In today’s NHL rumors rundown, the number of days that Brock Boeser may continue playing for the Vancouver Canucks could be limited. Meanwhile, did the Toronto Maple Leafs miss an opportunity to sign John Tavares at a discounted rate? How expensive is Tavares going to be now? Finally, a special congratulations to Alex Ovechkin, who broke Wayne Gretzky’s record and became the NHL’s all-time leading goal scorer.
Report: Brock Boeser’s Days in Vancouver May Be Numbered
The clock may be ticking on Brock Boeser’s time with the Vancouver Canucks.
According to The Province’s Patrick Johnston: “Here’s the truth: These very well could be Brock Boeser’s last 10 days as a Vancouver Canuck.” The 28-year-old winger is set to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, and with the Canucks likely to miss the playoffs for the fourth time in five seasons, change may be imminent.
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Boeser has played well to end the season, but he struggled for much of the year. He was affected by trade rumors surrounding him, and the drama in Vancouver admittedly bothered him, perhaps more than most players on the team. That he’s found his game again is a positive sign, but it might be too late in Vancouver, where the team has seemingly ignored negotiations with him throughout the season. The hope is that he didn’t wait too long to get the kind of deal he’d like in free agency, should things not work out with the Canucks.
Leafs May Have Missed Chance at Discounted Tavares Extension
TSN insider Pierre LeBrun believes the Toronto Maple Leafs may have missed a golden opportunity to re-sign captain John Tavares at a discount. Speaking on OverDrive, LeBrun revealed that Tavares was likely willing to sign an extension as early as September, before his offensive explosion this season. But after a standout year and a rising NHL salary cap, what he was willing to sign for a few months ago is likely off the table.
“Whatever number Tavares would have probably been willing to do in September will have gone up now,” LeBrun said, noting that fans jumped on him from “the top rope” when he suggested Tavares could be more expensive than people think. Still, he stands by the idea that the Leafs’ decision to wait has raised the price.
Despite this, LeBrun believes Tavares still wants to stay in Toronto and could be open to a team-friendly deal.
Co-host Jamie McLennan added that none of it may matter if the Leafs fall short in the playoffs again, which could lead to a significant shakeup of the team’s core.
Ovechkin Breaks Goal-Scoring Record
History was made Sunday as Alex Ovechkin became the leading goal-scorer in the NHL. The Washington Capitals lost to the New York Islanders, but no one seemed to care much about the outcome of the game. It was all about celebrating Ovechkin’s achievement.
He scored the 895th goal of his storied career, officially surpassing Wayne Gretzky’s legendary mark of 894 goals. The 39-year-old could have potentially broken the record a game earlier, but he chose not to go on the ice when the Capitals had an empty net. He didn’t want to score the record-breaking goal without someone in the crease.
Now in his 20th NHL season, Ovechkin has overcome injuries this season and done what most thought was impossible. He is officially the most prolific goal scorer the game has ever seen. The Capitals emptied their bench, the game paused for a special ceremony, and superstars from all sports sent him messages of congratulations.