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.










NHL Rumor Mill – July 19, 2023

by | Jul 19, 2023

NHL Rumor Mill – July 19, 2023

Check out the latest on Erik Karlsson, an update on the Leafs’ contract talks with William Nylander and Auston Matthews, and the Flames’ efforts to re-sign Elias Lindholm in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

PENGUINS, HURRICANES STILL FRONT-RUNNERS FOR KARLSSON

NHL NETWORK: Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman still believes it’s primarily between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Carolina Hurricanes to acquire Erik Karlsson from the San Jose Sharks.

Friedman said this situation tends to ebb and flow. Some sources tell him that it’s more likely Carolina is the destination while others claim it’s tipping toward Pittsburgh.

According to Friedman, the Hurricanes have two issues holding them back from landing the 33-year-old defenseman.

They’re trying to deal with defenseman Brett Pesce and winger Teuvo Teravainen, who both are slated to become unrestricted free agents next July. Friedman thinks they’ve spoken with some teams regarding Teravainen if they need to free up cap space for Karlsson.

San Jose Sharks defenseman Erik Karlsson (NHL Images).

The other issue is how much of Karlsson’s $11.5 million average annual value will the Sharks retain. He believes the Hurricanes already have a number that the Sharks are unwilling to reach.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Friedman claims the Hurricanes are involved in a lot of things. As noted yesterday, they’re monitoring Karlsson’s situation. It’s difficult to determine how much interest they have in landing the Sharks rearguard or what they’re willing to offer up in return.

My guess is the Hurricanes would prefer the Sharks retain at least 40 percent of his cap hit which runs through 2026-27. However, that would require the Canes to give up much more in terms of return, perhaps more than they’re comfortable with.

Turning to the Penguins…

PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE: Matt Vensel speculated last Friday that there was a 50-50 chance of the Penguins landing Karlsson. He believes the Sharks could be feeling the urgency to move the veteran rearguard as his trade value will only go downhill after this offseason.

Vensel believes the quality of the return the Sharks receive depends on how much they’re willing to sacrifice financially, whether it’s retaining part of Karlsson’s cap hit or taking on a bloated contract or two.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: If the Sharks don’t wish to retain salary or only a small portion, they’ll have to take back someone like Jeff Petry ($6.25 million) or Mikael Granlund ($5 million). Petry has a 15-team no-trade clause and could be reluctant to join a rebuilding club, even if it’s in sunny California. Granlund, however, lacks no-trade protection.

PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW: Mark Madden recently claimed Karlsson is “vehemently against going to Carolina,” claiming he hates Hurricanes defenseman (and former Sharks teammate) Brent Burns as well as the club’s style of play.

Madden also said that everybody has made their best offers for Karlsson. It’s now down to see if the Sharks crack and take one.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: On the one hand, Karlsson’s supposed dislike of Burns would explain why the Hurricanes haven’t landed him by now. On the other hand, why are they still mentioned as a suitor by insiders like Friedman if he has no intention of joining the Hurricanes?

Karlsson has a full no-movement clause. If he ruled out the Hurricanes as a destination you’d think that would’ve surfaced in the rumor mill by now.

THE ATHLETIC: On Monday, Josh Yohe reported things were quiet on the Karlsson front for the Penguins. He claims they remain very interested. “Something could happen quickly, or this could drag on all summer.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The way things are going, this could last all summer. Stay tuned…

LATEST ON THE LEAFS CONTRACT TALKS WITH NYLANDER AND MATTHEWS

NHL NETWORK: Elliotte Friedman reports contract negotiations between the Toronto Maple Leafs and winger William Nylander appear to remain at a standstill. He doesn’t see any movement in those talks until one side budges. Friedman added that if other players aren’t going to take a little less to remain in Toronto then neither will Nylander.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Reports earlier this month claimed Nylander is seeking an AAV of $10 million on his next contract while the Leafs are offering between $8 million and $9 million. He’s coming off back-to-back 80-point performances including a career-high 88 points playing second-line minutes.

