NHL Rumor Mill – June 28, 2024
With the first round of the 2024 Draft fast approaching, the Flyers attempt an aggressive trade to move up on the draft order. Check out the details, updates on Mitch Marner, Jacob Trouba, Aaron Ekblad, Nikolaj Ehlers and Nazem Kadri, the latest UFA speculation, and more in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
FLYERS ATTEMPT TO MOVE UP IN THE FIRST-ROUND ORDER
TSN: Pierre LeBrun reports the Philadelphia Flyers attempted to acquire the Columbus Blue Jackets’ first-round pick (fourth overall) in this year’s draft. It was an aggressive pitch, offering their 2024 first-rounder (14th overall), a roster player, and perhaps their 2025 first-round pick.
The Blue Jackets rejected the offers but LeBrun thinks the Flyers could try again.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Some social media chatter suggested GM Daniel Briere wants to draft Cayden Lindstrom of the WHL’s Medicine Hat Tigers to center Matvei Michkov. It would make sense that Briere would try to land a good young center to pair with his promising winger.
UPDATES ON MARNER, TROUBA, EKBLAD, EHLERS AND KADRI
SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman believes the most likely scenario for Mitch Marner will be finishing the final season of his contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs. He thinks the Leafs could consider offering the 27-year-old winger a new contract and see where it goes.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Marner holds all the cards here because of the full no-movement clause in his contract. For all the media speculation about his future in recent weeks, there’s no indication he’ll be traded. Of course, it wouldn’t be the first time a trade involving a star like Marner catches everyone by surprise. Still, there’s nothing the Leafs can do about it if Marner doesn’t want to move.
New York Rangers defenseman Jacob Trouba (NHL Images).
Friedman also reported New York Rangers captain Jacob Trouba’s full no-movement clause turns into a 15-team no-trade list on July 1. The Rangers have asked the 30-year-old defenseman for his list, which is normal procedure. However, Friedman doesn’t rule out the possibility of Trouba getting traded.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Trouba has two years remaining on his contract with an average annual value of $8 million. While he struggled through an injury this season, he remains well-respected by his teammates and a physical presence on their blueline. Nevertheless, there’s been recent media conjecture about his future in New York. We likely haven’t heard the last of it.
THE HOCKEY NEWS: David Dwork reports hearing the Florida Panthers are shopping defenseman Aaron Ekblad. He’s entering the final season of his contract with an AAV of $7.5 million. The 28-year-old defenseman’s no-movement clause becomes a 12-team no-trade list on July 1.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: That would be a bold move by the Panthers coming so soon after winning their first Stanley Cup. The Toronto Sun’s Steve Simmons reported earlier this month that the Panthers would move Ekblad to free up cap space to re-sign Brandon Montour. This will be worth watching in the coming days.
TSN: Darren Dreger reports Winnipeg Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff continues to receive calls about winger Nikolaj Ehlers and top prospect Rutger McGroarty. There’s no rush to move them, though the Jets are interested in moving McGroarty for a first-round pick, maybe a prospect or young player.
TORONTO STAR: Nick Kypreos wondered if Nazem Kadri might consider waiving his no-movement clause. It’s apparent the Calgary Flames are rebuilding after trading Jacob Markstrom last week to New Jersey. The question is where the 33-year-old center sees himself fitting in the short and long term.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kadri could ask to be traded but his age and contract will make him difficult to move. He carries a $7 million AAV through 2028-29.
LATEST UFA SPECULATION
TSN: Pierre LeBrun reports the Carolina Hurricanes are still pushing hard to re-sign pending unrestricted free agent Jake Guentzel. They’re the only team that can offer him an eight-year contract which is giving the 29-year-old winger something to think about
LeBrun said the list of teams lining up to bid on Guentzel on July 1 is growing. Some would have to move some pieces around but are willing to do so if he becomes a UFA on Monday.
Darren Dreger believes the Vancouver Canucks could be among the suitors. They’re also considering what to do with Elias Lindholm. The 29-year-old center is heading to market and could be a good fit with the Boston Bruins.
