Headlines

Go To MLB Trade Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

Archives for June 2019

Vancouver Canucks Acquire Tampa Bay’s J.T. Miller

at CDT | by 8 Comments

With salary dumps starting off the day after both Patrick Marleau and P.K. Subban were traded earlier, TSN’s Bob McKenzie reports that the Vancouver Canucks are closing in on a deal to acquire forward J.T. Miller and the four years remaining at $5.25MM from the Tampa Bay Lightning. Vancouver trades goaltender Marek Mazanec, a 2019 third-round pick (goaltender Hugo Alnefelt) and a conditional first-round pick in 2020, reports NHL.com’s Dan Rosen. If the Canucks do not make the playoffs, the 2020 first-rounder will be conveyed in 2021.

With plenty of salary cap issues, the Tampa Bay Lightning had to move out some salary, especially with restricted Brayden Point expected to get a big raise this summer. Miller seemed to make the most sense as the forward struggled last season in his first full year with the Lightning. After posting more than 20 goals for three straight years, Miller saw his goal-scoring numbers drop to just 13 last season. With a no-trade clause kicking in on July 1, the team had to make a move sooner rather than later.

For Vancouver, Miller should provide some much needed offense as Miller can play all three positions and still is just 26 years old and should find a role somewhere in the team’s top six. If he continues to struggle like he did last year, he could always take over the third-line center duties. The Canucks have the cap space to take in the deal, but Miller’s four year’s at $5.25MM is pretty reasonable had the team tried to land a player of Miller’s success on the free-agent market.

It wasn’t a long stay for Miller, who the team acquired as part of the Ryan McDonagh trade back at the trade deadline in 2018. He looked sharp for the team’s stretch run that year, tallying 10 goals and 18 points in 19 games. The team then signed him to a five-year, $26.25MM contract last offseason, but now decided to move on from him. The team got solid value for him as they expect to get either the team’s 2020 first-rounder (assuming the Canucks make the playoffs) or the team’s 2021 first-rounder. They also added a third-round pick in this year’s draft, while also getting Mazanec. While it looks like it would fill their hole in the net in Syracuse, the team only picked up Mazanec’s rights as he has already signed a contract in the Czech League for two years. The team already lost both of Syracuse’s goaltenders from last year as Eddie Pasquale has already signed with Barys Nur-Sultan in the KHL, while they traded Connor Ingram to Tampa Bay for a future seventh-round pick.

Toronto Maple Leafs Working On Kasperi Kapanen Contract

at CDT | by 3 Comments

11:55am: Bob McKenzie of TSN reports that the deal is close to complete but will not be finalized until Marner’s situation is resolved. It is expected to be a three-year contract that will carry an average annual value between “in the $3.2MM to $3.4MM range.”

9:59am: The Toronto Maple Leafs have dominated headlines with restricted free agent negotiations, but mostly ones regarding Mitch Marner. There are two other key players who need new contracts in Kasperi Kapanen and Andreas Johnsson, and the Maple Leafs may be getting closer on at least one of them. Chris Johnston of Sportsnet reported last night that the Maple Leafs are getting closer to an extension with Kapanen, and Darren Dreger of TSN noted the same this morning.

Kapanen, 22, broke out this season with 20 goals and 44 points for the Maple Leafs while regularly lining up beside Auston Matthews on the team’s second unit. The speedy forward was also a regular on the penalty kill, even scoring a pair of short-handed goals. The fact that only three of his points came on the powerplay suggests that there might be an even higher level of production that Kapanen can get to in the future, making this an important negotiation for both sides.

While not eligible for arbitration, the young forward does have a solid bit of leverage with the Maple Leafs given their cap crunch and negotiations with Marner. The team has to get Kapanen at a reasonable amount if they want to bring everyone back, meaning he’ll likely get another chance to improve his stock on a short-term deal. That is of course unless the team has plans of moving out some salary somewhere else and inking Kapanen to a long-term deal at a reasonable but more expensive price.

There has also been reports that the Maple Leafs included Kapanen in a trade offer recently, trying to pry Brett Pesce out of Carolina. A new deal doesn’t guarantee that Kapanen would remain in Toronto for the season, as he cannot agree to any sort of trade protection given his status as a restricted free agent.

