In today’s NHL rumor rundown, there is buzz surrounding a new contract for Vancouver Canucks coach Travis Green. That said, there could be a slight holdup in getting a deal done. One scribe wonders if the Boston Bruins be cooking up a trade with the Calgary Flames? Don’t expect Corey Perry to return to the Dallas Stars and finally, what should fans expect in Edmonton as rookie defensemen will get a shot on the Oilers blue line this coming season.
Canucks Working on Deal With Green
Sportsnet is reporting that the Vancouver Canucks and head coach Travis Green are working on an extension done as he enters into the final year of his contract. Both sides have said they’d like to continue the relationship but it’s not quite as simple as offering him a three-year deal with a big bump in salary.
Satiar Shah said there are questions in Vancouver over how long and for how much they should extend Green. Shah explains:
We have heard that there might be a correction when it comes to head coaches salaries but when you look at what Travis Green was making and the fact that he’s not going to be commanding the same type of money that Barry Trotz did, or that Mike Babcock did or that Joel Quenneville did. I’m not sure I quite buy that Travis Green needs a correction on his future salary.
Part of the issue is that Green is on an entry-level coaching salary, and while it’s not necessarily right to keep so low on the totem pole of coaches being paid, there’s no real guess as to how many games there will be next season and there’s the question of whether or not the Canucks (and other teams) can afford to just “give out” money for coaches who need new contracts as the teams and owners are taking massive financial hits.
Related: Flames vs Oilers: How They Stack Up After Offseason Moves
Bruins Looking Hanifin From the Flames?
Jimmy Murphy of Florida Hockey Now (subscription required) reports that the Calgary Flames might be willing to trade left-side defenseman Noah Hanifin to bring in a less expensive right-side defenseman. Murphy notes that:
‘…sources he spoke with believe Hanifin isn’t been shopped but Flames GM Brad Treliving is listening and contemplating a “hockey trade” offer.’
source – ‘Off The Record: Dallas Stars Circle Back On Haula, CBJ and Hoffman Match?’ Jimmy Murphy – FLAhockeynow.com – 11/09/2020
One of the teams rumored to be interested is the Boston Bruins and there’s talk that maybe Brandon Carlo could be the player moved in that deal. He makes $2.1 million less than Hanifin. The Detroit Red Wings, Buffalo Sabres and Columbus Blue Jackets are also teams that might be interested if Hanifin is available.
This isn’t the first time Hanifin has been linked to the Bruins as he’s a Boston native and there were rumors years back that the Bruins might have targeted him in a deal before he landed in Calgary.
Could Corey Perry Return to Stars?
Matthew DeFranks of The Dallas Morning News writes in a recent mailbag segment that it’s not likely forward Corey Perry returns to the Dallas Stars next season. At least, not if he’s unwilling to take a pay cut on the $1.5 million in base salary and $1.75 million in bonuses that he was paid in 2019-20.
DeFranks cited recent rumors that Perry has been linked elsewhere and said the Stars are looking to go younger. He writes:
Recently, TSN linked Perry to Ottawa, so maybe that’s a landing spot for the veteran forward. The Stars also want to inject some youth in their forward corps, whether that’s Jason Robertson or Ty Dellandrea or Nick Caamano.
source – ‘Matt’s mail: On keeping John Klingberg, the Stars’ new jersey and the Seattle expansion draft’ – Matthew DeFranks – 11/03/2020
Oilers Rookie Expectations on the Blue Line
Allan Mitchell of The Athletic took a look at possible Calder candidates for the Edmonton Oilers and focused mostly on the defense, asking if any rookies could play enough to warrant consideration if they have strong seasons?
Mitchell did some early projections as to which rookies might play and how much and said Evan Bouchard might get 30 games, William Lagesson 50 games and Philip Broberg 12 games. He noted that the odds favour 2020-21 being Bouchard’s rookie season, but suggested he might not see enough action to be a Calder candidate, coming up to the big club mid-season due to to injury.
Mitchell writes:
After so many strong roster rookies in the last decade (Taylor Hall, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Leon Draisaitl, Connor McDavid) it’s incredible the organization remains shut out of the Calder Trophy.
source – ‘Lowetide: The Oilers and the Calder Trophy: 5 rookies, 1 strong contender’ – Allan Mitchell – The Athletic – 11/10/2020
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