NHL Rumor Mill – January 20, 2024

by | Jan 20, 2024

NHL Rumor Mill – January 20, 2024

Could the Canucks pursue Jake Guentzel? Will the Kings attempt to land Jake Allen? Which players could become Blues trade candidates? Find out in the latest in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

COULD THE CANUCKS PURSUE GUENTZEL?

SPORTSNET: During his latest “32 Thoughts” podcast episode, Elliotte Friedman expressed his belief that the Vancouver Canucks would be interested in acquiring Jake Guentzel if the Pittsburgh Penguins winger becomes available before the March 8 trade deadline.

Pittsburgh Penguins winger Jake Guentzel (NHL Images)

Friedman noted that Canucks president of hockey operations Jim Rutherford knows Guentzel from his days as Penguins general manager. However, he also said a lot of other clubs would be interested in the 29-year-old winger, who’s slated to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Penguins GM Kyle Dubas earlier this week dismissed recent trade speculation about Guentzel, saying he hasn’t had discussions about him with other clubs. Dubas also said at some point they’ll evaluate what’s best for Guentzel and the Penguins going forward.

With the Penguins jockeying for a wild-card berth Dubas could hang onto Guentzel as an own rental for the remainder of this season. Perhaps he’s already decided that he’s keeping the winger in the fold and has no plans to move him regardless of where his club sits in the standings.

Rutherford has said he’d like to add a top-six forward before the trade deadline. He’ll probably look into the cost of acquiring Guentzel if he’s available. Whether he’d be willing to pay what could be a steep asking price or can outbid other clubs is another matter.

JAKE ALLEN TO THE KINGS?

TVA SPORTS: cited Friedman also talking about where Montreal Canadiens goaltender Jake Allen might end up. He believes the Canadiens’ asking price is a draft pick but that could go higher if an interested club wants the Habs to retain part of his $3.85 million average annual value through 2024-25.

Friedman said at one point earlier in this season he thought the 33-year-old Allen would be headed to the Edmonton Oilers but he’s not convinced of that now. Instead, he suggested the Canadiens goalie could be a trade target for the Los Angeles Kings.

“I think they’re going to acquire a goalie,” said Friedman. “Whether it’s Allen or whoever, I think they will add a goalie.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Kings were getting good goaltending from aging starter Cam Talbot but he’s had his difficulties in recent games. With Pheonix Copley sidelined for the season by a knee injury, call-up David Rittich has performed well in limited action.

It remains to be seen if Kings management is willing to stick with Rittich as a backup for the rest of the season. They could look for someone with a more reliable record.

WHICH BLUES COULD BECOME TRADE CANDIDATES?

THE ATHLETIC: Jeremy Rutherford recently looked at which players the St. Louis Blues could attempt to move if they become sellers before the March 8 trade deadline.

Sammy Blais, Oskar Sundqvist, Kasperi Kapanen, Jakub Vrana and Marco Scandella are their notable pending unrestricted free agents. Of these, Rutherford expects Sundqvist might the the only one with a chance of re-signing with the Blues.

Other trade candidates could include Pavel Buchnevich, Jordan Binnington, Justin Faulk, Brandon Saad, Nick Leddy and Torey Krug. They all have term remaining on their respective contracts, making them more likely to be off-season trade candidates.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Krug used his no-trade clause to nix a move to Philadelphia last summer. Unless he has a change of mind or a preferable trade destination, I don’t see him going anywhere. The same goes for Binnington, Saad, Faulk and Leddy as they also possess full no-trade protection.

