NHL Rumor Mill – July 1, 2024
The annual free-agent signing frenzy begins at noon ET today. Check out the latest notable free agent and trade rumors in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
SPORTSNET: cited Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli believing part of the reason the Tampa Bay Lightning haven’t officially announced their signing of Jake Guentzel is they still have some hope of working something out with Steven Stamkos.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Signing Guentzel could use up half of the Lightning’s cap space. Stamkos would have to accept a major pay cut to remain in Tampa Bay. His agent said he’s heading to market today and it’s doubtful that his situation has changed.
Former Tampa Bay Lightning captain Steven Stamkos (NHL Images).
If Stamkos goes to market, Seravalli believes the Vegas Golden Knights, Nashville Predators, Los Angeles Kings, and New Jersey Devils could be among the suitors.
Seravalli also reported Tyler Bertuzzi has come to terms with a Western Conference team. It’s expected to be a four-year deal with an average annual value of $5 million.
The Daily Faceoff pundit believes Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins are close to a contract extension. He doesn’t know if the deal will be announced on July 1.
NEW YORK POST: Larry Brooks believes the Rangers shouldn’t overreact after Patrick Kane opted to re-sign with the Detroit Red Wings on Sunday. Unless they can land Steven Stamkos, he doesn’t believe the forwards available in the UFA market would make a difference against a team like the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers.
Brooks acknowledged Jonathan Marchessault’s MVP performance against the Panthers in the 2023 Stanley Cup Final. However, he believes the Rangers need a bigger physical forward.
Today is the day Jacob Trouba’s no-movement clause becomes a 15-team no-trade list. The 31-year-old defenseman’s feelings are hurt over the way the Rangers have handled his situation. However, Brooks believes he shouldn’t stand in the way of the Rangers’ efforts to trade him to the Detroit Red Wings. If he does, the Rangers will trade him somewhere else or place him on waivers.
Mollie Walker also noted the Rangers’ rumored efforts to trade Trouba to Motown. She feels it’s best he returns to the state where he grew up and began playing hockey rather than stay with a team that doesn’t want him.
Walker anticipates the Rangers could be interested in adding a forward via free agency. They could be interested in Stamkos, Bertuzzi or Jake DeBrusk. They could also pursue a defenseman like Nikita Zadorov.
THE HOCKEY NEWS: cited ESPN’s Emily Kaplan reporting the Rangers are taking family considerations into account in their efforts to move Trouba. They want to ensure the defenseman ends up in a place that’s best for him and his family.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: A Trouba trade could come as early as today based on the recent reporting. It would certainly add some extra spice to what will be a busy day for player movement.
THE BOSTON GLOBE: The Bruins could start free agency with a bang by signing former Vancouver Canucks Elias Lindholm and Nikita Zadorov. The 29-year-old Lindholm could give the Bruins a reliable two-way center. Zadorov, 29, enjoyed a solid postseason performance on the Canucks blueline, logging over 20 minutes per game and collecting eight points in 13 playoff games.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Lindholm was linked to the Bruins for months last season before he was traded to the Canucks. There was talk leading up to the deadline of a three-way trade that would’ve sent him to Boston.
THE SEATTLE TIMES: Trade talk has linked the Kraken to Patrik Laine. The 26-year-old Columbus Blue Jackets winger has yet to be released from the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program. Despite his injury history, he could be a high-upside gamble for the low-scoring Kraken without tying them up in a long-term contract. He’s signed through 2025-26 with an average annual value of $8.7 million.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Blue Jackets can trade Laine while he’s in the player assistance program. However, it was reported over the weekend that interested clubs want to speak with him first.
OTTAWA SUN: Bruce Garrioch reports the Senators and Shane Pinto aren’t close to a long-term contract extension. They were exploring the option of a short-term deal to try to get something done. Pinto’s agent, Lewis Gross, could be looking for an offer sheet from a rival club but that could be a long shot. His client also lacks arbitration rights because he lacks the accrued seasons necessary to qualify.
