NHL Rumor Mill – August 8, 2024

by | Aug 8, 2024

NHL Rumor Mill – August 8, 2024

Check out the latest on Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Patrik Laine in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

UPDATES ON CROSBY AND MALKIN

THE ATHLETIC: Rob Rossi reports multiple sources said Sidney Crosby’s birthday (Aug. 7) was never a target date for the new contract that and the Pittsburgh Penguins are working on. Both sides remain confident of agreeing to a new deal.

Crosby has told close friends that he intends to re-sign with the Penguins and that his camp and general manager Kyle Dubas remain largely aligned about the details of his new contract. His focus right now is training for the upcoming season. A league source also said there are no issues between Crosby and the Penguins.

Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby (NHL Images).

Both sides agree that a delay in finalizing the deal will generate speculation. There’s also some concern on the Penguins’ business side that it could affect sponsorship deals and season ticket sales.

A team source said the actual money isn’t an issue. Because Crosby’s next contract is a 35-plus deal, there are strict limitations on signing bonuses (none beyond the first year of a multiyear deal) plus the year-to-year salary cannot decrease. The player’s full cap hit will continue to apply should he retire before the end of his contract.

Rossi cites a source close to Crosby claiming he’s unsure how long he wants to keep playing and wants to avoid putting the Penguins in a difficult spot if he retires early.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Term seems to be the issue. It’s been speculated the 37-year-old Penguins captain could sign a three-year deal.

I guessed that Crosby might sign on his birthday because of his superstitious attachment to No. 87. However, I’m not surprised yesterday passed without a deal.

Plenty of time exists for Crosby to sign his extension with the Penguins. It’s important to him and the team that they get this right. It’s garnered so much attention because of who he is and the lack of real hockey news during the dog days of the offseason.

It will get done, either before the start of training camp or soon afterward. I don’t see this dragging on into this season becoming an unnecessary distraction for Crosby and the team.

Rossi also reports Evgeni Malkin intends to honor the remaining two years of his contract. It was rumored he would retire at the end of this season. “Not true,” said Malkin.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Malkin made it clear he intended to play out the full term of his contract when he signed it. So did Kris Letang when he signed his deal. Malkin might return to Russia at the end of his deal and finish his playing career there, but he and Letang want to finish their NHL careers together with Crosby in Pittsburgh.

THE LATEST ON PATRIK LAINE

WINNIPEG SUN: In a recent mailbag segment, Scott Billeck was asked whether the Jets might bring back Patrik Laine. The Jets traded him to the Columbus Blue Jackets for Pierre-Luc Dubois in January 2021.

Billeck doesn’t see a fit for Laine with the Jets. He pointed out they lack the cap space to make it work even if the Blue Jackets retained half of his $8.7 million cap hit without shipping out someone. The Jets’ top-six forward lines are more or less set, with head coach Scott Arniel planning to give more playing time to Cole Perfetti.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Billeck suggested moving Nikolai Ehlers and his $6 million cap hit but pointing out Arniel likes the Danish winger. Laine returning to Winnipeg seems unlikely to me.

TVA SPORTS: cited Sportsnet’s Eric Engels dismissing the notion of the Montreal Canadiens acquiring Laine. Appearing on “The Sick Podcast with Tony Marinaro”, he said it made him laugh to see posts on X.com claiming the Canadiens were the front-runners.

“I would say the interest is pretty minimal,” said Engels. He pointed out that Laine’s game isn’t up to par in every aspect that excludes goal scoring. It’s unlikely that Laine will want to go to the lion’s den that is the Montreal market after exiting the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Laine went into the program seeking help for his mental health. Facing the unrelenting pressure of Montreal’s hockey hothouse is probably not high on his “to-do” list.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Anthony Larocco thinks Laine could be a good fit with the Carolina Hurricanes as a replacement for the departed Teuvo Teravainen. He would improve their depth on the wings, helping them further solidify their chances of contending for first place in the Metropolitan Division.

Turning to the Washington Capitals, Sammi Silber believes a trade for Laine doesn’t make sense for them right now. Laine’s contract and the Capitals’ limited cap space makes it difficult to pull off that deal. Finding a suitable spot on their roster is another factor.










