118 replies to this topic

[Dark Knight]

Moderator note: old rumors thread archived here


Malone to Columbus? -- TSN

[ladiesandgentlemen]

Malone to Columbus? -- TSN

I just read this over at Kuklas:

Nick Kypreos was just on Fan590 in Toronto and stated Ryan Malone has been telling people that Columbus, along with Toronto is one of the teams he does not want to play for. Nick feels Columbus is just trying to show an effort to sign a player.

Take it as you wish....

The Columbus Dispatch reported Tuesday the Blue Jackets could strike a deal with the Penguins to acquire Malone's rights for possibly a second- or third-round draft pick.

Those plans now appear to be dashed because the Blue Jackets will not deal a draft pick to the Penguins unless Malone provides a guarantee he will sign with Columbus... Link

Rumors swirling...

[TroyLoney]

Malone has since come out and said that Columbus would be wise NOT to trade for his rights and that he is going to enter UFA. <LINK>

[Dark Knight]

Look for plenty of trades leading up to the draft -- TSN

[Dark Knight]

Sundin to Montreal? -- TSN

[Still MIGHTY]

Russian League to Offer Malkin Big-Money Contract -- TSN

According to a report in the Toronto Star, the Russian teams are prepared to offer the Russian-born Malkin a contract that would make him the highest-paid hockey player in the world. The multi-year contract would be worth at least $12.5 million tax free per season, or the equivalent of $15 million per year in the NHL.

"Hey, we can afford to pay more than the NHL right now," a high-ranking executive with the Russian league, called the Continental League, told the Star. "Our economy is commodities-based so we're not going through the same problems that you have in America."

[DropThePuck]

With the free-agent market set to open at noon tomorrow, Jaromir Jagr, an enigmatic Czech superstar, said he wants to play in the NHL for two more years, but remains unsure whether that will be with the New York Rangers, which increasingly seems unlikely.

If no other NHL team steps up, playing in Russia remains an option.

<link>

[DropThePuck]

The whisper among NHL executives is Murray was busy working the phones yesterday with offers on the table for Sharks defenceman Kyle McLaren and Ducks blueliner Mathieu Schneider.

Though neither team wants much more than a draft pick in return, it might make sense for the Senators to deal for McLaren because the 31-year-old blueliner is much more affordable at $2.5 million (all terms US) next season, after which he could become an unrestricted free agent. Schneider, 39, is set to make $5.75 million next season, and then could also become a UFA.

<link>

[432j]

<link>

I'd be fine if they traded for Kyle. That would get him out of the division to start the season.

When he goes down with his annual season-ending injury, then the Sens can trade for Mat.

[ladiesandgentlemen]

I'd be fine if they traded for Kyle. That would get him out of the division to start the season.

When he goes down with his annual season-ending injury, then the Sens can trade for Mat.

They would just be going from one pylon to another pylon in blowing off Commodore and pursuing McLaren (albeit nice guys).

Since they need some spunk in Ottawa, Derian Hatcher would be a better fit. I'm sure Philadelphia would be down with that.

[Dark Knight]

The Read More >> that Sundin will play for the NYR.

If that comes to pass in the next couple of week, we may just have the first domino fall regarding other trades and signings.

[ladiesandgentlemen]

The Read More >> that Sundin will play for the NYR.

If that comes to pass in the next couple of week, we may just have the first domino fall regarding other trades and signings.

I'm hoping for the domino to tip over, but here's the denial:

Mats Sundin's agent is denying a report in the New York Post that says his client wants to join the Rangers.

The newspaper article says well-connected sources have stated that Sundin has expressed his interest in playing for the Blueshirts. The Post report went on to say that Sundin's agent, J.P. Barry has been in constant communication with front-office personnel from the Rangers.

When contacted by TSN, Barry denied there have been any increased discussions with the Rangers. He told TSN that he has spoken to both the Rangers and Philadelphia Flyers but also has had long discussions with Maple Leafs general manager Cliff Fletcher and Vancouver Canucks general manager Mike Gillis. Barry said there are six teams interested in Sundin's services for next season.

Barry also said his client has not made a decision on playing this coming season... TSN link

[2forroughing]

Still nothing!!!

[DropThePuck]

Montreal Canadiens president Pierre Boivin can see an end in sight for the Mats Sundin drama.

