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.










NHL Rumor Mill – September 21, 2024

by | Sep 21, 2024

NHL Rumor Mill – September 21, 2024

Are the Bruins considering trading Jeremy Swayman? What will the Kings do with Arthur Kaliyev? Is former Oilers GM Ken Holland joining Utah HC? What’s the latest on Flyers goalie Alexei Kolosov? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

SPORTSNET: During the Sept. 20 edition of “32 Thoughts: The Podcast”, Elliotte Friedman said he’d had some people ask if the Boston Bruins might consider trading Jeremy Swayman.

Negotiations between the Bruins and the Swayman camp have stalled, keeping the 25-year-old goaltender out of training camp.

Boston Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman (NHL Images).

Friedman said he hasn’t spoken with Bruins general manager Don Sweeney. He said Sweeney is trying to keep a low profile, but he isn’t always happy with some of the reporting on this situation. Nevertheless, Friedman doesn’t believe the Bruins want to trade Swayman.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Bruins see themselves as Stanley Cup contenders. They need Swayman between the pipes to achieve that goal. Trading him over this standoff would derail those plans. They also know they won’t get equal value back in return.

I doubt this situation would’ve reached this stage had Swayman not gone through arbitration last summer. He admitted it was a bruising experience having to hear what he said were things that no player should ever hear from management.

Swayman is digging in, using his leverage to his advantage, especially with Linus Ullmark traded to Ottawa in June. The Bruins’ front office might not think he’s worth between $8.5 million and $10 million annually (depending on who you listen to) at this stage in his career, but they could have little choice but to pony up and get Swayman back into the lineup as soon as possible.

THE ATHLETIC: Eric Stephens wondered what the Los Angeles Kings have in store for Arthur Kaliyev after signing him to a one-year, $825K contract earlier this week.

Stephens doubts the new contract means Kaliyev’s place with the Kings is resolved. He pointed out the 23-year-old forward rejected the club’s qualifying offer. Frustrated by fourth-line duty and healthy scratches, he reportedly requested for a trade earlier this year.

Kaliyev saw his ice time further decline despite a midseason coaching change, sending his trade value plummeting.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Stephens believes the Kings should play Kaliyev to showcase him to other teams. That’ll mean giving him more ice time than last season. They’ll also have to work with him to address the deficiencies in his game.

SI.COM: Nick Horwat cited a report by former NHL player turned podcaster Jordan Schmaltz claiming former Edmonton Oilers general manager Ken Holland could be joining Utah HC in some capacity.

Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported Holland was invited to Utah’s training camp as a guest by people he knew within the organization. There’s nothing formal in terms of a position for him at this time.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: We can’t rule out the possibility of Holland joining Utah or another club at some point. He’s well-respected around the NHL.

PHILLY HOCKEY NOW: Jonathan Bailey listed some possible trade destinations for Alexei Kolosov if the Flyers should decide to trade him. The 22-year-old goaltender remains home in Belarus after refusing to report to Flyers training camp. That’s prompted some NHL clubs to come calling.

Bailey suggested the Calgary Flames, Chicago Blackhawks, Ottawa Senators, New Jersey Devils and Minnesota Wild as destinations.

SPECTOR’S NOTE Kolosov reportedly wants a guaranteed spot with an NHL club. Those other teams likely won’t give him that opportunity without him spending at least one season with their AHL affiliate.

Some NHL teams might be interested in Kolozov but I doubt they’re banging down the door of Flyers GM Daniel Briere to get him.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 21, 2024

by | Sep 21, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 21, 2024

Jake Guentzel’s role with the Lightning, new contracts for Utah’s Dylan Guenther and the Devils’ Dawson Mercer, injury updates, and more today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

THE SCORE: Tampa Bay Lightning head coach Jon Cooper shuts down the notion that offseason acquisition is replacing former Lightning captain Steven Stamkos.

“Nobody is replacing Stammer,” said Cooper. “He has created a legacy here, and I think that is unfair to say. Jake is coming in here to create his own legacy.”

