NHL Rumor Mill – September 24, 2024

by | Sep 24, 2024

NHL Rumor Mill – September 24, 2024

In today’s NHL Rumor Mill: the latest on Igor Shesterkin’s contract talks with the Rangers and speculation over whether we’ll see an increase in offer sheets.

THE ATHLETIC: Arthur Staple and Peter Baugh report sources claiming Igor Shesterkin’s contract talks with the New York Rangers will be shelved if there’s no deal in place once the 2024-25 regular season begins next month. The Rangers kick off the campaign in Pittsburgh on Oct. 9.

Shesterkin, 28, is in the final season of his four-year contract with an average annual value of $5.666 million. He’s slated to become an unrestricted free agent next July.

New York Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin (NHL Images).

Those sources also said the two sides were “not remotely close” in negotiations. There’s a risk that things could spill over into next offseason.

NEW YORK POST: Mollie Walker reports Shesterkin declined to comment about the status of his contract talks, preferring to keep his focus on the upcoming season. Nevertheless, she cited sources confirming those negotiations could be put on hold if a deal isn’t in place by Oct. 9.

Walker also confirmed via industry sources that the Shesterkin camp is aiming for an average annual value of $12 million on his next contract. That would make him the highest-paid goaltender in the league.

The longer Shesterkin remains unsigned, the more precarious the situation becomes for the Rangers. They’ll face competition from other clubs who can afford to pay the former Vezina Trophy winner what he wants.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Rangers need Shesterkin to keep their Stanley Cup window open. There aren’t many suitable replacements via next summer’s trade or free-agent market.

Shesterkin’s departure would mean a shift into a transition phase for the Blueshirts. That could lead to veterans like Jacob Trouba, Artemi Panarin and Chris Kreider getting peddled in the trade market.

Trouba is the most likely to be traded now that he has a 15-team no-trade list this season and a 12-team list for next season. Kreider has a 15-team no-trade list. Panarin would have to waive his no-movement clause and he carries a hefty $11.6 million cap hit.

THE ATHLETIC: Pierre LeBrun wondered if the St. Louis Blues successful signings of former Edmonton Oilers defenseman Philip Broberg and winger Dylan Holloway could lead to an increase in offer sheets.

LeBrun spoke with several NHL general managers and player agents who offered up mixed views on the subject. He believes that a well-respected general manager like the Blues’ Doug Armstrong signing Broberg and Holloway could open the door a crack to future offer sheets. LeBrun also noted the lack of rancor from the Oilers in response to those signings.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Offer sheets have been part of the CBA for decades. They remain a rarely used tactic because teams often matched, making it a futile exercise.

The Broberg and Holloway signings were unique as it was the first time a team successfully signed away two players from the same team simultaneously. The Oilers’ frenzy of signings earlier in the offseason left them lacking sufficient cap space to match those offers.

There could be what LeBrun suggested as an “uptick” in offer sheet signings going forward. However, it’s still up to the player to decide if they want to sign them. History shows most usually don’t, which is another reason why they rarely occur.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 24, 2024

by | Sep 24, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 24, 2024

Recaps of Tuesday’s preseason games, the Jets re-sign Cole Perfetti, Wild forward Matt Boldy is sidelined week-to-week, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAP OF TUESDAY’S PRESEASON ACTION

NHL.COM: The Utah Hockey Club picked up their first-ever preseason home victory by defeating the Los Angeles Kings 3-2 on an overtime goal by Clayton Keller.

Dallas Stars defenseman Lian Bichsel scored a buzzer-beating goal in a 3-2 win over the Colorado Avalanche.

The Montreal Canadiens blanked the Philadelphia Flyers 5-0. Patrik Laine was held scoreless but generated five shots in his preseason debut with the Canadiens.

Calgary Flames forward Matt Coronato scored twice in a 6-3 win over the Edmonton Oilers in split-squad action. Oilers captain Connor McDavid scored a goal and picked up an assist in this contest. The other Flames squad beat the Oilers 6-1 with Connor Zary tallying twice and collecting an assist and Yegor Sherangovich scoring two goals.

The Buffalo Sabres beat the Columbus Blue Jackets 6-1. Zach Benson and Peyton Krebs each had a goal and an assist.

