NHL Rumor Mill – June 24, 2024
Check out the latest on the Senators, Jets, Ducks and Capitals in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
SENATORS COULD BE BUSY DURING DRAFT WEEK
OTTAWA SUN: Bruce Garrioch reports Senators general manager Steve Staios is “open for business” heading toward the upcoming NHL Draft on June 28-29 in Las Vegas.
The Senators remain aggressive in their pursuit of Boston Bruins goaltender Linus Ullmark. According to Garrioch, the Detroit Red Wings and Vegas Golden Knights are also interested in Ullmark. It’s believed the Senators prefer Ullmark sign a contract extension plus they’re said to be balking at the Bruins’ high asking price.
Boston Bruins goaltender Linus Ullmark (NHL Images).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s also believed the Senators are on Ullmark’s no-trade list. There are conflicting reports on whether he’d accept a trade to Ottawa.
Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman said he won’t acquire an older goaltender carrying a short-term contract. Some believe he’d prefer Ullmark sign a contract extension before agreeing to a trade. The other interested clubs likely feel the same.
It’s rumored the Golden Knights are getting trade calls about Adin Hill and Logan Thompson. Hill would be the more likely to move as he carries a $4.9 million cap hit for next season. If they were to move him it would be to create salary cap space to re-sign winger Jonathan Marchessault. They won’t have enough to acquire Ullmark unless they fail to get Marchessault under contract.
They’ve also been in talks with the Nashville Predators regarding Juuse Saros and with the Calgary Flames before they shipped Jacob Markstrom to the New Jersey Devils last week. They’ve also been linked to Anaheim Ducks netminder John Gibson.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Predators GM Barry Trotz is reportedly in contract extension talks with Saros’ agent. Gibson has a 10-team no-trade clause and carries a $6.4 million annual cap hit through 2026-27.
Jakob Chychrun has also been at the forefront of Senators’ trade talks. However, he’s not the only defenseman they’re looking to move. They’re scouring the market to see if there’s any interest in Erik Brannstrom and Jacob Bernard-Docker. Veteran blueliner Travis Hamonic has a full no-movement clause but it’s believed he’ll be bought out of the final year of his contract.
The Senators are also trying to peddle winger Mathieu Joseph. They want to clear cap space “to try to help propel a deal to acquire Seattle Kraken winger Brandon Tanev.” They could also move center Mark Kastelic if there are any takers.
UPDATE ON THE JETS
THE ATHLETIC: Murat Ates believes the Winnipeg Jets’ development system will come under fire if they trade top prospect Rutger McGroarty. Over the weekend, reports emerged that the Jets could trade the 20-year-old prospect winger because he no longer sees them as his path to an NHL career.
McGroarty is a 20-year-old blue-chip prospect winger held in high regard around the NHL. However, Ates thinks the Jets have been passed in terms of the resources and care they provide for prospects as they develop.
The Jets lack a first-round pick in the upcoming NHL Draft. McGroarty could appeal to teams with spare first-rounders, like the San Jose Sharks, Chicago Blackhawks, Anaheim Ducks, Montreal Canadiens, Ottawa Senators, Calgary Flames, and Philadelphia Flyers. He could also fetch an established player who can help the Jets.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: McGroarity’s situation and the slow development of youngsters Cole Perfetti and Ville Heinola will put the Jets’ prospect system under the microscope. Meanwhile, the youngster should bring them a first-round pick in this year’s draft or a good NHL player to bolster their roster.
Meanwhile, Ates reports Nikolaj Ehlers’ name remains in the trade market. He suggested Carolina Hurricanes winger Martin Necas or Senators defenseman Jakob Chychrun would be natural fits in return for Ehlers.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: That’s assuming the Hurricanes or Senators are interested in Ehlers. He’s also been linked to the Montreal Canadiens and New York Islanders.
LATEST ON JOHN GIBSON
THE HOCKEY NEWS: Patrick Present cited Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reporting teams have looked into acquiring Anaheim Ducks goalie John Gibson. However, the Ducks aren’t keen to retain any of his salary, which could complicate things.
