NHL Rumor Mill – July 4, 2024
Check out the latest on Sidney Crosby, Evander Kane and Martin Necas plus some recent Flyers speculation in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
WHAT’S THE LATEST ON CROSBY’S CONTRACT EXTENSION?
PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: Dan Kingerski wondered what’s happening with contract extension talks between the Penguins and captain Sidney Crosby. He noted that Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas and Crosby have stated those discussions would be kept private, but neither side has yet used the phrase, “optimistic”.
Kingerski speculates the direction of the team might account for why Crosby hasn’t re-signed yet. Perhaps the Penguins captain sees Dubas’ recent signings and wonders if sticking around is worthwhile.
TORONTO STAR: Nick Kypreos noted that “eyebrows were raised” when the Penguins didn’t announce a new contract for Crosby on July 1. He wrote that conversations are ongoing but there’s no rush on Crosby’s side. “Read into that however you want.”
Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby (NHL Images).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s not surprising Crosby hasn’t signed yet. Sometimes, these things take time. The direction of the team could be a factor. Dollars and terms still have to be sorted out.
They’ve got the entire summer and training camp in September to sort this out. Start worrying if he hasn’t inked an extension by the season opener in October.
COULD THE OILERS ATTEMPT TO TRADE EVANDER KANE?
EDMONTON JOURNAL: David Staples cited Oilers Now host Bob Stauffer weighing in on speculation the Oilers could try to move winger Evander Kane in a cost-cutting trade.
Kane, 32, has two years left on his contract with an AAV of $5.125 million. He also carries a full no-movement clause until Feb. 28, when it becomes a 15-team no-trade list. The Oilers must free up $2.5 million to become cap-compliant before their season opener in October.
“You just can’t snap your fingers and move out Evander Kane,” said Stauffer. Staples noted TSN’s Ryan Rishaug reporting on Monday that the Oilers haven’t approached the winger about waiving his NMC.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: If Kane is willing to waive his clause now it will only be for a limited number of clubs. Those teams could be unwilling to take him on due to his reputation as a troublemaker or his cap hit.
The Oilers will have to consider other options to shed salary before October. Cody Ceci, Brett Kulak and Ryan McLeod have been mentioned as trade candidates.
HURRICANES WERE CLOSE TO MOVING MARTIN NECAS TO COLUMBUS
THE HOCKEY WRITERS’ Mark Scheig recently cited Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli claiming the Carolina Hurricanes had a potential deal that would’ve sent Martin Necas to the Columbus Blue Jackets during the recent NHL Draft. However, the 25-year-old winger wouldn’t sign a contract extension with the Jackets. “The deal died right there and I think it involved the number four pick”, said Seravalli.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Blue Jackets used that pick to select promising center Cayden Lindstrom. It’s not surprising the Jackets and Hurricanes discussed a Necas deal. Jackets general manager Don Waddell was the Hurricanes GM until stepping down in late May to take on his current job.
FLYERS NOT DONE MAKING MOVES?
THE ATHLETIC: Kevin Kurz reports the Philadelphia Flyers could still make some moves this summer after signing Matvei Michkov to his entry-level contract.
Flyers GM Daniel Briere left open the possibility of a trade or two. He’s had discussions with several teams “on a few different things.” If nothing happens in the next week, Briere suggests the current roster will be what we see in training camp in September.
Well, recall last time Sydney Crosby signed a contract was after he returned from vacation.
He didn’t come back from that vacation with a dumpster fire of a roster and a GM that has literally imploded next year’s expectations in less than 1 week
There is literally zero chance that Crosby is abundantly concerned with this roster.
8787
Last season Penguins weaknesses were Power Play, Overtime 3 on 3, Bottom 6, and Defense 3rd Pair. On paper Bottom 6 and Defense 3rd Pair improved. Also, new Power Play coach ?
Right now Top 6 wingers:
Rust
Bunting
Rakell
O’Connor ?
