It’s been more than two weeks since the NHL’s 2023-24 regular season started. As usual during this time of year, the classification remains tight, with only a handful of teams showing the first signs of withdrawal of the peloton.
Meanwhile, the NHL rumors continue to circulate while experts reflect on the potential movements of players via exchanges and signatures of free agents.
The interest remains high for the winger free agent Patrick Kane while he continues to prepare his return to action after a hip resurfacing procedure during the offseason. Meanwhile, the winger of Vancouver cannucks, Conor Garland, has already become a burning subject of commercial gossip.
Which of these rumors passes the smell of the smell? Follow us while we review the most notable speculation to determine which on our BS counter. Do not hesitate to give your opinion on this subject.
The Chicago Blackhawks reconstruct their workforce since Kyle Davidson became full-time managing director in March 2022. He exchanged veterans such as Patrick Kane, Marc-André Fleury, Alex Debrincat and Max Domi against active ingredients to devote to construction the long -term future of his club.
Most of the players he exchanged were potential free agents without compensation that did not correspond to Davidson’s long -term plans. The flow Chicago list Carries veterans such as Tyler Johnson, Nick Foligno, Corey Perry, Nikita Zaitsev, Petr Mrázek and Jason Dickinson who should become UFA next July.
On October 18, Jimmy Murphy from Boston Hockey Now suggested That Chicago, as well as Montreal Canadians and Winnipeg jets, could take notable measures before Thanksgiving on November 23. He cited a professional screening saying that Johnson, Zaitsev and defender Jarred Tinordi appeared on the commercial market.
BS Meter: It’s BS … for now.
With so many teams currently carrying Limited salary ceiling margin At this stage of the season, Davidson will probably find a better market for these players as March 8. It was at this point that a certain number of contenders for the playoffs will have accumulated enough space during the season to add elements to their workforce.
Columbus Blue Jackets carry eight defenders on their list this season. This blockage means that Adam Boqvist and Andrew Peeke have become healthy scratchs for most of their matches so far.
On October 10, Frank Seravalli from Daily Faceoff reported Sources have said that the Blue Jackets had initiated commercial negotiations with several clubs in the hope of moving a defender to bring more flexibility to their blue line. He cited Boqvist, Peeke and Jake Bean as sales candidates.
Aaron Portzline of Athletic follow up On Monday by indicating that the director general of Blue Jackets, Jarmo Kekäläinen, continued to work on the phone to shop with one of his defenders. He also noted that Boqvist and Peeke had little action so far this season.
BS counter: not BS
Portzline noted that David Jiříček supplanted Boqvist and Peeke on the blue line of Jackets. He is the only one who does not need to authorize the exemptions to send to minors, but he deserved his place on their list. The difficulty is to find a club which can afford the average annual value of $ 2.6 million in boqvist until 2024-2025 or the 2.8 million dollars of PEEKE until 2025-2026.
If there are NHL clubs short of the ceiling that seek to reduce their salary, the philadelphia flyers should be the team to call. In a October 13 appearance On TSN 1200 in Ottawa, the director general of Flyers, Daniel Brière, said that he would be ready to help these clubs on the commercial market.
Flyers have less than a million dollars in salary ceiling But could free up space by placing the players in a reserve for long -term injury. One of them is Ryan Ellis, because the 32 -year -old playing career is practically finished due to a back injury. If necessary, the flyers could transfer it to the Ltir, almost giving them $ 6.3 million in a room for maneuver.
Ottawa senators are a team that may need help. They tried to release space to recruit the free agent with Shane Pinto restriction. On October 12, Darren Dreger de TSN reported The director general of senators, Pierre Dorion, had tried to move the winger Mathieu Joseph and had spoken with the teams about defender Erik Brännström.
BS counter: not BS
September 26, Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet reported The flyers were interested in Joseph, but wanted a high-level hope in the context of the return or perhaps from the first round that the senators received Red Wings from Detroit as part of the exchange with Alex Debrincat. Dorion could be forced to comply here if the Pinto saga is explored for a long time.
Reports earlier this month indicated that the Vancouver cannucks had given permission to the agent of Conor Garland to speak with other clubs concerning a possible exchange. The Blue Jackets of Columbus, the Nashville Predators and the Winnipeg jets were mentioned Among the clubs interested in the 27 -year -old winger.
On October 18, Scott Billeck of Winnipeg sun note that speculations binding the jets in Garland seemed to have calmed down. However, an injury to the winger of jets Gabriel Vilardi led him to wonder if it could change things.
Vilardi was injured in the knee during the 5-1 loss of the jets on October 18, against the Kings of Los Angeles. If the 24 -year -old striker had been enrolled in the long -term injury reserve like the Montreal Canadiens Center Kirby Dach, Billeck said it would have released enough space for jets to acquire Garland, especially if the Canucks were ready to keep 30. percent of its $ 4.9 million ceiling.
BS meter: it’s BS
Billeck was not wrong with the potential ceiling savings for the jets if Vilardi had been sidelined for a long time. Unlike Dach, who has undergone a knee injury ending the seasonVilardi will be absent for Four to six weeks With a MCL sprain. With $ 1.7 million in ceiling spaceThey will have to find another way to land Garland if they are interested in him.
Trying to know where Patrick Kane Sign will have been the favorite game of NHL experts at the start of the season. The 34 -year -old winger is still recovering after his hip resurfacing during the offseason. On October 19, Chris Johnston of The Athletic reported The Kane camp intends to wait until the beginning of November before engaging with serious contenders.
Johnston noted that Buffalo’s Sabers and Florida Panthers would be part of the interested parties. On October 17, Frank Seravalli from Daily Faceoff included The Red Wings of Detroit and the New York Rangers (one of the former Kane clubs) in the mix.
On October 20, Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet cited a source Who mentioned the possibility that Dallas stars sign Kane. They are considered to be contenders for the Stanley Cup this season and could be a good choice if it is a priority for Kane. Friedman mentioned the travel program responsible for stars given their location as a potential negative point.
BS meter: it’s BS
Panthers, rangers and stars could be interested in adding Kane. However, they lack the ceiling space To outbid clubs with salary ceilings such as Sabers and Red Wings. Panthers have a certain room for maneuver with Aaron Ekblad in the long -term injury reserve, but they will have to respect their ceiling when he returns to action later this season.
Information on wages and line combinations via Capfriendly.
