NHL Rumor Mill – June 26, 2024
The latest speculation over Leon Draisaitl’s future with the Oilers, possible buyout candidates, updates on Jake Guentzel and Jakob Chychrun, and the latest on the Rangers and Blackhawks in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
THE LATEST ON LEON DRAISAITL’S FUTURE WITH THE OILERS
THE ATHLETIC: Chris Johnston reports there is no more important business for the Edmonton Oilers than what happens next for Leon Draisaitl. The 28-year-old superstar forward has a year remaining on his contract with a cap hit of $8.5 million and could seek a considerably higher annual average value on his next deal.
Multiple sources tell Johnston the Oilers have no intention of letting Draisaitl play out the final year of his contract and walk away as a free agent next summer, especially when Connor McDavid will be a year away from UFA eligibility by then.
Given the length of their playoff run, the Oilers haven’t yet started serious contract extension talks with Draisaitl’s camp. Re-signing him this summer is a “massive priority”. They do have some wiggle room if they attempt to move him as he has a 10-team no-trade list. Going that route would be a franchise-defining move.
Edmonton Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl (NHL Images).
Johnston’s colleague Daniel Nugent-Bowman believes the Oilers should not trade Draisaitl if an extension cannot be reached. Trading him would be an almost no-win situation. He felt they should retain him for next season and one more shot at winning the Stanley Cup.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Oilers possess an aging roster in win-now mode. Re-signing Draisaitl will eat up a lot of cap space going forward even with the cap expected to rise significantly for the foreseeable future. That could hamper their efforts to bolster their roster down the road. Still, it’ll be shocking if Draisaitl isn’t re-signed this summer.
LATEST “32 THOUGHTS” RUMOR ROUNDUP
SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman believes Jeff Skinner is a name to watch when the buyout window opens on Wednesday. The 32-year-old Buffalo Sabres winger has three years left on his contract with an AAV of $9 million. Other buyout possibilities include Oilers goaltender Jack Campbell, Winnipeg Jets defenseman Nate Schmidt, and New York Islanders center Jean-Gabriel Pageau.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Teams considering buyouts can’t afford to waste time this year. The buyout window opens 48 hours following the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Final and closes on June 30 at 5 pm ET.
Friedman believes there are some “really good teams” looking at whether they can afford to acquire and sign Jake Guentzel. The 29-year-old Carolina Hurricanes winger is slated to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. There’s talk the Chicago Blackhawks and San Jose Sharks looked into it but they are rebuilding clubs.
The Pittsburgh Penguins re-signing goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic leaves Friedman wondering if they might trade Tristan Jarry.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: He’s not the only pundit pondering that possibility. Jarry has four more years left on his contract with an AAV of $5.375 million and a 12-team no-trade list.
The Winnipeg Jets could move prospect Rutger McGroarty sooner rather than later. The 20-year-old winger has expressed concern over the Jets’ plans for his future. Friedman dismissed the notion that the Jets have no trade leverage with McGroarty wanting out, suggesting they could make an interesting deal that gets them a first-round pick and perhaps more.
THE LATEST ON JAKOB CHYCHRUN
OTTAWA SUN: Bruce Garrioch reports the Senators are trying to determine what the trade market looks like for Jakob Chychrun. The 26-year-old defenseman has a year left on his contract with a $4.6 million cap hit and a 10-team no-trade list.
It’s believed the Senators seek a first and a second-rounder or a high-end prospect for Chychrun. The Florida Panthers, Los Angeles Kings, Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Blackhawks are among the clubs that have shown an interest.
UPDATE ON THE RANGERS
NEW YORK POST: Larry Brooks reports there is no indication the Rangers intend to buy out the final two season of captain Jacob Trouba’s contract. He also claims his sources are divided over whether GM Chris Drury will attempt to trade Trouba after he submits his 15-team no-trade list on July 1. Brooks believes the Rangers have little stomach to turn over their captaincy after only two years.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s doubtful Trouba will be traded. His performance declined partly because he played on a broken ankle over the final month of the regular season and during their playoff run. As Brooks pointed out, he’s well-respected by his teammates.
The Rangers are believed to be aggressively shopping Kaapo Kakko despite signing him to a one-year, $2.4 million contract. Sources tell Brooks they could bundle him with the 30th overall pick to move up in the first round of the upcoming draft.
UPDATE ON THE BLACKHAWKS
THE ATHLETIC: Scott Powers and Mark Lazerus report league sources suggest the Chicago Blackhawks aren’t sold enough on Carolina Hurricanes winger Martin Necas to send him an offer sheet or acquire and sign him to a long-term contract.
