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NHL Rumors Update
NHL Rumors Update for 06/08/2020
The latest NHL rumors from The Hockey Writers.
06/08/2020 edition:
By Jim Parsons on Jun 07, 2020 02:05 pm
In today’s NHL rumor rundown, the Detroit Red Wings have been told that one of their restricted free agents would like to switch positions. How will that affect contract negotiations? The San Jose Sharks will likely keep a handful of players and lose others. Who is in that group? The Edmonton Oilers are going to a “cap careful” team, and is the NHL thinking about moving back the start of every regular season?
Fabbri to Negotiate New Contract as a Center?
Ted Kulfan of The Detroit News is reporting that there hasn’t been any discussions between Robby Fabbri of the Detroit Red Wings about a new contract. He’d like to stay and he’ll be owed a qualifying offer of $945K this offseason while eligible for salary arbitration.
When talks do begin, they could be interesting as Fabbri indicated he’d like to be considered for the center position instead of being a winger. He noted:
“I was a center all the way up to my first year in the league,” Fabbri said. “Center is my natural position. I’ve always enjoyed the responsibility. I did that for most of my life. It was nice to get back to it and play a few games; it was fun.
The Red Wings used him in that role and he was able be more productive for the Wings than when he played in St. Louis. Centers are typically more valuable in free agency than wingers although it’s not clear if Fabbri is thinking that for this contract negotiation or not.
NHL Regular Season to Be Permanently Moved?
Mike Chambers of the Denver Post writes that sources have told him the NHL isn’t opposed to potentially moving the start of the regular season to November, December — or even January.
He writes:
The league likes the idea of growing the game after the NFL and NBA seasons are complete and when baseball is traditionally the only major sport in-season. Because of the coronavirus pandemic, that’s the plan to complete the 2019-20 season, and, according to former Avalanche general manager Francois Giguere, the league probably won’t begin the 2020-21 season until 2021 when it is allowed to have fans in attendance.
Because of the coronavirus pandemic, the Stanley Cup playoffs for this season and next could be played through the summer and the NHL is watching to see if it works out well. Should it, they may not change things back.
Related: Steve Yzerman, The Captain
Who Will San Jose Sharks Keep Around?
Kevin Kurz of The Athletic took a look at some of the possible names the San Jose Sharks may look at extending on new contracts. Among them are Melker Karlsson, Joe Thornton, and Stefan Noesen.
Kurz believes there is mutual interest between Karlsson and the Sharks about signing an extension according to his agent, while the 41-year old Thornton wants to keep playing.
Kurz writes of the likelihood Thornton stays:
Whether Thornton returns to the Sharks could depend on if he believes the team can contend. If the Sharks make just a few minor moves without adding (or subtracting) anyone of significance, perhaps Thornton figures that he’s better off on a team that’s truly positioned to challenge for a Stanley Cup. It’s not hard to imagine a contending team taking a shot on Thornton to come in and be a fourth-line center and second power-play unit guy on a reduced salary, especially considering the cap will probably not be rising next season.
Of the players Kurz does not expect to be back, Tim Heed, Aaron Dell, Dalton Prout, and Jonny Brodzinski are at the top of the list.
Related: Worst Trades in Oilers’ History
Oilers To Be “Cap Careful”
Kurt Leavins of the Edmonton Journal took a look at nine items the Edmonton Oilers might be thinking about as the NHL heads into Phase 2, a possible return to play, and next season. Among them is the contract of defenseman Ethan Bear.
Leavins writes:
I expect Ethan Bear will be another example of the hockey club being “cap careful”. Despite a strong rookie campaign, I believe Bear will almost certainly be offered a 1-year qualifier. With no arbitration rights, it would strictly be a business decision to help keep the club beneath the cap. I do see Bear as part of the future and there will be more room to move financially for him next season. But short-term…it’s tight and tough.
Leavins also writes that he expects the Oilers to retain Tyler Ennis and that if they do re-sign him, expect that to come in somewhere between $800 and $1 million.
The post NHL Rumors: Red Wings, Sharks, Oilers, More appeared first on The Hockey Writers.
By Jim Parsons on Jun 06, 2020 01:40 pm
In today’s NHL rumor rundown, there is news out of Vancouver that Chris Tanev seems to believe his options are limited if he wants to stay in Vancouver. There is speculation out of Detroit as to who the Red Wings might let walk and who they might keep. In Toronto, Maple Leafs players are starting to get tested in preparation for a return to the facilities on Monday. Finally, will the NHL and the players agree on a new CBA before play resumes?
Tanev to Take One-Year Deal?
Vancouver Canucks defenseman Chris Tanev will be heading into the free agent market this offseason and told Sportsnet’s Iain MacIntyre that he thinks a lot of players, including himself, could sign a one-year contracts.
Tanev mentioned the idea would be to hope the financial situation improves and that the one-year contract is just a short-term gap to keep him in Vancouver long-term. The 30-year-old has spent his entire 10-year NHL career in Vancouver but understands the team has already committed $63 million for next season to just 14 players and the veterans may be the first to go.
Related: The Best Late Round NHL Draft Picks
Okposo Undergoes Surgery
Bill Hoppe of Buffalo Hockey Beat reports that Buffalo Sabres forward Kyle Okposo had surgery on his right knee. He’ll be out at least six weeks based on the recovery time required.
Okposo has three years left on his deal that carries a $6 million salary cap hit. There is speculation he’ll be a candidate for a buyout before next season resumes.
Red Wings Free Agency Speculation
Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press said she doesn’t expect Jimmy Howard, Trevor Daley, and Jonathan Ericsson to be back with the Red Wings next season. All are unrestricted free agents the team will let leave the organization.
