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NHL Rumors Update
NHL Rumors Update for 11/29/2019
The latest NHL rumors from The Hockey Writers.
11/29/2019 edition:
By Jim Parsons on Nov 28, 2019 01:30 pm
Another week of the 2019-20 NHL regular season gone and more trade rumors to discuss. Some of the names on the Top-12 list stay the same, some come off based on coaching changes and production levels, with new additions taking their place.
The below list is a combination of players who have often come up in trade talks over the past week:
12) Taylor Hall
Taylor Hall was on this list at No. 12 last week and he’ll stay there for this week, only because the situation in New Jersey has not yet sorted itself out. There aren’t really any developments in the saga other than some speculation other teams that have cap space might be interested.
Could a team like Colorado jump in this season to help put them in the conversation as Cup contenders? Maybe, but then the whole question about what you do with him long-term becomes important.
Related: 5 Best NHL Backups
11) Tyson Barrie Torey Krug
It’s best to remove Tyson Barrie from this spot because of the coaching change in Toronto. Barrie seems to be the Maple Leafs player most benefiting from the change. And, because he’s so important to the team’s success this season, if he’s playing well, he’s not going anywhere.
Instead, Torey Krug goes here. It’s hard to believe the Bruins will trade him because, he too, is vital to a playoff run. That said, he’s going to be hard to fit into the cap structure for the Bruins next season considering what he’ll command on the open market.
Do the Bruins really want to risk losing him for nothing?
10) Tristan Jarry Kyle Turris
Where this list used to have Pittsburgh Penguins’ goaltender Tristan Jarry, it now has forward Kyle Turris of the Nashville Predators. He’s not a happy camper in Nashville.
An often healthy scratch, there is speculation he wants a move and also speculation that the Predators are not eager to get him back in the lineup regularly or do him any favors. His salary and lack of production make a trade tricky.
9) Jesse Puljujarvi
The Edmonton Oilers have two days to do something with a former first-round draft pick in Jesse Puljujarvi. That’s not much time to make a move but there are teams out there looking into what the Oilers want as they kick tires on acquiring the winger.
Don’t expect a trade, especially one that includes the Carolina Hurricanes who are rumored to not want to move a forward and that’s what the Oilers want in return.
8) Dustin Byfuglien
Dustin Byfuglien stays at this spot but of note is that there isn’t much in the way of developments coming out of this situation. Frankly, while other news has been front and center in the NHL, this issue is still a mess. That’s pretty much all anyone knows right now.
7) Jason Spezza
Hesitating to put anyone from Toronto on this list, Jason Spezza holds firm at No. 7. He stays here simply because, at some point, a player will likely be moved out of Toronto to make room for other players.
Spezza’s salary, age, contract situation and production make him the most likely choice. Who knows with Sheldon Keefe though, he could really value Spezza’s leadership during a time of transition.
6) Travis Hamonic
The Calgary Flames are in the news for all the wrong reasons these days. Any possible trade situations are being overlooked by the coaching and GM drama and while Brad Treliving has his hands full, it could pause any possible trades.
Knowing that, Travis Hamonic is still a likely option to be moved out of Calgary when all of this other stuff settles down.
5) Andreas Athanasiou
The Detroit Red Wings are on pace for a drastic season and as such, it would be silly to remove any of the names on the roster that had made the top-12 trade list previously. That includes speedy forward Andreas Athanasiou.
He’s cooled off again and there’s a pretty good chance he gets moved by the NHL Trade Deadline.
Related: Every NHL Team’s Top Prospect
4) Julius Honka
Like Puljujarvi in Edmonton, Julius Honka has two days to wait before he finds out about his future. There is a lot less talk coming out of Dallas as it pertains to Honka than in Edmonton regarding Puljujarvi. Still, it appears neither will be moved.
3) Chris Kreider Ryan Strome
Chris Kreider should probably stay on the list and will informally until the New York Rangers become clear sellers or non-sellers at the deadline. He’s arguably the most notable name on the trade market, but in adding a wrinkle here, Ryan Strome gets some consideration.
Strome is having an unbelievable season in New York and one he likely won’t reproduce. For the Rangers, this will become a sell high situation as Strome is an RFA at the end of the season and some team will take him for a playoff run.
