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NHL Rumors Update
NHL Rumors Update for 06/15/2020
The latest NHL rumors from The Hockey Writers.
06/15/2020 edition:
By Jim Parsons on Jun 14, 2020 02:08 pm
In today’s NHL rumor rundown, there is news on the Vancouver Canucks and the status of some pending free agents. In Philadelphia, one scribe talks about the chances Shayne Gostisbehere is traded. Meanwhile, in Pittsburgh, there could be players leaving the organization next season. Finally, will Marcus Foligno re-sign in Minnesota? He certainly wants to.
Canucks Chances of Re-Signing Key Free Agents
Rick Dhaliwal wrote a long tweet, updating fans on the status of some of the Vancouver Canucks key free agents and where GM Jim Benning might be at with their contract extensions. He focused on the status of Tyler Toffoli and Chris Tanev.
Noting the Canucks will likely need to move out some salary to get these players signed, Toffoli’s agent Pat Brisson said:
“During the pandemic I’ve been in touch with Jim a few times. For the short time that Tyler has been in Vancouver, he has definitely enjoyed the city and the direction of the team.”
Dhaliwal also wanted to update speculation that defenseman Chris Tanev was willing to sign a one-year deal to stick with the Canucks. That is not the case. After talking to various sources, he writes “there is no way Tanev will accept a 1 year deal.” He added that, “players work hard to become UFA’S, a 10 year veteran and a top 4 defenseman like Tanev will be looking for term on the market.”
Flyers Asking Price For Gostisbehere
Sam Carchidi of the Philadelphia Inquirer updates reports on the possible trade status of defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere out of Philadelphia. He writes:
Shayne Gostisbehere is the most likely guy, but as I’ve written, the Flyers will need to get a good return for an offensive-minded defenseman who, despite consecutive subpar seasons, has loads of potential. And, remember, this season he was hindered by a knee injury that recently required surgery.
He still believes a second-round choice or a winger with 20-goal upside might get it done.
Foligno Wants to Re-Sign With Wild
During a podcast appearance with Michael Russo of The Athletic Minnesota Wild winger Marcus Foligno said he’d like to work out an extension with the Wild a this offseason. Foligno will be an unrestricted free agent next offseason and the changes in salary cap could mean he’ll have trouble land a big raise on his current $2.85 million price tag, unless he has a huge season.
Foligno said:
“My goal is, when we do come back, just to be ready and build off the season I was having and obviously would love to sign an extension in Minnesota no doubt. I’ll let my agent focus on sorting this stuff out.”
He said he wasn’t planning on going back to the facility until there was an approved Phase 3 date set in place.
Latest on Penguins Trade Speculation
In a recent mailbag segment, Josh Yohe of The Athletic was asked what about the goaltending situation in Pittsburgh and speculates Matt Murray could hit the trade block.
Saying Murray would command the most money, if the Penguins were to keep both Tristan Jarry and Murray, they would have to make a bigger trades, perhaps moving a player like Kris Letang.
Yohe writes:
My sense is that it’s almost certain one of the Penguins’ goaltenders will be traded whenever the next off-season arrives. Let’s call it November. My hunch is that Matt Murray will be the one to go. He’s going to command a lot more money, and the salary cap is about to drop, maybe significantly.
When asked which others players he believed would not be back with the team, he suggested both Nick Bjugstad and Patrick Marleau would likely exit the organization.
The post NHL Rumors: Penguins, Canucks, Flyers, Wild, More appeared first on The Hockey Writers.
By Jim Parsons on Jun 13, 2020 01:37 pm
In today’s NHL rumor rundown, it was reported Friday that Edmonton Oilers forward Jesse Puljujarvi might be open to a return despite previous demanding a trade. Is there more detail about the Finnish forward’s future with the team? Meanwhile, controversial player and former Washington Capitals forward Brendan Leipsic might have found a new job. There is news surrounding the New York Islanders, and Las Vegas has been chosen as one of the NHL’s hub cities.
