NHL Rumor Mill – April 13, 2024

by | Apr 13, 2024

NHL Rumor Mill – April 13, 2024

What’s the latest on the Flames? Could a potential move to Utah turn the Coyotes into offseason buyers? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

LATEST ON THE FLAMES

THE ATHLETIC: Julian McKenzie replied to several questions from his readers regarding the Flames’ offseason plans.

McKenzie will be surprised if Jacob Markstrom returns next season, partly because of how things played out with trade speculation and partly due to where the Flames are compared to contending teams.

The New Jersey Devils won’t be the only team interested in Markstrom. McKenzie suggested the Toronto Maple Leafs could be a suitor if Ilya Samsonov doesn’t pan out. The Los Angeles Kings and Detroit Red Wings could seek upgrades between the pipes.

Calgary Flames goaltender Jacob Markstrom (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: I’ll also be surprised if Markstrom isn’t traded this summer. The Devils were reportedly close to acquiring him in February before the deal fell through and it’s expected they’ll try again this summer.

McKenzie noted that Markstrom has the final say because of his no-movement clause. His $6 million average annual value could also be a potential sticking point.

The Flames won’t be primary suitors for a first-line center unless one becomes available and their offer rises above the rest. This summer’s free-agent class contains former Flames’ Elias Lindholm and Sean Monahan but McKenzie doesn’t expect either player will return to Calgary.

Instead, the Flames could package some of the draft capital to acquire a young player who can help their roster. He suggested looking at players who might benefit from a change of scenery like Winnipeg’s Cole Perfetti or Philadelphia’s Morgan Frost.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: McKenzie noted that Flames general manager Craig Conroy wants to add a veteran or two but also wants his team to be competitive next season. Given how well his acquisition of Yegor Sharangovich worked out, I suspect he’ll focus on players in their mid-twenties who can help his club next season and beyond.

COULD THE COYOTES BECOME BUYERS THIS SUMMER?

SPORTSNET: During Friday’s episode of “32 Thoughts: The Podcast”, Elliotte Friedman speculated that the Arizona Coyotes could become aggressive buyers this summer if they move to Utah.

The NHL is negotiating with Coyotes owner Anthony Meruelo and Ryan Smith, owner of the NBA’s Utah Jazz, to relocate the franchise to Salt Lake City.

If the team does move, Smith could be motivated to make Salt Lake City a strong hockey destination. “Ryan Smith is not going to bring a team to Utah that’s going to be underfunded and playing with one hand tied behind its back,” said Friedman.

The Coyotes have considerable cap space for next season and beyond to invest in free agency and the trade market.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Coyotes currently have a projected cap space of $41.2 million for 2024-25 with 13 active roster players under contract. They’ll have plenty of room to acquire established talent this summer if they wish to go that route. The Coyotes also have a well-stocked prospect pipeline and a deep pool of draft picks to use as trade bait.










NHL Rumor Mill – April 12, 2024

by | Apr 12, 2024

NHL Rumor Mill – April 12, 2024

Do the Golden Knights have enough cap room to re-sign Jonathan Marchessault? Could the Bruins pursue Patrick Kane this summer? Check out the latest in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

CAN THE GOLDEN KNIGHTS AFFORD JONATHAN MARCHESSAULT?

LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL: Danny Webster reports the Golden Knights have approximately $7.59 million in salary-cap space for 2024-25 after signing Noah Hanifin to a contract extension yesterday. That’s assuming goaltender Robin Lehner remains on long-term injury reserve.

That doesn’t leave much room for the Golden Knights to bring back some of their free agents, the most notable being winger Jonathan Marchessault. The reigning Conn Smythe Trophy winner has 41 goals in his contract year.

Their other unrestricted free agents include center Chandler Stephenson, wingers William Carrier, Anthony Mantha and Michael Amadio and defenseman Alec Martinez. Hanifin’s signing suggests Martinez might not be back while their acquisition last month of Tomas Hertl could mean Stephenson is on his way out.

Vegas Golden Knights winger Jonathan Marchessault (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hanifin and Hertl are on expensive long-term contracts and will play key roles as core players for the Golden Knights. Their additions almost certainly mean Martinez and Stephenson won’t be back.

VEGAS HOCKEY NOW: Kevin Allen also wondered what the future holds for Marchessault. The 33-year-old winger can’t expect a long-term deal at this stage but he’s a durable player who’s netted 99 goals (and counting) over the past three seasons.

Marchessault is coming off a contract with an annual cap hit of $5 million. Allen speculates a contender seeking a scorer could pay a bigger number on a short-term deal.

The Golden Knights must shed a salary or two if they intend to re-sign Marchessault.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Golden Knights aren’t a team that allows sentimentality to enter the equation when maintaining their roster. Popular players such as Marc-Andre Fleury and Reilly Smith have been shipped out to make room for other talent. They could let Marchessault walk on July 1 rather than re-sign him.

