NHL Rumors Update

NHL Rumors Update for 06/19/2020

June 19, 2020

The latest NHL rumors from The Hockey Writers.

 

06/19/2020 edition:

By Jim Parsons on Jun 18, 2020 02:05 pm

In today’s NHL rumor rundown, is there a chance goaltender Braden Holtby winds up with the Calgary Flames? What will Kyle Palmieri do in terms of a contract extension? Will he stay with the New Jersey Devils or try to hit it out of the park in free agency? In Columbus, will the Blue Jackets move Josh Anderson? Finally, is Kevan Miller’s NHL career essentially over?

Holtby to the Flames an Option?

Andrew Berkshire of Sportsnet wrote in his mailbag column that Braden Holtby and his free agency situation will be an interesting story to watch. Coming off of three mediocre seasons, Berkishire wonders if he’ll need to prove he’s still capable of being starter.

He might be looking for a one-year deal on a team that has no sure-fire starter and will offer him an opportunity to play a ton of games. Berkshire believes that team could be the Calgary Flames, where Holtby can support (or perhaps easily outplay) David Rittich and the Flames wouldn’t have to rush Dustin Wolf.

Nikolay Goldobin Signs in KHL

Back in April, Sport-Express’ Igor Eronko reported that forward Nikolay Goldobin was expected to sign a two-year deal with CSKA Moscow of the KHL. After more than two months, the deal was officially announced on Thursday. CSKA Moscow announced on their website that Goldobin has indeed inked a two-year contract with the club.

Anderson Likely to Settle For One-Year Deal

According to Aaron Portzline of The Athletic, Columbus Blue Jackets forward Josh Anderson may have to settle for a one-year extension with the Columbus Blue Jackets considering his production struggles before his season was ended due to injury. He only recorded a goal and three assists in 26 games this year.

While he did score 27 goals the season before, with so much uncertainty surrounding the cap and questions about whether or not he can get back to that 27-goal level, he may need to prove it first.

It’s not exactly a risk-free scenario for the Blue Jackets who will see him become an unrestricted free agent after next season. As such, there are some who think the Blue Jackets will look to move him. Portzline writes:

The situation has prompted many across the NHL to believe the Blue Jackets will try to trade Anderson before he has a contract in place for next season, perhaps trading him and a defenseman for help at forward.

source – ‘Source: Blue Jackets shouldn’t expect Josh Anderson to play until September’ – Aaron Portzline – The Athletic – 06/15/2020

Palmieri Wants to Stay in New Jersey

Randy Miller of NorthJersey.com reports that Kyle Palmieri told media he hopes to remain part of the New Jersey Devils’ rebuilding plans. Now 29, he’s one year from unrestricted free agency and there has been talk of him being traded with the Devils not having a successful season and having moved a number of key pieces at the most recent trade deadline.

Palmieri said:

“Without a doubt. I do love being in New Jersey. I love being close to home. And I have a ton of belief in this organization moving forward as to what we’re building, and I hope to be a part of it.”

There is also some talk the Devils and Palmieri might open up contract talks soon, but the forward isn’t sure since the dates for the season haven’t been set yet. If and when they do, there has been some suggestion Chris Kreider would be a good comparable for Palmieri. Both are the same age, have similar stats, with Palmieri actually edging out Kreider in a few categories.

Krieder signed a seven-year, $45.5 million extension in February.

Bruins’ Miller Likely Done in NHL

Boston Bruins defenseman Kevan Miller isn’t giving up but the likelihood he returns to the NHL is not good. He hasn’t played a game in over calendar year, he’s had four knee surgeries and, as Fluto Shinzawa of The Athletic writes, “Kevan Miller can tie his shoes and walk up and down stairs somewhat normally. A good man with bad luck.”

Miller said of his quest to make it back:

“I haven’t gotten to that [point of giving up]. I’d be lying to you if I said that I haven’t been worried about where this is all going to end up. It’s my job and it’s part of my passion. I want to be healthy. I want to play. I know I could help the team. It’s a tough pill to swallow when you show up to the rink and you can’t skate with the guys, and it’s been so long since you’ve played in a game.”

