NHL Rumor Mill – May 15, 2024

by | May 15, 2024

NHL Rumor Mill – May 15, 2024

The latest on the Oilers’ Leon Draisaitl and the Kings’ Cam Talbot plus an update on the Penguins in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

WOULD LEON DRAISAITL BE INTERESTED IN JOINING THE SHARKS?

SAN JOSE HOCKEY NOW: Sheng Peng cited ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski discussing Leon Draisaitl’s future during a recent appearance on The Jeff Marek Show.

Marek and Wyshynski were chatting about possible roster upheavals for teams that failed to advance to this year’s Conference Finals. They mentioned speculation claiming the Edmonton Oilers superstar might be interested in signing with the San Jose Sharks because team owner Hasso Plattner is German.

Wyshynski also listed other factors about the Sharks that might entice Draisaitl. “Emerging market, great young players. They will obviously compensate him.”

Edmonton Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Draisaitl will be eligible for unrestricted free-agent status next July. The Oilers can sign him to a contract extension on July 1, 2024.

There’s nothing wrong with pondering Draisaitl’s future. His plans could depend on the Oilers’ performance this postseason. That’s why we’re starting to hear his name mentioned in the rumor mill while his team is in the midst of playoff competition.

Draisaitl signing with San Jose because their owner is a countryman is akin to rumors claiming every Quebec-born NHL star wants to play for the Montreal Canadiens. Recent speculation also had Draisaitl wanting to join the Boston Bruins if the Oilers fail to progress in their quest for the Stanley Cup.

The Bruins likely can’t afford to acquire Draisaitl via trade or to sign him next summer. While the Sharks have the cash, they’re years away from being a playoff contender. That could take them out of the Draisaitl sweepstakes next summer if he hits the open market.

LATEST ON THE PENGUINS

PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: Dan Kingerski looked at three potential trade options for the Penguins to add young, affordable talent to their roster.

The first is Toronto Maple Leafs winger Nicholas Robertson. He’s struggled over the past four seasons to crack the Leafs roster on a full-time basis. The 22-year-old was drafted by Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas when he was the Leafs GM.

Los Angeles Kings forward Arthur Kaliyev is another option. The 22-year-old’s production went cold during the second half of this season. Kings GM Rob Blake was critical of Kaliyev’s performance, prompting speculation he could be traded this summer.

Max Jones of the Anaheim Ducks could provide depth to the Penguins’ checking lines. The 6’3”, 216-pounder can skate and doesn’t mind using his size.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kingerski examines the strengths and weaknesses of those three players. They’re slated to become restricted free agents this summer, with Robertson and Kaliyev lacking arbitration rights coming off their entry-level contracts.

Kaliyev seems the most likely of the three to become available given Blake’s comments about his play. The asking price could be a second-round pick, something the Penguins have two of in this year’s draft.

Kingerski also recently listed four Penguins besides Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang who won’t be traded this summer.

Erik Karlsson will stay put unless he asks to be traded. There were rumors the Penguins asked Bryan Rust to waive his no-movement clause before the trade deadline but both sides denied it.

Goaltender Tristan Jarry’s late-season struggles make it unlikely that another team will come calling with an irresistible trade offer. Michael Bunting was a solid addition after coming over from the Carolina Hurricanes in the Jake Guentzel trade.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kingerski also doesn’t see Dubas shopping 25-year-old forward Drew O’Connor unless the return is a headline grabber.

WHERE COULD CAM TALBOT LAND THIS SUMMER?

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Spencer Lazary looked at three destinations this summer for Cam Talbot. The 36-year-old Los Angeles Kings goaltender is slated to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.

Talbot might fit with the Washington Capitals if they end up trading Darcy Kuemper. He would fill the backup role for Charlie Lindgren.

The Penguins could also be an option. They’ll need a backup with Alex Nedeljkovic heading to free agency on July 1.

