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NHL Rumors Update
NHL Rumors Update for 04/06/2019
The latest NHL rumors from The Hockey Writers.
04/06/2019 edition:

By Jim Parsons on Apr 05, 2019 02:28 pm
In today’s NHL rumor rundown, there are updates on Torey Krug out of Boston and Phil Kessel out of Pittsburgh. How much does it matter what they do in the playoffs and how will their production determine if they stay or go? Will Bruce Boudreau be on the chopping black in Minnesota? There seem to be differing opinions.
Torey Krug Too Expensive For Bruins?
Fluto Shinzawa of The Athletic is reporting he believes Torey Krug may be a victim of numbers squeeze in Boston and asks how many salaries can the Boston Bruins fit under the salary cap? With Charlie McAvoy expected to get a hefty raise and a number of other restricted free agents getting paid, the money may not be there for Krug who isn’t going to be inexpensive to extend.
There shouldn’t be a shortage of interest in Krug if the Bruins make him available. Shinzawa writes:
Torey Krug was built to run the Bruins’ power play. The 27-year-old does just about everything: retrieve pucks, blitz into the offensive zone with speed and control, shoot for sticks, walk the blue line, rotate down the right-side half-boards. This season, Krug has done all this at a career pace. He has 30 man-advantage points, his most ever.
Despite his numbers and relatively young age for a defenseman, he only played the fourth-most minutes among Boston blue liners at even strength. The Bruins were quite effective in getting him on the ice in situations that were advantageous.
A decision may come before Boston extends Charlie McAvoy and Brandon Carlo or the Bruins may have already determined it’s time to make a move.
Phil Kessel Trade Rumors Never Die
Matt Vensel of the Pittsburgh Post Gazette (mailbag) writes that there are questions again in Pittsburgh surrounding Phil Kessel. Because of his salary cap hit and term ($8 million per season for three more years), those questions may never go away.
Because Kessel’s production declined in the second half of the season, those questions are getting a little louder and there is some belief the Penguins would like to get value for him now. If he struggles in the postseason, that could be the writing on the wall.
Vensel explains:
Even if Kessel catches fire and scores 20 goals while the Penguins push deep into the playoffs, it might make sense for the Penguins to move on from him — in the right deal — as they look to maximize the final years of Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin and start to pivot toward the team’s next era.
Bruce Boudreau Out in Minnesota?
Greg Wyshynski and Chris Peters and ESPN believe big changes could be coming for the Minnesota Wild and that includes questions as to the job security for head coach Bruce Boudreau.
That said, Michael Russo of The Athletic writes that Boudreau has one year remaining on his contract and every indication is team owner Craig Leipold doesn’t want to fire Boudreau. Russo writes:
The fact the Wild coach found a way to keep this overmatched team together after the trade deadline and nearly found a way to make the playoffs is a testament to his ability.
One thing everyone seems to agree on is that general manager Paul Fenton should look for more trades comparable to their recent swap of Mikael Granlund for Kevin Fiala.
Listen to the Latest Episode of the Hockey Writers Podcast
On this episode we look at what a number of teams who missed the NHL playoffs this year will do over the summer. The Edmonton Oilers, New Jersey Devils, Anaheim Ducks, LA Kings and others were expected to have better seasons. Can they fix their problems?
The post NHL Rumors: Krug, Kessel, Wild, More appeared first on The Hockey Writers.
By Jim Parsons on Apr 04, 2019 12:44 pm
In today’s NHL rumor rundown, there are questions surrounding Erik Karlsson out of San Jose, news on Jake Gardiner out of Toronto and questions about Justin Williams future in the NHL. Is Nashville going to land a college prospect and will the New York Rangers needs a new President?
What Will Happen With Karlsson?
Chris Johnston of Sportsnet is reporting that if defenseman Erik Karlsson doesn’t re-sign with the San Jose Sharks, there is talk he could be looking for a seven-year contract extension around $12 million per season with another team.
There is no report as to what exactly Karlsson is expecting from the Sharks but it has to be assumed that the number is quite different. Johnston didn’t go into detail about how any negotiations with the Sharks were going at this point but there has been speculation Karlsson is not totally sold on staying put.
Jake Gardiner Wants To Get Paid
Despite injury issues, the reality of Jake Gardiner’s situation in Toronto is that the Maple Leafs likely cannot afford to keep the offensively-gifted defenseman. Johnston also notes that Gardiner could be looking for a long-term deal in the $6.5 million range and if so, that’s probably too rich for the Maple Leafs.
He’s been dealing with a disc issue in his back that could worry some of the potential suitors who might have otherwise been interested. A long-term deal at more than $6 million per season will be seen as a massive gamble for some if Gardiner’s back issues persist.
Justin Williams: Done or Keep Going?
When Carolina Hurricanes forward Justin Williams signed with the team in 2017, it was likely assumed he’d finish out the term of his contract and then potentially call it a career. That would have come to a close this season. Things may have potentially changed.
