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NHL Rumors Update

NHL Rumors Update

NHL Rumors Update for 11/08/2019

November 08, 2019

The latest NHL rumors from The Hockey Writers.

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11/08/2019 edition:

NHL Rumors: Maple Leafs, Kings, Oilers, Blues, More

By Jim Parsons on Nov 07, 2019 12:30 pm

In today’s NHL rumors rundown, it looks as though the Jason Spezza experiment is over in Toronto, there are thoughts from players inside the Los Angeles Kings organization about their rebuild, Robby Fabbri was traded but it shouldn’t be a surprise and more.

Maple Leafs to Waive Jason Spezza

There are a few media members, such as TSN’s Shawn Simpson calling for a speculated end to Jason Spezza’s era in Toronto and with the Maple Leafs. With Zach Hyman set to return from injury, it appears the Maple Leafs are set to waive Spezza.

After taking a hometown discount to join the team, Spezza didn’t ideally fit on the team’s fourth line. Should the Maple Leafs waive him, there were plenty of interested teams in the offseason that might be interested at his low price-point.

One rumored club is the Ottawa Senators. Ottawa tried hard to land him during the summer and GM Pierre Dorion has been public about his desire to add a forward. The Ottawa Sun’s Don Brennan sees Spezza as an ideal fit as both a mentor and a player who can contribute throughout the lineup.

Doughty’s Thoughts in Kings Rebuild

Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic wrote about the Los Angeles Kings plan to rebuild their roster and who the veterans they plan to build around — Drew Doughty and Anze Kopitar — feel about that process.

Doughty isn’t exactly in love with the idea and admits it wasn’t part of his thought-process when he signed his long-term extension. “Obviously when I was re-signing we didn’t ever think we’d do this rebuild,” Doughty said Monday after practice. He added:

“We’re not too happy we have to do it. But it’s the way things have come. We have full faith in Blakey, and full faith in all the players in this room. We’re going to get back to where we were one day, just we can’t rush it. We need to trust the process. We have to play with the cards we’ve been dealt here.”

source – ‘LeBrun: Committed Drew Doughty and Anze Kopitar remain key to rebuilding Kings’ plans’ – Piere LeBrun – The Athletic – 11/04/2019

While Doughty seems to have reluctantly accepted the fate of the organization, there might be some concern he’ll want to stick around if the rebuild takes a few wrong turns. Anze Kopitar, on the other hand, isn’t going anywhere.

“Unless somebody tells me I got to go anywhere, I certainly would like to stay here,” he said.

Something Brewing in The East

Stu Cowan reports that there were a number of scouts listed to attend last night’s Montreal Canadiens versus Boston Bruins game. Among them, the Vegas Golden Knights, Chicago Blackhawks, New Jersey Devils, Arizona Coyotes, and the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Who exactly were they watching?

Fabbri Had Asked for a Trade

It was reported later on Wednesday evening that the St. Louis Blues had traded forward Robby Fabbri to the Detroit Red Wings in exchange for forward Jacob de la Rose.

Some are seeing this move as a bit of a shock but Blues general manager Doug Armstrong told Jim Thomas of the Post Dispatch that Fabbri requested to be traded from St. Louis this past summer.

“I asked him to be patient, and then he and I talked before this last road trip and we said if things don’t change I’ll certainly look to see what I can do. … Our team was playing good and he wasn’t getting on (the ice). So I tried to help him out and we were able to find a good situation with Detroit. It took a little while to get it done but I’m really happy for Robby because it gives him a great opportunity.”

source – ‘Blues trade Fabbri to Detroit, obtain forward Jacob de la Rose’ Jim Thomas – St. Louis Today – 11/07/2019

Fabbri could bounce back and play well for the Red Wings who could certainly use the help.

Oilers Waive Jurco

Tomas Jurco has been placed on waivers by the Edmonton Oilers, most likely so the Oilers can activate returning forward Josh Archibald.

The Oilers aren’t done making moves as they will need to find a spot for Noakim Nygard on roster. Jurco will probably clear waivers as he’s been largely ineffective for Edmonton so far this season. Expect a bit of a shakeup in Edmonton anyways as the team hasn’t played well over the past few games.

