NHL Rumor Mill – July 11, 2023

by | Jul 11, 2023

NHL Rumor Mill – July 11, 2023

More speculation linking Erik Karlsson to the Penguins and Hurricanes plus the latest on Vladimir Tarasenko and Victor Olofsson in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

KARLSSON REMAINS LINKED TO THE PENGUINS AND HURRICANES

NHL NETWORK: Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman believes it’s down to the Pittsburgh Penguins and Carolina Hurricanes as the front-runners to acquire San Jose Sharks defenseman Erik Karlsson. He thinks it’s a bit of a poker game with the Sharks knowing what the Penguins and Hurricanes want to do and those clubs knowing what the Sharks want to do.

San Jose Sharks defenseman Erik Karlsson (NHL Images).

Friedman feels that this will get done with Karlsson “most likely” going to the Penguins or Hurricanes. The question is, which club is willing to bend to make it happen?

SPECTOR’S NOTE: For the Penguins and Hurricanes, it’s how much they’re willing to give up in return to acquire the three-time Norris Trophy winner. For the Sharks, it’s how much of his $11.5 million average annual value they’re willing to retain.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Nick Horwat believes Penguins president of hockey ops Kyle Dubas needs a backup plan in case they fail to land Karlsson. He noted a report claiming Boston Bruins blueliner Matt Grzelcyk could be on Dubas’ list. Horwat suggested UFAs such as Matt Dumba and Ethan Bear as potential targets.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Bruins general manager Don Sweeney recently dismissed speculation that he was shopping Grzelcyk. It’s believed he’s received calls about the 29-year-old defenseman but he isn’t shopping him.

LATEST ON TARASENKO

OTTAWA SUN: Bruce Garrioch speculates the Senators could have the cap room to sign UFA winger Vladimir Tarasenko to a short-term contract now that they’ve traded Alex DeBrincat to Detroit.

The Senators and Hurricanes were believed to be among the front-runners for the 31-year-old winger until he fired his agent last week. Both clubs have remained interested.

NHL NETWORK (stick tap to NHL Watcher): Elliotte Friedman told NHL Network that he believes it’s more likely that Tarasenko will take a one-year contract and bet on himself to play well and see what happens when the salary cap rises next summer.

Friedman also noted the Senators and Hurricanes have been linked to Tarasenko. He also noted the Sharks, Florida Panthers and Nashville Predators have had some interest in the veteran sniper.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s rumored that Tarasenko had a multi-year deal with one club worth around $5.5 million but rejected all offers and changed agents. While Friedman thinks he’ll take a one-year deal in the hope of cashing in next summer under a higher cap, some observers believe the veteran winger is still trying to score a lucrative long-term contract now.

SABRES COULD WAIT TO MOVE OLOFSSON

BUFFALO HOCKEY NOW: Michael Augello recently speculated that the Sabres might have to wait “until a few more dominoes fall” before moving Victor Olofsson. It was reported last month that the 28-year-old winger expected to be traded at some point this summer.

Olofsson is a year away from UFA eligibility and carries a $4.75 million cap hit for 2023-24. With the Sabres deep at forward and unlikely to re-sign the winger, it was thought the Sabres might shop him for a goaltender or a defenseman on a short-term contract.

Those plans may have been held up by the availability of Alex DeBrincat in the trade market (Note: this report was written prior to DeBrincat getting traded to Detroit) as well as Vladimir Tarasenko’s ongoing quest to find a new club.