Gibson has three years remaining on his contract with an average annual value of $6.4 million and a 10-team no-trade clause.
CAPITALS ARE NOT DONE DEALING
THE HOCKEY NEWS: Sammi Silber cited Friedman saying the Washington Capitals could be very busy this offseason. They might not be done making moves after shipping goalie Darcy Kuemper to the Los Angeles Kings for center Pierre-Luc Dubois.
Ehlers and McGroarty for Devils #10OA? Is that a basis for a trade, needing some rounding out? Interested in feedback. Sorry if it’s ridiculous, just spitballing here.
And by round out, something like Holtz.
The number 10 overall in a less than deep draft might get McGriddle. (I love my autocorrect choosing that so I’m leaving it). Doubt it nabs ehlers.
Winnipeg mishandling of the young players, it directly related to the coaches they had in Paul Maurice and Rick Bowness. Both coaches were very loyal to the established and zero patience for the rookies and young players. Maybe it’s directly related to winning.
See the same thing in Boston, Lohrei makes a blunder, well lets sit you for the next 5 shifts, Forbort, Grizz same mistake get back out there.
Well aware of your disdain for Maurice and Bowness, Caper. Surely we all are here.
But if the GM and Jets ownership felt they were stilting players development they would have stepped in. With your interest in hockey you surely know that drafting and developing players is a team management initiative, and the coach who impedes that would be dismissed.
You may well enjoy the outcome of tonight’s game but Maurice has been in the Cup final two years in a row …
LJ… Distain, strong word and not the one i would use.
Maurice quite on his team.
Bowness first move was to strip Wheeler of the C
Maurice as coached more games then anyone else without winning the Cup. Personally don’t care if he does or doesn’t.
Point remains the same, some coaches are extremely loyal to the core.
Bruce Cassidy was the same way with Debrusk.
Claude Julian same
Pat Burns thought the best way to develop Joe Thornton was to sit him on the bench an watch for a full season.
Every win counts and coaches want to rely on veterans to get the wins. Can be the difference of being fired or not.
Ok, won’t apply disdain to your views of Maurice (yes, he quit on the Jets) and Bowness again.
Just out of interest, here is a quote from Thornton on Burns:
“He definitely made me grow as a player and as a person,” Thornton told the San Jose Mercury News, “and I definitely owe him a lot from the days back then to now.”
Well if we are going look at word choices, I’m not sure quit is the right word to describe what happened with Maurice in WPG. He was there for almost 8 years.
Things were not going well, he said he thought he had lost the room, or at least some of the players. Chevvy won’t be talking about it, or at least hasn’t, but of course he and Maurice discussed what was going on with the team, that’s Chevvy’s job. I can’t imagine that decision wasn’t made without Maurice and Chevvy agreeing that it was the right move.
I dunno, but when you are in an organization that long, with the same GM, you know each other extremely well. Maybe Chevvy agreed that his voice had gone stale in the room, and a change was needed?
If Maurice truly believed he had lost the room, he did the right thing. Takes a man to admit something like that and push his ego to the side. IMO he took the blame and the heat for their performance.
Think a guy like Torts would ever take the blame?
Ray…. He Quit.
Caper, fair enough, he quit.
How about it may have been the right thing to quit, and his GM agreed?
Or a mutual parting of the ways, that actually was a mutual decision, and determined to be best for the team at that time.
He quit, but it was the right decision for the team, and shouldn’t been seen as a negative on Maurice.
Did I make my case any better?
LJ, I didn’t like how Paul Maurice treated Nic Ehlers and Patrick Laine
Rick Bowness by all accounts is a nice man, i didn’t like how he treated Blake Wheeler and wasn’t a fan of him calling out players in the media.
Buyer (seriously) beware on Gibson
There would have to be substantial retention and/or big time on sweeteners by Ducks
3 years left (Cap and cash at $6.4 M)
31 in a couple of weeks; 3 years in a row of successive decline : .904, .899, .888 in save percentages respectively
Does have some really good games, but many more “stinkers” than “sweet” ones
He’s a homie that I would have embraced here a few years ago. Now it’s steer clear times
There are players that thrive in “change of scenery” situations.