Koivenun – will he make the opening rooster ? as I’ve heard he’s very fast winger projected Top 6 and now Penguins 3rd or 2nd best prospect.
or will Penguins make a trade ?
Today is July 4, how many days before season opener ?
I like Optimistic People !!
If i am the new GM for the oilers i would focus on nurse. The contract is ugly. The player is a number 3 dman on the oilers, but their highest paid. We have seen stupid contracts get traded before, so i am not so quick to dismiss it as impossible. Also going from defacto number 1 to now number 3 perhaps nurse may be open to a change of enviroment. Not easy, not at all, but as the new gm coming in, with no ties to existing contracts, that would be one i try and work at.
Of course, it goes without saying there will be costs associated with getting a trade worked (loss of picks, prospects and taking some hot garbage back)and as a fan the win would simply getting out from under that weight with leon, bouchard and connor all coming up for raises
Hi Speed Kills
Re
“Last season Penguins weaknesses were Power Play, Overtime 3 on 3, Bottom 6, “ agree
and Defense 3rd Pair. … agree (depending in who actually played 3rd pairing
Re :”On paper Bottom 6 and Defense 3rd Pair improved. “
Absolutely not re bottom 6. See my post response to Black N Gold
Also, new Power Play coach ? Yes great change( but In no way is Bunting a Guentzel teplacement)
D got worse not improved
P-O J bigger, faster, better, younger than either Gryzlyk or Aho
And we still don’t have s 3rd pairing RD
No, this team is far worse than last years team
Far worse
I am sure he wants more than understanding that he can break the deal at any time if he wants pursue a Stanley Cup run elsewhere. So, I believe Syd may want something in place in cae he wants to go win another Cup.
More than anything I’m confident Sid wants a better team than last year.
As at now; he’s on a far worse team than last year
Kane would probably only waive to go to another contender. Not too many teams like that with cap space and flexibility. Maybe Rangers?
NY needs, another LW like they need a hole in the head. Panarin, Kreider, Cullye, Vesey, Laffrienere (plays on off side already., Othmann.
Ny will probably be seeking a RW at the deadline. Unfortunately for NY, there won’t be any decent ones available on the rental market. Other than the other Kane. However, I think if Detroit stays healthy , they’ll be in the playoffs and not looking to deal him.
Ny will not have much cap space after re-signing Schneider and Lindgren. They certainly won’t have the cap space for E. Kane this year or next .
Detroit still needs to address the RD position before they have a sniff of the play-offs. A team usually needs to get 98 or more pts to get into the play-offs not the 91 pts they got last year. So far I don’t see over all improvement in this team, mostly lateral moves except Vladdy.
91 points tied them with Washington.
Additions of Tarasenko, Gufstasson, Motte, a full healthy year from Kane and I think Detroit can surpass 91.
Hard to point to a team in the east that for significantly better. But on the flip side a few did get significantly worse.
Crosbys on the Titanic.
Sadly
I fully agree on this
To be fair, only half of the Pens roster were alive when the Titanic sank.
Like the joke
Hate the reality
Ron……Happy 4th
Look I hardly call the Penguins the Titanic. Yes they missed the playoffs the last 2 years.
2 years ago by 1 point because they blew two late season games vs weak teams like Ottawa and Chicago.
Last year by three points and had we had a nhl average power play on not that one of the caliber of a weak high school team we make it. it isn’t like they are missing the playoffs by 20 points.
The freakin Capitals made the playoffs with a negative goal differential of -37
The Penguins are certainly capable of making the playoffs,
Rangers stayed the same
Carolina got weaker
Islanders the same
Washington had a good off season
Columbus Philly will be better.
The top six was not the problem. the bottom six was and we did improve there and you got guys like
Ville Koivunen
Vasily Ponomarev,
Anthony Beauvillier,
Blake Lizzotte,
Kevin Hayes,
Lars Eller
Noel Accairi maybe rebounds he sucked but has been good in the past Nieto too played only a small amount of games.
Goaltending does scare me with Jarry and the defense needs to be better.