Winger Jack Quinn’s recent Achilles’ tendon injury could also have held up plans to move Olofsson this summer. With Quinn out for four-to-six months, the Sabres could retain Olofsson for the coming season and attempt to move him at the trade deadline once Quinn returns to action.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 11, 2023

by | Jul 11, 2023

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 11, 2023

The arbitration hearing dates are set while the Flyers avoid arbitration with Noah Cates and Cam York, the Bruins avoid arbitration with Ian Mitchell, the Sharks sign Filip Zadina, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

LATEST NHL ARBITRATION NEWS

NHLPA.COM: The hearing dates for the 2023 NHL arbitration period (July 20 – Aug. 4) have been set:

July 20
Philipp Kurashev (Chicago Blackhawks)
Brandon Duhaime (Minnesota Wild)
Alexei Toropchenko (St. Louis Blues)

Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Ilya Samsonov (NHL Images).

July 21
Ilya Samsonov (Toronto Maple Leafs)

July 24
Brett Howden (Vegas Golden Knights)
Vince Dunn (Seattle Kraken)
Tanner Jeannot (Tampa Bay Lightning)

July 27
Ross Colton (Colorado Avalanche)

July 28
Gabriel Vilardi (Winnipeg Jets)

July 30
Jeremy Swayman (Boston Bruins)
Jack McBain (Arizona Coyotes)

August 1
Trent Frederic (Boston Bruins)

 

August 2
Morgan Barron (Winnipeg Jets)
Troy Terry (Anaheim Ducks)

August 4
Ryan McLeod (Edmonton Oilers)
Brandon Scanlin (New York Rangers)
Filip Gustavsson (Minnesota Wild)
Drew O’Connor (Pittsburgh Penguins)

 

NBC SPORTS PHILADELPHIA: The Flyers avoided arbitration with forward Noah Cates and defenseman Cam York. The 24-year-old Cates inked a two-year, $5.25 million contract while York, 22, agreed to a two-year, $3.2 million deal.

BOSTON HOCKEY NOW: The Bruins avoided arbitration with defenseman Ian Mitchell as the two sides reached an agreement on a one-year, one-way contract worth $775K.

IN OTHER NEWS…

SAN JOSE HOCKEY NOW: The Sharks signed winger Filip Zadina to a one-year, $1.1 million contract. Zadina, 23, became an unrestricted free agent last week after he and the Detroit Red Wings mutually agreed to terminate his contract.

NEWSDAY: Andrew Gross reports the New York Islanders offered forwards Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Oliver Wahlstrom as part of a package deal to the Ottawa Senators for winger Alex DeBrincat. The Senators, however, didn’t want to take on the remaining three years and $5 million average annual value of the 30-year-old Pageau’s contract. They traded DeBrincat to the Detroit Red Wings on Sunday.

DAILY FACEOFF: Long-time professional and junior hockey coach John Paddock announced his retirement. He spent the past nine seasons with the WHL’s Regina Pats, hired as their head coach in 2014 and becoming their general manager in 2015.

Paddock coached the Winnipeg Jets from 1991-92 to 1994-95 and the Ottawa Senators in 2007-08. He was an assistant coach with the Philadelphia Flyers in 2013-14. Paddock also spent 15 seasons as an AHL head coach, winning the Calder Cup with the Maine Mariners in 1983-84, the Hershey Bears in 1987-88, and the Hartford Wolf Pack in 1999-2000.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Best wishes to Paddock for a relaxing retirement.

BUFFALO HOCKEY NOW: The Rochester Americans have hired former NHL players Nathan Paetsch and Vaclav Prospal as their new assistant coaches. The Americans are the AHL affiliate of the Buffalo Sabres.

OTTAWA SUN: Anthony LeBlanc has resigned as the Senators president of business operations. He’s said that he’s leaving on good terms. It’s believed his decision was based on incoming owner Michael Andlauer’s plans to make some changes in the front office.

THE PROVINCE: The Vancouver Canucks have reached a one-year affiliation agreement with the ECHL’s Kalamazoo Wings.










NHL Rumor Mill – July 10, 2023

by | Jul 10, 2023

NHL Rumor Mill – July 10, 2023

Would Mark Scheifele be a good fit with the Bruins? What’s going on with the Flames? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

COULD THE BRUINS TURN TO SCHEIFELE?

