NHL Rumor Mill – September 11, 2024

by | Sep 11, 2024

NHL Rumor Mill – September 11, 2024

In today’s NHL Rumor Mill: some suggested trade destinations for Ducks defenseman Cam Fowler and the latest on Rangers winger Kaapo Kakko

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Patrick Present cited Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman’s recent report indicating the Anaheim Ducks and defenseman Cam Fowler are discussing his future.

Anaheim Ducks defenseman Cam Fowler (NHL Images)

The 32-year-old Fowler is believed willing to expand his four-team trade list. He carries an average annual value of $6.5 million through 2025-26.

Present listed the Edmonton Oilers, Vancouver Canucks, and Florida Panthers as three clubs in “win-now” mode who could benefit from adding Fowler to their defense corps.

Their limited cap space would be an issue for those clubs, meaning there would have to be salary retention by the Ducks or salaried players sent to the Ducks to offset his cap hit. The Oilers also don’t have a shallow prospect pool to draw from for trade bait.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Present noted that Fowler is unlikely to be moved before the start of this season. However, injuries could open up some cap space on one of those clubs at some point. That could make Fowler a tempting target.

THE ATHLETIC: Peter Baugh wondered if Kaapo Kakko would still be on the New York Rangers’ roster by the end of this season. He believes he will be, but acknowledged the trade rumors that dogged the 22-year-old winger during the offseason.

Baugh believes Rangers GM Chris Drury will attempt to add to his roster at this season’s trade deadline. Kakko could be part of a “win-now” deal, but the best-case scenario could be the young winger returning to his 2022-23 production when he tallied 40 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s assumed Kakko wasn’t traded this summer because his value was low. If he doesn’t improve this season, bundling him as part of a larger return for a skilled player might be the only way to move him in a trade.










NHL Rumor Mill – August 7, 2024

by | Aug 7, 2024

NHL Rumor Mill – August 7, 2024

Check out the latest on the Rangers and Oilers in today’s NHL Rumor Mill

THE ATHLETIC: A reader asked Arthur Staple if there is any clear indication that the New York Rangers will attempt to trade or buy out Jacob Trouba after this season.

Staple replied that Trouba submitted his 15-team no-trade list valid until July 1, 2025. There’s nothing set in stone but both sides understand that the Rangers need salary-cap space next summer.

New York Rangers defenseman Jacob Trouba (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Rangers attempted to move Trouba before his no-movement clause ended on July 1 and became a 15-team no-trade list. He waited until July 1 (as is his right) to submit that list.

Both sides say there is no bad blood and they’ll work together this season. However, this season is likely Trouba’s last with the Rangers and he understands that. Whether they find trade partners willing to take on his $8 million cap hit for 2025-26 depends on his performance this season.

Asked about Kaapo Kakko, Staple believes he’s not a player other teams are coveting now, speculating the Rangers may be getting offers but nothing worthwhile. He considers the 23-year-old winger a “buy-low player” in the trade market.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: That would explain why Kakko hasn’t moved despite plenty of offseason trade speculation. He’ll likely start this season with the Rangers. Improvement in his performance will boost his trade value but could also give them second thoughts about moving him.

THE ATHLETIC: Allan Mitchell looked at some Oilers storylines to follow for the remainder of the summer.

He believes no news is good news regarding contract extension talks with Leon Draisaitl. If things were going poorly, the Oilers would drop hints about trade options. As things stand, Mitchell considers the signing inevitable and possibly not far away.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: General manager Stan Bowman said talks have become and there’s nothing negative to report. Draisaitl’s contract situation gets interesting if the season begins without him putting pen to paper. Until then, it’s not worth fretting about.

The Oilers remain over the $88 million salary cap with restricted free agents Dylan Holloway and Philip Broberg to be signed.

One way to address this would be placing Evander Kane (hip injury) on long-term injury reserve to start the season but they’ll have to be cap-compliant when he’s ready to return. If he’s coming to training camp, Cody Ceci or Brett Kulak could be traded to free up cap space to sign Holloway and Broberg.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ceci carries a $3.25 million cap hit this season while Kulak’s is $2.75 million annually through 2025-26.










