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NHL Rumors Update
NHL Rumors Update for 04/20/2020
The latest NHL rumors from The Hockey Writers.
04/20/2020 edition:
By Jim Parsons on Apr 19, 2020 01:25 pm
In today’s NHL rumor rundown, there is more news on the Toronto Maple Leafs and Zach Hyman, the Detroit Red Wings are preaching patience and have a plan for the offseason, and with so many high-end draft picks, how will the Ottawa Senators decide who to draft?
What Would a Hyman Extension Look Like?
We reported yesterday that Zach Hyman made it known his desire was to stay with the Toronto Maple Leafs. With that news in hand, James Mirtle of The Athletic took a look at what a Hyman extension in Toronto might look like.
Saying there is some importance to having a bang-and-crash winger on the team, Mirtle’s closest comparable is Colorado winger Joonas Donskoi, who signed a four-year, $3.9 million AAV deal last summer. Since Hyman produced a bit more than Donskoi, would he cost more? A number closer to $4.5 million per season is more likely notes Mirtle. He then wonders if Hyman would take less money for more term.
After looking at other comparables, Mirtle writes:
None of these are perfect comparisons because there isn’t really one for a player like Hyman, who continues to improve despite his “advanced” age. But those that we do have seem to place Hyman into the range of 5.5 percent of the cap on a four- or five-year extension.
Given the cap is likely to remain relatively flat into next summer, that puts a new deal at about $4.5 million a season.
Red Wings Immediate Plans
In a string of articles last week for MLive.com, Ansar Khan examined where the rebuilding Detroit Red Wings might turn this offseason and who or what they’ll target via trade, the draft or free agency.
Saying the team needs a top-six forward, they’ll also need a pair of free-agent defensemen and a backup goaltender. He went on to list a number of the top free agents from this year’s crop as targets but noted that it would take some convincing to come to Detroit. When asked about buyouts, Khan didn’t think the Red Wings would go that route. He said the team doesn’t want a player’s contract on the books for additional years, even at a reduced rate.
Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman spoke with Detroit News’ Ted Kulfan and said that despite a lousy season, everything is going according to plan. Yzerman said:
“I knew what I was getting into, and I think I had a general idea what it takes to build a team. (Patience) is very difficult to sell, and we gotta show progress. I’m hoping the progress shows next year in wins and losses, but it will show in prospects and their development.
Senators Not Drafting By Positional Need
Senators beat writer Hailey Salvian noted that Ottawa Senators GM Pierre Dorion has stated the team won’t use it’s higher-end draft picks to fill positional needs. Like many teams do, the Senators will be drafting by using the best-player-available method.
He said in the second and third overall picks in the 2020 draft, they would selected the “two best players”. From there, if need be, the team can make other deals to fill holes that those draft picks might not.
Final Paycheck Deferred
According to TVA’s Renaud Lavoie, NHL players have been debating on how much of their final paycheck should go back to owners via escrow so, for now, they have deferred their decision on their last paycheck until May 15. The idea behind the delay is to give the NHL and NHLPA extra time to figure out if there will be games played this season.
TSN’s Pierre LeBrun notes that players are already getting their 2018-19 escrow return next week, so delaying a paycheck won’t be too painful. There will be some discussion by the NHLPA about what to do with that last paycheck (estimated at $140 million) since players also owe escrow money to the system for this year.
The post NHL Rumors: Maple Leafs, Red Wings, Senators, More appeared first on The Hockey Writers.
By Jim Parsons on Apr 18, 2020 02:25 pm
In today’s NHL rumors, there are scribes taking a closer look at what Dustin Byfuglien might do now that he’s a free agent. There is also talk about how the St. Louis Blues might be interested should Alex Pietrangelo leave. But, if Pietrangelo stays, how do the Blues make room? And, what does Toronto Maple Leafs forward Zach Hyman think about his future in Toronto? And, is Cam Talbot preparing to leave the Calgary Flames?
Where Will Byfuglien Go Next Season?
Now that Dustin Byfulgien is technically an unrestricted free agent, Matt Teague of The Score.com listed the Montreal Canadiens, Toronto Maple Leafs, and St. Louis Blues as three potential landing spots for the defenseman.
With respect to the Canadiens, Teague believes Byfuglien would provide additional right-side depth and alongside Shea Weber and Jeff Petry, would drastically improve their defense. Montreal has some money to spend as well and is rumored to be ready to make a splash. This would certainly qualify.
Teague also notes that Big Buff would be the first-pairing right-side defenseman for the Maple Leafs. A team that badly needs to add in that area, if Byfuglien is physically able to go, the Maple Leafs would be contenders. But, salary cap would obviously be a concern. Finally, the St. Louis Blues might be interested if Alex Pietrangelo leaves.
Charlie Roumeliotis of NBC Sports Chicago looked at Byfuglien as an option for the Chicago Blackhawks (where Byfuglien once played.) If Byfulgien is willing to sign an affordable one-year deal to see how he feels about the game, the Blackhawks could load the deal with bonuses should he play well.