BOSTON GLOBE: Kevin Paul Dupont feels the Winnipeg Jets will seek a return for Mark Scheifele comparable to what they got from the Los Angeles Kings for Pierre-Luc Dubois. He doesn’t think they’ll allow Scheifele to walk away next summer as an unrestricted free agent.

Winnipeg Jets center Mark Scheifele (NHL Images).

The Jets got forwards Gabriel Vilardi, Alex Iafallo and Rasmus Kupari that they can plug into their roster right away.

Dupont believes Scheifele could slot in with the Bruins as their No. 1 or No. 2 center for the next four or five years. However, he thinks it would cost them Jake DeBrusk, Pavel Zacha and perhaps prospect Fabian Lysell to tempt the Jets.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: There’ve been few reports in the rumor mill regarding Scheifele in recent weeks as all the focus was on Dubois, Blake Wheeler (who was bought out and signed with the New York Rangers) and Connor Hellebuyck. That could change over the summer as teams in need of depth at center (like the Bruins) look for help in the trade market.

The Bruins have yet to learn if centers Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci intend to return for 2023-24 or retire. They’re reportedly not waiting to find out as they’re proceeding with their offseason plans as though they’re not coming back.

Whether Scheifele fits into their plans to replace Bergeron or Krejci remains to be seen. As Dupont points out, it could get expensive to attempt to acquire him from the Jets. The Bruins could be reluctant to make that kind of investment. If they do, they’ll have to ensure they have sufficient cap space to sign him to a lucrative long-term contract extension or lose him to the open market next summer.

LATEST ON THE FLAMES

TSN: Salim Valji recently reported on why the Calgary Flames haven’t made more trades since shipping Tyler Toffoli to the New Jersey Devils nearly two weeks ago.

Valji said the Flames’ Noah Hanifin is highly regarded around the league as a top-four defenseman. He suggested the issue could be the difficulty most teams are having in moving money under a flattened salary cap this summer despite Hanifin being on a team-friendly contract for 2023-24.

According to Valji, it’s possible the Flames go into next season with players like Hanifin, Elias Lindholm and Mikael Backlund who are a year away from UFA eligibility still on the roster.

Speaking of Lindholm, the Flames management still believes they can re-sign him to an extension as he hasn’t given a definitive no toward returning after 2023-24. However, there is concern about the possibility of losing him to free agency the same way they lost Johnny Gaudreau to Columbus last summer.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Flames at least know that Hanifin has informed them of his intention to hit the open market next summer. They could find a suitable trade partner later in the summer or perhaps during training camp.

They’ll need more definitive answers from Lindholm and Backlund. They cannot have those two simply walk away for nothing next summer.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 10, 2023

by | Jul 10, 2023

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 10, 2023

The Red Wings acquire Alex DeBrincat from the Senators and sign him to a four-year contract. Check out the details in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: The Detroit Red Wings acquired forward Alex DeBrincat from the Ottawa Senators in exchange for forward Dominik Kubalik, defense prospect Donavan Sebrango, a conditional first-round pick in 2024 and a fourth-round pick in 2024.

OTTAWA SUN: The conditions of the first-round pick are as follows:

Ottawa Senators trade winger Alex DeBrincat to the Detroit Red Wings (NHL Images).

The Red Wings have the option of sending the Senators their own 2024 first-round pick or the 2024 first-rounder they acquired from the Boston Bruins. However, if Boston’s selection is a top-10 pick, the Bruins have the option of retaining that pick and sending the Wings their 2025 first-rounder. The Wings will then have the option of sending that pick or their own 2024 first-rounder to Ottawa.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This looks like a steal for the Red Wings and an underwhelming return for the Senators.

DeBrincat, 25, is a two-time 40-goal scorer who should help Detroit address their need for more scoring punch. He’s also a Michigan native who wanted to play for the Red Wings.

