NHL Morning Coffee Headlines and Rumors – July 25, 2023

by | Jul 25, 2023

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines and Rumors – July 25, 2023

The Stars sign GM Jim Nill to a contract extension, the Hurricanes sign Tony DeAngelo plus the latest speculation on the Leafs, Rangers and Coyotes in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines and Rumors

MORNING COFFEE HEADLINES

THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS: The Stars signed general manager Jim Nill to a two-year contract extension. He is entering his 11th season with the Stars and became the first general manager in franchise history to win the Jim Gregory General Manager of the Year award last season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Nill did a fine job rebuilding the Stars in his early years, weathering some difficult times and bringing in young talent such as Jason Robertson, Roope Hintz and Jake Oettinger. They reached the Stanley Cup Final in 2020 and the Western Conference Final last season.

THE NEWS & OBSERVER: The Carolina Hurricanes have brought back Tony DeAngelo, signing the puck-moving defenseman to a one-year, $1.675 million contract.

DeAngelo, 27, played for the Hurricanes in 2021-22 and was traded to the Philadelphia Flyers last summer, who signed him to a two-year contract worth an average annual value of $5 million. However, the Flyers bought out the final year of his contract earlier this month, making him an unrestricted free agent.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: DeAngelo played a better-disciplined game during his first tenure with the Hurricanes which explains why the Hurricanes brought him back. They had a trade in place with the Flyers earlier this month to acquire him with the latter retaining half of his cap hit but the deal was rejected on a CBA technicality.

The Hurricanes were reportedly among the teams interested in acquiring San Jose Sharks blueliner Erik Karlsson. Signing DeAngelo likely takes them out of the Karlsson sweepstakes.

THE ATHLETIC: Joe Smith reports the Minnesota Wild and goaltender Filip Gustavsson could be headed to arbitration to resolve his contract situation. Gustavsson, 25, is coming off a two-year contract with an AAV of $787,500. He filed for arbitration and his hearing date is Aug. 4.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Gustavsson and the Wild will make their respective contract submissions to the arbitrator 48 hours prior to his scheduled hearing.

CAP FRIENDLY: Speaking of arbitration, Gustavsson is among eight players with hearings scheduled from July 30 (Arizona’s Jack McBain and Boston’s Jeremy Swayman) to Aug. 4 (Gustavsson, Edmonton’s Ryan McLeod, Pittsburgh’s Drew O’Connor and the New York Rangers’ Brandon Scanlin).

Toronto Maple Leafs winger William Nylander (NHL Images).

Others include Boston’s Trent Frederic (Aug. 1) and Anaheim’s Troy Terry.

RUMOR MILL

TORONTO SUN: Steve Simmons believes the Maple Leafs cannot afford to pay William Nylander the $9 million to $10 million annual cap hit that he’s seeking on his next contract. It’s still less than what John Tavares, Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner are currently making.

Simmons doubts the Leafs will get anything close to equal value for Nylander in a trade. He recommends letting the 27-year-old winger play out the final year of his contract and then let him walk via free agency. Simmons argues the Leafs could use the money they would’ve paid Nylander to put toward “all kinds of possibilities for roster movement” between now and next July.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The latest reports on Nylander’s contract negotiations claim they’re not going well with the two sides far apart.

General manager Brad Treliving went through a similar situation in 2021-22 with winger Johnny Gaudreau while GM of the Calgary Flames. He hoped to re-sign Gaudreau but wound up watching the winger depart for Columbus as a free agent last summer.

That’s sparked speculation that Treliving won’t go through the same thing with Nylander. Others, meanwhile, share Simmons’ belief that they should retain him this season as the Leafs chase the Stanley Cup, let him walk next summer and use the cap room to bolster their depth elsewhere.

It’ll be interesting to see how Treliving addresses this. While he won’t get equal value for Nylander in the trade market, he could get a couple of promising young players in return who could blossom into future stars. However, if the “Shanaplan” remains pursuing the Stanley Cup this season, they’ll likely keep Nylander and watch him depart as a free agent next July.

TSN: Travis Yost considers the contract buyout possibilities for the Maple Leafs in the wake of Ilya Samsonov’s contract award via arbitration on Sunday.

