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NHL Rumors Update
NHL Rumors Update for 05/29/2019
The latest NHL rumors from The Hockey Writers.
05/29/2019 edition:
By Jim Parsons on May 28, 2019 12:59 pm
In today’s NHL rumor rundown, there are updates out of Los Angeles when it comes to what the Kings expect to do with Slava Voynov, the Edmonton Oilers are set to announce their new head coach and the Toronto Maple Leafs have options.
Kings and Voynov’s Rights
Helene Elliott of the LA Times writes that the LA Kings have no intention of letting former NHL defenseman Slava Voynov ever play for their organization again, but that after he becomes eligible to play, they’ll deal with the player.
An arbitrator ruled last week that Voynov has technically served 41 games of his full-season suspension which makes him eligible to return to the NHL midway through next season. Still, the Kings don’t want him.
In a statement by the team, the Kings said he will not join the organization and they “will now determine the impact of the arbitrator’s decision on our rights to the player and consider our options going forward.”
The Kings had retained his rights but it isn’t clear what the Kings are able to do with his rights. Can they simply trade him? And, if they can, is there a team that really wants him?
There is speculation he can still play at an NHL level but his past and the charges laid against him are not something most NHL clubs want to actively take on.
Elliott wrote of LA’s decision not to keep Voynov:
As an organization, the Kings haven’t gotten many decisions right lately. With three definitive sentences in a statement that was not attributed to a specific person, the Kings made an important decision and took the correct path.
Tippett to Be Announced as Oilers Coach
Today in an afternoon press conference, the Edmonton Oilers are expected to officially announce Dave Tippett as the new head coach of the team.
Elliotte Friedman is reporting a three-year deal for the Oilers new bench boss and Ryan Rishaug reports that it appears the only announcement will be Tippett and that there is not an expectation Tippett or the Oilers will announce the rest of coaching staff today.
That doesn’t change the fact that an entirely new coaching staff is expected.
Maple Leafs to Play With Horton’s Contract
Kevin McGran of The Toronto Star notes the Toronto Maple Leafs will likely have to use Nathan Horton‘s LTIR status this season to help sign all the RFAs they need to re-sign this offseason. They have access to $5.3 million, but likely only require a portion.
McGran writes:
So in essence, if the cap is $83 million, the Leafs can start the season with a roster (including Horton) with an $88.3 million AAV and by putting Horton on LTIR they will be cap friendly.
With that money, they may choose to bring back Ron Hainsey at a reduced salary, try to retain William Nylander, Andreas Johnsson, Kasperi Kapanen, and Mitch Marner, but move Nazem Kadri, Connor Brown, or convince Patrick Marleau.
Marleau would need to waive his no-movement clause.
Top Five Likely Penguins Trades
Dan Kingerski of Pittsburgh Hockey Now listed his top five players he expects to be traded by the Pittsburgh Penguins. He listed Bryan Rust at No. 5, Teddy Blueger at No. 4, Trystan Jarry at No. 3, Olli Maata at No. 2 and Phil Kessel at No. 1.
The top two candidates he listed as having an 8 in 10 chance of being moved.
The post NHL Rumors: Kings, Oilers, Maple Leafs, More appeared first on The Hockey Writers.
By Jim Parsons on May 27, 2019 01:41 pm
In today’s NHL rumor rundown, there are updates on the potential future for Erik Karlsson, how many teams might be interested in Minnesota Wild forward Jason Zucker and the Edmonton Oilers have some interest in a German winger named Frederik Tiffels.
Erik Karlsson Notes
Kevin Kurz of The Athletic and covering the San Jose Sharks says Erik Karlsson didn’t really give any hints about his future when talking to the press after the Sharks season came to a close. Karlsson said that he “hasn’t really thought” about his future.
That doesn’t mean others haven’t taken to trying to figure out what Karlsson’s next steps will be. Elliotte Friedman believes that Karlsson is considering having surgery for his injury. Speculation is that it’s his groin.
From there, Curtis Pashelka of the Mercury News says Karlsson seems open to the idea of returning to San Jose. That said, he does admit that the lure of unrestricted free agency might be appealing as Karlsson has spent a decade waiting for an opportunity to test the market.
@Prospects_Watch: Elliotte Freidman said on the Fan 960 that he thinks Karlsson’s first choice would be the Tampa Bay Lightning. That’s a big shuffling of deck chairs required for the Lightning though if they are interested as they have about $73 million committed to 17 players.
If it’s all about money for Karlsson, he won’t be going to Tampa Bay.
Who Wants Jason Zucker?
Michael Russo of The Athletic took a closer look at the trade talks that surround Jason Zucker. Noting there was a loud buzz about a deal between the Wild and the Penguins that would see Phil Kessel come to Minnesota, Russo says Zucker is obviously on the block.
