NHL Rumor Mill – September 27, 2023

by | Sep 27, 2023

NHL Rumor Mill – September 27, 2023

Check out the latest on Patrick Kane, Trevor Zegras, Mikael Backlund, Shane Pinto and more in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

UPDATE ON PATRICK KANE’S REHAB

TSN: Darren Dreger reports Patrick Kane is doing well as he continues to rehab in Toronto from his June hip resurfacing procedure. The 34-year-old unrestricted free-agent winger and his representatives remain committed to his four-to-six-month recovery period.

Kane’s agent Pat Brisson is getting calls from multiple teams seeking updated medical information on his client. However, it could be mid-to-late October at the earliest before he can begin interviews with select teams.

Chris Johnston pointed out that limited salary cap space will be an issue for many of the clubs interested in signing Kane and there aren’t many mechanisms available to help them clear sufficient cap space. They can’t sign him to a 35-plus contract because he’s ineligible to receive one.

Anaheim Ducks center Trevor Zegras (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Buffalo Sabres and Carolina Hurricanes have been suggested as possible suitors. A wild rumor making the rounds earlier this month claimed the Toronto Maple Leafs would be interested but that was based on comments made by TSN’s Dave Poulin that were misinterpreted by several rumor sites.

ARE THE DUCKS LOW-BALLING ZEGRAS?

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman reports there doesn’t seem to be much movement in contract talks between the Anaheim Ducks and Trevor Zegras. TVA Sports’ Renaud Lavoie recently reported the Ducks were offering the restricted free-agent center between $3 million and $4 million annually.

Friedman believes there was a time when the two sides were willing to agree to a three-year deal. If so, he thinks that AAV has to be higher. Zegras isn’t arbitration-eligible now but he will be on his next contract so it defies logic that he would get an AAV below $4 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Zegras is the rebuilding Ducks’ most skilled forward and their most marketable star. He’s a foundation piece going forward. It makes no sense to low-ball him.

The Ducks hold all the leverage right now with Zegras coming off his entry-level contract. I’m not suggesting they should overpay the 22-year-old center but they have to be reasonable or risk alienating their franchise player.

Perhaps Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek’s first pitch to the Zegras camp was between $3 million and $4 million. I’d expect a high initial offer while the player’s representatives and then the two sides negotiate toward something in the middle.

It’s not like the Ducks are pressed for cap space. They’ve currently got $17.5 million available for this season. For 2024-25, they’ve got just $44.2 million invested in 11 active roster players. They can afford to sign Zegras to a short-term deal with a reasonable average annual value.

Zegras is going to demand much more on his arbitration-eligible contract and he’ll get it one way or another if he develops as projected. He could also decide that he only wants a short-term deal to take him up to UFA eligibility.

FLAMES AND BACKLUND TALKING CONTRACT EXTENSION

TSN: Chris Johnston reports contract extension talks have started between Calgary Flames management and Mikael Backlund. The 34-year-old center was noncommital about a new deal following last season’s disappointing performance by the Flames. However, the positive environment brought about by new head coach Ryan Huska has made Backlund consider committing to a new contract.

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman predicts Backlund will get a three-year deal with an AAV of $5.5 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Perhaps that also has some effect on potential extension talks with center Elias Lindholm and defenseman Noah Hanifin. Like Backlund, they’re slated to become UFAs next July but they have indicated a recent willingness to discuss new contracts with management.

SENATORS TRYING TO SHED SALARY FOR PINTO’S NEW CONTRACT.

TSN: Pierre LeBrun reports the Ottawa Senators are trying to free up some salary-cap space to re-sign 22-year-old center Shane Pinto. He believes the restricted free agent could accept a two-year deal worth $2.5 million per season. LeBrun mentioned that Senators forward Mathieu Joseph has been in the rumor mill.

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman indicates the Philadelphia Flyers have an interest in Joseph but they won’t make it easy. He claims they’d want a high-level prospect or the 2024 first-round pick sent by Detroit in the Alex DeBrincat trade. The Senators, however, aren’t willing to do that at this point. Friedman also wondered if the San Jose Sharks might be interested.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Senators GM Pierre Dorion signing Vladimir Tarasenko in July before getting Pinto under contract has become a big headache right now. It’s not doing Pinto any good as he’s already missed a week of training camp. This could end up costing the Senators a lot more than cap space the longer this drags out.










