NHL Rumor Mill – September 14, 2022

by | Sep 14, 2022

NHL Rumor Mill – September 14, 2022

An update on Jason Robertson’s contract talks with the Stars plus the latest on the Canadiens and Oilers in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

LATEST ON JASON ROBERTSON

THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS: Matthew DeFranks reports Stars general manager Jim Nill remains hopeful that Jason Robertson will be at training camp when it opens next week. Contract negotiations continue between Stars management and the 23-year-old restricted free agent winger.

Dallas Stars forward Jason Robertson (NHL Images)

Robertson is coming off his entry-level contract and a career-best 41 goals and 79 points in 74 games. Nill indicated he’s in constant communication with the winger’s representatives. The club has around $7.2 million in salary cap room depending on the final roster makeup.

DeFranks suggests that means a long-term contract is off the table, speculating Robertson could get an average annual value of $7 million on a three or four-year deal. The Stars can create more cap room for the coming season by carrying a smaller roster or trading players such as goaltender Anton Khudobin ($3.33 million) or forward Radek Faksa ($3.25 million).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The bridge deal seems the most likely option here. How much Robertson gets could depend on whether Nill can find a taker for Khudobin or Faksa.

Their respective AAVs aren’t that expensive. Nevertheless, it’ll be difficult finding a trade partner at this time of year when most clubs have limited cap room.

UPDATES ON THE CANADIENS AND OILERS

MONTREAL HOCKEY NOW: Jimmy Murphy cites TVA Sports’ Renaud Lavoie reporting Canadiens defenseman Joel Edmundson is garnering interest in the trade market as training camp approaches. Lavoie claimed there’s a lot of interest around the league for a blueliner like him.

Lavoie doubts Edmundson, 29, will be traded now but thinks the 6’5”, 229-pound rearguard is drawing some attractive offers and could garner more as the season progresses. He missed most of 2021-22 with a back injury but can bolster his trade stock with a healthy, productive season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: As Murphy suggested, it’d doubtful he’ll be moved before the 2023 trade deadline. Unless the Canadiens get a mind-blowing offer they’re not trading Edmundson now. They recently made him an alternate captain and value his experience and leadership among their young blueliners.

TSN’s John Lu took to Twitter reporting Canadiens goaltender Jake Allen admitted he’s “had communication” with management regarding a contract extension. However, he offered no further comment on the subject.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Given Carey Price’s uncertain future and the ongoing development of Cayden Primeau, it’s unsurprising the Canadiens are interested in discussing a new contract with Allen. They’ll need some veteran stability in goal beyond this season if Price’s career is over and Primeau isn’t ready for prime time.

Lu’s colleague Ryan Rishaug tweeted on Monday that he thinks the Edmonton Oilers are waiting to hear an answer from winger Jake Virtanen regarding a professional tryout offer.

He also indicated they’re exploring all cost-cutting trade options for winger Jesse Puljujarvi. They can still start the coming season with what they have if they don’t move Puljujarvi but it could create salary-cap complications later in the season.

Rishaug doesn’t see Tyson Barrie as a trade candidate. He expects the Oilers will start this season with what they’ve got on their blueline and see how things go.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: On the one hand, avoiding arbitration with Puljujarvi by signing him in July to a one-year, $3 million contract provides cost certainty when attempting to trade him. It seems no team wanted to take on an unsigned restricted free agent with consistency issues with arbitration rights.

On the other hand, most teams have limited salary-cap space. Puljujarvi’s $3 million cap hit is a tight squeeze for many clubs right now.










NHL Rumor Mill – August 22, 2022

by | Aug 22, 2022

NHL Rumor Mill – August 22, 2022

What would it take for the Oilers to acquire Patrick Kane? Will Paul Stastny return to the Jets or sign elsewhere? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

WHAT WOULD IT COST THE OILERS TO LAND PATRICK KANE?

EDMONTON JOURNAL: Kurt Leavins speculates Patrick Kane could consider playing alongside Connor McDavid and Leon Drasaitl with the Oilers to be more enticing than his present situation with the rebuilding Chicago Blackhawks.

Chicago Blackhawks winger Patrick Kane (NHL Images).