Lazary also suggested the Kings given Talbot’s willingness to re-sign with them. He’d be a reliable backup for whoever they bring in this summer as their new starter.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It appears the Capitals hope Kuemper will spend the offseason working on improving his game for next season. The Penguins will likely promote promising Joel Blomqvist to share the goalie duties with Jarry. Talbot might have a better chance of sticking with the Kings as an affordable and familiar backup.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 11, 2024

by | May 11, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 11, 2024

The Oilers tie their series with the Canucks, the Panthers take a 2-1 series lead over the Bruins, the latest on the Leafs, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

GAME RECAPS

NHL.COM: An overtime goal by Evan Bouchard gave the Edmonton Oilers a 4-3 victory over the Vancouver Canucks, tying their best-of-seven second-round series at a game apiece. Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl each had a goal and three assists for the Oilers. Elias Pettersson tallied his first goal of the playoffs while Nikita Zadorov and J.T. Miller each had two points for the Canucks. The series moves to Edmonton for the next two games with Game 3 on Sunday, May 12 at 9:30 pm EDT.

Edmonton Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: McDavid and Draisaitl were the difference, answering criticism that they didn’t step up during the Oilers’ loss in the previous game. Draisaitl was a game-day decision after being listed as day-to-day after dealing with “cramping and equipment issues in Game 1.

Canucks starting goaltender Thatcher Demko has been sidelined since winning the opening game of their first-round series with the Nashville Predators. However, reports suggest he could be ready to return to action if this series reaches Game 6 or 7.

The Florida Panthers scored six goals for the second straight game to defeat the Boston Bruins 6-2 in Game 3 of their second-round series. Evan Rodrigues scored twice and Matthew Tkachuk collected three assists for the Panthers as they took a 2-1 series lead. Jake DeBrusk had a goal and an assist while Jeremy Swayman stopped 27 shots for the Bruins. Game 4 is on Sunday at 6:30 pm EDT.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Bruins are in deep trouble. They were dominated for the second straight game, outshot 33-17 and allowing four power-play goals. Team captain Brad Marchand left this game after the second period with an upper-body injury and received little production from their other top-six forwards. Swayman did his best but couldn’t stem the onslaught.

Panthers center Sam Bennett returned to action after being sidelined by an injury during Game 2 of their first-round series against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Bruins defenseman Andrew Peeke returned from a finger injury suffered during Game 2 of their series against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

PLAYOFF NOTEBOOK

NHL.COM: The Carolina Hurricanes remain confident despite facing elimination entering Game 4 of their series with the New York Rangers. They’re attempting to become the fifth team in playoff history to win a series after overcoming a 3-0 deficit. The Canes are vowing to address the mistakes that have put them into their current predicament, including a punchless power play.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Hurricanes are putting up a brave front but some observers consider it empty talk. They’ve put themselves into a hole that history suggests is too deep to escape. Game 4 is Saturday at 7 pm EDT.

COLORADO HOCKEY NOW: Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog appears no closer to returning to action a year after undergoing cartilage transplant surgery on his right knee. The timeline for his potential return was 12 to 16 months.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Landeskog’s last game was the Avalanche’s Cup clincher in 2022. He’s been traveling with the team and skating in morning practices in warm-up clothes. It remains unlikely he’ll return to the lineup in this postseason.

THE LATEST ON THE MAPLE LEAFS

TORONTO STAR: Maple Leafs Sports & Entertainment CEO Keith Pelley, Maple Leafs president Brendan Shanahan, and general manager Brad Treliving met with the Toronto press yesterday for their season-ending media session.

Pelley said the team’s goal remains winning the Stanley Cup while Shanahan and Treliving took responsibility for another early playoff exit. After years of patience with their roster core. they all indicated that changes could be afoot.

“Everything is on the table,” said Shanahan. “We will discuss everything.”

“We have really good players, but it hasn’t worked,” said Treliving. “We have to analyze why it hasn’t worked.”

Shanahan indicated a new head coach will have a say in those decisions. Treliving said they will conduct a thorough search for a new bench boss. Speculation suggests former St. Louis Blues coach Craig Berube is the front-runner.

