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NHL Rumors Update
NHL Rumors Update for 08/05/2019
The latest NHL rumors from The Hockey Writers.
08/05/2019 edition:
By Jim Parsons on Aug 04, 2019 12:43 pm
In today’s NHL rumor rundown, the Edmonton Oilers are rumored to be interested in a free agent center that surprisingly hasn’t landed a contract yet. The Tampa Bay Lightning may have an interest in a free agent who is willing to sign at a discounted price and the Chicago Blackhawks may hang on to a young recently drafted rookie once the season opens.
Oilers Interested in Brassard
The Edmonton Journal’s Kurt Leavins has confirmed the Edmonton Oilers’ interest in the veteran center Derick Brassard. Of all the free agents not yet signed to NHL organizations, perhaps Brassard is the closest to landing a new job.
Leavins reports that Brassard is seeking upwards of $4 million per season and the Oilers are not willing or able to pay that. Realizing he did not have a great season last year and he’s older, it’s unlikely he gets what he’s asking for.
Leavins writes:
UFA Derick Brassard remains unsigned. And it’s August. The Oilers have some interest in him as a potential 3C. Problem is, Brassard’s camp has been asking for far in excess ($4m) of what the Oilers are willing to pay. Then again…no one else has stepped up, yet, either. Although I hear Montreal has some interest.
Still with the Oilers, Leavins suggests Edmonton might not bring in any PTO contracts including Scottie Upshall who they invited last season but couldn’t make it due to injury.
He also suggests that while Peter Chiarelli is a candidate in Minnesota for the new GM position, talk of how things ended in Edmonton have begun to surface. Saying he completely “lost the room” when he traded Ryan Strome, he was warned against doing so by players and coaches but ignored everyone. At that point, the entire organization knew he had no plan.
Lightning Interested in Shattenkirk?
The Athletic’s Joe Smith notes in a recent article that the Tampa Bay Lightning had serious interest in Kevin Shattenkirk back in 2017 before he eventually signed with the New York Rangers. Now a free agent, Smith wonders if the team might have interest again?
Smith feels that a Shattenkirk fit makes sense and could work out as a short-term and cheap option and the Lightning let a couple of their bigger-name defensemen leave in free agency.
Smith writes:
I’m told that money and term aren’t big issues for Shattenkirk, who will still be getting paid by the Rangers the next four seasons. The Lightning, with Tuesday’s trade of Ryan Callahan’s contract, have $11.1 million of cap space for next season, with Brayden Point and Adam Erne still left to sign. So there’s a little wiggle room.
Shattenkirk was intrigued by the Lightning a few years back. Could he be a fit now?
Blackhawks to Keep Dach on Main Roster
Charlie Roumeliotis of NBC Sports Chicago writes that it is believed the Chicago Blackhawks will seriously consider keeping 2019 third-overall pick Kirby Dach on the roster entering the season.
Chicago has an opening for a third-line center and if Dach performs well at training camp he could get the gig over another free agent or trade possibility to plug that hole.
Boeser Wants $7 Million
While on TSN Radio Vancouver, Ben Kuzma said on TSN 1040 that Vancouver Canucks restricted free agent forward Brock Boeser is seeking $7 million per season.
Interestingly, while many believe Boeser will be a star and the Canucks shouldn’t argue with thh ask and pony up the money, J.D. Burke writes, “I get the impulse, but I’m not sure I’d fault the Canucks for trying to save every dollar possible. Especially considering their cap crunch.”
Burke adds that because the Canucks didn’t fight hard enough to get good deals on some other contracts that should have been lower cost for them, Vancouver has to pinch pennies in other places.
The post NHL Rumors: Oilers, Lightning, Blackhawks, More appeared first on The Hockey Writers.
By Jim Parsons on Aug 03, 2019 09:35 am
In today’s NHL rumor rundown there is an update out of Edmonton as it pertains to Jesse Puljujarvi and for the Oilers. For Oilers fans, the news is not good. The Toronto Maple Leafs also got what many will consider bad news when they received Mitch Marner’s counteroffer to an eight-year contract extension. There is news the Calgary Flames might have interest in a former Oilers defenseman. Finally, in Minnesota, one forward was approached directly by ownership to clear the air.
Puljujarvi Finally Speaks on Situation in Edmonton
To date, the friction between the Edmonton Oilers and forward Jesse Puljujarvi has mostly been told through Puljujarvi’s agent Markus Lehto. Reports are now being made public of comments Puljujarvi himself told a Finnish news outlet.
Speculation was that new Edmonton Oilers GM Ken Holland’s unwillingness to move the player for peanuts was finally sinking in and that Puljuarvi might find his way back to Edmonton to start the season. That seems unlikely now considering Puljuarvi’s comments stating he won’t come back to North America without a new NHL deal.
Puljujarvi took part in a charity game in his hometown of Oulu, Finland and spoke with the media. Finnish sports reporter Jouni Nieminen translated his comments as follows:
I want a new start with some other team. Playing in North America is still my goal. I will stay in Oulu until I have a contract. I will find a place to play somewhere.
Could this mean that Puljujarvi is not coming back? The comments will certainly get some of the Oilers fan base riled up and Holland certainly won’t be keen on doing him any favors if he’s coming across as entitled. He can’t return to the NHL if he’s not traded or signed by Edmonton so Europe becomes a legitimate option if this is how Puljuarvi is feeling.
Flames Interested in Petrovic?
