NHL Rumors Update

NHL Rumors Update for 08/30/2019

August 30, 2019

The latest NHL rumors from The Hockey Writers.

 

08/30/2019 edition:

By Jim Parsons on Aug 29, 2019 03:12 pm

In today’s NHL rumor rundown there is news on Andrei Markov and which teams he might be reaching out to in terms of finding NHL employment this coming season. There is a sense that GM Jarmo Kekalainen is growing concerned with how long it’s taking to get a deal done with Zach Werenski and there is speculation surrounding Nikolaj Ehlers out of Winnipeg. Finally, did Leon Draisaitls comments on Jesse Puljujarvi relay a sense of what the team is thinking about his standing with the team?

Potential Landing Spots for Markov

We recently reported that Andrei Markov hired new representation in an effort to get a role on an NHL club this season. Eric Engels of Sportsnet reports that there have been around five teams who have already checked in as Allan Walsh of Octagon Hockey tries to do his magic.

Walsh says Markov is looking for a one-year deal and is willing to play anywhere in the NHL. Meanwhile, Jared Clinton of The Hockey News writes that there may be five potential teams that could/should consider signing Markov.

A reunion in Montreal doesn’t seem likely, but it’s where Markov would like to finish his career, the New Jersey Devils could consider a reunion with P.K. Subban and the Calgary Flames might be looking for an experienced blueliner to fill in for Juuso Valimaki. The other two teams are the Colorado Avalanche and Edmonton Oilers.

Frustration Building in Columbus?

Outside of a calculated risk at last year’s trade deadline that didn’t pay off for the Columbus Blue Jackets and has created some pressure on GM Jarmo Kekalainen, there is added frustration this offseason when it comes to Zach Werenski.

Like so many other RFA’s, Werenski doesn’t seem close to a deal with the Blue Jackets and Kekalainen is starting to get concerned about team chemistry issues. The GM told ESPN’s Greg Wyshysnki he’s focused on Werenski’s deal. Wyshysnki quotes Kekalainen when he writes:

The real frustration for me [is when it] drags on into training camp, because that’s a time for ‘team’… They start preparing and jelling and building that chemistry that we need as a team. When it goes to training camp time, it takes away from that preparation. It takes away from the team. That’s what I’m concerned about. And that’s where we’ve drawn the hard line before: We don’t believe in taking that preparation time away from the team. We think it should be resolved before the team gets together and gets ready for the season.

Whether or not Columbus can get Werenski to do what no other restricted free agents seem to be doing is unclear but it doesn’t sound like the two sides are all that close.

Ehlers Trade Speculation

Scott Billeck of the Winnipeg Sun writes that trade speculation doesn’t seem to be leaving when it comes to the future of Winnipeg Jets forward Nikolaj Ehlers. His name comes up often in the rumor mill this offseason and there are reports the Jets have/had been shopping him around the league.

Billeck believes that trading Ehlers would be regrettable and writes:

Despite his playoff numbers — no goals now in 21 games — Ehlers, 23, is a proven production commodity that would be an asset in any team’s top six. His contract is pretty team-friendly, especially if some of the good things he does on the ice end up generating more on the scoresheet as his career progresses.

source – ‘Why trading Nikolaj Ehlers would be a regrettable move’ – Scott Billicheck – The Winnipeg Sun – 08/28/2019

Teams connected to Ehlers include the Carolina Hurricanes and Buffalo Sabres.

Reading Between Lines of Draisaitl’s Comments?

Edmonton Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl was asked about his take on the Jesse Puljujarvi situation and said he wasn’t the best person to comment on it but his impression of the situation is that Puljujarvi doesn’t want to be on this team anymore.

Some fans and media are trying to read between the lines to suggest these comments note there’s not a healthy appetite to have Puljujarvi be part of the solution in Edmonton and that his teammates aren’t terribly sad that things have gone down the way they have.

Some of the media in Edmonton has gone as far as to say Puljujarvi never quite fit and that if his attitude were to change he’d be welcome back, but as of now, his going to Finland might be best for everyone.