Winnipeg Jets forward Cole Perfetti (NHL Images).

HEADLINES

THE WINNIPEG SUN: The Jets signed forward Cole Perfetti to a two-year, $6.5 million contract. Perfetti, 23, missed the first six days of training camp before he and the Jets agreed to this new deal. The average annual value is $3.25 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The report indicates the Jets’ initial offer was well below $3.25 million. The Perfetti camp sought a deal comparable to that of Ottawa’s Shane Pinto ($3.75 million AAV) and New Jersey’s Dawson Mercer ($4 million AAV).

Perfetti has little leverage coming off an entry-level contract. He’ll have arbitration rights at the end of this deal and could improve that leverage by improving his performance over the next two years.

TSN: Minnesota Wild forward Matt Boldy is sidelined week-to-week with a lower-body injury. Boldy, 23, could miss the Wild’s season opener on Oct. 10.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Boldy’s become one of the Wild’s best scorers over the last two seasons. They’ll be hoping he makes a swift recovery in time for the start of the upcoming campaign.

THE PROVINCE: InGoal Magazine’s Kevin Woodley reports Thatcher Demko’s knee issue is with the popliteus muscle, located at the back of the knee. The Vancouver Canucks’ goaltender has been rehabbing the injury, which sidelined him since the opening game of the 2024 playoffs.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Woodley doesn’t know the severity of Demko’s injury but supports his claim it’s a rare injury. He said he’s spoken with two people who’ve been in the league for over 30 years and they’ve never seen this condition before.

Demko spoke with the media last week regarding his injury. He didn’t provide a timeline for his return to action but remains confident in the progression of his rehab process.

THE DENVER POST: This is a critical season for Colorado Avalanche goaltender Alexandar Georgiev. He’s in the final season of his three-year contract and is coming off a streaky season as the Avs starter, though he enjoyed a bounce-back performance after allowing seven goals on 23 shots in the opening game of the 2024 playoffs.

The Avalanche parted ways with former starters Philipp Grubauer in 2021 and Darcy Kuemper in 2022. Georgiev is entering a season that will determine if he stays in Colorado beyond one contract.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Avalanche must also deal with limited cap space. They have over $73 million invested in 15 active roster players for 2025-26 with Mikko Rantanen, Jonathan Drouin, and Oliver Kylington also eligible for UFA status.

COLORADO HOCKEY NOW: Speaking of contracts, the Avalanche signed winger Logan O’Connor to a six-year contract extension with an AAV of $2.5 million. He’s in the final season of a three-year deal with an AAV of $1.05 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: A lengthy but affordable deal for O’Connor. The 28-year-old has become a reliable two-way forward and penalty killer for the Avalanche.

LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL: Alexander Holtz hopes for a fresh start following his trade to the Golden Knights from the New Jersey Devils. Chosen seventh overall in the 2020 NHL Draft, the 22-year-old Holtz struggled to move up in the Devils’ crowded depth chart on the wings.

RG.ORG: Defenseman Tony DeAngelo said he considered every option to sign an NHL contract, including a professional tryout offer, before signing a one-year contract with KHL club SKA St. Petersburg.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Former NHL goaltender Antti Raanta has signed a one-year contract with Swiss club Geneve-Servette HC.

TSN: Philadelphia Flyers head coach John Tortorella invited Guy Gaudreau, father of the late Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau, to assist with drills on Monday. Gaudreau is a former hockey coach at Holydell Ice Arena and Gloucester Catholic High School in New Jersey.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: A kind gesture by Tortorella, who said he didn’t know the Gaudreaus but extended an open invitation to Guy to return and help the Flyers at any point.










NHL Rumor Mill – September 23, 2024

by | Sep 23, 2024

NHL Rumor Mill – September 23, 2024

Check out the latest on the Flames and Oilers in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

THE ATHLETIC: Amid rumors of unrest among some Calgary Flames veterans not wanting to be stuck in a rebuild, Eric Duhatschek was asked by a reader what the trade market would be for Jonathan Huberdeau, Blake Coleman, MacKenzie Weegar, Mikael Backlund, and Nazem Kadri.

Duhatschek doesn’t see Huberdeau moving without the Flames retaining at least 30 percent of his $10.5 million annual cap hit. The 31-year-old winger must also re-establish himself as a point-per-game player.