If they intend to keep him, they’ll have no choice but to make a cost-cutting trade or two. That could mean peddling 31-year-old forward William Karlsson, who has three more years remaining with an AAV of $5.9 million and a 10-team no-trade clause.

COULD THE BRUINS PURSUE PATRICK KANE THIS SUMMER?

BOSTON HOCKEY NOW: Jimmy Murphy wondered if the Bruins might attempt to sign Patrick Kane if the 34-year-old Detroit Red Wings forward hits the open market on July 1.

Murphy claims there were rumors last summer that Bruins general manager Don Sweeney was interested in signing Kane. “If he doesn’t come to terms on a new contract with winger Jake DeBrusk, could Sweeney look to the more experienced three-time Stanley Cup champion?”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: I think Sweeney is more interested in someone younger such as Vancouver Canucks two-way center Elias Lindholm.

Sweeny was also said to be interested in Noah Hanifin but that’s not possible after his re-signing with the Golden Knights. He could shift his focus toward Brady Skjei or Brett Pesce. Both Carolina Hurricanes blueliners are slated to become UFAs on July 1.










NHL Rumor Mill – April 11, 2024

by | Apr 11, 2024

NHL Rumor Mill – April 11, 2024

Will Patrick Kane return with the Red Wings next season? Should the Devils add toughness to their roster in the offseason? Check out the latest in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

WILL PATRICK KANE RETURN WITH THE RED WINGS?

MLIVE.COM: Ansar Khan reports the decision by the Detroit Red Wings general manager to sign Patrick Kane to a one-year, $2.5 million contract last November has been validated.

Kane recently reached the 20-goal plateau for the 16th time in 17 NHL seasons. It’s an impressive achievement for a 35-year-old winger coming off a hip resurfacing procedure last June. He said he was “really happy” with his decision to sign with the Red Wings, adding he has nothing but positive things to say about the organization, the coaches and the team.

Detroit Red Wings forward Patrick Kane (NHL Images).

With 44 points in 46 games, Kane is second to Wings captain Dylan Larkin in points per game (.96 to .97). He also indicated he’s no longer feeling pain on the ice as he did before his procedure.

Khan believes the Red Wings would like to re-sign Kane before his eligibility for unrestricted free-agent status on July 1. He’s focused on the playoff chase and will sort out his future in the offseason.

DETROIT HOCKEY NOW: Bob Duff noted that Kane offered no inclination that he’d like to return with the Wings.

“I think just with the situation I was in and coming in and being here for maybe three-quarters of the season or whatever it was, it’s just this year and then we’ll see what happens,” said Kane.

Duff believes Kane’s performance this season will draw a lot of suitors if he tests the free-agent market on July 1. Yzerman could find it challenging to keep the future Hall-of-Famer.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: A lot will depend on what kind of offers Kane could receive. They’ll be short-term proposals but he could lean toward a club willing to sign him for three years.

The cap hit will also be a factor. He won’t get anything close to the $10.5 million annual average value of his previous contract and won’t accept another $2.75 million AAV. Something around $6 million annually could tempt him.

Kane could prefer signing with Stanley Cup contenders if he hits the open market.

WILL THE DEVILS ADD TOUGHNESS IN THE OFFSEASON

SPORTSNET: Jeff Marek noted the New Jersey Devils intend to search for a starting goaltender and a new head coach this summer. However, he wondered if they’d re-sign enforcer Kurtis MacDermid or find a suitable replacement.

Marek observed that most of the Devils’ rivals in the Metropolitan Division carry a slugger. MacDermid was brought in to deal with Matt Rempe after the Rangers forward ran over Nathan Bastian.










NHL Rumor Mill – April 10, 2024

by | Apr 10, 2024

NHL Rumor Mill – April 10, 2024

Check out the latest on the Canadiens and Flyers in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

LATEST ON THE CANADIENS

SPORTSNET: Eric Engels noted the Montreal Canadiens’ ongoing need for scoring depth following their 4-2 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs.

A healthy Kirby Dach and improving young players like Juraj Slafkovsky and Alex Newhook should help the Canadiens’ offense next season. Nevertheless, Engels believes general manager Kent Hughes must use his plethora of defensemen and draft picks as trade bait to bolster their scoring punch.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hughes acknowledged the need for more scoring following last month’s trade deadline. He hinted that he could be a buyer again at the draft. He acquired Dach during the first round of the 2022 draft and Newhook the day before the opening round of last year’s draft.

Dach and Newhook are promising players yet to reach their potential. The Canadiens need one or two established scorers, preferably in their mid-to-late twenties who can fit into the club’s long-term plans.

TVA SPORTS: Jean-Charles Lajoie and Tony Marinaro believe the Canadiens should part ways with struggling winger Josh Anderson.