With the Leafs now well over the $83.5 million salary cap, Yost believes a buyout is coming before their second buyout window closes barring a cost-cutting trade. He suggests oft-injured goaltender Matt Murray or defenseman T.J. Brodie as candidates, though buying out the latter could hurt their efforts to be a Cup contender this season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Yost also points out that the Leafs could place Murray on long-term injury reserve. However, they would have to be salary-cap compliant once he’s ready to return to the lineup. Of course, if injuries have ended his playing career they can place him on LTIR and buy out Brodie or someone else.

NEW YORK POST: Larry Brooks recently noted an unusually large number of free agents remain unsigned. He wondered how many of them would accept one-year contracts or tryout offers and if the Rangers might be able to tap into that low-cost pool to fill out their roster.

Among the notables that Brooks listed were Max Comtois, Jesse Puljujarvi, Zack Kassian, Anders Bjork, Colin White, Danton Heinen, Austin Watson, Cal Foote and Ethan Bear.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Puljujarvi might not be able to play until much later in the coming season. He underwent double hip surgery and faces a long recovery period.

GOPHNX.COM: In his latest mailbag segment, Craig Morgan was asked about why the Arizona Coyotes didn’t trade Nick Schmaltz this summer given how backloaded his contract was. Morgan believes they’re willing to absorb that cost given their shift to improving year over year as well as Schmaltz’s chemistry with high-scoring winger Clayton Keller.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Morgan believes Keller wouldn’t have been very happy if Schmaltz was traded. He tied the franchise single-season points record (86) in 2022-23 with Schmaltz as his linemate.

Morgan was also asked about the trade rumors that swirled about Coyotes goaltender Karel Vejmelka. While they’re always willing to listen to offers, management hasn’t put Vejmelka on the trade block.










NHL Rumor Mill – July 24, 2023

by | Jul 24, 2023

NHL Rumor Mill – July 24, 2023

Are the Jets any closer to trading Connor Hellebuyck and Mark Scheifele? Could the Panthers sign Vladimir Tarasenko? Could Casey DeSmith become the odd goalie out with the Penguins? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

LATEST ON HELLEBUYCK AND SCHEIFELE

WINNIPEG SUN: Scott Billeck wondered if goaltender Connor Hellebuyck and center Mark Scheifele will be in the Jets lineup when the 2023-24 regular season opens in October. Both are slated to become unrestricted free agents next summer with Hellebuyck reportedly unwilling to sign a contract extension and Scheifele uncertain to do the same.

Hellebucyk and Scheifele have been fixtures in this summer’s trade rumor mill. However, the market has dried up, especially for Hellebuyck. The flattened salary cap for 2023-24 hasn’t helped matters. Hellebuyck also reportedly seeks $9.5 million annually on his next contract.

Winnipeg Jets center Mark Scheifele (NHL Images).

Billeck reports the Jets have spoken with Hellebuyck and Scheifele to see if the club’s offseason moves have changed their minds. For now, it appears both will be starting the season with the Jets unless a trade offer surfaces that makes sense.

According to Billeck, it’s possible the Boston Bruins could enter the picture regarding Scheifele at some point. However, they could have their eyes on Calgary Flames center Elias Lindholm, who’s also a year away from UFA eligibility and reluctant to ink an extension.

A team or two could be in need of a goaltending upgrade by December. Scheifele could also be a solid trade deadline addition, perhaps sooner if injuries start piling up.

THE ATHLETIC: Murat Ates wouldn’t be surprised if Hellebuyck and Scheifele are in the Jets lineup for opening night. He also wouldn’t be shocked if the Jets were working on ways to keep both players beyond this season.

If Scheifele gets traded he could fetch a first-round pick, a second-rounder and a young roster player with top-six upside. Fixing a price for Hellebuyck is harder because there aren’t any realistic comparable trades plus the lack of contract extensions muddies the waters in both cases.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s been a while since we’ve heard or read anything about Hellebuyck and Scheifele in the rumor mill. It was expected one or both would be traded by now. However, the reasons cited by Billeck and Ates suggest there isn’t much of a market for either player right now.

Few teams have the cap space to take on Hellebuyck’s $6.166 cap hit or Scheifele’s $6.125 million for 2023-24. The Jets don’t seem keen to retain any portion of their salaries.

