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NHL Rumors Update
NHL Rumors Update for 12/27/2019
The latest NHL rumors from The Hockey Writers.
12/27/2019 edition:
By Jim Parsons on Dec 26, 2019 01:40 pm
In today’s NHL rumor rundown, the Anaheim Ducks won’t likely be players in the trade market unless it’s to sell, the Edmonton Oilers are still working on a Darnell Nurse deal, and the Chicago Blackhawks just lost two big names for the season. Finally, does a recent photo posted by Alex Ovechkin hint at the future of Ilya Kovalchuk?
Ducks to Stay the Course
Eric Stephens of The Athletic writes that the way the season is going for the Anaheim Ducks, they’ll be a draft lottery team and the odds are they pick high in the first round. That makes their earlier plans to add a veteran or larger-contract player to the roster a moot point.
The Ducks had been in the market for Justin Faulk in the offseason and Kevin Shattenkirk. Instead, they added Erik Gudbranson. Once they realized they were not likely a playoff team, they likely also realized sending a first-round pick for a player like Taylor Hall, Torey Krug or Chris Kreider didn’t make sense.
Stephens writes of GM Bob Murray:
Murray, when negotiating his contract extension last December, sold owners Henry and Susan Samueli on his plan to turn over the team and what amount of short-term pain it might bring. He takes in losses as if he’s still the hard-nosed defenseman that logged over 1,000 NHL games. His team is hurting, figuratively and literally. But as he has often done as an executive, the 65-year-old is staying logical and rational even when he becomes emotional.
“We’ve got to stay the course of what we’re trying to do,” he said. “So far, Henry and Susan are wonderful with it. We’ll just be patient and stay the course.”
Related: Anaheim Ducks Logo History
Blackhawks Lose Seabrook and de Haan
On Thursday, Sportsnet’s Chris Johnston confirmed that Brent Seabrook and Calvin de Haan are both going to miss the remainder of the NHL season. The team posted a medical update, including listing Brandon Saad as out for three more weeks.
Will the Blackhawks try to replace either player, or will they settle into the idea that these losses cement them as a non-playoff team? There will also be plenty of speculation as to what this means for the remainder of Seabrook’s career. There was already whispers the team might try to remove his contract from the books through career-ending injury on LTIR.
Kovalchuk to Capitals?
We know having played on team Russian together has probably made Ilya Kovalchuk and Alex Ovechkin close friends but did a recent photo posted by the Washington Capitals sniper suggest Kovalchuk might be joining him?
While there’s no suggestion of Kovalchuk talking to the Capitals in this photo, the timing is interesting and people will certainly try to connect the dots. Kovalchuk is now a free agent and there was some speculation the Capitals might be interested in signing him at the NHL minimum. There were also reports Kovalchuk wanted to stay in the NHL and that he’d prefer to go to a contender.
The pieces all seem to fit here. I wonder what he and Ovechkin were talking about?
Could Oilers Move Darnell Nurse?
David Staples of the Edmonton Journal says he doesn’t believe Darnell Nurse is worth Jacob Trouba-type money but could be worth a deal in the $6 million range. If Nurse’s agent Anton Thun wants more, it may be time move him.
Bob Stauffer of Oilers Now has brought up comparable contracts for Nurse and included Winnipeg Jets Josh Morrissey at $6.25 million per season over eight years and New York Rangers Trouba at $8 million per season over seven years. Brian Burke agrees the Trouba contract is an abnormality and Nurse isn’t worth anywhere near that kind of money.
Staples writes:
There is no way on earth Nurse should get close to Trouba money mainly because Trouba should not have gotten that kind of money. Just because the New York Rangers grossly overpaid for Trouba does not mean that any d-man with remotely similar skills and free agency status must also get the same amount.
The post NHL Rumors: Ducks, Oilers, Blackhawks, Capitals, More appeared first on The Hockey Writers.
By Jim Parsons on Dec 25, 2019 04:40 pm
A very Merry Christmas to NHL fans and rumor followers across the world!
There’s not a ton of news on Christmas Day but a few tidbits for those who need their holiday rumors fix.
In today’s NHL rumor rundown, there is news on the Vancouver Canucks and what they’ll do with goaltender Jacob Markstrom, the Chicago Blackhawks might have to convince one of their netminders to sign at a discount and a prospect out of the New York Islanders organization was surprised of rumors he was being shopped.
Canucks Looking to Extend Markstrom?
Harman Dayal of The Athletic reports the Vancouver Canucks have a tricky decision to make when it comes to the future of goaltender Jacob Markstrom. He is in the last year of his deal and in most situations, the Canucks would like to extend him. There may, however, be a catch.
Both the Canucks and Markstrom are interested in getting a deal done but it could be easier said than done trying to figure out workable terms. Dayal quotes GM Jim Benning who said of Markstrom:
“We brought him up and worked with him every year and watched him grow into a No. 1 goalie. He’s an important guy for us and we’re gonna do our best to figure out a deal that works for him and works for us.”
Proposed Markstrom deals range from four to five years, and from around $5.5 to $6 million per season. The Canucks are hoping for a lot less than that. A three-year deal in the $4.5 million range would work but it might require adding a no-movement clause. Should they, that brings the expansion draft into the conversation and then that forces the Canucks to possibly have to choose between Markstrom and Thatcher Demko.
Related: The NHL’s Best Farm Systems Ranked
Crawford to Take Discount in Chicago?
Based upon Robin Lehner’s play, his age and what the Chicago Blackhawks think of him, it appears certain that Corey Crawford is destined to become the backup netminder behind Lehner. Despite the fact the Blackhawks see Lehner as the future, does that mean Crawford is on his way out? Not necessarily.
If Crawford is willing to stay at a reduced salary, there might be something the two sides can work out. Crawford has made it clear that isn’t out of the realm of possibility and that he would prefer to remain in Chicago.
“I’d love to stay in Chicago,” he said. “I’ve made a life here, and I’ve had a lot of good times here. And I want to win another championship here. That would be my No. 1 choice, for sure.”
Stan Bowman told Mark Lazerus of The Athletic:
“But, sure, they could both be back. Certainly. If they want to help us with the math, then yeah. We haven’t had those conversations yet, but there’s no reason that they couldn’t stay as a tandem. But until you start having those discussions about salaries, I don’t know if that’s possible, right? There are a lot of variables in that. I’m not ruling anything out at this point, but also, we haven’t chosen our path forward.”
Islanders Prospect Shocked by Trade Rumors
New York Islanders prospect Ilya Sorokin was surprised to hear about rumors he’d requested a trade from the Islanders organization.
“It’s the first time I’m hearing of this. My only current focus is on CSKA and this season.”
Friedman wrote in his 31 Thoughts article:
A couple of my Russian contacts reached out after last week’s note about Islanders goaltending prospect Ilya Sorokin — who is considering an extension in the KHL. They think he’s trying to force a trade from New York to someplace with a clearer path to start. There would be interest — he’s very talented. We’ll see where this goes.
The post NHL Rumors: Canucks, Blackhawks, Islanders, More appeared first on The Hockey Writers.
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