Leon, of course, didn’t say this outright and said everyone wants players to pan out and contribute but there seemed to be a sense of frustration in his response that Puljujarvi didn’t want to play with his teammates.

By Jim Parsons on Aug 28, 2019 01:05 pm

In today’s NHL rumor rundown there is news regarding Jesse Puljujarvi heading out of Edmonton and back to Finland, and just what GM Ken Holland is looking for in a trade. The Philadelphia Flyers decided not to add a KHL winger, and Calgary Flames defenseman Travis Hamonic knows he could be traded but is trying not to think about it and one knowledgeable former GM says he would bet a sizeable amount of money that Auston Matthews leaves Toronto at the end of his current deal.

Holland Could Still Move Puljujarvi

Despite signing a one-year contract in Finland, Jesse Puljujarvi’s new deal does have an out-clause if he’s able to join an NHL team before December 1. TSN’s Ryan Rishaug notes in a series of tweets that might still be possible.

In one of his tweets, Rishaug wrote that it sounds like there is some interest out there for the player and that GM Ken Holland did speak with a number of teams before Puljujarvi signed his deal. The reason a trade didn’t happen was that his asking price wasn’t met. That price is a prospect with top-nine forward potential and a draft pick.

In another post, Rishaug wrote:

Perhaps a player straight across, but would need to be someone who plays right away and has contract left. I don’t believe a 2nd round pick straight up gets a deal done at this time. Oilers made several attempts to bring Jesse back into the fold, but player insists on change.

On NHL.com, there is an article that notes Holland explained he knows what he wants in any deal and would accept a few different scenarios. “I’ve had some good talks, a couple of conversations with teams that have intrigued me, but ultimately, it’s not quite there,” he said.

Flyers Passed on Burdasov

Flyers beat writer Sam Carchidi notes that a source has said that the agent for KHL winger Anton Burdasov had approached the Philadelphia Flyers recently to see if there was a fit for this season, but the Flyers decided they weren’t interested.

Burdasov was one of the leading KHL goal scorers last season and around September 2018 had informed a number of people he wanted to try the NHL. So far, he’s had no luck.

Hamonic Ignoring Trade Rumors

Kristen Anderson of the Calgary Sun writes that Calgary Flames defenseman Travis Hamonic is trying to ignore trade rumors out of Calgary even though he knows they are out there.

Saying he tries to stay away from all that stuff, Hamonic explained:

“I obviously really like being here and feel I fit in well with the group and the team. I think you can’t listen to any of that outside noise and have to focus on the task at hand, which is waking up every day in the summertime and getting into the gym, training. And then when that’s over with, you just try to be a dad and not let any of that outside stuff affect you … for me, I just go about my business.”

source – ‘Hamonic embracing family life and ready for upcoming Flames season’ – Calgary Sun – Kristen Anderson – 08/27/2019

There was also a sense that Hamonic wouldn’t be opposed to a trade if he were being moved to a contender. He said, “Every year you play is, for me, another year you haven’t won.”

Markov Joins Octagon Hockey

Defenseman Andrei Markov has hired Allan Walsh of Octagon Hockey in an attempt to increase his chances of finding work in the NHL this season. Markov is currently training in Florida and while he was hoping to get another shot with the Montreal Canadiens, it could be that he would be open to a number of NHL options if they were to present themselves.

On the positive side of things, Walsh is one of the most successful agents in hockey and represents some of the top players. One can’t imagine he would take on Markov if he didn’t think there was at least a chance he could find the veteran d-man work in the NHL.

Matthews to Leave Toronto in Five Years?

According to Brian Burke of Sportsnet, Auston Matthews is more likely to leave the Toronto Maple Leafs than he is to stay after his current five-year deal expires.

Burke said, “I agast at a five-year term where you walk a guy out in five years and I believe he’s out in five years.” Burke was referring to the fact that the Maple Leafs signed a deal with Matthews would leave him an unrestricted free agent when the term was done, simply to drop the annual average cap hit.

When asked why he thought Matthews would leave, it was because of the tax advantages that come with not playing in Toronto. Matthews is from Arizona and there would be an attraction not only to going home but to saving a ton of money by doing so.

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