NHL Rumor Mill – June 18, 2024
Check out the latest on Leon Draisaitl, Mitch Marner, Jacob Markstrom, and Logan Couture in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
COULD LEON DRAISAITL SIGN A SHORT-TERM EXTENSION?
SPORTSNET: Mark Spector believes the recent report of the Edmonton Oilers discussing a contract extension with Leon Draisaitl is good news for the club’s future. It’ll come as a relief for the club’s fans as they’ve put up with years of speculation suggesting Draisaitl and teammate Connor McDavid would bail on the Oilers as unrestricted free agents.
Should Draisaitl re-sign it could also be a harbinger of McDavid’s signing given the close friendship between the two teammates.
Spector predicts Draisaitl could sign a four-year contract, leaving enough room for another deal at age 32 when the salary cap will be even higher. He expects the Edmonton star will become the NHL’s highest-paid player for one season when McDavid signs his next contract with the Oilers.
Edmonton Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl (NHL Images).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Draisaitl would be taking a page from the contract playbook of Toronto’s Auston Matthews. The Maple Leafs center signed a four-year extension that begins in 2024-25 rather than an eight-year deal. If Draisaitl follows suit it could start a trend among NHL stars of inking short-term deals to allow themselves to cash in again with a higher salary cap down the road.
ARE THE MAPLE LEAFS LOOKING AT EXTENDING MITCH MARNER?
THE HOCKEY NEWS: Nick Barden cited TSN’s Darren Dreger suggesting the Toronto Maple Leafs could prefer re-signing Mitch Marner instead of trading him. Dreger said he thinks Leafs general manager Brad Treliving would rather extend the 27-year-old winger’s contract.
Marner is slated to become an unrestricted free agent next July. He carries a $10.9 million cap hit for 2024-25 and a full no-movement clause.
Dreger said it’s possible Treliving could get a suitable trade offer that might convince Marner to waive his NMC. However, he thinks the winger’s preference is to play out next season in Toronto and see how things go from there. There’s a risk Marner could depart via free agency next summer but it’s not a certainty.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Treliving’s decision might be easier if Marner didn’t have that NMC. But he does, and he has complete control over this situation. Even if Marner agrees to a trade, the Leafs won’t get full market value in return. They might have to accept a package of affordable young players and draft picks and use the cap savings to address their short-term roster needs.
Marner reportedly prefers re-signing with the Leafs. It won’t sit well with the club’s critics, especially those questioning his playoff performance. It would cost between $12.5 and $13 million annually to keep him in the fold.
UPDATE ON JACOB MARKSTROM
NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: James Nichols recently cited TSN’s Chris Johnston claiming trade talks involving Calgary Flames goaltender Jacob Markstrom are at “a bit of a standstill.”
Johnston believes the Devils remain interested in Markstrom. The 34-year-old netminder could be willing to waive his NMC to go to New Jersey. However, Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald might be unwilling to include his first-round pick (10th overall) in this year’s draft as part of the return for Markstrom.
Nichols believes Fitzgerald has a price he’s willing to pay for Markstrom and won’t cross it. However, the Devils GM risks losing the Flames netminder to another club. The Ottawa Senators and Los Angeles Kings are also believed in the market for a starting goaltender.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: This situation favors the Flames for now. GM Craig Conroy can ask around and see if he can stoke a bidding war for Markstrom. However, he’ll only have that advantage until the first round of the upcoming draft.
Conroy could lose his leverage if Fitzgerald and other general managers aren’t willing to move their first-rounders in this year’s draft. After that, he could end up getting lesser offers.
SHARKS NOT TRADING LOGAN COUTURE
THE MERCURY NEWS: Curtis Pashelka reports San Jose Sharks GM Mike Grier stressed that he’s not interested in trading team captain Logan Couture.
Following the introductory press conference for new Sharks coach Ryan Warsofsky, Grier addressed trade rumors that have been swirling about Couture. “That is absolutely false,” he said. “If you look at us bringing in young players and having a young team, he is exactly the type of person you want to have around the young players.”