Ottawa general manager Pierre Dorion apparently wanted to move DeBrincat before his arbitration hearing later this summer. He didn’t want a player on his roster who didn’t want to be there becoming an unnecessary distraction for his club as they try to reach the playoffs in 2023-24.

Nevertheless, if this return is the best Dorion could find it doesn’t say much about the offers he received from other interested clubs.

Kubalik, 27, tallied 20 goals and 45 points in 81 games last season. He is a middle-six winger who might only be a Senator for one season given his unrestricted free-agent status next July. The 21-year-old Sebrango was ranked 14th among the Wings prospects in The Athletic’s midseason prospect evaluations.

The Ottawa Sun’s Bruce Garrioch reports getting a first-round pick was crucial to the Senators. If Kubalik and/or Sebrango fail to become significant long-term additions to the Senators, the only saving grace could be that first-round pick.

Acquiring DeBrincat without any assurances of signing him to a long-term contract was a risky move by Dorion that failed to pan out. Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman, on the other hand, didn’t make the same mistake…

The Red Wings also signed DeBrincat to a four-year contract with an average annual value of $7.875 million. He’ll also get a 16-team no-trade clause commencing in 2024-25.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: DeBrincat was a restricted free agent. His camp reportedly sought an eight-year deal worth $8.8 million. He gets half that term for $1 million less but I doubt the winger is unhappy given his desire to play for the Wings.

MLive.com’s Ansar Khan believes Yzerman got DeBrincat on his terms and I concur with that assessment. As Khan observed, he got the winger signed to a team-friendly contract without parting with any core players or prime prospects. If DeBrincat regains his high-scoring form this will be a big win for the Wings.

IN OTHER NEWS…

THE PROVINCE: Recently-signed Vancouver Canucks defenseman Ian Cole has withdrawn his request to wear No. 28 after learning that number was last worn by the late Luc Bourdon, who died in a motorcycle accident in May 2008.

Cole wore the No. 28 for most of his career and had received permission from the Canucks to wear it. Following an outcry from the team’s fans, the 34-year-old blueliner issued a statement indicating he was unaware that Bourdon was the last player to wear that number.

To honor Bourdon’s memory, Cole will instead wear No. 82 with the Canucks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This was an oversight by Canucks management that put Cole in a difficult spot. They should’ve known about the significance of Bourdon’s memory to the club’s fans and informed Cole that the No. 28 was not available.

TSN: Speaking of the Canucks, they signed restricted free-agent forward Nils Hoglander to a two-year, $2.2 million deal.

THE SEATTLE TIMES: The Kraken avoided salary arbitration with defenseman Cale Fleury by signing him to a two-year, $1.6 million contract.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Kraken also avoided arbitration with blueliner Will Borgen last week. That brings the original 22-name list of NHL players who filed last week for arbitration down to 20.

DAILY FACEOFF: Vladimir Tarasenko and Matt Dumba are among the notable names still available over a week into the 2023 NHL free-agent period.










NHL Random Takes – July 9, 2023

by | Jul 9, 2023

NHL Random Takes – July 9, 2023

The Montreal Canadiens created a stir among their fans with their selection of Austrian defenseman David Reinbacher as the fifth-overall pick in this year’s NHL Draft. If social media was anything to go by, most of them preferred much-touted – and little-scouted – Russian winger Matvei Michkov, who was chosen seventh overall by the Philadelphia Flyers.

Disagreeing with a team’s first-round draft choice is fair play. No fan worth their salt should blindly accept every decision made by their favorite team at the draft table.

The initial critique was about the Canadiens choosing a defenseman in a draft filled with promising young scorers. Many correctly pointed out that the Habs haven’t had a scoring superstar since Guy Lafleur in the 1970s or a 50-goal scorer since Stephane Richer in 1990. “We’re starving for a scorer!” was the refrain.

Montreal Canadiens prospect defenseman David Reinbacher (NHL.com).

