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NHL Rumors Update
NHL Rumors Update for 08/28/2019
The latest NHL rumors from The Hockey Writers.
08/28/2019 edition:
By Jim Parsons on Aug 27, 2019 11:30 am
In today’s NHL rumors, there is news that the Ottawa Senators have begun contract extension talks with one of their young defensemen, the Dallas Stars have invited a veteran to join them on a professional tryout basis and did Connor McDavid suffer a setback in his PCL rehab? Finally, will the NHL punish Evgeni Kuznetzov?
Senators and Chabot Talking Contract Extension
Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun reports that the Ottawa Senators have entered into contract extension talks with blueliner Thomas Chabot. This comes right on the heels of the Senators inking Colin White to a six-year deal.
GM Pierre Dorion wouldn’t say much about the discussions but he did share the following:
“We don’t think talking publicly about any contract negotiations, whether it’s Chabot or any pending UFA, does us any good.
But we understand the importance of our young core and having them in Ottawa as long as possible.”
Chabot’s entry-level contract expires after this coming season and logic would suggest the team wants to avoid any snags during negotiations with their young star. “… we’ve had discussions and I don’t think I should say anymore,” Dorion said.
Related: A Brief History of NHL Uniforms
Upshall to Join Dallas Stars on PTO
The hosts of the popular podcast, Spittin’ Chiclets reported this weekend that veteran forward Scottie Upshall would be attending Dallas Stars camp on a professional tryout. Sean Shapiro of The Athletic later confirmed the report.
Upshall missed last season with a knee injury that caused him to fail a physical with the Edmonton Oilers during his PTO. He’s healed up and hoping to demonstrate he’s still an effective bottom-six forward.
Related: Revisiting the Brayden Schenn Trade
Did Connor McDavid Suffer a Setback?
Oilers star Connor McDavid recently decided not to take part in the annual BioSteel camp in Toronto. That was a bit of a shock considering how connected he is to that camp. It was immediately assumed by many he might have suffered a setback in his injury rehab.
Mark Masters of TSN is reporting that is not the case. McDavid has been on the ice and skating, likely to be ready for the start of the 2019-20 regular season. He should even be at training camp. Pulling out was likely just a cautionary move since it’s not necessary he try to rush any comeback.
McDavid also told NHL.com that he’s been working out with James Neal all summer and he’s never seen Neal work harder. He’s excited for what the veteran winger can bring to the Oilers this season.
Kuznetzov Won’t Be The NHL’s Whipping Boy
Matt Larkin of The Hockey Hockey News says it’s unlikely that Washington Capitals forward Evgeny Kuznetsov will miss any NHL games for testing positive for cocaine at the World Championships earlier this year. The NHL will look more closely at the situation and meet with Kuznetzov but are more likely to try and seek help than to punish.
The NHL’s understanding is that Kuznetsov “has voluntarily sought help through the education and counseling program provided for in the NHL and NHLPA collective bargaining agreement.” And, because they don’t test specifically for cocaine (it is not considered a performance-enhancing drug), the worst that might happen is that the Washington Capitals themselves might try to send a message through disciplinary action of some kind.
The post NHL Rumors: Senators, Stars, Oilers, More appeared first on The Hockey Writers.
By Jim Parsons on Aug 26, 2019 12:05 pm
In today’s NHL rumor rundown, there is news on the Edmonton Oilers and possible interest in center Riley Sheahan. There is also news out of Toronto where GM Kyle Dubas seems to be living in a fantasy world where he thinks he can get Mitch Marner and Jake Gardiner under contract. What’s the latest on Chris Kreider and, the St. Louis Blues let Patrick Maroon walk this past week. Are they facing a situation where more players will have to leave after this season?
Oilers Interested in Riley Sheahan?
It’s no secret the Edmonton Oilers could use a third-line center. That’s probably the reason they were associated with Derick Brassard before Brassard signed with the New York Islanders. In an attempt to fill that hole, Allan Mitchell of The Athletic wonders if the Oilers are looking at free agent Riley Sheahan?
What makes Sheahan so attractive for the Oilers is his ability to win face offs and kill penalties. He is over 50 percent on the draw and while the Oilers brought in Gaetan Haas and have players like Cooper Marody seemingly ready to make a jump, neither has much experience nor are they known for their defensive prowess.
Mitchell writes:
This is an interesting midsummer dilemma for Holland. Does he bring Sheahan to camp on a one-year deal, giving his new coach a veteran hand to lean on? That’s probably the play here, if making the playoffs is the solitary goal of the 2019-20 campaign.
… In signing Sheahan, he could suck all of the oxygen out of training camp chances for Haas and Marody…
The Edmonton Journal’s Jim Matheson also found the fit to make sense saying, “Still think UFA C Riley Sheahan could get PTO with history with Holland in Detroit.”
Related: Revisiting the Brayden Schenn Trade
Dubas Wants to Sign Gardiner and Marner?
While many media scribes go back and forth on the pending future of unrestricted free agent defenseman Jake Gardiner, The Toronto Sun’s Steve Simmons writes that he believes general manager Kyle Dubas is hoping to sign both Mitch Marner and unrestricted free agent Jake Gardiner. That’s a tall task considering the trouble that seems to be surrounding just getting a Marner deal done.
Simmons writes:
The only way the Leafs could sign Gardiner — I’ve been told — was by signing Marner to a bridge deal, then inking the defenceman, which would mean the likely trading away of Kasperi Kapanen or Andreas Johnsson. And still that might not be doable.
It’s hard to envision a scenario where the Maple Leafs would be willing to trade one of Kapanen or Johnson to get a deal done with Gardiner, and while Dubas may want to have his cake and eat it too, Simmons doesn’t see Gardiner remaining with the Maple Leafs.
Could the Blues Have Trouble Keeping Everyone?
St. Louis Post-Dispatch’s Jeff Gordon writes that the top priority for the St. Louis Blues will be to re-sign Alex Pietrangelo. That could cause issues for players like Joel Edmundson and Brayden Schenn.
Schenn’s numbers dropped in 2018-19 54 points and unless he returns to the previous season’s numbers could be priced out of St. Louis. Could that make Schenn a trade candidate this coming season, especially if he struggles out of the gate?
Gordon writes:
So if I’m Brayden Schenn, I bet on myself rather than accept a team-friendly deal. And if I’m Doug Armstrong, I play out the season and reassess things before the market opens.
Related: Kreider Trade Could Be a Mistake
Kreider Knows He Could Be Traded
Rick Carpiniello of The Athletic said he had an off-the-record chat with Chris Kreider who understands he is far more likely to be traded than not before he gets to unrestricted free agency.
Kreider told the scribe he is not about to clutter his mind with what-ifs and distractions and isn’t worried because he feels he has a lot of hockey left in him.
Carpiniello writes:
Kreider is one of the smarter players in the game and he knows the deal. … And he has to know that with his league-wide value being in the seven years/$7-plus million per ballpark next July 1st that the Rangers may not want to go there.
The post NHL Rumors: Oilers, Maple Leafs, Blues, Rangers, More appeared first on The Hockey Writers.
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