The Blackhawks are intrigued by Necas but the Hurricanes aren’t in the market for draft picks and prospects. They instead prefer NHL-ready talent.
Hurricanes forward Teuvo Teravainen could be open to returning to Chicago as a free agent.
Trouba has 2 years remaining on his contract. And I don’t believe NY has any intention of a buy out or trade.
Unless a team is rebuilding like the Sharks I can’t see a playoff team like say Boston trading for Leon. It would take a boat load to land Draisaitl leaving you with a non playoff team. Also can’t see Leon signing an extension with a rebuilding team. Best to let it play out and see if he becomes a UFA then putting your best foot forward. Longer this plays out the worse it gets for Oilers. Leon holds all the cards and needs to play some serious poker.
Draisatl took a discount so probably wants to get paid, only problem is that getting too greedy will make it harder to win a cup. Interesting to see what happens.
There seem to be more interesting players and situations than teams with cap space; this usually results in a number of decent talents taking a one year ‘show-me’ deal somewhere because adequate money and terms just weren’t available anywhere…possibly due the being the last year of major COVID distortions of the contract situation in general. A team like Chicago might end up being patient and eventually signing a playoff capable roster, either to take advantage of or flip to great advantage at the deadline. Then there are guys like Maroon and Perry –who may want one more year. The aggregate salary wanted by NHL proven players is quite a lot larger than the cap available to NHL GMs’. IMHO this makes for a lot of pressure to get expansion underway — sooner or later there needs to be a second team in the Toronto market and in Texas; and there is no better way to ease overall contract pressure than adding 40 jobs.
Chevy is never in a rush to do anything, I don’t see him rushing to trade McGroaty. He doesn’t need to be traded today.
Leon Draisaitl is going to get paid… $13m? Hockey is a business and if for some reason Leon says he leaving Edmonton, there is no way Edmonton can let an asset of that value walk out the door with nothing in return.
I hope he resigns in Edmonton and see if the Oilers can make another run.
He won’t be cheap then a year later McDavid and his $15m, don’t forget the cap will continue to rise.
Oilers have 4 key players up for new contracts in the next 2 years. Some numbers being thrown out here in Edmonton that these players can get up to:
Draisaitl 14
Bouchard 10
Mcdavid 16
Skinner 6
I’m HOPING that Drai and McDavid “take one for the team” and accept $1.5 mill less than you stated, but even then, it’ll be tough to round out a solid contender.
As an Oilers Fan,
We ALL Hope they Trade Nurse Out of Edmonton….⁉️
Before his NMC kicks in July 1st @ $9.25M….
Bouchard is our #1 Top guy now at 24,
Mattias Ekholm our #2 d/man
Philip Broberg is now our #3 d/man at 23
Brent Kulak is outr #5 d/man
Big Vinny is our #6 d/man
so now we need a RD/man for the Top 4…?
Re; the Oilers
Leon will sign the same kind of contract as Conner
They both know Salary Caps are very tight
you have seen the Maple Leafs ( NO Defence)
now for 7 years kicked out repetedly and it not working….🤔 because they are over paying All there forwards ❗️
You seen the Cup final and semi Finals
Very Very Good goaltending and a Solid Defence with some offence
and 2.5 scoring lines
All Contracts 8 years
Connor & Leon–$13.5M
Bouchard –$9-!0M
Skinner–$7-8.M
I’m curious why there hasn’t been more discussion regarding Draisaitl’s performance in the last two rounds of the playoffs? I’ve read numerous websites, listened to NHL radio and the tv network and all the speculation is about his contract. He didn’t have a goal against Florida in 7 games, is he injured or was he outplayed? I’ve read more criticism of Matthew T performance and he tied for the scoring lead on his team.
Maybe Leon is only as good as McDavid makes him look. Thoughts?
In no way Draisaitl takes one for the team…he has been grossly underpaid for the length of his contract 15m should do it
Oilers Nation reported that a hit from Tyler Myers broke one of Draisatl’s ribs early in the second round. Apparently Draisatl also had a broken finger by the final.
Leon is a good finisher but his skating is only average. That hurts him against some teams and/or matchups. McDavid is the best player in the NHL and his presence makes everyone better. World of difference between these two players. One is good, one is great.
listening to XM Steve Kouleus/Marty Biron, they felt the discussion about #29 needs to include #97. They’re were speculating between all 3 (#2, 329, #97 talking 40mil right there.