She writes of Howard’s performance:
What a disappointing denouement for a guy who spent 11 seasons with the Wings, earning two All-Star nods. His last victory dated to Oct. 29, and he was pulled his last two starts.
Despite a terrible season by the team overall, St. James believes a few players will be re-signed. Among them are restricted free agents Tyler Bertuzzi, Anthony Mantha, Robby Fabbri, and Adam Erne.
Ansar Khan is reporting the Red Wings have already signed defenseman Albert Johansson to a three-year entry-level deal. Johansson was drafted by the Red Wings 60th overall in the second round of the 2019 NHL draft.
Maple Leafs Players Getting Tested
Some of the Toronto Maple Leafs who are in town began being tested for COVID-19 on Friday. The idea behind that is to get them cleared for a return on Monday as part of the NHL’s Phase 2 returns.
Kristen Shilton of TSN wrote, “Those who are cleared can voluntarily head to the practice facility on Monday, with an eye on having physicals done ahead of possibly starting those small group workouts.”
As for where Phase 3 is at, Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet reports that training camps won’t take place until after July 10th with David Pagnotta suggesting he’s heard the NHL is hoping to start Phase 3 around July 14th.
Related: 7 Cool Things About Auston Matthews
NHL and NHLPA Talking New CBA
According to a few reports, the NHL and NHLPA are working on a new collective bargaining agreement, hoping to have something in place before play is resumed.
“The league wants long-term stability. The players want a cap on escrow, and word is that it is being considered. If the season does not resume, their hit would be 35 per cent. Even if there are games, they are looking at 27 or 28 per cent. I heard rumblings of a 20 per cent escrow cap over the next few seasons — others said they heard slightly less. A flat salary cap of $81.5 million for a few seasons is possible, too.”
The post NHL Rumors: Canucks, Red Wings, Maple Leafs, CBA, More appeared first on The Hockey Writers.
By Jim Parsons on Jun 05, 2020 01:20 pm
In today’s NHL rumor rundown, there is news on which teams are opening their facilities to players starting Monday. A Pittsburgh Penguins player has tested positive for COVID-19 and the media in Buffalo are talking a lot about which Buffalo Sabres players might be traded and which ones won’t. Finally, which Edmonton Oilers will make the team for playoss and which players won’t?
Some Teams Open Facilities, Others Don’t
After the NHL announced that Phase 2 will officially begin on Monday, a number of teams are opening their facilities to small groups of players. Teams like the Edmonton Oilers have made official announcements for fans that the facility will be open.
Still, there are a few teams not ready to take that step. As Frank Seravalli of TSN reports, with limited players in town to use the facility, a number of the NHL’s 24 teams do not plan to open their practice rink on Monday – including the Montreal Canadiens and Winnipeg Jets to start.
With no new cases of COVID-19 in Manitoba, it is believed the decision in Winnipeg is strictly a logistical one as there would be no one using the facility. The Canadiens shared the NHL’s announcement on their website, but didn’t comment on the team taking part.
Related: Worst Trades in Oilers’ History
Oilers Black Aces
Jonathan Willis took a look at the potential black aces (spare players) for the Oilers and listed some interesting names as back-ups instead of regular roster players. Willis notes that Kris Russell and Matt Benning will probably all be spare players on the blue line, making ways for names like Mike Green and Caleb Jones.
At forward, Willis believes Joakim Nygard and Gaetan Haas aren’t shoe-ins for play.
Is it pertains to Russell being left off the list, Willis writes:
Russell playing would likely come at the expense of dressing Caleb Jones. However, if the coaching staff deems Mike Green isn’t ready to play in Game 1 after a Feb. 26 knee injury, Russell could get the call with Jones sliding over to the right side (or vice versa). Matt Benning would remain out in that scenario. Russell is expected to be part of a small group skating in Edmonton when Phase 2 begins.
Penguins Player Tests Positive
The Pittsburgh Penguins have announced that one of their players has tested positive for COVID-19. The name of the player was not released and he is not in Pittsburgh. The illness hit a while back and this player self isolated after experiencing symptoms. He has already recovered.
While not something that will affect the return to play in any way, it is being discussed because it goes to show that players can and will likely still contract the virus. This is the ninth NHL player who has publicly tested positive — five were members of the Ottawa Senators and three were members of the Colorado Avalanche.
Sabres Trade Talk
After both writers agreed that Rasmus Ristolainen being moved out of Buffalo could fetch the Sabres some scoring help, both Lance Lysowski and Mike Harrington of The Buffalo News believe Brandon Montour should be traded.
Harrington writes:
He’s a better defenseman than he showed last season, as we saw when he played for Anaheim in the 2017 Western Conference final. He’s just miscast in Ralph Krueger’s system and other teams have to know that.
Lysowski added:
He doesn’t make enough of an impact on the power play or penalty kill to justify a price tag that could be around $5 million per season. There should be enough interest in Montour to help Botterill acquire an undervalued, talented forward for the top-nine.
One player out of Buffalo fans shouldn’t expect to see moved is Jack Eichel. Despite stating his frustrations with losting again, Dan Rosen of NHL.com said he doesn’t believe the Sabres center will wind up on the trade block. It would take a lot for the Sabres to move him, if they’d consider it at all.
Rosen notes that any Eichel talk would have to include at least one key NHL player and a combination of high/top draft picks and prospects. And, it certainly wouldn’t be happening before the playoffs as it wouldn’t make sense to limit trade options to just the other non-playoff teams, they would want everyone bidding.
The post NHL Rumors: Jets, Canadiens, Penguins, Sabres, Oilers, More appeared first on The Hockey Writers.
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