NHL Rumor Mill – August 1, 2024

by | Aug 1, 2024

NHL Rumor Mill – August 1, 2024

Proposed trade destinations for Patrik Laine plus the latest on the Canadiens in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

PROPOSED DESTINATIONS FOR PATRIK LAINE

THE SCORE: Josh Wegman listed what he believes are the five best fits as trade destinations for Patrik Laine.

The 26-year-old Columbus Blue Jackets winger requested a trade two months ago. Interested teams can speak with him directly since his recent exit from the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program. He carries an $8.7 million average annual value through 2025-26 with a 10-team no-trade list.

Columbus Blue Jackets winger Patrik Laine (NHL Images).

Wegman considers the Pittsburgh Penguins the best fit for Laine to rejuvenate his career. They need someone with his scoring touch on their power play. They carry $3.5 million in cap space and could create more room by adding a depth forward like Lars Eller or Noel Acciari in the deal.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Wegman pointed out this is the type of deal general manager Kyle Dubas must make to give his aging club one last chance at a playoff run. Whether Dubas believes that’s the case remains to be seen. His attitude seems to have changed since his big acquisition of Erik Karlsson last summer failed to provide the expected big boost to their roster.

The Colorado Avalanche could be a good fit if wingers Gabriel Landeskog (knee surgery) and Valeri Nichushkin (serving a six-month suspension as part of Stage 3 of the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program) fail to return this season. He could slot in alongside center Casey Mittelstadt and fellow Finn Artturi Lehkonen on their second line.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Avs will need more clarity on the status of Landeskog and Nichushkin before pulling the trigger. Even then, Laine could prove too expensive for them to acquire.

The Vegas Golden Knights are known as big-game hunters in the trade market. They have limited cap space but sending someone like Nicolas Roy and/or Brett Howden in the deal might make it work.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: We can’t rule anything out with the Golden Knights. However, they’re facing a serious cap crunch, sitting above the $88 million cap by over $3.6 million. That’ll be offset by placing permanently sidelined goaltender Robin Lehner and his $5 million cap hit on long-term injury reserve. Nevertheless, it could prove too expensive for the cap-strapped Golden Knights to pull off.

The Seattle Kraken could use someone with Laine’s game-breaking offensive ability. They have over $6.4 million in cap space but most of it will be used to re-sign Matty Beniers. They possess plenty of mid-size contracts that they could presumably move out for Laine.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It would be a bold move by Kraken GM Ron Francis but he already made his big addition up front by signing Chandler Stephenson on July 1.

The Buffalo Sabres possess plenty of promising young wingers but none of them have Laine’s goal-scoring upside. GM Kevyn Adams has shown a willingness to draw from his prospect pool for trade bait to improve his roster.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Wegman wondered how well Laine would perform under Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff. The Sabres could also be on his 10-team no-trade list.

LATEST ON THE CANADIENS

RG.ORG: Marco D’Amico reports sources suggesting the Montreal Canadiens could be well-positioned to shop for a scorer after re-signing their restricted free agents.

The Canadiens have $5.4 million in cap space and if needed could get an additional $10.5 million by placing permanently sidelined netminder Carey Price on LTIR. Should GM Kent Hughes seek to pursue a top-six forward like Patrik Laine or the Winnipeg Jets’ Nikolaj Ehlers, Price’s contract will be of utmost importance.

D’Amico’s source said the Canadiens are attempting to weaponize their cap space by calling teams looking to shed salary. They indicate GM Kent Hughes is “looking to do something, but not at the expense of next summer or the coming years.”

MONTREAL HOCKEY NOW: D’Amico also pointed out that the Canadiens have two first-round picks in the 2025 NHL Draft. In addition to their own, they have the Calgary Flames’ first-rounder. If the Flames struggle this season, the Habs could use that pick as a trade chip to land a more proven asset.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Keep an eye on the Canadiens for the rest of the offseason. I have a feeling that Hughes isn’t done tinkering with his roster.

D’Amico pointed out Hughes has made some surprising moves over the past two summers. In August 2022, he acquired Sean Monahan from the Calgary Flames and last summer was part of the three-team deal that saw Erik Karlsson land with the Penguins.










NHL Rumor Mill – July 31, 2024

by | Jul 31, 2024

NHL Rumor Mill – July 31, 2024

A look at the remaining notable restricted free agents in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

SPORTSNET: Luke Fox and Rory Boylen updated their list of the notable remaining restricted free agents following the signings of Carolina Hurricanes winger Martin Necas on Monday and New York Rangers defenseman Ryan Lindgren on Tuesday.