Jim Matheson of The Edmonton Journal tweeted that he’s heard that the Calgary Flames could have some interest in right-handed defenseman Alex Petrovic.
Petrovic split the 2018-19 NHL season between the Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers but was not terribly productive. He played in only 35 games and when not dealing with injuries was often a healthy scratch.
Wild Organization Reached Out to Zucker
Part of a number of trade rumors over the past year, Jason Zucker was apparently approached by Minnesota Wild owner Craig Leopold and told directly about Paul Fenton’s firing as GM. This isn’t something that happens very often in the NHL.
While superstars might be in on big decisions, Zucker was hardly considered an elite talent. That said, being in the rumor mill so often, Leopold probably felt he owed it to Zucker to directly discuss their decision to remove Fenton.
Jessi Pierce of NHL.com quoted Zucker’s response:
“Names get floated out there all the time, and I’m glad the trades didn’t happen. It’s always something. If it happens once, it’s in the back of your mind for a bit; if it happens twice, it’s really in the back of your mind, and it was definitely something at the forefront of my life for the last while.
Whether you agree or disagree with it, he felt those were moves that would make the team better, and ultimately Craig disagreed and didn’t like what was happening and decided to go in another direction.”
Marner Seeking Highest Bridge Deal in NHL History
James Mirtle of The Athletic writes that Mitch Marner is not interested in a long-term contract extension with the Maple Leafs. This is not new information as it’s been widely reported he does not want to give away too many years of unrestricted free agency. What hasn’t been reported is the speculated counter Marner made to the Maple Leafs after they offered him eight years at more than $10 million per season.
Mirtle writes that Marner came back to the Leafs asking for the richest bridge contract in NHL history. He writes:
They apparently countered with three years at around a $10-million annual value, which would be the richest bridge deal in NHL history – by quite a bit. (Consider that Nikita Kucherov’s three-year bridge back in 2016 was for just under $4.8-million AAV.)
Mirtle later says in the article that, “Marner’s camp simply has no intention of working off non-Matthews comparables here.”
The post NHL Rumors: Oilers, Maple Leafs, Wild, More appeared first on The Hockey Writers.
By Jim Parsons on Aug 02, 2019 11:50 am
In today’s NHL rumor rundown, there are some destinations starting to present themselves as possibilities for defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk, the Minnesota Wild GM possibilities are expanding and Justin Williams might be close to ready to make a decision on his playing future.
Where Will Shattenkirk Land?
After being bought out by the New York Rangers, Kevin Shattenkirk is a free agent in a market where the defense options aren’t deep. The Hockey News’ Steven Ellis put out an article examining the top five destinations for the 30-year-old defenseman and there are some interesting suggestions.
Ellis figures the Buffalo Sabres might look at Shattenkirk if they move Rasmus Ristolainen (the rumors continue the team might do so), the Columbus Blue Jackets have money to spare and the Edmonton Oilers might have an interest. He rounds out his five with the Los Angeles Kings and Winnipeg Jets.
Chris Ryan of NJ.com suggests the New Jersey Devils don’t need to take an unnecessary risk on Shattenkirk despite speculation there might be interest. They’ve been among the busiest teams in the NHL this summer but might be best to sit this one out.
Ryan writes:
Had the Devils not added Subban earlier this offseason, a second go at Shattenkirk might have made sense. They would be buying low on a proven player who went through two difficult seasons.
But now with Subban in the mix, the Devils’ defense is crowded. Subban, Vatanen and Severson all play the right side, and Vatanen might be moved over to the left side just to get all three top-four minutes.
Wild Interviewing Potential GM’s, More Names Added
Michael Russo of The Athletic is all over the story of a search for a new GM in Minnesota. He writes that the team has already interviewed Ron Hextall and former Edmonton Oilers GM Peter Chiarelli for their vacant GM position.
Having previously reported both of these names might be in the mix, more names are being added to the list. Other candidates include Dean Lombardi and Garth Snow and while Russo doesn’t know if the Wild have asked for permission to speak with names like Tom Fitzgerald, Bill Guerin and Bill Zito who might become part of the interview process at some point.
Finally, he mentions Chris Drury, Mark Hunter, Brian Lawton and Mike Gillis.
Russo writes:
Just like last year’s round of interviews, the Wild brass is expected to interview several candidates in an attempt to find the right person in addition to gathering opinions about the team. There is no timetable to hire the next GM, but the Wild’s prospects tournament in Traverse City begins Sept. 6 and training camp is Sept. 12.
Justin Williams Decision Coming?
One of the biggest names still out there on the free agent market is Justin Williams. The reason he’s still out there is that he’s deciding whether or not he wants to play another season in the NHL and the Carolina Hurricanes are simply waiting for that decision.
Williams is expected to be in Raleigh next week, and speculation is that he’ll have made up his mind by that point. This means an announcement is likely coming.
The Raleigh News & Observer’s Chip Alexander writes the Hurricanes have about $2.5 million left to fit him in under the cap. The idea might be to sign him to a bonus structured deal and move one other forward down to make it easier to work around his next contract.
Alexander notes:
Canes general manager Don Waddell said Thursday that he still believed Williams was “leaning” toward playing a 19th season in the NHL. He said Williams, who turns 38 on Oct. 4, was returning to Raleigh next week, saying, “We’ll sit down at that point and figure it out.”
That includes the terms of a new contract, which Waddell said have not been discussed. Williams is an unrestricted free agent.
The post NHL Rumors: Shattenkirk, Wild, Hurricanes, More appeared first on The Hockey Writers.
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