The Latest Free Agent and Trade Rumors
Michael Farkas | National Hockey League
Jun 14, 04:13 AM | Hype this story!
The San Jose Sharks and Columbus Blue Jackets may be working on a sizeable trade leading up to the draft. The trade is rumored to involve Patrick Marleau and another asset going to the Blue Jackets in exchange for winger Nikolai Zherdev and the 6th overall selection in 2008.
My thoughts: Marleau has a no-trade clause that kicks in July 1, so a move before the draft is imperative, if the Sharks want to move him. Marleau could be the center that the Blue Jackets have sorely needed for a long time now; meanwhile, Zherdev brings a ton of talent to the top-six in San Jose. The Blue Jackets will still have the 19th selection in 2008, so they have a pick to give if they want to. However, a lot of this depends on the other asset in the deal, if it’s something big like Matt Carle, it shows that Marleau’s value around the league has plummeted. If it’s something less major, like Lukas Kaspar, it shows that Marleau has good value, but should Columbus be willing to deal “Z” just as he’s starting to reach his potential, it may be a deal they regret in the not-too-distant future.
It has been rumored that Saku Koivu may finally convince his Finnish friend, Teemu Selanne, to join him with the Montreal Canadiens.
My thoughts: Two players of the same nationality, a rumor that a player is going to Montreal during the offseason, somehow, I just feel that I’ve heard this one before.
Hamilton Bulldogs (AHL) goaltender Yann Danis will test the market as an unrestricted free agent come July 1. Danis, 27, has played well for the Bulldogs over the past few years and has played in six career NHL games during his stint in the Montreal organization.
My thoughts: Statistically, Danis is coming off a disappointing season. Coupled with the fact that the goaltender market is relatively flooded at the moment, Danis might be hard-pressed to find an NHL gig right away.
Ducks grinder and goal scorer Corey Perry will be available for offer sheets come July 1st. The Ducks will be unable to sign Perry before that because the league’s new Upper Limit will not be in effect by then. Therefore, any contract that the Ducks give to Perry would put them over the 2008-09 Upper Limit and would not keep them in compliance.
My thoughts: I’m sure Brian Burke and Perry will have negotiations and get pretty close to a deal before then. However, I’m sure a couple teams might conjure up an offer sheet to throw out there just in case. Perry is a player that every team wants.
The New York Rangers and New Jersey Devils are among several teams in hot pursuit of former fifth overall selection Blake Wheeler. Wheeler may not sign a contract before July 1st, but has likely entertained a wide range of offers from willing NHL clubs. The Toronto Maple Leafs have been rumored to throw their hat in the ring as well.
My thoughts: I still wish he would have just signed with Phoenix.
Thrashers captain Bobby Holik will not return to Atlanta next season. Holik has said that the Thrashers made absolutely no attempt to sign him and that he will look forward to July 1st when a new opportunity will present itself.
My thoughts: I thought this much was to be expected. That was a bad idea by Atlanta all the way, again, expected behavior.
The Buffalo Sabres will not bring back defenseman Dmitri Kalinin and he will leave as an unrestricted free agent on July 1.
My thoughts: Kalinin played pretty poorly all season and the Sabres didn’t exactly get their money’s worth. I’m not sure, but Kalinin strikes me as someone that could be lured back to Russia with a sizeable offer.
The Islanders have made it known they will be pursuing a youth movement heavily. They will not bring back unrestricted free agents Wade Dubielewicz, Miroslav Satan, Ruslan Fedotenko or Josef Vasicek. In fact, only Dubie was offered a contract, the rest were offered a “thanks and good luck.” The Islanders won’t likely qualify Aaron Johnson (second year in a row for him) because he has arbitration rights and would likely win a one-way contract.
My thoughts: Well, once again, the Islanders will field a completely different team from one year to the next. I guess that spurs jersey sales for die-hards, right? Unfortunately, they can’t get the formula worked out to increase ticket sales or they’d be set.
The Flyers and Jeff Carter have met and are making good progress by most accounts on contract talks, but that is a stark contrast from news a couple days ago. Meanwhile, R.J. Umberger, who is engulfed in trade rumors, may not be going nearly as well or quickly. It has been rumored that the Flyers will use whichever RFA they don’t sign (likely Umberger) to grab a puck-moving defenseman such as Ryan Suter or Andrej Meszaros.
My thoughts: I’m pretty sure the Flyers deal Umberger at or just before the draft. I think Suter will re-sign (in the next 2 or 3 days in fact), but I could see an Umberger for Meszaros deal (with other parts mixed in) taking place.
Pokechecks:
While the Colorado Avalanche and goaltender Jose Theodore are likely to come to a contract before July 1st. The same can not be said for Avs winger Andrew Brunette, he will likely not be retained.
It seems as if Coyotes winger Radim Vrbata is set to test the UFA market.