Montreal Canadiens winger Josh Anderson (NHL Images).

Lajoie believes the Canadiens cannot bring back Anderson next season. He suggests retaining 50 percent of his $5.5 million annual average value or buying out the remaining three years of his deal.

Failing that, Marinaro recommends Anderson start next season with their AHL affiliate in Laval. He pointed out they did the same thing this season with Joel Armia, whose performance improved after spending eight games with their farm team.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’ll be interesting to see what Hughes has in store for Anderson, whose production fell from 21 goals in 2022-23 to just nine this season. The 29-year-old winger carries an eight-team no-trade list this season and a five-team no-trade for the remainder of the contract.

The Canadiens will have over $19 million in cap space (factoring in Carey Price’s $10.5 million on permanent LTIR) for 2024-25. Still, Hughes might not want to carry six years of dead cap space on his books, especially if he’s got plans to bring in a scorer or two this summer.

Buying out Anderson would only count as over $222K next season, climbing to $2.22 million in 2025-26 and $3.72 million in 2026-27 before dropping to $1.72 million in each of the final three seasons. Even with a rising cap, that’s a long time to carry that buyout on the books.

Retaining half his salary would be a better option but it’s still $2.75 million in dead cap space per season for three years. The best move could be to keep Anderson for another season, see if his production improves, and decide his future afterward.

ARE CHANGES IN STORE FOR THE FLYERS IF THEY MISS THE PLAYOFFS?

THE ATHLETIC: Kevin Kurz wondered if there could be offseason repercussions for the Philadelphia Flyers if they miss the playoffs. Having held a postseason berth for most of the season, the struggling Flyers are in danger of failing to clinch a spot.

The Flyers could go into next season with Samuel Ersson and Ivan Fedotov as their goalie tandem, depending on the latter’s contract talks. However, it’s not settled that they’re good enough to carry the club into the playoffs.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Carter Hart’s absence from the Flyers contributed to their slide down the standings in recent weeks. Ersson’s done his best to fill the void but wasn’t meant to carry such a heavy workload at this early stage of his NHL career. After being forced to spend the past two seasons in the KHL, Fedotov has only three games of NHL experience and came in a couple of weeks ago under unusual circumstances.

With Hart’s future in the NHL cloudy, the Flyers could bring in a veteran backup for Ersson if Fedotov isn’t re-signed before July 1.

Kurz also cited hockey analyst Doug MacLean speculating that Flyers head coach John Tortorella could move into a management role next season.

MacLean claimed Tortorella requested a transition to management during his final season with the Columbus Blue Jackets. Then-GM Jarmo Kekalainen declined and Tortorella left at the end of the season.

If Tortorella took a management role, Kurz wondered if assistant coach Brad Shaw or Rocky Thompson would take over as head coach. He also noted that former St. Louis Blues bench boss Craig Berube is tight with Flyers president Keith Jones.










NHL Rumor Mill – April 9, 2024

by | Apr 9, 2024

NHL Rumor Mill – April 9, 2024

Which clubs could target Flames goaltender Jacob Markstrom this summer? Could the Blues attempt to move Jordan Binnington in the offseason? Check out the latest in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

WHICH CLUBS COULD TARGET MARKSTROM?

EDMONTON JOURNAL: Jim Matheson considers it a foregone conclusion that the Calgary Flames will trade Jacob Markstrom. The 34-year-old goaltender has two years remaining on his contract with an average annual value of $6.4 million and a full no-movement clause.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: As Matheson observed, Markstrom holds all the cards here. It’s his decision if he’ll accept a trade and to which clubs he’d find acceptable destinations. It’s believed a deal with the New Jersey Devils fell through two months ago.

Matheson observed that the Ottawa Senators need a goalie. He claimed the Flames really like center Shane Pinto.

Calgary Flames goaltender Jacob Markstrom (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: You know who else really likes Pinto? The Senators. They intend on signing the restricted free agent this summer. Pinto told The Athletic’s Ian Mendes he wants to stay in Ottawa and hopes to get a new deal done soon.

The Senators probably aren’t on Markstrom’s list of preferred trade destinations. He’s probably not interested in joining a rebuilding club at this stage in his career.

The Los Angeles Kings could search for a new netminder in the offseason.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Kings are a more realistic destination for Markstrom. They’re a playoff contender looking to take the next step toward Stanley Cup contention. The Kings reportedly attempted to acquire Linus Ullmark but the Boston Bruins goalie is said to have refused to waive his no-trade clause.

The Devils have veteran Jake Allen and that’s about it.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: After the trade deadline, Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald stated that he’s going “big-game hunting” for a goaltender in the offseason. Markstrom is probably at the top of his list.

COULD THE BLUES SHOP BINNINGTON IN THE OFFSEASON?

