Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – March 15, 2020

by | Mar 15, 2020

Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – March 15, 2020

Could this season be the last for Zdeno Chara? Have we seen the last of Henrik Lundqvist and Marc Staal as Rangers, or Zach Parise and Mikko Koivu with the Wild? Check out the latest in the Sunday NHL rumor roundup.

COULD THIS SEASON BE CHARA’S LAST?

THE BOSTON GLOBE: Kevin Paul Dupont reports Zdeno Chara‘s agent said he and his client aren’t thinking about whether the Bruins captain will return for another season right now. Matt Keator believes he, Chara, and Bruins general manager Don Sweeney will meet at the end of the season to sort it out. The 43-year-old defenseman becomes an unrestricted free agent on July 1. Dupont feels it would be an anti-climactic end to Chara’s long run with the Bruins if the NHL cancels the rest of the season and the playoffs and Chara opts to retire or management feels it’s time to move on.

Could this be Zdeno Chara’s final NHL campaign? (Photo via NHL Images)

SPECTOR’S NOTE: If the salary cap remains at $81.5 million or falls below that figure, the Bruins probably won’t have sufficient cap room to bring back Chara. Torey Krug and Jaroslav Halak are also UFAs, while Jake DeBrusk, Anders Bjork and Matt Grzelcyk are restricted free agents. With over $61.2 million tied up in 17 players, finding room for Chara on a cheap one-year deal could prove a tight fit if they re-sign everyone else.

HAVE LUNDQVIST  AND STAAL PLAYED THEIR FINAL GAMES AS RANGERS?

THE ATHLETIC: Rick Carpiniello wonders if Henrik Lundqvist has played his final game with the New York Rangers. The long-time Rangers starter had been shunted aside in favor of young goalies Igor Shesterkin and Alexandar Georgiev before the league paused the schedule over coronavirus concerns. The 38-year-old Lundqvist has a year remaining on his contract worth an annual average value of $8.5 million.

Carpiniello doesn’t expect the Blueshirts will go into training camp this fall carrying three goalies. Buying out Lundqvist’s contract this summer is one option. A trade is another, provided Lundqvist waives his no-movement clause and the Rangers absorb half of his AAV. Either way, the Blueshirts will have some dead cap space for next season.

Long-time Rangers defenseman Marc Staal could face a similar fate. He has a year left on his deal with an AAV of $5.7 million and a no-movement clause.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: I believe a buyout is more likely for Lundqvist than a trade, especially if the salary cap remains at $81.5 million for next season. Even by picking up half his AAV, there won’t be many teams with available space as there might have been under a higher ceiling. The same goes for Staal.

END OF THE LINE FOR KOIVU AND PARISE WITH THE WILD?

THE ATHLETIC: Michael Russo wonders if this schedule pause spells the end of Mikko Koivu’s NHL career. The 37-year-old Minnesota Wild captain is an unrestricted free agent this summer.

Sources say Koivu is leaning toward retirement. He declined to waive his no-movement clause a few weeks ago, indicating he couldn’t see himself playing for another team.

STARTRIBUNE.COM: Before the NHL’s pausing the regular-season schedule, Sarah McLellan reported on how Zach Parise’s play had improved following the Feb. 24 trade deadline. Nevertheless, his future with the Wild remains unclear as trade speculation could reignite down the road.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Wild reportedly discussed a deal with the New York Islanders that would’ve sent Parise to Long Island in exchange for winger Andrew Ladd. Both players waived their no-trade clauses to facilitate the deal but it ultimately didn’t come to pass. There’s speculation the two clubs could revisit it this summer, but a lower-than-projected salary cap could scuttle those plans.

If the season is canceled or the league scraps the rest of the regular-season schedule, we may have seen Koivu’s last game as an NHL player. Not the way anyone envisioned his NHL career coming to an end.










NHL Rumor Mill – February 27, 2020

by | Feb 27, 2020

NHL Rumor Mill – February 27, 2020

More trade deadline fallout involving Joe Thornton, Tyson Barrie, Robin Lehner, Zach Parise and more in today’s NHL rumor mill.