Boston Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman still tops the list. He’s coming off a one-year, $3.45 million contract.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Nothing new to report on his contract negotiations. Daily Faceoff’s Steven Ellis cited AFP Analytics projecting the 25-year-old goaltender is in line for a five-year contract with an average annual value of $6.433 million. However, some recent media speculation suggests he could get around $9 million annually depending on the length of the deal.

Detroit Red Wings defenseman Moritz Seider and winger Lucas Raymond sit second and third on their list. They speculate Seider could get an AAV of $8.6 million on a long-term deal but Raymond could get a mid-term commitment akin to teammate Alex DeBrincat’s four-year contract.

Detroit Red Wings defenseman Moritz Seider (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s been over a month since Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman said he’d get Seider and Raymond signed “in due time.” There’s been nothing new since then but plenty of time remains to get both players under contract before the start of training camp in mid-September. AFP Analytics projects Seider getting a seven-year deal with an AAV of $8.125 million and Raymond seven years at $7.758 million annually.

Seth Jarvis is the focus for Carolina Hurricanes GM Eric Tulsky now that Martin Necas is under contract. The versatile 22-year-old forward can play center or wing and has risen among the Hurricanes’ core players. He’s coming off an entry-level contract and there’s speculation he could get an eight-year deal worth around $8 million annually.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: AFP Analytics projects a seven-year deal worth $7.75 million annually for Jarvis. Unless Tulsky makes a cost-cutting move, the Jarvis camp will have to accept much less than that because the Hurricanes only have $6.44 million in cap space.

Dallas Stars GM Jim Nill could attempt to sign defenseman Thomas Harley to a bridge contract. That’s what he did with Jason Robertson when the winger came off his entry-level contract.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Harley is projected to get a seven-year deal with an AAV of $6.922 million. However, the Stars have $6.243 million in cap space. The 22-year-old blueliner could end up with a short-term contract worth under $5 million annually.

Seattle Kraken center Matty Beniers’ sophomore slump compromises his bargaining position coming off his entry-level contract. The betting is the 21-year-old center gets a bridge deal.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: AFP Analytics projects a seven-year deal worth $6.66 million annually. The Kraken have the hammer here so it could be much shorter and for around $5 million annually.

Winnipeg Jets center Cole Perfetti seems a classic case for a bridge deal after a healthy but inconsistent 2023-24 performance under former head coach Rick Bowness. However, the Winnipeg Sun’s Scott Billeck recently reported positive communication between the Perfetti camp and new Jets bench boss Scott Arniel. That could sway Perfetti into signing a long-term deal.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The projection has Perfetti in line for a seven-year deal with an AAV of $5.584 million. That could become a real bargain for the Jets if he blossoms into the scorer he was projected to become when the Jets drafted him in 2020.

The New Jersey Devils could go the bridge route with Dawson Mercer. Comparables include Ottawa’s Shane Pinto (two-year, $3.75 million AAV) and Columbus’ Kirill Marchenko (three years, $3.85 million AAV).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: AFP Analytics projected a six-year deal at $6.52 million annually. However, the Devils only have $4.9 million in cap space. Mercer will likely get a bridge deal unless the Devils shed some salary.

Cole Sillinger enjoyed a bounce-back performance from his 2022-23 sophomore slump with 13 goals and 32 points in 77 games. Like teammate Kirill Marchenko, he could get a three-year deal.










NHL Rumor Mill – July 30, 2024

by | Jul 30, 2024

NHL Rumor Mill – July 30, 2024

In today’s NHL Rumor Mill: the latest speculation over Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl’s next contract, an update on Hurricanes forward Martin Necas, and trade conjecture continues to swirl around Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad.

WHAT COULD LEON DRAISAITL’S NEXT CONTRACT LOOK LIKE?

EDMONTON JOURNAL: Jim Matheson believes Leon Draisaitl’s next contract with the Oilers could be at least $13.5 million per season. He thinks they should consider themselves lucky if they can get the 28-year-old forward signed to that amount.

Draisaitl is slated to become an unrestricted free agent next July. His current average annual value is $8.5 million.