Treliving also provided details on the injuries suffered by several Leafs players in the first round. Auston Matthews battled an illness and suffered a head injury in Game 4 that didn’t clear until the day of Game 7. Migraines sidelined William Nylander from the first three games. Bobby McMann sprained a knee in the last game of the regular season while forward Connor Dewar was scheduled for shoulder surgery on Friday.

TORONTO SUN: The Leafs granted permission to the New Jersey Devils to speak with former head coach Sheldon Keefe, who was fired by the Leafs on Thursday.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: I’ve cited the main highlights of this press conference. Whether any of those issues are suitably addressed before the start of next season remains to be seen.

Asking Mitch Marner and John Tavares to waive their no-movement clauses could be what they’re referring to when they said everything was on the table. Both are eligible to become unrestricted free agents next July. Tavares previously indicated he intends to fulfill the final season of his contract with the Leafs while Marner remains hopeful of signing a contract extension.

The Leafs could hire someone other than Berube as their next coach but he appears to be the favorite for the job. His NHL experience and the Stanley Cup on his resume are strong enticements.

It was rumored Keefe might end up joining former Leafs GM Kyle Dubas with the Pittsburgh Penguins if bench boss Mike Sullivan resigned or was fired by Dubas. Another theory had Sullivan planning to leave Pittsburgh for New Jersey to fill their vacant head-coaching job. Both rumors seem unlikely with the Leafs permitting the Devils to speak with Keefe.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 10, 2024

by | May 10, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 10, 2024

The Rangers push the Hurricanes to the brink of elimination while the Stars tie their series with the Avalanche. Check out the details in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: The New York Rangers are on the verge of sweeping the Carolina Hurricanes following their 3-2 victory in Game 3 of their best-of-seven second-round series. Artemi Panarin scored in overtime while Igor Shesterkin kicked out 45 shots as the Rangers took a commanding 3-0 series lead, leaving them with a 7-0 record in this postseason thus far. Andrei Svechnikov had a goal and an assist for the Hurricanes, who will try to stave off elimination in Game 4 on Saturday, May 11 at 7 pm EDT.

New York Rangers winger Artemi Panarin (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Hurricanes are getting scoring chances but Shesterkin has been outstanding in goal for the Rangers. His 7-0 record in this postseason matches the Rangers’ postseason record set by Mike Richter in 1994.

Meanwhile, Blueshirts scorers Panarin, Chris Kreider, Mika Zibanejad, Vincent Trocheck and Alexis Lafreniere have risen to the occasion in this series.

Filip Chytil’s return to the lineup gave the Rangers an emotional lift. He’d been sidelined since Nov. 2 with a suspected concussion.

This game was a must-win for the Hurricanes. They find themselves in a deep hole that only four teams have climbed out of in Stanley Cup playoff history. They replaced Frederik Andersen in goal for this contest with Pyotr Kochetkov, who made 25 saves and couldn’t be faulted for this loss.

A powerless power play is a big reason the Hurricanes find themselves in this situation. They’ve gone 0-for-15 with the man advantage in this series. If they don’t rectify this problem, Saturday’s game will be their last of this season.

The Dallas Stars held off the Colorado Avalanche 5-3 in Game 2 of their second-round series. Roope Hintz had a goal and three assists and Miro Heiskanen tallied twice as the Stars evened the series at a game apiece. The Avalanche made it interesting, rallying with three goals to cut the Stars’ lead to 4-3 before Esa Lindell put the game out of reach with an empty netter. The series moves to Denver for the next two contests with Game 3 on Saturday at 10 pm EDT.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hintz was due for a big game after managing just one point in eight postseason games. He certainly delivered in Game 2.

The Stars’ special teams went two-for-five on the power play and successfully killed off three penalties. They also got a lift with the return of Mason Marchment, who had an assist in his first game since being sidelined with an undisclosed injury suffered in Game 2 of their first-round series with the Vegas Golden Knights.

