- Morning Skate
- Posts
- NHL Rumors Update
NHL Rumors Update
NHL Rumors Update for 08/17/2020
The latest NHL rumors from The Hockey Writers.
08/17/2020 edition:
By Jim Parsons on Aug 16, 2020 02:55 pm
In today’s NHL rumor rundown, there is talk that Andrei Svechnikov could miss the remainder of the playoffs after a nasty injury in a game versus the Boston Bruins. Speaking of the Bruins, could there be some thought to part ways with Tuukka Rask? The New York Rangers might consider trading their first overall pick and there are names linked to the vacant GM job in Florida.
Svechnikov Could Be Out Rest of Playoffs
No doubt, 20-year-old winger Andrei Svechnikov is a star on the rise and one of the most important pieces in the Carolina Hurricanes offense. Unfortunately, the team may have to proceed without him for the rest of the playoffs.
After getting tangled up with Boston’s Zdeno Chara and suffering a leg injury when he fell awkwardly, Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind’Amour told the News & Observer’s Chip Alexander he “highly doubts” that Svechnikov will return.
It’s not often that coaches will comment on the status of player injuries, so if Brind’Amour is talking now, it must not be good news.
Could Bruins and Rask Go Separate Ways?
The Boston Bruins have publicly said they support Tuukka Rask’s decision to leave the NHL bubble and go home to his family. That said, some media are suggesting this could be the start of a potential plan for these two parties to go their separate ways.
Kevin Paul Dupont of The Boston Globe writes that this isn’t the first time Rask has left the team and with one season left on his contract, the Bruins cannot have uncertainty at the goaltending position. He writes:
What we do know with absolute certainty, though, is that Rask now twice has proven he is unable to balance being both family man and franchise goalie. That’s trouble. That’s no way to run a hockey team, never mind try to survive four grueling rounds of postseason play and capture what would be the franchise’s seventh Stanley Cup in its near century of existence.
Dupont believes Bruins general manager Don Sweeney “will be working the phones.”
Teams That Could Make Pitch For Rangers No. 1 Pick
Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun writes that after winning the draft lottery, New York Rangers GM Jeff Gorton isn’t ruling out the possibility he could trade the No. 1 overall pick in this year’s draft. on what they are going to do with the No. 1 overall pick.
Gorton said:
“If I just went on this call and told you all the things we’re going to do, it probably doesn’t help me on the market when I make calls. We have to have more meetings and I like to play a little closer to the vest than announcing we’re going to go get centres or do something else.”
Garrioch suggests that there will be teams who come forward with an offer and because the Rangers already have Artemi Panarin and Chris Kreider on the left side, will be prone to listening. Garrioch says:
The Senators were pleased to get the No. 3 and No. 5 selections in the draft, and that’s where they’ll likely stay, but expect general manager Pierre Dorion to have a conversation with the Rangers.
Garrioch also expects the Detroit Red Wings to make a pitch.
Names Linked to Panthers GM Job
Elliotte Friedman was able to confirm during Saturday’s Headlines report that the Florida Panthers have been granted permission to speak with a number of candidates about the open GM position. He said:
“The people I understand they have asked for, and received permission to interview, are Chris Drury of the New York Rangers, Michael Futa who is a free agent and Scott Mellanby of Montreal, it is also expected for John Ferguson in Boston and Laurence Gillman in Toronto.”
A few other interesting names were linked to the Panthers, but Friedman couldn’t 100% confirm interviews. “I’ve heard their names out there, Ron Hextall the former Philly GM in L.A. and Ross Mahoney in Washington.”
The post NHL Rumors: Hurricanes, Panthers, Bruins, Rangers, More appeared first on The Hockey Writers.
By Jim Parsons on Aug 15, 2020 01:30 pm
In today’s NHL rumor rundown, the Boston Bruins are losing goaltender Tuukka Rask for the remainder of the playoffs. Why is Rask leaving in the midst of a series with the Hurricanes? There is also buzz that perhaps the Edmonton Oilers and Toronto Maple Leafs might be a good fit to make a trade. Finally, is there friction between Evgeni Malkin and coach Mike Sullivan?
Rask Leaving Bruins Mid-Playoffs, Opts Out of Return
Boston Bruins goaltender Tuukka Rask has opted out of the remainder of the NHL’s Return to Play and will not be with the team as they try to complete the 2020 NHL playoffs.
Rask said of his decision to leave:
“I want to be with my teammates competing, but at this moment there are things more important than hockey in my life, and that is being with my family. “I want to thank the Bruins and my teammates for their support and wish them success.”
Some have speculated that perhaps his departure has something to do with his recent statements that the NHL playoffs are “dull at times” and the environment didn’t feel like playoff hockey. Some had even suggested that maybe there’s an issue with the team after the comments were made.
It doesn’t appear that’s an accurate reflection of what’s really going on. GM Don Sweeney suggested leaving had nothing to do with the comments and indicated the netminder has a newborn child and two other young children at home and that being away from them proved to be too much of a mental strain. Sweeney added that the organization fully supports Rask’s decision and said, “We understand completely where Tuukka is coming from.”
Chris Johnston of Sportsnet added, “Nothing should be read into Tuukka Rask’s decision to leave the NHL bubble regarding his future beyond these playoffs. It’s specific to the moment.”
Related: When Do the Bruins Start to Worry?
Maple Leafs and Oilers Good Trade Fit?
There’s some talk circling that perhaps the Edmonton Oilers and Toronto Maple Leafs might find that they are good trade partners over the next few weeks. Speculation is that a deal to send a defenseman to Toronto could bring a forward back to the Oilers to help Connor McDavid.
Former GM and now hockey analyst Brian Burke noted during an interview with Bob Stauffer on Oilers Now, “It’s obvious their [Oilers] defence needs an upgrade or a change, but other than that, it’s a positive year….” He added, when talking about the Oilers blue line, I’m not saying they’re not good enough. But they didn’t play well enough.” Burke suggested it could be time for a change of scenery for a couple guys.
Stauffer suggested a player like Kasperi Kapanen or Andreas Johnsson could be part of a deal to the Oilers and there was talk that maybe Adam Larsson could be the player going the other way. Burke responded, “Those might be fits.” He added, “Those guys are both good players that you mentioned from here (Toronto). I think Larsson is a really good player. He didn’t have a great year, but I think he’s a really good shut down guy. There could be a fit there.”
Burke isn’t the only one who wonders if Larsson leaving the Oilers is a possibility. Mark Spector of Sportsnet noted that this could be the best time to move a player like Larsson because so many teams are coveting sold defenseman on decent contracts. “Look at the Toronto Maple Leafs? Do they need Adam Larsson. You bet they need Adam Larsson. And there’s other teams that would say the same thing,” Spector noted.
Malkin Unhappy With Penguins’ Decision to Fire Gonchar?
Josh Yohe and Rob Rossi of The Athletic discussed speculation that Evegeni Malkin might be upset with the Penguins organization for choosing to release his good friend Sergei Gonchar as one of the assistant coaches and there might be friction between head coach Mike Sullivan and the superstar center.
They write that this is not the case. They explained:
Though Gonchar is particularly close to Malkin, his dismissal is not a signal of renewed strain between Malkin and Sullivan. Management believes Malkin respects Sullivan, that any disputes are mostly the result of differing personalities occasionally clashing — “healthy tension,” as described by one team employee.
They also said Penguins captain Sidney Crosby has made it clear he doesn’t want Malkin traded unless the center asks to be moved.
The post NHL Rumors: Bruins, Oilers, Maple Leafs, Penguins, More appeared first on The Hockey Writers.
Recent Articles:
Latest News