Russo reports that the Vancouver Canucks, Arizona Coyotes, Anaheim Ducks, and Calgary Flames have all expressed an interest in Zucker and if you go back to last season, the Toronto Maple Leafs and Carolina Hurricanes had discussed him as well.
Russo writes:
At this point, Zucker has got to feel it’s a foregone conclusion that he will be traded in the next month. Those close to Zucker say that if that’s the case, his only concern is landing in a good spot because his 10-team no-trade clause doesn’t kick in until July 1.
Zucker has four years remaining on his current deal which carries a $5.5 million cap hit per season. He scored 21 goals and 42 points in 2018-19.
Of note, the reason Kessel said no to the Minnesota Wild seems to be that he doesn’t believe they are close to contending for a Stanley Cup. GM Paul Fenton even called Kessel, but couldn’t convince him they were a top team.
Oilers Going Back To Germany to Find Gold?
The Edmonton Oilers had great luck, plucking arguably the greatest German-born player out of the prospect pool in Leon Draisaitl. They may be going back to that well.
Postmedia’s Kurt Leavins reports that Edmonton is looking to shore up their winger depth with cost-effective options. One option is German winger Frederik Tiffels who is a particularly quick skater and would fit in well with what the Oilers are trying to do.
There are some potential complications with this signing as Tiffels has two more seasons left on his contract overseas. It’s unknown if his deal has an NHL out clause.
If the Oilers do sign him, this would be their second international signing on the wing as they signed Joakim Nygard last week.
The post NHL Rumors: Karlsson, Zucker, Oilers, More appeared first on The Hockey Writers.
By Jim Parsons on May 26, 2019 03:21 pm
In today’s NHL rumor rundown, there are updates on the Calgary Flames’ Sam Bennett, the Dallas Stars considering buying out a forward with some potentially strong upside, what’s happening with Pittsburgh and Phil Kessel and the Vegas Golden Knights trying to move salary.
Offer Sheet for Bennett
Eric Francis of Sportsnet suggested that people shouldn’t be surprised if an NHL team considers an offer sheet for Calgary Flames forward Sam Bennett.
Calgary has about $14.5 million in cap space and re-signing Bennett, who is arbitration eligible, requires a $2.14 million offer from the Flames. Other teams may look at Matthew Tkachuk’s upcoming deal and see an opening for Bennett.
Francis also thinks the Flames may clear out some salary with candidates being T.J. Brodie and/or Michael Frolik. Francis says there is a chance Michael Stone could also be bought out.
Stars Considering a Nichushkin Buyout?
SportsDay’s Matthew DeFranks writes that the Dallas Stars are looking at whether or not to buy out forward Valeri Nichushkin. Once considered a top prospect, the Stars have to be worried after he failed to score a goal in 57 games this past season if they made a mistake signing him to a two-year $5.9 million contract.
At the kind of money Nichushkin is being paid, the Stars may decide he doesn’t overtake forwards like Brett Ritchie or Mattias Janmark in the bottom-six and they may feel it’s better to allow Nichushkin to leave and return to the KHL.
Pittsburgh Facing Kessel Dilemma
Now that it appears any deal to move Phil Kessel to Minnesota seems dead in the water (speculation is Kessel wouldn’t waive his no-trade clause to join the Wild), the Penguins have a bit of a dilemma on their hands.
The Athletic’s Rob Rossi writes that Jim Rutherford, Penguins GM, wanted to ship Kessel’s contract out right away so that he could get down to the business of reshaping his team. That would mean putting a new contract in the lap of Matt Murray and getting Evgeni Malkin and the team back on the same page. Kessel exercising his contract rights slows everything down.
Rossi writes:
It’s now looking as though Rutherford’s plan is in limbo. And it seems like Rutherford isn’t holding either end of the limbo stick, either, but rather trying to maneuver his way under it.
Another problem for Rutherford is that it never helps when every other NHL team knows you’re trying to move a player. They won’t offer fair value and that prolongs a trade when teams are waiting for you to cave on your asking price.
Anders Lee Next in New York
The New York Post’s Brett Cyrgalis writes that with center Brock Nelson now locked into a six-year, $36 million deal, the New York Islanders will shift their focus to captain Anders Lee.
Speculation is that Lee wants a seven-year deal at $7 million per season, which may be beyond what general manager Lou Lamoriello is willing to spend. The problem is, what happens if you let him walk?
Vegas To Move on David Clarkson?
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, in his 31 Thoughts column, writes that the Vegas Golden Knights are likely going to try and move the contract of David Clarkson.
Already a team with a bit of a cap crunch, taking on a number of expensive deals in the expansion draft could hurt so they might seek out a team willing to grab Clarkson’s $5.25 million cap hit. What might help is that this is more a cap hit issue for the team who takes him on and not an actual dollars and cents issue since Clarkson is only going to be paid $3.25 million in cash.
The post NHL Rumors: Flames, Penguins, Golden Knights, More appeared first on The Hockey Writers.
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