Given the Avs credit for not giving up after falling behind 4-0. However, their top offensive players (Nathan MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen and Cale Makar) were held scoreless in this contest.

DAILY FACEOFF: The Edmonton Oilers could face Game 2 against the Vancouver Canucks without Leon Draisaitl and Adam Henrique. Draisaitl is listed as day-to-day with an undisclosed ailment while Henrique is day-to-day with a lower-body injury. An update on their statuses is expected before tonight’s game.










NHL Rumor Mill – May 2, 2024

by | May 2, 2024

NHL Rumor Mill – May 2, 2024

Are changes in store for the Kings following another first-round playoff exit? Would Leon Draisaitl be interested in joining the Bruins? What’s the latest on the Penguins? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

WHAT NEXT FOR THE KINGS?

ESPN.COM: Ryan S. Clark looks at what might be in store for the Los Angeles Kings following another first-round elimination at the hands of the Edmonton Oilers.

Clark pointed out the Kings had this season’s second-best penalty-killing stats but that turned into a weakness against the Oilers’ offense.

There could be a big turnover in goal this summer. Cam Talbot, David Rittich and Pheonix Copley are slated to become unrestricted free agents on July 1. Forwards Viktor Arvidsson and Trevor Lewis and defensemen Matt Roy are also UFA-eligible this summer.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It was rumored the Kings attempted to acquire Linus Ullmark before the trade deadline but the Boston Bruins goalie used his no-trade clause to nix the deal. General manager Rob Blake could attempt to add a starter such as Calgary’s Jacob Markstrom or Nashville’s Juuse Saros this summer with Rittich retained as their backup.

Arvidsson’s injury history could lead to his departure via free agency. The 37-year-old Lewis probably won’t be back. Roy could be let go if Jordan Spence replaces him on the second-pairing and if Brandt Clarke is ready for full-time NHL duty next season.

THE ATHLETIC: Eric Stephens is critical of Blake’s management, pointing to his acquisition and signing of underachieving center Pierre-Luc Dubois. That move was among several questionable deals that left the Kings with insufficient salary-cap space to improve their roster at the March trade deadline.

Los Angeles Kings center Pierre-Luc Dubois (NHL Images)

With the Kings facing continued mediocrity, Stephens suggests a shift in course with someone other than Blake as general manager. He pointed to Blake’s inability to address his club’s goaltending after Cal Petersen failed to seize the starter’s job in 2021-22, leaving the Kings scrambling to find a suitable replacement.

Dubois hasn’t come close to unseating Anze Kopitar or Phillip Danault among their top two centers. He has seven more seasons left on his contract with an average annual value of $8.5 million.

Buying out Dubois would count against the Kings’ salary cap for the next 14 years. A trade would mean retaining half of his AAV.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Stephens cited the positive things Blake had done (drafting and developing young talent like Quinton Byfield and acquiring Kevin Fiala) but the goaltending and the Dubois contract are the major blunders he believes have hamstrung the Kings. It remains to be seen if the Kings ownership shares his belief that a management change is necessary.

COULD DRAISAITL SIGN WITH THE BRUINS NEXT SUMMER?

BOSTON HOCKEY NOW: Jimmy Murphy cited Georges Laraque telling a Montreal sports radio show that Leon Draisaitl is interested in joining the Boston Bruins if he doesn’t re-sign with the Edmonton Oilers.

Draisaitl is slated to become a UFA next July. Laraque cited someone “well-placed within the Oilers organization” claiming the high-scoring forward could leave the club next summer if they don’t go deep in the playoffs, adding “he’d prefer to be a first-line center in Boston.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Draisaitl will become a hot topic in the rumor mill if he doesn’t sign a contract extension before next season. Nevertheless, he could be keen to stick around with Connor McDavid beyond next season. His future in Edmonton could come down to how much of a raise he’s seeking over his current $8.5 million AAV.