Grier praised Couture’s leadership and his worth to the Sharks, noting that he came off a difficult, injury-hampered season. “He’s still a heck of a hockey player, so you guys can put any of those thoughts about me looking to trade our captain, you can put it to bed.”
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Pashelka pointed out that Couture’s contract makes him almost impossible to trade even if Grier wanted to. The 35-year-old center has three years left on his deal with an annual cap hit of $8 million. The Sharks have no salary retention spots for 2024-25.
Couture is also coming off a season where a painful inflammation of the joint between his left and right pubic bones limited him to just six games.
Couture has been a warrior, taking lots of injuries in stride. I’m glad to see the Sharks retain him. I’m wondering if Pavs will come back for one more season with the Sharks to mentor the young players coming in and then retire as a Shark. I’m betting it wouldn’t be too costly, and would be a good opportunity for the youngsters if he’d consider it.
I dont mind the NMC/NMT but if I was the GM of any team I would hesitate to have them in the contracts last season and definetely after jan first
The Leafs should trade Marner before they loose him and get nothing. They could get some one good for him now.
This Mitch Marner drama is like a soap opera… I am not sure this is the best way to describe it ..
Social media has Marner and Berube sitting together off site , does Berube think Marner is an asset?
Todays brief – Dreger feels Treliving would rather extend Marners contract , 12-13 million annually estimate ????
The news conference after elimination seemed etched in stone – the core “4” is no longer !!’
It’s the fish bowl in Toronto .. No certainty , no direction , poor decisions on a constant basis
A Marner fan or not , Leats cannot balance out a lineup with 4 ludicrous contracts
1. Matthews – 13.5
2. Nylander – 11-11.5
3. Tavares – 11
4. Marner. – 12.5
Almost 50 million – 37 million left to sign 16 players ????
Morgan gobbles up 8 million of that – therefore 29 million to sign 15 players ?!?!?!?!?!
Something has to give
As per Treliving ‘s description , moving forward , he mentioned unsexy players !!
Marner does not fit that description ..
Who cares what we receive back – as per a trade , if it’s equal value
The fact is Leafs are handcuffed with the cap !
A high 1st round pick , an A prospect would be sufficient in my opinion
It is a strong upcoming draft , loaded with high level defense prospects !!!
Fitz would be run out of town if he traEd 10OA straight up for Markstrom. Fitz got himself intothis jam, needs to figure his way out an overpayment is nota way out.
Some Leaf fans are funny.
Questions:
When did anyone from Leafs management say they are trading Marner?
The “Core 4” will be broken up after next season when JT expires, who will replace that offense if Marner is gone too?
If Marner is traded for a 1st and a prospect or 2, a realistic return IMO, who will the Leafs sign to replace him with that cap space?
What will they cost?
Are the Leafs actually better?
All those D prospects in this draft, and there are, won’t be ready to actually contribute to winning until Matthews is done his current deal. What will the Leafs do until then?
Will Matthews stay if Marner is dealt?
Cap space, smap space, who will help the Leafs win games?
Is this a rebuild?
What exactly is the plan for the trade Marner at all costs crowd?
Too true, Ray.
And what they never mention is what team or teams they think will have the cap space to take on – never mind his current $10 mil + cap hit but what he might expect as a UFA.
And for this financial headache – and that’s what it is like or not or else Toronto would not be projected as wanting to unload him – teams are going to relinquish top picks and prospects and, in most cases, find takers for the cap hits THEY’D need to move in order to take him on!!
With same limitations in terms of possible trade partners as face by the Leafs. Less one.
And all of this is predicated upon Marner agreeing to go to whatever team emerged as the preferred buyer.
Mind-boggling
Ray
Re; Marnier
I think the Leafs may have relised its not all
Gun & Run that wins Cups….
