NHL Rumors Update

NHL Rumors Update for 12/28/2018

December 28, 2018

The latest NHL rumors from The Hockey Writers.

 

12/28/2018 edition:

By Jim Parsons on Dec 28, 2018 12:54 pm

In today’s NHL rumors, there is an injury update on goaltender Craig Anderson and how it might affect his trade value around the league. There might finally be some good news coming out of St. Louis, an NHL insider tries to predict Jeff Skinner’s next contract and the LA Kings have spoken with Jeff Carter’s agent to gauge what trading him might look like.

Craig Anderson’s Concussion to Affect Trade Value?

Craig Anderson has been missing games with an upper-body injury. It has been determined that the injury is actually a concussion and he will not be available to the Ottawa Senators this weekend. To cover for Anderson while he’s out, the team has recalled goaltender Marcus Hogberg from the minor leagues.

(Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports)

There were already rumors that Anderson might be moved out of Ottawa before the trade deadline but at least one GM was concerned with how many games the Senators were playing the veteran netminder. If playing too many games were affecting his trade value, it’s almost a lock that a concussion will scare teams away.

Blues Get Some Good News?

At this stage, it’s only a rumor, but more and more sources are starting to relay the news that it appears the St. Louis Blues might finally get some good news in a season that has been wrought with disappointment. It appears the Blues will be awarded the 2020 Allstar Game, an announcement that will be made at the Winter Classic.

(Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports)

From the sounds of the speculation, the awarding of the ASG comes as thanks for the new upgrades and the soon to be completed Phase 3 in 2019 of the Enterprise Center that hosts the Blues games.

The Blues will host the 2020 NHL All-Star Game @Enterprise_Cntr, league sources have told @TheAthleticSTL.

— Jeremy Rutherford (@jprutherford) December 27, 2018

Skinner’s Next Contract

Darren Dreger was a guest on TSN 1050 and asked if Buffalo Sabres pending free agent Jeff Skinner could hit the $10 million if he continues to put up numbers. Dreger thought that was too high.

Buffalo Sabres forward Jeff Skinner celebrates his game-winning goal. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)

Dreger said that it depends on term and how badly he wants to test free agency versus stay in Buffalo. “I think that you’re going to be somewhere around the $8 million mark, maybe a hair under if Skinner is really is really happy with Buffalo and knows that he’s got a good thing going there,” Dreger said. He added that Skinner could command more on the open market, “But again, if I were the player, I’d be careful with this one.”

Kings GM Has Spoken With Carter’s Agent

Ken Campbell of The Hockey News is reporting that 33-year old Jeff Carter is potentially a player of interest to the Arizona Coyotes or Boston Bruins. Outside of the fact he’s viewed as a strong scorer, the salary structure on his contract benefits teams looking to hit the cap floor without much actual salary being paid out.

Jeff Carter (Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)

Carter doesn’t have any trade protection in that contract but trading him isn’t a piece of cake for the Kings. Still, the Kings are kicking tires on what it might look like to explore a trade as Carter’s agent Rick Curran has said he’s spoken with Kings GM Rob Blake about the possibility. Curran said, “He [Blake] has told me very candidly that if he feels he has to make some changes that Jeff and a couple of other veteran players would be candidates.” But, Curran relayed that, “Jeff’s preference would be to stay in L.A. and finish his career there.”

With this news, it’s now more than speculation Carter might be moved out of LA. It appears the team is seriously considering the option. They’ll have to make sure Carter doesn’t retire before his term runs out to avoid getting hit with a recapture penalty.

By Jim Parsons on Dec 26, 2018 01:05 pm

Happy day after Christmas! (or in Canada, Boxing Day!)

In today’s rumor rundown, there are more details on Jeff Carter’s status in Los Angeles and how his contract makes it extremely difficult for the Kings to move him. Brandon Manning understands that the Blackhawks are trying to move him and has a reaction and rumors are, Braden Holtby is the most interesting name to watch heading into the Seattle expansion draft.

Jeff Carter Trade Won’t Be Easy

The LA Kings continue to struggle and with each passing loss, veteran center Jeff Carter has his name come up in trade rumors. Productively, he’s not having the best season of his career but he’s still known around the league as a strong goal scorer with playoff success under his belt. His cap hit also makes him attractive to certain teams.

Jeff Carter (Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)

This issue when it comes to moving Carter is that his deal (which doesn’t technically have trade protection) acts like a full no-trade clause.

The Kings signed Carter to one of those long-term deals that are illegal now and should Carter retire before it expires, they could be subject to a salary cap recapture penalty of $2.75 million per season. This means that the Kings need to keep Carter happy. If he retires in LA, they get nailed. If they trade him somewhere and he retires, they get nailed. It’s going to make it very tricky to move him unless he’s completely on board.

Brandon Manning Ok With Being Traded

Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Brandon Manning has struggled this season and made him an unwanted on the market and by his current team. There have been reports for weeks that the Blackhawks are looking to move him and according to Mark Lazerus of The Athletic Manning is open to being moved, especially considering he’s been scratched repeatedly under new head coach Jeremy Colliton. He hasn’t played since Dec. 12, and when he did, saw 13:20 of ice time —much less than his last two seasons in Philadelphia.

great first weekend in Chicago! pretty cool experience being a part of @NHLBlackhawks convention..can’t wait to get the season started! pic.twitter.com/rzj8zMc7zH

— Brandon Manning (@mandog1990) August 2, 2018

Manning is very clearly not demanding a trade out of Chicago, but he wants to play. The issue is, NHL teams can only retain salary on so many contracts and he might not be the type of player to waste that on. Manning may be buried in the minors.

Lazerus writes:

Manning admitted that the fact he chose Chicago over other options makes his situation that much more frustrating — he’s already been putting down roots, and extending his Mandog Project for firefighters (his father’s a firefighter) into the city — but he hasn’t marched into Bowman’s office and demanded a trade. That said, he took notice of The Athletic’s report that he and Rutta were available, and he wouldn’t exactly be upset if such a trade materialized.

source – ‘Benched Brandon Manning not demanding a trade, but is certainly open to one’ – Mark Lazerus – The Athletic – 12/23/2018

Braden Holtby a Player to Watch

Given how things played out in the Vegas Golden Knights expansion draft, one of the most intriguing names in the NHL to watch over the next two seasons will be Braden Holtby. The Washington Capitals could find that they are a lot like the Pittsburgh Penguins who had to choose between Marc-Andre Fleury and Matt Murray and Fleury became the franchise player for the Golden Knights. Seattle might be thinking Holtby is the guy they build their platform around.

LAS VEGAS, NV – JUNE 07: Braden Holtby #70 of the Washington Capitals kisses the Stanley Cup after Game Five of the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Final between the Washington Capitals (Photo by Patrick McDermott/NHLI via Getty Images)

The Capitals may have to choose between protecting Holtby or Ilya Samsonov and there is an expectation the Caps will choose the latter but that’s not a shoo-in decision. Will the Capitals protect a young budding prospect over an aging star? In doing so, will they be taking a risk that Samsonov can’t handle the load?

The Penguins are learning now that relying on Murray might have been a mistake. The other thing to watch here is that Holtby will be eligible to sign a new contract with the Capitals before the draft and if he does, he may force the Caps to include a no-trade clause which would guarantee he stays in Washington and requires protection under the draft expansion rules.

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