But
Jeff Carter
Reilly Smith
Radim Zohorna
Vinnie Hinestrova
Jansen Haskens
jesse Puljujarvi
all these scrubs we had in the bottom six are gone
we will be better.. Stanley Cup contender no but a playoff team yes.
We still have Puljarvi and at his cap hit he’s fine on 4th line
Hayes replaced Carter. Basically same size; but even though Carter is 39, Hayes waaaaay slower. Hayes also has trouble remembering where hid own end is; and is not good at all defensively. Hayes doesn’t use his size and has no grit. Carter used his size. Hayes costs more (Cap and Cash). The only thing Hayes has over Carter is that he is younger. That’s it
Koivenen and Pomeroniv are (as at now) not NHL ready. I’ve little confidence of anything from them at NHL level
Smith certainly didn’t play like his Cap hit but far far better than Lizzotte or Beauviller
P-O J better 82 game pace numbers than Grzlyk (who played on a far better team). Grzlyk is much shorter, lighter; 5 1/2 years older; costs almost 3 times what P-O J cost
Grzylyk, Beyavillier, Lizotte average:
5’ 8.3 “; 175 lbs;
Their average full season pace is only: 6-12-18
Yet their average Cap hit almost $2M
Bunting in no way is Guentzel
We still have Accairi (who has no had 4 straight seasons of decline)
Yes we finally punted Rierdon; so that’s good
As a whole, this year’s Pens are much much worse than last year’s team
This team is built to finish bottom 10 (so top 10 pick) but we now have our Captain not happy with no firm guarantee that he re-ups
It’s very sad for Pens
I think the whole league will be on vacation for the next 3-4;weeks. We could see some trades early to mid August.
Players like Necas and Laine will eventually find a home.
McGroarty will rot on the vine. Chevy is in no rush even on s busy day
At this point I think Necas stays in Carolina. I agree with you on McGroarty – the Jets will bide their time at least till next spring. Laine may eventually be traded once other teams feel he’s straightened himself out.
Ehlers and McGroarty for Necas seems like a win-win. Maybe the Canes give a C prospect or a 6th.
But Necas may be the best player in the trade.
Agree SilverSeven – and the best of what’s left on the UFA heap will have lowered their current asks substantially by then.
Not so fast! You guys are forgetting that the arbitration period runs from late July into early August. Granted, most of the cases won’t go to arbitration but the managements of those teams won’t be going anywhere until that’s sorted.
Thanks for that reminder Lyle. In that regard we can start to speculate on which RFAs might go that route. And in several cases the decisions could impact deeply on various cap reserves.
If the Necas report is true, the Jackets are lucky that he turned them down. They’re better off with Lindstrom.
I’m also happy the Habs didn’t trade the #5 pick for him. I’d rather have Demidov.
It’s not like I wouldn’t want to see Necas on the Habs. But I see him as a solid second line forward who’ll contribute a fair amount of offense but will not be an elite player. Demidov and Lindstrom are obviously unproven at this time but have the potential to be elite. At this point, both of those teams are better served by having the potential elite player rather than a solid complementary player. Especially the Habs, who are in need of elite talent up front.
Howard, the Habs are probably THE team to keep an eye on over the summer, given that they are currently committed to 19 with a cap reserve of $10,180,487 with which to sign 4.
Their only RFA still to re-up is D-man Xhekaj who is coming off an ELC of $828,333 after a season of 44gp 3g 7a 10 pts and a +6. They also have Price’s $10.5 mil LTIR with which to diddle as they see fit, and just $2,343,750 in dead cap for Petry.
I don’t know what Xhekaj will eventually get, but it won’t cut deeply into that reserve, nor would the ELCs of 3 elevated players should they go that route.
It’s going to be interesting to see what’s clearly and eventually coming down. Another trade (or two?)