"He's playing in a charity game (Friday) in Toronto and I can't see him facing the media there without some decision on his future," Boivin said before teeing off in the Canadiens' annual golf tournament.
...
The latest rumour is that Sundin wants to delay his return until the second half of the season and play the entire 2009-10 season with an international swan song at the Vancouver Olympics.

<link>

[Dark Knight]

...I can't see him facing the media there without some decision on his future"

I guess he never watched Scott's pressers from last year

[DropThePuck]

With NHL training camps opening soon and the start of the 2008-09 season less than a month away, here's a look at the players from each team whose names could soon appear in this season's trade rumor mill.

Minnesota Wild: Marian Gaborik. Management doesn't want to lose him after this season to free agency and are currently in talks with Gaborik for a new contract. But they also acknowledge the possibility of examining trade options should those talks reach an impasse. Expect a significant bidding war if the Wild put Gaborik on the trade block.

<the rest of the teams listed here>

[DropThePuck]

Grist for the rumor mill ...

Notable potential UFA players next summer include Anaheim's Scott Niedermayer, Calgary's Mike Cammalleri, Chicago's Martin Havlat, Dallas' Sergei Zubov, Detroit's Marian Hossa and Henrik Zetterberg, Florida's Jay Bouwmeester, Minnesota's Marian Gaborik, Montreal's Alex Kovalev, Saku Koivu, Alex Tanguay and Mike Komisarek, New Jersey's John Madden and Brian Gionta, St. Louis' Keith Tkachuk and Vancouver's Sedin twins.

Next summer's crop of RFA players include Staal, his younger brother, Pittsburgh's Jordan Staal, Buffalo's Jason Pominville, Colorado's Paul Stastny, LA's Anze Kopitar and Jack Johnson, Montreal's Tomas Plekanec and Chris Higgins, San Jose's Ryane Clowe, Boston's Phil Kessel, Atlanta's Tobias Enstrom, Minnesota's Josh Harding and Vancouver's Alexander Edler.

Given this recent trend, it wouldn't be surprising if most of the aforementioned were locked into deals over the course of the upcoming NHL season.

<link>

[2forroughing]

Do you mean the "I've decided that I haven't made any decision" pressers?

[DropThePuck]

Even the soap opera that was the Toronto Maple Leafs proved entertaining in a train-wreck sort of way.

So now, after a 111-day off-season, training camps for the 2008-09 season are about to get under way. The four teams that will open the season in Europe in the fall (Pittsburgh, the Ottawa Senators, New York Rangers and Tampa Bay Lightning) will start early next week; the rest of the league will follow on Friday. What's new? What's worth monitoring? Lots, but no storylines are more compelling than these 10.

<link>

[ladiesandgentlemen]

Wild may be forced to trade Gaborik

If the Minnesota Wild don't want to give winger Marian Gaborik more than Sidney Crosby or Evgeni Malkin ($8.7 million a year) in a seven- or eight-year extension, they could always consider trading a star for a star.

Here's one wildcat trade possibility: Gaborik to Pittsburgh for Malkin because the Penguins are very weak on the wing.

That would be akin to Dany Heatley for Marian Hossa, pretty rare stuff in this league where quality usually gets dealt for quantity.

The Penguins could put Jordan Staal in the No. 2 centre spot for his size, and and Gaborik might be willing to forgo unrestricted free agency next July to take the same $8.7 million Crosby's getting just to play with the Pittsburgh captain.

If Gaborik can score 40 goals in Minnesota without a star playmaker, he might get 60 with Crosby. Read more->

Interesting.

[ladiesandgentlemen]

The Philadelphia Daily News combined the rumours to have the Flyers moving D Randy Jones and Lupul to Florida for Bouwmeester.

TSN

I can see this happening.

[TecKaHoLiC]

sucks for Loops!

[DucksFan2035]

thats interesting. that would suck for Lups since he wouldn't have much to work with here in Fl besides Weiss and Booth.

[Dark Knight]

Unless someone pulls a rabbit out of the hat at the last minute, Mats Sundin will be, by the end of this week, either a Vancouver Canuck or a New York Ranger.

Read More >>

[DropThePuck]

The Sundin countdown continues ...

Contrary to published reports, sources close to Mats Sundin say he intends on sticking to his original plan - making a decision on where to resume his career before Christmas.

<link>