NHL Rumor Mill – September 26, 2023

by | Sep 26, 2023

NHL Rumor Mill – September 26, 2023

Check out the latest on the Wild, Kraken and Sharks in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

WHAT WILL THE WILD DO WITH FOLIGNO, ZUCCARELLO AND HARTMAN?

THE ATHLETIC: Michael Russo and Joe Smith pointed out that the Minnesota Wild have three key forwards – Marcus Foligno, Mats Zuccarello and Ryan Hartman – slated to become unrestricted free agents next summer. They wonder if management will be patient or attempt to re-sign the trio as soon as possible.

Foligno, 32, is in the final season of a three-year contract earning an average annual value of $3.1 million. Russo and Smith are betting the Wild offer him the same contract again.

Minnesota Wild winger Mats Zuccarello (NHL Images).

The 36-year-old Zuccarello is in the final year of a five-year deal with an AAV of $6 million. General manager Bill Guerin would likely sign him for two or three years but he’ll have to accept a pay cut.

Hartman, meanwhile, is in the last season of his three-year contract with an AAV of $1.7 million. If the Wild can’t re-sign the 28-year-old center/winger, he could become a valuable trade chip at the March 8 trade deadline.

Russo and Smith get the feeling that Wild management has at least started contract talks with those three to determine the cost of re-signing them. They could be willing to extend their contracts now.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: As Russo and Smith also point out, the Wild’s salary-cap space for next season will also be a determining factor in negotiations with those three players. They have $24.6 million in projected cap space for next season with 12 players under contract.

Guerin will also have to find suitable replacements for goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury and defenseman Alex Goligoski. Both are also due to become UFAs and it’s expected they won’t be offered new contracts.

LATEST KRAKEN SPECULATION

THE SEATTLE TIMES: In a recent mailbag segment, Geoff Baker was asked what type of contract Kraken center Matty Beniers will get once he comes off his entry-level deal next summer.

Baker pointed out that a two- or three-year bridge contract would leave Beniers primed for a big raise before hitting the open market if he chose to do so. If the Kraken believes he’ll become a star player, it might be best to lock him up to an eight-year deal where they’ll get a cheaper back-end deal on some of his UFA seasons.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Beniers won the Calder Memorial Trophy last season as NHL Rookie of the Year. If he builds on that during his sophomore campaign, he could take a page from the playbook of Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews and push for a lucrative short-term contract that expires when he’s a year or two away from UFA eligibility.

Asked about Jordan Eberle, Baker indicated the 33-year-old winger would love to re-sign with the Kraken. “I’ve made my stance clear as far as I love it here,” said Eberle. “I want to be here. And I want to be part of a winning group. I think we have one here.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s not surprising that Eberle would like to stay. The Kraken surprised everyone last season with their solid performance in just their second NHL season. He’s also at the stage in his career when he’d prefer the stability of a winning club over the uncertainty of the UFA market.

However, if the Kraken stumbles through this campaign Eberle could become a bargaining chip by the March 8 trade deadline. That will depend on the status of his contract negotiations by then. He’s in the final season of a five-year deal with an annual cap hit of $5.5 million.

The Kraken has over $27 million in projected cap space for 2024-25 with 14 players under contract and Beniers in line for a substantial pay raise. Given his age, he’ll likely have to accept a pay cut to stay in Seattle.

BARABANOV HOPES TO REMAIN WITH THE SHARKS

SAN JOSE HOCKEY NOW: Sheng Peng reports Alexander Barabanov hopes to re-sign with the Sharks. The 29-year-old winger is in the second season of a two-year contract ($2.5 million AAV) and is slated to become a UFA next July.

He’s been very productive for the Sharks since they acquired him from the Toronto Maple Leafs in April 2021, netting 93 points in 147 games. On the one hand, his age and his next contract might not fit with the Sharks’ rebuild plans, making him a potential trade candidate by the March 8 deadline. On the other hand, it’s always good to keep a few veterans around to lead the way.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Sharks have over $36 million in projected cap space for 2024-25 with 14 active roster players under contract. Depending on Barabanov’s asking price, they can easily afford to re-sign him if they see him as a key piece going forward.










NHL Rumor Mill – September 25, 2023

by | Sep 25, 2023

NHL Rumor Mill – September 25, 2023

Could the Lightning and Steven Stamkos part ways following this season? Check out the latest speculation in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

SPORTSNET: Luke Fox weighed in on Tampa Bay Lightning captain Steven Stamkos’ disappointment with the lack of contract extension talks this summer with Lightning general manager Julien BriseBois. He believes the 33-year-old forward “dropped the biggest bombshell of training camp.”