The Jets, however, have time on their side. They can hang onto Hellebuyck and Scheifele to start the season and wait for the trade market to pick up, especially in the latter half of the season when teams jockeying for playoff berths are looking to boost their rosters.

COULD THE PANTHERS PURSUE TARASENKO?

FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW: George Richards wonders if the Panthers might take a run at signing UFA winger Vladimir Tarasenko.

To make it work, the 31-year-old Tarasenko would have to join the Panthers at a bargain price. The Panthers are bumping up against the $83.5 million cap. They’ll get some relief with defensemen Brandon Montour and Aaron Ekblad expected to start the season on LTIR but must be cap compliant when they’re ready to return to action.

Richards noted that recent reports indicate Tarasenko rejected offers worth between $5.5 million and $6 million which would put the Panthers out of the running. However, he wondered if Tarasenko would accept a $4 million contract for this season with the knowledge that he could get more money when the cap goes up next season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Things have also gone quiet regarding Tarasenko since he fired his agent earlier this month. He might have to consider a scenario like Richards’ if he doesn’t find any better offers or if those that he rejected are off the table.

It seems unlikely the Panthers would be in the bidding under that scenario given their limited cap space. Still, we can’t fully dismiss the possibility.

DESMITH THE ODD GOALIE OUT IN PITTSBURGH?

PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: Dan Kingerski wondered if the Penguins’ recent goaltending additions throughout their system might make backup Casey DeSmith the odd man out between the pipes.

Tristan Jarry is back as their starter having signed a five-year deal earlier this month. They’ve also added Alex Nedeljkovic and Magnus Hellberg on NHL deals as well as Garret Sparks to their AHL affiliate.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Penguins could use their second buyout window to ditch one of their goalie contracts once Drew O’Connor’s arbitration has been settled. They could also include one of those netminders as part of a package to acquire Erik Karlsson from the San Jose Sharks. Failing that, perhaps they could trade one of them to another club.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines and Rumors – July 23, 2023

by | Jul 23, 2023

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines and Rumors – July 23, 2023

Evgeny Kuznetsov eligible to return to international competition, Bruins reportedly cut ties with Mitchell Miller in February, plus the latest on Erik Karlsson, Matt Dumba, and Tony DeAngelo in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines and Rumors.

MORNING COFFEE HEADLINES

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Evgeny Kuznetsov is now eligible to return to participate in international hockey events. The 31-year-old Washington Capitals center received a four-year ban for cocaine use in June 2019 which officially ended on June 12 of this year.

Washington Capitals center Evgeny Kuznetsov (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kuznetsov won’t be participating in international competition with his native Russia anytime soon. That country is currently not allowed to take part in such events due to its ongoing war with Ukraine.

NEW YORK POST: Larry Brooks reports the Boston Bruins have parted ways with defenseman Mitchell Miller.

The Bruins signed Miller on Nov. 4 but soon disassociated themselves from the 21-year-old defenseman following backlash over the signing. At age 14, Miller pled guilty to one count of assault and one count of violating the Ohio Safe Schools Act for a series of racially-motivated acts against a developmentally challenged classmate over a series of months.

The Bruins terminated Miller’s contract and the NHL Players Association filed a grievance on his behalf. A source tells Brooks that a settlement was reached back in February in lieu of a hearing releasing the Bruins from their obligation while paying Miller an undisclosed amount of money and granting him free agency. He’s expected to seek employment in Europe.

SUNDAY NHL RUMOR ROUNDUP

PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: Dan Kingerski cited Erik Karlsson telling the Swedish publication Expressen that he’s not okay with returning to the San Jose Sharks. While he likes living and playing in San Jose, he’s at the stage in his career where he risks running out of chances to win the Stanley Cup.

Karlsson said Sharks general manager Mike Grier knows his position and is trying to accommodate him. Still, Kingerski believes this will put additional pressure on Grier to get a deal done this summer.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Based on recent reports it appears that the Karlsson sweepstakes is down to the Pittsburgh Penguins and Carolina Hurricanes with the Penguins considered the front-runners. The offers and counter-offers have been made and now everyone waits to see if the Penguins, Hurricanes or Sharks blink first.

TORONTO SUN: Lance Hornby took note of Karlsson’s admission in the same interview that he’s spoken with the Maple Leafs as well as several other clubs regarding a trade.

