Faceoff Factor

The Latest Rumors Involving Both Coaches and Players

Michael Farkas | National Hockey League

May 17, 02:39 AM | Hype this story!

With 26 teams already planning out their respective offseasons, there’s some business to be taken care of in the midst of the NHL’s version of the Final Four. There’s a good number of job vacancies for both coaches and general managers on the market, as well as some player speculation and other rumors and news from around the league.

First stop on the never-ending coaching carousel is Colorado where, predictably, Quebec Remparts (QMJHL) coach Patrick Roy said he would like to remain as head coach for the team his son plays for. Roy does not rule out a jump to the NHL in the future however.

My thoughts: I don’t feel that Patrick Roy is ready to coach in the NHL, nor do I think he will be all that effective at the NHL level. The Avalanche are better off without him as a bench boss, at least at the moment.

The San Jose Sharks are looking for a new coach as well; they are certainly searching for someone that can command the best from even his most heartless players. The Sharks have demonstrated once again that they are chock full of them.

My thoughts: My thoughts are already subtly implanted into the blurb, did you catch them?

The Ottawa Senators expect to have a new head coach before the upcoming draft. However, there have been little in the way of leaked names at this time.

My thoughts: The Senators have similar to issues to San Jose. Jason Spezza and Dany Heatley were two of the worst players in the playoffs this year, Ray Emery is a horrific distraction and according to some, the problems run even deeper than that. They need a coach to come in and take command of things as well.

After relieving him of his coaching duties, the Florida Panthers have extended the contract of GM Jacques Martin until 2011-12. The Florida Panthers haven’t made the playoffs since the Pavel Bure era.

My thoughts: I’m not sure what Martin has really done to deserve an extension, but if he’s got a plan unbeknownst to me I guess it makes sense. Meanwhile, the team is flailing about in mediocrity for the better part of a decade.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have interviewed former Canucks GM Dave Nonis about their managing vacancy. The Leafs are reportedly interested in Ducks GM Brian Burke, who will have a difficult time leaving Anaheim with one year remaining on his contract. The St. Louis Blues have contacted Nonis about an assistant GM position with the team, a position that carries with it the likelihood of being the successor to the current GM Larry Pleau should he not be retained down the line.

My thoughts: Personally, I’m curious to know what interim GM Cliff Fletcher is capable of. He was able to move some spare parts for pretty good returns (Hal Gill for a 2nd and a 5th, Wade Belak for a 5th, Chad Kilger for a 3rd), he also had a plan to dump Pavel Kubina before it was squashed by Kubina’s no-trade clause. Is he really not competent enough to get the rebuild rolling? I know I couldn’t have gotten that kind of value for Belak or Kilger.

San Jose Sharks are interested in retaining defenseman Brian Campbell, backup goaltender Brian Boucher and tough guy Jody Shelley. However, their top priorities are restricted free agents Christian Ehrhoff, Ryane Clowe and Joe Pavelski. San Jose may be looking to make a trade in the offseason as well to shake up the roster. Offensive defenseman Matt Carle has been rumored to be available for quite some time now, not to mention underachieving center Patrick Marleau, whose no-trade clause kicks in July 1st.

My thoughts: If the Sharks are serious about keeping Campbell then Carle needs to go. They become fairly redundant on the same team. They could also possibly part with one of Joe Pavelski or Torrey Mitchell as well as RFA power forward and prospect Lukas Kaspar. That package could attract something of use for San Jose, they could really use someone in the mold of Keith Primeau or Rod Brind’Amour if they ever want to advance past the second round.

GM George McPhee has insisted that he fully intends to re-sign trade deadline acquisition Cristobal Huet.

My thoughts: They better; Huet is a top-ten goalie in the league and was a big part of Washington’s run to the postseason. If it wasn’t for a Patrick Thoresen plowing they might even still be playing.

The Boston Bruins have opened talks with rugged blueliner Aaron Ward, grinder Glen Metropolit and shootout specialist (sorry) Dennis Wideman.

My thoughts: I thought Wideman was pretty impressive offensively for Boston this year and he made that trade (Wideman for Boyes) slightly easier to swallow for Bruins fans. Still a net loss for Boston, but at least Wideman hasn’t been a total flop. Expect about $3 million for Wideman after the season he had.

