NHL Rumors Update

NHL Rumors Update for 09/13/2019

September 13, 2019

The latest NHL rumors from The Hockey Writers.

 

09/13/2019 edition:

By Jim Parsons on Sep 12, 2019 01:05 pm

In today’s NHL rumor rundown, there is news on the Washington Capitals and their negotiations with goaltender Braden Holtby, the Montreal Canadiens are primed for a trade or two, and there is more news every day regarding a Justin Faulk trade. Finally, there is news that Mitch Marner is turning down deals from the Toronto Maple Leafs value at $11 million over seven seasons. Is this true?

Capitals to See Where Holtby Negotiations Go

Isabelle Khurshudyan of the Washington Post is reporting that contract talks with Braden Holtby and Niklas Backstrom are ongoing. Writing that the team will “play this out” with both players, who have just one year remaining on their respective contracts, the organization is farther along with Holtby.

The team has already spoken with Holtby’s agent on a number of occasions and Holtby has said in regard to taking less money to stay in Washington, “There’s always that area where you can work with, but at the same time you have a responsibility to the other players in the league, too.”

Sticking with the Capitals, Khurshudyan noted that as for Evgeni Kuznetsov, Caps are still waiting for NHL to let them know if there will be any additional discipline.

Montreal Ready and Looking For a Deal

Eric Engels of SportsNet writes that the Montreal Canadiens and GM Marc Bergevin have a number of pieces to dangle in trades and the organization is ready and willing to make a move.

Montreal has 12 picks, $7 million in cap space, and if there are opportunities, they will be explored the owner said. “Marc and I are on the phone every day and you never know what can happen moving forward,” he added.

Justin Faulk to Anaheim Update

Early reports were that the Anaheim Ducks were making a pitch to land Justin Faulk from Carolina but that Faulk had yet to waive his no-trade to go there. Pierre LeBrun of TSN says there’s still something to these talks but also added that there are teams showing interest which do not require him to waive his no-trade clause.

Sara Civ reports that a Faulk trade to the Ducks doesn’t appear to be imminent at the moment but a source was able to confirm that if the Ducks did move a player for Faulk, that player was going to be Ondrej Kase.

Peter Chiarelli Being Added to Blues Staff

Renaud Lavoie is reporting word that former Edmonton Oilers GM Peter Chiarelli will be a consultant for the St. Louis Blues this season. Chiarelli was a candidate for the GM job in Minnesota but lost out of Bill Guerin.

Marner Turns Down $11 Million Over Seven Years. Why?

TSN’s Darren Dreger tweeted the Toronto Maple Leafs were persistent in pushing for a seven- or eight-year contract for Mitch Marner but that he’s turned them both down.

Dreger says the $11 million per offer was made in June and included the $1.6 million in B bonuses. Dreger adds, “3 yr ext remains the focus.” even though that’s a bad situation for the Maple Leafs as it will ensure Marner gets a huge qualifying offer with a high salary at the end of the term and then unrestricted free agency right around the corner at the end of the fourth year.

Bob McKenzie of TSN writes, “These numbers help to illustrate why it is so difficult to see a path to a Mitch Marner contract settlement any time soon.”

In his latest 31 Thoughts report, Elliotte Friedman said the negotiations between Marner and the Maple Leafs have gotten “tense and personal.” The emphasis here is that Marner’s camp has always felt like they play “second fiddle” to Auston Matthews in the organization. While there’s certainly no way to know what Marner is actually thinking, the suggestion here is that this is one way for Marner to stick it back to the Maple Leafs.

By Jim Parsons on Sep 11, 2019 12:05 pm

In today’s NHL rumor rundown, there is a report that Evgeni Malkin gave the Pittsburgh Penguins an ultimatum, the Philadelphia Flyers are still working on deals for Ivan Provorov and Travis Konecny, the New Jersey Devils are going to sit down with Taylor Hall and there are some quick hits on the Tampa Bay Lightning, Buffalo Sabres, and New York Rangers.

Evgeni Malkin Forced a Kessel Trade

According to a report by Matt Teague of The Score, Pittsburgh Penguins superstar Evgeni Malkin may have influenced the Penguins’ decision to send Phil Kessel to the Arizona Coyotes. Team sources told The Athletic’s Rob Rossi, Malkin told the organization they should trade him if the Penguins had intended to keep Kessel.

Malkin wasn’t a fan of being caught in the middle of the conflict between Kessel and coach Mike Sullivan and that the belief was that by the end of last season, everybody in the organization knew it was a “him or me” situation.

Rossi writes:

Malkin declined to elaborate on how his on-ice relationship with Kessel fell apart. But it’s clear he grew tired of feeling caught between the ongoing Sullivan-Kessel rift, according to multiple team and league sources. Those sources also say Malkin had come to believe Kessel was content with two titles and mostly interested in his statistics. Malkin was worried he’d be seen the same way if Kessel remained his winger.

source -‘In Moscow, Evgeni Malkin opens up about his lost season, loneliness and NHL future’ – Rob Rossi – The Athletic – 09/10/2019

Malkin also figured that for the Penguins to get back on track and have a winning season with a postseason appearance, players like Kessel, who were already satisfied with having won two titles, needed to go.

Flyers Restricted Free Agent Updates

There is some news out of the Philadelphia Flyers organization as the team tries to get Ivan Provorov and Travis Konecny signed to new deals.

Bill Meltzer of Flyers.nhl.com writes that Flyers GM Chuck Fletcher said that he spoke with both the agents for Ivan Provorov and Travis Konecny yesterday. In respect to Konecny’s situation, Sam Carchidi notes that Konecny’s agent said that contract negotiations with the Philadelphia Flyers are “ongoing” and that “both sides are committed to trying to get things done.”

In terms of Provorov, Carchidi says a source is saying that the Flyers and Provorov had been working towards a six-year contract but after Zach Werenski‘s three-year deal, that may no longer be the case. Provorov wouldn’t sign a three-year deal at only $5 million a season though.

Bob McKenzie notes on Twitter that it is believed both Provorov and the Flyers are open to a three-year, five-year or a six-year deal. A seven- or eight-year deal seems unlikely.

Devils to Sit Down With Taylor Hall

According to NHL.com’s Mike Morreale, New Jersey Devils GM Ray Shero plans to sit down with winger Taylor Hall at some point during training camp to discuss a potential contract extension.

A 33-game that came after a Hart Trophy-winning season has left some questions as to what Hall might be worth, but the expectation is that he’ll fall somewhere close to what Artemi Panarin just signed for ($11.64 million) with the New York Rangers back in July. There is also speculation the Devils are doing as much as they can this offseason to entice Hall to consider staying.

Point and Tampa Bay Not Close

Even though a number of insiders predicted Brayden Point to be the first bi-ticket RFA to come off the board, Joe Smith of The Athletic reports talks between the Tampa Bay Lightning and Point do not appear to be progressing well. He says a deal between the two sides is still not close.

Pominville Back to Buffalo?

According to Lance Lysowski of The Buffalo News, there is still a chance that Jason Pominville comes back to the Buffalo Sabres. The rumors of Pominville to Montreal were shot down and the player doesn’t want to uproot his family so there might be a chance he stays put.

Beleskey to the Minors?

Larry Brooks is reporting that he’s heard the New York Rangers will assign Matt Beleskey directly to their AHL camp and he won’t be at their main camp at all. He would carry a $825,000 cap hit for the Rangers.

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