Buchnevich, meanwhile, has a 12-team no-trade clause while Scandella’s is a seven-team NTC. That makes them easier to move than the others but still limits the number of potential trade partners.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – January 19, 2024

by | Jan 19, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – January 19, 2024

The Oilers’ win streak continues, Auston Matthews, David Pastrnak and T.J. Oshie enjoy hat-trick performances and Kings coach Todd McLellan gets a vote of confidence from management. Details on these and other stories in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

GAME RECAPS

NHL.COM: The Edmonton Oilers tied the 1967-68 Montreal Canadiens for the longest win streak by a Canadian team (12 games) with a 4-2 victory over the Seattle Kraken. Warren Foegele scored two goals while Leon Draisaitl had a goal and three assists for the 25-15-1 Oilers, who overcame a 2-0 deficit to vault over the Los Angeles Kings into third place in the Pacific Division with 51 points. Eeli Tolvanen and Jared McCann scored for the 19-17-9 Kraken (47 points), who dropped their third straight game and sit three points behind the Kings for the final Western Conference wild-card berth.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Oilers have staged a remarkable surge up the standings in the past month. When they suffered their last loss (3-1 to the New York Islanders on Dec. 19), the Oilers had the fourth-worst record in the Western Conference (13-15-1, 27 points), sitting seven points out of a wild-card spot and only six points ahead of the bottom-feeding San Jose Sharks.

Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews (NHL Images).

Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews tallied a hat trick and collected an assist as his club overcame a 2-0 deficit to hold off the Calgary Flames 4-3. William Nylander picked up two assists for the 22-13-8 Leafs, who regained third place in the Atlantic Division with 52 points. Jonathan Huberdeau had two assists for the 21-19-35 Flames (47 points), who sit three points out of the final Western wild-card spot.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: With 37 goals, Matthews expanded his league in the goal-scoring lead by four over Florida’s Sam Reinhart. Meanwhile, Flames center Martin Pospisil left this game in the first period with an upper-body injury.

The Boston Bruins defeated the Colorado Avalanche 5-2 on a hat trick by winger David Pastrnak, who sits third in the goal-scoring race with 29. Jeremy Swayman made 30 saves for the Bruins (27-8-9), who sit second in the overall standings with 63 points. Nathan MacKinnon scored to extend his points streak to 10 games as the Avalanche (29-14-3) sit second in the Central Division with 61 points.

A hat trick by T.J. Oshie powered the Washington Capitals over the St. Louis Blues by a score of 5-2. Max Pacioretty, John Carlsson and Dylan Strome each had two points for the 22-15-6 Capitals (50 points), who sit one point out of the final Eastern Conference wild-card berth. Nathan Walker scored both goals for the 21-20-2 Blues.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin collected an assist after returning from a three-game absence dealing with a nagging lower-body injury.

The Nashville Predators got a 33-save performance by Juuse Saros in a 2-1 win over the Los Angeles Kings, who have dropped 10 of their last 11 games. Ryan O’Reilly had a goal and an assist for the Predators (25-19-1) as they hold the first Western wild-card spot with 51 points. Drew Doughty replied for the 21-13-8 Kings, who hold the final wild card spot with 50 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Earlier in the day, Kings general manager Rob Blake gave head coach Todd McLellan a vote of confidence. He expects the solution to his club’s struggles will come internally from his players. However, Blake’s faith in McLellan will be put to the test if the Kings fail to improve over the next few weeks, especially if the club slips out of a playoff berth.

Elias Pettersson and Dakota Joshua scored as the Vancouver Canucks nipped the Arizona Coyotes 2-1, becoming the first team this season to reach the 30-win mark (30-11-4). Thatcher Demko turned aside 20 shots for the Canucks as they sit atop the overall standings with 64 points. Travis Dermott scored for the 21-19-3 Coyotes.

Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman had a goal and three assists as his club tamed the Minnesota Wild 7-3. Nikita Kucherov collected three assists to become the first player this season to reach 75 points while Brayden Point and Anthony Cirelli each had three points for the 23-17-5 Lightning, who hold the final Eastern wild-card berth with 51 points. Marco Rossi had a goal and an assist for the 18-21-5 Wild, who announced before the game that team captain Jared Spurgeon will miss the remainder of the season with hip and back injuries.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Spurgeon undergoes hip surgery on Feb. 6 followed by back surgery four weeks later. Speaking of the Lightning, scout and former player Tony Hrkac saved a man from choking on a pretzel during a game between the Detroit Red Wings and Los Angeles Kings at Crypto.com Arena. He applied the Heimlich maneuver and saved the man’s life.