I truly believe Laine IS one; but Gibson is NOT
I can’t fathom that Knights would even think about adding him unless there was serious retention; AND Ducks took on another Knights contract (that they are trying to unload); AND assets (plural) go from Ducks to Knights
McCrimmon has Foley breathing down his neck for another Cup. Adding Gibson in no way, furthers that goal
8787…I disagree my friend.
How many changes of scenery does Patrick Laine need? (how many teams now 3 and he is only 26 that’s a problem) He is lazy, he doesn’t back check, he floats (ala Malkin), his salary is $8.7 million, and he hasn’t played more than 70 games in years. He clearly has issues….he is Pierre Luc Dubios 2.0
26 doesn’t mean s**t if you don’t have heart, passion or energy to work hard and he clearly doesn’t.
John Gibson plays his ass off for a crap team night in and night out year in and year out and still manages to keep his s****y team in 90 % of the games until they take a stupid penalty other team scores then a empty netter lose 4-2.
I watch him play here in LA nightly and he is heads and tails above Tristan Jarry….not even close..
Yes he makes $6.4 he is only 30 Jarry is 29 he makes the Penguins more stable and he is big. Talk about a player who will benefit from a change of scenery….He is a Pittsburgh boy and he fits this small 2 year window that’s left with Crosby still being elite. He is 3 years younger than Markstrom who the Devils just acquired.
Did Gibson’s stats go down the last three years yes hell Jesus could play goal for Anaheim and his stats wouldn’t be great either…put him on the Pens and watch.
Maybe Anaheim retains $ 1 million who knows.
Reilly Smith and P.O Joseph to Anaheim.
Reilly is a vet they need to stabilize the forward group of youngsters and Joseph fits the defense and the young age group.
In 2 years if the Penguins don’t progress he is only 32 33 still younger than Markstrom and others.
He is exactly what we need he can play 50 55 and Ndel can play the rest.
he will stabalize the net.
I think McGroarty is worth the 10th pick, he was the 14th pick and appears to be panning out well as a prospect. He was captain of the US World Junior gold medal team, he can score, he’s powerful and has great leadership qualities.
Holtz might be a stretch but a B prospect inc for sure.
Tho 10th is not an easy pick to obtain and NJ will be taking on salary with none going back out ( not sure they can afford it )
We can’t lose sight of the UFA situation when speculating on trades to fill needs. Right now, these 20 seem to be the consensus “best 20”- although I’m sure some will see valid arguments for replacing a few with UFAs not included. There are 9 C, 4 LW, 3 RW, 2 RD and 2 LD in this list
Sam Reinhard Fla – C – turns 29 in Nov
Jake Guentzel Car – C – turns 30 in Oct
Steven Stamkos – TB – C – turns 35 next Feb
Jonathan Marchessault – Veg – RW – 34 in Dec
Brandon Montour – Fla – RD – 31 next April
Elias Lindholm – Van – C – 30 in Dec
Patrick Kane – Det – RW – 36 in Nov
Tyler Toffoli – Wpg – C – 33 next April
Matt Duchene – Dal – C – 34 next Jan
Brady Skjei – Car – LD – 31 next March
Chandler Stephenson – Veg – C – 31 next April
Brett Pesce – Car – RD – 30 in Nov
Jake DeBrusk – Bos – LW – 28 in Oct
Temo Teravainen – Car – LW – 30 in Sept
Tyler Bertuzzi – Tor – LW – 30 next Feb
Sean Monahan – Wpg – C – 30 in Oct
Max Domi – Tor – C – 30 next March
Jonathan Drouin – Col – LW – 30 Next March
Nokita Zadorov – Van – LD – 30 next April
Vladimir Tarasenko – Fla – RW – 33 in Dec
I hate these lists and this time of year. For me it’s like hoping my team misses out on most of these names no matter how much they look like a match. Their past record of how they did is a direct indicator of why they haven’t won anything of substance in a generation.