If the Leafs trade Marrnier it maybe a 2 years
Re-tool.
Any Trade it needs to be for a Good
Top 4 defence man.
The other senecio is, if JT Wont agree to a trade.. they Wait till $11.M Tavares is done next year,
and use his $11.M on Good top 4 d/men….❓
and start adding peices this year going forward…
Then they make Mathews the Captain
Get rid of mathews, hes got zero leadership skills.
Giving Marner an extension (especially a raise) is suicide. I think its all BS on Dreger’s part trying to play the market for his defacto client. They want to move Marner – I doubt very much they go from,we want to move him to we will extend and give him a raise lol. BT has not once said “they plan to sign Marner”, like they did with Nylander.. They have no interest in doing so. Some call it wise asset management, it’s actually ridiculous. Let him walk if he is sillly enough to play out the year .
Leafs are basically letting him start is UFA tour early and give him his 8 years on top of that..
Sam, no matter how much we bandy about in here as to the “best way ” to deal with Marner, unless something is resolved soon with respect to the “core 5” (I include Rielly), Treleving – like Holland – has a lot of decisions to make.
Right now, according to the still existing CapFriendly, they are committed to these 16 players leaving them with $18,830,333 with which to sign 7. 10 Fs: Matthews, Nylander, Tavares, Marner, Kampf, Jarnkrok, Reaves, McMann, Knies, Holmberg: 5 D: Rielly, McCabe, Benoit, Timmins, Webber; 1 G: Woll.
At least 1 above – Weber – is likely headed to the AHL unless he surprises in camp. So, just over $18 mil to sign 8. His 3 RFAs (Dewar – from Minnesota – 2 team totals of 11g 8a 19 pts -8; Gregor – 6g 6a 12 pts -7; and Robertson (14g 13a 27 pts +4) have an accumulated cap hit of $2,371,667. If all 3 are re-upped you’re looking at something in the range of $5.5 to $6 mil. Now he has to sign 5 with about $12 to $13 mil.
He also has to either sign, or find replacements for, UFAs Bertuzzi (expiring $5.5 mil), Domi ($3 mil), Liljegren ($ 1.4 mil), Edmundson ($3.5 mil), Lyubushkin ($2,750,000), and in goal Samsonov ($3,550,000) and Jones ($875,000). I would assume he has no intention of offering contracts to Brodie and Giordano, but even so, that $12 to $13 mil will evaporate with 3 of the foregoing.
Good luck to Edmonton at trying to stay under the cap after this coming season. If the extend Draisaitl, they also have to sign Bouchard, who will be completing his bridge deal.
This coming season will be challenging enough when you tack on over 3 million in bonus money to Brown. I still can’t believe they let him play that 10th game when he had done nothing after 9 games.
The Nurse contract is going to kill them for many years to come. They only have 10 million to sign 9 players for the 2024-25 season and have to fit Desharnais in there.
You can also factor in that Skinner is only making 2.6 million for two more years, so there will be that to deal with down the road along with a McDavid extension.
Holland does have his work cut out for him when it comes to the roster and cap.
When the playoffs end hr has to deal with 10 UFAs: Connor Brow, Warren Foegele, Sam Carrick, Sam Gagner, Adam Henrique, Mattias Janmark, Corey Perryt, RD Vincent Desharnais, Try Hatcher and Calvin Pickard.
Now, while most are likely history in Edmonton, he still has to find adequate roster replacements either from within the system – and that would be a lot of rookies – or through trade or the UFA list. And each will, of course, take varying amounts off the cap.
Then there are UFAs like Warren Foegele coming off a cap hit of $2,250,000 after scoring 20g 21a 41 pts and a +3, Adam Henrique, acquired from Anaheim, coming off a $5,825,000 cap hit with a 2-tea, total of 24g 27a 51 pts and a +9, Desharnais who had 1g 10a 11 pts and a +3 on D coming off $762,500 and due for a good increase. Hatcher, another D, obtained from Arizona with a 2-team total of 1g 6a 7 pts +9.