George, as a Habs fan, I see them going one of two ways:
1. Get a cut-rate deal on an offensive winger on a short-term contract, like Laine, if that deal emerges (as you note, they have cap space and he fits the Habs development timeline for their youth); or
2. Hughes keeps that cap space to weaponize it at the trade deadline, in a “we’ll take your cap problem and your 1st round pick” type deal
I don’t see him spending big money and term on a player like Necas, even though he’s an excellent player. I think next summer, with lots of contracts gone, is when Habs really make hay with signings & trades.
Paddy, Laine makes 8.7 million. How are the Hasps going to get a cut rate deal on a salary like that?
George, there’s also Justin Barron to re-sign but you’re right in that the Habs have a lot of cap space.
The problem is that there’s no obvious target. I don’t see them getting Necas, Zegras or McGroarty at this time. Price likely too high and such a deal would probably have been done already. Laine might be a possibility.
LJ, it’s possible that Columbus could hold $2m or so in salary. But I think they could fit him in for two years. There’s close to $12m coming off next year in dead space and guys like Armia and Dvorak who will certainly not be brought back. Plus the cap will likely again increase by $4m. So they’d have enough room for Laine even with big raises for Slaf and Guhle.
Not saying they’ll trade for Laine but it’s not impossible.
LJ, I didn’t mean cut rate on salary (although by shipping a contract back to CBJ, it could mitigate it).
What I meant was that I don’t think they’d pay Necas 8x$7.5 because it impacts their long-term strategy too much, but if they could get a cut-rate deal on Laine in terms of assets, they would accept his $8.7M salary for two years.
I really don’t know: when factoring in both production and salary, what is Laine’s value? If CBJ think it’s not much and would rather have his salary off the books, maybe Habs could get him for spare parts? Genuinely unsure! But if possible, I could see Habs doing that.
(I think this post may have made my point even more unclear! lol)
Howard, yeah, I was only looking at RFAs as shown on the major league roster by CapFriendly. So far, Barron is shown among the minor-leaguers, so whatever he gets won’t affect the cap space until he gets elevated to the major league group.
Paddy, yeah, next year they have 5 UFAs potentially (likely??) coming off the books, totaling $13,862,500
Dvorak $4,450,000
Armia $3,400,000
Evans $1,700,000
Pezetta $812,500
Savard $3,500,000
Would they try and re-up Savard?
Paddy, no worries.
If I were CLB I would keep Laine and put him with Fantilli or Monahan. Don’t see their need to move him.
George, I do see the Habs re-upping Savard. They could probably get something good for him this deadline but the truth is that the next year, they’ll be hoping to make playoffs and will then need another player exactly like him.
People argue that you can trade and re-sign him but that rarely happens. I see them as extending him.
LJ, I agree – I think Laine can be a valuable piece for them. If he’s adamant about his trade demand, though, I think it makes sense for CBJ to move him rather than keeping him there, unhappy.
I can see the Habs re-signing Savard and Evans at cap hits that, at the very most, won’t be much higher than current.
Armia and Dvorak are as good as gone. Their hits coming off the books, together with retained salary expiring on Allen and Petry, means $12m. Coming off the books.
Has Kane had any locker room concerns in Edmonton? he has been there for 3 full season. I have not heard of any concerns. Definitely puts it all on the line.
A healthy Evander Kane might’ve been the difference in the series.
I have heard that things have gone sour between the Oilers and Kane, I don’t know what that involves. The Oilers are looking to get a 2nd opinion on his injury.
Not a whole bunch Caper.
Kane was playing hurt, play suffered, ice time got cut, Kane bitched about it. Nothing crazy. Some arguing on the bench with other guys – Draisaitl. Missed coverage stuff.
Kane brings a bunch of good to the table, can skate, score 20 in his sleep and while playing hurt, more when healthy, is intimidating physically as he hits with purpose. Will go at it with anyone including Zadorov in RD 2. Big value there come playoff time, and ya, would have been big to have a healthy Kane against FLA.
Down side – that type of player takes a beating over time too. Missed d-zone coverage is a thing with him. Doesn’t always come back at 100% effort either. Weird duck, can make it about himself at times, more than most guys.