Assuming Draisaitl is interested in playing for the Bruins, they’d have to wait until next summer to get him as a free agent. They reportedly lacked sufficient depth in tradeable assets to acquire Elias Lindholm or Noah Hanifin before the trade deadline. They won’t have enough to get one of the NHL’s high-scoring superstars this summer or next season.

The Bruins have nearly $45 million invested in seven players for 2025-26. The salary cap could rise to over $92 million for that season. There would be plenty of room to sign Draisaitl for a long-term deal worth $15 million annually.

Oh, you thought it would be much less than that? Think again. Draisaitl has been underpaid for years. He will seek a new contract befitting one of the NHL’s leading superstars.

Still, that looks like plenty of cap space to accommodate Draisaitl, right? Wrong.

Team captain Brad Marchand will need a contract extension. They must sign goaltender Jeremy Swayman to a new contract (probably between $6 million and $7 million annually given his arbitration status), re-sign or replace Jake DeBrusk, and fill out the rest of the roster. Rumor has it they could pursue a center who can play on their top-two lines plus a top-four defenseman via free agency in July. They won’t come cheap.

Even if the Bruins could do all that with some cap room to spare, they won’t have enough for Draisaitl without shedding sufficient space to ensure they can win a bidding war for his services.

I’m not saying the Bruins can’t sign Draisaitl if he wants to come to Boston. However, it’ll take a hell of a lot of work to free up the cap space to make it happen without significantly weakening their roster depth in the process.

LATEST ON THE PENGUINS

PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE: Jason Mackey suggested how Penguins GM Kyle Dubas can improve his club for next season and beyond.

One option is exploring the possibility of trading Erik Karlsson to the Ottawa Senators if they’re interested in reacquiring their former captain. Karlsson denied rumors of returning to Ottawa in March but Mackey didn’t believe him.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Maybe Karlsson would agree to return to the Senators but I don’t believe their new ownership and management want to bring him back. Even if Dubas agreed to retain half of the $10 million of his $11.5 million AAV that the Penguins currently carry, the Senators are likely looking at younger, more affordable right-shot options for their blueline.

Mackey also suggested Dubas attempt to find a trade partner to take goaltender Tristan Jarry and his $5.375 million cap hit for the next four years off his hands. Another option is shopping a winger such as Reilly Smith or Rickard Rakell.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Dubas seems intent on sticking with Jarry and call up promising Joel Blomqvist as his understudy next season. Trading Smith or Rakell seems a more likely option.

PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: Dan Kingerski believes Ryan Graves’ contract would be a major sticking point in any attempt to trade the 28-year-old defenseman this summer. He’s signed for five more years with an annual cap hit of $4.5 million.

Graves’ struggles in his first season with the Penguins damaged his trade value. Their best bet is to hope he regains his former next season.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 7, 2024

by | Apr 7, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 7, 2024

The Leafs’ Auston Matthews continues his quest for 70 goals, Penguins captain Sidney Crosby and the Oilers’ Leon Draisaitl reach the 40-goal plateau, and the battle for the final Eastern Conference wildcard spot continues in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews tallied his 64th goal of the season in a 4-2 victory over the Montreal Canadiens. Matthews also reached the 100-point plateau as his Leafs improved to 44-23-9 and remain in third place in the Atlantic Division with 97 points. Nick Suzuki had a goal and an assist for the 29-35-12 Canadiens.

Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Matthews holds an 11-goal lead over Florida Panthers forward Sam Reinhart as this season’s leading goal scorer. He becomes the eighth player to reach 100 points this season. That’s the most in one season for NHL scorers since 1995-96 when 12 players did it. The Canadiens played without defensemen Kaiden Guhle and Arber Xhekaj, who are sidelined with upper-body injuries.

Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby scored his 40th of the season as his club nipped the Tampa Bay Lightning 5-4. Michael Bunting snapped a 4-4 tie in the third period after the Lightning overcame a 4-1 deficit. Bunting, Evgeni Malkin and Erik Karlsson each had three points for the Penguins (36-30-11) as they took possession of the final Eastern Conference wildcard berth. Steven Stamkos scored twice and Nikita Kucherov had three assists for the 43-27-7 Lightning, who hold the first Eastern wildcard spot with 93 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: There was a scary moment in the third period when referee Steve Kozari was briefly knocked unconscious following an accidental collision with Lightning defenseman Hadyn Fleury. Kozari was stretchered from the game and is expected to make a full recovery. Fleury was shaken up and left the game under his own power. Lightning forwards Anthony Cirelli and Tanner Jeannot missed this game with upper-body injuries.

The Penguins have won four straight and six of their last 10 contests. Crosby has reached 40 goals in the season three times with the last being seven years ago. Meanwhile, Kucherov (136 points) holds a five-point lead over Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon for the lead in the race for the Art Ross Trophy.

The Edmonton Oilers doubled up the Calgary Flames 4-2 in the final segment of this season’s “Battle of Alberta”. Leon Draisaitl scored his 40th goal of the season and Connor McDavid collected two assists to sit one shy of 100 as the Oilers (47-24-5) sit second in the Pacific Division with 99 points. Flames forward Yegor Sharangovich reached the 30-goal plateau for the first time as his club slipped to 34-37-5.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Draisaitl also tallied 20 power-play goals for the third consecutive season. McDavid is one assist away from becoming the fourth player in NHL history to reach 100 assists in a season and the first to do so since Wayne Gretzky in 1990-91. He remains third in the scoring race with 130 points.

New York Islanders goaltender Semyon Varlamov kicked out 41 shots to shut out the Nashville Predators 2-0. Noah Dobson and Kyle Palmieri were the goal scorers for the 35-27-15 Islanders, who picked up their fourth straight win and sit third in the Metropolitan Division with 85 points, two ahead of the Penguins. Kevin Lankinen made 28 saves for the Predators (44-29-4) as they slipped into the final Western Conference wildcard spot.

The Columbus Blue Jackets got six goals from defensemen in a 6-2 upset of the struggling Philadelphia Flyers. Zach Werenski and Damon Severson each tallied twice with Erik Gudbranson and Nick Blankenburg netting the others for the 26-39-12 Blue Jackets. Olle Lycksell and Adam Ginning scored their first career NHL goals as the 36-31-11 Flyers (83 points) slipped out of the final Eastern wildcard.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Those six goals from defensemen matched the NHL record set by the 1992-93 Washington Capitals in a 10-4 win over the New York Rangers on Dec. 4, 1992.

New Jersey Devils defenseman Brendan Smith had a goal and two assists as his club held off the Ottawa Senators 4-3. Jesper Bratt collected two assists for the 37-36-4 Devils (78 points) as they sit five points behind the Penguins. Claude Giroux, Drake Batherson and Jake Sanderson each had two points for the 33-39-4 Senators.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Senators captain Brady Tkachuk set an NHL record for most hits in a single game with 16. His teammate Tim Stutzle missed this game (his bobblehead night) with a suspected shoulder injury and is considered day-to-day.

An overtime goal by Jesper Boqvist lifted the Boston Bruins over the Florida Panthers 3-2. The two Charlies (McAvoy and Coyle) scored for the Bruins (46-17-15), who sit second overall with 107 points. Matthew Tkachuk and Aleksander Barkov replied for the 48-24-6 Panthers, who sit seventh overall with 102 points.

The Los Angeles got two goals from Adrian Kempe in a 6-3 win over the Vancouver Canucks. Kempe finished with three points and goaltender Cam Talbot stopped 39 shots for the Kings (41-25-11), who picked up their third straight victory and moved into third place in the Pacific Division with 93 points. Brock Boeser netted his 39th goal of the season for the 47-22-8 Canucks, who sit fifth in the overall standings with 102 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Phillip Danault recorded an assist in his return from a four-game absence recovering from an upper-body injury.

Winnipeg Jets forward Vladislav Namestnikov had a goal and two assists as his team downed the Minnesota Wild 4-2. With a record of 47-24-6, the Jets sit eighth in the overall standings with 100 points. Kirill Kaprizov scored his 39th goal of the season for 36-31-9 Wild.