He also has RFAs Dylan Holloway (expiring $925,000 ELC) and Broberg ($863,733 ELC),
Hey George,
Sounds like the POHO is going to take over
as the New GM also, Jeff Jackson
Ken Holland is done at the end of June ( Retiring)
1st/
They need to get Jack Campbell off the Books at $5.M for the next 3 years
This could cost a 1st pick and a Good Prospect from the farm to a re-building team…🤔❓
2nd/
We need to Trade Daniel Nurse Before the July 1st when his NTC kicks in ❗️
You can’t pay your 4th best d/man $9.25M
2024 the Oil have just over $10.M in Cap space …
2025 the Oil have just over 38M Cap space
2026 the Oil have just over 68.M Cap space
So hear go’s…
Connor Brown..? 1 yr 1.M
Sam Carrick, 1 year 1.M
Mattias Janmark, 1 yr 1.M
Vincent Desharnais 3 years 1.5M
Calvin Pickard, 1 year 1.M
=$5.5M + the 2 RFA’s
**if we can move Nurse or Campbell
We can bring back Warren Foegele, 3 yr $3.M❓
These guys will Not be back…
Sam Gagner, will move to oilers front office
Adam Henrique, wont be back to much..$$
Corey Perry wont be back,
Try Hatcher, dont know this guy…?
Oilers RFA
Dylan Holloway 2 year deal @..?
Philip Broberg 2-3 yr deal @..?
Hoping for a Oilers Win tonight 4-2👏👍
Oilers have options. Campbell will be bought out for a cap savings of $3.9M next season.
They will likely resign Pickard to a 2 year deal around $2.4M, taking up $1.2M in cap. Both Broberg and Holloway deals will be in the range of $1.75M to $2.5M a season.
They need to sign another veteran d-man over Desharnais. That’ll cost $2.5M. Any other d change will be a trade, likely moving out Ceci.
Foegele will resign around $3M, as well Janmark around $1.75M.
Ryan likely won’t make opening day roster and his dollars will be replaced by Bourgault or Lavoie.
The above total is around $13M +/-. The above also gives them 10 forwards, 7 d and 2 goalies.
They do still have to sign a couple of additional forwards to complete the roster and the above leaves only about +/- $1M, so likely need a roster move to complete the line up. Maybe move Kane?
All that to say, while Holland (or replacement) has work to do, but it’s not a grave situation. Brown has been great in the playoffs in his lower line role but it’d sure be nice to have his bonus money to spend next season rather than it eating up the cap.
Agree with the Nurse deal being a killer for yrs to come. Campbell deal as well, although they’ve buried him in the minors for now. Edmonton might have to swallow hard and entertain offers for Drasaitl.
Edmonton will not be entertaining offers for Draisaitl due to cap restraints.
If he won’t sign an extension, then a difficult decision. My guess is he will, if his best bud, McDavid, says he intends to stay. Which I think he also does. Plus their wives are besties.
Why leave? Where else can they play together and have multiple chances to win a cup? Edmonton is a great place to live and play hockey.
Not sure who in the media talked about the $40M to sign McDavid, Bouchard and Draisaitl, but likely not far off, and yes they will do it if the players want to stay. No brainer.
You don’t win without great players, especially C’s. You rarely trade for them or get them as UFA’s either. There is a very good reason for that; teams want to win.
Ray, I’m in Edmonton right now. It’s OK.
Stop by and say hi SOP!
I actually live in St Albert, just NW.
Good hockey town SOP, downtown should be a hoot tonight if your down there.
Brown has been one if there best players in the playoffs finals
A high 1st round pick , an A prospect would be sufficient in my opinion
For a guy who makes that much money on an expiring deal who can cherry pick the team he wants traded too?
Ask yourself. Is that a realistic ask?