Nothing wrong with that. Unfortunately, some of the numpties among the Canadiens faithful decided to take out their outrage on the 18-year-old Reinbacher via Twitter and Instagram with some vile comments. The type of gutter talk that pathetic fools spew from behind the safety of anonymity and distance on social media because they lack the courage to say it to the person’s face.

Some Twitter trolls masquerading as “insiders” tweeted that Reinbacher received “thousands” of direct threats (nowhere close), that he didn’t want to suit up for the Canadiens (which he did just two days following the draft ahead of their prospect development camp) and was so upset that he didn’t want to sign a contract with the Habs (which he did following the development camp).

It’s a reminder that, contrary to popular belief, Twitter is not the real world. Several Canadiens fans preferred Michkov but most seem fine with the player dubbed the top defenseman in the 2023 draft.

*****

Late in the 2012-13 season, goaltender Roberto Luongo bemoaned that his expensive contract was to blame for hurting his chances of the Vancouver Canucks trading him before the 2013 trade deadline.

I wonder if Erik Karlsson feels the same way a decade later. The 33-year-old Norris Trophy-winning defenseman would prefer a trade to a contender and the San Jose Sharks are trying to accommodate him. So far, however, no deal has emerged, mostly because of Karlsson’s $11.5 million AAV through 2026-27 and his full no-movement clause.

There’s reportedly legitimate interest in Karlsson from several playoff contenders but they cannot afford to take on his full contract. Those clubs would prefer if the Sharks retained half of his annual cap hit but they’re reportedly only willing to pick up between 20 and 30 percent.

Thanks to a flattened salary cap for 2023-24, there aren’t many teams that can comfortably afford to take on the entirety of Karlsson’s remaining cap hit, let alone pay what’s expected to be an expensive asking price by the Sharks.

Unless San Jose general manager Mike Grier is willing to retain more of Karlsson’s cap hit, or somehow swing a three-team trade where everybody takes on a third of it, Karlsson will be suiting up next season with Los Tiburones.

*****

Twenty-two players filed last week for salary arbitration. Among the notables were Anaheim Ducks winger Troy Terry, Boston Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman, Toronto Maple Leafs netminder Ilya Samsonov and Winnipeg Jets forward Gabe Vilardi.

The period for their hearings is between July 20 and Aug. 4. However, don’t be surprised if all of them end up re-signing with their clubs before their soon-to-be-appointed dates with the arbiter.

It’s a rare occurrence when players and teams end up making their case before an arbitrator. In the past, the two sides would in most instances reach an agreement within the 48-hour period before the arbiter’s decision was rendered. That option, however, was removed in the 2020 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the NHL and NHL Players Association extending the collective bargaining agreement to 2026.

Most players file as a means of setting a deadline for hammering out agreements on new contracts rather than have them drag on throughout the offseason or into training camp. That’s also usually the motivation for teams that take players to arbitration.

That number has already dropped by two with the Seattle Kraken re-signing defensemen Will Borgen and Cale Fleury. The others will likely follow suit in due course.










Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – July 9, 2023

by | Jul 9, 2023

Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – July 9, 2023

Are the Devils interested in John Gibson? What’s the latest on Vladimir Tarasenko? Who could the Islanders target in the trade market? Could the Canucks ship Tyler Myers to the Sharks? Find out in the Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup.

DEVIL INTERESTED IN GIBSON

NEW YORK POST: Larry Brooks reports sources tell him the New Jersey Devils are “sniffing around” Anaheim Ducks goaltender John Gibson. He noted that the Devils are weighing whether their current tandem of Vitek Vanecek and Akira Schmid can carry them to the Stanley Cup in a division that features the New York Rangers’ Igor Shesterkin and the New York Islanders’ Ilya Sorokin.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Gibson is signed through 2026-27 with an average annual value of $6.4 million and a 10-team no-trade clause. His stats have suffered over the past three seasons with the rebuilding Ducks but could improve on a talented team like the Devils.

