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NHL Rumors Update
NHL Rumors Update for 07/01/2020
The latest NHL rumors from The Hockey Writers.
07/01/2020 edition:
By Jim Parsons on Jun 30, 2020 01:59 pm
In today’s NHL rumor rundown, there is news that a number of players are concerned about the NHL return-to-play plan and may choose not to participate if hockey comes back. In fact, some are calling the whole idea of keeping players safe “a joke”.
A few restricted free agents are starting to feel the stresses of the current NHL financial climate, including Chicago’s Drake Caggiula, and the Calgary Flames have a player in Derek Ryan who wants to return to the team when his contract runs out.
Will Players Back Out of NHL Return?
According to Sportsnet’s Eric Engels, there is some thought that a number of players will choose not to participate in the NHL playoffs if the league does officially return. He wrote in a series of tweets that during his discussions with players, many are concerned for their safety.
Some are frustrated with the NHLPA for not being told everything they need to know. Other players are said to be willing to play even if they don’t feel like they want to because the NHL is made up of some of the toughest athletes in the world and the money is too good.
Speculation is that a lot of what certain players will do hinges on the announcements of the hub cities. If the NHL makes a choice that is deemed wildy unsafe, players may opt-out of playing. For example, if the NHL chooses Vegas, where cases of COVID-19 have spiked, that could be enough to pull away.
Engels writes:
One player said a majority of the players do not want to return to play this summer. Estimated 75%. Though they’re concerned with financial pitfalls of that decision, they’re more concerned about risking contracting the virus/serious injury before cramming in the 2021 season.
Another player said that calls with the NHLPA have been “a joke” and that they have only revolved around the financial situation.
Related: Top 10 NHL Lines
Andersen Wants to Play
One player who hopes the CBA and health concerns work themselves out is Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Frederik Andersen. He wants to play. According to a tweet by Chris Johnston of Sportsnet:
Frederik Andersen is waiting to hear what ongoing NHL/NHLPA talks produce in terms of a CBA extension, plus health and safety protocols around hub cities. But he’s hopeful: “I want to play. I don’t want to just sit and waste the summer and the season. Hopefully we’ll see soon.”
Andersen said he and Auston Matthews got to skate a little during this pause while in Arizona.
Drake Caggiula Feeling the Pinch in Chicago
Mark Lazerus of The Athletic writes that, after getting engaged and finding out he’s having a baby, Chicago Blackhawks forward Drake Caggiula is feeling a bit unsure about his place with the Blackhawks organization. A pending restricted free agent, he was confident he would be re-signed before the pandemic, now with a changing salary cap, he’s not so sure.
His baby is due in November, the same month that free agency may open up and he explained:
“It’s really stressful,” he said. “It’s hard enough when we’re sitting by our phones just waiting for the call to say, ‘Hey, we need you to come back now.’ That part’s already stressful. Then you add in next year, when you’re a restricted free agent, and you don’t know what the salary cap is, so there’s a good chance that one, two, three or four guys could get moved. There’s a lot of uncertainty right now to begin with, then you add in free agency and it’s very, very difficult.”
GM Stan Bowman has said it’s too early to make a decision on the contracts for most of his players and needs to wait to see what the salary for next season is.
Derek Ryan Wants to Stay in Calgary
According to Mike Gould who noted he spoke with Calgary Flames forward Derek Ryan via text, Ryan said: “Calgary is “a great place for [his] kids” and he’s “really enjoyed playing for the Flames.” Added that he’d have “great” interest in potentially re-signing.”
Ryan has one more season left on his current contract that pays $3.125 million per season.
The post NHL Rumors: Blackhawks, Flames, Maple Leafs, Plus Players Backing Out? appeared first on The Hockey Writers.
By Jim Parsons on Jun 29, 2020 02:26 pm
In today’s NHL rumor rundown, would the San Jose Sharks expose defenseman Brent Burns in the expansion draft? Are the Detroit Red Wings rethinking their draft strategy after falling to the fourth spot? What kind of money will Sam Reinhart make on his next contract, and what really happened between the Penguins and Phil Kessel that saw the forward get traded? Finally, who might the Toronto Maple Leafs lose in the expansion draft?