Stamkos, 33, is slated to become an unrestricted free agent next July. He told reporters last week that he had preferred working out an extension before the start of the season. BriseBois, however, indicated that he preferred to wait until the end of the season to begin negotiations.

Tampa Bay Lightning captain Steven Stamkos (NHL Images).

Fox wonders if BriseBois is “truly this cutthroat” to be playing hardball with the Lightning star. He also mused over what effect Stamkos’ frustration could have on his play this season.

Elliotte Friedman considered Stamkos’ remarks last week “a big, big shot across the bow”. He added that some of the players close to the Lightning captain believe “that Tampa wouldn’t be crushed if he left.”

Friedman believes that the Lightning want Stamkos to finish his career with them. However, it won’t be at a salary number that they consider unreasonable.

The Stamkos standoff factored into Ryan Dixon pondering whether this is the beginning of the end for this version of the Lightning. He isn’t writing off the club this season given the depth of talent and the potential benefit of a longer-than-usual offseason. However, he believes “we’ve clearly entered a new phase of their arc.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It all comes down to salary cap space for the Lightning. They have over $12.3 million in projected cap room for 2024-25 with 16 players under contract. Zach Bogosian, Calvin de Haan, Tyler Motte, and Haydn Fleury are among their other notable UFAs but they can be easily re-signed or replaced.

Stamkos, however, will take up a big chunk of their cap room, leaving little space to bring in players to bolster their roster. The average annual value of his current contract is $8.5 million. Given his performance in recent years, he’d be justified in seeking the same amount again. Even with the cap projected to increase in the coming years significantly,  BriseBois might not be comfortable investing that much for too long in an aging asset.

As I’ve stated before, it’s unlikely that BriseBois will trade Stamkos or that the latter will request a trade if they don’t have a contract extension in place by the March 8 trade deadline. The Lightning’s season would have to really go off the rails for either side to consider that option.

Defenseman Victor Hedman and winger Nikita Kucherov will likely be watching the outcome of Stamkos’ contract talks. Hedman is eligible for UFA status in 2025 and Kucherov in 2027. If the Lightning cut ties with Stamkos at the end of this season the clock could begin ticking on their tenures in Tampa Bay.










Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – September 24, 2023

by | Sep 24, 2023

Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – September 24, 2023

Could the Hurricanes land Patrick Kane? Is a new contract coming for the Flames’ Mikael Backlund? Will the Canucks shed more contracts? Who could be a cost-cutting candidate for the Senators? Find out in the Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup.

COULD THE HURRICANES BECOME PATRICK KANE’S NEW TEAM?

SPORTSNET: That’s the question Ryan Dixon asked among his biggest questions for each team this season in the Metropolitan Division.

Patrick Kane is still rehabbing from an offseason hip resurfacing procedure. Dixon believes the Hurricanes are in no danger of missing the playoffs but felt they could use another offensive player to get them over the postseason hump.

Free agent winger Patrick Kane (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Dixon noted the Hurricanes’ experiment with Max Pacioretty last season failed when he was sidelined for all but five games by a twice-torn Achilles.

During the summer, Kane’s agent said his client was expected to be ready to return to action by December. By that point, he’s supposedly going to weigh offers from clubs that he believes will give him the best shot at winning the Stanley Cup.

The Hurricanes could be among that group as they’re considered among the Cup favorites. Finding the cap dollars, however, could be difficult as they’re entering the season with just over $920K in cap space.

IS A NEW CONTRACT COMING FOR BACKLUND?

CALGARY SUN: Wes Gilbertson reports there are rumblings of contract extension discussions heating up between the Flames and Mikael Backlund. The 34-year-old center is slated to become an unrestricted free agent next July.

“We’ll see what happens,” said Backlund on Saturday. “It’s pretty quiet right now, but we will see what happens. We haven’t made a decision yet.”

Gilbertson cited reports from earlier in the week suggesting Backlund is open to re-signing with the Flames. He also indicated that his teammates believe he should be wearing the captaincy. He noted that the Flames intend on naming a new captain before their season opener on Oct. 11.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: As Gilbertson pointed out, that date for naming their next captain could also be the deadline for getting a new contract done for Backlund if he is to wear the “C”.

MORE COST-CUTTING MOVES IN STORE FOR THE CANUCKS?