The Philadelphia Flyers downed the Dallas Stars 5-1 for their fifth straight victory. Owen Tippett tallied twice while Morgan Frost had two assists for the 25-14-6 Flyers (56 points) as they sit two points behind the first-place New York Rangers in the Metropolitan Division. Tyler Seguin netted the only goal for the Stars (26-13-5) as they sit third in the Central Division with 57 points.

Speaking of the Rangers, they dropped a 5-1 decision to the Vegas Golden Knights. Ivan Barbashev scored two goals, Jonathan Marchessault had a goal and an assist while Logan Thompson stopped 29 shots for the 26-14-5 Golden Knights, who sit second in the Pacific Division with 57 points. Mika Zibanejad scored for the 28-14-2 Rangers.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Golden Knights winger Michael Amadio missed this game with an upper-body injury.

The Ottawa Senators beat the Montreal Canadiens 6-2. Tim Stutzle led the way for the 16-24-0 Senators with a goal and two assists. Cole Caufield netted his 15th goal of the season for the Canadiens as they slipped to 19-19-7 on the season.

Buffalo Sabres goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 20 saves for his second straight shutout in a 3-0 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks. Rasmus Dahlin scored his 13th goal of the season for the 20-21-4 Sabres. Arvid Soderblom stopped 28 shots for the 13-30-2 Blackhawks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Sabres played without forward Dylan Cozens as he’s day-to-day with an upper-body injury.










NHL Rumor Mill – January 18, 2024

by | Jan 18, 2024

NHL Rumor Mill – January 18, 2024

Check out the latest on Jake Guentzel, Marc-Andre Fleury, Jakob Chychrun, Patrice Bergeron and more in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

PENGUINS GM DISMISSES GUENTZEL TRADE SPECULATION

SPORTSNET: Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas said he hasn’t had any conversations with other teams about Jake Guentzel. The 29-year-old Penguins winger is slated to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.

Dubas downplayed recent comments by Guentzel’s agent Ben Hankinson suggesting the possibility that negotiations could get ugly. He felt that Hankinson was referring to where the team is going in the next few years and that the agent didn’t mean for his comments to develop into the level of noise they received.

The Penguins GM said at some point they’ll determine together what’s best for both sides.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s assumed Dubas could consider trading Guentzel by the March 8 trade deadline if the club falls out of playoff contention and an agreement on a contract extension hasn’t been reached by then. We’ll have to wait and see how things unfold in the coming weeks.

WILD GM CONSIDERS FLEURY TRADE TALK PREMATURE

THE SCORE: Sean O’Leary cited Minnesota Wild GM Bill Guerin telling The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun that it’s premature to start gauging the trade market for Marc-Andre Fleury. The 39-year-old goaltender is eligible for UFA status on July 1.

Guerin understands Fleury will draw interest from other clubs if the Wild fail to rise in the standings soon. Nevertheless, he said his team isn’t giving up on their season.

Minnesota Wild goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury (NHL Images).

Fleury carries a full no-movement clause. LeBrun believes it would take a prominent role with another club for him to consider moving it.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: I’m not sure a prominent role is out there for Fleury at this stage of his career. He remains well-liked but I think interested clubs would prefer him in a backup role.

COULD CHYCHRUN BE ON THE MOVE?

OTTAWA SUN: Bruce Garrioch suggests we keep an eye on Jakob Chychrun as Senators GM Steve Staios weighs his trade options. He cites sources claiming Staios is getting plenty of interest in the 25-year-old defenseman from other teams.

Garrioch claims the Edmonton Oilers are among the teams that could use some help on defense. They were in heavy pursuit of Chychrun last season which is why Garrioch thinks they’d be the best trade fit.