The Washington Capitals and young defenseman Mike Green are still a ways apart on a new contract.
The Kings have 15 picks in this year’s draft but according to management, they only expect to use “10 or 12 of them” and use the rest to move up or trade them for 2009 picks.
Comments
Pens1967
Jun 14, 09:01 AM
If Columbus and SJ would make this deal, where do you think it would leave them with regard to Malone? Would they trade their #19
choice just for the rights to negotiate with him before 1 July?
Brandon
Jun 14, 11:09 AM
I’ve heard a rumor that Chicago wants Jarkko Ruutu as an enforcer/energy guy and to help his brother. Its a pretty far out rumor though. It doesn’t seem to make sense, at least in my brain.
Matt Bodenschatz
Jun 14, 11:30 AM
Pens1967, I wondered the same thing. I think that, at this point, they need to make a push for the now, not the four or five years from now. So I don’t think it necessarily hurts the possibility of a Malone for the 19th pick. Keep in mind, Columbus has two top-notch prospects in Brassard and Voracek, who aren’t yet in the NHL, and there are plenty of other youngsters with positive upside. Going one year without a first rounder might actually be good for that team, which seems to do a lot of youth/role playing vets, yet few talented players in their prime.
Also, keep in mind that, while Columbus has been the most heavily rumored trade partner, there has been word that least a handful of others have inquired about his services. Maybe Columbus is the front-runner because they made the best offer, or maybe it’s because they’re the most persistent at this point. As the draft draws nearer, I think it’ll be interesting to see what teams start showing an interest. It might get interesting with a slight bidding war, which could land the Pens a pick higher than the 19th Columbus supposedly has offered.
Brandon, Chicago may want Ruutu, but it’s not to play with his brother, who was traded at the deadline a few months back. I think Ruutu will be retained by the Penguins for the same salary he currently makes. He’s a good locker room guy, is a good penalty killer, does well in shootouts and is a nasty pest. In my opinion, he’s too valuable to let go.
Phil
Jun 14, 11:35 AM
Tuomo is in Carolina now. And if they get Marleau for the 6th, why not wait til July 1st to try to just sign Malone? They won’t need to trade then. I haven’t heard any other overwhelming interest in Malone other than him being a guy people would like to have. Columbus would LOVE to have him, and that’s where the rumors about the negotiating rights trade come from.
Pens1967
Jun 14, 12:15 PM
Matt, I can’t recall where I saw it, so take this with a grain of salt, but there was speculation that Ruutu would like to play with his brother.
And if the Pens are looking at trading Malone’s rights, why not do a deal with Phoenix for Marcel Hossa? He’s as big as Malone, also a LW and a year younger, plus it might be a selling point to keep Marian in Pgh.
TIM
Jun 14, 01:05 PM
I think in regards to the Marleau being traded for big Z and the 6th SJ should make that deal. I think that Marleau production is dropping off, and SJ could get a quality D man in this draft.
I hope the Pens sign Ruutuu. I agree with Matt that he is valuable at his price for all the things he does. Plus he was a monster in the first 2 rounds of the playoffs.
Matt Bodenschatz
Jun 14, 01:18 PM
Phil, I definitely see where you’re coming from, but that could be a risk for Columbus, which is a team in desperate need to win now. If they have their eyes on Malone as much as rumors are suggesting, they need to make a strong pitch to get him before July 1, because there is no good reason for a talented free agent to sign with them.
Pens1967, I think the speculation came during the time of the trade deadline when Tuomo was a rumored target of the Penguins. Jarkko said something to the effect of “It would be great to play with my brother.” He’s also been on the record as saying he loves Pittsburgh and wants to stay here, and has talked on numerous occasions about being excited to open the 2008 season in Europe, which would indicate he has no intentions of leaving. I’ve heard talks that Carolina wasn’t happy with Tuomo in his time there and that they may opt not to re-sign him, thus making him a UFA. If that happens, maybe the Pens make a push for him?
As for Phoenix, that’s quite interesting. His dad works for the organization, and it’s definitely a team on the rise. Marcel has been a disappointment most of his career, but playing with his brother might be enough to spark him. Interesting thought.
Pens1967
Jun 14, 02:33 PM
That would interesting for the Pens to have both Hossas and the Ruutu brothers.
Brandon
Jun 14, 02:38 PM
Apparently my following of the Western Conference is found to be lacking. I’m a new hockey fan, so my bad.
Matt Bodenschatz
Jun 14, 02:48 PM
Pens, that would be an interesting situation, and one I wouldn’t entirely rule out, though it would seem unlikely, as one is under contract and the other is an RFA. If they’re really into the brother scene, they could trade up somehow to draft Jared Staal too :)
Brandon, no need to apologize. There’s so much movement at and before the trade deadline that it is difficult to follow some of the lesser-name players, such as Tuomo Ruutu. Thanks for visiting FF…we try to present all information in a way that is understandable to all fans, new or longtime. We look forward to hearing your input on topics throughout the summer and next season!