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 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.










NHL Rumor Mill – July 24, 2024

by | Jul 24, 2024

NHL Rumor Mill – July 24, 2024

Check out the latest on Igor Shesterkin, Jeremy Swayman, Patrik Laine, Evgeny Kuznetsov, and Kirill Marchenko in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

NHL.COM: In his latest mailbag, Dan Rosen was asked about the odds of the New York Rangers and goaltender Igor Shesterkin failing to agree to a new contract, forcing them to trade him.

New York Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin (NHL Images).

Rosen dismissed that possibility, citing Shesterkin’s value to the Rangers. He also noted the 28-year-old netminder has plenty of years left in his playing prime. Shesterkin will seek market value on his next contract and Rosen expects a deal will be in place before his UFA eligibility next July.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Shesterkin will receive the most expensive contract for a goaltender in NHL history. It’ll be between seven and eight years and could come in around $12 million annually.

One reader asked Rosen what Jeremy Swayman’s new contract with the Boston Bruins would look like. He anticipates it could come in around $9 million annually depending on the length of the deal. It could dip below $9 million if the 25-year-old goalie seeks an eight-year contract, or jump to the $10 million range if he wants a five-year deal.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: That could explain why the Bruins and Swayman haven’t yet hammered out an agreement. The two sides could still be negotiating the term and dollars. Plenty of time remains for them to get it done before training camp opens in September.

Another reader noted the Washington Capitals got $3.9 million back due to the termination of Evgeny Kuznetsov’s contract and wondered if they might pursue someone like Patrik Laine. Rosen thinks they could be in the mix for Laine once he’s cleared to resume his playing career. He believes the Capitals have sufficient cap space to add another forward via trade.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: PuckPedia shows the Capitals sitting over $10.2 million above the $88 million salary cap. However, they’ll get $9.2 million in cap relief with Nicklas Backstrom on long-term injury reserve. The Caps could also get an additional $5.75 million if T.J. Oshie joins Backstrom on the LTIR list. Factor in Kuznetsov’s buyout and they could have sufficient room to make another addition, be it Laine or another forward.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Speaking of Kuznetsov, Sammi Silber reports his agent, Shumi Babayev, said there is interest from 15 NHL teams in the 32-year-old center. The former Hurricane and Capital is also believed weighing offers from KHL teams.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kuznetsov probably didn’t expect to hear from other NHL teams following the termination of his contract. Those clubs could attempt to sign him to a low-cost one-year deal worth around $2.5 million.

PHILLY HOCKEY NOW: Jonathan Bailey noted a recent report indicating Kirill Marchenko hadn’t received a worthy offer from the Columbus Blue Jackets and had yet to speak with new general manager Don Waddell. Bailey suggested this could be an opportunity for the Flyers to attempt to acquire the 24-year-old forward.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Marchenko also indicated he believed he would hear from Waddell this week and would likely get a better offer from him then. His arbitration hearing is slated for July 31 but he’s likely to end up settling with the Jackets before then. It’s unlikely he’ll be available for the Flyers or anyone else to acquire.










NHL Rumor Mill – July 16, 2024

by | Jul 16, 2024

NHL Rumor Mill – July 16, 2024

Which teams remain due for a big move this summer? Will Evgeny Kuznetsov bolt for the KHL? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

ARE THERE MORE MOVES TO COME FOR THE JETS, AVALANCHE, GOLDEN KNIGHTS AND PANTHERS?

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Jim Parson believes the Winnipeg Jets, Colorado Avalanche, Vegas Golden Knights and Florida Panthers still have some work to do in his offseason.

Jets prospect Rutger McGroarty isn’t interested in signing with the club and wants a trade. Meanwhile, there is talk winger Nikolaj Ehlers could be on his way out.

Winnipeg Jets winger Nikolaj Ehlers (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: McGroarty and Ehlers have recently surfaced in the rumor mill. However, Winnipeg doesn’t have to move either player this summer. McGroarty’s NHL rights still belong to the Jets while Ehlers has one year remaining on his contract. They could trade one or both this summer or at some point in the lead-up to the March trade deadline.