Yup, most of that list will sign 6-7 year contracts and have 1-2 decent years then be a headache for there teams as they try to get rid of them and their contracts, some will be bought out and some will be traded with high draft picks just to dump the contract
I hear ya Ron and Bill. If ever there was a bona-fide “crapshoot” in the various drafting/signing/trading events in the NHL, the “free agent frenzy” is too often right there at the top as later situations unfortunately reveal not too long after.
I dont know where you got this list but in my book only Lindholm and Stephenson are true C. Look at Reinhardt Stamkos and Monahan for instance, they dont really play C anymore, and I dont think Toffoli ever has?
Some of those will likely be upped by current team before July 1st (To me, I’m thinking Reinhardt as one of them; and probably Marchessault and Duchesne)
Obviously when most rank the UFAs they rank them on best expected performance, which will turn into higher contract value
There are some UFAs that will have a lower Cap hit but will provide greater “bang for the buck”
Drouin signing last summer (for pittance) was certainly one of those true “great bang for the buck” types
Can you imagine if Penguins had signed Drouin ($825,000; 19-37-56 +12; 4 years younger, 2” taller, 5 lbs heavier, far far faster) instead of the mighty letdown known as Accairi ($2M for THREE years, 4-3-7 and MINUS 7)
Penguins would have finished 3rd in Metro for sure
Sens and Habs fans
Media has hinted a few times that either team may be open to moving their first rounder (Habs 5th overall, Sens 7th)
I’m very pro on Lindstrom (expected to go 4th-7th)
Would Yaeger (14th overall last year) + Broz (2nd rounder in ‘21) do it?
Yaeger 35-60-95 in 57 games played with Moosejaw this year
Broz 16-24-40 in 43 games with University of Denver this year
As an aside; always willing to add Accairi AND/OR Eller AND/OR Nieto in the deal . LOL
8787
I Dont think the Sen’s move there 7th pick this year…. ❗️however i do see them moving the 25th pick in the draft in a package deal
they need a RD offencive defence man
like Zayne Parskh, th6ft 180lb sloted to go from
7th to 11th…..
Thats a hugh hole for the Sen’s they have Nobody on the Team or Farm that can fill this role, he had 95 points this year …..65A & 30G somthing like that….
he will be 1.5 to 2 years away from making the team
There is also Carter Yakemchuck RD, 6ft 3 & 195
he is sloted to go 11 to 13
Jackob Chuchrun for a Goaltender like Ullmark
Or
A RD/man who can play 2nd pairing RD with Chabott,
Or
maybe a a high 1st round pick like Uhta 6th pick they only have 1 signed out of 4 to play in the top 4 pairings so far for next year…….❗️🤔
You are probably right re them not moving the 7th
I’m just very pro on Lindstrom and he will go top 7
Well, right at the moment, 8787, Lindstrom is projected as the 7th pick by The Hockey Writers … and, so far, that’s where Ottawa sits.
Being a C – and with all the uncertainty surrounding Norris and his shoulder woes – it would not surprise me to see Staios take him there – IF he hasn’t gone earlier.
https://thehockeywriters.com/consensus-2024-draft-rankings-top-32/
But the consensus also says Eiserman is among the best pure “goal scorers” available this year, and to that end I am always reminded of Al Arbour’s famous retort when it came to the Islander’s pick when someone at the Islanders’ draft table recommended someone else because Bossy wasn’t seen as much of a checker … “get me the goal scorer … I can always teach him how to check ….” inferring that you can’t really teach scoring.
Any speculation as to whether or not Staios would relinquish the 7th pick has ONLY centered around a potential trade of picking order with a team choosing lower in the draft in which Ottawa would get an established roster player they can use right now.
Apparently, they are NOT interested in giving up that 7th – or trading picking order – for a player who can only be regarded as a prospect at this stage of his career. And that includes Yaeger and Broz and any unwanted scraps.
They already had a bad experience of giving up the 7th overall in recent years when Dorion dealt it to Chicago for DeBrincat – only to see him leave after one season in a forced deal with Detroit and we wound up with -30 Kubalik.