NHL Rumor Mill – July 23, 2024

by | Jul 23, 2024

NHL Rumor Mill – July 23, 2024

In today’s NHL Rumor Mill: burning questions about Mitch Marner’s future in Toronto, Jacob Trouba and Kaapo Kakko’s futures with the Rangers, and Sidney Crosby’s contract extension with the Penguins.

NHL NETWORK: Mitch Marner’s future with the Toronto Maple Leafs was among the five burning offseason questions recently discussed by Jamison Coyle and Mike Rupp.

Rupp doesn’t see the Maple Leafs moving away from Marner this summer. He cited the 27-year-old winger’s play as well as the final year of his contract containing a full no-movement clause. Marner could play out that year and depart next summer as an unrestricted free agent.

Toronto Maple Leafs winger Mitch Marner (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: We’ve gone from the expectation that Marner could be traded this summer to the reality that he holds all the cards and won’t accept a trade. The narrative has shifted to whether he and the Leafs will agree to a contract extension. However, recent reports suggest the Marner camp intends to let this season unfold and see where they are once it’s over.

A team could emerge this summer that makes a lucrative trade offer that Marner would accept but I wouldn’t hold my breath waiting for it. Expect him to be in their opening-night lineup in October.

Jacob Trouba and Kaapo Kakko have featured regularly in this summer’s rumor mill. However, Rupp expects they’ll still be with the New York Rangers when this season begins in October.

Rupp acknowledged the recent trade speculation regarding management’s attempt to move Trouba and the 30-year-old defenseman using his no-movement clause to block the trade. He knows that Trouba is well-liked by his teammates and doesn’t anticipate the attempted trade will be an issue for the blueliner this season. Nevertheless, he wonders what the future holds for Trouba.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Trouba now has a 15-team no-trade list but recent reports claim the Rangers have no plans to move him this summer. This season, however, could be his last with the Blueshirts. They could try to move him next summer to shed his $8 million cap hit for 2025-26.

Regarding Kaako, Rupp believes the 23-year-old winger is worth keeping. He expects Kakko is due for a breakout performance, pointing out Alexis Lafreniere’s emergence last season following a difficult 2022-23 which made him the subject of trade rumors.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kakko’s one-year, $2.4 million contract makes him an affordable gamble for Rangers management. If he had that breakout performance, they’d have him on a very cheap deal this season. If he struggles again, it’ll be easier to move to another team willing to take the chance.

Rupp doesn’t think Pittsburgh Penguins fans should be concerned that Sidney Crosby hasn’t signed his contract extension yet. He anticipates the long-time Pittsburgh captain will finish his career as a Penguin.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: On July 8, The Athletic’s Rob Rossi cited sources claiming Crosby and the Penguins were closing in on an extension. It could be a three-year deal worth an average annual value of $10 million.

The superstitious Crosby will probably sign on August 7. That’s his birthday and his jersey number (87). I wouldn’t be surprised if they’ve already hammered out the details.










NHL Rumor Mill – July 17, 2024

by | Jul 17, 2024

NHL Rumor Mill – July 17, 2024

In today’s NHL Rumor Mill: An update on Rangers defenseman Jacob Trouba and winger Kaapo Kakko and suggested trade destinations for Jets prospect Rutger McGroarty and Predators goalie Yaroslav Askarov.

UPDATE ON JACOB TROUBA AND KAAPO KAKKO

THE ATHLETIC: Arthur Staple reports it doesn’t appear the New York Rangers will trade or buy out Jacob Trouba this summer.

The 30-year-old defenseman was the subject of trade speculation linking him to the Detroit Red Wings last month. However, league sources claim there was never anything close to a deal with the Wings.

Trading or buying out Trouba now would leave the Rangers in the market for a right-shot defenseman behind Adam Fox and Braden Schneider who kills penalties and can handle an occasional increase in playing time.

New York Rangers defenseman Jacob Trouba (NHL Images).

Staple indicated there was at least one conversation between Trouba and Rangers general manager Chris Drury. There may have been some fence-mending by the Rangers regarding those trade rumors but Trouba is a pro who won’t put his emotions over the good of the team.