Related: Blackhawks’ Best Trades of All-Time
Blues to Shed Salary
Speaking of Pietrangelo, Jeremy Rutherford of The Athletic looked at what the Blues will need to do to make room for the defenseman if their plan is to re-sign him.
With over $79 million invested in 20 players for 2020-21, Blues general manager Doug Armstrong must shed salary. Marco Scandella’s new deal is somewhat of a wash considering Jay Bouwmeester’s contract will be off the books. As for how they’ll make additional space, Rutherford writes:
If the Blues are going to make cap space, it’s going to have to come from moving Jake Allen, buying out Alexander Steen or making a series of smaller moves that add up to what they need.
Talbot Says Willing to Leave Flames
After joining the Calgary Flames and believing he’s proved he can be a No. 1 goaltender, Cam Talbot says he’s going to go where he gets a chance to be a starter. He spoke with Sportsnet about his future and whether or not it includes the Flames.
He said, “I wouldn’t rule out coming back, but, obviously, my goal coming here was to show the rest of the League that I still have it in me to be a starting goalie and I think I accomplished that.”
Talbot says he signed a one-year deal to prove himself to the league and now he intends to make the most of it, even if it means leaving. For now, he just wants a step up from last season. “I’d like to play more than 50-50, but 50-50 would be, you know, another step up from what I got this year, so I’ll take it,” he explained.
Hyman Comments on Future in Toronto
Kristen Shilton of TSN posted comments from Toronto Maple Leafs winger Zach Hyman this week regarding his future with the team. He’s got a year left on his four-year, $9 million contract, but knows he could be a casualty of the lower salary cap next season.
He said, “First and foremost, I would love to stay in Toronto. It’s where I grew up. I want to be a Leaf for a long time.” He added that the uncertainty of the NHL means he’s fortunate to have a contract.
“In a way, with everything that’s happening now, I’m lucky that I have another year on my contract because everything will probably be sorted out by then with regards to the cap and whatnot and all those questions that nobody really has answers for right now. I would love to be a long-term Leaf and re-sign here. I want to be here and ultimately win a Stanley Cup.”
The post NHL Rumors: Byfuglien, Blues, Maple Leafs, Flames, More appeared first on The Hockey Writers.
By Jim Parsons on Apr 17, 2020 02:34 pm
In today’s NHL rumor rundown, there is speculation as to which Toronto Maple Leafs players might be on the move. The Winnipeg Jets have finally terminated the contract of Dustin Byfuglien, where will he go? And, the Ottawa Senators are in a prime position that other clubs might not be.
Maple Leafs Mostly Likely to Be Moved
Jonas Siegel and James Mirtle of The Athletic took a look at the Toronto Maple Leafs and discussed which players from the team are most likely on their way out the door.
Both noted Tyson Barrie and Cody Ceci as defensemen who probably done their time in Toronto. Both are unrestricted free agents who under-performed in their single season with the team. The scribes also took a look at forwards Kasperi Kapanen, Andreas Johnsson, and Alex Kerfoot, thinking they could be used as trade chips in the offseason to replace the pieces that leave on the blue line.
As for Tyson Barrie, they write:
Not only will the Leafs be challenged to make room for his next contract, but it’s also hard to make a case why they should even consider it. Barrie doesn’t bring what’s needed on the right side, and that’s a much sturdier defensive presence who can hang tough with dangerous players in a playoff series. We’re looking at a (very) likely one-and-done here.
Now What?: Jets Terminate Byfuglien’s Contract
The drama between the Winnipeg Jets and Dustin Byfuglien finally appears to be over as the NHL announced with the league announcing that his contract has been terminated.
The two sides have “mutually resolved” the grievance filed by Byfuglien and the team wished him the best on Friday morning in a social media post thanking him for all he’d brought to the team. Effective immediately, Byfuglien is now an unrestricted free agent, but Pierre LeBrun of TSN and The Athletic noted that the NHL confirmed Byfuglien can’t sign with a team for the rest of this season (if there is one). Earliest he can sign is for next season.
Frank Seravalli notes from TSN:
“Dustin Byfuglien did not receive any money from #nhljets as part of agreeing to resolve his grievance and terminate his contract. He walked away from $14 million due to him over this season and next.”
Where he will go and how ready he might be to return to hockey is unclear but with this move, the Jets free up $7.6-million in salary cap space for the next season — something they will likely use to bolster their blue line that was decimated last season.
Senators May Have An Advantage Others Don’t
Assuming a delay doesn’t last so long that the Ottawa Senators find the entire franchise in financial peril, Ken Warren of the Ottawa Sun believes a flat or reduced salary cap is actually beneficial for the team.
The Senators can target cap-strapped clubs who want to shed salary in the off-season as the Sens only have around $41.9 million invested in next season’s cap payroll. The team is loaded with draft picks and prospects and could move some for high-quality players.
GM of the Senators, Pierre Dorion said:
“We’ll look at our team once the season has ended and look at what kind of trades can be beneficial for us.” He added, “We’ll be looking at trades that help us more on the hockey side than financial.”
The post NHL Rumors: Maple Leafs, Senators, Jets, More appeared first on The Hockey Writers.
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