NHL Rumors: Stars, Bruins, Blue Jackets, Devils

In today’s NHL rumor rundown, there is news the Dallas Stars would like to extend goaltender Anton Khudobin. What would that deal look like? Meanwhile, are the Boston Bruins gauging the market on netminder Tuukka Rask? Will the Columbus Blue Jackets be one of the busier teams and could the New Jersey Devils make some major trades at the NHL Draft?

Dallas Stars Looking to Re-Sign Khudobin

As per The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun, Dallas Stars GM Jim Nill has told goaltender Anton Khudobin and his agent Kent Hughes that he’s interested in re-signing the netminder. Apparently, there is interest from the player to stay versus test free agency.

Anton Khudobin Dallas Stars
Anton Khudobin, Dallas Stars (Jess Starr/The Hockey Writers)

Any deal could be worth around $3.75 million to $4 million per year.

Does this mean the Stars will look to move Ben Bishop? It doesn’t sound like it. LeBrun writes:

If the Stars are able to re-sign Khudobin some have wondered if they would then turn around and try to move Ben Bishop (who has three more years at a $4.91-million AAV), but that’s not the case. The Stars would like to keep their goalie tandem intact, which is smart considering how compressed next season is likely to be.

source – ‘LeBrun: Stars want to keep Khudobin, the latest on crowded UFA goalie market’ – Pierre LeBrun – The Athletic- 10/02/2020

Devils Willing to Trade First-Round Picks

Newly appointed New Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald has been taking calls on the 18th and 20th selections in this year’s NHL Entry Draft. The Devils hold three selections in the first round and Fitzgerald has noted he is open to moving those picks if it makes sense for the club. 

In a recent NJ.com article, Fitzgerald also had this to say:

“If I was to move 18 or 20, it would have to be for someone we control, someone who can be a top-six forward or top-four defenseman, and someone that’s in that age bracket of where our group’s at.”

source – ‘NHL Draft 2020: Devils zero in on 12 prospects for 3 1st-rounders, but talking trade’ – Randy Miller – NJ.com – 09/26/2020

The Devils understand this draft is deep and there are a number of teams looking to move salary and talented players for cap space. The Devils have room and the picks to really pluck the market of some immediately impactful players.

Related: Devils Need to Target DeBrusk

Bruins Testing Market on Rask?

According to a report by TSN’s Frank Seravalli reported on Thursday, the Boston Bruins seeing what kind of offers are out there if the organization decided they’re willing to move goaltender Tuukka Rask in a trade.

Tuukka Rask Boston Bruins
Tuukka Rask, Boston Bruins (Jess Starr/The Hockey Writers)

Seravalli writes, “Multiple sources indicate that Bruins GM Don Sweeney has initiated conversations with teams about Rask’s market value over the last number of weeks,” Rask has one year remaining on the eight-year, $56 million deal he signed in 2013 and this certainly doesn’t mean the Bruins will move him. It’s likely more an indication that they are getting reads on a number of different scenarios to improve their salary cap situation and because the goalie market is flooded with good backstops, the Bruins might be able to find a better solution.

Blue Jackets Looking to Get In On Action

According to Aaron Portzline of The Athletic, Columbus Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen said he expects more trades to go down after the NHL draft than in a typical year. And, TSN’s Pierre LeBrun added that the Blue Jackets are hoping to be involved in that action.

LeBrun writes, “And he certainly hopes to be in the middle of it” when it comes to talking about potential moves the Blue Jackets might make this offseason. They’ve already been rumored to have inquired about the availability of Patrik Laine and Elliotte Friedman labeled them a team to watch.

It seems a lot of scribes are starting to throw the Blue Jackets name out there in terms of busy clubs so there must be something to all the talk.



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