Calgary Flames forward Nazem Kadri (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Duhatshek believes we should “never say never” but the Flames will find Huberdeau difficult to move with that hefty cap hit running through 2030-21. He also has a full no-movement clause throughout the deal.

Coleman, 32, could have the most value. He has a championship pedigree and a $4.9 million average annual value through 2026-27. Teams could come calling about the two-way forward near the trade deadline.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Agreed. Coleman has a 10-team no-trade list but that gives the Flames considerable leeway if the right offer is made.

The 35-year-old Backlund took a pay cut to stay in Calgary. He could draw attention near the trade deadline but finishing his career with the team he started with is important to him. “I don’t see him moving,” replied Duhatschek.

Weegar carries a $6.25 million AAV through 2030-31 and is an important piece of the Flames’ transition. Duhatschek believes it would take “something special” to pry him away. He thought the Ottawa Senators would’ve been a good destination for Weegar but the Flames asking price would be Shane Pinto and that’s a non-starter for the Senators.

Kadri, 33, has a $7 million cap hit through 2028-29. Duhatschek thinks he’d be a good addition to a club with a three-year Stanley Cup window. However, Kadri recently told reporters to “pump the brakes” on trade speculation.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Flames’ performance this season could determine Kadri’s willingness to stick around. His cap hit isn’t as expensive as Huberdeau’s but the Flames might still have to retain some of it to facilitate a deal because of his age.

Duhatshek considers forwards Andrei Kuzmenko ($5.5 million AAV) and Anthony Mantha ($3.5 million) most likely to move if they have decent seasons. Both are slated to become unrestricted free agents in July.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Jim Parsons noted the Edmonton Oilers could garner some salary-cap flexibility to add to their roster by placing sidelined winger Evander Kane ($5.125 million AAV) on long-term injury reserve.

If they do, Parsons doesn’t see them using it to sign PTO winger Mike Hoffman. Instead, he believes they could use it to bolster their defense corps, depending on whether offseason acquisition Ty Emberson can play top-four minutes.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: If the Oilers go that route they’ll have to be prepared to shed salary to make room for Kane if he returns to action in January or February.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 23, 2024

by | Sep 23, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 23, 2024

Recaps of Sunday’s preseason action, the latest on Evander Kane, Arthur Kaliyev, Tony DeAngelo and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAP OF SUNDAY’S PRESEASON GAMES

NHL.COM: San Jose Sharks rookie Macklin Celebrini had a goal and an assist in his first NHL preseason game as his club dropped a 4-2 decision to the Vegas Golden Knights.

San Jose Sharks prospect Macklin Celebrini (NHL.com).

The Utah Hockey Club inadvertently scored its first-ever preseason goal into their own net but overcame that blunder to defeat the St. Louis Blues 5-3. Michael Carccone scored twice and Logan Cooley scored the winner on a penalty shot with 1:17 remaining in the third period.

Steven Stamkos scored in his preseason debut with the Nashville Predators but his club fell 6-2 to the Florida Panthers in a split-squad game at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise. The other Panthers squad nipped the Predators 3-2.

The New York Rangers got a goal and an assist from Filip Chytil in a 3-2 win over the Boston Bruins.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Chytil is trying to get his career back on track after missing most of 2023-24 with concussion symptoms.

An overtime goal by Carter Yakemchuk lifted the Ottawa Senators to a 6-5 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs. Max Pacioretty scored twice and collected an assist and John Tavares had three assists for the Leafs.

Philadelphia Flyers rookie winger Matvei Michkov had two assists in his first NHL preseason contest in a 6-2 win over the Washington Capitals. Joel Farabee scored a goal and picked up three assists for the Flyers.

The New York Islanders doubled up the New Jersey Devils 4-2. Goaltender Jacob Markstrom stopped 17 of 19 shots in his preseason debut with the Devils.

Calgary Flames goaltender Dustin Wolf kicked out 33 shots as his club crushed the Seattle Kraken 6-1. Matt Coronato scored a goal and added two assists for the Flames.

The Edmonton Oilers defeated the Winnipeg Jets 3-2 on an overtime goal by Cam Dineen.