Hornby, however, isn’t getting too excited about this. He pointed out that the Pittsburgh Penguins seem much closer to landing Karlsson. He also noted that Leafs general manager Brad Treliving likes to get into trade discussions involving elite players, “if only to wave his team’s flag.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: In other words, Treliving looked into it but it’s doubtful he has a legitimate show at landing Karlsson.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Remy Mastey recently cited Sportsnet’s Luke Fox reporting the Arizona Coyotes have emerged as the leading candidates to sign Matt Dumba. The Maple Leafs, Buffalo Sabres and Dallas Stars also reportedly had interest along with the Sharks. Dumba, 28, is the top defenseman remaining in this summer’s unrestricted free-agent market.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’ll be interesting to see what type of contract Dumba signed regardless of which team gets him. He could bet on himself with a one-year deal in the hope of landing a more lucrative deal next summer when the salary cap is projected to rise by $4 million for 2024-25.

PHILLY HOCKEY NOW: Chuck Bausman wondered if the Carolina Hurricanes might consider bringing back Tony DeAngelo as “Plan B” if their efforts to acquire Erik Karlsson fall through.

The Hurricanes had a deal in place with the Flyers to bring back DeAngelo earlier this month. However, the deal was held up on a CBA technicality and eventually fell through. The Flyers subsequently bought out the final year of his contract, making the 27-year-old defenseman an unrestricted free agent.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: I daresay Karlsson’s availability changed things for the Hurricanes. We can’t rule out the possibility of them circling back to DeAngelo but recent reports indicate they haven’t spoken with his camp since he was bought out earlier this month.










NHL Rumor Mill – July 22, 2023

by | Jul 22, 2023

NHL Rumor Mill – July 22, 2023

Erik Karlsson confirms speaking to several teams, a look at Travis Konecny’s future with the Flyers, and an Islanders’ salary-cap solution in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

KARLSSON SPOKE WITH SEVERAL TEAMS REGARDING A TRADE

TSN: Chris Johnston reports Erik Karlsson confirmed speaking with several teams as the San Jose Sharks attempt to trade the 33-year-old defenseman.

Among the clubs that Karlsson spoke with are the Toronto Maple Leafs, Pittsburgh Penguins, Seattle Kraken and Carolina Hurricanes. “I just want the best chance to get to the best team,” he said.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Penguins appear to be the front-runners based on numerous reports out of Pittsburgh and from other NHL insiders in recent days. They seem confident of their chances of landing the three-time Norris Trophy winner.

The holdup could be whether the Penguins use their second buyout window to shed a roster player once Drew O’Connor’s contract situation has been resolved. His arbitration hearing is on Aug. 4 but could be settled before then. We’ll find out in due course.

Philadelphia Flyers winger Travis Konecny (NHL Images).

DOES KONECNY HAVE A FUTURE WITH THE FLYERS?

THE ATHLETIC: Charlie O’Connor recently looked at where Travis Konecny fits into the rebuilding Philadelphia Flyers’ long-term plans. The 26-year-old winger enjoyed a bounce-back performance in 2022-23 by tying his career high of 61 points, becoming one of the few bright spots in a miserable season for the Flyers.

General manager Daniel Briere was willing to listen to offers for Konecny this summer but there was never a sense that he was peddling the winger in the trade market. He’s signed through 2024-25 at a reasonable average annual value of $5.5 million. Konecny played well for head coach John Tortorella. He and Briere both like what the winger brings to the team.

O’Connor suggests the Flyers have plenty of time to trade Konecny beyond this summer. If they can’t or won’t re-sign him he could fetch at least a first-round pick in return. Briere can afford to keep his asking price high.

They could also re-sign Konecny. However, that could prove a risky long-term investment for a player whose new contract would start at 28 and stretch well into his 30s.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Konecny’s future will be decided by the progress of the Flyers’ rebuild and whether he has a place in it. I daresay he’ll continue to surface in the rumor mill if the Flyers remain near the bottom of the standings for the coming season.

Konecny’s trade value throughout 2023-24 will rise if he builds on last season’s performance. His future will also depend on whether he wants to stick with a rebuilding club. If he has no interest in signing a contract extension next summer, he could be shopped during the 2024 draft or before the 2025 trade deadline. His lack of a no-trade clause gives Briere plenty of potential suitors to choose from.

