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NHL Rumors Update
NHL Rumors Update for 03/27/2020
The latest NHL rumors from The Hockey Writers.
03/27/2020 edition:
By Jim Parsons on Mar 26, 2020 01:45 pm
In today’s NHL rumor rundown, there is speculation that a couple of Calgary Flames forwards may have dodged a bullet when it comes to trades because of the NHL stoppage, the Toronto Maple Leafs and forward Kyle Clifford are interested in an extension and what will the Washington Capitals do with a three specific pending free agents?
Flames Gaudreau and Monahan Dodge a Trade Bullet?
Eric Engels of Sportsnet wonders if perhaps the Calgary Flames were thinking about trading one of either Johnny Gaudreau and/or Sean Monahan if the NHL regular season had been played in full and the Flames had missed the playoffs. This pause and the chances the NHL regular season doesn’t resume may have allowed the Flames to give each player one more season to help the team.
Rumors the Flames might move Gaudreau and/or Monahan were iffy at best, but, if there was any truth to them, a break in the season may be enough to settle the talk, even should the Flames not get in. If the two stars struggle again next season, there will certainly be talk about one of them being moved.
The Flames also have big questions on the blue line as five of their nine defensemen are set to become unrestricted free agents. Keeping Travis Hamonic and T.J. Brodie might take priority.
Related: 7 Cool Things About Auston Matthews
Clifford Wants to Sign Extension With Maple Leafs
Newly acquired forward Kyle Clifford didn’t get much of a chance to show his value in Toronto after being acquired, playing in only 16 games and the season being shut down. Clifford is hoping to get that chance next season.
Clifford’s agent Todd Reynolds tells Terry Koshan of the Toronto Sun that there is mutual interest on both sides in a contract extension. Koshan writes:
Clifford is headed for unrestricted free agency, whenever that might come, but he’s fine with the idea of remaining with the Leafs once the 2020-21 season starts.
“Kyle has really liked it and enjoyed it so far. It’s something we would be interested in and it’s something that the Leafs are interested in.”
Clifford is finishing the last of a a five-year contract that has an annual average value of $1.6 million. He may have to take a paycut to stay in Toronto where the cap is tight, to say the least. For now, there have been no talks because of the NHL stoppage but once there is some clarity on the season and next year’s salary cap, talks with Clifford will be near or at the top of Kyle Dubas’ to-do list.
Related: Longest Stanley Cup Droughts
Capitals Free Agent Rumors
Tarik El-Bashir of The Athletic recently examined the decisions the Washington Capitals will have to make with pending unrestricted free agents, namely Braden Holtby, Ilya Kovalchuk and Brenden Dillon.
In regards to Holtby, he writes:
Despite the turnaround, Holtby’s days in D.C. are probably numbered. He’s due a significant payday, and the Caps’ salary cap situation figures to be even tighter when the league emerges from the stoppage. And, of course, there’s also a stud on a rookie contract waiting in the wings. managment regarding their unrestricted free agents.
In respect to Kovalchuk, it sounds like he likes it in Washington, but an extension will depend on his performance the rest of the way (assuming there is one), as well as the salary cap and whether the Caps can afford him.
Where Dillon is concerned, there are some inefficiencies in his game but Bashir writes, “Assuming the 29-year-old finishes strong and his ask isn’t outrageous, it’s easy to envision the Caps signing him to a multi-year extension.”
The post NHL Rumors: Flames, Maple Leafs, Capitals, More appeared first on The Hockey Writers.
By Jim Parsons on Mar 25, 2020 01:40 pm
In today’s NHL rumor rundown, could a recently shipped out forward make his way back to the Montreal Canadiens? In Chicago, what does a contract for Dominik Kubalik look like? And, according to NHLPA, the players only want to play for the Stanley Cup under certain conditions.
Kovalchuk Back to Canadiens?
Sportsnet’s Eric Engels believes it’s all but assured winger Ilya Kovalchuk will return to the Montreal Canadiens on a bonus-laden deal next season. Kovalchuk was traded to the Washington Capitals at this season’s trade deadline but hasn’t built chemistry with anyone or likely grown attached to the city as he’s only played seven games there.
Engels also believes that Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin will look to the UFA market for a reliable backup goaltender to play behind Carey Price.
There were comments made by Bergevin that he wouldn’t shy away from offer sheets if he felt there was a good fit, but Engels doubts the Canadiens will go that route. If they do, they’ll target cap-strapped clubs who will get hit hardest by a potential status quo salary cap. That might include teams like the Toronto Maple Leafs, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Vegas Golden Knights.
Related: Blackhawks Top 3 Current Rivalries
Comparables for Kubalik
Ben Pope of the Chicago Sun-Times takes a look at what it will cost the Chicago Blackhawks to retain RFA and 24-year old rookie Dominik Kubalik. He hit the 30-goal mark this season but his age and small sample size make it harder to determine fair value for his next deal.
Pope writes:
Kubalik was having a great rookie season when the league suspended play because of coronavirus concerns — but at age 24, rather than at 19 or 20. His 30 goals were off the charts, but his 46 points were merely solid. And he carries obvious sample-size concerns, too.
He certainly will get a big raise over his restricted $925,000 cap hit this season, but gauging exactly how big a raise will be hard.
Pope uses comparables to try and determine his value. His examples included Andreas Johnsson (four years at a $3.4 million cap hit), Mike Hoffman (four years at $5.2 million), Anders Lee (four years at $3.75 million – a $4.4 million cap hit factoring in inflation), and Tyler Johnson (three years at $3.3 million – $4.2 million with inflation).
He doesn’t believe getting Kubalik signed to a three or four-year extension at between $3 and $4 million will be easy.
Related: Longest Stanley Cup Droughts
NHL and Players Strengthening Relationship in Time of Crisis?
NHLPA executive director Donald Fehr said Wednesday in an appearance on the podcast Two-Man Advantage, that the talks between the league and the players during this unique situation that sees the NHL on hold has actually created a stronger bond between the two sides.
He suggested as the two sides partner up to navigate the unknown, keeping such a businesslike relationship and open lines of communication will help pave the way to not just a new labor agreement but could help forge a new relationship with the league. Fehr notes, “There is no posturing, there is no attempt, so far, to take advantage of this or that or the other.”
When asked about whether or not he believes there will be a resumption of the NHL’s regular season, Fehr wasn’t sure but he did explain:
What changed in the last couple of days, of course, was the decision to postpone the Tokyo Olympics, and when that happened that created, from a fan perspective and a broadcast perspective, some opportunities that might not have been there before. Whether we’ll be able to exercise those opportunities remains to be seen.
Fehr also noted, that from a player’s perspective, most players would want to complete a regular season and have a Stanley Cup awarded, assuming a playoff structure included fair circumstances that allowed for bubble teams to compete. The players don’t want to win the Stanley Cup if being awarded it seems unfair.
The post NHL Rumors: Canadiens, Blackhawks, NHLPA Comments, More appeared first on The Hockey Writers.
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