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NHL Rumors Update
NHL Rumors Update for 10/25/2019
The latest NHL rumors from The Hockey Writers.
10/25/2019 edition:
By Jim Parsons on Oct 24, 2019 12:35 pm
In today’s NHL rumor rundown, Elliotte Friedman took an in-depth look at whether or not Mike Babcock is on the hot seat in Toronto, there is a ton of positive praise coming from the Buffalo Sabres organization thanks to Ralph Kreuger’s unique approach and the Detroit Red Wings tried to move a player before they waived him. Plus, are the Edmonton Oilers getting down to business with Darnell Nurse? And, are the Sabres looking at trading a different defenseman now that Rasmus Ristolainen is happy?
Babcock’s Leash Longer Than Some Might Hope
Elliotte Friedman was on with Tim & Sid on Wednesday and when asked about how hot the seat is for Maple Leafs head coach Mike Babcock, Friedman responded with “I don’t think it’s as hot as some people would like it to be.”
One of the reasons Friedman suggested Babcock was not going to be on the first plane out of town after a 5-4-2 start to the Maple Leafs season is because Babcock is taking a lot of heat for a Maple Leafs team that is inconsistent and injured.
Friedman writes:
As pressure mounts, there will be plenty of talk about Babcock’s future. One thing everyone should remember: he takes a lot of the heat. A lot of it. What I respect about him is that he recognizes it as part of the job. Where does it go if he’s gone?
Fans shouldn’t discount what it means for the Maple Leafs to be without John Tavares. It is expected, with their team leader out of action, the group will go through some ups and downs.
Related: Is John Hynes on the Hot Seat?
Krueger Getting Rave Reviews
New Sabres coach Ralph Krueger isn’t exactly taking the typical approach to preparing his team for games and it seems to be working just fine for the 8-1-1 Sabres.
He’s made small changes that have paid huge dividends. Goaltender Carter Hutton says he doesn’t think the Sabres have used their video room once. Meetings are in the dressing room, “short and sweet” and the focus is on talking to smaller groups, not necessarily everyone.
Jason Strudwick said during the Jason Gregor show on TSN 1260 that this was pure genius knowing that players can’t focus for long periods of time, especially when not everything being taught during a 45-minute session is about their position.
In other Sabres news, Friedman reports that Rasmus Ristolainen may no longer be the target for teams since they know he’s happy working with Krueger. The focus has shifted to defenseman Marco Scandella. With an expiring contract and a cap hit of $4 million for the rest of this season Scandella could be of interest to some teams.
Senators Trying to Add a Forward
With Artem Anisimov and Colin White down to injury, the Ottawa Senators are trying hard to add a forward. Who they are targeting in trade is unclear but one has to wonder if they take a look at Jesse Puljujarvi out of Edmonton who continues to play well in Finland.
Darren Dreger said, “Pierre Dorian is looking for Vladdy Namestnikov 2.0. He got Namestnikov at a very affordable…even a bargain type of price.”
Oilers To Begin Negotiating With Nurse
It appears the Edmonton Oilers will start working with defenseman Darnell Nurse on a contract extension. With his contract coming up at the end of this season and being two years away from unrestricted free agency, there is talk of the team working on a long-term deal for a player who really wants to stay in Edmonton.
Nurse has been eating up big minutes for the Oilers so far this season and has seven points in 10 games. If he’s signed long-term, his deal won’t come cheap.
Red Wings Tried to Trade Ericsson
Before waiving Jonathan Ericsson, the Detroit Red Wings did try to trade him. They were unable to find a trade partner, explaining why he cleared.
Speculation is that this could be the beginning of the end for Ericsson in the NHL. If so, it’s a testament to his career as he was the last-overall draft choice in 2002, but wound up playing 662 games.
Ho-Sang Is Still Waiting
TSN’s Darren Dreger notes New York Islanders GM Lou Lamoriello is still working to find a new home for Josh Ho-Sang. In the meantime, the 2014 first-rounder continues to skate on his own to try to stay in game shape.
Dreger expects a deal that includes Ho-Sang will happen when another team needs to move a player that wants a change of scenery. It would be a trade similar to the recent Chicago-Florida swap.
Byfuglien Still Out Long-Term?
According to Winnipeg Jets insider Mike McIntyre, that the Jets claimed Luca Sbisa off waivers suggests the outlook on a Dustin Byfuglien return to the team is not good.
This report runs contrary to the news from Darren Dreger that there was a growing sense that the defenseman would be returning to Winnipeg.
The post NHL Rumors: Maple Leafs, Sabres, Red Wings, Jets, Oilers, More appeared first on The Hockey Writers.