Despite his age, he’s been a big part of the success of the Hurricanes and a central part of their top six. He admitted to Ken Campbell of The Hockey News that he likes the idea that he’s not sure what he’ll do next. He said, “At the end of the season, whenever that may be, I’ll just decompress and see where life takes me.”
If he does stay, it is expected he would only do so with the Hurricanes and at over 35 years of age, the team would probably only offer an incentive-based contract for a single season.
Flyers Going Hard For Quenneville
Dave Isaac of the Cherry Hill Courier-Post reports that the Philadelphia Flyers will once again try to bring 60-year-old Joel Quenneville as the next head coach of the team this offseason.
Issac writes that because Quenneville has another season left on his coaching deal with Chicago if the Flyers are going for it, they’ll need to pay a premium price. Otherwise, Quenneville can sit at home and make $6 million. Issac writes:
A deal with future Hall of Famer Joel Quenneville fell through in December, but the Flyers are expected to try again this offseason despite the admirable job Scott Gordon did getting them from the league’s basement to contending for a playoff spot in late March.
Predators Closing in on Lukas Craggs
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports (Twitter link) that Nashville is closing in on signing winger Lukas Craggs to an entry-level deal. BGSU hockey has reported a similar outcome.
Craggs just completed his junior season with Bowling Green State University and while he’s not an offensive dynamo, he did have 25 points in 35 games this season and led the NCAA in penalty minutes with 118. There’s some bite and skill to his game.
There is no word on whether or not the Predators are willing to let him burn the first year of his entry-level deal this season.
Glen Sather Stepping Down?
Bob MacKenzie is reporting there is word Glen Sather might step down to an advisory role with the New York Rangers. If so, it would require New York to look for a new President Of Hockey Operations.
The post NHL Rumors: Karlsson, Gardiner, Williams, Flyers More appeared first on The Hockey Writers.
By Jim Parsons on Apr 03, 2019 12:49 pm
In today’s NHL rumor rundown, there are updates on Kyle Turris out of Nashville and how he might be connected to Matt Duchene, college free agent Jimmy Schuldt and his narrowing down of viable NHL options and what will the Columbus Blue Jackets do with Brandon Dubinsky’s contract?
Kyle Turris Unhappy in Nashville?
Adam Vingan of The Athletic said during his mailbag segment that he’s heard from multiple sources Kyle Turris is unhappy with his situation in Nashville and that it doesn’t appear to be getting much better as time goes by.
Vingan writes:
Turris’ future with the Predators seems murky. He’s frustrated with his situation, and his play has dropped off significantly. The remaining five years and $30 million on Turris’ contract don’t look so good.
Nashville might be open to moving Turris but there are questions as to what the return might be. Would it be a trade to get a player in return or a move to free up salary and go after a bigger fish? It sounds like the Predators are interested in spending some money this summer and Turris represents a way to move out salary to go after a guy like Matt Duchene.
Duchene was linked to the Predators and still is despite being moved to Columbus at the trade deadline this season.
Jimmy Schuldt Still Making Decision, Has Not Chosen Wild
College hockey player Jimmy Schuldt has narrowed his list of potential NHL teams from more than twenty to just a few according to Bob McKenzie of TSN. Among the top candidates were the Minnesota Wild and the Vegas Golden Knights, that is, until Wednesday.
Michael Russo of The Athletic tweeted the list was down to five teams and then after he included Minnesota, had to change that and updated the post to say that the Wild were informed Schuldt was going to choose a different destination.
Schuldt, 23, finished his four-year career at St. Cloud State recently with another strong season and is a Hobey Baker finalist. He is an undrafted free agent defenseman who recorded 35 points in 39 games this past campaign. It would have been a big win for the Wild had they signed Schudlt and Nico Sturm who they signed to an entry-level deal earlier in the week.
One team who might still be in the running for Schuldt is the New York Islanders.
** Update: not long after posting this article, Schuldt decided to sign with Vegas.
Blue Jackets to Buy Out Brandon Dubinsky?
A trusted source out of Columbus, Aaron Portzline, noted during a Q&A for The Athletic, that a buyout of Blue Jackets’ forward Brandon Dubinsky seems more likely than ever. Portzline says, at some point, Dubinsky’s contract will have to be addressed.
Portzline admits it won’t be easy to move Dubinsky because he has a modified no-move, no-trade list of ten teams and a trade would be the toughest road.
This could be a very interesting few days and summer for the Blue Jackets. They are currently clinging to the final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference and if they don’t make it, will have some serious changes coming considering they mortgaged a ton of their future to make a run at this season’s Stanley Cup.
Rangers Facing Tough Decision
Larry Brooks of the New York Post writes that the New York Rangers have a tough decision to make when it comes to players like Jimmy Vesey and Chris Kreider. In Kreider’s case, he hit an offensive wall and some will argue the injuries played a role. The Rangers decided to keep him instead of moving him at the deadline but two goals in his last 24 games signal a problem.
The post NHL Rumors: Turris, Schuldt, Dubinsky, More appeared first on The Hockey Writers.
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