The Chicago Blackhawks upset the Dallas Stars 3-2, snapping the latter’s eight-game win streak. Petr Mrazek stopped 42 shots and Connor Bedard netted his 22nd goal of the season for the 23-48-5 Blackhawks. Roope Hintz scored his 29th and Jamie Benn his 20th for the Stars (48-20-9) as they slipped into third overall with 105 points.

San Jose Sharks forward William Eklund scored his first NHL hat trick, including the winner in overtime in a 3-2 against the St. Louis Blues. Devin Cooley made 34 saves to pick up his first career NHL victory for the 18-50-8 Sharks. Jordan Kyrou and Brayden Schenn scored for the 40-32-5 Blues.










NHL Rumor Mill – January 15, 2024

by | Jan 15, 2024

NHL Rumor Mill – January 15, 2024

Check out the latest on Leon Draisaitl, Jeremy Swayman, and Jacob Markstrom in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

SPORTSNET: Following the Toronto Maple Leafs’ of re-signing William Nylander, Mark Spector believed Edmonton Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl will be the next big Canadian contract to watch.

Draisaitl, 28, will be entering the final season of his eight-year, $68 million contract on July 1, which is the earliest that the Oilers can open contract extension talks with him. His current deal became the most team-friendly among the Oilers given his rise as an NHL superstar.

Edmonton Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl (NHL Images).

Entering that final season, Draisaitl will have to choose between another eight seasons with the Oilers or perhaps moving on to a bigger market such as Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Boston or New York as an unrestricted free agent once his current deal is done.

Draisaitl could sign a short-term deal with the Oilers but Spector considered that to be unlikely.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This isn’t a rumor but it is worth noting Draisaitl’s contract situation.

Speculation about Maple Leafs forwards Mitch Marner and John Tavares has already started but there’s been very little regarding Draisaitl, who is a much bigger star. Where he plays following this contract and how much he’ll earn on his next deal will become hot topics for media conjecture later this year.

BOSTON HOCKEY NOW: Jimmy Murphy wondered if Jeremy Swayman was sending a shot across the bow of Bruins management regarding his comments about being selected for the 2024 All-Star Game by NHL fans.

Swayman first praised his teammates for putting him in this position. However, he also revealed that his arbitration process last summer was not a pleasant experience, talking about having to deal with what he went through and “hearing things that a player should never hear.”

Murphy noted that Swayman got a one-year, $3.47 million contract award via arbitration. He also pointed out that the process is an uncomfortable one for players and teams. The 25-year-old netminder and his agent have declined to talk with the media this season about his contract negotiations with the Bruins.

Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman recently speculated that Swayman could re-sign with the Bruins in January. Murphy wonders if the goalie’s comments suggest things haven’t gone as Friedman expected.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Arbitration is bruising to a player’s ego and can sometimes cause irreparable damage to his relationship with management, greasing the skids for his departure to another club via trade or free agency.

Swayman is slated to once again become a restricted free agent with arbitration rights on July 1. It’ll be worthwhile to monitor his situation if he hasn’t re-signed by then.

NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: James Nichols believes Calgary Flames goaltender Jacob Markstrom is an unlikely trade target for the Devils. He reached that decision after hearing Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman’s report on Saturday indicating it will take a lot for the Flames to consider parting with their starting netminder.

Friedman noted Markstrom carries a full no-movement clause and the Flames have no intention of asking him to waive it unless it’s to a destination he wants to go to. Nichols thinks there could be more desirable locations than New Jersey for Markstrom.

The Flames’ asking price is also a sticking point. Nichols speculates they could ask for promising defenseman Simon Nemec or forward Dawson Mercer as part of the return.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Devils can free up $9 million in cap space by placing sidelined defenseman Dougie Hamilton on long-term injury reserve. They could afford Markstrom’s $6 million average annual value but not what would be a significant asking price from the Flames. If they go goalie shopping they could consider more affordable short-term options.