Chychrun is signed through next season with an average annual value of $4.6 million. Garrioch thinks Staios could meet soon with the blueliner’s agent to discuss a contract extension. If the numbers don’t add up, Staios’ discussions with other clubs could heat up.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It wouldn’t surprise me if Chychrun wound up on the trade block before deadline day. Staios didn’t acquire the rearguard and isn’t beholden to him. The Senators are a mess and changes must be made.

However, I’m not convinced the Oilers will be the best fit in terms of salary cap space. They’re pressed against the $83.5 million cap and only have $920K of projected trade-deadline cap room. It’ll have to be a dollar-for-dollar swap or a three-team deal with the Senators retaining half of Chychrun’s cap hit with the Oilers moving out a salaried player to make the dollars fit.

Let’s not forget that the Oilers were interested in Chychrun at the time because they were in the market for a left-side defenseman. They addressed that need before the 2023 trade deadline by acquiring Mattias Ekholm. What they need now is a right-side defenseman. I know Chychrun can play that role but he’s better off on the left side.

COULD BERGERON RETURN TO THE BRUINS?

BOSTON HOCKEY NOW: Jimmy Murphy cited Paul Bissonnette and Ryan Whitney discussing the possibility of Patrice Bergeron returning to the Bruins during a recent episode of their “Spittin’ Chiclets” podcast.

Bergeron has been skating to stay fresh for the Bruins’ alumni games. Bissonette and Whitney mused over whether the former Bruins captain might be preparing for a February comeback.

Murphy casts doubt on that possibility, citing two sources who dismissed that notion. He also pointed out that Bergeron has repeatedly said he’s at peace with his decision to retire and considers him a man of his word.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Bergeron enjoyed a career that will make him a first-ballot Hall-of-Fame inductee. He’s got a Stanley Cup ring and won more Selke Trophies than anyone in league history. He’s got nothing left to prove and now wants to spend more time with his family. I’ll be shocked if he staged a comeback.

LATEST ON THE FLYERS

PHILLY HOCKEY NOW: Jonathan Bailey cited Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman recently musing over Arthur Kaliyev’s future with the Los Angeles Kings. Friedman observed that the 22-year-old winger hasn’t been playing much this season. Bailey wondered if this might be an opportunity for the Philadelphia Flyers to try and acquire Kaliyev if the price is right.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Kings have been struggling of late. If they were to put Kaliyev on the trade block they’ll probably want a good roster player in return instead of draft picks and prospects.

THE ATHLETIC: Kevin Kurz cited a recent report by Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman suggesting the Flyers could be interested in signing Nick Seeler to a contract extension.

However, a league source informed Kurz that no dollar figures were exchanged and the club doesn’t seem to be in a rush to do anything with Seeler or Sean Walker before the trade deadline. They could opt to retain both blueliners and try to make the playoffs.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Barring injuries or a collapse in the standings between now and March 8, I think the Flyers will stand pat and push for the playoffs. After that, they’ll sit down with Walker and Seeler and see if they can negotiate new deals with them.

JETS IN THE MARKET

TSN: Darren Dreger reported Tuesday that the Winnipeg Jets are looking for an affordable fit at center and on their blueline as the trade deadline approaches.

OTTAWA SUN: Bruce Garrioch also reported hearing the Jets would like to bolster their depth at center before the trade deadline.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Montreal’s Sean Monahan could be a fit here but the Jets could face competition from other clubs to acquire him. Cost-effective blueline depth could include the Flyers’ Walker and Seeler and Anaheim’s Ilya Lyubushkin.

CANADIENS NOT PLANNING TO TRADE XHEKAJ

TVA SPORTS: Montreal Canadiens GM Kent Hughes said his club isn’t planning to trade Arber Xhekaj. The popular defenseman has been skating with their AHL affiliate in Laval since Dec. 4, prompting rumors that he might not fit into the club’s plans.

Hughes noted the Canadiens sent Xhekaj to Laval to work on improving aspects of his game. The improvement of Jayden Struble allowed them to do so. They want Xhekaj to improve his defensive play so he can help the Canadiens over the long term.










