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NHL Rumors Update
NHL Rumors Update for 05/04/2019
The latest NHL rumors from The Hockey Writers.
05/04/2019 edition:
By Jim Parsons on May 03, 2019 04:03 pm
In today’s NHL rumor rundown, there is speculation as to what exactly the Toronto Maple Leafs will do to address their salary cap issues, Milan Lucic might be ready to move on from the Edmonton Oilers and the Anaheim Ducks are interested in keeping one of their goaltenders on an interesting-style contract.
Maple Leafs Rumored Options
What the Maple Leafs will do to address their salary cap concerns will be a hot topic over the next few weeks to months and one NHL writer is already discussing some theories. Luke Fox of Sportsnet wrote that there are five possible ways the Maple Leafs and GM Kyle Dubas alleviate some of their salary cap issues.
They could let their free agents walk as pending UFAs include Jake Gardiner, Ron Hainsey, Tyler Ennis, and Martin Marincin. They could trade a big contract, namely William Nylander, Patrick Marleau or Nazem Kadri. They could go the bridge contract route with pending RFA’s like Andreas Johnsson or Kasperi Kapanen. They could find someone to take on Nathan Horton’s contract or they could fill half the team will cheap contracts and lesser-quality players.
None of these options come without consequences but they are needed because the speculation is that Mitch Marner is going to get somewhere in the neighbourhood of $10.5 million per season and Marleau has said he has no plan to leave the Maple Leafs.
Lucic and Canucks a Fit?
David Staples of the Edmonton Journal writes that Milan Lucic is open to the idea of playing for the Vancouver Canucks. “That’s definitely something I wouldn’t rule out,” he said and added that it’s something that potentially could happen.
Lucic is well aware that things have not gone well for him since joining the Oilers. He had one good year when he first arrived but since then has been completely snake-bitten. Lucic understands that one of the things the new GM will likely try to do is move his salary.
Lucic added:
“I remember doing an interview back in ’07 before the Mem Cup and I said it would always be a dream of mine to some day play for the Canucks. You still have that kid inside of you. You still have that dream of playing for your home town team. And like I said you never know what the future has in store and what potentially can happen.”
Ducks Interested in Keeping Ryan Miller?
According to Andy Strickland of Fox Sports Midwest, the Ducks might be interested in retaining the services of Ryan Miller on a bonus-laden contract, and for only one season.
Such a bonus contract is only possible because of the short-term and age of Miller if signed. Miller is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent this summer after his current two-year, $4 million deal expires.
Oilers Not Only Team Affected by McCrimmon News
It is speculated that Kelly McCrimmon being kept on and promoted by the Vegas Golden Knights put a bit of wrench into the Oilers plans for a new GM. More than the Oilers may have been affected.
Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic adds that the Seattle expansion franchise is “willing to be patient” now that McCrimmon is off the market. The Seattle group “would have gone hard” this summer to hire McCrimmon, but with him out of the equation, could now wait until next year.
Something to the Malkin Rumors
With the name Evgeni Malkin out there in trade rumors a number of people are going to suggest these rumors are just made up for the sake of something interesting to talk about. Elliotte Friedman isn’t so sure.
This week’s 31 Thoughts podcast is Friedman talking with Jeff Marek about the Penguins, specifically addressing the Evgeni Malkin rumors and he said:
I did get a call last night from somebody who has heard the rumors, and he thinks that they are not media make-up. He thinks they are legit. Malkin didn’t have a great year. He wasn’t up to Malkin standards. And [this source] is wondering if they’re trying to rattle [Malkin’s] cage a little bit. Just to say, “you know Evgeni, last year wasn’t you. We want you to be you,” and maybe this is a way of doing it. Malkin has a no-movement clause, and the word is he’s at least thinking about would he agree [to waive it].
The post NHL Rumors: Maple Leafs, Oilers, Malkin, More appeared first on The Hockey Writers.
By Jim Parsons on May 02, 2019 12:36 pm
In today’s NHL rumor rundown there are some predictions coming out of Vegas as far as who might be staying or going with the Golden Knights, why the team decided to promote Kelly McCrimmon to the position of GM and what the Oilers will do next. There is also news coming out of New York regarding their blue line and buzz Dave Tippet would leave Seattle for a coaching job.
Golden Knights Possible Changes
Jesse Granger of The Athletic reports that he is expecting some changes in Vegas after the team suffered its first really disappointing finish since they joined the NHL.
Of the big-name trade possibilities, William Karlsson tops the list. It isn’t that Vegas doesn’t want Karlsson, but more that there might be trouble reaching a new deal.
Granger writes about Karlsson:
I think he signs a long-term deal with the Golden Knights and continues to be their most consistent player for the next handful of years. Having said that, we can’t rule it out as a possibility. After all, this entire salary cap issue is revolving around making room to sign Karlsson.
The most likely players to be traded will be Cody Eakin and Ryan Reaves. He has a year left on his deal at a $3.85 million cap hit and could be moved to clear cap space. The return would be picks, prospects or the opportunity to move up in the draft. Reaves is a player everyone in and outside the organization seems to love but his $2.775 million cap hit is problematic.