By Jim Parsons on Oct 23, 2019 03:20 pm
There’s been a lot of speculation of late when it comes to Taylor Hall and his future with the New Jersey Devils. Some believe it’s a matter of time, if the Devils don’t go on a winning streak, before Hall decides he’ll decline an extension and test free agency. And, as a result of that decision, the Devils will trade him.
If that all comes to pass, the interesting trade destination that keeps coming up is in Edmonton and with the Edmonton Oilers. Elliotte Friedman got the buzz started when he suggested he could see the Oilers being a major suitor and attempt to reunite with Hall. After Friedman dropped that bomb, I dug deep into those comments and tried to imagine what that might look like.
A couple of days later, Kurt Leavins of The Edmonton Journal said that his sources claimed that any sour feelings Hall might have since being traded by the Oilers are all-but gone. Leavins contends that the Oilers have a real shot based on Hall’s close inner circle of influencers being close to the Oilers and those who were responsible for the trade are now out of Edmonton.
Leavins wrote:
I use the term “the Hall Camp” (by the way) because the group that will influence Taylor Hall’s future should be defined more broadly than just the player and his agent, Darren Ferris (who, incidentally, also represents Philip Broberg). Hall’s circle of most-trusted advisers is a little bigger than that.
As much as I respect Leavins, it’s this part of the Hall-to-Edmonton rumor I take issue with. Wouldn’t it be great if things were that simple.
Don’t Assume Hall Has Forgotten
Imagine going through all the growing pains Hall went through in Edmonton, only to be traded when the getting was good. That’s exactly why Hall was so emotional when speaking to media about his exit from the franchise. Like the really loyal boyfriend being dumped by the pretty girl who found a guy with more “to offer”, Hall wasn’t the long-term play or “captain material”, or so they suggested. He was essentially dumped for the shiny new toy in Connor McDavid.
Hall said back in 2016:
“I think I just voiced my disappointment in what had happened. I’m a proud person and I do take this as an indictment on me as a hockey player — I don’t think there’s any other way to treat it.”
Once considered the key piece of a dynamic trio that would lead the Oilers to the promise land, Hall became old news when a generational talent was gifted to the Oilers with a lottery win.
Ironically, McDavid and Hall were actually close friends, yet rumors swirled that there wasn’t enough room for both he and McDavid in the locker room and that Hall wasn’t a qualified leader who could get the Oilers to the next level. He was then traded for pennies on the dollar and the organization claimed “that was the price you pay” to land a top-two defenseman. All the while, Hall was well aware he was worth more than Adam Larsson straight up.
Related: The NHL’s Best Farm Systems Ranked
Hall Will Have Choices
Forget for a minute that Edmonton would have to figure out how to work whatever salary Hall will command into their overall team cap, why would Hall not choose someone else first?
Just because the option in Edmonton exists, what makes people so certain he wouldn’t prefer a more comfortable destination? Maybe enough time has passed since the trade that Hall can call it water under the bridge (that’s a big maybe), or maybe he’s just saying the right things to not sound bitter, but he’s the biggest fish in next year’s crop of free agents. The NHL world is his oyster.
Leavins notes that Hall enjoyed the Canadian market but you know what else is fun? Winning and paying less taxes. And yes, a team that has a better chance to win and can ensure Hall keeps more money at the end of the day will come calling. They always do.
Don’t Get Your Hopes Up Oilers Fans
Taylor Hall to Edmonton is a nice story that would be neatly wrapped with a ribbon if it ever happens. It probably won’t.
There may be things working that make it possible, but there are far more things working against that deal, making it unlikely at best. Not to mention, there’s no telling if new GM Ken Holland is even interested.
The post NHL Rumor Shootdown: Hall To Oilers Not Likely appeared first on The Hockey Writers.
By Kyle Gipe on Oct 23, 2019 11:40 am
In today’s NHL Rumors rundown, are the Vancouver Canucks looking to move defenseman Troy Stecher? Could the Ottawa Senators have interest in making additional trades following their acquisition of Vladislav Namestnikov? What’s the latest surrounding the negotiations between the Nashville Predators and Roman Josi? Finally, Boston Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy had some interesting comments on Anders Bjork.
Is Stecher on the Canucks’ Trade Block?
In yesterday’s Insider Trading on TSN, Pierre LeBrun was asked about Canucks defenseman Troy Stecher. After the Canucks added Tyler Myers and Jordie Benn over the offseason, plus the arrival of Quinn Hughes and the health of Chris Tanev, the team has more defensive depth than they’ve had in years. It’s resulted in Stecher being moved down the blue line ranks despite being a top-four defenseman earlier in his career.