New Jersey Devils Acquire P.K. Subban

at CDT | by 35 Comments

The Nashville Predators have traded P.K. Subban to the New Jersey Devils. The Predators will receive Steven Santini, Jeremy Davies, the Devils’ second-round pick in 2019 and second-round pick in 2020. Nashville will not retain any of Subban’s contract, which still has three years remaining at a $9MM cap hit.

The Predators had been rumored for weeks to be looking for a way to clear cap space in order to go after some key free agents and sign Roman Josi to a long-term extension, and Subban was the prime target thanks to his hefty price tag. With Dante Fabbro ready to take on a bigger role in the NHL and the presence of Mattias Ekholm and Ryan Ellis still on the roster, the Predators likely felt as though they could lose Subban off the blue line without taking a major step backwards.

Still, this isn’t the package that many were expecting if the team did find a taker for his contract. Just a few years ago Subban was traded straight up for another Norris-caliber defenseman in Shea Weber, and has now been flipped for relatively underwhelming future assets.

Santini, 24, was picked in the second round in 2013 but has still yet to establish himself as a full-time NHL player, suiting up for 114 games over parts of four seasons. Last year he recorded four points in 39 games for the Devils, and is actually signed for two more seasons at a $1.42MM cap hit. It will be interesting to see where he fits into the plan in Nashville, or if he’s flipped to create some additional room.

Davies, 22, just finished his third season at Northeastern University and signed a two-year entry-level contract with the Devils in April. Though he fell all the way to the seventh round in the 2016 draft, the former USHL standout fit in well at the college level and recorded big point totals in each of his three years. The 5’11” defenseman will likely head to the minor leagues to prove he can bring that kind of offensive production at the professional level, and could be the key to the return for the Predators moving forward.

Nashville will select 34th overall in this year’s draft now, but the biggest return in this deal for them will be the cap space. Matt Duchene will once again be linked to the team in free agency, as GM David Poile has pursued him for years and now has a chance. Still, with some uncertainty to where the salary cap ceiling will eventually land it may take some more work for Nashville to be in a position to land one of the top names while keeping enough room for a Josi raise.

Greg Wyshynski of ESPN was first to report that Subban was headed to New Jersey.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

Patrick Marleau Traded To Carolina Hurricanes

at CDT | by 36 Comments

The Toronto Maple Leafs have completed a deal that seemed impossible just a few days ago, trading Patrick Marleau to the Carolina Hurricanes. Toronto will also send a conditional 2020 first-round selection and a 2020 seventh-round selection and will receive a 2020 sixth-round pick in return. If the first-round pick is a top-10 selection, the Hurricanes will instead receive a first-round pick in 2021.

Marleau is expected to be bought out by the Hurricanes to become an unrestricted free agent. A buyout will not result in any cap savings for the Hurricanes given Marleau signed his current contract after the age of 35, meaning his entire $6.25MM hit will be applied to their books.

The Maple Leafs were desperate to clear some salary this summer thanks to ongoing negotiations with restricted free agents Mitch Marner, Kasperi Kapanen and Andreas Johnsson, and Marleau’s name has been in trade speculation for weeks. GM Kyle Dubas had recently said however that it seemed likely the veteran forward would start the year in Toronto, meaning this deal very well could have come together quickly at the draft in Vancouver. A first round pick is a steep price to pay, but the Maple Leafs will gain a huge amount of cap space in a season where they believe they can compete for the Stanley Cup.

Marleau, 39, just finished his worst offensive season since his rookie year back in 1997-98, but still recorded 16 goals and 37 points for the Maple Leafs. While not good enough to fill those $6.25MM shoes, he still does have a few playing days left in him if he chooses. Though that could technically take him back to Toronto as the Washington Capitals proved with Brooks Orpik last year, Marleau commandeered his wife’s twitter account to issue a goodbye to the organization and Maple Leafs’ fans. It seems more likely that he is heading back to California and perhaps the San Jose Sharks, though the Hurricanes intend on having a conversation to see if he would be willing to play for them first.

The veteran forward hasn’t missed a single game in the last ten seasons and has suited up 1,657 times in the NHL regular season. His 1,166 career points put him 53rd on the all-time list, only behind Joe Thornton, Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin in terms of active players.

