NHL Rumor Mill – July 3, 2024
The top remaining UFAs plus the latest on the Oilers, Islanders, Predators, and Red Wings in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
TOP REMAINING UFAS
DAILY FACEOFF: Forwards Vladimir Tarasenko and James van Riemsdyk lead the list of the top players still available in the unrestricted free-agent market. The other notables are Ryan Suter, Tyson Barrie, Tyler Johnson and Max Pacioretty.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: As I indicated yesterday, most notable UFA players are past their prime.
Winger Vladimir Tarasenko (NHL Images).
A handful will likely sign cheap, one-year contracts in the coming days. Many will be forced to earn new contracts on professional tryout offers during training camp in September.
Some will face the reality that their NHL careers are over, though they will probably continue their playing days in Europe.
OILERS FACING COST-CUTTING MOVES
THE ATHLETIC: Daniel Nugent-Bowman believes the Edmonton Oilers must find a way to shed salary. They’re sitting $2.5 million over the $88 million salary cap with restricted free agents Philip Broberg and Dylan Holloway to re-sign. Teams can exceed the salary cap during the offseason but must be cap-compliant when the regular season begins.
Nugent-Bowman suggested winger Evander Kane ($5.125 million average annual value), defenseman Cody Ceci ($3.25 million), blueliner Brett Kulak ($2.75 million) and forward Ryan McLeod ($2.1 million) as trade candidates. Kane, however, carries a full no-movement clause until March 1, when it becomes a partial no-trade clause.
THE EDMONTON JOURNAL: David Staples cited TSN’s Darren Dreger also indicating that the Oilers must cut costs, suggesting Ceci, McLeod or Kane as trade candidates.
TSN’s Ryan Rishaug reported on July 1 that Kane had not been asked to waive his NMC at any point.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kane’s not going anywhere. As Nugent-Bowman pointed out, he holds all the cards with his NMC. That means Ceci, Kulak or McLeod could be traded before the Oilers’ season opener in October.
ARE MORE MOVES COMING FOR THE ISLANDERS
NEW YORK POST: Ethan Sears noted the Islanders’ recent foray into the free-agent market by signing winger Anthony Declair. With limited salary-cap space, any additional efforts to bolster their offense must come in a trade market with few suitable options.
Sears noted the trade rumors still swirling about Winnipeg Jets wingers Nikolaj Ehlers and Rutger McGroarty, suggesting they would fill the Islanders’ needs. However, the Jets are in no rush to move either player. Ehlers is signed through next season and the Jets still control McGroarty’s rights.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ehlers carries an average annual value of $6 million for 2024-25. It’ll have to be dollar-in, dollar-out to pull that off. McGroarty must sign an entry-level contract if the Isles acquire him. The Jets will want at least a first-round pick for their top prospect.
PREDATORS ARE NOT DONE MAKING ROSTER CHANGES
THE TENNESSEAN: Alex Daugherty reports Nashville Predators general manager Barry Trotz isn’t done making moves after adding Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault, and Brady Skjei to his roster via free agency.
Trotz told the media on Monday that he’s looking at moving at least one player. They’re sitting over the $88 million cap by $179K and must be cap-compliant when their season opens in October.
Daugherty suggests Cody Glass as a trade candidate. The 25-year-old forward carries a $2.5 million cap hit and is now the club’s 13th forward. He was a healthy scratch during their playoff series against the Vancouver Canucks.
Defenseman Dante Fabbro, 26, could be another. He also carries a $2.5 million cap hit and was a healthy scratch in three of their six games against the Canucks.
Moving both players would create sufficient space to operate during the season while leaving room for roster call-ups as required.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Trotz has the entire offseason and training camp to make these moves. Glass and Fabbro could be skating with other clubs by October.
COULD THE RED WINGS TRADE A GOALIE?
DETROIT HOCKEY NOW: Kevin Allen wonders if the Red Wings intend to shop a goaltender after signing Cam Talbot and Jack Campbell on Monday. The move leaves them with four netminders as Talbot and Campbel join Alex Lyon and Ville Husso.
Allen wondered if they could attempt to move Husso. He thinks that’s unlikely unless they retain part of his $4.75 million cap hit.
EKane will go on LTIR around the start of the season . Edmonton is going to pull a Vegas . Of course unless he heals over the summer
I guess Detroit is not going to run low in net this year and be forced to play Lyon game after game down the stretch
Islanders could offer Pullock and Wahlstrom for Ehlers and Mcwho
I wish the Isles could pull of that deal good for both teams. But Pullock has a full NTC and just got married to a rich family in L.I. so he is not going anywhere. I think maybe Nelson and Wahlstom may work but Lou loves Nelson. He is a ufa after this year like Ehlers and would make sense. Isles are fairly deep at center. Unless the Jets would prefer JGP and a high pick instead. Summer of Lou he needs to do more.