HEADLINES

SPORTSNET: Oilers winger Evander Kane is not expected to return to action until January or February 2025. He underwent surgery on Friday to repair both hip abductors, two hernias, and two abdominal tears.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Oilers have over $945K in cap space to start this season. Kane has an average annual value of $5.125 million. They can place the 33-year-old winger on long-term injury reserve to add another player if that addition were to push them over the $88 million salary cap. However, they could try to avoid that as much as possible to accrue cap room during this season to put toward the March 7 trade deadline.

DAILY FACEOFF: Los Angeles Kings forward Arthur Kaliyev is sidelined indefinitely with a fractured clavicle. He suffered the injury during a scrimmage on Friday.

RG.ORG: Sergey Demidov reports Tony DeAngelo has signed a one-year contract with KHL club SKA St. Petersburg. The 28-year-old defenseman appeared in 31 games last season with the Carolina Hurricanes. He’s played 371 NHL games since 2016-17 with the Arizona Coyotes, New York Rangers, Philadelphia Flyers and Hurricanes.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: DeAngelo has fine offensive skills but his defensive game needs work. He still carries some baggage from his emotional split with the Rangers in 2021.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Adam Proteau believes the NHL could return to Arizona in a few years. He cited comments by Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly indicating his belief a team could succeed in that market under the right circumstances, those being the location and construction of an NHL arena.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The NHL allowed former Arizona Coyotes owner Alex Meruelo to land an expansion franchise if he located and built a suitable arena within five years. He’s since relinquished his rights to the Coyotes.










Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – September 22, 2024

by | Sep 22, 2024

Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – September 22, 2024

Check out the latest on the Ducks and Blue Jackets in the Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup.

THE ATHLETIC: Eric Stephens reports Cam Fowler hopes the trade talk surrounding him won’t be a distraction to his Anaheim Ducks teammates during training camp.

The Ducks and the 32-year-old Fowler are looking at a potential trade that might be mutually beneficial, though when that happens is anyone’s guess. The veteran defenseman said he remains focused on being the best player he can be for the Ducks, adding that he has a good relationship with general manager Pat Verbeek.

Anaheim Ducks defenseman Cam Fowler (NHL Images)

Meanwhile, the Ducks and goaltender John Gibson are also believed to be open to finding a trade. However, his contract and the decline in his play make it difficult to move him.

Young forward Trevor Zegras “has had to fend off suggestions that he isn’t the type of player Verbeek wants as a long-term leading piece.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Fowler seems the more likely to be traded during this season. He’s an established veteran top-pairing defenseman with two years remaining on his contract who would be enticing to a playoff club. He carries a $6.5 million annual cap hit but the Ducks could be willing to retain part of it to facilitate a deal near the March 7 trade deadline for the right return.

Gibson’s been a fixture in the rumor mill since 2022. He has an average annual value of $6.4 million running through 2026-27 and a 10-team no-trade list. No one will be surprised if he’s still with the Ducks after the March 7 deadline.

Zegras had a difficult 2023-24 campaign. He missed training camp because of his contract negotiations and most of the season due to injuries. His performance this season could determine his future in Anaheim.

THE ATHLETIC: Aaron Portzline reports the Columbus Blue Jackets are currently projected to be $3.4 million under this season’s $65 million salary cap minimum due to the recent death of Johnny Gaudreau.

The Blue Jackets are awaiting word from the league and the NHL Players’ Association as to whether they’ll get a one-time concession given the circumstances. They don’t have to be cap-compliant until rosters are settled two days before their Oct. 10 season opener.

SPORTSNET: Luke Fox wonders how Blue Jackets GM Don Waddell will wield his $24.8 million in cap space this season.

“Does he try to trade for an impact forward? Pound the waiver wire like crazy when spendy teams get forced into cap compliance in a couple of weeks?

Does he weaponize that budget by taking on a problem contract and further stocking the Jackets’ pool of picks and prospects? Or by acting as a third-party broker, eating money in deadline deals?”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Fox pointed out that Waddell has options and could make news this season with some significant moves. The Jackets will be a team worth monitoring in the rumor mill.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 22, 2024

by | Sep 22, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 22, 2024

The preseason begins, Jonathan Marchessault’s junior team retires his number, Robin Lehner explains his absence from Golden Knights’ training camp, the Canucks sign Kevin Lankinen, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

PRESEASON SCORES

NHL.COM: Preseason play began with three games on Sept. 21.