NHL Rumor Mill – January 17, 2024

by | Jan 17, 2024

NHL Rumor Mill – January 17, 2024

A look at the goalie market plus the latest on Jake Guentzel and Steven Stamkos in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

WHAT DOES THE NHL GOALIE MARKET LOOK LIKE?

NHL NETWORK: Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman looked at how the goaltender market is shaping up ahead of the March 8 trade deadline.

Friedman noted that it’s now common knowledge that the relationship between the Columbus Blue Jackets and Elvis Merzlikins has gone sideways. He thinks most clubs weren’t surprised by this and probably already knew he was available.

Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins (NHL Images).

Merzlikin’s contract ($5.4 million average annual value through 2026-27) would be a complicated trade. There’s a price for the goalie as well as a price to convince the Blue Jackets to retain part of his salary.

TSN: Pierre LeBrun reports there are no takers for Merzlikins right now. That’s in part because of his contract but he also has to improve his play to reignite his market value before the trade deadline.

THE ATHLETIC: Aaron Portzline acknowledged those factors raised by Friedman and LeBrun. Nevertheless, he listed the New Jersey Devils, Carolina Hurricanes, Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Blackhawks as four potential trade destinations.

NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: James Nichols examined the pros and cons of whether Merzlikins would be a good fit with the Devils. However, he cited Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli expressing his doubts that the Blue Jackets will be able to move the goaltender for the same reasons as noted by Friedman and LeBrun.

OTTAWA SUN: Bruce Garrioch pointed out that not many teams can afford Merzlikin’s contract and it’s unlikely the Blue Jackets will retain any part of it. “We’re told the market is thin because teams with goaltending issues aren’t sure Merzlikins is the answer.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: To be blunt, Merzlikins is not the answer. He’s done nothing over the past two seasons that would make any club want to pony up assets to add him to their roster and salary-cap payroll.

That could change if Merzlikins gets more starts in the coming weeks and performs well. That could prompt a desperate general manager to take a chance. For now, I don’t see a market for his services.

TSN: Pierre LeBrun spoke with Minnesota Wild general manager Bill Guerin about whether they’d consider moving Marc-Andre Fleury if some teams were to call about him. Guerin said his club hasn’t given up on making the playoffs but he acknowledged that he expects teams to call if his club falls out of the race. He’d have to go to Fleury and his agent because he’s got a no-movement clause.

LeBrun noted there are some obvious destinations for Fleury. He cited teams with goalie issues like the Toronto Maple Leafs, New Jersey Devils and Carolina Hurricanes. He also suggested the Edmonton Oilers as a mentor for Stuart Skinner.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Sounds like that could be a conversation for when the All-Star break ends on Feb. 6.

NHL NETWORK: Friedman repeated what he said on Saturday about Calgary Flames goalie Jacob Markstrom. They haven’t gone to him with any trade proposals yet plus they’ve set a high bar with their asking price. Markstrom also has a full no-movement clause.

Montreal Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes indicated that he might retain Jake Allen for the remainder of this season. Friedman believes Hughes has set a price on the 33-year-old goaltender and won’t move him until someone meets it.

Friedman also believes that’s the same situation going on with the Anaheim Ducks’ John Gibson. There’s a price for Gibson and a price if an interested club wants the Ducks to retain part of his $6.4 million annual salary.

The Los Angeles Kings could be one of the teams in the market for help between the pipes. They lost backup Pheonix Copley for the season to a knee injury and brought in Aaron Dell on a PTO contract. Friedman also believes the New Jersey Devils have been looking around in the trade market for a netminder. He wonders just how big they want to go.

WHAT NEXT FOR STAMKOS AND THE LIGHTNING

NHL NETWORK: Friedman noted that Tampa Bay Lightning GM Julien BriseBois said yesterday that Steven Stamkos won’t be traded this season. He said that it’s not a secret that Stamkos wants to play out his career in Tampa Bay. Friedman doesn’t think it’s been easy for the Lightning captain to see some of his teammates getting taken care of a year before their contracts expired.

