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NHL Rumors Update
NHL Rumors Update for 09/02/2020
The latest NHL rumors from The Hockey Writers.
09/02/2020 edition:
By Jim Parsons on Sep 01, 2020 12:12 pm
In today’s NHL rumor rundown, there is speculation surrounding defenseman Zdeno Chara. Was Monday’s loss his last game in the NHL? Might it have been his last game for the Boston Bruins? Meanwhile, TSN’s Frank Servalli has added two key names to his recent Trade Bait Board, both of whom are from the Winnipeg Jets. And, did Max Domi just fire his agent in preparation for a tough negotiation or a trade?
Could Zdeno Chara Retire Or Leave Bruins?
After being eliminated from the playoffs on Monday night, questions will now surround Boston Bruins defenseman Zdeno Chara. It was mentioned during the NBC broadcast and handshake line as the Bruins were saying goodbye to the postseason that Chara might say goodbye to the team and the NHL.
In post-game comments, Chara didn’t provide a concrete answer about whether or not he’d be leaving the game, but he did say that it was something he needed to think about. “I haven’t made that decision. I obviously just finished the game and I’m going to be open minded”, the veteran defenseman said.
When coach Bruce Cassidy was asked for his thoughts on Chara potentially leaving, Cassidy was also non-committal. He noted, “Those are decisions that will be made by the player and management going forward.” He added, “I’ve said all along, grateful to have an opportunity to coach Zee. It was early in my NHL career, so to speak, later in his playing career. He helped me a lot.”
The Bruins have a lot of work to do this offseason and it’s possible Chara doesn’t fit into their plans. Between an uncertain future for Tuukka Rask, a big free agent decision in Torey Krug and trying to find the right deal for RFA Jake Debrusk, even at $2 million, a Chara extension is hardly a slam dunk decision if he wants to return.
Jets Laine and Ehlers on the Trade Bait Board
Both Patrik Laine and Nikolaj Ehlers were added to Frank Seravalli’s TSN Trade Bait Board on Tuesday. He does admit, “By no means is Laine a lock to be traded,” but he points out the road the Jets will have to travel in free agency could be a bumpy one and the team needs to fill crater-sized potholes left by the departures of Dustin Byfuglien, Tyler Myers, Jacob Trouba and Ben Chiarot on the blue line.
Money will only go so far if the team is looking to build an entirely new defense corps and with only a few strong defensemen available on the open market. The result could mean needing to move out salary which is where Laine (or fellow winger Nikolaj Ehlers) come into play.
Because the Jets are unlikely to move Mark Scheifele, Blake Wheeler or Kyle Connor, the often polarizing Laine makes the most sense and would carry the most value in a deal. Because the expectation is Laine will command big money coming out of his bridge deal, the Jets may not want to take on that commitment. And, when you consider he’s stood still (even declined slightly) in production from year to year, it’s hard to blame the Jets if they feel big money is better spent elsewhere.
Max Domi Fires Agent
According to Stu Cowan of the Montreal Gazette, it appears Max Domi has let go his longtime agent Pat Brisson. Cowan points out Brisson was very close to Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin and there has been plenty of talk that Domi may be moved this offseason. This firing only lends more credibility to those rumors.
Cowan writes:
A source confirmed Sunday night that Domi has fired agent Pat Brisson, who is a longtime close friend of Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin. Former Canadiens captain Max Pacioretty also fired Brisson as his agent two years ago after Bergevin attempted to trade him to the Los Angeles Kings.
Domi is a 25-year-old pending restricted free agent with arbitration rights and is likely going to command a bit of a raise. The problem is, in Montreal, where he plays in the lineup is a real question. The team has younger and brighter stars emerging at his position and the franchise is unlikely willing to commit big dollars to a bottom-six center.
If Domi is hiring new representation, it could be because he’s preparing for a trying offseason where he’s going to need someone to get him a strong deal or is willing to fight back against Bergevin if the Habs GM over trade talk or if he gets taken to arbitration.
The post NHL Rumors: Bruins, Jets, Canadiens, More appeared first on The Hockey Writers.
By Jim Parsons on Aug 31, 2020 12:45 pm
In today’s NHL rumor rundown, the Edmonton Oilers have re-signed a depth forward and their GM has said they’ll be sticking with a goaltending tandem next season. In Minnesota, could the Wild buy out Devan Dubnyk? Could the Arizona Coyotes test the market on some players to recoup lost draft picks? Finally, are the Toronto Maple Leafs getting interest in Frederik Andersen?
Oilers Re-Sign Russell, Holland Talks Goaltending
The Edmonton Oilers took care of a little business on Monday as they re-signed forward Patrick Russell to a one-year extension. Financial terms of the contract were not released but it is believed to be for league minimum.
Mark Spector of Sportsnet writes, “Russell gets a one-way deal at the NHL minimum of $750,000.”
In other Oilers news, general manager Ken Holland told The Athletic’s Daniel Nugent-Bowman that the team plans to stick with a tandem of goalies for next season.
Holland said of the decision:
Yeah. If you look around the league, it’s really a two-goaltender league. We were almost 50-50 (in terms of starts percentage between Koskinen and Smith). It’s a small list of guys who were on pace to play over 60 games. It looks like it’s gonna be a condensed schedule. You’re gonna have more back-to-backs. You factor the travel that we do in Edmonton, the road trips that we go on, I anticipate that we’re gonna have a two-goalie system.
The first thing that comes to mind when you hear this is that the Oilers will retain Mike Smith. But, Holland may also choose to look for a 1B to Mikko Koskinen on the free agent market. There are a number of goaltenders available and many could come in around the $2 million mark Smith made this past season.
Could the Wild Buy Out Dubnyk?
The Athletic’s Michael Russo writes that goaltender Devan Dubnyk has become a buy out candidate out of Minnesota. Should they do so, Russo notes it would be to open up a roster space and not necessarily to save cap space.
For years, Dubnyk was the starter and saw a resurgence as a goaltender with the Wild. Before joining them and becoming a Vezina candidate, he moved in and out of teams, making stops in places like Edmonton, Nashville, and Montreal. But, he struggled mightily last season with a 3.35 GAA and a .890 save percentage. Alex Stalock took over the starting role.
Russo added:
…if the Wild plan to promote Kahkonen to the NHL roster but also sign a free agent like Braden Holtby or trade for a goalie like Matt Murray or somebody else to get the majority of the starts, Guerin would probably have to buy Dubnyk out (unless Guerin can trade him).
Dubnyk has one year remaining with a $4.3 million cap hit.
Coyotes to Try and Recoup Draft Picks
Elliotte Friedman noted on his latest 31 Thoughts podcast that the Arizona Coyotes might look at moving a couple of attractive pieces to restock their cupboards with draft picks.
Among the names mentioned were Darcy Kuemper, who has two years left at $4.5 million and Friedman suggests the Coyotes could test the trade market for defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson.
Ekman-Larsson has seven-years left at $8.5 million and a no-movement clause but he might be open to a move if he likes where he’s going. Finally, Friedman says Jason Demers, Alex Goligoski, Niklas Hjalmarsson and Jordan Oesterle all have a year left and could be moved.
Hurricanes Interested in Frederik Andersen
Friedman also noted that the Carolina Hurricanes have shown some interest in Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Frederik Andersen. There has been plenty of speculation the Leafs are open to moving Andersen but may want to see how the goalie market unfolds before making a move.
Andersen’s agent came out this past week and said the goalie has not asked for a trade, wanting to make it clear that his client was not necessarily looking to move on.
The post NHL News & Rumors: Oilers, Wild, Coyotes, Maple Leafs, More appeared first on The Hockey Writers.
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