NHL Rumors Update

NHL Rumors Update for 04/10/2020

April 10, 2020

The latest NHL rumors from The Hockey Writers.

 

04/10/2020 edition:

By Jim Parsons on Apr 09, 2020 02:30 pm

In today’s NHL rumor rundown, there is news on Anton Slepyshev’s status and that he’s made a decision on the offer from the Edmonton Oilers. There is talk about the Buffalo Sabres trading Rasmus Ristolainen and the NHL is looking at different scenarios to host playoffs.

Slepyshev Re-Signs With KHL

According to Oilers Now host Bob Stauffer, Anton Slepyshev has rejected the contract offer from the Edmonton Oilers and has chosen to re-sign in the KHL. Stauffer writes on Twitter:

Oilers GM Ken Holland offered Anton Slepyshev’s agent Dan Millstein the option of either a 1-year or 2-year contract for the Russian winger to return to EDM. Slepyshev has elected to stay in the KHL after a big season this year with CSKA.

Former scribe Robin Brownlee added that it was likely Slepyshev would sign wherever he was overpaid and that wasn’t going to be with the Oilers.

Immediate reaction to the news from most fans is that it’s good that Holland didn’t go overboard with any offer because Slepyshev had one good season and that while it would have been nice to add depth, there will be other options.

In other Oilers news, the family of Oilers & Condors forward Colby Cave has provided an update on his status: “Colby is still in a medically-induced coma. This is giving his brain time to heal & rest from all he’s been through.”

Sabres to Move Ristolainen?

Josh Wegman of The Score looked at Atlantic Division teams and specifically talked about the Buffalo Sabres and the likelihood they might trade a defenseman.

Noting the team is trying to acquire a second-line center, he projects Rasmus Ristolainen seems the most likely to be shopped, but he won’t fetch that second-line center if he’s moved. That said, there are ways the Sabres can grab what they need if they target cap-strapped teams.

Wegman also looked at the Tampa Bay Lightning and wondered how they would become cap compliant. He considers it unlikely Ondrej Palat or Tyler Johnson will waive their no-trade clauses, meaning winger Alex Killorn could become a cap casualty. His full no-trade becomes a 16-team no-trade list following this season.

NHL Unlikely To Choose Just One Location for Playoffs

Greg Wyshynski of ESPN writes that, “Carolina GM Don Waddell says the Hurricanes have a task force that’s discussed scenarios that involve coming back with no fans, a limited (re: capped) capacity of fans or full attendance.” Obviously, teams are talking about how to move forward and not just the league.

But, the NHL is working on different scenarios too.

Pierre LeBrun noted on the latest edition of TSN Insider Trading that the NHL is likely not looking at having one location host the NHL playoffs if they can get them up and running.

LeBrun said, “Not one location, James, that’s the one thing maybe the league feels is probably not going to happen for the NHL or lets just put it this way – it is very unlikely as it was told to me today.” There have been rumors the NHL is trying to find feasible ways to hosting playoffs later into the summer and one location was mentioned, perhaps Vegas, as an option.

LeBrun added:

We mentioned last week that one of the scenarios was four cities for 16 teams, that’s one format that they have discussed, they have also discussed two cites, as long as those two cities have two rinks per city that they could use, another scenario has eight cities.”

LeBrun added that the NHL is in the early stages of this types of discussions there is no firm planning being done. For now, all they can do is keep waiting to see what’s safe and what isn’t. Finding one location is “certainly that is the goal right now,” LeBrun said.

By Jim Parsons on Apr 08, 2020 02:35 pm

In today’s NHL rumor rundown, there is news the New Jersey Devils might go big-game hunting for a defenseman, details about what the Edmonton Oilers have offered Anton Slepyshev are out there and Torey Krug makes more comments about his contract status with the Boston Bruins.

Will The Devils Pursue a Big-Ticket Free Agent?

NORTHJERSEY.com is reporting, via Abbey Mastracco, that this might be the year the New Jersey Devils spend a huge amount of money in free agency to land a big-name defenseman. She notes, “Maybe a new GM will see it necessary to bring in some more established NHL players instead of waiting on talent to develop.”

She doesn’t mention who the Devils might have their eyes on, but another scribe did.

The Athletic’s Corey Masisak notes that the Devils could also use the trade market to address their need for experienced blueline depth. He suggested targeting clubs squeezed for salary cap space, potentially going after someone like Mikhail Sergachev from the Tampa Bay Lightning.

He also writes:

Maybe the Blues don’t have room for Colton Parayko and Vince Dunn once Alex Pietrangelo signs? Or the Bruins don’t have room to sign Torey Krug this summer and Brandon Carlo next year? The Sabres still have extra defensemen, and any non-Rasmus Ristolainen guy from that group could be interesting. The Ducks have traded away a bunch of good, young defensemen over the past few years, so checking in with them periodically is always a good idea.

source -‘Devils mailbag: Prospect tiers, defense issues and an Adam Henrique-sized duck’ – Corey Masisak – The Athletic – 04/05/2020

Oilers Offer to Anton Slepyshev

We noted yesterday in our Oilers-specific rumors and news update that Oilers GM Ken Holland has extended an offer to Anton Slepyshev to return to the team. Details of that offer are starting to trickle in.

Jim Matheson tweeted that Slepyshev’s contract offer was probably between $1 and 1.4 million and that it’s unlikely that he’d offer the same $1.5 million that he gave to Josh Archibald who had a strong season and kills penalties for the team. Apparently, the exchange rate on what Slephyshev was making in the KHL versus what the Oilers have offered means the pay is very similar.

In other Oilers news, speculation from Daniel Nugent-Bowman notes that if prospect defenseman Philip Broberg doesn’t make the Oilers next year, he’ll head back to Sweden according to Holland. The Oilers are also continuing conversations with prospects Markus Niemelainen and Filip Berglund about signing NHL contracts.

More Contract Updates on Torey Krug

We also noted yesterday that Boston Bruins defenseman Torey Krug had made comments hinting that he potentially believed his time in Boston might be coming to an end. Amalie Benjamin of NHL.com added to that story.

Krug noted that contract extension talks have not progressed at all since the NHL was put on pause back on March 12th and he doesn’t know where the Bruins are at with any potential new deal.

“It’s a good question, probably one that many people would like to know an answer to,” Krug said Tuesday. “We haven’t had any talks since this thing has started. I can’t speak for any other UFA that’s in a position like I am, but in terms of my situation here in Boston, we haven’t continued any talks or made any progress in that regard.”

NHL Could Have Purchased Pandemic Insurance

An interesting tweet hit social media on Wednesday from Darren Rovell from the Senior Executive for Action Network HQ which stated:

Wimbledon reportedly paid $2 million a year for pandemic insurance for the last 17 years (Total: $34 Million) For this year’s cancellation as a result of the Coronavirus, Wimbledon will reportedly receive $141 million from the policy.

Popular NHL player agent Allan Walsh commented saying, “Isn’t it on the pro sports leagues like the NHL, NBA and MLB to have business interruption insurance? And if not, why not? Premiums relatively cheap.” He’s got a point and imagine how less drastic things might have been financially for the NHL had they purchased similar insurance.

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