NHL Rumors Update

NHL Rumors Update for 11/15/2019

November 15, 2019

The latest NHL rumors from The Hockey Writers.

 

11/15/2019 edition:

By Jim Parsons on Nov 14, 2019 01:15 pm

In today’s NHL rumor rundown, there is an update on Ilya Kovalchuk’s situation, there are notes about the Toronto Maple Leafs search for a goaltender, and did Wayne Gretzky take the job as coach for Team Canada at the Spengler Cup? Finally, are the Minnesota Wild thinking about trading Ryan Donato or are teams hoping the Wild don’t know what they have?

More on Kovalchuk

Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet wrote in his latest 31 Thoughts article that both Los Angeles Kings GM Rob Blake and Ilya Kovalchuk‘s agent JP Barry are keeping quiet about what was said to Kovalchuk before he was pulled from the Kings lineup. Speculation is that multiple options were presented to the player including: “working on a trade; leaving the team; staying until his bonus is paid in December, then leaving; mutually terminate.”

The Kings have been trying to move Kovalchuk for some time but his contract and salary make him nearly impossible to trade. As he sits, he’s not increasing his value, thus both Blake and head coach Todd McLellan said he might not sit for long. Both called him nothing more than a healthy scratch.

TSN’s Pierre LeBrun reported the Kings and Kovalchuk haven’t made any firm decisions yet and that the team will revisit the idea of trading him after the December 15th bonus is paid.

Friedman adds that this could be nothing more than the Kings showing everyone, including those on the team they mean business. They’ve scratched Tyler Toffoli too.

Maple Leafs Not Fretting Over Goaltending

While speculation surround the Toronto Maple Leafs and many are reporting they’re in the market for a goaltender, Friedman notes that the Maple Leafs themselves don’t seem too stressed about it.

He writes:

“The Maple Leafs appear less worried than everyone else about the position. They didn’t win any of Michael Hutchinson’s starts, but don’t appear hell-bent on chasing outside the organization.

Friedman did mention that there are still some names connected to the Maple Leafs possibly looking for a backup. Those names are Eric Comrie, Alex Stalock, and Tristan Jarry or Casey DeSmith out of Pittsburgh.

Gretzky Turns Down Spengler Cup

We reported yesterday that Wayne Gretzky was offered the head coaching position for Canada at the upcoming Spengler Cup. It appears he has turned that offer down.

According to Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic saying, “Clearly a decision that wasn’t easy for Gretzky who says he was very much honoured to be asked. So Burke, the GM of Canada’s Spengler Cup team, now moves on to Plan B.”

It appears one option is another former Edmonton Oiler forward in Craig MacTavish. This comes from a report by Darren Dreger of TSN who says Shane Doan is also helping Burke and the Hockey Canada group put the staff and team together.

Ryan Donato on the Trade Block?

Friedman reported that a couple of sources have said they heard Ryan Donato’s name out there on the trade block, but Friedman isn’t sure about how accurate that is.

He notes that there may have been some conversation about Donato but that Minnesota plans are to be patient. These reports could reflect more a sense of teams trying to see if a new GM would give up a player he didn’t acquire and has fewer ties to. GM’s will do that if they think they can sneak in and grab someone that might be overlooked by new management.

By Jim Parsons on Nov 13, 2019 11:56 am

In today’s NHL rumor rundown, is Ilya Kovalchuk about to be traded out of Los Angeles? Might Wayne Gretzky be considering a return to coaching? How will the Toronto Maple Leafs insert Zach Hyman into the lineup and is there a betting favorite to take over for Don Cherry on Coach’s Corner?

Kovalchuk Pulled From Kings Lineup

Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet is reporting that the Los Angeles Kings have informed veteran forward Ilya Kovalchuk that he will not be in the lineup “for the foreseeable future.” And with that news, comes all sorts of speculation he’ll be traded.

Friedman is not the one speculating a trade here and adds that Kovalchuk is permitted to practice with the team, but when players are pulled from the lineup, it’s traditionally to avoid injury so they can be moved in a deal.

In response to Friedman’s report, TSN’s Pierre LeBrun tweeted:

A reminder as reported before that Kovalchuk’s final signing bonus money is payable Dec. 15 after which he’s only collecting on his $700k salary for the rest of the season. He does, however, have a $4.25 M salary on the books for next season… if he’s still in the NHL.

Part of being pulled may have to do with Kovalchuk’s full no-movement clause which includes the Kings not being able to send him to the minor leagues. This could all be a move to encourage Kovalchuk to either waive his no-move or no-trade clause in certain situations or encourage him to help the Kings find a trade partner.

If Kovalchuk were to retire, it doesn’t help the Kings who would be on the hook for his full $6.25 million cap hit because his contract was signed after his 35th birthday.

Gretzky to Go Back Behind Bench?

LeBrun has also reported, as per an article in The Athletic, that Sean Burke has asked Wayne Gretzky about coaching Canada’s entry in the Spengler Cup, Dec. 26-31 in Davos, Switzerland. Initial response from Gretzky is that he needs time to think about it.

One of the best players to ever wear a pair of skates, Gretzky was not the most successful coach. That doesn’t seem to matter to Burke, who is Canada’s GM for the Spengler Cup squad and feels he’d be a good fit.

As LeBrun writes:

“It was a nice surprise when Sean called,” Gretzky told me Tuesday. “I thanked him. I was excited about it. Team Canada is pretty special. I think the Spengler Cup is the oldest tournament that we know of. It’s a pretty nice honour. I told him I needed some time (to sort things out). The only problem for me is that it’s over Christmastime. It’s a tough decision to make.

source – ‘LeBrun Notebook: Wayne Gretzky considering Spengler Cup coaching opportunity’ – Pierre LeBrun – The Athletic – 11/12/2019

Should Gretzky take the gig, it will be interesting to see how players develop under a coach that had a reputation for inadvertently requiring his players reshape the way they worked with a coach. After all, Gretzky wasn’t your typical player’s coach. He could simply do everything he was asking and expecting from his players, and probably better.

Zach Hyman In Lineup Tomorrow

The Toronto Maple Leafs are expected to get Zach Hyman back in the lineup against the New York Islanders after a lengthy absence due to injury. Speculation is that Hyman will start on a line with John Tavares and Kasperi Kapanen.

With Mitch Marner out thanks to a high-ankle sprain, Hyman is going to get prime minutes immediately upon his return. The Maple Leafs are going to have to hope Hyman has quick chemistry on that line because high-ankle sprains have a reputation for causing issues that last longer than expected.

Teams Upset By Puljujarvi Decision

While the Edmonton Oilers are not bothered by Jesse Puljujarvi’s decision to stay in Finland for the remainder of the season, at least one NHL team is. During TSN’s latest Insider Trading segment, Darren Dreger claims one team would like Puljujarvi to return to the NHL to evaluate him on the smaller ice surface.

That team is apparently interested in Puljujarvi but is worried the large ice surface is titling his production because he’s playing so east-to-west and that won’t work in the NHL.

Odds Are on Burke

I received a press email from leading sportsbook Bodog who has the odds up on who will take Don Cherry’s seat on Coach’s Corner. Who do you think takes the job, assuming Sportsnet even continues with the segment.

Here are the choices:

Brian Burke +125

Elliotte Friedman +175

Colby Armstrong +650

Craig Simpson +650

Kelly Hrudey +650

Chris Johnston +900

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