Matheson points out the salary cap for the first season of Draisaitl’s next contract (2025-26) could reach $93 million. He pointed out how much stars such as Toronto’s Auston Matthews ($13.25 million AAV), Colorado’s Nathan MacKinnon ($12.6 million), Oilers captain Connor McDavid ($12.5 million), the New York Rangers’ Artemi Panarin ($11.64 million) and Vancouver’s Elias Pettersson ($11.6 million) are earning.

Edmonton Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl (NHL Images).

Meanwhile, David Staples cited Oilers insider Bob Stauffer claiming Draisaitl could seek a seven or eight-year term on his next contract.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Matheson believes Draisaitl’s deal will get done because Oilers owner Daryl Katz wants it done. He also noted new general manager Stan Bowman said his priority is to make the talented forward an Oiler for life.

A steadily rising salary cap will help the Oilers re-sign Draisaitl and defenseman Evan Bouchard by next summer. It should also help them ensure they can afford to retain McDavid on another monstrous contract before his UFA eligibility in July 2026.

WHAT NEXT FOR MARTIN NECAS AFTER RE-SIGNING WITH THE HURRICANES?

DFO RUNDOWN: Frank Seravalli named Martin Necas the player he’s most surprised hasn’t been traded. He believes there were a couple of deals under consideration that ultimately weren’t enough for the Carolina Hurricanes.

Seravalli believed the Buffalo Sabres had a deal in place during draft week with the Hurricanes for Necas but the forward wouldn’t agree to sign a new contract with that new deal. There was another he believed was from the Winnipeg Jets with an offer of Rutger McGroarty, Cole Perfetti, and a draft pick but didn’t get it done or it wasn’t a place Necas didn’t want to go.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Necas lacked no-trade protection but his status as a restricted free agent with arbitration rights gave him leverage regarding possible trade destinations.

Seravalli didn’t indicate what the Sabres offered up for Necas. That package from the Jets looks like an overpayment given Perfetti’s potential.

Necas agreed to a two-year deal with the Hurricanes on Monday with an AAV of $6.5 million. He still lacks no-trade protection but it seems less likely he’ll be moved now.

Hurricanes GM Eric Tulsky recently said he’d continue to talk to other clubs but those interested parties no longer have the salary cap flexibility they had in June. The departures of forwards Jake Guentzel and Teuvo Teravainen also ensure Necas will have a larger role this season.

THE LATEST AARON EKBLAD SPECULATION

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Adam Proteau has Aaron Ekblad on the hot seat as the Florida Panthers defend the Stanley Cup this season.

The Panthers defenseman is entering the final season of his contract with an AAV of $7.5 million. However, if GM Bill Zito is being proactive, he could attempt to move Ekblad before the next trade deadline.

Ekblad’sbeen hampered by injuries since 2018-19. However, he could still have considerable trade value as a 28-year-old right-shot blueliner. Zito’s been known for making bold moves so trading Ekblad isn’t out of the question.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ekblad has frequently surfaced in the rumor mill since early June. His full no-movement clause became a 12-team no-trade list on July 1, giving Zito room to maneuver in trade talks.

The departures of Brandon Montour and Oliver Ekman-Larsson depleted the Panthers’ blueline for the coming season and could make Zito reluctant to move Ekblad. Nevertheless, this situation could be worth monitoring as this season unfolds.










NHL Rumor Mill – July 29, 2024

by | Jul 29, 2024

NHL Rumor Mill – July 29, 2024

Which clubs could become trade destinations for Patrik Laine? What’s the latest on the Jets? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

THE LATEST ON PATRIK LAINE

THE ATHLETIC: Aaron Portzline believes it’s difficult to determine which NHL clubs could become trade destinations for Patrik Laine. The 26-year-old Columbus Blue Jackets winger was cleared Friday from the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program. Laine can begin trade discussions with the Columbus Blue Jackets and interested teams can also speak with him.

Portzline points out that only six teams (Anaheim Ducks, Calgary Flames, Carolina Hurricanes, Detroit Red Wings, San Jose Sharks and Utah Hockey Club) have sufficient cap space to take on his $8.7 million annual cap hit.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Most of the Hurricanes’ cap space will be taken up by re-signing restricted free agents Martin Necas and Seth Jarvis. The same goes for the Red Wings with Moritz Seider and Lucas Raymond.

The list more than doubles if the Blue Jackets retain up to half of Laine’s cap hit or take back a salaried player in return. Jackets general manager Don Waddell prefers the latter option.

Columbus Blue Jackets winger Patrik Laine (NHL Images).

