NHL Rumours: McKenna Going First, Pavelski Coaching Leafs & Tuch Leaving Buffalo

In today’s NHL rumour rundown, we start off with the Toronto Maple Leafs and how selecting Gavin McKenna first overall is becoming a clearer choice. Next, we stick with Toronto and look at how Joe Pavelski has seemingly entered the race for the head coaching position.

Finally, the Buffalo Sabres and Alex Tuch appear to be at an impasse, and it looks like the winger will be going to free agency.

McKenna to Maple Leafs Looking Like a Sure Thing

As the NHL Entry Draft approaches, there is still some debate between a few players to go first overall. McKenna is the easy pick; he has been hyped up for a long time and is certainly a candidate to go first overall.

Others, like Ivar Stenberg and Chase Reid, have been a part of the conversation, too, but after speaking with the media at the NHL Combine, general manager John Chayka all but confirmed McKenna would be the pick.

When Chayka was asked about selecting McKenna first overall, he quickly smiled and nodded his head, non-verbally showing that is the plan. His answer didn’t confirm it, but he stated that they would be taking the best player available.

Visiting a top prospect isn’t unheard of, and it has happened with plenty of teams and plenty of players, but Chayka spoke about visiting McKenna in his hometown of Whitehorse, Yukon.

Chayka stated, “He’s a small-town kid. Within that, I think that there’s some real resolve around who he is, and what his career means to him and his family, and I find him impressive.”

All fingers are pointing toward McKenna going to the Maple Leafs.

Joe Pavelski Enters Mix for Leafs Coaching Job

The Maple Leafs have had an extensive coaching search so far. At one point, David Carle looked like the front-runner, but that was short-lived. Names like Patrick Roy and Peter Laviolette have been coming up over the past week or so, but none were as shocking as this one.

On 32 Thoughts, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman stated, “I am under the impression Joe Pavelski is going to get an interview for this job.”

There was a belief that the Maple Leafs, outside of Carle, would be looking for a coach with experience. Both Chayka and Mats Sundin have been away from the game for a while, and Sundin is in his first chance in a front-office role. Having a coach with experience could help in that situation.

Friedman refers to the recent story of Pavelski watching the Stanley Cup playoffs and called his former teammate, Tomas Hertl, regarding his scoring slump. Hertl told reporters that Pavelski called him, and that helped break that slump. Friedman reported that the motivation and telling him to stop overthinking was a big thing for Hertl.

Comparisons between Pavelski and Martin St. Louis have been made, with Pavelski coaching minor hockey as St. Louis did prior to his job with the Montreal Canadiens.

Alex Tuch Set to Hit Free Agency on July 1

Despite the contract never being signed, the idea of Tuch extending with the Sabres seemed like it was going to happen. Now, as we approach the end of the playoffs, there are reports that the two sides are still are apart on a contract agreement.

Darren Dreger reported that things aren’t progressing well between them, stating, “It sure sounds like there isn’t progress being made between Buffalo and Alex Tuch, and I’m hearing that Tuch is likely going to free agency.”

After making the playoffs for the first time in this era of the Sabres, they are going to look to take a bigger step and go deeper in the playoffs next season.

Tuch is rumoured to be commanding a salary in the $10 million range, which could hinder the Sabres’ ability to add more. They would likely love to have him back, but are being firm on their price, which is evidently lower than what he is asking for.

With the influx of youth coming up through the system, losing a player like Tuch wouldn’t be franchise-altering, but he is certainly a player who makes the team better today.

Some teams, especially the Edmonton Oilers, could be interested in his services, and while signing a $10 million annual contract isn’t always easy in the offseason, teams will make the room they need to bring him in.