The Devils currently have over $5.6 million in cap space with 19 active roster players under contract. They would have to convince the Ducks to retain part of Gibson’s cap hit, send a contract or two to Anaheim as part of the return, or make a cost-cutting deal or two with another club to free up the cap payroll to acquire him.

THE LATEST ON TARASENKO

NEW YORK POST: Larry Brooks reports Vladimir Tarasenko had a multi-year contract worth an AAV of $5.5 million in place with the Carolina Hurricanes before rejecting it (and other offers) and changing agents.

Vladimir Tarasenko (NHL Images).

Tarasenko wanted to remain with the New York Rangers but it was never a realistic possibility. The club didn’t extend the 31-year-old winger a single offer and he wasn’t going to stay with them on a cheap one-year contract.

Brooks believes offers will still be there for Tarasenko. He doesn’t think the Hurricanes will drop out. The Ottawa Senators will be major players once they’ve found a trade partner for Alex DeBrincat. Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello could be interested if he doesn’t land DeBrincat.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Perhaps Tarasenko is waiting for the outcome of the Senators trading DeBrincat to see how it will affect the offers he’s getting.

WHICH SCORERS COULD THE ISLANDERS PURSUE IN THE TRADE MARKET?

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Stefen Rosner was asked by a reader which top-six scorer would be a good fit with the New York Islanders if they can’t land Ottawa’s Alex DeBrincat. He suggested Toronto’s William Nylander, Philadelphia’s Travis Konecny and Anaheim’s Adam Henrique.

The Leafs could end up peddling Nylander rather than risk losing him next summer to free agency. He reportedly seeks an average annual value of $10 million.

Konecny has two seasons left on his contract with an AAV of $5.5 million. However, TSN’s Pierre LeBrun has reported the Flyers would need to receive an offer that blows them away. Rosner doubts the Islanders have the prospects to make that pitch.

There was talk near the March 2023 trade deadline that Henrique was available before he was sidelined by an injury. Despite his age, he’s still good for around 20 goals and 40 points. A UFA at season’s end, the Ducks might wish to try and move him near the March 2024 trade deadline.

NYI HOCKEY NOW: Andrew Fantucchio noted the Boston Bruins will need centers if Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci retire. He suggested the Isles package Jean-Gabriel Pageau and RFA winger Oliver Wahlstrom to the Bruins for winger Jake DeBrusk.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Lamoriello has been trying to add scoring to his roster since last summer. He acquired Bo Horvat midway through last season but still needs a goal-scoring winger.

It’s rumored that Lamoriello has an interest in DeBrincat but the Detroit Red Wings are considered the front-runners to acquire the Senators winger.

He knows Nylander from his days as Leafs GM so he could pursue the 27-year-old winger if he ends up on the trade block. However, I don’t know how keen Lamoriello would be to pay him $10 million annually.

Konecny seems unavailable at this time though that might change as the season progresses. Even so, the Flyers will set a steep asking price. Henrique seems the most likely to be traded but I agree with Rosner that he might not be available until later in the season.

The Bruins will certainly be in need of centers if Bergeron and Krejci depart. However, I think they’d want more than Fantucchio’s proposed package for DeBrusk, preferably a younger and more affordable center.

UPDATE ON MYERS

DONNIE & DHALI: Rick Dhaliwal recently spoke to player agent J.P. Barry regarding a rumor that the Vancouver Canucks and San Jose Sharks have a possible deal on the table that would send defenseman Tyler Myers to the Sharks.

Barry denied knowledge of such a deal for Myers, saying he’s not aware of anything connecting his client to the Sharks. “I can’t react every time because I think that’s the 13th team in two years that’s been connected to him,” he said.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Barry went on to say that Myers loves Vancouver but he’s aware that the coming season will be his last with the Canucks given his UFA status next summer. He believes he’ll become a more interesting trade asset near the March trade deadline.