Portzline suggested Anaheim and Carolina as possible destinations, with the Montreal Canadiens having an outside shot.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Ducks have the cap space to take on Laine’s full cap hit and he could provide a welcome boost to their offense. Nevertheless, they seem set on their wings for this season with Troy Terry, Frank Vatrano, Alex Killorn, Ryan Strome, Robby Fabbri and the promising Cutter Gauthier.

The Hurricanes are a possibility if they trade Martin Necas, perhaps swapping him for Laine or peddling him to another team. Otherwise, they’ll have difficulty finding sufficient cap room to do this.

Meanwhile, the Canadiens have around $7.9 million in cap space but can get an additional $10 million if necessary by placing permanently sidelined goaltender Carey Price on long-term injury reserve. They would probably prefer the Jackets retain a healthy chunk of Laine’s cap hit, assuming they’ll take the gamble on adding Laine to their rebuilding roster at this stage of his career.

Laine also has a 10-team no-trade list. Some of those clubs might be on it.

FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW: George Richards pointed out that Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov is one of Laine’s best friends. The Jackets winger knows Florida’s other Finnish players like Anton Lundell, Eetu Luostarinen, and Niko Mikkola.

Richards also noted that Laine’s best seasons were with the Winnipeg Jets under Paul Maurice, who now coaches the Panthers.

Nevertheless, Richards doesn’t see Laine joining the Panthers anytime soon, suggesting that might be possible in two years when he’s a free agent.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Panthers only have $766K of cap space for 2024-25. They’d have to ship out some salary to make room for Laine.

WINNIPEG FREE PRESS: Ken Wiebe puts the odds of Laine returning to the Jets at 10 and 15 percent. His contract is the significant sticking point as they couldn’t afford to take it on even if the Blue Jackets retained part of his cap hit. The Jackets’ asking price would also be an issue.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Jets have $5.8 million in cap space with Cole Perfetti due for a significant raise coming off his entry-level contract.

UPDATE ON THE JETS

WINNIPEG FREE PRESS: Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe provided an update on the standoff between the Jets and prospect Rutger McGroarty. The 20-year-old winger refused to sign an entry-level deal with the Jets and is returning to the University of Michigan in the fall.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: There’s been a much-reported disconnect between McGroarty and the Jets over the club’s development plan for him. He sees himself as NHL-ready while they’d prefer he starts with their AHL affiliate. The Jets hold his NHL rights until Aug. 15, 2026.

McIntyre doesn’t expect the Jets to give up on McGroarty and trade him for pennies on the dollar. However, his mindset makes it difficult to find much of a trade market.

Wiebe noted plenty of discussions with other teams during last month’s NHL Draft and several close calls involving a trade. The Jets haven’t closed the door on smoothing over their relationship with McGroarty. Nevertheless, Wiebe thinks he could be part of an NHL trade deadline deal for a return that includes a defenseman with several years remaining on his contract.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: McGroarty will be among the most-watched prospects in NCAA hockey this season. As Wiebe points out, the better he plays the more his value increases, to the Jets and on the trade market if he remains insistent on moving on to another NHL club.

Wiebe also noted some chatter around the draft indicating the Jets and Washington Capitals were considering a deal that would’ve included Capitals center Connor McMichael. He was bumped down the depth chart when Washington acquired Pierre-Luc Dubois.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Capitals could need salary-cap relief if T.J. Oshie doesn’t end up on LTIR to start this season. However, it’s doubtful they’ll part with the 23-year-old McMichael, who can be moved to left wing. He also carries an affordable $2.1 million AAV through 2025-26. Moving him now would also leave the Capitals scrambling to find a replacement in the depleted trade and free-agent markets.










NHL Rumor Mill – July 28, 2024

by | Jul 28, 2024

NHL Rumor Mill – July 28, 2024

Check out the latest on the Ducks and more musings over Bruins goalie Jeremy Swayman’s contract negotiations in the Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup.

LATEST ON THE DUCKS

THE ATHLETIC: Eric Stephens recently addressed questions from his readers regarding the Anaheim Ducks.

Stephens believes this season will be a big one for Trevor Zegras. He could bust out in a big way that establishes himself as an impact player. He could have a healthy and productive campaign but not one that convinces management he’s the piece they need to win big with, or he settles in as a complementary, 60-point winger.

