BLH provides you with the latest NHL news, rumors, and speculation featuring Jack Eichel (BUF), Nate Schmidt (VAN), Anthony DeAngelo (NYR), and more!
This is not the kind of news Edmonton Oilers fans will like.
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NHL Rumors and Speculation
Pierre LeBrun (The Athletic): On where the NHL’s Canadian division winner will play if it can’t host U.S.-based opponents in playoffs?
- “The new wrinkle now is that the NHL will want to put the Canadian division playoff winner in a U.S. NHL facility closer to its semifinal opponent.”
- “Here’s another wrinkle to consider: I’m told whichever U.S. adoptive city the league would potentially choose for the Canadian division winner, it’s most likely that’s their home for the remainder of the playoffs. They wouldn’t move the Canadian team around to another locale if it reached the Stanley Cup Final no matter what the championship matchup is.”
Larry Brooks (NY Post): Says the Montreal Canadiens weren’t the only team in on Anthony DeAngelo,
- “More than one team was interested in signing Tony DeAngelo as a free agent prior to Monday’s trade deadline had he been placed on, and cleared, irrevocable waivers.”
NHL.com: Elias Pettersson isn’t ready to return from an upper-body injury and won’t be in the lineup when the Vancouver Canucks resume play Sunday against the Toronto Maple Leafs. In fact, there’s some concern that the dynamic forward may not be back at all this season.
Chris Johnston (Sportsnet): Elias Pettersson is back skating but Jim Benning says the Canucks aren’t sure he’ll be back this season after visiting a specialist on Wednesday.
- “He’s on the ice skating now, he’s going to continue to rehab, but we don’t have a timeline yet as to when he’s going to be back, if he’s going to be back at all.”
- “I was hopeful that maybe he could come back, but after the visit (to a specialist) on Wednesday, he’s going to be a little bit longer yet.”
Darren Dreger (TSN): On the future of Buffalo Sabres captain Jack Eichel,
- “Don’t know how recent the communications have been, but I’ve heard the Kings are interested in #Sabres captain Jack Eichel. Eichel in LA makes a ton of sense to me. Assuming Jack Eichel is in play, there will be a lot of teams that step up.”
Patrick Johnston (The Province): Says the Canucks will have some difficult decisions to make this summer with regards to creating more room under the salary cap in order to fit RFAs Elias Pettersson and Quinn Hughes in and also mentions that GM Jim Benning isn’t keen on moving a big contract like Nate Schmidt.
- “As it stands, even with Micheal Ferland placed on long-term injured reserve, the Canucks could have just a few million dollars to fill out the rest of their roster, something that will be very difficult to do with effectiveness.”
- “That (not moving a player like Schmidt) suggests he has other shoes he hopes to drop. Jake Virtanen was on the trading block earlier this season, so might he find a suitor for the wayward winger? Jay Beagle’s injury is unknown, but there have been suggestions he might be out long-term, perhaps even all of next season. If so, his absence would create more cap space.”
Sources: The Athletic, Twitter, nhltradetalk.com
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