Brandon
Jun 14, 03:53 PM
I like your blog a lot. I’m a native of Erie, so the updates about the Erie Otters were great, someone needs to spend a little more time on them.
Pens1967
Jun 14, 05:27 PM
Matt, I was thinking more along the lines of prying Marc Staal away from the Rangers. :)
I don’t really follow junior hockey very much, but I thought I read somewhere that Jared’s stock has slipped.
As far as Marcel Hossa, since as you’ve said, he’s mostly underachieved, why not trade him for the rights to Malone? Having Greg Malone as an employee might make signing Ryan a bit easier. Add in the fact that Phoenix has to negotiate a new deal with Marcel, who’s an RFA as you point out, and it makes sense to me from both sides. Phoenix would get a more consistent forward and the Pens would get a player who’s comparable to Malone in age, size and position probably at the same price they paid for Malone this year.
Hey, it’s my rumor and I’m sticking to it!
Michael Farkas
Jun 14, 05:43 PM
For the record, Marcel Hossa impresses me at times. He shows flashes of greatness. I remember one time he was asked why he wears 81 and his brother wears 18 was because “I’m better than him.” Of course, that didn’t end up coming true, but Marcel is a project I would take on, but I don’t know the value of Ryan’s rights. It’s somewhat unprecedented to trade a second tier free agent before his rights expire.
And Pens, Jared Staal’s stock was never high. The only reason why anyone knows who he is because of his name. He has no business going in the top 50 in this year’s draft, but something tells me he will. Hopefully the Penguins don’t buy it.
Pens1967
Jun 14, 06:03 PM
Michael, I’d see a deal of Malone’s rights for Marcel Hossa’s rights as an RFA as fairly equal value for both teams. Phoenix might not want to have to overpay (perhaps) for a player who’s been inconsistent over the years. If they feel fairly certain they can sign Malone because his dad works for them and/or because of Rick Tocchet’s presence on the coaching staff, they’d get a consistent player with proven leadership ability for a player who might have more natural skill but hasn’t played up to it. The Pens would get a talented player who might find extra
motivation playing on a line with his brother.
If Jared Staal should be available when the Pens pick at 120, would you take him?
Michael Farkas
Jun 14, 07:20 PM
Jared Staal won’t be available there, but if he is, I would consider it. But that kind of question, as I’m sure you know, doesn’t exist in a vacuum. It depends on what’s there, if a guy like Marc-Andre Bourdon is there, if a guy like Viktor Tikhonov falls there, Vyacheslav Voinov, etc. then no, I don’t think I take Staal. But if the guys that I want are gone, yeah, I guess I’d give Staal a try at ~120
Beav
Jun 14, 11:00 PM
I think Marcel Hossa is just the starting point. Why not get all the brothers together? We could roll lines like
Hossa Crosby Hossa
Staal Malkin Staal
Ruutu Staal Ruutu
Kostitsyn Lundqvist Kostitsyn
and have Lundqvist in net as well.
DS
Jun 14, 11:12 PM
I’m trying to figure out where, exactly, Conks is supposed to leave us and go cash in.
Toronto? Ottawa? please hockey gods no, Detroit? the Islanders? (this is assuming DiPietro suffers his annual injury quota…) Can’t quite see him going back to Buffalo, somehow….
It’s not a goalie’s market. There aren’t that many empty spots or even chances for much playing time, and most teams are already dealing with guys in their systems (and who could be paid less).
And for whatever’s open, guys like Huet, Theodore and even Ellis are ahead of him.
I know it only takes one team, but I’m not seeing where he’s obviously going to go.
Any thoughts?
Jean Hehn
Jun 15, 12:31 AM
Regarding Conks I wonder if there is a chance he will resign with the Pens. Then Sabu could be assigned to WBS. I thought they only kept Sabu to avoid waivers in case they did not keep Conks.
DS
Jun 15, 12:08 PM
Sabu’s not going to WBS for even more of the same reasons he didn’t go this year – 1-way contract (they’re not going to pay him NHL money to play there) and the fact that Curry and Brown are down there. He stayed up this year because they didn’t want to have to bring either one up if MAF got re-injured. It’d be kind of funny if somebody claimed him off waivers (and did us a favor) now, but can you even put someone on waivers in the offseason?
Solving the Conklin conundrum: on the other hand, if they can’t find somewhere to trade Sabourin, why is it automatically assumed Conks will be able to sign somewhere for significantly more money and more time?
I really want and think it’s the best thing for Conks to stay and I think we could fit an extra few $100k under the cap this year. But I guess that job in St. Louis is just too tempting.
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