• HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • Site Index
  • NHL Salary Caps
  • Hockey 101: A Beginner’s Guide
  • Join Our Team
  • Free Newsletter
  • Store
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
Home
NHL Rumors

NHL Rumors: Oilers, Maple Leafs, Wild, More

By Jim Parsons August 3rd, 2019

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

In today’s NHL rumor rundown there is an update out of Edmonton as it pertains to Jesse Puljujarvi and for the Oilers. For Oilers fans, the news is not good. The Toronto Maple Leafs also got what many will consider bad news when they received Mitch Marner’s counteroffer to an eight-year contract extension. There is news the Calgary Flames might have interest in a former Oilers defenseman. Finally, in Minnesota, one forward was approached directly by ownership to clear the air.

Puljujarvi Finally Speaks on Situation in Edmonton

To date, the friction between the Edmonton Oilers and forward Jesse Puljujarvi has mostly been told through Puljujarvi’s agent Markus Lehto. Reports are now being made public of comments Puljujarvi himself told a Finnish news outlet.

Edmonton Oilers Jesse Puljujarvi Buffalo Sabres Vladimir Sobotka
Edmonton Oilers forward Jesse Puljujarvi and Buffalo Sabres forward Vladimir Sobotka (Perry Nelson-USA TODAY Sports)

Speculation was that new Edmonton Oilers GM Ken Holland’s unwillingness to move the player for peanuts was finally sinking in and that Puljuarvi might find his way back to Edmonton to start the season. That seems unlikely now considering Puljuarvi’s comments stating he won’t come back to North America without a new NHL deal.

Puljujarvi took part in a charity game in his hometown of Oulu, Finland and spoke with the media. Finnish sports reporter Jouni Nieminen translated his comments as follows:

I want a new start with some other team. Playing in North America is still my goal. I will stay in Oulu until I have a contract. I will find a place to play somewhere.

Could this mean that Puljujarvi is not coming back? The comments will certainly get some of the Oilers fan base riled up and Holland certainly won’t be keen on doing him any favors if he’s coming across as entitled. He can’t return to the NHL if he’s not traded or signed by Edmonton so Europe becomes a legitimate option if this is how Puljuarvi is feeling.

Related: NHL Rumors: Shattenkirk, Wild, Hurricanes, More

Flames Interested in Petrovic?

Jim Matheson of The Edmonton Journal tweeted that he’s heard that the Calgary Flames could have some interest in right-handed defenseman Alex Petrovic.

Petrovic split the 2018-19 NHL season between the Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers but was not terribly productive. He played in only 35 games and when not dealing with injuries was often a healthy scratch.

Wild Organization Reached Out to Zucker

Part of a number of trade rumors over the past year, Jason Zucker was apparently approached by Minnesota Wild owner Craig Leopold and told directly about Paul Fenton’s firing as GM. This isn’t something that happens very often in the NHL.

Jason Zucker
Jason Zucker (Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)

While superstars might be in on big decisions, Zucker was hardly considered an elite talent. That said, being in the rumor mill so often, Leopold probably felt he owed it to Zucker to directly discuss their decision to remove Fenton.

Jessi Pierce of NHL.com quoted Zucker’s response:

“Names get floated out there all the time, and I’m glad the trades didn’t happen. It’s always something. If it happens once, it’s in the back of your mind for a bit; if it happens twice, it’s really in the back of your mind, and it was definitely something at the forefront of my life for the last while.

Whether you agree or disagree with it, he felt those were moves that would make the team better, and ultimately Craig disagreed and didn’t like what was happening and decided to go in another direction.”

Related: NHL Rumors: Wild, Rangers, Flames, Oilers, More

Marner Seeking Highest Bridge Deal in NHL History

James Mirtle of The Athletic writes that Mitch Marner is not interested in a long-term contract extension with the Maple Leafs. This is not new information as it’s been widely reported he does not want to give away too many years of unrestricted free agency. What hasn’t been reported is the speculated counter Marner made to the Maple Leafs after they offered him eight years at more than $10 million per season.