SPORTSNET: During Monday’s “32 Thoughts: The Podcast”, Elliotte Friedman wondered if St. Louis Blues GM Doug Armstrong will make any major changes to his club in the offseason.

Friedman and Jeff Marek pointed out that goaltender Jordan Binnington is having a really good year for the Blues. He has a full no-trade clause that reverts to an 18-team no-trade list for next season. Friedman is curious if Armstrong might attempt to move the 30-year-old goaltender, who has value in the trade market.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Everything I’ve read and heard regarding the Blues suggested Armstrong might try to move one of his high-salaried defensemen. Still, we can’t dismiss the possibility he gauges Binnington’s value in the trade market.

Binnington’s improvement this season was partly because he reined in his fiery temper. Still, that aspect of his personality could make some clubs leery about acquiring him. His no-trade next season limits the Blues to just 14 trade partners, though Armstrong could ask him to widen his list of destinations. His $6 million cap hit through 2026-27 could also be a sticking point.

Promising goalie Joel Hofer has the makings of a future starter for the Blues. If Armstrong moves Binnington this summer, he must bring in a reliable veteran to back up Hofer.










NHL Rumor Mill – April 8, 2024

by | Apr 8, 2024

NHL Rumor Mill – April 8, 2024

More speculation about Sidney Crosby’s future plus the latest on the Flames and Blue Jackets in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

THE LATEST SIDNEY CROSBY SPECULATION

NEW YORK POST: Larry Brooks noted there is some trepidation that Sidney Crosby might leave the Pittsburgh Penguins. He indicated that next season will be Crosby’s 20th with the Penguins. He cited Martin Brodeur and Mike Modano as two stars who changed teams after 20 years.

If Crosby wants out, Brooks speculates he’ll let Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas know at the end of this season. That would allow Dubas time during the summer to trade Crosby to a contender like Colorado, Tampa Bay or perhaps Vegas.

However, the majority opinion expects the 36-year-old Penguins captain will sign a contract extension early this summer ahead of an attempted accelerated roster reconstruction.

Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: That is the overall consensus among the pundits but it hasn’t stopped some folks from playing “What If”?

Everything I’ve read and heard coming out of Pittsburgh has Crosby signing an extension before the start of next season to finish his career as a Penguin. Crosby could decide to chase a fourth Stanley Cup ring somewhere else but I think he’s staying put.

WHAT NEXT FOR THE FLAMES?

THE SCORE: Josh Wegman looked at what could be in store for the Calgary Flames after missing the playoffs for the second straight season.

Wegman doesn’t advocate for Flames GM Craig Conroy to tear down his roster. Nevertheless, he must avoid handing out long-term contracts to aging players and focus on bringing more youth into the lineup.

Trade candidates could include goaltender Jacob Markstrom and 2025 pending UFAs Andrew Mangiapane and Andrei Kuzmenko. Wegman noted the New Jersey Devils’ interest in Markstrom and how it became a prominent distraction this season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Conroy signaled his intentions when he traded pending UFAs Elias Lindholm, Noah Hanifin and Chris Tanev. It will likely be more of a retool than a rebuild.

Markstrom’s no-movement clause gives him full control over his situation. Depending on which story you believe, Flames ownership spiked a potential trade to the Devils because the Flames were still in wildcard contention. It’s anticipated Markstrom could agree to go to a contender this summer. Whether it’s the Devils or somewhere else remains to be seen.

Mangiapane and Kuzmenko could hit the trade block this summer.

Wegman recommends extending Yegor Sharangovich. He’s eligible next summer for UFA status but the 25-year-old forward could still be part of the solution when the Flames turn the corner in a few years.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Sharangovich was among the bright spots for the Flames this season, reaching 30 goals for the first time in his career. Maybe Conroy will extend him this summer on a five-year deal worth around $5.5 million.

The Flames could also weaponize their cap space by targeting teams looking to clear space and are willing to include draft picks and prospects in the deal. They could sign playoff-type UFAs to one-year contracts and flip them at next year’s deadline for draft picks.

WHAT WILL THE BLUE JACKETS DO THIS SUMMER?

DAILY FACEOFF: Frank Seravalli and Tyler Yaremchuk recently discussed what could be in store this summer for the Columbus Blue Jackets under a new general manager.

Seravalli thinks the Jackets should look at moving on from some of their veteran players to make room for their younger talent. He pointed out that they haven’t won anything with their current group. Apart from Zach Werenski and perhaps Boone Jenner, none of their veterans should be safe.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Easier said than done for some of those veterans.

Forwards Johnny Gaudreau and Patrik Laine carry expensive contracts and haven’t played as well as expected.

Goaltender Elvis Merzlikins made headlines in January regarding an on-again, off-again trade request. However, he’s had his struggles and carries a $5.4 million AAV through 2026-27.

Defenseman Damon Severson carries a $6.25 million AAV through 2030-31 and has a full no-trade clause.