COULD ROSS JOHNSTON BECOME THE ISLANDERS’ SALARY-CAP SOLUTION?

NYI HOCKEY NOW: Andrew Fantucchio observes the Islanders sit above this season’s $83.5 million salary cap by over $486K. They can remain there until the start of their 2023-24 schedule when they’ll have to become cap compliant.

Fantucchio suggests veteran enforcer Ross Johnston could become a salary-cap casualty. He carries an AAV of $1.1 million through 2025-26. He played just 16 games last season and was often passed over when vacancies opened in the lineup.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Fantucchio suggests the Isles could demote Johnston to their AHL affiliate in Bridgeport. They could also explore the trade market if they hope to shed his entire cap hit from their books.










NHL Rumor Mill – July 21, 2023

by | Jul 21, 2023

NHL Rumor Mill – July 21, 2023

The summer of Erik Karlsson continues with more speculation linking the Sharks defenseman to the Penguins. Check out the latest plus some possible Sabres trade candidates in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

MORE “KARLSSON TO PITTSBURGH” RUMORS

THE ATHLETIC: Rob Rossi reports the Pittsburgh Penguins and Carolina Hurricanes remain the primary suitors for Erik Karlsson as both clubs have permission to speak with the San Jose Sharks defenseman. The Penguins have had multiple people (apart from president of hockey ops Kyle Dubas) talking to Karlsson in recent weeks and several within the organization are confident that the Penguins are his preferred destination.

San Jose Sharks defenseman Erik Karlsson (NHL Images).

Penguins captain Sidney Crosby and top defenseman Kris Letang have endorsed the pursuit of Karlsson. Letang would remain their No. 1 defenseman and skate on the top pairing but he’s willing to change his role on their top power-play unit to allow Karlsson to quarterback it.

Dubas and his staff are working on several scenarios that would allow them to acquire Karlsson while remaining cap compliant. One is a straight-up trade with the Sharks. Another would involve a third team with salary-cap space. There could also be a scenario that would include buying out a current roster player such as Mikael Granlund.

Rossi also indicated that Dubas spoke with Jeff Petry last month in Detroit about all possibilities, including a trade. The 35-year-old defenseman is not open to a trade far away from his family in Michigan. He has a 15-team no-trade list.

The Sharks are interested in Penguins defenseman Marcus Pettersson as part of the deal but Dubas has resisted offers thus far. The Penguins’ hockey ops president also favors top-five protection on any first-round draft picks and expects the Sharks will retain a portion of Karlsson’s $11.5 million cap hit. How much they’ll retain depends on what assets the Sharks receive in return.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: As expected, a Karlsson-to-Pittsburgh trade would be a complex deal involving a lot of moving parts.

It certainly seems like the Penguins are the front-runners. The most we’ve heard about the Hurricanes’ interest is they’re “monitoring” the situation. That doesn’t mean they’re not making offers or trying to work a deal but there’s been almost nothing of substance being reported about their efforts to land the Sharks blueliner.

Rossi noted the Penguins get a second contract buyout window because of Drew O’Connor filing for arbitration. His arbitration hearing is Aug. 4 but he and the Penguins could reach an agreement on a new contract by then. Whether O’Connor’s situation is settled before his hearing or requires an arbiter’s decision, the Penguins will have 48 hours following the settlement to buy out a roster player.

That could explain why the much-anticipated trade sending Karlsson to Pittsburgh hasn’t taken place yet.

POTENTIAL SABRES TRADE CANDIDATES

THE ATHLETIC: Matthew Fairburn recently looked at several Buffalo Sabres who could become trade candidates. The club currently has 10 NHL defensemen and three goaltenders who could be ready to play this season. They also have several forward prospects who could be ready to join the lineup.

Winger Victor Olofsson is the most logical trade candidate given his one-dimensional play and that he was a healthy scratch during some key games down the stretch. His $4.75 million cap hit for this season makes him tough to move under a flattened cap. The offseason injury to Jack Quinn could force management to retain Olofsson until Quinn’s return.