Buffalo Sabres center JJ Peterka (NHL Images).

The Buffalo Sabres thumped the Pittsburgh Penguins 7-3. JJ Peterka led the Sabres with a hat trick while Jesse Puljujarvi tallied all three goals for the Penguins.

Minnesota Wild goalie Jesper Wallstedt kicked out 35 shots in a 5-2 victory over the Winnipeg Jets. Kaapo Kahkonen stopped 23 shots for the Jets.

The Dallas Stars nipped the St. Louis Blues 2-1. Casey DeSmith stopped all 14 shots he faced through two periods while Kyle Capobianco and Colin Blackwell scored for the Stars. Kasperi Kapanen replied for the Blues as Jordan Binnington saved all 10 shots he faced in the first period.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Preseason play runs through Oct. 5. Ten games are on tap for Sunday including the Ottawa Senators meeting the Toronto Maple Leafs, the New York Rangers facing off against the Boston Bruins, and split-squad games between the Nashville Predators and the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers.

RDS.CA: The QMJHL’s Quebec Remparts retired Jonathan Marchessault’s No. 18 jersey at the Videotron Centre. The Nashville Predators winger played for the Remparts from 2007-08 to 2010-11.

It was an emotional ceremony for Marchessault. During his remarks, he revealed that his mother had recently passed away.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: My condolences to Marchessault for his loss.

LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL: Golden Knights goaltender Robin Lehner released a statement explaining why he didn’t report for his training camp medical. He’s been sidelined since April 2022 after undergoing shoulder in May 2022 and hip surgery in August and has been on long-term injury reserve ever since.

“All I can say at this time is everyone knows why I couldn’t be there. I was waiting calmly for things to be sorted out.”

All players, including those on LTIR, are supposed to undergo a physical before the start of each season. The Golden Knights are in contact with the league and the NHL Players’ Association about the matter.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Lehner has a year remaining on his contract with an annual cap hit of $5 million. However, it could be terminated if the league and PA agree that he violated the terms of the CBA.

THE PROVINCE: The Vancouver Canucks signed goaltender Kevin Lankinen to a one-year, $875K contract.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canucks had been in talks with Lankinen for several weeks as starter Thatcher Demko continues to rehab a nagging lower-body injury. He’s taking a significant pay cut to join the Canucks after earning $2 million with the Nashville Predators last season.

OTTAWA SUN: Senators center Josh Norris and goaltender Linus Ullmark didn’t participate in the club’s intra-squad game on Saturday. Head coach Travis Green said they’re keeping Norris out of scrimmages over the last two days for precautionary reasons while Ullmark was having a maintenance day.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Norris’ three shoulder surgeries have Senators fans understandably on edge whenever he’s absent from practice.

MAYOR’S MANOR: Los Angeles Kings forward Arthur Kaliyev is expected to miss an extended period after suffering an injury during a scrimmage on Friday.

THE TENNESSEAN: Nashville Predators defenseman Spencer Stastney will be absent from training camp for personal reasons.

EDMONTON JOURNAL: The Oilers promoted Warren Rychel to pro scouting director and added former Oilers winger Zack Kassian to their pro scouting staff.

THE ATHLETIC: A recent poll of NHL players revealed 62.5 percent don’t want the league to address the advantage teams have in “no-tax” states.

Two players said there are various reasons why their peers might choose to play with a specific team. One player noted there was a time when players wanted to go to cities like Chicago and Pittsburgh with higher taxes. Another observed that teams in higher tax states like Chicago, Pittsburgh and Detroit were destination cities when they were winning Stanley Cups.

Meanwhile, 71.8 percent of the players believe the league should address LTIR and tweak the rule, perhaps by implementing a playoff salary cap.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly seemed unenthused about the league implementing a cap on teams in no-tax states when the subject was raised to him earlier this month. However, he also admitted that most general managers prefer some sort of adjustment to the LTIR rule.

Based on these results, The Athletic’s Michael Russo predicted the LTIR rule will be adjusted in the next round of collective bargaining.