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NHL Rumors Update
NHL Rumors Update for 07/15/2019
The latest NHL rumors from The Hockey Writers.
07/15/2019 edition:
By Jim Parsons on Jul 13, 2019 10:44 am
In today’s NHL rumor rundown, there is news out of Philadelphia where the Flyers are working on a deal for Ivan Provorov, the Colorado Avalanche might be looking to sign a veteran d-man, the Columbus Blue Jackets are rumored to have gone hard after Mitch Marner and the Chicago Blackhawks are trying to bring one of their college defensemen over sooner than later.
Contract Talks and Ivan Provorov
NHL.com’s Adam Kimelman noted that when asked about discussions for defenseman Ivan Provorov, GM Chuck Fletcher suggested that it could take a little while for a deal to get done. Fletcher said, “Everything’s cordial and amicable, but I think until the market settles out a bit it may be difficult to move forward on Provorov.”
Fletcher might want to see some of the bigger-name restricted free agent blueliners — such as Charlie McAvoy and Jacob Trouba — sign deals first so he can get a better sense for the market for Provorov.
The challenge is that Provorov had a breakout 2017-18 season but took a sizable step back in 2018-19.
Avs to Go for a Veteran Defenseman
NHL.com’s Rick Sadowski suggests that the Colorado Avalanche could use another veteran blueliner. Some insurance for youngsters like Bowen Byram and Conor Timmins would be wise but it doesn’t have to be a big-name, expensive get.
The Avalanche might look to the PTO market later this summer to bring in some depth that way.
Blackhawks Have Opening for Ian Mitchell?
According to a report by Scott Powers of The Athletic, the Chicago Blackhawks plan to speak with defenseman Ian Mitchell at their upcoming development camp to see if he will reconsider his plans to remain in college for next season. There perhaps wasn’t room before the Henri Jokiharju trade, but his exit changes things.
Powers writes:
Now that the Blackhawks have traded Jokiharju, Mitchell should benefit — though whether that’s in the present or the future is yet to be determined. According to a source, Mitchell and the Blackhawks will talk next week at development camp about where he fits into their defensive landscape and whether he might reconsider turning pro for the upcoming season.
Mitchell has played well and GM Stan Bowman will try to dangle the chance to win a spot on the main roster to see if the 20-year-old will forego the rest of his college eligibility.
Blue Jackets Offer Sheet for Marner?
TSN noted a tweet by The Athletic’s Aaron Portzline suggesting the Columbus Blue Jackets were among “many teams” that spoke to Mitch Marner about an offer sheet. Portzline said he’s seen no indication Marner wants to leave Toronto, which is why he believes he declined the offer.
This is a report backed by Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman who said he also believes the Columbus Blue Jackets were thinking about targeting Marner after the whispers of the New York Islanders going after the star winger surfaced. Friedman went as far as to say the reason the offer sheet wasn’t signed was the term. The Blue Jackets wanted seven years and Marner wanted less than that.
Friedman did say if anyone was going to pursue hard for Marner via an offer sheet, he believed it would be the Blue Jackets.
The post NHL Rumors: Flyers, Avs, Blackhawks, More appeared first on The Hockey Writers.
By Jim Parsons on Jul 12, 2019 12:59 pm
In today’s NHL rumor rundown there is news out of Vancouver as it pertains to both Sven Baertschi and Loui Eriksson, the Dallas Stars are trying to trade a defenseman, the Chicago Blackhawks shopping a forward and the Nashville Predators are rethinking the notion of moving Kyle Turris.
Baertschi Will Be Ready, Eriksson Has a Choice
Rick Dhaliwal reports there had been some talk about Sven Baertschi’s health and playing future but his agent has said that he’ll be ready for training camp and is 100 percent. This is great news for the Canucks.
In the not-so-great news category, GM Jim Benning has said there is “no update” on Loui Eriksson’s situation.
The question becomes how badly does Eriksson want a fresh start because some of the teams that could use his contract to get to the salary cap floor, (Ottawa for example) he might not want to go to.
Eriksson’s agent,J.P. Barry was on TSN Radio Vancouver and said, “I mean we have spoken about a lot of things whether it is staying playing or finding a new home so we will need to continue discussing that.” He also said that any negative comments Eriksson might have made were probably overblown by Swedish media.
Blackhawks Shopping Brendan Perlini
It’s already been reported that the Chicago Blackhawks are looking to move Artem Anisimov. Michael Wagner reports that Jay Zawaski said that along with shopping Artem Anisimov the Chicago Blackhawks are shopping restricted free agent forward Brendan Perlini.
The Blackhawks and Perlini are scheduled to continue negotiations next week, according to a source. The two sides haven’t talked much so far.
Dallas Stars to Trade Julis Honka
Matthew DeFranks of the Dallas Morning News reports that the Dallas Stars are trying to trade defenseman Julius Honka.
Honka doesn’t have the highest of trade values but he’s the type of player a team might take a chance on thinking he could reach some expected potential on a cheaper contract.
Teams always tend to be on the lookout for a right-handed shot and the Stars don’t sound like they plan to use him much and the other option is waivers.
Does Dzingel to Hurricanes Mean No Williams?
The Carolina Hurricanes had been quiet in free agency up to the point they signed Ryan Dzingel to a two-year deal. Most of the buzz was that the team was waiting on a decision from Justin Wiliams.
Cory Lavalette reports that even with the Hurricanes signing Dzingel to a, it doesn’t close the door on Williams re-signing with the team. Hurricanes GM Don Waddell believes Williams will play another season.
Lavalette thinks this means the Hurricanes might have something else they are working on.
Predators Holding Onto Turris?
Despite needing to shed salary and having an expensive center corps, reports are the Nashville Predators may elect to hang onto Kyle Turris.
Adam Vingan of The Athletic writes:
Over the past several months, Turris, who is owed $6 million in each of the next five seasons, has been shipped out of town by countless armchair general managers. One would assume that the addition of Duchene and his $8 million cap hit would hasten Turris’ departure, but it appears that the Predators are prepared to hold on to him, at least for now.
Vingan writes that GM David Poile is looking for a rebound year from Turris. If it doesn’t work and Turris is playing third-line center, it could make him harder to trade down the road.
The post NHL Rumors: Canucks, Blackhawks, Stars, More appeared first on The Hockey Writers.
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