The Avalanche have 19 of their 23 active roster spots filled for 2024-25 but don’t have much cap room. Uncertainty hangs over sidelined captain Gabriel Landeskog and suspended winger Valeri Nichushkin.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Landeskog hopes to return to action after missing the last two seasons recovering from knee surgeries. He carries an annual salary-cap hit of $7 million. They were able to garner cap relief the last two years by placing Landeskog on long-term injury reserve.

Nichshukin, meanwhile, has a $6.125 million cap hit. He’s in stage 3 of the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program and is suspended until mid-November. The Avs can place him on long-term injury reserve to start the season but they must be cap-compliant when his suspension ends.

The Avalanche faces a cost-cutting move if Landeskog returns to action and Nichushkin comes back in November. They don’t have to do it now but are over the $88 million cap ceiling by $1.33 million with four active roster spots to fill. They can remain over the cap by 10 percent until their season opener in October.

The Golden Knights appear to be reeling from the departures of Logan Thompson, Jonathan Marchessault, Alec Martinez, Chandler Stephenson and Anthony Mantha. They’ve been quiet thus far but Parsons reminds us that this is a cutthroat and ruthless organization that will do anything to improve their situation.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Like the Avalanche, a lack of cap space is hampering the Golden Knights’ efforts to bolster their roster. It’s what led to the departures of those players. They’re above the cap by over $3.6 million but have relief for the coming season with goalie Robin Lehner and his $5 million cap hit on LTIR. They have room to add three more contracts to reach the maximum of 50 but they already have a full active roster of 23.

The Golden Knights could make a splash in the trade pool. However, they could be content to start the season with their current roster and see how things unfold.

Parson also noted the Panthers aren’t the same team that won’t the Stanley Cup last month, losing Brandon Montour, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Vladimir Tarasenko, Anthony Stolarz and Ryan Lomberg to free agency. There’s ongoing speculation they could trade long-time defenseman Aaron Ekblad.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Panthers’ Bill Zito is among the more aggressive NHL general managers. However, he only has a little over $766K in cap space for 2024-25 with 22 of his 23 active roster spots filled.

Zito could trade Ekblad and his $7.5 million cap hit but doing so would blow a big hole in their blueline that will be difficult to fill. He could be stuck with affordable depth moves for now.

COULD KUZNETSOV RETURN TO THE KHL?

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Sammi Silber cited a report out of Russia claiming Evgeny Kuznetsov planned to leave the Carolina Hurricanes and sign a four-year contract with KHL club SKA St. Petersburg.

Kuznetsov has one year remaining with Carolina. The report claimed he’d head to SKA St. Petersburg after he works with the Hurricanes to terminate his NHL contract.

Shumi Babayev, a player agent and Kuznetsov’s friend downplayed the report. He said there was interest in the 32-year-old center from several KHL clubs. However, he added it is too early to definitively say he’s heading back to Russia.

Silber noted that terminating Kuznetsov’s contract would remove his NHL cap hit from the books of the Hurricanes and his former club, the Washington Capitals. The Hurricanes carry half of his $7.8 million cap hit and the Capitals the other half.

A buyout is also possible once the Hurricanes’ contract arbitration hearings are settled. That would count as two-thirds of the remaining value over twice the remaining term for both teams.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Hurricanes and Capitals would likely prefer a contract termination over a buyout. Kuznetsov’s performance has steadily declined over the last two seasons.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 9, 2024

by | Jul 9, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 9, 2024

A look at the most interesting salary arbitration cases, the Capitals make a notable front-office change, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

SPORTSNET: Ryan Dixon looked at some of the more interesting potential salary arbitration cases worth watching. Fourteen players filed for arbitration by the July 5 deadline. There were no club-elected arbitration cases.

Carolina Hurricanes forward Martin Necas (NHL Images).

Topping the list is Carolina Hurricanes forward Martin Necas. The 25-year-old has featured prominently in the rumor mill as reports emerged about his unhappiness skating as a third-line winger. There’s also been a management change as Eric Tulsky took over as general manager from Don Waddell.

