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NHL Rumors Update
NHL Rumors Update for 04/01/2020
The latest NHL rumors from The Hockey Writers.
04/01/2020 edition:
By Jim Parsons on Mar 31, 2020 01:30 pm
In today’s NHL rumor rundown, the Toronto Maple Leafs have admitted their interest in a KHL forward, Brady Tkachuk provides an update on how the two Senators players who contracted the COVID-19 virus are doing, and the Edmonton Oilers confirm their interest in forward Anton Slepyshev and two 2016 draft prospects. Finally, there are more names rumored to be among those veteran NHL’ers who might call it a career.
Dubas Confirms Interest in Barabanov
We spoke this weekend about the rumored interest by the Toronto Maple Leafs in Russian forward Alexander Barabanov and Maple Leafs’ GM Kyle Dubas admitted at a media availability today that his team is pursuing the player.
Dubas explained to Chris Johnston of Sportsnet that the organization likes the Russian forward’s ability to make plays under pressure. Johnston also notes that there doesn’t seem to be any rush from Barabanov’s side to make a decision.
Once again, Arizona is also in the mix. The Athletic’s Craig Morgan confirmed the Coyotes have interest as general manager John Chayka talked with Barabanov earlier this season when he visited St. Petersburg.
Related: 7 Cool Things About Auston Matthews
Brady Tkachuk Says Sick Teammates Are “Doing Well”
Ottawa Senators star Brady Tkachuk joined fellow Atlantic Division players John Tavares, Zdeno Chara and Dylan Larkin on a conference call with the media yesterday and in speaking on a number of topics similar to other conference calls by the NHL, he had some different news. The Senators are one of two teams to be hit with positive tests for COVID-19 and Tkachuk had updates on his teammates.
“Those guys are doing well,” said Tkachuk. “We’re a tight group so we’re always in contact with one another but I think all of us are just concerned about them and everybody impacted by it.”
This is great news as the NHL is probably lucky only to have four players who have tested positive to date.
Oilers to Make Decisions on International Players
We mentioned in our Oilers news and rumors update that Oilers general manager Ken Holland says he’s got interest in signing Anton Slepyshev to a contract but isn’t willing to compete on money. “If anybody wants to give him $2.5 million to $3 million, we’re not in the game anyways,” Holland said.
The Oilers also have to make decisions on a couple of international prospects they drafted in 2016. Jim Matheson of The Edmonton Sun writes:
Holland affirmed the team is deciding on whether to sign 2016 third-round defencemen Markus Niemelainen (63rd overall), who was with Assat Pori in Finland last season and Filip Berglund (91st), who played with Philip Broberg in Skelleftea last year but has moved to Linkoping in the Swedish Hockey League. The Oilers have two months to sign them or they’re free.
Holland knows both players could decide to stay in Europe but the Oilers have the choice to sign them and bring them over or leave them there. That said, if they don’t sign them, they lose their rights to the players on June 1. “They’ve gotten better, they’ve improved. They do play regular in Sweden and Finland,” said Holland.
Specifically, Holland feels Berglund can play in the AHL right now. The assumption seems to be that Holland is leaning towards signing both players.
More Players to Retire If Season Doesn’t Resume?
Steven Ellis of The Hockey News lists Dallas Stars winger Corey Perry and Minnesota Wild center Mikko Koivu among six pending unrestricted free agents who may be forced into retirement if the NHL season doesn’t resume.
Perry only managed 21 points with the Stars this season which doesn’t bode well for a team giving him another chance and Koivu seems to have no desire to play in any city outside of Minnesota. Injuries are a big concern for the veteran and he’s no longer relied upon by the Wild organization, having moved down their depth chart.
The post NHL Rumors: Maple Leafs, Oilers, Senators, Retirement Rumors, More appeared first on The Hockey Writers.
By Jim Parsons on Mar 30, 2020 01:30 pm
In today’s NHL rumor rundown, there is news on the Tampa Bay Lightning likely unwillingness to re-sign Cory Conacher and where he’ll wind up as a result. The Minnesota Wild are interested in signing the KHL’s third-leading scorer, but they can’t do so quite yet. Finally, the Chicago Blackhawks are working on a deal with prospect Ian Mitchell. What are the chances he burns a year of his entry-level deal?
Conacher to Sign in Sweden
It appears that the pending unrestricted free agent Cory Conacher is leaning towards extending his hockey career, just not in the NHL. Gregory Beaud and Jerome Reynard of Le Matin report that Conacher may sign with Lausanne of the Swiss NLA for next season.
The 30-year-old has been in and out of the Tampa Bay Lightning lineup for four seasons and the most action he’s seen was a 36-game stretch in 2017-18. He’s produced at the AHL level but with signs he’s unlikely to get a real shot at NHL duty and speculation the Lightning are not looking at giving him another deal, he’s turning away from the NHL and trying to find work elsewhere.
Related: Lightning’s All-Decade Team: Defense
Wild to Sign KHL star Kirill Kaprizov
According to The Athletic’s Michael Russo, the Minnesota Wild are still the favorites to chase after KHL star Kirill Kaprizov and that with his season now cancelled and with no further commitments to the KHL, the Wild are looking to get that deal done sooner than later.
Russo explains:
So, with Kaprizov having no further obligations in Russia, you can bet every cent in your bank account that Guerin is at least investigating through agent Dan Milstein whether the Wild can sign Kaprizov in advance of May 1.
As Guerin has told The Athletic multiple times, the objective is to have Kaprizov’s two-year contract start next season, not if the NHL resumes this season. The latter option has been taken away from the Wild regardless.
Due to KHL rules, the earliest Kirill could sign a NHL entry-level contract is Apr. 30, four days after his 23rd birthday. That would allow Minnesota to sign him to a two-year, entry-level deal by May 1.
Blackhawks and Mitchell Looking at Contract
Scott Powers of The Athletic examined the likelihood of a deal between the Chicago Blackhawks and prospect Ian Mitchell, who said, “Yes, all options are on the table.” Mitchell would love the chance to play in the 2019-20 season if it gets underway and burn the first year of his entry-level deal.
He’s eligible to sign a three-year entry-level deal and said:
“Right now we are waiting to see what happens with the NHL season. There is a freeze on contracts being signed for this season. If I were to sign a contract now, I wouldn’t be able to play this year if the season resumes. So right now it is just wait and see.”
The Blackhawks had wanted to sign Mitchell last year but it didn’t get done and he returned to Denver to try and compete for a National Championship. This time around, the two sides are likely to talk deal and Mitchell’s only negotiating leverage would be to return to school next year for his final season and then waiting until August 15th 2021 to become a free agent. It’s not likely he wants to do so.
The post NHL Rumors: Wild, Lightning, Blackhawks, More appeared first on The Hockey Writers.
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