Teams are interested in Stamkos but everyone is operating from the position that he wants to remain with the Lightning.

TSN: Chris Johnston also noted that the Lightning already have over $41 million invested in nine forwards for 2024-25. Even with a rising salary cap, the math will be difficult here. He believes there is a mutual desire to get things done but it’s one of the issues lingering beneath the surface.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The combination of what next season’s salary cap will look like combined with Stamkos’ level of performance at this stage in his career are what I believe are the reasons why he didn’t get a contract extension last year.

It will come down to how much of a pay cut Stamkos is willing to accept to finish his career in Tampa Bay and for how long.

LATEST ON GUENTZEL

NHL NETWORK: Elliotte Friedman believes the determining factor in Jake Guentzel’s contract talks with the Pittsburgh Penguins could be where management thinks the club is going. He thinks GM Kyle Dubas is trying to rebuild a club that doesn’t have a lot of young assets while at the same time trying to satisfy veterans like Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang.

Friedman thinks the Penguins are reluctant to trade any of their young assets for short-term fixes.

THE ATHLETIC: Pierre LeBrun doesn’t rule out the possibility of Guentzel getting a contract extension before March 8. However, he wondered if that would be the wise move given the club’s aging core. He thinks trading the winger would be a tougher call but the right one.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: If the Penguins slide out of contention perhaps that decision becomes easier for Dubas. As Friedman and LeBrun pointed out, even if they make the playoffs they lack the depth to contend for the Stanley Cup.

Guentzel will have to weigh carefully that the Penguins’ future could involve a rebuild and if he’s willing to be part of that. Dubas will also have to consider if there is a place for Guentzel in his plans.










NHL Morning Coffee Headline – January 17, 2024

by | Jan 17, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headline – January 17, 2024

The Oilers set a franchise winning streak record, the Jets regain first place in the overall standings, the Lightning aren’t trading Steven Stamkos, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

GAME RECAPS

NHL.COM: The Edmonton Oilers overcame a 2-0 deficit to double up the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-2, setting a franchise record with their 11th straight win. Ryan McLeod and Evan Bouchard each had a goal and an assist while Stuart Skinner stopped 25 shots for the 24-15-1 Oilers, who hold the first Western Conference wild-card berth with 49 points. Auston Matthews tallied his league-leading 34th goal of the season for the Leafs (21-13-8) as they sit third in the Atlantic Division with 50 points.

Winnipeg Jets winger Kyle Connor (NHL Images).

A 4-2 victory by the Winnipeg Jets over the New York Islanders vaulted them over the Vancouver Canucks into first place in the overall standings with a record of 29-10-4 (62 points). Jets winger Kyle Connor scored in his first game after missing 17 games with an injured knee while Connor Hellebucyk got the win with a 35-save performance. Anders Lee tallied twice for the 19-15-6 Islanders (48 points), who have dropped five of their last six games and remain one point out of the final wild-cards spot in the Eastern Conference.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Jets played very well in Connor’s absence but the return of their most talented scorer will only make them stronger. They have the same amount of points as the Canucks but hold a game in hand. Meanwhile, the slumping Isles were without forward Pierre Engvall as he’s day-to-day with an upper-body injury.

The Colorado Avalanche scored five unanswered goals to overcome the Ottawa Senators 7-4. Nathan MacKinnon collected two assists to tie Tampa Bay’s Nikita Kucherov for the league-scoring lead with 72 points. Mikko Rantanen scored two goals and Samuel Girard collected three assists for the 29-13-3 Avalanche (61 points), who sit one point behind the Jets and Canucks in the Western Conference standings. Brady Tkachuk and Claude Giroux each had three assists for the 15-24-0 Senators.

