In today’s NHL rumor rundown, there is more talk about which Tampa Bay Lightning player might be moved to create cap space. In Anaheim, could the Ducks shift gears and go rebuild instead of being struggling contender? Are the Philadelphia Flyers still trying to move defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere? What are the Detroit Red Wings planning to do with the rest of their offseason? Finally, why is one of the better NHL agents leaving the industry?
Lightning Trade Options
Sportsnet’s Rory Boylen has added his two cents on what the Tampa Bay Lightning might do in an effort to re-sign Anthony Cirelli — something GM Julien BriseBois has labeled a priority.
While the idea will be to dump salary, the Lightning know they likely won’t “win” any future deal. He mentions Alex Killorn, Ondrej Palat and Steven Stamkos and players the Lightning have discussed in trade, but all have some form of no-trade protection.
One option might be to try and trade Tyler Johnson for a permanent LTIR contract from another club. That won’t be an easy sell, but it would give the Lightning enough room to re-sign Cirelli and Erik Cernak and remain cap compliant. If the Lightning and Detroit Red Wings could get together on a deal to acquire Henrik Zetterberg’s $6.083 million cap hit, that would do it.
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Red Wings Want to Continue Improving, But Will Be Patient
Speaking of the Red Wings, Nicholas Cotsonika of NHL.com writes that the Detroit Red Wings and general manager Steve Yzerman are not content to just sit around for a year as the team rebuilds and continues losing. Yzerman will try and find ways to improve the team.
“We’ll just kind of continue to do what we’re doing,” Yzerman said. He added, that in saying that, he knows he has to be patient. He explains:
“The reality is, you’re limited to what you can do, and you’re limited, or you’re restricted, by the time it takes for each prospect to develop. Just not as simple as just going out and making a bunch of trades and getting really good players and signing a bunch of free agents.
As for what Yzerman might still do in this particular offseason, he noted the team has a lot of bodies on the roster, but, “I do think there’s room potentially to add, and I would consider it as we go along or as we get closer to knowing when we’re going to start.”
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Ducks Should Try to Rebuild
James O’Brien of NBC Sports writes that instead of trying to barely scrape into the playoffs in 2020-21, the Anaheim Ducks should embrace a rebuild. Part of that rebuild could include talking on someone else’s bad contract if David Backes and his $4.5 million salary ends up on LTIR. From there, the team could try to move Ryan Getzlaf.
If Getzlaf would be willing to move to a playoff contender, O’Brien believes he could be an attractive option for a team because the 35-year-old center is in the final season of his contract with an $8.25 million cap hit, but earning only $3 million in actual salary.
If the Ducks go full rebuild, Rickard Rakell and defensemen Hampus Lindholm and Josh Manson could also be trade options.
Chances of Future Trade for Flyers’ Gostisbehere
According to Charlie O’Connor of The Athletic, interest in Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere has been few and far between. And, while it doesn’t look like he’ll move this offseason, don’t rule out a future trade.
O’Connor still believes the defenseman is the “most likely candidate” to be traded if the Flyers need to clear salary cap space. But, O’Connor writes:
“His deal is largely buyout-proof (the Flyers would save just $666,666 in 2021-22 cap space by doing so next summer), making a trade his most likely way out of Philadelphia. As injuries start to pile up around the league during 2020-21, perhaps a club has a change of heart and decides it needs another puck-moving defenseman.”
source – ‘ Flyers’ 2021-22 salary cap picture: Carter Hart’s deal, expansion draft and more’ – Charlie O’Connor – The Athletic – 11/23/2020
It appears the Flyers might be thinking of playing Gostisbehere a ton, but while keep a close eye on the struggling defender. The Flyers’ front office “knows it needs another top-four quality defenseman capable of playing the right side to solidify the blue line: after Matt Niskanen retired, but they’re aren’t sure that Gostisbere is up to the task. If not, he’ll need to be moved in an effort to find a replacement.
Hockey Agent Mark Guy Leaves NHL
In an interesting off-ice related NHL story, NHL player agent Mark Guy is leaving the industry after a career that spanned more than 20 years and as an agent for some incredibly talented players. He was the 48th richest player agent in hockey.
Guy worked with Newport Sports Management and represented star players like Steven Stamkos, Alex Pieterangelo, Bo Harvat, Travis Konecny, Tom Wilson, P.K. Subban and others. But, the industry took him away from his family far more than he wanted and he’ll be shifting over to the auto industry.
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Jim Parsons is a freelance writer who covers the Edmonton Oilers and news and rumors posts here at The Hockey Writers.
You can also catch him writing at NHLtradetalk.com, The Sportster and hosting weekly video casts, THW News and Rumors Rundown, plus Oilers Overtime.
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