I would much prefer the Sens not look for draft picks but hockey deals involving established players. But if they trade someone like Chychrun for picks I hope those picks then go towards established players.
I don’t necessary agree. Sens are pretty bare in the minors and could use picks. They might need the cap space from chychrun to make a ufa signing. Was hoping on demelo but he just got resigned. Maybe Tanev or Roy on RD?
Owen, Tanev would otherwise be a perfect fit given his size and style of play. But that latter is the kicker.
Since he came into the league full-time in 2013-14, thanks to that hard-nosed shot-blocking style he has missed 19% of his team’s games through injury.
Just 3 times in those eleven seasons has he played a fill schedule – in the Covid-shortened 2019-20 he played all 69, again in 2020-21 when it was just 56 games, and in 2021-22 when it went back to a full 82 games.
If you take those out of the equation and just look at the 8 seasons where he missed significant time, that climbs to a full quarter games missed each
season.
And he’s not getting any younger, turning33 in December. With those injury warning signs and his age, how much is he going to seek — and for how long?
Much as I admire his approach, that would be a helluva gamble.
Oh, and on another topic, it seems the recent angst that Ullmark will play out his one year and then test the waters is baseless if you go by this report on his first chat session from Sweden
https://ottawasun.com/ottawa-senators/linus-ullmark-is-excited-to-try-to-help-the-ottawa-senators-take-the-next-step
I agree with you on Taney being a pretty banged up, but Sens absolutely need to get a solid bit bodied stay at home RD. They actually need two in my opinion. Our rd is not good past Zub. I like Roy’s game and interesting that he hasn’t resigned with the kings yet.
Saw the interview with ullmark. Looks like a great guy. Hope he stays in the capital.
I REALLY hope the Oilers can keep that core together! That said, I don’t want to see all the cap space taken up with just a few players a la TML.
Even with Hyman and Nuge (and Kane if he can get his game back) on team/cap friendly contracts and Nurse’s $9,250,000 contract, adding another potential $45-50 mill over the next 2 yrs (Draisaitl,McDavid,Bouchard,Skinner,Ekholm) is scary!
I dunno how they’re gonna be able to even PARTIALLY run it back next year, let alone fill in the holes after those extensions kick in! Even with the cap rising as predicted!
The question that keeps coming into my sometimes thick skull is…
Ultimately, if push comes to shove, who do they keep?
Draisaitl or Bouchard? Or could they/would they trade Nurse?
Oh the stresses of being an online GM! Lol!
if McLeon have not figured out what it takes to ein yet they need to fire their agents. Neither has been “grossly underpaid” thry make life altering money playing a game. It takes a team to win the cuo and defense not flashy goal. scorers hanging at the blue line.
I agree Caper, there’s absolutely no rush to trade McGroarty if the right deal doesn’t come along.
A lot of people say he will be traded for a discount because he wants out. The fact is, there will be many teams wanting to acquire him so the value will always be there and could even go up. If I was Chevy, I would hold his rights into the 2025 season then trade him a few months into the season just out of spite and to open the eyes of other players who plan on doing that. If this becomes a somewhat regular thing, the rules need to be changed.
If Chevy is looking for a 1st round pick this draft then he will be in a hurry to trade McGroarty or another player to get that pick.
Rules definitely need changed so that junior drafted players can do the same exact thing. Level the playing field.
Yes, let McGroarty sit and waste away some of playing years so he can collect free tuition and some allowance money from college. Stupid. This also delays the time when he emerges from his entry level contract and makes some huge money, all because he doesn’t want to play in the AHL and develop his game in the minors. So let him sit the professional ranks out. The Jets would look good in taking a stand against this behavior. As Dave mentioned wait until a couple of months before his rights expire and then trade him.
I dont understand why Ottawa doesn’t sign one of the RD UFAs like Pesce and trades Chychryn for picks prospects
Who says they won’t? But they can’t do anything to that end until July 1. I’m sure someone like Pesce is on their radar.
Yes, let McGroarty sit and waste away some of playing years so he can collect free tuition and some allowance money from college. Stupid. This also delays the time when he emerges from his entry level contract and makes some huge money, all because he doesn’t want to play in the AHL and develop his game in the minors. So let him sit the professional ranks out. The Jets would look good in taking a stand against this behavior. As Dave mentioned wait until a couple of months before his rights expire and then trade him.
Panthers first team to win the cup with 2 players over $10m. Cap hit.
McDavid is simple math , 20% of cap hit