IMO the good outweighs the bad, and at playoff time you really, really, want a guy like him if he’s healthy.
25 goal scorer who can skate, is big, physical, and one of the top 5 or 10 toughest guys in the NHL is worth a whack more than he earns. Contract wise he is a bargain.
Unless he is blowing up the culture, you keep him. If he was, we would know in Edmonton.
Kane’s problems are on the ice. Sure he can score but the oilers are out scored when he is on the ice. He brings nothing defensively and takes way too many penalties.
Re “Kingerski speculates the direction of the team might account for why Crosby hasn’t re-signed yet. Perhaps the Penguins captain sees Dubas’ recent signings and wonders if sticking around is worthwhile.”
Absolutely
There is zero chance Crosby is happy with what Dubas has done to thr Penguins
It’s only his love for here and the jersey that has kept him for asking for a trade
I don’t want him to leave; but couldn’t at all blame him
Re Oilers and Cap space and Kane
1) Kane (like Marner) holds all the cards
2) Oilers could start the season with him on LTIR (for his expected Sports Hernia operation)
3) Oilers could call Bill Armstrong about Weber. Utah doesn’t need the Cap space
4)Even though McLeod would be easier to trade and would get a reasonable return; lowest of 3 (including Ceci and Kulak) in freed up Cap hit; and McLeod 6 years younger yhan the other 2 and more value to Oilers
5) Any move out of one of those 3 means their roster spot needs to be replace (at least at League min) so their full Cap not freed up
With the above; if they aren’t bringing in Weber and Kane nixes any trade (and does not go on LTIR); then Oilers will need to flip both Ceci and Kulak; sign Brogberg and Holloway to bridge deals; and try and find a reasonable UFA D
Here is a suggested UFA if they take that route:
Gustav Lidstrom , RD,
6’2” , 197, only 25;
Note: was a +12 on the Ducks (Ducks GF-GA was minus 91; almost all on the team were negatives in +/- and large negatives at thst)
just came off a $0.95 M Cap hit
I don’t think Crosby is going to be in any rush to push the issue. He wants to stay with Pittsburgh, and when you look at it, Pittsburgh is still a playoff contender. Columbus is at the bottom, Washington and Pittsburgh are neck and neck when it comes to age/talent/how much gas is left, then you have the Islanders who are in the constant state of good not great, Phily will likely be better than Pittsburgh a couple of years from now, but they are not there yet, and then NJ who have talent but can also underwhelm. The only two teams definitely above Pittsburgh are the Rangers and the Hurricanes. So the Penguins have the realistic potential of finishing somewhere between 3rd and 6th. I don’t think that is enough to convince Crosby to seek a move this year at least.
Being neck and neck with Washington is not a good thing.
Pittsburgh COULD make the playoffs. But I don’t believe they do. They are certainly not a contender as constructed.
This team is worse than last year. Philly and Jersey probably leap frog Pittsburgh this year.
Lindsay and Captain Obvious
“Penguins could make the playoffs”
Should be altered with “have” inserted after “could” and the “k” in make changed to a “d”
Atlantic will get 1 of the wildcards for sure; maybe both
Penguins in no way anywhere near Rangers or Canes; no where near; and
Are not as good as Devils, Caps, Flyers
Finishing ahead of Columbus and netting s top 10 pick should not have been Dubas’ goal
Apparently it is
Now, if the prognostication was sought 6 days ago it would have been much much different
At that time, Penguins had options; space; a new PP coach; and UFA season hadn’t opened as yet
This team definitely COULD have (read SHOULD have) made moves that got team younger, bigger, faster, stronger, better, making the team better now and in future
That did not happen. Not at all.
In 6 days; Penguins chances of playoffs has vanished and for good (at least 6 years) and their franchise player has yet to re-up
Moves made have completely obliterated playoff expectations
Not a good feeling here at all
I don’t think the Pens get in either.
