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Emily Kaplan, ESPN
We’re less than two months away from the NHL trade deadline and it’s really busy in the NHL. A huge – and unexpected – exchange has already been concluded this week between the Philadelphia Flyers and the Anaheim Ducks. What else could be in the works? Here are some of the rumbles I’ve heard around NHL rinks.
ONE OF THE the most intriguing story is what will happen to Jake Guentzel. Chances are that one of the most popular and productive software Pittsburgh Penguins the players are distributed, and the next few weeks are crucial. “It’s going to get really heated as time goes on,” Guentzel’s agent, Ben Hankinson, told me last week. “This is going to get interesting.”
Hankinson noted he has a good relationship with Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas. They spoke over the summer and understand where each side operates. Ownership believes the Penguins should try to chase the Cups while Sydney Crosby still operating at an elite level — but the team, which is trending toward aging, is once again on the playoff bubble. The Penguins also have a depleted pool of prospects and draft picks. This puts Dubas in a precarious position.
Guentzel, 29, is finishing the final year of a five-year, $30 million contract. He probably deserves a raise. Hankinson and Dubas have not had substantial discussions regarding a new contract. Guentzel loves playing in Pittsburgh, but signing a new long-term deal might not make sense for both parties. Other teams I’ve spoken with increasingly believe Guentzel will be available. Interest will be huge – and the acquisition cost could be high. Guentzel shows up when it matters most. In 58 career playoff games, the winger has 34 goals and a Stanley Cup.
An undercurrent to it all: Crosby loves playing with Guentzel. This is not trivial. The voice of the captain has significant power within the organization. Crosby quietly campaigned when things weren’t going well with Evgeny Malkin‘sand Kris Letang2022 contract negotiations. So we’ll see where that takes us.
THE GAUTHIER CUTTER History gripped the NHL this week. The leaflets traded his top prospect to Anaheim three days after helping Team USA win a gold medal at the World Championships, but it was the reasons – or rather lack thereof – that sent the hockey world into a tizzy.
“I’ve never seen anything like this,” a longtime front office executive told me this week. “Situations happen. A drafted college player has the right not to sign with a team. It’s happened before. It will probably happen more often given the nature of this next generation. But I don’t remember that a team never been stuck on answers – – or a public reaction from a front office like that afterwards.”
The Flyers were understandably upset. For eight months, they knew Gauthier, the No. 5 pick in the 2022 draft, didn’t want to sign with Philadelphia, but were never able to get an answer or present their case. Gauthier’s agent, Kurt Overhardt, told me he’s had “several conversations” with the Flyers. But when Gauthier still refused to meet with Flyers general manager Danny Briere and president Keith Jones in Sweden, they knew they had to move on.
By trading Gauthier for a defender Jamie Drysdale and a second-round pick, Flyers management said: If you don’t want to be in Philadelphia, then we don’t want you. Given the excitement in the market, it’s no surprise that fans are galvanized around this rallying cry.
Gauthier still hasn’t revealed much, citing “private family reasons” during a video call with Ducks reporters Wednesday. Gauthier was at home in Michigan with his family when the trade tanked, which is fortunate because the reaction was overwhelming — and in some cases, nasty.
“We live in a world where everyone thinks they need to know everything,” Overhardt said. “And the truth is, that’s not the case.”
Overhardt said they will use this as a learning experience. “We’re trying to take the high road here,” the agent said. Gauthier is only 19 years old and his entire NHL future is ahead of him. It’s a spectacular start, but Gauthier is a confident and incredibly promising player. He can now write his own screenplay.
“Players like that don’t come around very often,” Ducks general manager Verbeek told me. “We didn’t have a player like that in our prospect pool.” Verbeek, for context, was allowed to speak with Overhardt – who also represents one of the Ducks’ best players, Troy Terry – once trade negotiations intensified.
Verbeek wouldn’t have given up on defenseman Jamie Drysdale – a bright prospect himself, even if he has an injury history – without believing that Gauthier’s reasoning for not wanting to play in Philadelphia wouldn’t bite the Ducks later.
