BLH provides you with the latest NHL news, rumors, and speculation featuring Matthew Tkachuk (CGY), Jack Eichel (BUF), Zach Hyman (TOR), Oscar Klefbom (EDM), and more!
This is not the kind of news Edmonton Oilers fans will like.
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NHL Rumors and Speculation
Pierre LeBrun/Ryan S. Clark (The Athletic): spoke with league sources to find what teams could potentially be in play for a side deal when the expansion draft arrives July 21.
- Caroline Hurricanes – Providing defenseman Dougie Hamilton doesn’t re-sign before the expansion draft, Carolina doesn’t have much to sweat with Seattle.
- Colorado Avalanche – The Avalanche are expected to explore a potential trade of one of their forwards as long as they can receive something substantial in return. The belief is that the Avs are also open to having a discussion with the Kraken about their needs before further evaluating what Colorado will do.
- Edmonton Oilers – The Oilers believe they will not have to engage the Kraken in a side deal. For now. But they also understand that could all change depending upon what happens with Oscar Klefbom’s health and their pending UFAs.
- Florida Panthers – Panthers GM Bill Zito no question will approach the Kraken at some point, if he hasn’t already, about Florida signing Chris Driedger for Seattle so that it can take him in expansion. But if Francis needs enticing, and if you’re Zito, do you go to the Kraken and say, “What defenseman do you want from us that we can’t protect?”
- Minnesota Wild – If they are able to protect Dumba and Greenway, it likely creates the possibly the Kraken could be in play for defenseman Carson Soucy. But there is one more thing to consider. What about goaltender Cam Talbot? The Wild are likely going to protect Kaapo Kahkonen and leave Talbot – who has two years remaining at $3.6 million annually – exposed. Could it be a situation in which the Wild speak to the Kraken about a side deal?
- Tampa Bay Lightning – The cap-challenged Bolts have 14 players under contract next season for $85 million on the cap, so yeah, Ron Francis is coming. It’s a situation well worth exploiting for the Kraken. And believe me, they will. Seattle could target either winger Ondrej Palat or defenseman Erik Cernak as part of the price of selecting forward Tyler Johnson.
Pierre LeBrun (TSN): Said he spoke with six front office executives, not from the Toronto Maple Leafs, to see what they thought the contract value was for Leafs pending unrestricted free agent forward Zach Hyman.
- “And what I will tell you is that the response I got varied anywhere from $4.5 million a year to $5.5 million a year. And a lot of that is based on player comparables of signings we’ve had here since the pandemic.”
John Vogl (The Athletic): Jack Eichel‘s no-movement clause kicks in on July 1st, 2022, so if they want to move him, it should be done before then.
- The Sabres will do all they can to re-sign Ullmark, and it could cost them $5 million a year. They also need to bring in another goalie through trade or free agency that is capable of starting.
Don Brennan (Ottawa Sun): Believes that Calgary should be open to entertaining offers on forward Matthew Tkachuk.
- “They should also be open to offers on Matthew Tkachuk, who has one season left at $7 mil before becoming a RFA.”
- “… if you fancy yourself as a team that’s on the rise, and you really do believe you have a plethora of good prospects, maybe you should see what you can do to arrange for the Tkachuk boys to wear the same logo. That could bring out the very best in both.”
Sources: The Athletic, nhlrumors.com, nhltradetalk.com
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