Sharks to Leave Burns Exposed
According to The Athletic’s Kevin Kurz the San Jose Sharks have some tough contract decisions to make and as part of those decisions, may opt to expose veteran defenseman Brent Burns to the Seattle franchise during the expansion draft.
His salary still carries five more years at $8 million per season, but he could be a valuable veteran piece for an expansion team. Kurz writes:
If the Sharks are unable to move Vlasic’s unfortunate contract and the salary cap doesn’t significantly rise, they could be tempted to let Burns depart. He’s no longer the perennial Norris Trophy candidate that he was just a couple of years ago, but Burns takes care of himself when it comes to diet and exercise and could still be a productive player into his late 30’s. Further, Sharks top prospect Ryan Merkley should be NHL-ready by 2021-22 at the latest and could fill the void left by Burns on the right side of the defense behind Karlsson.
In other Sharks news, Brian Witt of NBC Sports believes the Sharks shouldn’t be ruled out if Jack Eichel demands a trade out of Buffalo. Pointing to his acquisitions of Erik Karlsson, Joe Thornton, Brent Burns, and Evander Kane, the Sharks Doug Wilson is not afraid to make big moves. Going back to Buffalo could be a combination of Burns, Ryan Merkley, Jonathan Dahlen, and a first. Witt suggested Timo Meier as another option.
Related: Revisiting the Brent Burns Trade
Sam Reinhart’s Next Deal?
According to Dan Rosen of NHL.com, the next contract for forward Sam Reinhart could see him get somewhere in the range of what St. Louis Blues winger Jaden Schwartz received.
Schwartz signed a five-year, $26.75 million deal in 2016. A similar percentage of the Buffalo’s cap hit would put Reinhart around $6 million, but he could fall a bit higher, settling somewhere between $6-$7 million annually.
Who Might Toronto Lose During Expansion Draft?
James Mirtle and Jonas Siegel took a look at what the Toronto Maple Leafs might do when it comes to Seattle expansion and they wrote:
When it comes to the Maple Leafs, they are basically guaranteed to go the 7-3-1 route and protect seven forwards, three defencemen and one goaltender, given how many talented forwards they have.
Knowing trades and acquisitions are likely over the next year, the two best players on the Maple Leafs unprotected list are Justin Holl and Pierre Engvall. Other names include: Kyle Clifford, Jeremy Bracco, Adam Brooks, Denis Malgin, Kenny Agostino, Jason Spezza, and Frederik Gauthier.
Red Wings to Target Defenseman With Draft Selection?
The Detroit Red Wings had previously been focused in on players like the Alexis Lafreniere, Quinton Byfield, and Tim Stuetzle, assuming they would be making a pick in the top three spots of this year’s entry draft. Now that they’ve fallen to No. 4, Detroit Red Wings insider Ansar Khan thinks the strategy might have changed.
He believes the Red Wings will pick at #4 and not take a forward at all. Khan mentions defenseman Jamie Drysdale as a candidate. He’s an 18-year-old defenseman currently playing in the Ontario Hockey League as a member of the Erie Otters.
What Happened in Pittsburgh With Kessel?
On the one-year anniversary of the Phil Kessel trade that sent the sniper to Arizona, Pittsburgh Penguins insider Josh Yohe revisited that trade and how it came about. Suggesting it was not one single factor that led to the deal, the relationship between coach Mike Sullivan and Kessel had soured.
In speaking with a player that wished to remain anonymous, he said:
“I don’t think Phil hated Sully. I just don’t think Phil likes coaches or being told what to do. Sully got on him during a flight one time for not playing more of a two-way game. When Sully went back to his seat, Phil looked up and said, ‘F-ck him.’ We all liked Phil a lot. We still do. And we all like and respect Sully a ton. He’s a great coach. But they had their moments.”
Nobody in the organization believes Kessel demanded a trade, but that Kessel and Rutherford came to a mutual agreement that it was best for him to move on
The post NHL Rumors: Penguins, Sharks, Red Wings, Maple Leafs, More appeared first on The Hockey Writers.
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