SPORTSNET: In his latest 31 Thoughts, Elliotte Friedman wondered what the future held for San Jose Sharks center Joe Thornton. If he’s not sold on the Sharks as a Cup contender next season, Friedman predicts the Toronto Maple Leafs will be a factor. He believes the Leafs considered adding Thornton before the trade deadline, but can’t confirm it.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: With all due respect to Thornton, the last thing the Leafs need is a past-his-prime center. It’s obvious to all that the Leafs desperately need to shore up their defensive depth. If management can’t see that, Leafs fans should give up any hope of this club becoming a Cup contender anytime soon.

Could the Vancouver Canucks pursue Tyson Barrie this summer? (Photo via NHL Images)

Speaking of the Leafs, Friedman said they weren’t trading Tyson Barrie unless they got a return that immediately replaced the blueliner plus a sweetener for the future. They would’ve taken Troy Stecher, but the Vancouver Canucks didn’t have the draft picks and weren’t parting with futures.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canucks were linked to Barrie leading up to the trade deadline. I wonder if they might try to sign him this summer as an unrestricted free agent. That could depend upon how much he’s seeking and whether it’ll fit within their cap space for 2020-21. Stecher, Jacob Markstrom, Jake Virtanen, and Adam Gaudette are due for raises next season.

Friedman believes the Chicago Blackhawks didn’t want to go past two years on a contract extension with Robin Lehner. The goaltender was shipped to the Vegas Golden Knights on deadline day.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: I don’t understand the Blackhawks’ reluctance. I’m well-aware of Lehner’s past issues, many of those tied to depression, but he’s turned his life and career around. He won the Masterton Trophy and was a finalist for the Vezina Trophy last season with the New York Islanders. He put up good numbers backstopping a porous Chicago defense and got along well with his Blackhawks teammates. If the Golden Knights don’t re-sign him, Lehner should land a fair contract elsewhere in the NHL.

Friedman also weighed in on the failed effort by the Minnesota Wild to trade Zach Parise to the New York Islanders for Andrew Ladd at the trade deadline. Getting the salary-cap dollars to fit was the sticking point. It was rumored young Isles winger Kieffer Bellows was going to be part of the deal, among other sweeteners. The Wild also had concerns about salary-cap recapture penalties if Parise retired early. Friedman isn’t sure where the deal goes from here.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Wild GM Bill Guerin hinted the two clubs could revisit those negotiations in the off-season. We’ll see if they can hammer something out.

The New York Rangers trading defenseman Brady Skjei to Carolina allows them to take care of internal business, like Anthony DeAngelo and Ryan Strome.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: In other words, dumping Skjei’s $5.25-million annual average value through 2023-24 frees up salary-cap space to re-sign DeAngelo and Strome. The pair are restricted free agents with arbitration rights this summer.

Friedman also reported the Edmonton Oilers had an interest in Patrick Marleau before the Sharks traded him to the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Arizona Coyotes, Calgary Flames, and Minnesota Wild were interested in Vincent Trocheck before the Florida Panthers shipped him to the Carolina Hurricanes.

The Flames also checked into Wayne Simmonds for the second time in two years. He believes the Islanders had an interest in Mikko Koivu, who opted to stay with the Wild. A lot of teams called the Philadelphia Flyers about winger Scott Laughton, but they weren’t interested in parting with him.

 










NHL Rumor Mill – February 12, 2020

by | Feb 12, 2020

NHL Rumor Mill – February 12, 2020

Could the Coyotes consider shopping Taylor Hall? Are more moves in store for the Wild? What’s the latest on Chris Kreider, Joe Thornton, and David Backes? What are the Avalanche and Hurricanes up to? Check out the latest in today’s NHL rumor mill.

COYOTES WON’T FLIP HALL BEFORE THE DEADLINE

TSN: Pierre LeBrun reports the Arizona Coyotes have no intention of flipping Taylor Hall to another team before the Feb. 24 trade deadline. The Coyotes acquired the left winger in December. While some observers wonder if they’ll shop the 28-year-old Hall before the deadline, rather than risk losing him this summer to free agency, the Coyotes front office remains determined to re-sign him. LeBrun points out they can offer Hall an eight-year contract, while other clubs can only offer seven years if he tests the open market.

The Arizona Coyotes have no plans to move Taylor Hall before the trade deadline (Photo via NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: None of that questioning about Hall’s future came up when the Coyotes were sitting on top of the Pacific Division a month ago. It was their recent tumble in the standings that sparked this speculation. Unless someone blows the Coyotes out of the water with an amazing offer, they have no reason to move Hall now. He’s crucial to their hopes of nailing down a playoff spot this season.

