Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – July 7, 2024

by | Jul 7, 2024

Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – July 7, 2024

The Hurricanes are said to be interested in Jets winger Nikolaj Ehlers plus an update on Blue Jackets winger Patrik Laine in the Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup

HURRICANES REPORTEDLY PURSUING NIKOLAJ EHLERS

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Stefen Rosner reported on Friday that the Carolina Hurricanes were “pushing heavily” on Winnipeg Jets winger Nikolaj Ehlers. He believes it makes a lot of sense after the Hurricanes were forced to trade pending free agent Jake Guentzel to Tampa Bay last week.

Ehlers, 28, has a year remaining on his contract with an average annual value of $6 million. He’s rumored to be unwilling to sign an extension with the Jets. It was expected the Jets would try and move him at the 2024 NHL draft but they may have set too high of an asking price.

Winnipeg Jets winger Nikolaj Ehlers (NHL Images).

Rosner suggested that the Jets could be hoping that clubs that missed out in free agency might start a bidding war for Ehlers. He thinks the Hurricanes could win that war if they offer up Martin Necas, but the Jets would have to include more than Ehlers in the deal as Necas has more value.

The New York Islanders were also rumored to be interested in Ehlers. Rosner speculates they still could be even after signing Anthony Duclair but wasn’t sure.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff praised Ehlers following the draft, calling him an important piece of their lineup. We’ll soon find out if that’s the case. He won’t trade the winger simply for the sake of doing so and could prefer a younger player in return.

A one-for-one swap for Ehlers would make sense for the Hurricanes if there’s no contract resolution with Necas. The 25-year-old winger hasn’t generated much buzz lately in the rumor mill, leading some to suggest the Canes could reconsider trading him after losing Guentzel.

Necas filed for contract arbitration on Friday. That could be his way of setting a deadline to hammer out a new deal with the Hurricanes or another indicator that he has a short-term future in Carolina.

THE LATEST ON PATRIK LAINE

THE ATHLETIC: Aaron Portzline reports the Columbus Blue Jackets are still waiting for word that Patrik Laine has been cleared by the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program to resume his playing career. The 26-year-old winger has been in the program since January.

The Jackets’ efforts to accommodate Laine’s trade request may have taken a big hit going this deep into the offseason. They can trade him while he’s in the program but GM Don Waddell said the clubs interested in Laine want to speak with him before making trade offers.

Teams that may have considered Laine probably already made moves to address their roster needs. The Carolina Hurricanes reportedly were among those teams and made an offer during the recent NHL Draft. They have over $11 million in cap space and plenty of room to take on Laine’s $8.7 million annual cap hit through 2025-26.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Laine could still be traded this summer. However, as Portzline indicated, his cap hit and uncertainty over when he’ll be out of the player assistance program will make it difficult for the Blue Jackets to find a suitable trade partner.

The Hurricanes could be out of the bidding for Laine if they’re attempting to acquire Nikolaj Ehlers from the Winnipeg Jets. They carry sufficient cap room for Laine’s contract, but Necas, Seth Jarvis, and Jack Drury are seeking new contracts as restricted free agents. Jarvis alone could get a pay raise of over $5 million annually, which would eat up almost half of that cap room.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 7, 2024

by | Jul 7, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 7, 2024

The Sharks signed first-overall pick Macklin Celebrini while the Blackhawks inked second-overall pick Artyom Levshunov. Check out the latest today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: The San Jose Sharks signed Macklin Celebrini to a three-year entry-level contract.

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

The 18-year-old Boston University center was selected first overall by the Sharks in the 2024 NHL Draft. He decided to forego the rest of his college career and jump to the NHL shortly after participating in last week’s Sharks’ development camp.

SAN JOSE HOCKEY NOW: Sharks general manager Mike Grier was impressed by Celebrini’s on-ice play. However, his interview and dinner with the young center at the Draft Combine convinced him to select the young center first overall. Grier praised Celebrini’s maturity, drive, and passion to become a great player.

THE MERCURY NEWS: Ticket sales for the Sharks’ Oct. 31 game against the Chicago Blackhawks and sale of No. 71 jerseys are soaring following Celebrini’s signing. That game features Celebrini facing off against Connor Bedard, the 2023 first-overall pick.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Celebrini will need all of his maturity, strength, and passion for the game heading into his first NHL campaign. Like Bedard with the Blackhawks, he must deal with the pressure of being the foundation piece for a rebuilding club. How well he copes with that pressure and adapts to the NHL game will play a significant role in their rebuilding process.

CHICAGO HOCKEY NOW: Speaking of the Blackhawks, they signed Arytom Levshunov to an entry-level contract. The 18-year-old Michigan State defenseman was chosen second overall in this year’s draft.