Tampa Bay Lightning winger Jake Guentzel (NHL Images).

Stamkos signed a four-year contract with the Nashville Predators on July 1. A day earlier, the Lightning acquired Guentzel’s rights from the Carolina Hurricanes and signed him to a seven-year deal.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Cooper is trying to take pressure off Guentzel and quell any unrealistic expectations among some Lightning followers. Nevertheless, there’s no question he was brought in to fill the offensive void on left wing created by Stamkos’ departure.

The Lightning coach is right that Guentzel isn’t replacing Stamkos’ role as captain and long-time franchise star. He’s there to fill the role of trigger man on their top forward line, especially on the power play.

NHL.COM: The Utah Hockey Club signed winger Dylan Guenther to an eight-year contract extension. Financial terms weren’t disclosed.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Puckpedia indicates the average annual value is $7.142 million with a modified no-trade clause starting on July 1, 2030. The 21-year-old Guenther earned this deal by scoring 18 goals and 17 assists for 35 points in 45 games last season, spending time on Utah’s top power-play unit.

NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: The Devils signed forward Dawson Mercer to a three-year contract with a $4 million AAV. The 22-year-old reached the 20-goal plateau last season for the second straight year. He reached 42 points as a rookie in 2021-22 and netted a career-best 27 goals and 56 points as a sophomore.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Mercer’s production dropped last season to 33 points but that was because the versatile forward was used in several different roles as injuries depleted the Devils. He remains an invaluable member of their roster.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Seattle Kraken winger Andre Burakovsky looks forward to reuniting with Chandler Stephenson, who joined the Kraken this summer as a free agent. The two were teammates with the Washington Capitals for five seasons, winning the Stanley Cup in 2018.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Burakovsky has been hampered by injuries that limited him to 49 games in each of the last two seasons. A healthier season for him will be crucial to the Kraken’s hope of rebounding from last season’s disappointing performance.

SPORTSNET: Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Jake McCabe confirmed he’s in contract extension talks with management. He’s slated to become an unrestricted free agent next July.

“Yeah, we’ve talked a couple times,” said McCabe. “I love it here, and think they enjoy my game too.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: McCabe, 30, is earning an AAV of $4 million on his current contract.

WINNIPEG SUN: Jets defenseman Ville Heinola is out indefinitely following an infection in his surgically repaired ankle. He missed all of last season after breaking the ankle in training camp.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Poor Heinola, if it weren’t for bad luck, he’d have no luck at all.

DAILY FACEOFF: Chicago Blackhawks rookie Artyom Levshunov is expected to be sidelined for four more weeks as he recovers from an injury to his right foot suffered in offseason training. The 18-year-old defenseman was chosen second overall by the Blackhawks in this year’s draft.

NHL.COM: The Columbus Blue Jackets named Rick Nash as director of hockey operations.

Nash, 40, is the Blue Jackets’ franchise leader in goals (289), assists (258) and points (547) and served as team captain from 2008 until traded to the New York Rangers in 2012. He returned to the club as special assistant to the general manager in 2019 and was promoted to the position of director of player development in 2021.

OTTAWA SUN: The Senators reached a sale agreement in principle with the National Capital Commission to purchase 10 acres of land at LeBreton Flats, about 10 minutes west of Parliament Hill. The Senators intend to construct a new arena at that location.

It’s hoped that the sale will be completed next year. Senators president Cyril Leeder said there’s no expectation that the city will have to pay for the arena.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: There’s no timetable yet for construction, but this is the first real positive step toward the Senators’ dream of a downtown arena.










NHL Rumor Mill – September 20, 2024

by | Sep 20, 2024

NHL Rumor Mill – September 20, 2024

The latest on Jacob Trouba, Brock Nelson and Nazem Kadri plus the latest on the Canadiens in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

NEW YORK POST: Larry Brooks reports the Rangers offseason plans to shake up its roster were thwarted by defenseman Jacob Trouba’s unwillingness due to family reasons to report to a team if traded.