MORE MOVES COMING FOR THE WILD?

TWINCITIES.COM: Dane Mizutani reports Minnesota Wild general manager Bill Guerin indicated any potential trade-deadline moves on his part depend upon the club’s performance leading up to deadline day. Earlier this week, Guerin shipped winger Jason Zucker to the Pittsburgh Penguins.

“If there is quit, there will be more trades,” he said Tuesday. “I wholeheartedly expect this team to compete for a playoff spot. We are right there. If there’s any signs of anybody taking their foot off the gas, that will be an indication (of what I have to do).”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Guerin’s next moves could involve defenseman Matt Dumba and Jonas Brodin. TSN’s Pierre LeBrun last night reported the Wild GM was willing to listen to offers for those two. He’s in the market for a top-line center. If the best offer he gets for either guy is a No. 2 center, LeBrun believes it has to be packaged with something else. Guerin is also willing to respect the wishes of captain Mikko Koivu. He carries a no-movement clause and is reportedly leaning toward staying in Minnesota.

UPDATE ON KREIDER

TSN: Bob McKenzie reports there’s some growing sense of optimism the New York Rangers might re-sign winger Chris Kreider now that contract talks have begun. However, he cautions it’s going to be difficult for the Rangers to pay what Kreider is looking for. He feels it could still go either way.

If the Rangers re-sign Kreider, McKenzie speculates they could be forced to shop some combination of restricted free agents Pavel Buchnevich, Ryan Strome and Tony DeAngelo by the deadline or during the off-season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Cap Friendly indicates the Rangers have almost $65 million invested in 14 players for 2020-21. If Kreider seeks around $6 million annually (it could be more) on a long-term deal, their cap payroll rises to around $71 million. Assuming next season’s salary cap reaches $84 million, that won’t leave sufficient room to re-sign all of those RFAs, especially those with arbitration rights.

BRUINS, LIGHTNING LOOKING AT THORNTON

TSN: Frank Seravalli reports the Boston Bruins and Tampa Bay Lightning have reportedly had internal discussions about adding San Jose Sharks center Joe Thornton to their lineup. Thornton’s spent 1,089 games with the Sharks, so any decision to join a playoff contender will be up to him. If he’s uninterested, that’s the end of it.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Just because the Bruins and Lightning have looked at Thornton doesn’t mean he’s the only player on their radar before the trade deadline. Their focus is likely on younger options.

COULD THE BRUINS FIND A TAKER FOR BACKES?

NBC SPORTS BOSTON: cites FOX Sports’ Andy Strickland and NHL Network’s Brian Lawton claiming teams are showing interest in Bruins forward David Backes, who hasn’t played since being placed on waivers a month ago. Strickland said many of them are on his eight-team no-trade list.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: I daresay teams calling about Backes are those with plenty of salary-cap room hoping to get a quality asset or two included in the return. The Bruins might also have to absorb up to half of his $6-million annual average value. We’ll find out soon enough if they’re willing to make that move to free up cap space before the trade deadline.

LATEST ON THE AVALANCHE

THE ATHLETIC: Ryan S. Clark reports it’s believed the Colorado Avalanche could attempt to acquire a second-pairing defenseman and a big, middle-six forward before the Feb. 24 deadline. Questions over the Avs’ deadline plans intensified with the news that center Nazem Kadri is listed as week-to-week with a lower-body injury. Nevertheless, Kadri’s injury won’t alter how they approach the deadline.

Clark points out the club has spent the entire season adjusting to numerous injuries. They could entertain moving one of their top prospects if the deal benefits them over the long term.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: In other words, they’re not parting with Bo Byram, Martin Kaut, Shane Bowers or Conor Timmons for a rental player.

HURRICANES SEEK A HOCKEY DEAL

TSN: Pierre LeBrun reports the Carolina Hurricanes are willing to trade a draft pick for a defenseman under contract beyond this season. They’ve looked into pending UFAs like San Jose’s Brenden Dillon and New Jersey’s Sami Vatanen, but team owner Tom Dundon doesn’t like spending assets on rental players. They’ve reportedly shown interest in Minnesota’s Matt Dumba.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Hurricanes have two first-round picks in the 2020 NHL Draft, though one of them is a conditional one from the Leafs that could be moved to 2021 if that pick lands in the top-10. Would they be willing to part with one of them for Dumba or a blueliner like him?