“When I talked to Cutter, he was excited about playing in Anaheim,” Verbeek said. “I see him playing in the NHL next season, for sure. He’s going back to Boston College where they’re having a great season, and then we’ll go from there.”
Verbeek said Gauthier is an “elite skater with an elite shot,” particularly his one-timer. The general manager anticipates Gauthier will develop more of a power play and appreciates his versatility to play with any center on the team.
Verbeek still advocates slow play during the Ducks’ rebuild, but it’s hard not to get excited about their future. Gauthier joins a young core of attackers Leo Carlsson, Mason McTavishTerry and Trevor Zegras. The Ducks lost 18 games by one goal in the first three months, which will be a priority moving forward. “I have to constantly remind myself to be patient,” Verbeek said. “But in terms of culture, work ethic and competitiveness, we have made great progress in building the foundation of the house.”
CROSBY PROBABLY IS NOT getting enough credit for his quality this season, at 36 years old. It’s the product of someone who enjoys their work. I recently asked Crosby about his state of mind, heading into his 19th season. “Not too different. I still like it,” Crosby said. “Having a passion for the sport helps a lot. I love the game, I love learning – that doesn’t change all these years later.”
What’s it like behind the scenes? Frankly, it’s obsessive. Crosby operates on a different wavelength than most. No detail is too small. Coach Mike Sullivan shared some examples with me.
Suppose Crosby missed his shot on a seam pass on the power play. The next day at training, he arrived 15 minutes early. Assistant coach Ty Hennes will feed pucks to the exact same spot, and Crosby will mimic the exact same scenario. Crosby will complete 50 reps of the play he missed the day before before anyone takes the ice.
If Crosby didn’t have a good night in the faceoff circle, same thing with assistant coach Mike Vellucci who left him the puck the next day.
Penguins coaches are accustomed to receiving late-night text messages from Crosby while he watches other games on television. “Did you see what this team did on the power play? Can we try that?”
Sullivan noted that Crosby’s line often scores at the end of shifts. Crosby prides himself on crushing other teams. Sullivan tries to manage the workload throughout the season. But Crosby often asks him to incorporate more low-altitude combat drills into workouts. This is to say that he is the only player to request them.
THE DEPRESSED GOALKEEPER the market is expected to move closer to the trade deadline. Some have wondered if the Boston Bruins I wouldn’t take care of it either Linus Ullmark Or Jeremiah Swayman, given that this is a surplus area for Boston and there is such a hunger for goaltenders throughout the league. From what I understand, that doesn’t seem like the path they would choose going into the season. In fact, Swayman was eligible for an extension on January 1, and a few people told me to expect that to happen soon.
The Bruins, while once again exceeding expectations, are going to feel pressure to do something before the trade deadline to improve their team. It’s simply the nature of the organization and the market. I heard they were looking for middle six forwards, especially someone who could add punch.
ONE OF THE GREATEST areas in which the New York Rangers improved this season is in the faceoff circle. In the last five seasons, they were among the bottom five faceoff teams. So far, in 2023-2024, they are in third place.
Speaking to a few players, it’s definitely been improved with a greater emphasis on practice, which fits Peter Laviolette’s theme that every time the Rangers take the ice, it’s a competition. “We definitely focused more on (faceoffs) this year than any other season I’ve been here,” Mika Zibanejad said.
But another secret lies in a technique used by several of their center players. During a faceoff in his offside circle, the center will return the stick. If you’re a right-handed shooter, having your left hand so low on the stick seems awkward at first – and some players don’t think they have the strength or coordination to pull it off. But if you can do it, it can be a major advantage.
Retired center Paul Gaustad was thought to be the first player to attempt this in the NHL. Nick Bonino took over Gaustad’s trick when they played together in Nashville and brought it to the Rangers. Bonino changes sticks most regularly, but Barclay Goodrow And Vincent Trocheque (who leads the Rangers with a career-best 61.9 percent in the circle) did so as well. A few other centers have used it around the league, including New Jersey. Eric Haula and that of Detroit Dylan Larkin And JT Compher. I would keep an eye on this growing trend.