I don’t think it’s Dubas’ fault, he can’t work miracles and make players younger.
I think its better for the team if Crosby leaves as the rebuild can start sooner. They’re simply in a holding pattern.
I know trading for Weber doesn’t help the Oilers cap problem.
Best guess at top 3 in Metro.
NYR
NJD
CAR
Rest fight for a wildcard, and maybe just one gets in, I would bet on zero.
Washington finishes ahead of Pittsburgh.
Thank you Lindsay….fully agree
Everyone is burying the Penguins they will be a playoff team…..not a cup contender but i see them playing with a chip on their shoulders !!
Happy 4th
To be honest Crosby ought to be more upset with his poor decisions to insist upon keeping the core together. I love what Sid has done as a player and leader. But the tragedy surrounding the sale of the Pens to Fenway Group was Fenway’s insistence on keeping Sid happy. The contracts for Letang, Malkin, Rust etc have placed the Pens into Cap Hell and little room left to escape it. Dubas inherited a mess. Hopefully he will be given the leeway to correct his predecessors mistakes.
It is useful to look at how quickly the Rangers rebuilt after they committed to that course. It is also instructive that Tampa Bay just made some tough decisions about moving forward. They would have been crazy to give Stamkos a new long term deal. They have shed some salary while keeping a number of core players. It’s a shame that Penguins management was in paralysis while the sale to Fenway transpired. Sid might decide to leave. I wouldn’t blame him there is 0 chance that the Pens will win another Cup in the next 5 years. As that great philosopher Kenny Rogers once sang. You got to know when to hold them and know when to run. It may be time for Sid to run.
Call me crazy…. sid for necas
Crazy
Crosby, IF he agrees to waive (I sadly would if I were in his shoes) it would very likely be to go to play with MacKinnon
He in no way agrees to go to a Metro team
Dark thoughts for Penguins is Sid actually asking for a trade
So, preemptively here is my trade proposal
Sid(50% retain) + Bunting
For
Middlestadt, Ross, 1st
Pens at least younger and building for future
Avs jump way up on favs list for cup next year
I move my family to Colorado
what sid should do is see how the season is going…… if pens are out of a race agree to a tdl move to help pens. even if not the avs
then he can resign with pens or avs. gives his current team one more chance for a run and the pens still a way to get assets for him
“ He in no way agrees to go to a Metro team”
The same was said about Guentzel on this very same page. That didn’t age well.
Pittsburgh would be stupid to worry about a division rival rather than return. Then again it is Dubas, so you may be right.
Pittsburgh SHOULD be concerned with the return. Chances are, he’s not going to come back and haunt them in the playoffs anyway.
I certainly didn’t say Guentzel wouldn’t get traded to a Metro team
Within Division trades are rare but do happen
Crosby is not Guentzel. Crosby completely dictates where he will play
He won’t be waiving to play in the Metro
IF he waives; big IF; one would surmise that at least 75% chance it is to go to play with MacKinnon
Can you just imagine MacKinnon, Crosby, Makar, Rantinen on the PP?
Ouch
No, it wasn’t you.
He”ll be 37 when the season starts. I think he’d waive for his best opportunity to win. Not for a buddy. That gets thrown out there a lot. Silly fan speculation.
I don’t think Crosby on Colorado pushes them over the top. Dallas and Edmonton would still be far ahead.
And Colorado without question would have to start with a roster player. Mittelstdt?++.?
All that being said, I don’t see a team where he fits in the Metro today.
But to say he won’t is hopeful thinking, I’m guessing?
Either way, he won’t be coming back to haunt Pittsburgh in the playoffs anytime soon.
Not totally crazy. The only way Sid is going to win another cup is to go to a contending team. While it would be heartbreaking it might give the Pens more prospects and picks to rebuild the team. If only the Pens had landed Trocheck and let Malkin walk they would be on the road to a decent rebuild.
Unrealistic prediction:
Crosby signs 1-year, $1M contract with his childhood nemesis, the Toronto Maple Leafs, in 2025-26 and helps the team win a second straight cup after a 58 year drought.