I’d say Nylander makes a reasonable case for seeking that much. If the Leafs won’t pay it, somebody else will if he hits the open market next July with a salary cap projected to jump by at least $4 million (I say up to $6 million) for 2024-25. Clubs who consider Nylander as a first-line guy will pay him what he wants, especially if he reaches or exceeds 80 points again.

Some observers believe Leafs general manager Brad Treliving will trade Nylander before the start of this season rather than go through another season of uncertainty as he did in 2021-22 with Johnny Gaudreau in Calgary. There are also some who feel the Leafs could retain Nylander for the coming season and see how things play out on the ice and in contract talks.

Friedman indicates the news is better regarding Auston Matthews’ negotiations. He believes the Leafs superstar will reach an agreement on a deal that is between three to five years in length. Friedman believes it will happen but isn’t sure when.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: No word on how much of a raise Matthews will receive over his current $11.6 million AAV. Some believe it could exceed the league-leading $12.6 million of Colorado’s Nathan MacKinnon, ranging from between $13.5 million to $14 million. Whatever Matthews agrees to will affect Nylander’s talks with the Leafs.

FLAMES HOPE TO RE-SIGN LINDHOLM

NHL NETWORK: Elliotte Friedman believes the Calgary Flames are still trying to re-sign Elias Lindholm. The 28-year-old center is a year away from UFA eligibility. The Flames consider him a key piece of their future and hope to retain him.

Friedman speculated an extension for Lindholm could cost between $8 million and $8.5 million. However, with several key players having left the Flames in recent years, he thinks they could offer up $9 million annually.

Lindholm sounded reluctant about signing an extension with the Flames during his end-of-season presser in April. Nevertheless, Friedman thinks he hasn’t closed the door on re-signing with the Flames.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Mikael Backlund also shared Lindholm’s reluctance. Their comments, however, came before the club hired Craig Conroy as GM and fired head coach Darryl Sutter.

Conroy is believed working on keeping Lindholm and Backlund. Nevertheless, he also shipped out Tyler Toffoli when he asked for a trade last month. Defenseman Noah Hanifin indicated he wouldn’t sign an extension. Conroy has reportedly shopped him but hasn’t pulled the trigger yet on a trade.

If Lindholm won’t re-sign, the Flames will go into rebuild mode. Lindholm, Backlund and Hanifin could be shipped out before the March 1 trade deadline.










NHL Rumor Mill – July 18, 2023

by | Jul 18, 2023

NHL Rumor Mill – July 18, 2023

What’s the latest on the Hurricanes? Could they move Brett Pesce? What would it take for the Islanders to sign Vladimir Tarasenko? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

LATEST ON THE HURRICANES

THE NEWS & OBSERVER: Luke Decock reports the Carolina Hurricanes had a busy start to July but rumors have died down since then. Their last addition was signing winger Brendan Lemieux on July 11 and things could remain unchanged.

The Hurricanes had a proposed deal in place with the Philadelphia Flyers to reacquire defenseman Tony DeAngelo but it was blocked over salary-cap circumvention concerns. It was placed on the back burner after the Hurricanes signed free-agent blueliner Dmitry Orlov. DeAngelo has since become a free agent after being bought out last week by the Flyers but the Hurricanes have not spoken with his agent.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: I think we can rule out the possibility of DeAngelo coming back to the Hurricanes.

Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Brett Pesce (NHL Images).

They’ve been linked to Vladimir Tarasenko but their interest in the unrestricted free-agent winger has cooled. They continue to monitor Norris Trophy winner Erik Karlsson but their limited cap space would make it difficult to acquire the San Jose Sharks defenseman unless they make another trade first.

The Hurricanes are also working on finalizing an eight-year contract extension for center Sebastian Aho. They face decisions on winger Teuvo Teravainen and defensemen Brett Pesce and Brady Skjei, who are a year away from UFA eligibility.