Dreger also mentioned teams will be interested in Chris Tanev if the 34-year-old defenseman doesn’t re-sign with the Dallas Stars by Monday.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman believes the Toronto Maple leafs could be among the suitors.
Chris Johnston believes pending UFA forwards Tyler Bertuzzi and Max Domi want to stay with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Negotiations are continuing as the Leafs are also looking at shoring up their blueline. Both players are waiting to see if the Leafs can afford them.
If the leafs could get 2 of Ekblad, pesce or Trouba that would shore up the right side. Of course to have any chance you would need to trade Marner for picks and prospects.
Brett Pesce is signing with the Devils, Zero chance of Trouba waiving for the Leafs or even Canada. Ekblad hated the Leafs as a child. He grew up a Red Wings fan. I seriously doubt anyone of those 3 would waive for Toronto or sign there.
Devils have a right side of Hamilton, Nemec and Marino. unless one is moved i dont see the Pesce fit unless you move Hamilton who missed most of the season and has a full nmc
I wouldn’t be too sure about Pesce to NJ. He’d fit nicely alongside Chabot and I’d bet he is on Staios’ shopping list.
Ekblad to the Sens maybe ?
Scott, the huge difference is, the 6′ 3″ 206 lb RD Pesce is a UFA now, coming off a $4,025,000 cap hit, whereas the 6′ 4″ 215 lb RD Ekblad costs $7,500,000 off the cap for one more season before becoming a UFA.
If they can sign Pesce it costs nothing but money and term … whereas they’d need to send assets to Florida to obtain Ekblad, and then have to dicker a new salary and term after next season.
I know he was hurt- but Ekblad really stood out as really slow this playoff
Re; Sen’s d
I think Staios go’s UFA shopping for a Top
4 RD man, July 1st
I wonder if he trades Chychrun at the draft Today for a top 10 1st round pick and A
2nd or 3rd pick❓
The main player the GM has to Sign is RFA
Shane Pinto to a Bridge deal About $3.5M for 2-3 years and add a good 3rd liner like a
Scott Laughton that can chip in with Scoring
& bring up 1 or 2 kids from the farm to see if they can make the team….❓
Listening to Nhl radio yesterday and one of the contributors says the Leafs should let Marner finish out his contract and let him walk. He goes on to say that if Treliving trades Marner he can’t lose the trade! To the people who say you can’t let him walk for nothing, Your not! You’re getting $10,903,000 in cap space.
IDK! You got a player making over $10m who is likely to get a raise on his next contract. That tells me this is a very good hockey player.
And your concern is saving face, that you can’t lose the trade, let him walk for nothing oops excuse me; let him walk and you have $10m in cap space.
Most people say who ever gets the best player that team wins the trade. There is a lot of players out there better than Marner. If just the cap space you want, then you can trade for draft picks and or prospects.
Letting an above average player walk because you can’t lose the trade, which is defined by the people is silly in my opinion.
Kinda the same argument I made for the Korpisalo/Ullmark trade. If the worst that happens after this year is that Ottawa has that extra 4M in cap space, instead of being weighted with that contract for 3 more years, it’s a win no matter what.
The difference is Korpi sucks and was a bad signing. Marner is a great player, yes overpaid, and is a franchise type player. You dont just let him walk for cap space only
You are entitled to your own opinion as wack as it is…Calling a perennial, 90+pts 27 yr old player just above average with a lot of players out there better than him kinda tells me you either dont know hockey and good players as much as you think you do or you can let your “hated” of a team or player or whatever cloud your vision or judgment.
Following every fed story and word about a popular team/person doesn’t mean that’s the case with that team or person unless it’s by them. Like the saying goes, take everything with a grain of salt otherwise you’ll look like you’ll be wearing egg on your face.
I don’t buy Caper’s arguments, Ron.
And I don’t see that it is based on “hatred.”
Why can’t he just be wrong? Or see things differently?