More on Possible Puljujarvi Return to Oilers
It was noted Friday that disgruntled restricted free agent forward Jesse Puljujarvi might be open to a return to the Edmonton Oilers. Puljujarvi was quoted as having said “Never say never.”, which led to speculation that he’s softened his stance on a return.
Oilers Now host Bob Stauffer notes that Puljujarvi is still a good prospect, but he believes it wouldn’t be easy for the Oilers to trade him for another prospect that has the same high ceiling as he does. So too, if Puljujarvi’s reps did still want him traded, what other team could offer up a chance to play with options like Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins in the team’s top-nine?
Both takes suggest a return is more likely than a trade.
That said, Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal suggests the only way Puljujarvi returns is if he wraps his head around the fact that he’s not a top-six forward in the NHL. Matheson writes, “Let’s stop the narrative that Jesse Puljujarvi is a top 6 NHL winger. He is not.” He adds that Puljujarvi is a third-line RW based on what he’s done in the NHL to date.
Samorukov Heading to the KHL?
In other Oilers news, it appears highly-touted defense prospect Dmitri Samorukov will be signing a one-year deal with CSKA of the KHL. Mark Spector of Sportsnet broke the story and noted that GM Ken Holland doesn’t hate the idea.
Holland says:
“The most important thing is that he is a developing 20/21-year-old player. If North American hockey doesn’t start again until December, we’re not sure, he has a unique opportunity here. The KHL is an excellent league and it’s right in his backyard.”
Samorukov’s agent Pat Morris confirms a deal could be close. “He wants to play,” said Morris. Understanding that while the chances of Samorukov making the Oilers team was low, he adds, “He doesn’t want to lay dormant for 8-10 months in this current situation. And he, unlike some other players, has this option. We’re exploring it long and hard.”
Related: Worst Trades in Oilers’ History
Ilya Sorokin Not Negotiating With KHL
Ilya Sorokin’s Russian agent Shumi Babaev told Sport 24 in Russia that rumors of the New York Islanders goaltender possibly staying in the KHL are not accurate. Babaev says there have been no discussions with them about a contract for next season.
Instead, he admits that there was interest in CSKA’s part to keep him around but it is expected Sorokin will make his way to Islanders camp. So too, the hiring of Dan Milstein as his new North American agent doesn’t mean anything in respect to his future plans in the NHL.
In other Islanders news, it appears Johnny Boychuck is ready for a return should the NHL get up and running. Boychuk’s left eye is close to fully recovered.
Brendan Leipsic Heading to KHL?
It’s possible former Washington Capitals forward Brendan Leipsic may have landed work after it was discovered he made misogynistic comments on social media, many of which were targeting at his linemates wives.
The Capitals quickly terminated his contract and Leipsic reached out to connections in the KHL to see if he could find work as quickly as possible. He did. Sergei Isakov, his Russia-based agent, told Sport-Express in Russia that Leipsic is closing in on a two-year deal with CSKA Moscow.
Vegas Has Been Chosen as an NHL Hub City
As was confirmed by Chris Johnston of Sportsnet, The Las Vegas Review-Journal has posted a story saying Vegas will be announced as a hub city for the Stanley Cup Playoffs by June 22. Johnston believes the announcement will actually come before that date.
Johnston adds in respect to a Canadian team getting the nod:
Ideally, the NHL would like to have a Canadian city serve as a hub alongside Vegas, but that won’t be finalized until the federal government makes a ruling. Toronto is the preferred destination, assuming the quarantine issue can be managed.
The post NHL Rumors: Oilers, Islanders, Leipsic, Vegas as Hub City, More appeared first on The Hockey Writers.
By Jim Parsons on Jun 12, 2020 11:55 am
In today’s NHL rumor rundown, there is a favorite for the head coaching position in New Jersey, the owner of the Montreal Canadiens has spoken on a few issues, and the Chicago Blackhawks look at items on their to-do list. Finally, how set in stone is the July 10 date as the start of Phase 3 for the NHL?