Decock considers it unlikely or prudent that the Canes will go into 2023-24 with those three still in limbo. Nevertheless, general manager Don Waddell is not yet facing any time pressure.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Acquiring Karlsson would likely mean parting ways with a defenseman, most likely a right-side defender like Pesce. Speaking of whom…

THE ATHLETIC: Shayna Goldman listed five clubs that could or should be interested in Brett Pesce if the Hurricanes opt to trade the 28-year-old blueliner. They include the Dallas Stars, Buffalo Sabres, Toronto Maple Leafs, Nashville Predators and Edmonton Oilers.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Pesce carries a $4.025 million cap hit for 2023-24 plus a list of 15 preferred trade destinations. At least one of the aforementioned clubs could be on that list.

Assuming Pesce would accept a trade to those five teams, salary-cap constraints hamper the Leafs, Stars, and Oilers. They’d have to shed salary in a cost-cutting deal to free up room for him. The Hurricanes could be reluctant to take on a player in return if they’re trying clear space for another move.

The Sabres have the cap room but it could get tricky if they want to keep Pesce beyond this season. They must ensure they’ll have sufficient room once they get Rasmus Dahlin and Owen Power signed to their long-term extensions. They also recently signed Erik Johnson and Connor Clifton, leaving them with eight defensemen on one-way NHL contracts. Power is on his entry-level contract which is a two-way deal but he’s not going to be buried in the minors following his solid rookie performance last season.

Meanwhile, the Predators have the cap space and the depth in tradeable assets. First-year GM Barry Trotz has shown a willingness to make bold moves. Perhaps he’ll pursue Pesce if the opportunity presents itself.

CAN THE ISLANDERS AFFORD TARASENKO?

NEW YORK POST: Ethan Sears noted the Islanders’ ongoing search for a scoring winger, pointing out Vladimir Tarasenko is still available in the free-agent market.

Signing the 31-year-old winger, however, would mean having to free up some cap room. He reportedly rejected offers between $5.5 million and $6 million before changing agents.

Sears believes Jean-Gabriel Pageau would be the logical cost-cutting trade candidate. Removing his $5 million cap hit from the Isles books wouldn’t leave a hole at center since Mathew Barzal could be moved back to that position.

Pageau’s skills as a two-way center and penalty killer give him value in the trade market. However, he has a 16-team no-trade list. Meanwhile, just 13 teams have $5 million in cap space, and that’s without accounting for their unsigned restricted free agents.

Moving Pageau alone might not be enough. Sears suggested waiving Ross Johnston and including Oliver Wahlstrom in any deal. If Zach Parise opts for retirement it would leave them with $6.4 million in cap room.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: I don’t rule out anything when Isles GM Lou Lamoriello is concerned. He’s been chasing a scoring winger since last summer. Perhaps he can woo Tarasenko while finding a way to clear sufficient cap room. Still, it won’t be easy, especially if there are other suitors with more cap flexibility in the hunt.










NHL Rumor Mill – July 17, 2023

by | Jul 17, 2023

NHL Rumor Mill – July 17, 2023

The latest on Erik Karlsson, three teams that should attempt to sign Evan Bouchard to an offer sheet, and three assets the Oilers could use to acquire Brett Pesce in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

WILL THE SHARKS BUCKLE ON KARLSSON?

PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: Dan Kingerski believes the stalemate in the Penguins’ efforts to acquire Erik Karlsson from the San Jose Sharks is less of an impasse and more of a bluff on the Sharks’ part. If Sharks general manager Mike Grier isn’t bluffing as he attempts to drive up the asking price on the 33-year-old defenseman, Kingerski believes he’ll buckle because the Sharks don’t have a strong position.

San Jose Sharks defenseman Erik Karlsson (NHL Images).

Acquiring Karlsson carries risks such as his injury history,  his age, upsetting team chemistry and decreased production. Kingerski believes the Penguins don’t need Karlsson and neither do the Carolina Hurricanes, the other club reportedly a front-runner for the blueliner.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: In other words, the Penguins and Hurricanes would like to acquire him but they aren’t going to sell the farm to get him. They can move on for 2023-24 without Karlsson on their respective rosters. The Sharks, on the other hand, have a greater need to move him and his hefty contract so they can start investing the freed-up cap space in rebuilding the roster.