However, Staple believes it’s nearly certain that Trouba will be traded next summer. He has a 15-team no-trade list, will have a year left on his contract, and his wife’s medical residency will be completed by then.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The silence we’ve heard in the rumor mill about Trouba since July 1 led most of us to conclude he won’t be traded or bought out this summer. Drury’s attempt to trade him before July 1 was to free up cap space to make one or two signings in the free-agent market. With that market picked clean, there’s no reason to move Trouba now.

Staple felt if the Rangers make a move this summer it would involve Kaapo Kakko. The 23-year-old winger signed a one-year, $2.4 million contract last month but was still considered a trade candidate.

However, there have been no offers that interested Drury or other teams. Staple believes Kakko could also be back if the Rangers don’t want to sell low and find another top-nine forward.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Drury could bring Kakko back and hope he has a breakout performance like Alexis Lafreniere last season. If he doesn’t, the Rangers GM could bundle the young winger with a draft pick for an established forward by the March trade deadline. Maybe he tries to bring back Frank Vatrano.

SUGGESTED TRADE DESTINATIONS FOR MCGROARTY AND ASKAROV

SPORTSNET: Ryan Dixon proposed some trade destinations for Winnipeg Jets prospect winger Rutger McGroarty and promising Nashville Predators goaltender Yaroslav Askarov.

McGroarty, 20, recently surfaced in the rumor mill amid reports he and the Jets disagree about the course of his development. Meanwhile, trade speculation about the 22-year-old Askarov has increased after the Predators signed Juuse Saros to a contract extension and signed veteran backup Scott Wedgewood.

Dixon suggested the Montreal Canadiens, Minnesota Wild, Boston Bruins, and Calgary Flames as potential trade partners for McGroarty.

The Canadiens are flush with defensemen they could use to add McGroarty to their rebuilding roster. The Flames are also rebuilding and could use a promising young winger. The Wild could use a winger with his enticing profile, while the Bruins are a contending team that could use an affordable injection of youth into their roster.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Dixon observed the Canadiens and Wild were linked to McGroarty during the NHL draft.

Meanwhile, the Columbus Blue Jackets and Carolina Hurricanes could use a promising young goaltender like Askarov. Dixon also suggested the New Jersey Devils and San Jose Sharks could benefit from landing both players.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Dixon suggested the Jackets offer up Kent Johnson for Askarov, a pitch that could tempt the Predators. Askarov and Pyotr Kochetkov could give the Hurricanes a reliable goalie tandem for years.

Between the Devils and Sharks, the latter could be better positioned to pursue both players. They’re carrying two first-round picks in next year’s draft, a deeper prospect pool and a lot more salary-cap space.










NHL Rumor Mill – July 13, 2024

by | Jul 13, 2024

NHL Rumor Mill – July 13, 2024

Check out the latest on the Canadiens’ possible trade targets and the Golden Knights’ goaltending in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

THE ATHLETIC: Eric Duhatschek was asked by a reader which would be best suited to play a second-line role with the Montreal Canadiens, referring to Anaheim’s Trevor Zegras, Carolina’s Martin Necas, Columbus’ Kent Johnson or the New York Rangers’ Kaapo Kakko.

Duhatschek believes Johnson has the highest draft pedigree. He’s also the youngest of the four and scored 40 points in 2022-23 as a 20-year-old during a dismal season for the Blue Jackets. Johnson could have the best upside and could be a better fit for the rebuilding Canadiens.

Carolina Hurricanes forward Martin Necas (NHL Images).

Johnson and Zegras still have a runaway for improvement. Kakko probably won’t ever be a top-six winger while Necas has had just one notable season.

As for which player would be the more realistic acquisition, Duhatschek thinks it would be Kakko, but only if their scouts see something in him that several Rangers coaches have not. He doesn’t see the new Blue Jackets management giving up on Johnson and cites the high asking prices for Necas and Zegras.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: That could explain why Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes hasn’t acquired a scoring forward this summer. Then again, he could be zeroing in on other options. Maybe Hughes doesn’t like the current market and will wait and see what shakes out during training camp and preseason.

LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL: A reader asked Danny Webster who will be the Golden Knights starting goaltender in 2025-26. They currently have Adin Hill and the recently acquired Ilya Samsonov on expiring contracts.

The oft-injured Hill must prove he can stay healthy for an entire season. Meanwhile, Samsonov must prove he can bounce back from his poor showing in Toronto last season.

If Hill doesn’t play well enough this season to merit an extension, the Golden Knights will have to seek a replacement next summer. They could hope the New York Rangers’ Igor Shesterkin or Ottawa’s Linus Ullmark will hit the open market next July.

Webster also doesn’t rule out a trade this season. Ullmark could be available if the Senators struggle. Another option could be Anaheim’s John Gibson. Ultimately, he feels their best hope is for Hill and Samsonov to perform well this season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Rangers will make Shesterkin the highest-paid goaltender in NHL history. He’s not going anywhere.

I agreed with Webster that Ullmark could be available via trade or free agency if the Senators flounder again. However, the Golden Knights would face competition for his services.

Gibson surfacing in the rumor mill has become an annual summer tradition. Maybe he and the Ducks will be ready to part ways in 2025.










NHL Rumor Mill – July 11, 2024

by | Jul 11, 2024

NHL Rumor Mill – July 11, 2024

Check out the latest on the Rangers, Canadiens and Blue Jackets in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

LOHUD.COM: Vincent Z. Mercogliano suggests the New York Rangers might not make any major moves this summer after all. All the top unrestricted free agents are now off the board and it’s difficult to find an impact trade as there don’t seem to be many players available.

A lot of eyes are on the Winnipeg Jets. They’re believed to be deep in talks to trade winger Nikolaj Ehlers to the Carolina Hurricanes.

Mercogliano also noted the Rangers had previous trade discussions with the Anaheim Ducks about winger Frank Vatrano. It’s believed the Ducks wanted to do more during this offseason. They could hang onto Vatrano and hope for higher bids at the trade deadline.

The Rangers will have access to a second contract buyout once Ryan Lindgren’s arbitration situation is resolved. However, they’re not expected to make use of it.

New York Rangers defenseman Jacob Trouba (NHL Images).

They can also afford to keep Jacob Trouba on the roster despite the awkward fallout from general manager Chris Drury’s failed attempt to trade him to the Detroit Red Wings. It might be easier next summer to find a trade partner among those not on his no-trade list.

A source told Mercogliano that the Rangers aren’t thrilled with the trade offers they’ve received for winger Kaapo Kakko. They’d need an NHL-caliber player in return to fill the resulting hole in their lineup by trading Kakko.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Drury could surprise us by finding a team willing to take Trouba or Kakko off the Rangers’ hands for the right price. Nevertheless, it wouldn’t be surprising if both players are still on their roster when their season begins in October.

TVA SPORTS: Montreal Canadiens GM Kent Hughes will find slim pickings in this summer’s UFA market if he intends to go that route to add a scoring forward.

The site suggested the three best remaining options are Daniel Sprong, Tyler Johnson and Alex Nylander.

Sprong had 18 goals and 43 points last season with the Detroit Red Wings despite averaging only 12 minutes of ice time per game. Johnson had 17 goals in 67 games last season with the Chicago Blackhawks and would’ve netted over 20 had he played a full 82 games. Nylander had 11 goals and 15 points in 28 games after being acquired from the Pittsburgh Penguins by the Columbus Blue Jackets.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: There’s not a heck of a lot left to choose from here. The best you can say is they’ll be affordable signings. Maybe one of them might thrive in a third-line role with the Canadiens on a one-year deal.

THE SCORE: Josh Wegman cited The Athletic’s Aaron Portzline reporting Jay Woodcroft and Dean Evason are among the finalists for the Columbus Blue Jackets’ head-coaching position.

Former Los Angeles Kings bench boss Todd McLellan was reportedly the first choice of Blue Jackets GM Don Waddell. However, he’s no longer in the running after contract negotiations fell through. McLellan still has another year remaining on his contract with the Kings, meaning the two teams would have to determine how much the Blue Jackets would pay. A source told Portzline the Jackets could circle back to McLellan.