Leavins suggests it will cost “a player, a #1 pick and a good prospect, plus-plus” to acquire Kane as a rental player no matter where he goes. Sorting out the salary-cap dollars would also be an issue. The 34-year-old Blackhawks winger carries a $10.5 million cap hit for the coming season and is slated to become an unrestricted free agent next summer.

The real question for Leavins is whether Kane (an American) would be willing to come to Edmonton for even just one season. He pointed out the Blackhawks star has the same agent as Oilers’ Kailer Yamamoto and Cody Ceci.

OILERS NATION: Jason Gregor considers Kane’s contract “very easy” to trade, pointing out he’s only earning $2.9 million in actual salary for the coming season. The Blackhawks would have to retain 50 percent of his $10.5 million cap hit in a trade.

Gregor believes the Oilers can’t afford to acquire the remaining 50 percent. He believes they’d have to get a third team involved, pointing out the Arizona Coyotes are “always willing to take on money for draft picks”.

Under that scenario, the Oilers would only take on $2.65 million of his cap hit and $725K in actual salary. Gregor speculates it would cost the Oilers a late-round pick and a second-tier prospect to the Coyotes to make it work.

As for what the Blackhawks would want from the Oilers, he suggests Jesse Puljujarvi or Warren Foegele would have to head to Chicago to make the cap work for Edmonton. He wonders if a first-round pick, a second-rounder and Puljujarvi would be enough, assuming Kane would accept a trade to the Oilers.

THE BOSTON GLOBE: Matt Porter wondered if a first-round pick, a prospect, winger Kailer Yamamoto and “overpaid defenseman Tyson Barrie” would get it done.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kane alongside McDavid or Draisaitl would give the Oilers two devastating forward lines that could power them to the Stanley Cup. Acquiring him, however, won’t be easy.

Reports out of Chicago claim Kane has not requested a trade and isn’t in any rush to leave the Blackhawks. He and Jonathan Toews could see how this season shakes out before deciding if they want to be traded to a potential Stanley Cup contender.

A Kane trade could happen before the start of this season. However, I think it’s more likely to occur closer to the trade deadline. That will ramp up the bidding and also give Kane and the Blackhawks a clearer picture of the potential markets for his services

The Oilers wouldn’t be the only team interested in Kane if he becomes available in the trade market. The New York Rangers, for example, need an experienced right wing among their top-six scorers. If Alexis Lafreniere and Kaapo Kakko fail to break out this season, the Blueshirts could be in a good position to win a bidding war for Kane.

WHERE WILL STASTNY GO?

SPORTSNET: In a recent mailbag segment, Ken Wiebe was asked by a reader if Paul Stastny was coming back to the Jets and if not, why?

Wiebe thinks the door is not officially closed for a return to the Jets but feels it’s increasingly likely the 36-year-old center will move on. He believes Stastny wants to get his name on the Stanley Cup, suggesting a return to the Colorado Avalanche (where his NHL career began) makes a lot of sense given Stastny’s hockey sense and versatility.










NHL Rumor Mill – August 10, 2022

by | Aug 10, 2022

NHL Rumor Mill – August 10, 2022

What’s the latest on rumors linking Nazem Kadri to the Islanders? Could the Canadiens get Jesse Puljujarvi on the cheap? Find out in today’s NHL rumor mill.

UPDATE ON KADRI

DAILY FACEOFF: Frank Seravalli considers recent reports suggesting Nazem Kadri has a deal locked up with the New York Islanders as “premature to say.” He believes the Isles are among the teams that the Kadri camp continues to engage with in contract talks.

Former Colorado Avalanche center Nazem Kadri (NHL Images).

Seravalli thinks the Islanders have put an offer on the table for the 31-year-old free-agent center. He said other teams have told him that they believe that offer to be for seven years at $7 million annually.

While Seravalli feels it’s still possible for Kadri to sign with the Isles, the fact his representatives are still talking to other teams suggests a deal hasn’t been signed. He also pointed out they would have to move money to make it work.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Islanders have over $11 million in cap space for the coming season with restricted free agent defensemen Noah Dobson and Alexander Romanov still to sign. A $7 million annual average value for Kadri wouldn’t leave much for those two.