With Karlsson under contract for four more years, the Sharks could attempt to wait a year or two in the hope of getting a better deal. However, Kingerski pointed out the Arizona Coyotes took the same position with Jakob Chychrun and wound up shipping him to Ottawa for less than the oft-quoted asking price of two first-round picks and a prospect or NHL player.

The Sharks are attempting to sell high with Karlsson, whose value will never be higher than it is right now. It will drop if he gets hurt or his production sags.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: These are good points by Kingerski. The bottom line is the Sharks are never going to get “equal value” for Karlsson despite his 101-point performance this season that earned him his third Norris Trophy as the NHL’s top defenseman. Grier is trying to generate a bidding war among the interested parties in the hope that they can get a return that is close to their best-case scenario.

Karlsson’s value remains high until his skates touch the ice for the Sharks’ opening game in 2023-24. That’s assuming he doesn’t suffer an injury in training camp or preseason play. The Sharks also don’t need questions about Karlsson’s future becoming an unwanted distraction during the coming season.

Grier knows this. He can stretch this situation throughout the summer but at some point, perhaps before training camp opens in September, I expect he’ll pull the trigger and accept the best offer.

THREE TEAMS THAT SHOULD SIGN EVAN BOUCHARD TO AN OFFER SHEET.

THE SCORE: Josh Wegman considers Edmonton Oilers defenseman Evan Bouchard a prime target for an offer sheet. He’s due for a raise coming out of his entry-level contract but the Oilers have just $5.62 million in cap space for 2023-24 and center Ryan McLeod still to be re-signed.

Wegman believes the Oilers would be in a bind if a rival club offered Bouchard a five-year contract with an annual cap hit of $8.58 million. He suggested the Buffalo Sabres, Carolina Hurricanes and Seattle Kraken make the attempt.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: I don’t see the Sabres, Hurricanes and Kraken going this route. Wegman acknowledged that this tactic is rarely used. He pointed out that general managers could be reluctant to part with the compensatory draft picks or overpaying on a short-term contract or wishing to avoid a retaliatory offer from another club down the road.

For an offer sheet to happen, the player must be open to signing with another club. There’s no indication that Bouchard is willing to consider that option. If he is, no one seems to be knocking down his door to do so. One has to think it would’ve happened by now.

The Sabres now have nine defensemen under NHL contract with their recent additions of Erik Johnson and Connor Clifton. They’re also negotiating lucrative long-term extensions for Rasmus Dahlin and Owen Power. I doubt they’re interested in adding another blueliner, especially one on an expensive deal via an offer sheet that could complicate efforts to re-sign Sandin and Power.

Meanwhile, the Hurricanes are reportedly quite interested in acquiring Erik Karlsson from San Jose. Should that fall through, they could go the offer-sheet route with Bouchard. However, I don’t think that’s something they want to entertain, especially after their tit-for-tat offer-sheet signing of Jesperi Kotkaniemi two years ago.

Kraken general manager Ron Francis has the cap space to make it happen but, as Wegman points out, a big chunk of it will be taken up re-sign blueliner Vince Dunn. Yes, they could free up room to pursue Bouchard if they wanted to, but why bother with that headache when less troublesome options could appear at some point?

WHAT WOULD IT COST THE OILERS TO ACQUIRE PESCE?

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Michael DeRosa recently noted the rumor mill has linked the Edmonton Oilers to Brett Pesce. The Carolina Hurricanes are said to be open to moving the 28-year-old defenseman because of his expiring contract.

DeRosa looked at what it would cost the Oilers to acquire Pesce. He believes they would have to offer up their 2024 first-round pick, defenseman Cody Ceci and prospect Carter Savoie.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Hurricanes don’t seem in any hurry to move Pesce, though that could change if they need to clear cap space to acquire Erik Karlsson. Otherwise, they could likely find better offers for Pesce from other clubs.

Pesce also has a 15-team trade list. If the Oilers aren’t part of that group it won’t matter what they offer up.










No Updates For July 15 & 16

by | Jul 14, 2023

No Updates For July 15 & 16

There will be no updates to this site for Saturday, July 15 and Sunday, July 16 as my wife and I are celebrating our 30th wedding anniversary.

Updates will resume on Monday, July 17. Cheers!