Morning Notes: Barrie, Subban, Penguins

at CDT | by 3 Comments

For all the anticipation that the NHL Entry Draft creates, fans were left somewhat disappointed last night when not a single player was traded. All the viewers got from the floor in Vancouver was the Arizona Coyotes moving up three spots and the Philadelphia Flyers adding a second-round pick. The kind of movement that had been hinted at all day never materialized, perhaps thanks to the still-not-finalized cap ceiling. The league is expected to release the final number today, hopefully kicking the market into gear.

Nevertheless, here are some notes from last night’s show:

  • The player most rumored to be on the move yesterday may have been Tyson Barrie, who was linked several times to the Vancouver Canucks. The offensive defenseman’s name came up even more when the Colorado Avalanche selected Bowen Byram fourth overall, but GM Joe Sakic wants everyone to calm down. Sakic told A.J. Haefele of BSN Denver that there is no truth to the idea that Barrie is already traded, and Adrian Dater of Colorado Hockey Now that the rumors are “news to him.” Even with the apparent denials, Barrie’s name will continue to float around in trade speculation until he has a new deal with the Avalanche or is moved. The 27-year old is entering the final year of his current contract and carries a $5.5MM cap hit.
  • Another defenseman drawing plenty of speculation is Nashville Predators star P.K. Subban who is apparently on the market as the team tries to clear cap space. Subban has three years remaining at a huge $9MM cap hit, but Darren Dreger of TSN suggested that the Predators may be willing to retain up to $3MM of that. If that’s true, there will likely be teams lined up to take on the Norris-winning defenseman.
  • After a disappointing season from the Pittsburgh Penguins and some frustrated comments from GM Jim Rutherford, some expected the team to make a huge move and send one of their superstar talents packing this summer. While the team did try to move Phil Kessel to the Minnesota Wild, they won’t be dangling Evgeni Malkin or Kris Letang. Rutherford spoke to Jonathan Bombulie of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, and told him it’s “highly unlikely” that either one is moved and that there was never an intention to have a ton of roster turnover in Pittsburgh.

Top Talent Remains For Day Two Of 2019 Draft

at CDT | by 2 Comments

The 2019 NHL Entry Draft was short on trades but still filled with surprises. Starting at third overall when the Chicago Blackhawks shocked many by selecting Kirby Dach, things didn’t go how any prospect prognosticator expected. The Detroit Red Wings may have given the draft floor the biggest shock when GM Steve Yzerman announced Mortiz Seider’s name at No. 6. Yzerman told Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press that they tried to move back, but didn’t want to risk missing out on the big German defenseman.

That seemed to be the theme of the night. Trades were discussed, but only one ended up being completed with the Arizona Coyotes and Philadelphia Flyers flipping spots in the middle of the round. Now, as the hockey world prepares for day two and rounds 2-7 trade talk is heating up once again. Bruce Garrioch of Postmedia tweets that the Ottawa Senators have had talks with a lot of teams including the Toronto Maple Leafs. Ottawa holds the first pick of the second round along with No. 44.

But if the Senators choose to keep that pick, what’s left? Who fell out of the first round and are looking to make the league regret it? Here’s a few names that may be picked at the top of round two.

Arthur Kaliyev – F, Hamilton OHL

Kaliyev was ranked seventh among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting, and was a lock to go in the first round by most other publications. That’s thanks to his 51-goal season for the Bulldogs and a nose for the net unlike many other prospects available. The 17-year old forward can score through any type of shot you can think of, and almost always seems to find himself in the right situation at the right time.

Despite that, there have been some to question his work ethic and drive to improve the other aspects of his game. He currently doesn’t project as an excellent skater and can shy away from physical play despite standing 6’2″ already. Those questions are probably what dropped him out of the first round, but they also could be why a team like Ottawa, Los Angeles or New Jersey have the opportunity to grab an offensive dynamo so late.

Bobby Brink – F, Sioux City USHL

If you want skill and offensive upside, it’s hard to pass up on Brink. The 17-year old winger from the USHL has scored at every level and is one of the best playmakers in the draft. His hockey sense is out of this world and he often sets up teammates before they even know the puck should be coming to them. Unlike Kaliyev, Brink is known for his hard work on the ice and willingness to do whatever the team needs.