Ottawa, right now, is a MUCH younger aggregation than the Penguins and, despite their well-chronicled defensive shortcomings – including goaltending – they were just 10 points behind Pittsburgh at season’s end. They scored the same number of goals as the Penguins and gave up just 30 more over 82 games.
Pitt – 38 – 32 – 12 88 255gf 251ga
Ott – 37 – 41 – 4 78 255gf 281ga
In their 4 head-to-head meetings Ottawa won all 4, including 2 in OT, outscoring Pittsburgh 15 – 7.
Oct 12 – Ottawa 3 Pittsburgh 0
Oct 28 – Ottawa 5 Pittsburgh 2
Dec 23 – Ottawa 5 Pittsburgh 4 OT
March 12 – Ottawa 2 Pittsburgh 1 OT
Pittsburgh missed a WC slot by 6 pts so, you can say losing all 4 to a bottom dweller cost them a playoff spot.
Fair enough
Makes sense
But for point of clarification; Pens missed out on WC spot by 3 (not 6) points (really by 1 point, as they lost last game after they had been eliminated the day before by Caps win; and that last Pens game was against Islanders who were already fixed and slotted in 3rd in Metro, nothing game for them ; had it been a do or die for Pens, I’m convinced they’d have won that last game)
1 or 2 or 3 points out..,,, absolutely would have been rectified by firing Reirdon (PP coach) in January
They finished 30th in the NHL on PP %; even with all that talent
Had they finished just 28th (2 spots up), that percentage gets them 7 more goals on the year
They lost over a quarter of their games by 1 goal; a majority of those losses in regulation
7 more goals; Pens in for sure and
Since there last two games vs Islanders were 1 goal losses; 1 in reg; 3 of those above goals spread properly over those two Islanders games would have had Pens in; Islanders out (both tied at 90 points( Pens had first tie-breaker)
That was last year
Pens now a year older; a year wearier
Unless they can move Accairi AND Smith AND Eller for younger , bigger, stronger, grittier players
Then Sens catching and passing Pens in 24/25 certainly not unfathomable
I think whatever team that gets Lindstrom, will be happy down the road
8787, not an insider by any means, but it is difficult to comprehend that the Habs move their #5 pick, except to fall back just a few places and for a strong return.
They need quality forwards. I like Lindstrom too but I think that decision turns on whether the Habs believe Bach’s injuries are bad luck and not a trend.
We’ll soon know.
I’m with you LJ about moving #5 back if somebody “needs” it for their pick and a prospect mainly because the guy I have my eyes on apparently will be available later than 5.
I want Cole Eiserman
Noted LJ and Habsfan 30 re Habs likely only relinquishing 5th overall to slide (later in 1st round) some pick slots and pick up an extra pick or prospect
Re Eiserman
Fair prospect but his draft ranking dropped through the year; the reverse of Lindstroms case
Also 4” taller; 18 lbs heavier; stronger; and a Center does mean a lot more to me
If we had a GM that could actually come even (let alone actually WIN) in a trade; we’d have had a first this year (Guentzel trade, instead of a 2nd)
That would have been a 27th overall
Perhaps Yaeger + Broz + 27th overall could have gotten 5th to 7th overall in trade and Pens could have gotten Lindstrom
How much are you asking to flip Hughes for Dubas?
Maybe, HF30. My guess is that the Habs lean towards excellent skating, and I have not read that Eiserman has that.
But honest, even those pundits who have been producing lists have re rated players so often I am getting dizzy.
Hey Lyle,
What about doing the first round 1 to 32 on What each team accutly Needs…?
on thursday am… ❓
ie,
The last thing the Habs need is a Defenceman right… , and there are someCBJ All Need D/men
But the Habs do need a Centre and scoring Wingers….?
Same with NJD, Pen’s, Kraken,& Buffalo All in the first Round i can see them making Trades……
Sen’s Need a Top 4 offencive d/man with there 7th pick over all
Actually, if you go to Bleacher Report NHL on Thursday (June 27), you’ll see something like that in my Mock Draft.