New York Rangers winger Blake Wheeler scored two goals in a 5-2 win over the Seattle Kraken. Kaapo Kakko scored his first goal since returning from injury while Igor Shesterkin turned aside 29 shots for the Rangers (28-13-2) as they hold first place in the Metropolitan Division with 58 points. Jordan Eberle and Jared McCann each had a goal and an assist for the 19-16-9 Kraken (47 points) as they remain two points out of the final Western Conference wild-card berth.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before this game, the Kraken placed goaltender Philipp Grubauer (lower body) on long-term injury reserve and moved forward Matty Beniers (upper body) on injured reserve.

Three unanswered third-period goals lifted the Dallas Stars over the Los Angeles Kings 5-1, handing the latter their ninth loss in their last 10 games. Jason Robertson, Roope Hintz, Wyatt Johnston and Evgenii Dadonov each collected two points for the 26-12-5 Stars, who sit third in the Central Division with 57 points. Drew Doughty replied for the Kings (21-12-8) as they sit third in the Pacific Division with 50 points.

An overtime goal by Yegor Sharangovich gave the Calgary Flames a 3-2 win over the Arizona Coyotes. Nazem Kadri had a goal and an assist while Dan Vladar turned aside 23 shots for the 21-18-5 Flames as they moved to within two points of the final Western wild-card spot with 47 points. Sean Durzi had a goal and an assist for the Coyotes (21-18-3) as they sit two points behind the Flames.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Vladar got the call for the Flames as starter Jacob Markstrom is day-to-day with a lower-body injury. They also recalled goalie Dustin Wolf from their AHL affiliate.

Washington Capitals goaltender Darcy Kuemper kicked out 24 shots to shut out the Anaheim Ducks 2-0. Ethan Bear and Tom Wilson were the goal scorers for the 21-15-6 Capitals (48 points) as they sit one point out of the final Eastern wild-card spot. John Gibson stopped 26 shots for the 15-28-1 Ducks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin missed his third straight game with a lower-body injury.

The Chicago Blackhawks nipped the San Jose Sharks 2-1 on a shootout goal by Boris Katchouk. Petr Mrazak made 37 saves while Cole Guttman scored in regulation for the 13-29-2 Blackhawks. Ryan Carpenter replied for the 10-31-4 Sharks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Blackhawks defenseman Nikita Zaitsev left this game with an undisclosed injury.

Earlier in the day, the Blackhawks signed forward Jason Dickinson to a two-year contract extension with an average annual value of $4.25 million. No, this isn’t a “sign-and-trade” scenario. The Blackhawks consider the 28-year-old center to be a key part of their rebuild going forward.

Speaking of Blackhawks contract extensions, ESPN’s Kevin Weekes reports there’s mutual interest between management and Mrazek. He’s been a good fit, loves playing in Chicago and wants to stay. Don’t be surprised if he re-signs in the coming weeks.

HEADLINES

TAMPA BAY TIMES: Lightning general manager Julien BriseBois made it clear that team captain Steven Stamkos won’t be traded no matter what happens between now and the March 8 trade deadline.

Stamkos, who turns 34 on Feb. 7, is slated to become an unrestricted free agent in July. Last September, he expressed frustration that the Lightning didn’t engage him in contract talks, sparking speculation of his possible departure from Tampa Bay this summer.

BriseBois insisted that he still sees Stamkos as a key part of the Lightning’s future. He hopes to meet with his captain following this season to discuss his plans and where he fits with the club.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It was wise of BriseBois to stamp out any potential trade rumors that might’ve become an unnecessary distraction for Stamkos and his teammates over the remainder of this season.

Stamkos has a full no-movement clause but he hasn’t asked to be traded and BriseBois hasn’t asked him to waive it. This should also give Lightning fans some hope that their captain will remain in Tampa Bay beyond this season.

VEGAS HOCKEY NOW: Golden Knights center Jack Eichel is listed as week-to-week following surgery for a lower-body injury.

DETROIT HOCKEY NOW: Red Wings forward Patrick Kane will miss the club’s next two games as he’s suffering from a lower-body injury. Wings coach Derek Lalonde stressed that this injury is not related to his surgically repaired hip. The team hopes to have a clearer picture of Kane’s condition by this weekend.










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.