THE HOCKEY NEWS: In the wake of the Vancouver Canucks trading Tanner Pearson to the Montreal Canadiens, Jeff Paterson reported Canucks hockey ops president Jim Rutherford indicated his club is “probably a contract or two away” from unraveling their salary-cap issues.

Rutherford didn’t single out any specific contracts but Paterson believed he was referring to Tyler Myers, Brock Boeser and Conor Garland. Myers is on an expiring deal with an average annual value of $5 million, Boeser has two years remaining with an AAV of $6.65 million while Garland has three years left at $4.95 million AAV.

Paterson pointed out that Myers, Boeser and Garland have floated repeatedly in the rumor mill. However, Rutherford blames the flattened salary cap for the Canucks’ difficulty in shedding unwanted contracts.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Myers could still come off the Canucks’ books before the end of this season. All but $1 million of his $6 million AAV was paid out in a signing bonus. That could make him enticing for budget-conscious clubs seeking an experienced playoff rental defenseman.

If the Canucks still intend to move Boeser and/or Garland, they might have better luck next summer. That’s when the salary cap is projected to rise by at least $4 million.

WHO COULD THE SENATORS TRADE TO CLEAR CAP SPACE FOR PINTO?

SPORTSNET: Limited salary-cap space is complicating the Ottawa Senators’ efforts to sign restricted free-agent center Shane Pinto. They’d prefer not to part with the 22-year-old center, especially with Josh Norris starting training camp wearing a non-contact jersey.

They’ll have to trade somebody else to make room for Pinto. Mathieu Joseph keeps popping up as a trade candidate. The 26-year-old winger carries an annual cap hit of $2.95 million through 2025-26. They might have to include a sweetener in the deal to make it work.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The article also cited Elliotte Friedman saying the Philadelphia Flyers “have been buzzing around the situation.” It was rumored they (and the Boston Bruins) were interested in Pinto. Perhaps the rebuilding Flyers would take Joseph off the Senators’ hands if he comes with a pick or a prospect.










NHL Rumor Mill – September 23, 2023

by | Sep 23, 2023

NHL Rumor Mill – September 23, 2023

Flyers defenseman Travis Sanheim talks about being mentioned in summer trade chatter, the Bruins hope to re-sign Jake DeBrusk and the latest on Avalanche blueliner Devon Toews in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

SANHEIM WASN’T PLEASED TO BE THE SUBJECT OF TRADE CHATTER

NBC SPORTS PHILADELPHIA: Jordan Hall reports Flyers defenseman Travis Sanheim was mentioned in a late-June trade rumor that involved discussions between the Flyers and St. Louis Blues regarding Blues rearguard Torey Krug.

The deal never got off the ground as Krug used his no-trade clause to block it. Four days later, Sanheim’s eight-year contract with a full no-trade clause went into effect.

Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Travis Sanheim (NHL Images).

Sanheim revealed it was a stressful time. “It sucks,” he said. “It’s not a position you want to be in, but it’s a business and I understand it, I understand where the team’s at.” He added that he’s happy to be staying in Philadelphia, saying it was the reason he signed an extension for eight years in 2022.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Sanheim’s full no-trade clause ensures he controls his future with the Flyers over the next four seasons. After that, the clause becomes a 12-team no-trade list.

Sanheim could be encouraged by Flyers management to waive the clause if he was willing to go to a club of his choosing. That’s assuming things go sour with the Flyers over the next four seasons and he’s no longer happy playing for them. As long as he wants to stay in Philadelphia, however, I’d say he’s not at risk of getting traded anytime soon.

BRUINS HOPE TO RE-SIGN DEBRUSK

98.5 THE SPORTS HUB: Ty Anderson reports Boston Bruins general manager Don Sweeney is hopeful of re-signing Jake DeBrusk. The 26-year-old winger is slated to become an unrestricted free agent next July.

“We’re going to have communication with Jake and his representative (and) we’d like to know if Jake indeed does want to be here,” said Sweeney. While he’s not going to say anything publicly about the status of contract talks, the Bruins GM made it clear that his club would like to retain DeBrusk.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: DeBrusk was frequently the subject of trade rumors prior to signing his current contract in March 2022. He silenced that conjecture last season with a career-best 50-point performance in 64 games and would’ve scored more had he not been sidelined for four weeks by injuries suffered during the 2023 Winter Classic.

DeBrusk recently told reporters that he hopes to re-sign with the Bruins but added that it takes two to tango in contract talks. It certainly sounds like Sweeney is willing to dance.