Leafs are in a bind with Marner. I predict he walks on July 1 2025….and there will be probably a dozen teams lining up to pitch to him.
Name 6.
The Leafs are in a bad spot with Marner. I would not sign him for $12 mil long term, even with the cap going up. Teams need to approach the leafs with 2 offers, offer A in which they simply acquire him for next season, (obviously not a high return) and offer B in which the Leafs allow them to talk to the Marner camp, see if they can extend him long term, and give the Leafs a significantly better package. Leafs need a top end D and a decent scoring wing.
Marner for $10.9M as a RFA was insane, Marner for $13M is criminally insane. Enjoy him Leafs fans.
Let’s just say Marner loves TO and is willing to take less to stay. Leafs lowballed him in his early contract so the latter one was the big payday. I think if he took an 8 x8 people would get off his back. He will make more in indorsement in hog town. Let’s remember he is a smaller forward who I believe still had lingering high ankle sprain problems during the playoffs.He is a near 100 point a year guy, trading him during a point of weakness is a mistake. Negotiations while he is at a low point makes more sense especially because he has made his big money.
Duh, Toronto lowballed Marner. WTF are you smoking. Try looking something up before you write a stupid comment. Marner`s been over payed from day one. Lowballed OMG
If Connor McDavid who is the best player in the Nhl is costing 15% of the salary cap before the rise and is the cap goes up another $4.5m in 2025 – 2026 season bring the new cap to $92,500,000 and capping an induvial player at max 15% that $13,875,000.
Marner salary caphit of $10,300,000 had a caphit of 13% using 13% on the new cap of $92,500,000 was be a cap hit of $12,025,000 if the cap goes to $92,000,000 it would be $11,960,000.
I see the logic in a request of $12m and if you want to look at it with another lens you could argue that Marner isn’t asking for an increase he asking for a flat % rate.
Marner topic ….
The core 4 is not working ….
Something has to give
As per Matthew line mates , Domi and Bertuzzi looked more than fine to me ..
To say Matthews and Marner are similar comparisons to McDavid and Draisaitl – NOT – but similar $$$..
If it takes Leafs taking on another contract , as per teams affording his contract – so be it !!!
Another team can explore Mitch Marner/ aka Peter Pan, or no eggs broken going into the corner – Inge Hammarstrom !
As per Treliving statement – unsexy , snarl, snot – Go and get it !!!
U R not going to compete without it …
Sincerely,
Awoken
Yours truly – Punch Imlach
Add a little sweetness to the yours truly ,
King Clancy !!
I’ll throw a dart on a Marner trade. Of course making the assumptions that he waves and says I will go to Seattle!
Seattle has space, and doesn’t score enough today, with some young guys coming up to give Marner some talent to play with. Seems like a nice place to live, with a quality GM.
Going to the Leafs, Oleksiak (SEA #3 D), Tanev and Ottavainen. This is with an extension agreed too by Marner.
IMO Marner signing an extension brings the Leafs no leverage as he has a full NMC. If he agrees to a trade he is deciding where he goes. We know that and so does the team trading for him, why on earth would they pay more?
How does that sound Leaf fans?
Ray as a leafs fan , I`d say not a chance. Oleksiak has started to show signs of slowing down, plus he`s a lefty. Yes he can play the right side but like Brody, at this time of his career he needs to stay on his natural side. Tanev, pass. This trade really does nothing for Toronto`s needs. So the trade is basically 2 dumps and a B+ prospect. Better off keeping Marner and letting him walk in the spring. While Marner does hold most of the cards, Toronto does have one card they can play. A quiet whisper in his ear that he`s played his last game as a Leaf. He stays home till a trade gets done
I’ve posted many times on this and I’ll post it again
Marner does not in any way get traded; if he doesn’t want to. Full NMC. It is what it is
Now ATTEMPTING to convince him and possibly trading him; Leafs just need to consider 25/26 and onward. They can’t be cup competitive if the move on from both Marner AND Tavares without replacing with similar production
If both go; who replaces them?