Unfortunately, he also comes in a 5’8″ package with below average skating tools. Brink’s size and stride are what took him out of the first round, as there is plenty of work to do to get him to the point where he can really use that offensive skill at the professional level. His anticipation may get him a step ahead at the USHL level, but that skating may hold him back in the NHL or even the AHL. For a first round pick it might be hard to take that chance, but a team that trusts its development staff could get a steal early this afternoon.

Raphael Lavoie – F, Halifax QMJHL

At the opposite end of the spectrum is Lavoie, blessed with all the physical tools to make him a monstrous hockey player at the professional level. A great skater for a player of his size—6’4″ already—he can get behind defenders or power right through them coming off the wing. Lavoie was once expected to be a top pick in this 2019 draft, but after failing to show that huge development step in the QMJHL teams may have cooled on him a bit.

Perhaps that’s because of a growing feeling that his upside may be capped because of a lack of real playmaking ability. Though there are times when Lavoie looks like the most dangerous player on the ice, it is too often that the play dies on his stick if he can’t use his physical attributes to beat a defender. Still, after an outstanding playoff run with teh Mooseheads you can bet he won’t be on the board much longer.

Nils Hoglander – F, Rogle SHL

There’s no lack of skill outside of North America either. The 5’9″ Hoglander may have the best hands in the entire draft, able to turn defenders inside out even at a standstill. That’s not a position he’s often in though, as the Swedish forward is always pressing and probing defenses with his solid edgework and agility. Even starting the year at 17, the undersized Hoglander spent the entire season in the SHL and recorded 14 points in 50 games—a solid total for such a young player.

The question will be whether or not those elusive puck skills will translate to a complete professional game in North America, or if Hoglander is destined to be a top scorer in a lower league. He’s not afraid of physical play but he can sometimes be overmatched by bigger players, especially ones who can skate well and close the gaps quickly. That’s all that he’ll see in the NHL, which makes using a first round pick on him somewhat difficult. An early second though? Hoglander won’t wait around long on day two.

Brett Leason – F, Prince Albert WHL

Unfortunately for Leason, he knows the feeling of not being picked on the first day of the draft. He’s been through this twice before. The 20-year old forward is in his third year of eligibility but is coming off an outstanding season in the WHL and a top-end performance at the World Juniors. He ended up ranked 25th by NHL Central Scouting among North American skaters, but some had him potentially climbing into the end of the first round.

While Leason may end up dropping a few more spots, the fact that he is an older player might come in handy. He can go directly to the AHL to continue his development in 2019-20 and could be in the NHL quicker than many other second-round selections if things go well. The 6’4″ winger is more than happy to engage physically in the corners but has a nose for the net as well that could make him a potential option in front on the powerplay one day.

Other top options: D Alex Vlasic, F Nicholas Robertson, D Matthew Robertson, F Robert Mastrosimone, F Samuel Fagemo

Canucks To Retire The Numbers Of Henrik And Daniel Sedin

at CDT | by 5 Comments

Commissioner Gary Bettman opened the 2019 NHL Entry Draft in Vancouver by inviting former Canucks superstars Henrik and Daniel Sedin on to the stage. He proceeded to announce that Vancouver would honor the twins by retiring their numbers next season. The Canucks have since clarified that the numbers will be raised into the rafters during the team’s 50th anniversary celebration in February.

As many might have expected, Nos. 22 and 33 will never again be worn in Vancouver. As soon as the Sedins were selected at second and third overall in 1999, they became the faces of the franchise for the Canucks. The duo each played in more than 1,300 games and recorded more than 1,000 points as members of the Canucks over 17 seasons. Both brothers appeared in three All-Star games, won and Art Ross Trophy, and won at least one King Clancy Trophy. Henrik was additionally the 2009-10 Hart Trophy winner, while Daniel won the Ted Lindsay Award in 2010-11.

Since retiring after the 2017-18 season, the Sedin’s have remained involved in Vancouver, but on the ice have left a new core of young players to lead the Canucks. Fellow Swede Elias Pettersson took the reins and posted 66 points en route to the Calder Trophy. Pettersson and company will hope to continue emulating the Sedins, future Hall of Famers, as the Canucks look to get back to relevance next season, which would be the real celebration in the team’s 50th season.