Colin Miller and NIck Holden might also be on the list of players who could be on the move.
Oilers Interest in McCrimmon Triggered Promotion
With the news today that Kelly McCrimmon was promoted to GM of the Vegas Golden Knights, Mark Hunter has probably become the lead candidate for the GM position in Edmonton and it explains why the Oilers were not granted permission to speak with McCrimmon for an interview.
It also assumed the interest from Edmonton is part of the reason McPhee decided to make the move with McCrimmon that he did. John Shannon reported that this was a decision made on Friday by McPhee and approved by ownership on Saturday.
Andy Strickland writes that moves like the one Vegas made today is only the start of this type of management restructuring. Strickland said, “You’re going to see more of what we’re seeing with George Mcphee in Vegas as experienced General Managers focus on running the hockey side of an organization with a GM working underneath them.
Dave Tippet Itchy to Coach Again
There has been an increase in rumors that Dave Tippett wants to get back behind an NHL bench. He’s currently an adviser with the Seattle expansion team but is now officially taking steps toward the vacant coaching positions in the NHL.
Sportsnet’s Elliott Friedman writes that Tippett has interviewed for the Buffalo Sabres head coaching vacancy, along with Jacques Martin, Rikard Gronberg, and Sheldon Keefe.
Blue Jackets Interested in Finnish D-Man
Aaron Portzline writes the Columbus Blue Jackets are one of the teams interested in Finnish free agent right-handed defenseman Oliwer Kaski. Kaski played two seasons at Western Michigan but spent the last three years playing in Finland.
The 23-year-old recorded 19 goals and 32 assists for 51 points in 59 games this past season.
Rangers to Improve Blue Line
The Adam Fox deal is not the only deal the New York Rangers are expected to make. Larry Brooks of the NY Post writes the Rangers might look to move Kevin Shattenkirk and could be willing to retain 50% of his salary and they may choose to buy out Brendan Smith.
The post NHL Rumors: Golden Knights, Oilers, Rangers, More appeared first on The Hockey Writers.
By Jim Parsons on May 01, 2019 02:23 pm
Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet dropped another edition of 31 Thoughts and updated fans on a number of rumors and addressed a variety of topics. Among them, he discussed the Penguins potential rebuild, how the Edmonton Oilers GM search has slowed a touch thanks to the Golden Knights, and if Pavel Datsyuk is working on a return to the Red Wings.
Crosby Means No Rebuild in Pittsburgh
While we never reported insiders suggesting the Pittsburgh Penguins would undertake a rebuild, we have speculated a number of changes with some potentially big trades. The Penguins want to undergo a full audit first.
For anyone who was writing the Penguins might consider a rebuild, Friedman wrote, as long as Sidney Crosby is playing in Pittsburgh, the Penguins won’t go through that process.
Friedman did say, however, that some teams believe there is some truth to the Evgeni Malkin trade rumors and that the Penguins might be internally trying to figure out if moving him is a realistic option.
Mario Lemieux is apparently against the idea and the list of teams who would make this deal is small (Rangers or Florida), but it is out there.
More likely, the Penguins may consider moving Phil Kessel and teams will call them about Kris Letang.
Oilers GM Interviews
Friedman said the Vegas Golden Knights may not have granted the Edmonton Oilers permission yet to speak with Kelly McCrimmon about their GM position. That is what could be slowing down the process from an Oilers perspective.
Mark Hunter has been interviewed twice by the Oilers and others who have gone through the interview process include, Sean Burke, John Ferguson, Mike Futa, Ross Mahoney, Scott Mellanby, and Pat Verbeek. Friedman added that former Canucks GM and player agent, Mike Gillis had a phone interview.
Sabres and Lightning Talking Trade
The Buffalo Sabres and Tampa Bay Lightning had talked in the past about a trade that would involve defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen and there is speculation those trade talks could be revisited.
That said, the Sabres would like to keep him and there is speculation the team is asking potential coaches during the interview process how they would work with him if they were hired.
Among those interviewed for the Sabres head coaching job are Dave Tippett, Swedish coach Rikard Gronborg and Jacques Martin. There is buzz the Sabres might ask the Toronto Maple Leafs if they can talk to Sheldon Keefe. Toronto might say no if they have intentions of moving Keefe to their coaching staff should they lose one of their assistants – Jim Hiller or D.J. Smith.
Pavel Datsyuk Working on Return to Detroit?
Pavel Datsyuk’s contract has come to an official end with SKA St. Petersburg in the KHL, but not the Arizona Coyotes who still own his rights until July 1, 2019.
Ted Kulfan of the Detroit News reports that Datsyuk is on his way to Michigan soon to discuss options with his agent Dan Milstein of Gold Star Hockey and work on a plan for his return to the NHL with the Red Wings.
A return to the NHL is not a lock. Datsyuk is reportedly prepared to play for his hometown team in Russia and it could be that his odds are actually greater that he winds up with Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg. Their successful season and his age make them a more realistic option, especially with Yzerman behind the Red Wings future moves.
The post NHL Rumors: Penguins, Oilers, Red Wings, More appeared first on The Hockey Writers.
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