Jesper Fast and Lias Andersson are probably in play here as well.
2) Jason Zucker Carey Price
Putting Carey Price here was more about goofing around than anything else. He’s in the rumor mill today (as is Shea Weber) because the Montreal Canadiens are struggling and there is talk they may want to rebuild. Moving Price and Weber means clearing out major salary.
What are the chances the Canadiens can actually move Price’s salary? Slim to none. He really doesn’t deserve to be a serious candidate on this list and certainly not at No. 2. Still, he’s too big a name not to mention the rumors and the notoriety of any possible trade shoots him up the list as a situation to watch.
1) Nic Petan Bill Peters
This is probably cheating our own list, but the news has been so hot-and-heavy in respect to Calgary Flames coach Bill Peters that it was impossible not to put him in at the No. 1 spot.
It’s hard to imagine a scenario where the Flames can keep Peters on staff considering all the allegations coming to light appear to be true. The Flames are headed home from a road trip and speculation is that they’ll announce his release in a matter of time.
He’s not “with” the team now, even though he’s still employed by the team. By association, it might be worth watching the status of GM’s Brad Treliving and Ron Francis who are unfortunately connected to all of this.
The post THW’s Top-12 NHL Trade Rumors Tracker – Updated appeared first on The Hockey Writers.
By Jim Parsons on Nov 28, 2019 11:55 am
In today’s NHL rumor rundown, there are updates on the Bill Peters situation and how this all might affect Seattle GM Ron Francis. There are rumors out of Montreal that the team might be thinking rebuild and what do the new contracts given out in Boston mean for Bruins defenseman Torey Krug?
Bill Peters Apologizes
As more information comes to light about the Bill Peters allegations, Peters sent out a statement on Wednesday, apologizing for his choice of words. He started with, “Please accept this as a sincere apology to you, and the entire Calgary Flames organization, for offensive language I used in a professional setting a decade ago.” He had addressed the statement to GM Brad Treliving.
As it stands right now, the Flames are still conducting their investigation but, as Elliotte Friedman reports, Peters has “left the Flames organization.” Peters is not with the team.
Friedman said in his Sportsnet segment on Wednesday:
“…he has left the organization and is one his way back to Calgary. Now the Flames are in a situation where they are going to be going back to the city tonight after the game and we’re wondering if that means there could be an announcement made (of Peters’ firing) once they’re back home. And that’s kind of where we’re sitting at this particular time.”
Akim Aliu Releases Statement
Aliu has released his only statement in response to the statement and in it, he writes, “I have read the statement of Bill Peters, which I found to be misleading, insincere and concerning.”
He writes that he has accepted a meeting with the NHL and will reserve additional comments until after that meeting.
Ron Francis Now in Hot Water?
When Rod Brind’Amour said, “It definitely happened.” of the allegations against Peters, things potentially got tricky for current GM of the Seattle expansion franchise Ron Francis.
Francis was GM in Carolina at the time of some of these allegations of physical abuse — allegations that Peters kicked Michal Jordan and punched another Canes player in the head on the bench — and then-Hurricanes general manager Francis aware of what was happening. Nothing changed.
Former Hurricanes owner Peter Karmanos said Wednesday night he’d have fired coach Peters “in a nanosecond” which of course might not reflect well on Francis who did not take the same action knowing what was going on.
It may not get to a point where Francis needs to explain his decision not to fire Peters and he has yet to comment. It’s worth keeping an eye on that situation.
Canadiens to Make Big Move?
Stu Cowan of the Montreal Gazette believes the Montreal Canadiens could soon start to dump big contracts in an attempt to rebuild. With multiple losses and a feeling this is not their season, names like Carey Price and Shea Weber have been brought up in trade.
Cowan writes:
With the possibility of the Canadiens missing the playoffs for a third straight season and the fourth time in five years, does GM Marc Bergevin try to make a big trade, giving up prospects, to give his team — and Julien — a better chance? Or will it soon be time to start thinking about shopping Price and captain Shea Weber for more young players and start a rebuild — a word Bergevin has refused to use — for the future?