The Sabres’ blueline depth could make Henri Jokiharju expendable. He does have some value which could make him a more realistic trade candidate before the start of the season. Ilya Lyubushkin could also be available but might not have as much value as Jokiharju.

They must also decide between goalies Eric Comrie and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen. Comrie could have some value around the league as a cheap backup. Other trade options include Jacob Bryson and Riley Stillman.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: One or two players on Fairburn’s list could be playing elsewhere when the Sabres open their season in October. Olofsson seemed to be a goner for sure before Quinn was sidelined. Perhaps they’ll evaluate the performance of their promising forwards to determine if they can part with him before the season begins.

When it comes to Comrie and Luukkonen I can’t see them parting with the latter. Still, it could come down to training camp and preseason performance.










NHL Rumor Mill – July 20, 2023

by | Jul 20, 2023

NHL Rumor Mill – July 20, 2023

Are the Devils still interested in Connor Hellebuyck and John Gibson? What’s the latest on the Bruins? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

DEVILS STILL MONITORING HELLEBUYCK AND GIBSON

NHL NETWORK: Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports the New Jersey Devils are still keeping an eye on Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck and Anaheim Ducks netminder John Gibson.

Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Devils are said to be willing to start this season with Vitek Vanecek and Akira Schmid as their tandem. Nevertheless, they appear to be keeping an eye on the goalie market in case a suitable option becomes available at a reasonable asking price.

On June 29, The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun reported the Devils were interested in Hellebuyck but wasn’t willing to pay too much to land him.

Friedman indicated that some sources tell him they wouldn’t be surprised if Hellebuyck remains with the Jets for the coming season. He said they don’t want to rebuild and hope to make the playoffs next spring. It’s not just about trading Hellebuyck but also if they have a suitable replacement for him.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hellebuyck is slated to become an unrestricted free agent next July and has indicated he has no interest in playing for a rebuilding club. That prompted speculation that he would be moved at some point during this offseason.

The Jets have brought back Laurent Brossoit as Hellebuyck’s backup but they have no one in their system capable of replacing him.

Hellebuyck lacks no-trade protection. He carries a cap hit of over $6.1 million for this season but will earn $7.5 million in actual salary. That’s a major sticking point for any club interested in acquiring him.

The Jets risk losing their starter next summer to free agency if they retain him for the coming season. However, they could move him by the March 1 trade deadline if they’re out of playoff contention by then. Perhaps they might get a better offer for him at the deadline from contenders hoping to address their goaltending.

Friedman noted that Gibson remains in Anaheim despite the Devils’ interest in him.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Earlier this month, Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli claimed Gibson requested a trade from the Ducks, indicating that he’d played his final game for them. The goalie’s agent quickly denied this story and there hasn’t been anything new about his situation since then.

Gibson is signed through 2026-27 with an annual salary of $6.4 million and a 10-team no-trade clause. His stats have suffered over the past three seasons backstopping the rebuilding Ducks. It’s believed there are teams that consider him a good goalie on a bad team. However, his contract remains a major trade obstacle during another season under a flattened salary cap

LATEST ON THE BRUINS

BOSTON HOCKEY NOW: Jimmy Murphy cites an NHL pro scout suggesting Jake DeBrusk will draw plenty of interest in next summer’s free-agent market if he and the Bruins fail to reach an agreement on a contract extension. The 26-year-old winger could also get shopped by the March 1 trade deadline if the Bruins falter by then.

DeBrusk is in the second season of a two-year, $8 million contract and eligible for UFA status next July. Murphy believes Bruins management should maintain an open line of communication with DeBrusk’s agent heading into this season. They don’t want the winger’s contract situation to become an unwanted distraction.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: DeBrusk was a frequent topic of trade chatter for several years before signing his current contract. He netted a career-best 50 points in 64 games last season and tied his career-high of 27 goals. Another solid performance this season could see him land a new contract with the Bruins before next July.

Murphy also looked at how the Bruins can become cap compliant for 2023-24. They have over $5 million in projected cap space but must re-sign restricted free agents Jeremy Swayman and Trent Frederic. He speculates defenseman Derek Forbort could become a cost-cutting casualty.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Forbort carries a cap hit of $3 million for this season. He also has a three-team no-trade list. The bigger obstacle, however, could be finding a club with the cap room willing to take him off their hands. It could end up costing them a draft pick to get it done.