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NHL Rumors Update
NHL Rumors Update for 04/29/2020
The latest NHL rumors from The Hockey Writers.
04/29/2020 edition:
By Jim Parsons on Apr 28, 2020 01:42 pm
In today’s NHL rumor rundown, there is buzz about who the Montreal Canadiens might be looking at for a backup goaltender and possible trade speculation. In San Jose, there are questions about their netminding situation.
Canadiens Backup Goalie Options
Sportsnet’s Eric Engels recently was asked about backup goaltender options for the Montreal Canadiens and he noted the Dallas Stars’ Anton Khudobin a prime target.
The problem is what it might cost to acquire him and when you factor in what the team is already paying Carey Price, the approximately $2.5 million that would go to Khudobin would put the Canadiens around $13. million for goalies.
This isn’t to say the Canadiens don’t have the cap flexibility, just that it’s not an easy decision when your starter makes so much money.
In other Canadiens news, Engels believes the team will consider trading Brett Kulak because adding Alexander Romanov gives them the option to improve other areas of the team and Kulak becomes expendable. His $1.85 million AAV through 2021-22 could be attractive for some teams. If the Canadiens do bring Ilya Kovalchuk back, Kulak is almost all but gone.
Sharks Looking at a New Starting Goalie?
Curtis Pashelka of The Mercury News was asked if Martin Jones would keep his job as the San Jose Sharks’ starting goalie next season. Pashelka believes the Sharks will look for a new option, even if they bring Jones back next season.
He writes:
My guess is Jones will return. But I also feel the Sharks need to go out and seek a goalie with NHL playoff experience who can easily play 35-40 games. Maybe Braden Holtby is out of their price range, but perhaps Robin Lehner or Cam Talbot can fit the bill. I’m not going to rule out a return for Aaron Dell if players like Lehner or Talbot also turn out to be too pricey.
New NHL Player Transfer Agreements
The NHL has announced news on player transfer agreements today. Existing ones will get a one-year extension while a new one-year agreement has been set up with the Swiss Ice Hockey Association and Swiss League.
This will give Swiss players a chance to come over to North America. Existing agreements that won’t change include those with IIHF Member Federations/Leagues in Austria, Belarus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Latvia, Norway, Slovakia, Sweden, and the United Kingdom, as well as the CHL Agreement with the Canadian Hockey League (OHL, WHL, QMJHL).
Flames Fast-Tracking Prospect Pettersen
Labelled the The Norwegian Gretzky, Emilio Pettersen is now a member of the Calgary Flames. The 20-year-old University of Denver college draftee signed a three-year entry level deal with the Flames Monday.
According to Eric Francis of Sportsnet, the Flames are looking to move him along quickly within their system. More specifically, the organization has decided to start him in the American Hockey League next year.
Francis writes:
Flames GM Brad Treliving said the plan, until the last handful of weeks, was for the five-foot-10, 175-pound playmaker to continue at the highly respected college next season. However, with more and more discussion with the player, scouts and management, it was determined he deserved to be fast-tracked.
Pettersen was a YouTube sensation at the age of 10 and part of the decision here is that the NHL is more likely to return than college hockey and that means a better chance for him to play versus sit.
The post NHL Rumors: Canadiens, Sharks, Flames, More appeared first on The Hockey Writers.
By Jim Parsons on Apr 27, 2020 12:20 pm
In today’s NHL rumor rundown, there is speculation the Toronto Maple Leafs will be parting with players they like and possibly looking at their goaltending situation. Speaking of goaltenders, the Detroit Red Wings appear to be saying goodbye to Jimmy Howard. In other news, Zdeno Chara comments on retirement rumors and Joel Ward actually did retire from the NHL on Monday.
Maple Leafs Thinking Long-Term Game?
James O’Brien of NBC Sports writes that in order for the Maple Leafs to hang onto goaltender Frederik Andersen and defenseman Morgan Rielly long-term, they’ll likely need to move contracts they like but don’t need. Limited salary cap space means reliance upon newcomers like Rasmus Sandin and Timothy Liljegren while letting veterans like winger Kyle Clifford leave.
But, there are questions as to whether or not the Maple Leafs and Frederik Andersen make sense together long-term. James Mirtle of The Athletic notes that the Maple Leafs might want to consider upgrading their goaltender. He pointed out Robin Lehner could be available in this summer’s UFA market an provide better value for the money. Meanwhile, Jonas Siegel of The Athletic wonders if trying to trade for Pittsburgh’s Matt Murray is an option.
Siegel writes:
One name that might that’s piqued my interest: Matt Murray.
He’s a restricted free agent after this season, and while there was talk of Murray cashing in on his next contract with the Penguins, I wonder if the landscape has changed. For one thing, Murray had a down year (.899 SV%). That led to Tristan Jarry gradually putting a hold on the Penguins’ No. 1 job. Jarry is also a RFA this summer and Pittsburgh has Casey DeSmith around as a potential backup.
Red Wings and Jimmy Howard to Part Ways?
On Sunday, Helene St. James of The Detroit Free Press revealed that Jimmy Howard would not be back for another season following what was one of the worst seasons for the Red Wings in the history of NHL seasons.
St. James writes:
Howard, 36, was signed to a one-year extension last season by then-general manager Ken Holland with the mindset that if Howard played well, he’d be back for another season. That won’t happen – Howard, 36, struggled in 2019-20: 2-23-2 with a 4.20 GAA and .882 save percentage.
The plan now is that GM Steve Yzerman could look at trading for a goaltender, but a more likely option is to use free agency with a few good names available.
Chara Comments on Possible Retirement
While saying he’s still in the group of people hopeful this season somehow resumes, Boston Bruins defenseman Zdeno Chara says he’s not going to get ahead of himself when it comes to talking or thinking about retirement from the NHL.
Speaking with Scott Oake and Louie Debrusk on the Sportsnet broadcast After Hours, Chara said, “I’m still in the present and I still believe that we’re going to play some sort of hockey this season.” He added:
“That’s where I’m at. I’m not getting too ahead of myself. Obviously I still love the game, I still love going out there and competing, and if everything is right I still want to play.”
It appears Chara has no desire to call it quits just yet and will continue to sign one-year deals with the Bruins until that feeling changes.
Joel Ward Retires from the NHL
After 11 seasons in the NHL, forward Joel Ward has announced his retirement from professional hockey. Ward made the announcement in the Player’s Tribune in a piece titled 726.
726 is how many games Ward played in, most recently with the San Jose Sharks. He attended the Montreal Canadiens training camp this past season on a professional tryout, but did not make the team.
”I know I didn’t play the last two years, but I tried. I did. I wish I could have gone out in a bit of a different way,” Ward wrote Monday. ”But, you know, just thinking about it all — all 726 games — I realized something. Who am I to wish for any more time? I got what I wanted. I’m one of the lucky ones.”
The post NHL Rumors: Maple Leafs, Red Wings, Chara, Ward, More appeared first on The Hockey Writers.
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