Chances are the Canadiens will be given time to try and work their out of this current slump but if things get better before they get worse, speculation is that this season Bergevin might actually do something, unlike last year when he chose to sit on his cap space.
What About Torey Krug?
Joe Haggerty of NBC Sports Boston writes with the Boston Bruins re-signing Charlie Coyle and Chris Wagner yesterday, where does this leave defenseman Torey Krug?
There were already some concerns the Bruins would have trouble fitting Krug’s potential new salary into their cap structure next season and these two deals make things that much trickier. The belief is that Krug could get as much as $8 million on the open market this summer.
Don’t expect the Bruins to trade Krug becase he’s vital to the team’s playoff run but there are certainly questions about what will happen to him if he goes un-signed.
The post NHL Rumors: Peters, Francis, Canadiens, Bruins, More appeared first on The Hockey Writers.
By Jim Parsons on Nov 27, 2019 12:05 pm
In today’s NHL rumor rundown, why did Marc-Andre Fleury leave the Vegas Golden Knights so suddenly? We have the details. There is news on whether or not Mikko Rantanen is ready to return, and are the Boston Bruins ready to sign two forwards? And, with only three days left, is there any chance Jesse Puljujarvi leaves Finland to play for the Edmonton Oilers or another NHL team? Finally, what’s the latest on the Bill Peters allegations and what does it mean for GM Brad Treliving?
Fleury Dealing With Family Illness
On Tuesday, the Vegas Golden Knights made an emergency recall of goalie Garret Sparks because starting netminder Marc-Andre Fleury left the organization suddenly for personal reasons. It wasn’t revealed what those reasons were and no one on the team really knew what was going on.
On Wednesday morning, it was announced that an illness in his family was the reason he left, as per team insider David Schoen of the Las Vegas Review Journal.
We wish the best for Fleury and his family. There is no timetable for his return.
Related: Jack Adams, the Man and the Award
Rantanen Will Not Play Wednesday
Mikko Rantanen was back at practice with the Colorado Avalanche and skating with a non-contract sweater, taking a couple of hits anyways. While he’s said to be looking good, the likelihood is that he will not play against the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday night.
While this is good news for the Oilers who are one of the hottest teams in the NHL, the Avs next opponents won’t love that he’ll likely be back on Friday. Gabriel Landeskog is also skating and might be back sooner than some anticipated.
Bruins on the Verge of Signing Two Players?
According to Ryan Whitney of Spittin Chiclets, the Boston Bruins are very close to signing both Charlie Coyle and Chris Wagner to contract extensions. Whitney said not to chirp him if he’s wrong, but he went into detail saying he believes a six-year extension for Coyle and a three-year extension for Wagner.
Puljujarvi Staying With Oilers
We noted in yesterday’s article about Ken Holland’s plans for the future of the Oilers in terms of trades. But, with only three days left, it’s worth noting again.
Confrimed by Sportsnet’s Mark Spector, he reports it seems certain Jesse Puljujarvi will not be traded before the December 1, 2019 deadline. Holland said there was nothing new to report there and ” it’s probably something we’ll deal with next year at the draft.”
Holland noted that he’d spoken with a few teams — the Rangers, Hurricanes and a couple others are rumored to be interested — but Puljujarvi will probably stay in Finland and remain Edmonton Oilers property to the end of this season.
And for those asking, there’s almost no chance he signs with the Oilers.
Bill Peters Not Coaching Tonight
In the wake of an investigation being conducted by the Calgary Flames into allegations against coach Bill Peters, Peters will not be behind the bench until the team either concludes its investigation or Peters is relieved of his duties as coach.
Calgary Flames associate coach Geoff Ward will serve as interim head coach.
As for Brad Treliving’s status with the Flames after these allegations came to light, Todd Saelhof of the Ottawa Sun wonders if this could be the end for Treliving in Calgary? Saelhof writes:
Many believe Treliving was down to his last chance as GM of the Flames when he hired Peters in April 2018.
With that, it means he hitched his wagon to Peters in one last-ditch effort to save his own job with the Flames.
If so, it appears now as if Treliving made the wrong choice in making Peters the coach on whom he was hanging his hopes.
The post NHL Rumors: Fleury, Avalanche, Bruins, Oilers, More appeared first on The Hockey Writers.
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