Anaheim Ducks forward Trevor Zegras (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Whatever version of Zegras emerges could determine his future with the Ducks. A breakout performance means he’ll play a major role going forward, ensuring a more lucrative contract down the road. The other two scenarios could see him getting traded for a return that could be less than expected. 

Asked why John Gibson remains with the Ducks, Stephens believes management’s unwillingness to retain part of the goaltender’s $6.4 million cap hit through 2026-27 is a major stumbling block. He believes Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek has tried trading Gibson on multiple occasions. A trade would be good for both sides to move on, but there’s a thought among the Ducks that they might as well retain him if they can’t get a suitable return.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Gibson frequently surfaced in the rumor mill over the past two years. His name came up again back in June but nothing came of it. His contract is a major sticking point and the Ducks’ unwillingness to retain some salary ensures he’ll remain in Anaheim for the coming season.

One reader asked if Mitch Marner might end up on the Ducks roster a year from now. Stephens is skeptical, suggesting Anaheim likely isn’t a desired destination if the winger sought a trade or becomes a free agent.

NO SIGN OF PROGRESS YET IN JEREMY SWAYMAN’S CONTRACT TALKS

BOSTON GLOBE: Kevin Paul Dupont reports Jeremy Swayman remains without a contract. The 25-year-old goaltender and the Bruins opted not to take this before arbitration. With training camp set to open on Sept. 18, there’s plenty of time to get a deal done.

Swayman hasn’t publicly commented yet on this situation. He won’t be able to report to training camp without a contract. Restricted free agents have until Dec. 1 to come to terms, or forfeit the rest of the season.

The last high-profile RFA to push it to the wire was William Nylander, who agreed to a deal with the Toronto Maple Leafs during the final hour leading up to the Dec. 1, 2018 deadline.

Puckpedia indicates the Bruins have $8.6 million in cap space this season. Swayman’s next contract will take up most, if not all of that surplus, perhaps forcing management to make a cost-cutting trade or placing someone on long-term injury reserve.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s speculated that Swayman could get an AAV of around $9 million, depending on the length of the contract.

Plenty of time remains for both sides to get this done but the longer Swayman’s unsigned the more speculation will grow over the status of his talks and his future with the Bruins.

This could be done by early September with the Bruins signing him to a seven-year deal worth around $8 million annually.










NHL Rumor Mill – July 27, 2024

by | Jul 27, 2024

NHL Rumor Mill – July 27, 2024

Trade talks are expected to heat up for Patrik Laine. Check out the latest in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

THE ATHLETIC: Aaron Portzline reports the Columbus Blue Jackets can now proceed with trade talks for Patrik Laine after the 26-year-old winger was released from the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program.

Columbus Blue Jackets winger Patrik Laine (NHL Images).

Blue Jackets general manager Don Waddell said several NHL teams expressed an interest in Laine, but requested to speak with him first. More clubs could also get involved now that Laine has been cleared. Those teams will also be interested in his ongoing recovery from a shoulder injury suffered last season.

Waddell has said he’d prefer to make a hockey trade, acquiring a roster regular as part of the return without retaining a significant portion of Laine’s contract. However, Portzline believes such a deal could be difficult to find this deep in the offseason, with both clubs having already settled their rosters.

Portzline notes Laine’s contract is a significant impediment. He’s signed through 2025-26 with an average annual value of $8.7 million and a 10-team no-trade clause.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Sammi Silber also cited Portzline’s recent interview with TSN 690 Montreal speculating the Blue Jackets could accept a return of draft picks and prospects rather than roster players.

Silber noted the Capitals have a considerable amount of promising talent within their system and two second-round picks and two fifth-rounders in next year’s draft. It would be a bold move for new GM Chris Patrick but the gamble could be worth it if the price is right.

PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: Dan Kingerski observed that Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman previously linked Laine to the Capitals. Kingerski also believes Laine would be a good fit with the Penguins.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Only six teams – Anaheim Ducks, Calgary Flames, Detroit Red Wings, Carolina Hurricanes, San Jose Sharks and Utah Hockey Club – can afford to take on Laine’s full cap hit if the Blue Jackets prefer a return of picks and prospects.

Of those teams, the Red Wings and Hurricanes have key free agents to re-sign that will eat up most of their cap space. As for the others, they could be on Laine’s no-trade list.

For other clubs interested in Laine, it’ll have to be a salaried player heading to Columbus to make the dollars fit. Otherwise, the Blue Jackets must retain up to half his cap hit.

We’ll start hearing more about which teams are interested in Laine in the coming days.