The Senators could make a pitch for Jake DeBrusk, Tyler Toffoli or Matt Roy via free agency.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Garrioch noted a team that successfully signs Pinto to an offer sheet would have to part with a first-round pick and a third-rounder as compensation if the offer is between $4.57 million and $6.7 million. He also noted on “X” that the Senators would match it.
THE ATHLETIC: The Vancouver Canucks could be shopping for a veteran backup goaltender when free agency begins. They had contract extension discussions last week with Casey DeSmith but it appears he’d headed to market. They’ll also be shopping for a top-six forward, a speedy bottom-six forward and a left-shot defenseman.
HAPPY CANADA DAY 🇨🇦 😄
Should be a fun few days of trades, rumours and signings!
Hopefully Dubas can unload Smith…rebuild our bottom six and get a tougher bigger defenseman…..see what happens.
If I’m the Habs & my intention is to bring Demidov over next summer, I would be inclined to take a run at Tarasenko with a multi year deal to mentor Ivan for a couple of seasons.
As for the Habs & an off season trade, I would be working hard with the Preds to land Zac L’Heureux. This kid is mean, has some talent, enough to make a very good third line winger, who can also take draws. If possible, I would bring him in to Laval this season as I can envision him on a line with Beck & Roy creating chemistry to become the Habs future third line .
Good point Uwey. With the Demidov pick, I think Hughes figures that his long term top 6 is pretty much set up front but that the team could use a veteran on a 2-3 year deal to fill the gap for now and to mentor the younger players. Tarasenko would be a good choice. There are other options, such as Perron, Skinner, Toffoli, Teruvainen. We’ll see what happens.
Howard: we agree!
Read Bertuzzi is signing with Chicago
Same here. The Burt tour featuring all original 6 teams only. Was $5m too much for Detroit to sign him – he has at least 5 more years in him? I think he will get around that (probably more).
So drury does a legal yet grimy move to unload goodrow but is bending over backwards to move trouba to a place best for his family?
I am surprised at how the independent reporters are saying. Trouba and the Rangers both signed that contract. If he wants to stay and blocks trades to 15 teams that could take him on thats his right. What does waiving him do. No team wants hm at $8 million. Seems an ugly place to be for player and team.
Chrism, do you think Trouba has value? he had a nmc so you couldn’t put him on waivers. Now as of today he has a 15 team no trade list. The rest is out of Trouba control.
Read a clip by Friedman the other day, stating when Trouba left Winnipeg it was what the team and player wanted. That simply isn’t accurate.
Everybody and their dog knew Trouba wanted out of Winnipeg and everyone knew he only wanted to go to the Rangers.
Trouba at the time said his girlfriend sacrifice enough for him and now it’s his time to do right by her.
Trouba and Josh Morrissey was a very good pairing for the jets.
I don’t dislike the player but in a way this has almost come full circle.
Grimy? Jesus. I’ve never seen a 3rd / 4th line plug garner so much attention from other fan bases. Business.
This same business practice was used on Ryan Mcdonagh and Dan Boyle by Tampa. Not one eyebrow was raised. And here is Mcdonagh right back in the organization. I think the only ones offended by this are fans outside of the NY organization. Players, agents fully understand a m-ntc means you can be exposed to waivers. Which is what happened. Who knows what happened behind the scenes before NY put him on waivers?
If he throws all his old Ranger equipment in his driveway like another player once did after being traded, I guess we’ll know how he really feels? 😁
Who did that again? I vaguely remember the details for something not too long ago.
if this was not a Cap era Drury and the Ranger fans would just deal with Trouba on the 3rd pair but 8million for a guy who’s on ice play is 4 million is not a good thing. I still never loved giving him that contract before he put on a Rangers jersey. During that World Cup thing when Ekblad went down for the ‘young ‘ team and Trouba took his spot he looks less than a top flight guy to me
Ron Moore,
Patric Hornqvist threw his Pittsburgh gear in his driveway after being traded to Florida.