Ron, any team that can find a way to accommodate Marner’s current contract … and what he might be expecting for a new deal – will be getting an instant impact player, not to mention one of THE best play-making wings in the league today. Bar none.
And for those who like to downplay his playoff stats, just consider that the opposition also is, of course, well aware of his playmaking abilities, so you can be sure he is awarded extra attention once a playoff series commences.
Places to which I would imagine Marner might well waive his NMC would include Florida, Tampa, Colorado and Vegas.
In those cases, however, it would almost have to include a third team because, where the Leafs are concerned, the primary reason for the deal would be to free up cap space. So, unless the returns involved a couple of players with term that fill their immediate needs, and both are making substantially less than Marner’s cap hit, there will very likely need to be substantial cap moved out by the team getting Marner … and that’s where the third team comes in.
Lol, I just re read my post.
I said Marner is a very good player.
Then I typed there is a lot of player better then him put there.
Please insert NOT after there is.
If you read my whole comment: I said Marner would likely be the best player in a trade.
My bad, how the sentence changes with three letters.
LOL … been there … done that Caper – even a missing comma can change things drastically — “let’s eat Grandma” — “let’s eat, Grandma …”
😆👍
Re; Marner Trade
its not if,…its when… Brad Treliving trades Marner
BT can’t lose the trade!, Sounds like it will be for A good top 4 d/man or Picks and prospects
They cant aford an other over priced forward
The New leafs GM knows he has to get this done ASAP, hopfully today at the draft❓
If not this could drag on All Summer and leafs fans will get completly Bent out of shape with Mitch Marnier and Maple Leafs Management❗️
This whole thing could be an 18 month to 2 year fix for BT and the leafs……
williew, possibly tonight – it’s certainly not as if a trade of that magnitude has never been concluded at the draft tables
https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/2012-nhl-entry-draft-day-memorable-trades/
The only kicker is, there certainly has never been one involving a cap hit of that magnitude.
George,
Hopinging for a couple of d/men trades
Oil & Sen’s…..❓
Im hoping for a Nurse trade at the draft
and
A J Chychrun Trade at the draft
Utah need to get 2 LD men and one eight to get a good top 4 as the only have a 2nd pairing RD at pressent……..
Nothing happens unless Narner says so he has full control not leafs
Rumors that Reinhardt getting a new deal around 9 mil per would leave Florida with about 10 mil to fill 7/8 spots. Probably losing Montour if you don’t trade Ekblad.Trouba to Detroit for Holl straight up would save NY 4.6 mil in cap space.
@slick
that Trouba for Holl deal might give the Rangers enough to bring in Guentzel….
I like Trouba, but I think he gets moved. Yzerman took Staal a few years back. Maybe he helps out again
No sure how that works, as only Marner can decide if he is to be traded or not. He has a full NM clause. He’ll want to go to a contender, how many of those have the cap space to sign Marner and willing to give up the amount of assets the leafs would be looking for. I agree with Friedman, Inthink he’s staying in TO
One team has just over $11 million in cap space and another has almost $19M. The team with $11M is not a playoff team but most of its core is signed to “good” contracts. The other team that has their core signed up as well but is a proven playoff team that hasn’t had much success yet.
The general consensus is that the team that is a very good 100pt team should trade away one of its core, a 90pt player, to make them better. I don’t know about you, but that doesn’t make a lot of sense to me nor has anything in recent history has shown that to be a valid move.
Now if that player was on the team that only had the $11m cap space to work with, would we be saying the same if they were to take the next step? I don’t think we would.
@Ron Moore
Marner, as Treliving sums it up , is a Superstar , but something has to give ..
Maybe the Leafs keep Marner ?
He mentions , he expected his team would have went deeper into the playoffs , changes need to be made .
Ekblad in Florida is a very good player – had an excellent playoff run
Priority is to sign Reinhardt and Montour
Cap space isn’t there for all 3
Yzerman just made a move recently to free up cap space .. He will likely sign Stamkos
@Caper
U R exactly correct !!!!