NHL.COM: Celebrini and Levshunov are the latest 2024 NHL Draft class to sign entry-level contracts. Jett Luchanko (13th overall, Philadelphia Flyers) signed his ELC on July 6.

Adam Jiricek (16th overall, St. Louis Blues) was the first, signing his deal on July 2. Beckett Sennecke (third overall, Anaheim Ducks), Berkly Catton (eighth overall, Seattle Kraken), Zayne Parekh (ninth overall, Calgary Flames), Terik Parascak (17th overall, Washington Capitals), Stian Solberg (23rd overall, Anaheim Ducks), and Matvei Gridin (28th overall, Flames) signed theirs on July 5.

TSN: The Winnipeg Jets acquired defenseman Dylan Coghlan from the Carolina Hurricanes for future considerations. They also signed restricted free agents David Gustafsson and Logan Stanley to two-year contract extensions.

Gustafsson, 24, will earn an average annual value of $835K while Stanlhttps://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/top-remaining-free-agents-the-best-2024-ufas-still-on-the-boardey’s AAV is $1.25 million.

DAILY FACEOFF: No change on the top remaining unrestricted free agents listing.

Winger James van Riemsdyk, defenseman Ryan Suter, blueliner Tyson Barrie, and wingers Tyler Johnson and Max Pacioretty are the most notable still available. Others include winger Daniel Sprong and defenseman Oliver Kylington.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The market slowed following its initial frenzy of signings from July 1 and 2 heading into the July 4th American holiday weekend. There could be an uptick this week.

Many of these players could be waiting weeks for new contracts. Some will sign professional tryout offers hoping to secure jobs in training camp and preseason.










NHL Rumor Mill – July 6, 2024

by | Jul 6, 2024

NHL Rumor Mill – July 6, 2024

Check out the recent Canadiens and Ducks speculation in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

SPORTSNET: Eric Engels reports the free-agent market is thinning for the Montreal Canadiens if they intend to go that route to add a scoring forward. Daniel Sprong (18 goals) and Tyler Johnson (17 goals) are the highest-scoring players in the market.

Montreal Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes (NHL.com).

Engels believes the Canadiens could go the trade route if they’re seeking immediate help or a player who can help them now and in the future.

The Canadiens have lots of draft capital to use as trade bait. General manager Kent Hughes said they can use it to trade for an existing player or to move up in the draft. They hold two first-rounders in the 2025 draft.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Engels noted it’s a long summer and expects something will shake loose that makes sense for Hughes. The Canadiens GM has a history of making significant moves later in the offseason. He was involved in the three-team trade that sent Erik Karlsson to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Aug. 6, 2023. Hughes also acquired Sean Monahan on Aug. 18, 2022.

THE ATHLETIC: Eric Stephens wondered if Anaheim Ducks GM Pat Verbeek has a big move up his sleeve following a quiet start to the free-agent period.

Sources told him they made big offers to Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault before they signed with the Nashville Predators. Stephens believes years of losing have prevented Anaheim from being a destination of choice for UFA talent.

Stephens believes the rebuilding Ducks must add a difference-maker to take the club higher, like Toronto’s Mitch Marner or Carolina’s Martin Necas. They can afford to pull off a seismic trade, possessing plenty of salary-cap space, a solid stable of promising youngsters, and roster players who can help teams win now.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Ducks acquired winger Robby Fabbri from the Detroit Red Wings and defenseman Brian Dumoulin from the Seattle Kraken since Stephens’ article was published on July 1. Neither player will significantly improve this club next season or beyond. It remains to be seen if Verbeek is planning a major acquisition to accelerate the rebuild.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 6, 2024

by | Jul 6, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 6, 2024

Fourteen players file for salary arbitration, the latest on Valeri Nichushkin and Evan Bouchard, the Oilers make a cost-cutting trade with the Sabres, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHLPA.COM: Carolina Hurricanes winger Martin Necas and New York Rangers defenseman Ryan Lindgren highlight the 14 players filing for salary arbitration by the 5 pm ET deadline on July 5.

Other notables include Buffalo Sabres goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman J.J. Moser, New York Islanders winger Oliver Wahlstrom, Columbus Blue Jackets forward Kirill Marchenko, Detroit Red Wings forward Joe Veleno, and Hurricanes center Jack Drury.

Carolina Hurricanes forward Martin Necas (NHL Images).

The deadline for club-elected arbitration is 5 pm ET on July 6. Salary arbitration hearings will be held from July 20 to Aug. 4.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Players and teams usually file for arbitration to set a deadline to complete contract negotiations rather than have them drag on through the summer. Most cases are settled before the scheduled arbitration hearings. Nevertheless, a handful could go before an arbitrator.

Necas is the most talented player on this list. He’s been the subject of trade speculation for weeks because he’s reportedly unhappy with his role on the Hurricanes.