It is believed that Wade Redden will leave Ottawa July 1st and (speculation) I doubt he’s even offered a contract. Redden was asked to waive his no-trade clause earlier in the season to complete a trade but rejected that notion.

My thoughts: This team is in big trouble. They have a lot of talent, but I think they may need to blow things up completely. Lose Redden, buyout Emery, lose Neil, and get to trading the lazy players that will not dedicate themselves to the game. If there’s anyone left, start from there and build outward.

It appears Carolina Hurricanes netminder John Grahame has signed on with Avangard Omsk (RSL) for two years.

My thoughts: I’ll give Grahame a lot of credit: at least he knew he wasn’t good enough to play in the NHL anymore and didn’t wait around from July 1st until August 27th to realize that no one would offer him a contract.

Overpaid Leafs winger Jason Blake says that he’s open to a trade away from Toronto.

My thoughts: When I said, “you don’t sign a one-year fluke with a poor attitude to a 5 year, $20 million deal when he had one good season as a 33-year-old,” I meant it. I seriously doubt Toronto can heave that burden anyone.

Although it won’t be official until July 1st, it appears the Flames and defenseman Mark Giordano have come to terms on a three-year deal. Giordano played for Dynamo Moscow (RSL) in 2007-08 after talks with Calgary broke down because Giordano was seeking a one-way contract.

My thoughts: This is a minor detail, but Giordano does add some good, affordable depth and David Hale’s progression has stagnated at best going back to his last days in New Jersey.

Minnesota defenseman and actual shootout specialist Petteri Nummelin, predictably, is heading back to Europe. He has been rumored to have signed a three-year deal with HC Lugano of Switzerland’s top league.

My thoughts: I liked Nummelin back when he broke in with Columbus in 2000, but his return to Minnesota was not nearly as smooth. His knack for the shootout was impressive, but being a regular NHLer, especially for Jacques Lemaire, was not exactly the easiest of tasks for Nummelin.

Phoenix Coyotes 5th overall selection in 2004, Blake Wheeler, has sent a letter to the team saying that he has left the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers and would like to go pro. The letter states that the Coyotes have 30 days to sign him or he will become a free agent. Coyotes GM Don Maloney said the chances of signing of Wheeler are “excellent.” Maloney went on to say, “…that now is the time to move forward. He’s a terrific prospect, and I’m optimistic that we can work hard to get something done.”

My thoughts: Wheeler, the Coyotes off the board pick in 2004, is serious about going pro obviously, but I’m not so sure that he would become a free agent if he doesn’t sign:

From Article 8.6©(iv) of the CBA: “If a Player drafted at age 18 or 19, who had received a Bona Fide Offer in accordance with Section 8.6(a)(ii) above, becomes a bonafide college student prior to the second June 1 following his selection in the Entry Draft and does not remain a bona fide college student through the graduation of his college class, his drafting Club shall retain exclusive rights for the negotiation of his services until the fourth June 1 following his selection in the Entry Draft.”

Based on the last part of the quoted clause above, (referring to the “does not remain [in] college…shall retain exclusive rights”) I would assume that the Coyotes could keep his rights until next June 1st (considering that he had another year of high school after he was drafted and he has only just completed his junior year at Minnesota). However, Minnesota’s 1st round pick in 2004, A.J. Thelen, took a similar route (he played in the WHL) and he ended up being ruled a free agent and Minnesota was awarded a 2nd round pick as compensation. There’s some interesting issues of timing here regarding Wheeler (whether or not he enrolled at Minnesota before or after June 1, 2005 and now that he’s dropped out before June 1, 2008). It appears that he very well could be an unrestricted free agent, but he would no longer be grandfathered into on the old CBA’s entry level contract system and therefore could not get as big of a contract if he doesn’t sign with Phoenix and Phoenix only. If the Coyotes and Wheeler cannot come to terms on a contract, the Coyotes will be compensated with the 35th pick in this year’s entry draft.

Of course, all this confusing speculation is likely moot because he will most likely sign with Phoenix in the next couple weeks.