Coyotes Acquire No. 11 Pick From Flyers

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

In the midst of a wild first round, the Arizona Coyotes have decided to move up three spots. The Coyotes have landed the No. 11 pick from the Philadelphia Flyer for two other 2019 selections, Nos. 14 and 45. Arizona used the pick to select defenseman Victor Soderstrom out of Brynas IF of the Swedish Hockey League.

The Flyers were rumored to be interested in moving back and did well for themselves with this deal. In a deep draft class, Philadelphia only slides back three spots in the first, but picks up a mid-second selection as well. The Flyers will now pick 14th in the first and second round.

As for the ’Yotes, the team clearly wanted to get ahead of a potential run on defenseman by selecting Soderstrom. The SHL defender already has experience playing against pro competition and is one of most gifted skaters among defensemen in the draft class. Defense was not necessarily a major need for Arizona, but they add another quality prospect to a talented blue line group.

Colorado Avalanche Select Bowen Byram Fourth Overall

at CDT | by 8 Comments

After Jack Hughes and Kaapo Kakko went first and second respectively, as many anticipated, the Chicago Blackhawks made the first surprise pick of the draft with WHL center Kirby Dach. That left Bowen Byram, the top defenseman in the class and considered by many to be the third-best prospect as well, on the board for the Colorado Avalanche. Joe Sakic and company jumped on the opportunity, selecting Byram and further strengthening an elite young defense corps.

Byram is the consensus top defenseman in this draft class, and by a wide margin. Byram wasn’t just one of the best defensemen in junior hockey, he was one of the best players overall. The centerpiece of the WHL’s Vancouver Giants, Byram established himself as one of the most offensively gifted defensive prospects in recent memory. In 71 games, Byram totaled 26 goals and 71 points in 67 games. He then added 26 more points in 22 playoff games, becoming the first defenseman to ever lead the WHL in postseason scoring.

While Byram still has room to grow defensively, he is certainly a competent defensive player and sees the ice extremely well for a blue liner his age. Byram also possess more than enough skating ability to move the puck out of danger and can find space in all three zones. Byram is truly a high-end puck-mover with great offensive instincts and a powerful shot that he can use to create chances all by himself. Byram should push for an NHL role right away, but it also wouldn’t hurt for him to spend some more time at the junior level. With just a little time and patience, Byram could easily become a top-pair defenseman, power play quarterback, and one of the highest scorers at his position in the NHL. The same could be said for fellow Avs prospect Cale Makar, who could wind up on a dominant pair with Byram sooner rather than later. With Conor Timmins and Samuel Girard also in the fold in Denver, the Avalance blue line has a bright future.

New York Rangers Pick Kaapo Kakko At No. 2 Overall

at CDT | by 3 Comments

The New York Rangers were in a win-win situation with the second overall pick in this year’s NHL Entry Draft, happy to take whoever the rival New Jersey Devils didn’t at No. 1. When the Devils, as expected, selected American center Jack Hughes, the Rangers were happy to swoop in an take Finnish winger Kaapo Kakko. Kakko did everything he could to push Hughes this season and few will argue that he isn’t the most pro-ready prospect in the draft class.

At 6’2″ and 190 lbs., Kakko already has NHL size but even more evident is his NHL ability. A strong player who can win puck battles and crash the net, Kakko can also just as easily stick handle around the opposition with finesse and vision. More importantly, his elite instincts allow him to nearly always know which approach to take. A goal-scoring threat at all times, Kakko will quickly become a dangerous presence at the NHL level.

Several of his soon-to-be competitors already got a glimpse of what he is capable of at the recent World Championships. Kakko notching six goals and an assist in ten games for Team Finland, showing that pro competition isn’t going to slow him down. In fact, he displayed that all year in the Finnish Liiga, recording 22 goals and 38 points in 45 games against older and more experienced players, and only improved as the year went on, as he showed with a point-per-game postseason performance. If that growth continues, Kakko will become the star of the Rangers’ impressive young core and could become one of the biggest names in hockey with major production in a massive market.

Pro Hockey Rumors is not affiliated with National Hockey League, NHL or NHL.com

scroll to top