Toronto Maple Leafs Mitch Marner
Toronto Maple Leafs right wing Mitch Marner (Jean-Yves Ahern-USA TODAY Sports)

Mirtle writes that Marner came back to the Leafs asking for the richest bridge contract in NHL history. He writes:

They apparently countered with three years at around a $10-million annual value, which would be the richest bridge deal in NHL history – by quite a bit. (Consider that Nikita Kucherov’s three-year bridge back in 2016 was for just under $4.8-million AAV.)

source – ‘Mirtle: Where the Mitch Marner negotiations are at – and why they’re holding up so many other RFAs’ – James Mirtle – The Athletic – 08/02/2019

Mirtle later says in the article that, “Marner’s camp simply has no intention of working off non-Matthews comparables here.”

Related: NHL Rumors: Gardiner, Gusev, Maple Leafs, Rangers, More

  • Tags
  • Jason Zucker
  • Jesse Puljujarvi
  • Mitch Marner
  • Top Story
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

Get theScore App Now!
Recent Posts
Jan 21st 5:55 PM
Edmonton Oilers

McDavid Has the Maple Leafs’ Number and Needs to Keep it That Way

Jan 21st 5:08 PM
Archives

NHLers by Country: On Top of Their Game and the World

Jan 21st 4:50 PM
Edmonton Oilers

Oilers Missing Klefbom and Neal on Power Play

Jan 21st 4:40 PM
Minnesota Wild

Wild’s Soucy & Sturm Look Comfortable Filling Roster Gaps

Jan 21st 4:30 PM
Colorado Avalanche

Avalanche With Career Milestones in Sight in 2020-21 Season

Jan 21st 3:45 PM
Tampa Bay Lightning

The Lightning & Pat Maroon Are a Really Good Fit…For Now

Jan 21st 3:35 PM
Vegas Golden Knights

Golden Knights’ Depth Separates Them From the Rest

Jan 21st 3:15 PM
Columbus Blue Jackets

Blue Jackets’ Alexandre Texier, New Faces Shine to Begin Season

Jan 21st 2:45 PM
Edmonton Oilers

Oilers News & Rumors: Neal, Yamamoto, Tippett, More

Jan 21st 2:15 PM
Column

Senators News & Rumours: Stützle, Norris, Galchenyuk and More

Editor’s Picks
NHL TV Blackouts & Why They Happen?

NHL TV Blackouts & Why They Happen?

The 1979 NHL – WHA Merger

The 1979 NHL – WHA Merger

Masthead

Newsletters

RSS Feeds

Privacy Statement

Contact Us

About THW…

Founded in 2009, The Hockey Writers is a premier destination for news and information on everything hockey. Updated daily with news and features from over 130 writers worldwide. Over 2 million monthly readers now come to THW for their hockey fix.

© The Hockey Writers 2020. All rights reserved.
logo
  • HOME
  • Hockey Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • North Division
    • Calgary Flames
    • Edmonton Oilers
    • Montreal Canadiens
    • Ottawa Senators
    • Toronto Maple Leafs
    • Vancouver Canucks
    • Winnipeg Jets
  • East Division
    • Boston Bruins
    • Buffalo Sabres
    • New Jersey Devils
    • New York Islanders
    • New York Rangers
    • Philadelphia Flyers
    • Pittsburgh Penguins
    • Washington Capitals
  • Central Division
    • Carolina Hurricanes
    • Chicago Blackhawks
    • Columbus Blue Jackets
    • Dallas Stars
    • Detroit Red Wings
    • Florida Panthers
    • Nashville Predators
    • Tampa Bay Lightning
  • West Division
    • Anaheim Ducks
    • Arizona Coyotes
    • Colorado Avalanche
    • Los Angeles Kings
    • Minnesota Wild
    • San Jose Sharks
    • Seattle Kraken
    • St Louis Blues
    • Vegas Golden Knights
  • World Juniors
  • CHL
    • Ontario Hockey League
    • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
    • Western Hockey League
  • THW Podcast Network
  • Store
  • FREE Newsletter
  • Search THW
  • More…
    • Join Our Team
    • The THW Archives
    • Prospects
    • The Goalie Page
    • NHL Salary Cap Information