Laviolette the Favorite to Coach Devils
TSN’s Darren Dreger reports that former Nashville Predators coach Peter Laviolette has emerged as the favorite for the head coaching position in New Jersey. It makes sense considering he’s probably the hottest coaching free agent and actually had a winning record when he was let go by the Predators.
That said, Laviolette’s hiring is not a given. Dreger notes that the uncertain status of interim GM Tom Fitzgerald could delay an official hiring by the franchise.
Canadiens Jeff Molson Speaks to Media
Montreal Canadiens owner and team president Geoff Molson spoke with reporters Wednesday and a partial transcript of the 90-minute call was posted on the team’s official website. Apparently, the more things change, the more they stay the same.
Despite the fact the Canadiens could miss the playoffs again and their recent performances have been inconsistent, Molson gave a vote of confidence to GM Marc Bergevin. Molson believes the team is on the right track and noted Bergevin’s remaining two years on his current deal, calling him one of the “most respected” GMs in the league.
He also discusses the 14 draft picks the organization has for the upcoming draft, and said that there may be some movement with some of those picks. The team might be more apt to make moves now that they are not hosting the NHL Draft.
Molson also noted that, despite speculation, he has no intention of bringing in someone else to serve as a president of hockey operations.
In other Canadiens news, Arpon Basu of The Athletic discussed whether or not Torey Krug of the Boston Bruins might be a player the Montreal Canadiens should target this offseason. Basu writes:
Krug is a player I would definitely target this summer. He would slide in perfectly next to Shea Weber on the top pair, would help an awful power play immediately and has a prior relationship with Claude Julien, the man who believed in him, looked past his size and gave him an opportunity. I think it’s a natural fit, assuming he doesn’t re-sign with the Bruins of course.
Basu also noted that Bergevin could consider Mikhail Sergachev if he’s not able to land Krug. He doesn’t believe the Tampa Bay Lightning could match an offer sheet if one was extended.
Latest On the Chicago Blackhawks
Scott Powers and Mark Lazerus of The Athletic report Chicago Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman has stayed in contact with pending free agents like Corey Crawford and Dylan Strome. That said, his conversations with those players haven’t been about new contracts.
Bowman notes it is a priority to sign these players and the scribes write:
Re-signing Corey Crawford, Dominik Kubalik and Dylan Strome are certainly on Bowman’s to-do list, but he can’t really do that until he knows what next season’s salary cap will be in the wake of the devastating financial losses the league is suffering as a result of the prematurely ended season and a postseason without fans.
In a mailbag segment, Lazerus was asked who he felt would be the Blackhawks’ starting goalie next season and he believes it will still be Crawford.
Lazerus writes:
He badly wants to stay in Chicago and is coming off a terrific season. I don’t know how exactly the Blackhawks will make the money work, because they have to re-sign Dominik Kubalik and Dylan Strome, too, but Crawford remains the best option (a two-year deal worth, say, $4 million a season would be fair all around) by far.
Phase 3 Start Date Could Change
TSN’s Pierre LeBrun notes that the official date for the start of Phase 3 could be pushed back to August 1st. The reason for the July 10 date announcement was so players could start making plans on when they may need to leave for their team’s city. But, there is still a lot of hurdles to jump first.
LeBrun notes:
“Now. It has to be said that that date could still change if negotiations drag on Phase 3 and Phase 4, and those negotiations are just at its infancy right now, although there’s a lot of back and forth happening hopefully over the next two, three, four weeks, they do get an agreement on return to play, finally. As far as the games and the protocols and everything else. The league and the players did not commit to announcing a start of those games, because that’s the last being negotiated.”
The NHL is still hoping Phase 4, (the start of playoff games), will happen around August 1st.
The post NHL Rumors: Devils, Canadiens, Blackhawks, Phase 3, More appeared first on The Hockey Writers.
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