DEVON TOEWS WANTS TO FINISH HIS CAREER WITH THE AVALANCHE

THE SCORE: cited Colorado Avalanche defenseman Devon Toews telling Mile High Sports’ Aarif Deen that he wants to remain with the club for the remainder of his career. Toews, 29, is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent next summer.

Toews told Deen that he’d rather not have contract extension talks drag on into the coming season. He’s earning an average annual value of $4.1 million on his current contract but his solid play could make the case for him to double his money on his next deal.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Avalanche only have $10 million in projected cap space with 13 players under contract for next season. If Gabriel Landeskog’s ongoing knee injury ends his career they will keep him on long-term injury reserve. That will give them the cap flexibility to re-sign Toews. Otherwise, they’ll have to shed salary to keep him.










NHL Rumor Mill – September 22, 2023

by | Sep 22, 2023

NHL Rumor Mill – September 22, 2023

Are the Sabres interested in Patrick Kane? Should the Sharks trade Logan Couture and Tomas Hertl? What’s the latest on Jets center Mark Scheifele? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

SABRES INTERESTED IN KANE

TSN: Darren Dreger reported the Buffalo Sabres have an interest in Patrick Kane. The 34-year-old winger underwent an offseason hip resurfacing procedure and will require another month to rehab.

Free agent winger Patrick Kane (NHL Images).

The Sabres won’t be the only club that could have an interest in Kane. Dreger believes he could help a lot of teams when he’s healthy.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kane joining his hometown Sabres and helping them reach the playoffs for the first time since 2011 would make a great story. However, his agent indicated that he would be fielding offers from clubs that he felt would give him the best chance to win the Stanley Cup. Unless Kane’s changed his mind or if there aren’t any Cup contenders with the cap space or roster room to add him, the Sabres don’t meet his criteria.

The Sabres are a promising club loaded with good young talent. This could be their long-awaited breakthrough season following years of often inconsistent rebuilding by multiple general managers and coaches. If they bust out like the Devils did last season, perhaps they’ll be on Kane’s radar.

However, the Sabres have plenty of offensive forwards on their roster with Tage Thompson, Jeff Skinner, Alex Tuch, Dylan Cozens, Casey Mittelstadt, JJ Peterka, and Victor Olofsson. Granted, they lack Kane’s championship pedigree and leadership. Still, fitting him in there could prove difficult, especially when Jack Quinn returns from injury or if Matt Savoie or Jiri Kulich crack the roster this season.

A greater need could be between the pipes. They have two promising goalies in Devon Levi and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen but neither of them is a reliable experienced starter. That could become a more urgent issue to address if those two should struggle this season. Kane can’t help them there.

With over $8 million in cap space, the Sabres have the room to add Kane and perhaps bolster their goaltending. Still, there could be other clubs better situated as Cup contenders who could prove more tempting to him.

COULD THE SHARKS EXPLORE TRADING COUTURE AND HERTL?

THE SCORE: Cited Bay Area News’ Curtis Pashelka reporting that San Jose Sharks general manager Mike Grier would be open to moving forwards Logan Couture and Tomas Hertl if they asked to be traded.

Grier indicated that Couture and Hertl are committed to the Sharks for the time being. However, if they approached him about being moved, the Sharks GM said he would listen and explore it if a trade made sense for his club.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Good luck moving either guy if the day comes if they request a trade. Couture, 34, is signed through 2026-27 with an average annual value of $8 million and a three-team list of acceptable trade destinations. The 29-year-old Hertl is in the second season of an eight-year contract with an AAV of $8.13 million and a full no-movement clause until 2025-26 when the no-trade portion reverts to a three-team trade list.

Yes, Grier was able to move Erik Karlsson and his hefty contract but that was because the 33-year-old defenseman was coming off a career-best 101-point performance that won him the Norris Trophy for the third time. Couture and Hertl aren’t in his talent class and that will hurt their trade value.

LATEST ON SCHEIFELE

THE SCORE: Winnipeg Jets center Mark Scheifele is open to signing a contract extension. “I’ve told them I’m open to staying,” Scheifele told the media yesterday. The 30-year-old center noted how long he’s been with the club, pointing out he’s starting his 13th training camp with them.

Scheifele has a year remaining on his contract with an average annual value of $6.125 million. He indicated that there haven’t really been any contract talks with management.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff has said that he’s going to evaluate the club’s performance this season as well as that of Scheifele and fellow pending UFA Connor Hellebuyck.