Other notable cases that could be worth monitoring include New York Rangers defenseman Ryan Lindgren, Buffalo Sabres starting goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, Tampa Bay Lightning blueliner J.J. Moser, and Columbus Blue Jackets forward Kirill Marchenko.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Moser’s could be interesting because he was recently acquired from the Utah Hockey Club. The Lightning sees him as a replacement for Mikhail Sergachev, who was swapped for Moser, prospect center Conor Geekie, and two draft picks.

The Bolts won’t pay Moser as much as Sergachev ($8.5 million annually) but the 24-year-old Swiss blueliner will seek a significant raise coming off his entry-level contract.

Most of these cases are settled well before their scheduled arbitration hearings between July 20 and Aug. 4. Sometimes, one or two end up going before an arbitrator. 

TSN: The Washington Capitals named Chris Patrick as their new general manager while long-time GM Brian MacLellan remains as president of hockey operations. Patrick, 48, has worked in various roles with the Capitals, spending the past three seasons as assistant GM.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The report indicates this follows a recent trend around the league where an established general manager moves upstairs and cedes day-to-day operations. MacLellan will still maintain oversight over any significant roster decisions. He’d served as GM since 2014 and helped them win their first Stanley Cup in 2018.

MacLellan improved the Capitals roster in recent weeks, swapping goalie Darcy Kuemper for center Pierre-Luc Dubois, acquiring defenseman Jakob Chychrun from the Ottawa Senators, winger Andrew Mangiapane from the Calgary Flames, and netminder Logan Thompson from the Vegas Golden Knights. He also signed top-four defenseman Matt Roy.

COLORADO HOCKEY NOW: Avalanche winger Valeri Nichushkin discussed the “Seattle Incident” during the 2023 playoffs with a Russian interviewer. His comments were made before he was placed in stage 3 of the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program on May 14 and suspended for six months.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Nichushkin left the Avalanche during their 2023 first-round series with the Seattle Kraken after a team doctor discovered an intoxicated woman in the winger’s Seattle hotel room, and called an ambulance to take her to a hospital. The club did not acknowledge the police report or indicate if Nichushkin was punished. The league indicated it was satisfied with how the situation was handled.

Nichushkin said he was receiving treatments for a shoulder injury at the time that required injections. He claimed he wasn’t scheduled to play for the remainder of the series against the Kraken, saying he hung out with some friends that night and then flew back to Denver. Nichushkin stated the girl in his hotel room had nothing to do with him. He also said the team told him not to comment about the incident at the time, something he now claims was a mistake.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It remains to be seen if Nichushkin faces any repercussions for these comments.

TSN: The Utah Hockey Club re-signed forward Barrett Hayton to a two-year contract with an average annual value of $2.65 million.

PHILLY HOCKEY NOW: Former Flyers goaltender Carter Hart could sign with a KHL team. He is among five players charged in the 2018 Hockey Canada sexual assault case and is currently awaiting trial. The Flyers opted not to qualify Hart’s rights on July 1, making him an unrestricted free agent.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Former Calgary Flames winger Dillon Dube is among those five players. He signed a one-year contract with KHL club HC Dinamo Minsk. The report stated it’s unclear if extraneous circumstances allowed Dube to leave Canada before facing trial.

BUFFALO HOCKEY NOW: The Sabres signed 2024 first-round pick Konsta Helenius to a three-year entry-level contract. The 18-year-old center was chosen 14th overall.

KUKLA’S KORNER: The Dallas Stars entered into a seven-year agreement with A Parent Media Co. Inc. (APMC) to stream all their regional games free of charge. Starting this season, the games will be broadcast on the newly formed VICTORY+, a free direct-to-consumer streaming service created for fans by APMC with the Dallas Stars.

THE NEWS & OBSERVER: The Carolina Hurricanes named Doug Warf their new team president. He will oversee the club’s business operations and the operation of PNC Arena. He succeeds Don Waddell, who recently stepped down to join the Columbus Blue Jackets.