NHL Rumor Mill Update – July 7, 2022
NHL Rumor Mill Update – July 7, 2022
Heading toward the opening round of the 2022 NHL Draft, check out the latest on Matthew Tkachuk, Marc-Andre Fleury, Jake Oettinger, Matt Murray and Claude Giroux in the NHL Rumor Mill update.
BALLY SPORTS MIDWEST’s Andy Strickland reports he was told the Calgary Flames have no plans of trading Matthew Tkachuk at the draft or this summer. They’re fully focused on getting the restricted free agent winger signed.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: No surprise there. They’ll be extra focused on signing Tkachuk if Johnny Gaudreau departs next Wednesday via free agency.
WASHINGTON HOCKEY NOW: Sammi Silber cited ESPN’s Kevin Weekes reporting rumblings of the Minnesota Wild negotiating a one-year contract with Marc-Andre Fleury. If a deal doesn’t get done and the 37-year-old goaltender hits the open market, the Capitals could be among his possible destinations. She also cited TSN’s Pierre LeBrun suggesting the Toronto Maple Leafs, Colorado Avalanche and perhaps the Pittsburgh Penguins could be among Fleury’s suitors.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Weekes had initially reported Fleury had a one-year deal in place with the Wild. He clarified that no deal is in place and the process is ongoing.
Fleury was reportedly cool toward getting shipped to the Capitals before the trade deadline. However, he could have a change of heart depending on the free-agent market.
Unless the Penguins are trading Tristan Jarry or the recently re-signed Casey DeSmith (and they have no reason to do that), Fleury won’t be returning to Pittsburgh.
The Leafs will be in the market for a starter if Jack Campbell tests the market next week and I daresay they’ll put in a call to Fleury if he’s available. The Avs are out of that market after acquiring Alexandar Georgiev to replace the departing Darcy Kuemper.
TSN’s Pierre LeBrun reports hearing that some teams have internally discussed the merit of offer sheeting Dallas Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger. He imagines the Stars will match any offer.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Yes, they will, and who’s to say Oettinger’s even interested in signing an offer sheet? Remember, just because a team is thinking about it doesn’t mean he’ll sign one.
SPORTSNET’s Elliotte Friedman reported the Ottawa Senators and Buffalo Sabres had conversations about Matt Murray. However, the Sabres were on his 10-team no-trade list and he declined to waive it. Meanwhile, the OTTAWA SUN’s Bruce Garrioch reports the Toronto Maple Leafs are in the mix for Murray and he would agree to be traded there.
TSN’s Pierre LeBrun believes the Ottawa Senators will be among the clubs pursuing Claude Giroux if he goes to market next week.