In 2026-27, McDavid joins the Leafs for their 3rd straight.
;P
I realize that that is written tongue-in-cheek … but we will eventually see much or all of that repeated in all seriousness in more than one site.
Here’s another: Syd winds up with his and his dad’s favorite team – the Habs – and propels them to their ELEVENTH cup in the past 58 years. 🙂
I have a more realistic scenario.
Sid gets so good at golf he retires from the NHL to join the PGA full time.
Mario Lemieux played only for the Penguins. Good intentions for Sidney Crosby follow Lemieux and only play for the Penguins. Also, did you guys ever think Crosby, Malkin, and Letang want keep playing together.
When it comes down to whether or not Crosby, Malkin and Letang want to keep playing together, in the world of professional sports (a “business” as so many like to call it when it’s them justifying their reason for leaving an organization), it doesn’t really matter what they want. It’s what the team wants as an organization moving forward.
Of course, I’m speaking from my mercenary tendencies … but any organization that puts “sentimentality” ahead of practical, pragmatic considerations is ultimately doomed to failure.
But again – that’s me. I enjoy the spectacle of the sport and enjoy it more when the team I follow more closely is constantly trying to improve. To that end I subscribe to the adage “what have you done for me lately?” … and no, I don’t want your $450 jersey with your name emblazoned across the back shoulders.
Agree George,
Tampa just let Stamkos go all out the door for zero! Ouch!!!
I said before the deadline they should trade him this year, and Hedman this year if they fall off.
And before someone says it, no they didn’t especially trade Stamkos for Guentzel. They could have traded Stamkos AND signed Guentzel.
The return for Stamkos could have put a couple of solid pieces back into the organization PLUS added Guentzel to n FA.
Sweet sweet smell of sentiment!
Stamkos certainly didn’t have the same sentiment.
They really flopped on that one! Well, and the whole Sergachev / Mcdonagh thing.
Did Dubas take notice? Doubtful.
Essentially, not especially!
Lol
Re; Sid
I think we all know the Pen’s are going no where
This year they may not even make the playoffs with this team they have right now it looks Very Sad
if Sid is going anywhere its to Colorado with play with his buddy from Cole Harbour Nate.
The trade happens in March at the deadline
One thing is for sure… He is NOT going to The Maple Leafs…..😲😂
Leaf fan’s think every one is going to the leafs they could have a roster of 99 players and still be adding more⁉️
How in the name of Bobby Orr, are the Avalanche supposed to fit Sidney Crosby under the cap?
Just because guys are from the same province, state, town or country doesn’t automatically mean that they want to play together. That’s a lazy narrative.
I think they could make the cap work. But agree it’s a lazy narrative.
This kinda silly things always find a way to the rumor blogs.
My latest favorite is Draisaitl taking significantly less than market value because he’s buds with Mcdavid and their wives / gfs are besties.
I don’t like anybody that much. And my wife can find new friends or fly them to us with my extra millions.
Lol. Same.
I think the higher ups wanted to keep the big 3 together. I think Rutherford didn’t. Not that I’m sticking up for Rutherford but they have a mess there. imo, none playoff team
Kane. I could be wrong but Oilers got to SCF’s without Kane. Kane can choose where he wants to go. They could waive him. He’s now (has been) a 3rd line player making over 5 mil.
Just for fun, let’s say 87 takes his sticks and plays somewhere else, yes he could and would be to choose where that would be. Would he choose Tampa with Guentzel, Colorado with good friend Nathan, imagine him saying he’d play in Edmonton, that would be just scary for the league, maybe Chicago to teach Bedard some things.,I honestly feel he retires a penguin(hopefully…Stamkos, Gretzky, Messier, just to name a few that played or will play for more than one team) but again make a worst case scenario of what the captain does do if he decides to go chase another cup or even at least a chance at one
Sid to Boston for Swayman,Zacha,Lohrei and Frederic!