He is currently averaging 13:02 of ice time per game, lowest among Canucks defensemen and more than five minute below his previous career low. And with him in the last year of his contract, it’s easy to see why the rumors have begun swirling about his future in Vancouver. LeBrun believes that, despite these rumors, the Canucks are happy with Stecher:
…Stecher is on the third D pairing. But I can tell you this, the Canucks are finally happy to have depth. I mean, this is why they built this team the way they did. They haven’t had depth in a long time, particularly on the defence. And it’s a team that’s been hit hard by injuries on the blue line the last couple of years. So right now that’s the plan is to keep a guy like Stecher for that reason.
In response to these rumors, Vancouver Courier writer Daniel Wagner attempted to come up with reasons why the Canucks would trade Stecher. (from ‘Why would the Canucks consider trading Troy Stecher?,’ Vancouver Courier, 10/22/2019) The first is they should trade him if the return is worth it, however, he doesn’t think that would happen because a team is unlikely to give up top-four value when he isn’t currently a top-four defenseman.
If they can’t get the right return, Stecher’s more valuable on the Canucks than he is in a trade.
The second is the creation of cap space, but Wagner points out that the Canucks don’t need the space. He also brings up that the Canucks don’t have quality defensive depth in the American Hockey League who could replace Stecher. He ultimately believes that the Canucks will keep Stecher and maintain their defensive depth, especially with the long list of injuries the team’s blue line has faced in recent seasons.
Senators Looking to Make More Moves?
Another rumor brought up on Insider Trading is the Senators looking at making another move following their acquisition of Vladislav Namestnikov. This rumor is rooted in the Senators’ 1-6-1 start to the season and how they’re ranked at or near the bottom of the league in basically every statistical category. TSN’s Darren Dreger believes that the Senators could have interest in bringing in help given how poor of a start the team has gotten off to.
Dreger suggests that general manager Pierre Dorian is looking to bring in another Namestnikov, whom they acquired on the cheap and has fit in quite well with six points in six games as a Senator. The Senators expected to be bad, but it’s unlikely they thought they’d be this bad. Bringing in a veteran who could create competition for roster spots, especially at a bargain price, wouldn’t hurt things or alter their rebuild plan.
Josi Negotiations Hit Snag
LeBrun also reports that negotiations between the Predators and captain Roman Josi have hit a snag. He believes that Predators GM David Poile met with Josi’s agent when the team was in Los Angeles last week and that no progress was made. He also believes that Josi and his camp want him to become the third-highest paid defenseman in the league after Erik Karlsson ($11.5 million) and Drew Doughty ($11 million). However, the Predators have been unwilling to go that far in negotiations to this point. Given that Josi’s current contract carries a $4-million cap hit, he is due a raise, and the Predators can’t afford to lose him to free agency. Now, the lack of a state income tax in Tennessee could keep the cap hit lower than expected, but Josi is one of the five-to-seven best defensemen in the league and deserves to be paid like it.
The issue for Poile and the Predators is that the longer they wait to get an extension done, the more Josi’s price tag goes up. As Paul Skrbina of The Tennessean reported on Oct. 8, the better Josi plays, the more he will be looking for on his next deal. (from ‘Is price tag going up for the Nashville Predators when it comes to captain Roman Josi?,’ The Tennessean, 10/08/2019) And, since Oct. 8, his play has only gotten better, and he currently has nine points in nine games, the best start to a season of his career. Josi is the Predators’ best and most important player, so getting him locked down to a long-term contract is vital.
Bjork Carving Out Role in Boston
With Bruins winger Karson Kuhlman out for at least one month with a fractured tibia, the team has been looking for his replacement in the lineup. One player who might have established himself in the lineup is Anders Bjork. Despite going back and forth between the NHL and AHL the past three seasons, the 23-year-old Bjork has yet to carve out a consistent role for himself.
But, according to NBC Sports Boston’s Joe Haggerty, Bjork may have just done that with his performance in the team’s 4-2 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday. As Haggerty points out, Bjork didn’t record any points, but his presence was felt throughout the game as he played a fast, aggressive game. His play was even recognized by Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy:
We’ll see where Bjork fits best. I don’t think he hurt himself at all tonight. With [Karson] Kuhlman out, you lose a bit of that motor, a younger guy that get on pucks, and that’s where Bjorkie was good tonight. That’s what we’re looking for. Can he sustain it, can he be strong on it? He was. He didn’t hurt us defensively, so that’s a good thing and that bodes well for him. We’ll see if we find a spot for him on Saturday. But it’s looking that way.
Haggerty thinks Bjork would best fit on the Bruins’ third line after Joakim Nordstrom returns, and that if he can play consistently good hockey in Kuhlman’s absence, he could nail down playing time even in a healthy lineup.
The post NHL Rumors: Canucks, Senators, Bruins, More appeared first on The Hockey Writers.
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