Both players are coming off entry-level contracts and have little leverage in negotiations with the Isles. However, Dobson’s 51-point breakout performance last season should ensure at least a raise of $3.5 million annually, and that’s paying him well below market value.

I can see Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello offering Kadri $7 million per season. However, he’s taken leave of his senses if he’s pitching a seven-year deal to a center who turns 32 when the season opens in October.

LATEST CANADIENS RUMORS

MONTREAL HOCKEY NOW: Jimmy Murphy believes the Canadiens would be able to acquire Jesse Puljujarvi on the cheap if they remain patient. He pointed out the Habs were among the teams talking to the Edmonton Oilers about the 24-year-old right winger around the time of the 2022 NHL Draft on July 7-8.

Murphy cited Edmonton Journal columnist David Staples suggesting Puljujarvi could still become a salary-cap casualty for the Oilers despite signing a one-year, $3 million contract last month. Staples included the Canadiens among his list of potential trade destinations depending on what happens with Habs goalie Carey Price.

If the Canadiens remain interested in Puljujarvi, Murphy believes they should wait until the training camp period to pursue a deal. That’s when Oilers management will start feeling the pressure to become cap compliant, forcing them to accept a draft pick in the third to fifth round range.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canadiens are pressed for cap space unless Price is once again sidelined by his surgically repaired knee. In that case, they could afford to pursue Puljujarvi or another player or two if they wish.

The Oilers’ signing of Puljujarvi suggests they want to give him another season to evaluate his play. That contract could also make him easier to move in the trade market.










NHL Rumor Mill – August 4, 2022

by | Aug 4, 2022

NHL Rumor Mill – August 4, 2022

A look at some cost-cutting trade candidates for the Oilers plus the latest on the Kings in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

HOW WILL THE OILERS SHED SALARY FOR 2022-23?

EDMONTON JOURNAL: David Staples wonders how the Oilers will become cap compliant for the coming season after signing Kailer Yamamoto to a two-year contract with an annual cap hit of $3.1 million.

Edmonton Oilers winger Jesse Puljujarvi (NHL Images).

Staples points out Puck Pedia indicates the Yamamoto signing puts the Oilers over the $82.5 million salary cap by $6.8 million. By putting the combined salaries ($6.38 million) of sidelined players Oscar Klefbom and Mike Smith on long-term injury reserve, they’ll still exceed the cap by over $400K with restricted free agent Ryan McLeod to re-sign.

That could involve making a cost-cutting trade before the season begins. Staples suggested forwards Jesse Puljujarvi and Warren Foegele as the top-two candidates with defenseman Tyson Barrie a distant third.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Speculation over which player the Oilers could shop to shed salary was kicking around the rumor mill before the Yamamoto signing.

Staples colleague Kurt Leavins suggested Puljujarvi’s new one-year, $3 million contract could be advantageous if the Oilers decide to peddle him. He said there were “rumblings” that the Montreal Canadiens were interested in the 24-year-old winger during the draft last month.

However, the Canadiens are pressed against the cap with center Kirby Dach to re-sign. However, they can’t afford Puljujarvi’s contract unless Carey Price and his $10.5 million cap hit return to LTIR for the coming season or the Habs dump some salary via trade or waivers.

The Athletic’s Allan Mitchell raised the possibility of the Oilers trading Puljujarvi and then signing someone like Phil Kessel to a bargain contract. He thinks that’s risky given Puljujarvi’s youth, higher shooting percentage and two-way play.

Mitchell doesn’t see Foegele or Barrie being moved, especially the latter after Duncan Keith’s retirement. Staples shared that view, with both suggesting Puljujarvi as the more likely trade candidate.

THE KINGS COULD SHOP A DEFENSEMAN

THE ATHLETIC: Eric Stephens reports the Los Angeles Kings have nine defensemen, not including promising Brandt Clarke and Helge Grans. Two of them (Mikey Anderson and Sean Durzi) are restricted free agents.

The Kings have just $1.5 million in cap space. Stephens suggested Durzi, Sean Walker and Tobias Bjornfot as trade candidates.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Walker seems the most likely candidate given his $2.65 million cap hit for the coming season. However, his trade value could be diminished by the knee injury that ended his 2021-22 season. Another could be Matt Roy, who carries a $3.15 million cap hit through 2023-24.










Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – July 31, 2022

by | Jul 31, 2022

Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – July 31, 2022

In this edition of the Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup: another J.T. Miller trade proposal, musings about Phil Kessel signing with the Oilers, and examining the possibility of Jesse Puljujarvi getting traded to the Islanders.

ANOTHER J.T. MILLER TRADE PROPOSAL

THE SCORE: Josh Wegman recently wondered if trading Vancouver Canucks center J.T. Miller to the New Jersey Devils for a package including defenseman Damon Severson would work for both teams.

Vancouver Canucks forward J.T. Miller (NHL Images).

Wegman thinks it would make sense for the Devils given Severson’s eligibility for unrestricted free agent status next summer and their recent acquisition of John Marino. They struck out in the Johnny Gaudreau sweepstakes and could use another veteran star forward to complement Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier. They also possess the cap space to re-sign Miller before his UFA eligibility next summer.

As for the Canucks, extending Miller could be tricky given Bo Horvat’s UFA eligibility next summer and Elias Pettersson will be due for a new contract in 2024. They would be better off investing to address other needs. Severson would be a massive upgrade to the right side of the Canucks blueline.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canucks would like to re-sign Miller but they could shop before the trade deadline if he proves too expensive. We don’t know if the Devils would pursue Miller at some point before the 2023 trade deadline and if they’d part with Severson. 

I wouldn’t rule out the Devils having an interest in Miller if he becomes available. Wegman acknowledged their addition of Ondrej Palat but he also noted their need for a true top-line veteran scorer. They could also be in a position to make a competitive offer for him.

SHOULD THE OILERS SIGN KESSEL?

32 THOUGHTS PODCAST: Jeff Marek recently wondered if Phil Kessel might end up with the Edmonton Oilers. Elliotte Friedman considered it “an interesting idea”. Marek believes there’s no denying the 34-year-old right wing would score there.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kessel’s star faded after getting traded to the low-scoring Arizona Coyotes in 2019. He struggled during his first season with the Coyotes, managing just 38 points in 70 games. However, he bounced back the following year with a team-leading 20 goals and 43 points in 56 games and was third among Coyotes scorers last season with 52 points in 82 contests.

Put Kessel on a line with Connor McDavid or Leon Draisaitl and his stats will improve. However, he might prefer a less intense hockey market at this stage of his career. Besides, the Oilers might have other right wing options in mind.

SHOULD THE ISLANDERS PURSUE PULJUJARVI?

NYI HOCKEY NOW: Stefen Rosner suggests Jesse Puljujarvi might be a more affordable option for the Islanders in their quest to add a forward this season. The 24-year-old winger recently agreed to a one-year, $3 million deal with the Oilers.

Rosner cited Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman recently reporting the Oilers wanted to move Puljujarvi for a draft pick. However, interested teams have limited salary-cap space and prefer the Oilers take a player in return. Rosner suggested the Isles offer up Kieffer Bellows and a third-round pick.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Oilers could retain Puljujarvi for one more season to see if he’ll finally have his long-awaited breakout campaign. However, they could be waiting to see how much it’ll cost to re-sign winger Kailer Yamamoto before peddling Puljujarvi. Yamamoto has an arbitration hearing scheduled for Aug. 7 but he and the Oilers could reach an agreement on a new contract before then.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 27, 2022

by | Jul 27, 2022

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 27, 2022

Jonathan Toews doesn’t seem keen on being part of a Blackhawks rebuild, the Kings intend to honor Dustin Brown and the Sharks hire David Quinn as head coach. Details and more in today’s NHL morning coffee headlines.

THE ATHLETIC: Mark Lazerus reports Jonathan Toews said a lengthy rebuild of the Chicago Blackhawks roster “doesn’t sound appealing to me at all.” The 34-year-old center and Blackhawks captain describe the turnover of players on the roster over the past three-four years as “really, really draining” and “exhausting.”

Chicago Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews (NHL Images).

Toews and fellow franchise player Patrick Kane are slated to become unrestricted free agents next summer. They each carry an average annual value of $10.5 million and full no-movement clauses on their respective contracts.

Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson told Toews and Kane of his commitment to rebuilding the roster and has expressed his hope that both players will be part of it. Toews said he’s learned to be more patient but still finds the potential five-plus year rebuild timeline as “pretty daunting” and “pretty exhausting” to think about. He indicated that he’s uncertain about what he’s going to do or what his future holds.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Toews said he wasn’t speaking for Kane but it wouldn’t be surprising if his long-time teammate feels the same way. Kane has frequently surfaced in trade rumors this offseason as there’s anticipation he’ll seek a trade to a playoff contender at some point in the coming season.

Toews struggled last season after missing the COVID-shortened 2020-21 campaign with chronic immune response syndrome. Nevertheless, he could draw interest in the trade market if his performance improves in 2022-23.

NHL.COM: The Los Angeles Kings will honor Dustin Brown by retiring his No. 23 on Feb. 11, 2023, before their game with the Pittsburgh Penguins at Crypto.com Arena. The club will also unveil a statue in his honor.

Brown, 37, retired last season after spending his entire 18-season career with the Kings, tallying 712 points in 1, 296 career games. He captained the Kings to their two Stanley Cups in 2012 and 2014.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: A well-deserved honor for Brown, who is also the club’s all-time leader in games played. However, it’s curious that the Kings haven’t honored Marcel Dionne with a statue. The Hall-of-Famer remains their all-time leader with 757 assists and 1,307 points.

TSN: The San Jose Sharks officially announced their hiring of David Quinn as their new head coach. Quinn coached the New York Rangers from 2018 to 2021. Before that, he spent five seasons as Boston University’s head coach.

PEI SPORTS HALL OF FAME: Former NHL star Brad Richards will be inducted into the PEI Sports Hall of Fame. A native of Murray Harbour, Richards was the most successful hockey player in Prince Edward Island history, going on to win two Stanley Cups plus the Conn Smythe Trophy and Lady Byng Memorial Trophy while netting 932 points in 1,126 career NHL games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Congratulations to Richards, who will be inducted in a special ceremony at his hometown rink (Northumberland Arena) on Aug. 8.

DETROIT HOCKEY NOW: Former NHL forward Bobby Ryan was arrested for public intoxication on Monday at Nashville Airport after taking several items from an airport store without paying. The store opted not to press charges and Ryan was released following an eight-hour public intoxication hold.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ryan, 35, won the Bill Masterton Trophy in 2020 for perseverance after receiving treatment for alcohol abuse in the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program. He last played in the NHL in 2020-21. Hopefully, he will receive treatment for his relapse and the help he needs to adjust to life after hockey.

THE PROVINCE: Former Vancouver Canucks forward Brandon Sutter continues to feel the effects of long COVID over a year after he first contracted the virus. Now an unrestricted free agent, he missed the entirety of last season due to COVID-related symptoms that affect his breathing.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Here’s hoping Sutter can eventually recover to where his quality of life improves if he’s unable to continue his playing career. One wonders how many other NHL players are affected by long COVID symptoms.

TSN: The New Jersey Devils signed Jonas Siegenthaler to a five-year, $17 million contract extension. The 25-year-old defenseman will earn an average annual value is $3.4 million.

EDMONTON JOURNAL: The Oilers avoided arbitration with Jesse Puljujarvi as they reached an agreement on a one-year, $3 million contract.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Puljujarvi’s new contract prompted some observers to suggest this could be a “sign-and-trade” situation. I believe the Oilers intend to keep him in the hope that he achieves his long-awaited breakout. If he doesn’t, they could peddle him at some point during the coming season.

PHILLY HOCKEY NOW: Promising Flyers forward Bobby Brink will miss about five months recovering from recent hip surgery. The 21-year-old winger suffered a torn labrum in his left hip.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: A jury in the British Columbia Supreme Court found former NHL player Jake Virtanen not guilty of sexual assault on Tuesday.

ARIZONA SPORTS: The Coyotes have hired John Madden as an assistant coach. A former NHL player and three-time Stanley Cup champion, Madden’s last NHL coaching role was as an assistant with the Florida Panthers from 2013 to 2016. He also spent three seasons as head coach of the Columbus Blue Jackets AHL affiliate in Cleveland until 2019.

TSN: Former NHL defenseman Mark Stuart was named to the Edmonton Oilers coaching staff.