ve sent Parise to Long Island in exchange for winger Andrew Ladd. Both players waived their no-trade clauses to facilitate the deal but it ultimately didn’t come to pass. There’s speculation the two clubs could revisit it this summer, but a lower-than-projected salary cap could scuttle those plans.
If the season is canceled or the league scraps the rest of the regular-season schedule, we may have seen Koivu’s last game as an NHL player. Not the way anyone envisioned his NHL career coming to an end.
I can’t imagine Chara playing anywhere else at this stage of his HOF career.
6 more, 1 year contracts should bring him to the end.
BRUINS
Chara is very smart guy ..he has like 5 degrees some in commerce and speaks a few languages…
I think t may be time that he steps aside and allows for other players to get some much needed ice time moving forward especially Carlo…who I see as a successor of his role ( mind you I am merely stating to fill the ROLE not that he is the same player !)
Id like to see Chara stay with the club and move behind the bench as a D coach and eventually look to get in as a GM along the lines..
RANGERS
Iam still of the mind set and will stay my course that I think it is way more beneficial to buy out Lundqvist or look to make a deal and retain cap for one year and keep both young goalies for the future …I have broken down the buy out here a few weeks ago with Lyles help in the finance area..if you buy out Lundqvist and keep both goalies and with Sherkterkin still on ELC and do a very minor bridge deal with Georgieve you can keep both young goalies and the buyout penalty fee for less and still may have money left over …than what it would have been to keep Lundqvist alone..LOL ..
I think that the Rangers have two of the best young goalies in a league that does not have much high end up and coming talent in that position…
Georgieve could be a better asset worth more 2 years from now when you actually have to sign Sherksterkin to a deal..but in the mean time I would keep both 100%
WILD
In early posts this year I ve maintained that the Wild should blow things up..keep a few core players on the back end as D men seem to be the highest commodity right now to find…but they need to move into a NEW ERA..go younger faster and build on the wings first in size and speed or they may end up being the Habs for next 10 years…. again!
They also need to draft a quality sizeable centerman in the next 2 drafts !
IMO
…take care all.. be well…
Cheers
Hey, Kal.
Hard no to Chara moving aside.
Carlo and Charlie play the Right side, and Chara plays the Left.
Grz will play top pairing with Charlie when the time is right.
Krug plays with Carlo on the 2nd pairing, if he doesn’t move, after this contract.
Chara is definitely slowing down but what he brings short handed and to the locker room is immeasurable. Ultimate leader and competitor.
Depending on what the cap is, I think the same kind of decisions/discussions could be made for players like Brad Richardson, Jason Spezza, Alexander Steen, Jay Boumeister, Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook, Ilya Kovachuk…….All from teams with limited cap room. Thoughts?
I have been a hockey fan for a long time. I remember seeing Rocket Richard in his prime…and that’s a while ago.
Over the years I have heard many players say it is “all about the game” and other such remarks about how they love the game.
What is the over, under numbers for some or all of these players to step forward and take one for the team and agree to a one year deal for one dollar,
just because they want to stay in the game.
Is there a negative percentage chance? Is that a thing?
That remark about playing for $1 is comical. No matter how much you enjoy your job, will any readers work for $1 a year?
And I bet the job of any reader doesn’t take a fraction of the effort and training it takes to play in the NHL.
Maybe all the players should play for $1 for 1 season then the payroll would be under $30.00 per year which is just as comical as the original comment.
A cardiologist on the local radio said Bouwmeester’s playing days are over because he wears a defibrillator.
Another thing to watch is if the NHL brings in a one-time buyout change as they did in the past due to extenuating circumstances, in which case there could be a number of contracts terminated.
@ GEORGE 0
Good idea…
but why help the Gms get out of trouble …why is it always about helping the Ownership and Gms get out of the dicey situations they put themselves in …
for all the new CBA rules that Bettman implements for and on behalf of the ownership and in most cases take away from the NON STAR players pockets …the GMS are hired to find ways to circumvent all those initiatives …LMFAO and break the rules that they just put in place to disguise the GREED the ownership have ..TO QUOTE UNQUOTE keep parody and the game healthy !!!
LMFAO
OK …LOl …all these things are put into place to protect owners from hurting themselves as they did back in the 80s and 90s where they tried to but themselves a CUP …they would do so today if given a chance again! LOL
While Iam not disagreeing with you on the buyout suggestion ..as a get out of jail free card …the flip side is that the league is making record profits…
I can fly down to Florida stay in a Hotel for 3 days and go to a Panthers game and make my way back for the same price as it would cost me and my 2 sons to go to a leaf game for a 1 hour drive…..AND NOT BUY ANYTHING FROM THE CONCESSIONS AT SBC …LOL
Err, that wasn’t a “suggestion” by me Kal El – I simply pointed out that the possibility exists that, based on what I’ve read and heard (from the various panels) when any new guidelines are released it could include a one-time buyout arrangement along the lines used at least once before, and that it’s something to keep an eye on.
By and large I agree with your contention that there shouldn’t be provisions helping the stupid from themselves.
he has been a great one…..Shorecharaorrpark
Chara wont be retiring he is only making $2m per year.
Slow as molasses but a reach that spans have the arena. I doubt there is any player slower then Chara. (NOTE: I didnt say NHL)
If Chara didnt have that reach and size, we wouldn’t be in the NHL.
Testament to him to use the abilities he does have to create a spot for himself.
He is indeed slower than he used to be.
He is also, still the #1 defenseman on the #1 team in the league.
Give credit where credit is due.
He trained Carlo.
He’s training McAvoy.
He’s had time with Clifford when he’s struggled.
Lauzon will undoubtedly get some reps with him as well.
Chara can stay as long as he wants, imo.
Sorry SOP, he isn’t the number 1 defenseman on Boston. I did give him credit. “Testament to him to use the abilities he does have to create a spot for himself.”
He is fair value @ $2m and great team leader.
By Clifford you mean Clifton.
He isn’t hurting things all the time. Cassidy has a good handle on how to employ him.
I’m not ready to accept that, Caper.
Lol. But that’s my problem.
You’re right though.
He’s our number 2 defenseman as of right now. McAvoy is #1.
Yes I ment Clifton, not sure why I typed Clifford.
Just like you ment, deploy instead of employ.
SOP no i meant employ. lol
Whoops! My mistake, again. Tough week.
I think Lauzon is ready for more minutes. In my opinion Carlo #2 and Krug 1 or 3 depending on your view of off life for defence or offensive.
Luke Schenn is slower than molasses running uphill hes a pylon compared to Chara