New York Rangers defenseman Jacob Trouba (NHL Images).

The plan was to move Trouba and his $8 million cap hit once his full no-movement clause became a 15-team no-trade list on July 1, even if it meant retaining 25 percent of that cap hit to facilitate a deal. Multiple teams were interested in the 30-year-old Rangers captain, with Detroit considered the most likely destination.

Trouba’s NMC was set to expire at the same time when his wife’s medical residency was to end on June 30 but her residency was deferred by a year. The couple also welcomed a son in January, leaving the blueliner unwilling to leave his family behind.

TSN: Trouba acknowledged this season is likely the “last crack” the current Rangers core will have to win the Stanley Cup. “I don’t think it’s a secret by any means.”

Trouba said he communicated well with the Rangers regarding the offseason trade rumors, insisting there were no hard feelings. Meanwhile, head coach Peter Laviolette said he wasn’t involved in any of those conversations and is glad to have his captain back for another season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Trouba and Rangers general manager Chris Drury are determined not to let this situation become a divisive issue for the coming season. Nevertheless, it’s expected they’ll attempt to move him once his wife’s residency is completed next June as they try to clear cap space next summer to add younger talent.

THE ATHLETIC: Arthur Staple is somewhat surprised that New York Islanders center Brock Nelson is entering his “walk year” without a new contract. He doesn’t rule out the 32-year-old Nelson signing an extension but noted some “what if” scenarios could creep in.

Staple wonders what happens with Nelson if the Islanders are out of the playoff race by the March 7 trade deadline, or if he decides he wants a change of scenery. He also suggested the cost of re-signing Nelson could rise if he remains the Isles’ leading scorer.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Nelson is among the notable pending UFAs worth monitoring this season. He turns 33 in October so it’s unlikely he’ll get a deal over four years. Nevertheless, he could seek a raise over his current $6 million AAV and could get it on the open market if the Isles aren’t willing to pay.

CALGARY SUN: Daniel Austin recently wondered if Nazem Kadri would be happy as the best player in a rebuilding Flames club. The 33-year-old center led them with 46 assists and 75 points last season.

Kadri hasn’t said anything publicly to suggest he wants out but Austin thinks the Flames would have to consider moving him if the right offer was made.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kadri doesn’t seem keen to move on from the Flames, telling reporters on Thursday to “pump the brakes” about whether he’d be open to a move. He’s indicated he wants to stay and help the Flames become a better club.

Kadri has a full no-movement clause giving him complete control over his situation. Unless he changes his mind, he’s not going anywhere.

RG.ORG: Marco D’Amico cites a source claiming the Montreal Canadiens are working the phones in pursuit of upgrades to their roster.

The Canadiens were linked to Anaheim’s Trevor Zegras, Carolina’s Martin Necas and Rutger McGroarty before his trade from Winnipeg to Pittsburgh. Ultimately, those deals fell through because they landed promising forwards Ivan Demidov and Michael Hage in this year’s draft.

They’re now looking for an experienced right-side top-four defenseman. They still believe in their young blueliners. However, if they take longer to develop, the Habs will need an upgrade at that position.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 20, 2024

by | Sep 20, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 20, 2024

The Red Wings re-sign Moritz Seider, Thatcher Demko talks about his nagging injury, Kyle Okposo calls it a career, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

DETROIT HOCKEY NOW: The Red Wings signed defenseman Moritz Seider to a seven-year contract with an average annual value of $8.55 million. Seider, 23, was a restricted free agent coming off his entry-level contract.

Detroit Red Wings defenseman Moritz Seider (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The AAV was no surprise as Wings general manager Steve Yzerman didn’t want Seider or recently-signed winger Lucas Raymond to exceed captain Dylan Larkin’s team-leading $8.75 million.

