SIGNINGS
– The New York Rangers have re-signed goaltender Henrik Lundqvist to a monster deal worth $59.5M over 7 years. Lundqvist has struggled this year so far, but I’m betting that now the pressure of a new deal is off his shoulders, we’ll see the return of the King.
– Dion Phaneuf and the Toronto Maple Leafs are still working on a new deal. Phaneuf is not the player he once was when he broke out with the Calgary Flames, but he still logs a ton of ice time and is good enough to captain the Maple Leafs. He could ask for upwards of $7M a season for the long term. There are still murmurs of trading him, but minute-munching defenseman are hard to find.
RUMORS
Courtesy: RIchard Wolociwz/Getty Images
– Teams have seemed to have lost interest in Washington’s Martin Erat. Early rumors had the Canucks interested, but the Capitals seem to be looking for that elusive shut down defensive defenseman, and it would take a lot more than Erat to pry Kevin Bieska and Dan Hamhuis away from Vancouver. Erat could still generate interest from the Coyotes, Senators, Flyers, Penguins and Canadiens as each of those teams’ scouts were present at the Caps-Hurricanes game.
– Another reason why those teams were possibly scouting the Caps was to have their first look at Dmitry Orlov. Orlov is a wasted talent in the Capitals system and he doesn’t fit in with what Oates is looking for – which is stupid. Orlov wouldn’t fetch a top-6 player, but he could be packaged with Erat. Lots of teams would benefit from Orlov’s game, but the Caps could hoard him a while longer.
– Michael Del Zotto “will be traded” according to Bob McKenzie of TSN. In my opinion, he’s in the same boat as Orlov in that lots of teams would benefit from his game. It’s quite possible that the same teams that are looking at Orlov could be looking at MDZ, but might be shying away from his potential salary. He’s an RFA at seasons end, and he’s already making $2.5M. He’s hasn’t had the best season so far, and last year wasn’t too hot either, but his talent level is defintely there and most teams in need of a good defenseman know that.
– Speaking of good defenseman, and this is pretty BIG NEWS – well not really news, but I got your attention – one rumor blogger brought up a very interesting speculation about the talks that Colorado and Montreal have been having. Nothing has been reported or leaked or anything, this is just speculation. What if Colorado is asking about PK Subban? The Avalanche need defensive help and could be offering up the number one pick in the draft, Nathan McKinnon. IF that is something both teams are interested in doing, it would be the biggest trade in the last few years – maybe even since Joe Thornton. Subban is coming off his Norris Trophy winning year and his 2 year bridge deal, and he could be in for A LOT of money. Colorado can afford him now, and Montreal might want to use that money on the future. Very interesting.
– The Islanders need help. They already traded away Matt Moulson for Thomas Vanek and it hasn’t worked very well. GM Garth Snow is looking for a goaltender and he could be looking at Ryan Miller and Jonas Hiller. Either player would cost the Islanders more draft picks and possibly a player going back to Buffalo for Miller – if he would even want to agree to be traded there. Another option could be Justin Peters in Carolina. He’ll be the odd man out when Cam Ward and Anton Khudobin come back from injury, and his play has been pretty amazing. The Islanders are also looking for defense – just like everyone else – but they would be interested in someone like Toronto’s Jake Gardiner. Del Zotto might be an interest as well.
– Buffalo is still creeping along at the bottom of the ocean, but things could heat up soon regarding Ryan Miller and possibly Steve Ott. Ott interests a lot of teams and he will fetch what the rebuilding Sabres need – draft picks and young prospects. I would love if the Caps were interested. Maybe Orlov and a pick for Ott?
– As for Miller, he can list up to 8 teams he doesn’t want to be traded to, and I’m pretty sure most of those temas are on the East Coast. He wants to head West to be closer to his actress-wife, and there are only a few teams that fit. St. Louis could offer up Jaroslav Halak or Brian Elliot. Anaheim could offer up Jonas Hiller or Viktor Fasth. The Kings would be the most ideal place for Miller, but Quick will be back soon and Ben Scrivens is doing a very, very good job filling in – unless of course the Kings want the best goalie tandem in the league, then they offer up Scrivens. Remember, Miller is a UFA at the end of the season.
– Another team in the same boat as the Kings are the Columbus Blue Jackets. Sergei Bobrovsky will be out 4-5 weeks with a groin injury, and the Jackets might not want to risk missing him for 12-15 games. They could try to bring another goaltender or go with Curtis McElhinney – who did well in relief for one game.
COACHING RUMORS
– The Carolina Hurricanes are poised to do just about anything to change the dynamic of the team, and firing head coach Kirk Muller could be one of them. The Hurricanes look to be a decent depth team on paper but they’re trainwreck on the ice – kind of like the Caps. If Muller goes, I wonder if GM Jim Rutherford would bring back Peter Laviolette to man the bench again. Lavy was fired from Philadelphia earlier this year and is still looking for a job. He won the Cup with the Hurricanes in 2006.
– Dallas Eakins has to be on thin ice in Edmonton. The Oilers suck and they need some balance in the line up and behind their bench. Same goes for the New York Islanders.
FINAL THOUGHTS
– To follow the theme of coaching changes, could the Washington Capitals afford to fire head coach Adam Oates? It’s been almost a full year and the team still doesn’t seem to get the system. With 4 coaches in 6 years, it’s hard to really tell if the players are just uncoachable or if the Capitals management is just incapable of hiring anyone to lead the players. Oates seems like he has a great hockey mind. He’s a good teacher. But the Caps don’t need a teacher, they need a leader. Oates would do well coaching a team like Edmonton, with whom he could help develop. The Capitals need someone like a Mike Babcock in Detroit or a Bruce Boudreau in Anahe… oh wait. Anyway, just something to think about.
More to come.