Not sure they can do what Vegas did either S7. Even if he has surgery, he won’t miss 6 months which is what they would need to accrue will he? I dunno how bad the injury is. He has value, especially come playoff time as he won’t back down from anyone. He got into it with Zadorov in the VCR series big time.
But if he hasn’t been asked to waive, and Rishaug is piped into the Oilers so very likely true, then it is Ceci and McLeod that seem most likely to move.
You should get an OK return on McLeod that seems likely as most teams can use him, even the bottom dwellers as he is only 24 and should develop into a shut down 3C as he skates so well.
Ceci, not sure. I know he gets flogged regularly, but he just went through 4 rounds of playoffs and contributed against tough opposition. He makes plenty of teams better, I dare say FLA could use him.
A bottom feeder can flip him at the deadline as playoff experienced RD are always in demand at the TDL. But teams will be working to try and get a sweetener out of the deal. Not sure what that trade would look like?
Wahlstrom has been a failed draft pick for the Islanders so I doubt he gets them McGroarty.
Nelson will be 33 in October so I doubt he gets Ehlers.
Pageau is a 32 (November) year old, 3rd line center who carries a $5 million dollar cap hit.
I don’t think any team in the league wants a $5 million dollar, 3rd line center.
Word in Edmonton is the Oil would like to move Evander Kane out at $5.12M, still a good top 6 forward….
this would solve there Cap overage problem of $2.45M and would alow them to Re- Sign both
RFA’s Philip Broberg & Dylan Holloway. @1.M each
They may have to through in young Ryan McLeod as a swetener in the deal to a re-building team….❓
They dont have a replacment for Ceci if the trade him, Adam Henrique can take over the 3rd line centre position like he did when he came here…
Bruins .. TYLER JOHNSON 32 years old although a smallish player might be a good for for Bruins has scored over 20 goals multiple of times can play three positions and could come cheaper than the 3 million he was making .. or sign Tarasenko to a fair offer for both sides and figure out cap space before start of season …. They could start by moving the goalie and his 3 million per they just received in Ullmark trade … Bussi is ready
Daniel Sprong can score 15-20 in the bottom six.
Should be a sensible deal for him somewhere. Whatcha think of him, Joeman?
Daniel Sprong will be a steal for some team
Sprong would be a good signing for Boston! He s a carbon copy of Geekie and Frederic! Would come at around 2-2.25 million! Korpisalo doesn t make sense monetarily!
Joe, i think at this point Boston going to see if Merkulov can take a spot. LW with 30 goals in providence last season. Both Merkulov and Lysel will be given opportunities to make the team.
Wonder if Winnipeg is on Zacha 10 team no trade list.
Zacha with 3 season remaining and propsect/pick to Winnipeg for Ehlers and McGroarty
8787
How do you feel about one of your favriot players The X-Pen’s d/man Dumoulin acquire bye the Ducks from Kraken for draft pick…❓
if swayman wants too much how about trading him tpbruins necas and askarov to hurricanes swayman to predators hurricanes first in 2025 and beecher
From link above to Glass: it shows him at 6’3”, 205 and 82 Game pace of 12-14-16; just turned 25; cap hit (just one year on contract)
Trotz trying to dump him , would he go Future considerations???
Pens have $3.5 M left
Pens still need depth
If they can get him for “future” considerations ; go for it;
Absolute worst case he is move at 50% retention at trade deadline for late rounder
Best case; he rounds out very well on 3rd line and jumps up top 6 in a pinch
Compare Glass at $2.5 M vs lower expected performance on the tiny and older Lizotte at $1.9 M; Glass the far better move
Pete, the Jets are not going to take a 32 year old Nelson or a 31 year old JGP in an Ehlers deal, and I highly doubt they would take either for McGroarty straight up. Not to mention, Wahlstrom can’t even crack a team that needs offence. 34 goals in 193 games won’t cut it.
Ehlers is 9th in the league in scoring per 60 minutes at 5 on 5 over the past 3 years.
Agree with you Lyle; any trade decision lies solely with Kane
Kane is due for a sports hernia op; Oilers could start season with him on LTIR
Also UTAH has no need for their $7.9 M in LTIR anymore; trade?
If they must move one of the other 3 I truly believe they should keep McLeod
Moving Ceci at full hit may cost an asset; Kulak could be moved for late rounder or “future considerations”
Moving any of the three; and Oilers still need to have a replacement (League min is $0.8 M) on the roster; so not netting full cap space for each
now that the dust is settling on most of the silly season, there is still one major name out there that we haven’t heard about and his team has been quiet as well. Travis Koneckny has not been heard from and he would go nicely to Carolina. Maybe a Necas and 2026 #1 would work for both teams as Philly loves TK but really can’t keep him in the overall grand scheme.