This deal will likely turn into a long-term bargain for the Wings. Seider is their established top defenseman and has yet to reach the prime years of his career. Winner of the Calder Memorial Trophy in 2021-22, he had 42 points in 82 games last season. Like Raymond, he’s a foundational part of the Wings’ rebuild.

THE PROVINCE: Vancouver Canucks goaltender Thatcher Demko explained Thursday that he’s been dealing with a rare lower-body muscle injury. While the 28-year-old netminder didn’t have a timetable for his return to the lineup, he said he has growing confidence in his rehab process.

Demko suffered the injury during Game 1 of the Canucks’ opening-round series against the Nashville Predators, sidelining him for the remainder of the playoffs. He also explained that he “hit a bit of a wall” with his recovery this summer but has experienced “a lot of progress” over the last couple of weeks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The report indicates Demko’s condition is “exceptionally unique.” His medical team spent weeks scouring the world for other hockey players who’ve suffered the same injury but couldn’t find any, though they discovered five soccer players with a similar ailment.

BUFFALO HOCKEY NOW: Former Sabres captain Kyle Okposo announced his retirement on Thursday. Okposo, 36, spent 17 seasons with the New York Islanders, Sabres, and Florida Panthers from 2006-07 to 2023-24, winning a Stanley Cup with the Panthers in June.

Okposo scored 242 goals and 372 assists for 614 points in 1,051 career regular-season games and 17 points in 41 playoff games. He battled through several concussion issues since 2017 to continue his playing career.

RG.ORG: Jimmy Murphy reports Minnesota Wild GM Bill Guerin understands that Kirill Kaprizov will be in line for a mega-contract when his current deal expires in 2026. Nevertheless, he expects more from his franchise player this season.

Kaprizov, 27, exceeded the 40-goal plateau for the third straight season in 2023-24 with 46 goals and 96 points in 75 games. He can ensure a substantial raise if he exceeds 100 points this season.

Guerin acknowledged the cost of re-signing star players is rising but isn’t panicking when it comes to Kaprizov, saying his club will have to be ready for it when the time comes.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kaprizov is earning an AAV of $9 million on his current deal. Another big season from him could put him within the $12 million to $13 million range on his next contract.

NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: James Nichols reports Devils defenseman Brett Pesce remains week-to-week following offseason to repair a fractured fibula suffered during the opening round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. The Devils were aware of Pesce’s situation before signing him as a free agent on July 1.

The Devils received good news about Simon Nemec. The 20-year-old blueliner suffered no lingering ill effects from a shoulder injury suffered when playing in Slovakia’s Olympic qualifier last month and was on the ice with his teammates for the opening day of training camp.

THE MONTREAL GAZETTE: Canadiens defenseman Kaiden Guhle will miss the opening week of training camp following an appendectomy on Wednesday. Guhle, 22, will be re-evaluated in seven days.

DAILY FACEOFF: San Jose Sharks captain Logan Couture, defensemen Marc-Edouard Vlasic, Shakir Mukhamadullin and goaltender Yaroslav Askarov missed the opening day of training camp. Askarov, Couture and Mukhamadullin are nursing lower-body injuries while Vlasic has an upper-body injury. No details were revealed regarding the severity of their injuries.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Couture continues to deal with a nagging lower-body injury that sidelined for all but six games last season. He’s expected to be placed on injured reserve.

THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER: The Anaheim Ducks named Radko Gudas as their ninth captain in franchise history.

SPORTSNET: The Ottawa Senators invited goaltender Dustin Tokarski to training camp on a professional tryout offer. His last appearance in the NHL was a four-game stint with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2022-23.

THE SCORE: Jaromir Jagr intends to retire from professional hockey at the end of this season. The 52-year-old forward has spent the past eight seasons with Czech club Kladno Knights. He’s also their owner and team president.

Jagr spent 24 seasons in the NHL from 1990-91 to 2017-18, sitting fourth all-time with 766 goals, fifth with 1,155 assists, and second with 1,921 points.