COLORADO HOCKEY NOW: Evan Rawal cited TSN’s Chris Johnston reporting the Avalanche aren’t trading Valeri Nichushkin while he’s in stage 3 of the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program. They’re hoping to rehabilitate the player and the person.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Rawal cited a report last month claiming the Chicago Blackhawks kicked around the idea of making a trade for Nichushkin before rejecting the notion.

Players in the assistance program, like Nichushkin and Columbus Blue Jackets winger Patrik Laine, can be traded. However, any clubs interested in these players would likely prefer to wait until they have emerged from the program to speak with them.

THE SCORE: cited The Athletic’s Daniel Nugent-Bowman reporting the Edmonton Oilers and Evan Bouchard are unlikely to start contract extension talks this summer. The 24-year-old defenseman is due to become a restricted free agent next July. His current annual cap hit is $3.9 million.

Oilers management is focused on extension talks with Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid. Meanwhile, Bouchard wants to build on his strong 2023-24 performance.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Bouchard’s performance this season could double his money on his next contract. Another strong effort like last season’s could fetch him even more.

Draisaitl is slated to become an unrestricted free agent next July and McDavid in July 2026. McDavid can’t sign an extension until next July but the two sides can discuss the framework of a deal.

EDMONTON JOURNAL/THE BUFFALO NEWS: The Oilers traded center Ryan McLeod and minor league winger Tyler Tullio to the Buffalo Sabres for prospect center Matthew Savoie.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This was a cost-cutting move by the Oilers, who were sitting $2.5 million over the $88 million salary cap. Moving McLeod’s $2.1 million provides considerable cap relief. The Journal also noted the 24-year-old center lost out in the numbers game after the Oilers signed Viktor Arvidsson and Jeff Skinner. McLeod should be a solid addition as the Sabres’ third-line center.

Savoie, 20, was chosen ninth overall by the Sabres in the 2022 NHL Draft. A promising center, he’s been hampered by injuries over the past two seasons but still has the potential to blossom as an NHL star.

THE BUFFALO NEWS: Speaking of the Sabres, they signed Henri Jokiharju to a one-year, $3.1 million contract. The 25-year-old defenseman was a restricted free agent with arbitration rights.

THE SEATTLE TIMES: The Kraken signed winger Eeli Tolvanen to a two-year, $6.95 million contract. The average annual value is $3.475 million.

SPORTSNET: The Winnipeg Jets are reportedly working on a trade to acquire defenseman Dylan Coghlan from the Carolina Hurricanes.

DAILY FACEOFF: James van Riemsdyk, Ryan Suter and Max Pacioretty remain the most notable players in the unrestricted free-agent market.










NHL Rumor Mill – July 5, 2024

by | Jul 5, 2024

NHL Rumor Mill – July 5, 2024

Check out the recent Rangers and Sabres speculation in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

RANGERS STILL LACK CAP FLEXIBILITY AFTER FAILING TO TRADE TROUBA

NEW YORK POST: Mollie Walker suggests Rangers general manager Chris Drury could be looking at running it back next season with more of his roster’s core group than expected.

New York Rangers defenseman Jacob Trouba (NHL Images).

The Rangers have little salary-cap flexibility after failing to move Jacob Trouba in a cost-cutting trade. That was a touchy subject that played itself out in the media. It’s also left them with limited cap room and restricted free agents Ryan Lindgren and Braden Schneider to re-sign.

Meanwhile, winger Kaapo Kakko remains a Ranger after signing a one-year, team-friendly contract at his qualifying offer price of $2.4 million.

Despite acquiring winger Reilly Smith from Pittsburgh and signing forward Sam Carrick, the Rangers don’t look very different.

Walker noted any additional roster-shifting moves haven’t happened yet and might not occur this summer.

THE ATHLETIC: Peter Baugh observed Trouba became the subject of criticism among some Rangers fans for putting his family’s needs above the team’s.

Baugh defended Trouba for exercising his contractual rights by not providing his 15-team no-trade list a week before his no-movement clause became a modified no-trade clause on July 1. That may have prevented the Rangers from making moves but none of it falls on Trouba.

“The 30-year-old captain never once violated the deal he negotiated,” wrote Baugh. “He is exercising the rights in the contract to do what’s best for himself and his family, and that’s beyond acceptable”.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s not Trouba’s fault that Drury painted himself into this corner. He reportedly had a deal in place to send the defenseman to the Detroit Red Wings before July 1. That might not be on the table anymore following the Wings’ recent forays in the free-agent market.

The Rangers GM could try to move Trouba to one of the teams not on his no-trade list. However, that could be difficult with many clubs using most of their cap space in the free-agent market.

Drury could try and peddle Kakko but he won’t provide much cap relief and there might not be much of a market for him.

