With trade rumors surrounding the Winnipeg Jets and Patrik Laine, there are many wondering if a deal is coming any time soon. However, Sportsnet’s Ken Wiebe writes that no matter what happens between the Jets and Laine, nothing will be happening any time soon.
With most teams already at the flatlined salary cap, Wiebe writes that general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff will likely wait until next offseason when more teams might have the cap room to take on Laine and be able to send the assets that the Jets want back. That’s not to say that the Jets have given up on signing Laine to an extension. The scribe writes that while the two sides have had some issues, he doesn’t believe that it has reached a point of no return and believes an extension is just possible as a trade.
The problem with a contract is that Laine is a rare gem, who has 138 goals in 305 games and is tied for seventh in the league for goals scored since 2016. Throw in the fact that he’s still quite young at age 22 and is just starting to develop into a complete player and it isn’t easy coming up with the parameters of a deal.
- The Buffalo Sabres could go in two different directions this season with a team having a solid chance to reach the playoffs. However, if the team goes its usual route lately and once again find themselves out of the playoffs near the trade deadline, NBC Sports James O’Brien writes that Buffalo would have a few assets that could net them a solid return. While newly signed forward Taylor Hall has a no movement clause, it still quite plausible that he would waive that if things go south in Buffalo to get a chance at the playoffs, while veteran Eric Staal might also proven to be a valuable asset if the team doesn’t make the playoffs. The 36-year-old has a affordable $3.25MM contract, which could make him attractive down the road. That doesn’t even include players like Rasmus Ristolainen, Carter Hutton and a few others who are already on the team. Needless to say, the hope is the team finally breaks its nine-year playoff drought, but it could turn into a different direction if things don’t go right in Buffalo.
- Just yesterday, it was announced that Team Sweden would be without 2021 draft prospect William Eklund for the World Junior Championship this year after the 18-year-old tested positive for COVID-19. Now Sweden has taken another hit immediately after that news when Adam Johansson of Expressen.se reports (translation required) that the team’s No. 1 center Karl Henriksson will also have to miss the World Juniors after also testing positive for COVID-19. While the World Juniors don’t start in Edmonton until Dec. 26, the Swedish team is expected to leave for Canada on Dec. 13th, too late for the two young prospects to pass quarantine rules before having to enter the country. Henriksson, a second-round pick of the New York Rangers in 2019, has been centering top prospects Lucas Raymond and Alexander Holtz in international play and will be a big loss for Sweden.
- Sticking with the World Juniors, Team USA has lost a few prospects as a Boston University trio will not be attending the World Juniors training camp due to COVID-19 protocols, according to New England Hockey Journal’s Jeff Cox. The U.S. team will have to do without forward Robert Mastrosimone, a second-round pick in 2019 by the Detroit Red Wings; defenseman Alex Vlasic, a second-round pick in 2019 by the Chicago Blackhawks; and goaltender Drew Commesso, a second-round pick by the Chicago Blackhawks this year.
Buffalo is going to the playoffs!!!
Not unless they obtain a better goaltender. The Sabres are fragile they need outstanding goaltending and theirs is below average
Ullmark has shown improvement & is now in a contract year. Outside of Markstrom the available goalies were not guarantees. Hutton had offseason eye surgery so if that does help him with any improvement in his play that will be a bonus. The Sabres now can roll out 2 very good top scoring lines & at least roll out a decent 3rd line. If Hall & Eichel can click that top line will be very good.
Their forwards are soft and both their defense and goaltending are below average.
They’d need 4 to 5 key guys to suddenly take their game to another level for that to happen.
Imagine if Carolina next off-season brings back Eric Staal to center their 4th line, and adds Marc Staal to the thid pairing … Would both guys take a free agency discount so the three brothers can play together? Who were the last brother trio to play on one NHL team?
Just having some dog days of winter fun …
@Reuven – Made me think of the Czech line, back in the ’80s. Peter, Marian, and Anton. Man, I loved hearing Dan Kelly on those calls! :)
I definitely think that’s a possibility.
I often think of how cool it would be for Montreal to have Haydn and Cale Fleury play together on a defensive pair. Or have the Suzuki brothers Nick and Ryan together. Carolina and Montreal could have some cool trade possibilities.
What about the Sutter’s? There was a bunch of them back in the day. Although there might have been some cousins or nephews involved there
Have you read the write up on the Hurricanes & their cap? Team will have to pay up to retain their RFAs & their goalie situation.
There is no chance they bring Marc Staal in with Slavin, Skjei, Gardiner, Fleury and Jake Bean all on the left side. Fun idea but it just wont happen.
An Eric Staal reunion wouldnt be unrealistic… however he definitely wouldnt be on the 4th line. I could see the more likely scenario being a trade deadline option if (when) Buffalo is out of the race this season. Maybe slot him on Jordans wing to shore up the 3rd line or let him center the 2nd line and move Trocheck to the wing if hes not effective.
Also, to answer your question, the last trio of brothers to play on one team was the Staals for Carolina. They called Jared up for the final 2 games in 2013 and put him on a line with Eric and Jordan for kicks since the Canes were eliminated.
@wishyouwerehere – @Reuven was referring to brother trios, which is a rarity in NHL history.
Did you just put Hutton as a valuable trade chip come deadline if their bad? Cause he’s not and you should feel bad for thinking that
In all fairness, Hutton hasn’t had the best defense in front of him in Buffalo.
Remember when Hutton started off hot the last two years and then crashed so hard both times?
Pepper Ridge farm remembers.