Just pointing out the disparity cap. Why are they so concerned about troubas family? Isn’t it just business with him too?
lol thanks CO.
It is a business to him too. As I mentioned below, I’m not even sure he’s on the block. But if actually is, his preferred destination was NY when he signed that deal. I’m sure he doesn’t want to go, but it’s the reality part of the business.
What’s actually taking part behind the scenes is anyone’s guess. But it’s just that, a guess. NY or Trouba haven’t made any public statement regarding a trade. So NY trying to make this easy / comfortable is pure speculation.
But really, Trouba vs. a 4th line plugger who was fortunate enough to even get a ntc is comparing apples to battleships.
Grimy is putting up 12 points in a 80 game season and having the audacity to even complain about being waived or traded. He’s lucky he didn’t clear waivers and ride the bus In Hartford next year!
He should probably offer NY back 2 million for the atrocious season he just had!
Showed up in the playoffs, but 12 points for 3.6 million?
Okay, I am an Isles fan and I dislike Trouba. But the reason Trouba signed in NY, is because his wife is becoming (or has become) a doctor at a prestigious NY Hospital.
I’ve no idea what she specializes in, but being in NYC is, apparently, where she can expand her knowledge and further her career.
Reading between the lines, I think Trouba was give some sort of assurance that he would play out his days in NYC>
Make of that what you will.
What Pinto and his agent have to realize is, it was his violation of the league’s gambling rules that cost the Senators a full half-season of his services.
After just 140 NHL games and 82-game averages of a pedestrian 18g 23a 41 pts, this is not the time to be playing hardball with a GM and owner who have no connection to his joining the team a few short years ago.
George what do you think about Pinto for Necas?
Not Sure Carolina would be happy with that … and as matters now stand Ottawa doesn’t have the cap room to meet his demands as an RFA
Boston needs today:
first line C
RW to play with first line C and Marchand
2nd line LW
Physical but can skate 3rd pair Dman
Caper what players you hoping they can sign to fill in those needs and who do you think they’ll end with filling those holes?
Caper your Bruins went 2-4! Big money in baseball hitting 500!
Bertuzzi, Stamkos and Debrisk.
Lw, lw, lw.
Makes a lot of sense considering NY already has Panarin, Kreider, Cullye, Othmann and Vesey at LW and have moved Laffrienere to his offside.
Stamkos doesn’t really play center these days. And even if he did who plays on the 3rd line? Zibanejad, Trochek or Stamkos?
I’m not 100% convinced NY will trade or is trying to trade Trouba.
It reminds me of when they traded Mcdonagh and thought Skjei was ready to step up after being sheltered behind him for years. Only to find out he wasn’t.
At 22 years old, Schneider is not ready to have that workload dumped on him full time.
He has been fantastic in his development. But had hiccups (along with Miller ) when forced into the 2nd pairing this year. So much so, Ny went back to Trouba with a broken ankle.
Trouba Kakko and a 1st to CMB for Laine and a 2nd
Ny gets a 1RW move Chytil to 3c
CMB gets a 1st and 2 former 1st rounders
No thanks on that!
Like to see the Bruins trade Korpisalo for a draft pick..add the 3 million to the 8 million they have now and get a R …winger & sign Sway
Looks like the Bruins are done .. 7.8 million left in cap it’s enough to sign Sway another goal scorer will have to wait till next year unless there’s a trade
Pretty underwhelmed as a Sens fan.
The summer of Pierre brought us Debrincat, korpisalo & Chychrun now they are all moved.
In their place, Ulmark (1 year) Jensen and I guess….Perron. Can’t recall what happened to Kubalik but he isn’t on the depth chart. lol
I am thinking Staios is finding out how hard it is as a small market team, as a team in a Canadian market, to acquire guys. Though the cap is an issue.