- Morning Skate
- Posts
- NHL Rumors Update
NHL Rumors Update
NHL Rumors Update for 09/09/2020
The latest NHL rumors from The Hockey Writers.
09/09/2020 edition:
By Jim Parsons on Sep 08, 2020 12:35 pm
In today’s NHL rumors, one hockey scribe suggests five possible trade destinations for Canadiens forward Max Domi. In Toronto, another scribe walks through how the Maple Leafs might fit Alex Pietrangelo onto their roster. Tyler Toffoli is apparently ready to talk contract extension with the Vancouver Canucks and a forward out of Nashville has told the Predators he’s going to test free agency. The Edmonton Oilers talk when they’ll make trades and the NHL has changed the date of the draft.
Granlund Confirms He’ll Test Free Agency
As per a report from Adam Vingan of The Athletic, agent Todd Diamond, who represents forward Mikael Granlund of the Nashville Predators, says his client will be testing free agency this offseason.
“We will be seeing what the open market has to offer,” Diamond said Monday. Diamond added that Granlund could re-sign with the Predators, it just won’t be before free agency opens and the player sees what’s out there. Vingan notes in his article:
Granlund signing elsewhere would not come as a surprise, as he could seek a team in free agency that better fits him stylistically. Acquired from the Minnesota Wild for forward Kevin Fiala in February 2019, Granlund has 18 goals and 35 points in 79 games, and three points in 10 playoff games with the Predators. His expiring contract carries a $5.75 million cap hit.
Toffoli Open to Talking Contract with Canucks
As per TSN 1040’s Rick Dhaliwal, Vancouver Canucks forward and pending unrestricted free agent Tyler Toffoli has made it known he’s open to re-signing with the Vancouver Canucks.
Dhaliwal posted on Twitter that Toffoli has reached out to the team and will talk to general manager Jim Benning at the appropriate time. Toffoli said he loved the city, the team and enjoyed his time in Vancouver.
What his new deal will look like is unclear. He was a $4.6 million player last season and there’s expectations he should receive a sizable raise but that raise could be limited based on the flat salary cap and whether or not the Canucks decide to invest heavily in goaltender Jacob Markstrom or move other pieces to make room for Toffoli’s new deal.
Five Possible Destinations for Max Domi
Matt Larkin of SI.com via The Hockey News examined five possible locations the Montreal Canadiens might look to in an effort to trade forward Max Domi. Domi’s new agent has said he’s not asking for a trade, but the expectation around the league is that the Canadiens will still move him.
Among the teams listed were the San Jose Sharks, Winnipeg Jets, Minnesota Wild, Buffalo Sabres and Columbus Blue Jackets.
One destination to watch, according to Brian Hedger of The Columbus Dispatch is Columbus as the 2020 playoffs showed the Blue Jackets need an upgrade at center, specifically on the second line. Hedger noted how big the void is between first-line center Pierre-Luc Dubois and third-liner Boone Jenner.
Hedger adds:
Should the Jackets go the trade route, however, they have a wealth of chips to use — including a stable of NHL defensemen, talented young forwards and a pair of goaltenders in their mid-20s who performed at elite levels this season.
NHL Draft Date Changing
According to tweet by Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, the NHL is reportedly moving the 2020 NHL Entry Draft up a few days from October 9th-10th, 2020 to October 6th-7th, 2020.
There was no clarification or explanation as to why the date was moved, but it has to be assumed the league is ahead of schedule on the games and wanted to get into the draft and free agency sooner to ultimately give the NHL options for next season’s schedule.
Oilers’ Holland Looking at Trades In Late September
It appears the Edmonton Oilers will be looking at trades, they just won’t be looking at them yet. According to general manager Ken Holland, the team knows what they need to find on the market (goaltending is a priority), but doesn’t believe that market will open up until almost October.
As per Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal, Holland said, “This year, the chatter will pick up in late September (before the Oct. 8-9 draft). Stuff will get done in October.”
Holland added that this year things are quite different. He said:
“I’ve talked to many of the teams out (of playoffs), but this is like mid-May (before COVID 19 and the NHL Pause) in the old days after a regular-season. You know how it normally is. There’s lots of chatter leading up to the June draft, trades are made, then there’s UFAs on July 1. Usually stuff gets done from, say, June 22 to July 10.”
Can Maple Leafs Fit Pietrangelo In?
James Mirtle of The Athletic notes there is a way that the Toronto Maple Leafs could fit Alex Pietrangelo into their roster, should they want to. He says, not only is it possible, but explains how the team might actually be built around adding the defenseman. It’s just a matter of whether or not the St. Louis Blues can get something done with their captain.