The post NHL Rumors: Maple Leafs, Kings, Oilers, Blues, More appeared first on The Hockey Writers.

NHL Rumors: Oilers, Hurricanes, Sabres, Jets, Kings, More

By Jim Parsons on Nov 06, 2019 01:10 pm

In today’s NHL rumor rundown there is news the Carolina Hurricanes and Buffalo Sabres are shopping defensemen, there is more from Elliotte Friedman on the Dustin Byfuglien drama, and what’s going on with the Los Angeles Kings? Finally, there is word from the closest source to Jesse Puljujarvi about how he’d feel about coming back to the Oilers if a spot was there for him.

Hurricanes and Sabres Willing to Move a Defensemen

After acquiring prospect forward, Dominik Bokk, and another established defenseman in Joel Edmundson for Justin Faulk in trade this summer, the Carolina Hurricanes are still employing a surplus of blueliners with a need for a top-six forward. TSN’s Pierre LeBrun reports that the Hurricanes are making calls and shopping veteran Trevor van Riemsdyk, and Haydn Fleury.

In a similar situation, LeBrun’s colleague Darren Dreger reports that the Buffalo Sabres are willing to move Jake McCabe as they try to make room for the returns of Zach Bogosian and Marco Scandella. Dreger said the Sabres would like add both a top and bottom-six forward.

Related: 7 Things About Zdeno Chara

Toffoli Hoping to Move Sooner Than Later?

LeBrun also noted that he believes the Los Angeles Kings will make Tyler Toffoli available before the February trade deadline and LeBrun assumes that if Toffoli knows as much, he’s probably hoping a trade happens sooner than later.

Toffoli is in a contract year and it would serve him best to get to another team that has a desire to play him in a prominent role, boost his numbers and provide an opportunity to make himself as valuable as possible so he gets multiple offers in free agency.

Sticking with the Kings, Friedman notes last Christmas, the Kings made it clear they were willing to move some of their veteran content for younger pieces. That plan has not changed. One of the names coming up is Kyle Clifford but Friedman thinks it will take a lot to acquire him.

More Drama In Byfuglien Case

As the Dustin Byfuglien situation rolls along and new information comes to light, one thing that Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman is noting is that Byfuglien did not like how the Winnipeg Jets dressing room was not a comfortable place last season.

Friedman writes in his latest 31 Thoughts article:

Another [player] said not to dismiss the divides that occurred in the Jets’ dressing room last season, and how Byfuglien felt about all that. He believes those took a toll on the big defenceman, too. The organization has worked hard to address those concerns, from giving Patrik Laine much more responsibility, to captain Blake Wheeler promising a change in his leadership, to head coach Paul Maurice pushing a positive environment.

Friedman also noted that there are lot of people within the NHL and the NHLPA who are on the side of the team on this issue because Byfuglien was not forthcoming with his injury issues. He simply did what he wanted, signed off on the physical and “wasn’t excited” about beginning the season in pain. As a result, he went and got surgery without telling anyone simply to avoid being poked and prodded in training camp.

Many seem to understand what and why Byfuglien did so, especially knowing his personality, but it left team the organization in the dark. The NHL is not interested in setting a precedent here where a player can sign a physical then dispute it and win.

How Puljujarvi Feels About Oilers’ Early Success

Friedman asked Puljuajrvi’s rep, Markus Lehto, via text if the winger would consider returning to the Oilers now that things seem calmer. Lehto responded, “Jesse’s unwillingness to return has nothing to do with current coaches, management, the team, fans or the city.”

Lehto added that Jesse has simply asked for a change of scenery and to get a fresh start somewhere else. “Nothing wrong with that considering the past three seasons,” he wrote. He finished by saying if things don’t work out with another team, “there is nothing wrong (with playing) the whole season in Europe.”

If Puljujarvi is not on the table, Friedman can see Edmonton making a run at Konstantin Okulov.

The post NHL Rumors: Oilers, Hurricanes, Sabres, Jets, Kings, More appeared first on The Hockey Writers.