NHL Rumor Mill – April 25, 2024
NHL Rumor Mill – April 25, 2024
Check out the latest on the Penguins, Red Wings and Blue Jackets in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
LATEST PENGUINS SPECULATION
THE ATHLETIC: Rob Rossi reports Sidney Crosby wants to stay with the Pittsburgh Penguins and they want to keep him. Contract extension talks have not started yet between the two sides.
Sources told Rossi that both sides expect to have a new deal in place before or soon after July 1. The length of the contract and annual average value are the main elements to be worked out.
The Penguins prefer Crosby’s next contract to take him up to retirement. They’re also believed willing to do a short-term deal.
Crosby’s earned an AAV of $8.7 million on his last two contracts. It’s speculated his annual cap hit could be $10 million to $10.5 million on a two or three-year deal.
The Penguins prefer a longer contract that keeps Crosby’s AAV at or below $8.7 million.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Crosby will re-sign with the Penguins before next season. It’s just a question of how much and for how long.
Rossi also reported Bryan Rust was told by Penguins management before the March trade deadline that he would be back with the club next season. Multiple teams called about the 31-year-old winger but general manager Kyle Dubas retained him because he was preparing to trade Jake Guentzel.
Dubas shopped Reilly Smith before the trade deadline but found no takers because he wasn’t on an expiring contract. That will change next season and Dubas expects a more favorable market for the 33-year-old winger in the offseason.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Hockey News’ Nick Horwat cited Rossi’s colleague Josh Yohe reporting Penguins sources claim Smith never wanted to come to Pittsburgh. If that’s the case, it’s best to move him out this summer if there’s a market for his services.
UPDATE ON THE RED WINGS
DETROIT HOCKEY NOW: Kevin Allen reports the Red Wings have a projected cap space of around $28 million for 2024-25. However, that will shrink quickly once restricted free agents Moritz Seider and Lucas Raymond are signed to new contracts.
The best comparables for Seider are Ottawa’s Jake Sanderson (eight years, $8.05 million AAV) and Buffalo’s Owen Power (seven years, $8.35 million AAV). However, his agent could seek over $9 million annually on a long-term deal. Raymond’s best comparables are Ottawa’s Tim Stutzle (eight years, $8.35 million AAV) and Montreal’s Cole Caufield (eight years, $7.85 million AAV).
Allen speculates Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin’s $8.75 million is the team ceiling. Assuming Seider and Raymond come in at $8.3 million and $8.1 million respectively, it will take a big chunk out of the Wings’ cap space.
General manager Steve Yzerman might have to shed salary to retain Patrick Kane and Shayne Gostisbehere. Allen suggested moving defenseman Justin Holl, who is earning $3.5 million through 2025-26, but that’s questionable unless Yzerman retains some of Holl’s cap hit.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Athletic’s Max Bultman noted that Yzerman hopes to bring back Gostisbehere. He indicated that Kane hasn’t shut the door on returning with the Wings for another season. Bultman also suggested Holl as a trade candidate and didn’t rule out Yzerman buying out his contract.
BIG DECISIONS FACING THE BLUE JACKETS’ NEXT GM.
THE ATHLETIC: Aaron Portzline looked at some of the big decisions facing whoever takes over as the next general manager of the Columbus Blue Jackets.
One of those decisions is whether Elvis Merzlikins deserves another chance as the Jackets’ starting goaltender. He was better on the ice this season but is also a constant source of dressing-room drama and has been hampered by illnesses and injuries.
A change of scenery might also be needed for Patrik Laine. The 26-year-old winger has struggled with injuries and is currently in the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program.
The Blue Jackets have a glut of wingers. They must ensure veteran players don’t get in the way of a young player’s development.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The new Jackets GM might have no choice but to stick with Merzlikins given the issues mentioned by Portzline. It’ll be interesting to see what happens with Laine once he comes out of the player assistance program. Given those injury issues, he could prove difficult to move. The Jackets could stick with Laine for next season to see how he performs.