Mirtle writes that the Blues are going to have trouble fitting in Pietrangelo’s salary (even with the trade of Jake Allen) and adds:
If this stalemate goes much longer, meanwhile, other teams are going to come circling. Which brings us to Toronto.
Given where the Maple Leafs are at, and the gaping hole at right defence, it’s worthwhile to ponder if Kyle Dubas should be part of the potential bidding war.
In the end, after all the work he did to show how the Leafs could do it, Mirtle says, “I don’t think it’s likely that Pietrangelo leaves St. Louis, even with where the talks are at.”
The post NHL Rumors: Canadiens, Maple Leafs, Canucks, Predators, Oilers, More appeared first on The Hockey Writers.
By Jim Parsons on Sep 07, 2020 11:05 am
In today’s NHL rumor rundown, the Tampa Bay Lightning got both good and bad news as far as injuries go. The Minnesota Wild are shopping one of their top defenseman and the Washington Capitals have interviewed a very interesting candidate for the head coaching position. One scribe asks if a familiar face could return to the Pittsburgh Penguins and in Montreal, Max Domi’s agent has spoken for the first time to represent his new client.
Stamkos Out, Kucherov Expected to Return
The Tampa Bay Lightning got bad news learning that they’d have to go through the Eastern Conference Finals without Steven Stamkos, but the organization also got good news in that they learned Nikita Kucherov should be back in time to start their series against the New York Islanders.
The Athletic’s Joe Smith reports that the undisclosed injury Kucherov suffered in Game 5 against the Boston Bruins is not long-term and the week recovery he’s had since suffering the injury should be enough to allow him to return. With 16 points in 13 games, Kucherov was critical to the Lightning’s success to this point and his return will be welcomed.
Wild Shopping Matt Dumba
As per The Athletic’s Michael Russo, the Minnesota Wild are apparently attempting to trade defenseman and King Clancy Award Winner Matt Dumba. On a recent episode of the Russo Hockey Show, the scribe said, “I am hearing from a lot of sources that the Minnesota Wild are shopping Matt Dumba.”
The comments were made during a discussion about the upcoming NHL expansion draft and how the Wild might approach protecting their lineup best. Saying the key would be to keep their top-four blue line in tact, and noting that Jared Sprugeon and Ryan Suter have to be protected based on the status of their contracts, the hosts also pointed out that Jonas Brodin and Dumba could be exposed. It was then Russo mentioned rumors of Dumba being on the block and said, “If that’s the case, I hope the one thing Guerin is doing is making sure that you sign Brodin before you trade Dumba.
Brodin only has one season remaining on his deal and Russo noted that if the Wild trade Dumba before extending Brodin, there’s no guarantee that Brodin will choose to come back.
Capitals Interview Mike Babcock
During Saturday’s Hockey Night in Canada broadcast, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported that the Washington Capitals are currently undergoing a search for a new head coach and have interviewed some interesting candidates. Among them are Peter Laviolette, Gerard Gallant and Mike Babcock.
Obviously, the most interesting name here is Babcock’s who used to coach the Toronto Maple Leafs but left the NHL under some troubling circumstances. Friedman notes, “…this week it’s believed that they interviewed Toronto’s former head coach Mike Babcock, And he is a legitimate candidate for the position.”
Is Marc-Andre Fleury to the Penguins an Option?
According to Mark Madden of TRIBLIVE.com, there’s a chance, even if small, that goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury could make his way back to the Pittsburgh Penguins if the Vegas Golden Knights choose to buy out the netminder’s contract.
Madden cites the Golden Knights’ likely desire to extend Robin Lehner and Fleury’s $7 million salary for one more season as reasons to potentially move Fleury. But, because he’s 35 years old, and the market is flooded with goalies, he may be tough to trade. If bought out, Fleury might look for familiar surroundings in Pittsburgh.
The deal would have to be right on the Penguins end, otherwise they are likely to run with Tristan Jarry and Casey DeSmith as their tandem next season.
Domi Has Not Asked for a Trade
Rumors about Max Domi headed out of Montreal will persist most of the offseason, likely until he’s traded. But, his new agent has noted publicly that Domi has not asked for a trade from the Montreal Canadiens.
As per Friedman, the hockey insider revealed that he spoke with Domi’s new agent Darren Ferris and said Ferris was a bit hesitant to talk much about Domi’s situation. All he would say was that these rumors are not being initiated by Domi or his wanting to leave.
Friedman said during a recent segment of Headlines.
“He met with Marc Bergevin, he didn’t really want to say too much about the meeting, but the one thing he was willing to say was that Max Domi has not asked for a trade from the Montreal Canadiens,” said Friedman on Saturday.
The post NHL Rumors: Lightning, Wild, Capitals, Penguins, Canadiens, More appeared first on The Hockey Writers.
Recent Articles:
Latest News