Even if Miller gets to the point he can skate with the team, it’s going to be difficult to see him back in Boston given their salary cap situation and their ability to go to young bottom-six defensemen in Jeremy Lauzon and Connor Clifton.

By Jim Parsons on Jun 17, 2020 02:05 pm

In today’s NHL rumors rundown, we follow-up yesterday’s news about Jason Botterill being let go as GM of the Buffalo Sabres, detailing ownership’s reason as to why. What’s next for franchise? Who is safe? Who isn’t?

In Seattle, things are delayed, but how far behind are they? And, why haven’t they named their team yet?

Finally, if fans wants to see behind the scenes at how bad a season can go for one team, the Red Wings are going to make that possible.

Pegula’s Talk About Why They Changed GM’s

Saying their voices weren’t being heard by the former administration, the Pegulas decided to clean out most of the Sabres management staff on Tuesday and go with Kevyn Adams as the new general manager. Per The Athletic’s John Vogl, ownership now believes they have someone in place who will act on their input. In other words, it sounds like they wanted and got a “yes” man who would do what they ask.

Vogl writes:

While Botterill was the marquee name in the bloodletting, he was just the start. Hardly a soul was saved as the Pegulas fired the assistant GMs, the minor-league coaching staff, scouting directors, scouts and player development coaches.

source – ‘New Sabres GM Kevyn Adams inherits barren hockey operations department’ – John Vogl – The Athletic – 06/16/2020

Vogl also notes that Adams and the Pegulas had not yet decided if he’ll have an assistant GM. They did decide one of the first things on his to-do list is hire an amateur scouting staff, which could be tricky as teams will likely look to extend contracts with the NHL because of the pandemic pause and to get franchises through the upcoming draft.

Elliotte Friedman noted on his 31 Thoughts podcast a couple of the instances in which Botterill and the Pegula’s butted heads:

“I don’t think Botterill wanted to give Jack Eichel that contract and ownership said “we’re doing it”. And I don’t think Botterill wanted to give Jeff Skinner that deal. I think what Botterill wanted to do was offer big money for a low term. … Jason Botterill, from what I heard, is not a “term guy”. He says too many teams get burned by those mistakes and I think he was overruled. I think what they’re looking at right here is: There’s a finite amount of time here before Eichel says “I had enough.””

As for any players that might be on the move, NBC Sports columnist James O’Brien noted that defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen could be their most notable trade candidate. O’Brien wonders if Botterill was asking too steep a price for the blueliner and suggests the Sabres might be better off cutting their losses, even if they have to move him for a less-than ideal return.

Seattle Arena Delayed

As per a report by TSN, and as one can imagine with the COVID-19 pandemic slowing almost everything down, Seattle president Todd Leiweke said that the schedule to have their arena renovations completed has been pushed back a few months. The good news is that they are still expected to be complete for the opening of the 2021-22 season.

Leiweke explained:

“Any delay is absolutely minimal. Given what we went through the workers have kept building. But there have been issues with supply lines,” Leiweke told the AP on Tuesday. “If it’s not going to be the date we hoped it’s not very long thereafter. And it’s impressive how they’ve actually kept things on schedule. If our target was early summer of 2021 to say we’re going to hit it sometime in the summer is pretty good considering all things.”

As for a name, the team is not ready to announce it. Both because this is the wrong environment to introduce such news and because of trademark delays.

Red Wings to Release Documentary

According to a report from Detroit Red Wings insider Ansar Khan, the Detroit Red Wings are giving fans a look at the disastrous season that was the 2019-20 campaign for the Red Wings in a documentary series.

The seven-part series is called The Winged Wheel and it will debut today on “The Word on Woodward,” from 3-5 p.m. on DetroitRedWings.com as well as the team’s YouTube, Facebook and Twitch channels.

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