Tonight’s draft should be very entertaining !
1 of my most favourite times of the year !
I really follow the Junior Circuit
A very strong draft !
Lots of rumours
Utah wants to make a splash , dangling their 4th overall – Hello Marner !
Phillie wants to move up
Ekblad is on the move
Whole lot more ??
Free Agency Monday – Another entertaining day
Friedman rears his head again… makes a big “Trouba in the process of trade” based on him submitting his NT list…
even though this is normal procedure….
caper on June 28, 2024 at 11:04 am
Listening to Nhl radio yesterday and one of the contributors says the Leafs should let Marner finish out his contract and let him walk. He goes on to say that if Treliving trades Marner he can’t lose the trade! To the people who say you can’t let him walk for nothing, Your not! You’re getting $10,903,000 in cap space.
IDK! You got a player making over $10m who is likely to get a raise on his next contract. That tells me this is a very good hockey player.
And your concern is saving face, that you can’t lose the trade, let him walk for nothing oops excuse me; let him walk and you have $10m in cap space.
Just to be transparent – This is what I am in agreement with !
Just that you don’t win hockey games with cap space, you win them with really good players.
You win with a balanced top to bottom roster. Finding that balance is the challenge.
Not just finding the balance, Ron, but maintaining it as well when the better among the lower salaried players (e.g., expiring ELCs) reach re-negotiating status after having an exceptional season (or two).
Such are the joys of cap management.
Could the Leafs “technically” waive Tavares in hopes San Jose or Utah puts in a claim? To get around his no move? Didn’t that just happen the other day? With Goodrow?
Tavares has a NMC – no movement clause. He can’t be demoted, waived or moved in any manner without his consent.
@Ron Moore
Marner, as Treliving sums it up , is a Superstar , but something has to give ..
Maybe the Leafs keep Marner ?
He mentions , he expected his team would have went deeper into the playoffs , changes need to be made .
Ekblad in Florida is a very good player – had an excellent playoff run
Priority is to sign Reinhardt and Montour
Cap space isn’t there for all 3
Yzerman just made a move recently to free up cap space .. He will likely sign Stamkos
Did we watch the same games? Ekblad had anything but an excellent playoffs.
Freidman with more of his “i think” , “i feel”, “my guess” drivel.
What are you expecting Friedman to say, Ron?
He can’t say for sure until it is a fact. I would rather get part of the info with a caveat that it might not come true , than no info at all. I don’t think he is throwing out random thoughts without some insider leaks or something. It is all speculation until it becomes fact. Most people understand that.
Rangers shopping Trouba? I guess they need more (or is it less) elbow room with the Cap.
Nice
2nd that Chrism’s “nice”
Fitz looking to move Morino (to the Nucks?) to make room for Pesce.
Elias Lindholm, Tyler Bertuzzi, Tyler Toffoli, Vladimir Tarasenko and Chandler Stephenson A Mantha,Brenden Dillon and Shayne Gostisbehere, J Edmundson … thinking 3 of these players will be Boston Bruins in the 2024-25 season
Avoid the pool this year. Play the kids for a season and save the cap space for next year and go get Leon. Maybe grab a defenseman if the price and term are in line with the plan.
We shouldn’t overpay for any of the players on this year’s UFA list.
I’m very impressed with Lindstrom so I agree with Briere’s aggressive offer to move up to 4
I’d love Lindstrom on Pens; so really really go all in:
Some in media have already proposed Smith for Laine
I say that’s not enough;
So , the all in is
Yaeger (1st round last year); 1st next year; 2nd this year; Smith, Eller, Accairi and either Broz of Gruden for
4th overall (Lindstrom) and Laine
I really think Lindstrom could play 3rd line center this year
Crosby Laine Rackell
Malkin Rust Bunting
Lindstrom O’Connor Poulin
?? Pulljaarvi Puustinen
That’s s much younger; bigger, stronger Pens team