ARE MORE MOVES IN STORE FOR THE SABRES?

THE ATHLETIC: Matthew Fairburn observed Buffalo Sabres GM Kevyn Adams acquired winger Jason Zucker and signed free-agent checking-line forwards Sam Lafferty and Nicolas Aube-Kubel on July 1 However, he wonders if Adams has anything else up his sleeve.

The Sabres GM seemed open to adding a top-six forward but he doesn’t appear to consider it urgent. Fairburn expects they’ll have plenty of salary-cap space after re-signing Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, Henri Jokiharju, Peyton Krebs and Beck Malenstyn.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Adams could see what’s available in the trade market later this summer or during training camp and preseason. It wouldn’t be surprising if he banks that cap space to use during the season, perhaps in the lead-up to the 2025 trade deadline.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 5, 2024

by | Jul 5, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 5, 2024

Sharks fans turn out to watch Macklin Celebrini scrimmage, a list of the notable remaining UFAs, the Golden Knights face questions in goal, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

THE MERCURY NEWS: Over 3,000 fans paid to watch 2024 first-overall pick Macklin Celebrini during the San Jose Sharks prospects scrimmage on Thursday afternoon. “He’s given a buzz back to the San Jose Sharks organization,” said Todd Marchant, the club’s director of player development.

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

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Celebrini hasn’t decided if he’ll join the Sharks this season or return to college for one more season. Either way, he’s already giving Sharks fans hope for the future after two difficult seasons.

Speaking of the Sharks, they signed Carl Grundstrom and Ty Dellandrea to two-year contract extensions. Grundstrom was acquired from the Los Angeles Kings last week and will earn an average annual value of $1.8 million. Dellandrea was brought in from the Dallas Stars and gets an AAV of $1.3 million.

DAILY FACEOFF: Winger James van Riemsdyk and defenseman Ryan Suter top the list of the notable players still available in this summer’s unrestricted free-agent market. Others include defenseman Tyson Barrie, and wingers Mike Hoffman and Max Pacioretty.

Younger options include winger Daniel Sprong (27), defenseman Oliver Kylington (also 27), and blueliner Adam Boqvist (23).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The younger players could be affordable short-term options for cap-strapped teams seeking bargain signings to address their roster needs in 2024-25.

LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL: The Golden Knights face uncertainty between the pipes after signing Ilya Samsonov. The 27-year-old netminder is coming off the worst season of his career after struggling with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

There’s also concern over the health of starter Adin Hill. The 28-year-old netminder has been hampered by lower-body injuries stretching back to his days with the San Jose Sharks. His future is also a question mark as he’s eligible to become a UFA next summer.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Golden Knights signed Samsonov after trading Logan Thompson to the Washington Capitals. He won’t face as harsh a spotlight in Vegas as he did in hockey-mad Toronto but he’ll still garner attention this season as he attempts to get his NHL career back on track.

SPORTSNET: Tax-free states had an advantage in this year’s free-agent market. Nashville, Florida, Tampa Bay, Dallas, Vegas and Seattle combined to spend nearly a quarter of the $1 billion-plus spent in this summer’s UFA market.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The piece also noted that four of the last five Stanley Cup champions were based in places with no state tax. They are Tampa Bay (twice), Florida and Vegas.

One advantage the Lightning and Panthers had was a solid base of homegrown talent, though it was also easier for them to retain that talent at less than market value.

Nevertheless, that’s no guarantee that this year’s big spenders are assured of Cup contention. It’ll be interesting to see how things work out for those teams.

EDMONTON JOURNAL: The Oilers may have come up short in the Stanley Cup Final but their playoff run proved to be a windfall for the city of Edmonton, netting $280 million partly from overnight attendees. They had raked in $179 million during the first three rounds but the Cup Final pushed those numbers into the stratosphere.

TSN: Defenseman Nikita Zaitsev signed a four-year contract with KHL club SKA St. Petersburg. He collected 118 points in 482 games with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Ottawa Senators and Chicago Blackhawks from 2016-17 to 2023-24.

YARDBARKER: Forward Denis Gurianov is reportedly expected to sign a two-year contract with KHL team Moscow Dynamo. Chosen 12th overall by the Dallas Stars in the 2015 NHL Draft, he has 113 points in 298 games with the Stars, Montreal Canadiens, Nashville Predators and Philadelphia Flyers.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Gurianov enjoyed what seemed like a breakout campaign in 2019-20, scoring 20 goals in 64 games and netting 17 points in 27 playoff games during the Stars’ run to the 2020 Stanley Cup Final. However, he struggled to regain that form and was traded to Montreal at the 2023 trade deadline. He split last season between the Predators and Flyers.

TORONTO SUN: The Maple Leafs have a new ECHL affiliate, the Cincinnati Cyclones.