If just one exits; do Leafs stay with s cheaper hit and 35 year old (then) Tavares, or pay more and keep 28 year old Marner?
Now IF Treliving decides to approach Marner about a trade ; and IF Marner agrees; then finding a partner with space to accommodate Marner is really not that hard.
You might (big might) count on two fingers ; the number of teams willing to take him at the almost $11 M cap hit; and that have assets to move; but these assets may or may not be wanted by Treliving
Taking on the $11 M or so but sending a $5M (or more) junk contract back to Leafs doesn’t help Leafs
What does help Leafs IF they get Marner’s permission; is that he is owed only $775,000 as of July 2nd
Trading him July 2nd or later:
Leafs could pay a 3rd rounder (Or prospect equivalent) to a team to “eat” $387,500 (50%) and say a 5th rounder (or prospect equivalent) for another team to “eat” $193,750 (25%)
Now you have at least 3/4 of the league that can handle the measly remaining $2.7 M cap hit (at only $193,750 cash)
What’s the return for a 27 year old who has averaged 1.27 PPG over the last 3 seasons
AND, Leafs have almost $11 M in free up room to use with those trade assets; to acquire nee players
Again, the point (re trade) is completely moot if Marner wants to stay; and I’ve not seen anywhere that has someone “claiming” an “insider” or “well placed source” that has “heard” that Marner wants to move
I do not like the Leafs by any stretch; so any move/non move they make/don’t make that keeps them from succeeding; is all good by me
Ray Bark,
I agree you need great players, but how often does Draisaitl play C? If, in a couple years, you have McDavid, Draisaitl, Bouchard and Nurse making 50 million with no goalie signed and no Ekholm signed, what kind of team will you have?
They are lucky to have Hyman signed long term for such a discount, but if you add in him and RNH, you have 60 million for six players and still no goalie signed.
Although you need great players, you also need depth, good D and a good/great goalie.
They will be in the same bind as Toronto is in now.
That’s fair Dave, but they’ll do it anyway.
Kinda have to.
And they will keep making the playoffs and looking for bargains. Might be a couple leaner years, but barring another pandemic, the cap should continue to rise nicely, to help with that.
this concept. is lost on so many fans, agents, players, and GMs…. to win the cup you only need 8th place after that you need 16 wins. if yoir D and goalie can stell a win oe two you need even less from the forwards…. there are 12 of them plus 6 d who can score….. one guy to stop the puck… gotta spen where it makes sense…. long term. overpayments are way more common than long term. bargains
Ray Bark, if I lived in Edmonton I would seriously wish and say the same thing. You are very fortunate to be able to watch those players for so many years. I also think you are right, that they will re-sign them, whether that works out or not.
Good luck in tonight’s game and enjoy the festivities.
Dave, I can’t think of another team that got hurt by the pandemic and the flat cap because of it.
They signed all their good young players to long term deals expecting, rightly, that the cap would keep rising. It would have, except that once in a century pandemic, they got hit with no breathing room to add.
Having said that I didn’t like the JT signing, they had Kadri already. Ya I get the playoff suspensions, still would have kept him.
@ Ray Bark
Re- Marner – Sleepless in Seattle
Accepted
Before any more is said, “Marner is an elite player in the NHL.”
But…
$12.5 – $13 million for 8 years taking him to 35 years of age would be disastrous for the Leafs future.
Marner should be offered the same $11.5 million (maybe $11.75) dollar package that was accepted by Nylander.
If Marner wants more then he is indicating that being a “Leaf For Life” is not one of his priorities (money is) and he should look elsewhere.
Leafs should spend their cap dollars more carefully in the future.
With Marner’s and Tavares’s contracts expiring this summer and next July 1st respectively this is Leafs chance to get out from under the Core4 front loaded contracts eating up half the salary cap.
Use the money to build a better balanced team with a proper defense and goaltending.