I wonder if the Capitals are busy seeking help from Matt Foley, otherwise Dubois will be living in a van (a pricey, luxury van) down by the river after this year.
Love that Farley skit
I wouldn’t mind the Leafs snatch up McGroarty. Self confessed Leafs fan, plays and looks the “right” way. Can play all three forward positions…young cheap good. The hallmarks of what the team desperately needs.
The Leafs could offer this year’s 1st round pick plus a prospect and roster player. It should take as much as already suggested, after all, he has zero playing experience in the NHL and not all prospects, no matter how good they look, fully pan out.
Also McGroarty is the second player from this draft year trying to make/force his way out of the team that drafted him. I wonder if this will become a thing for upcoming draftees from the NCAA.
Ron, I agree McGroarty would be a nice grab. However, if Winnipeg is forced into that situation, I would imagine the 2 re-building teams with two 1st round picks – both higher than Toronto’s 23rd overall (San Jose 1st & 14th – which is where the Jets got him in 2022 – and Chicago 2nd and 18th – would be front and center in any negotiations. Both are also better set up, as matters now stand, to offer him ice time at the NHL level next season (which is what seems to be the roadblock in Winnipeg), and each is ranked, in terms of prospect pool, much higher than Toronto’s 23rd position (SJ – 3rd – Chicago 9th.
Montreal could also get in on the action as they have the 8th ranked prospect pool and also have two 1st round picks, although their second – after picking5th – is at # 26 – 3 lower than Toronto’s 1st.
Yes it would be a long shot for the Leafs but as nice as getting 2 first or whatever sounds like the best deal, I think what most of us forget is that it’s a daily business so getting an asset to help now or build on, that has NHL experience, and fulfill a need on the cheap or cost controlled will always help and have more value to a team like Winnipeg than picks – after all isn’t that the goal, to build a strong team under the hard cap? They don’t suck but can use upgrades or additions that can help them, having a first rounder sweetens the pot.
That’s why a lot of teams should be in on this if he becomes available.
Then again, Ron, any team offering up those kinds of picks/prospects are going to want to be able to talk to the kid first to make sure he’s agreeable to whatever plans THEY have for him in terms of first-year NHL ice time .. not to mention whether he might balk at going to their location.
He could – I think – choose to simply wait and go back in the draft if Winnipeg can’t entice him there.
McGroarty being told by WPG he would not be getting much ice time means they are rolling out the same team that couldnt get out of the 1st round.
so what do they need in their ‘win now’ mode? on paper they looked poised to beat a banged up Avs team…….?
Caper,
you are contradicting yourself. You say:
“Winnipeg mishandling of the young players, it directly related to the coaches they had in Paul Maurice and Rick Bowness. Both coaches were very loyal to the established and zero patience for the rookies and young players.”
Then you say:
“Bowness first move was to strip Wheeler of the C”
How is stripping Wheeler of the C being very loyal to the established?
It’s very well known that Wheeler was a huge problem in the locker room dating back to the Byfuglien days.
Look how things changed when they bought him out, at least during the regular season.
remember when the Rangers for some unknown and bizarre reason not only dressed a 37 year old Wheeler in the ECF after not skating for 3+ months but also had him out to start the OT?>
Fluto speaks……if Ullmark allows the trade to Ott then goes into negotiations for a new contract with them they might send Pinto back to the Bruins
Fluto is, of course, entitled to his views – like everyone else – but Pinto is not going to Boston in a deal for Ullmark.
Certainly not with nothing but question marks hanging over # 1 C, Josh Norris, and his inability to get through a season without more shoulder surgery. To go that route would expose Staios as no better than the guy they fired month back – Pierre Dorion.
LET’S GO OILERS
Buyout Wednesday . Will answer some of the questions. I see Debrusk in Alberta. I also feel we will hear “ there is a trade to announce “ at the draft several times .
You can’t teach finish . ( not the language the scoring )
Game 7 OT would be exciting . Anxious for some