The dog days of July are here, but we still have plenty of NHL trade rumours for you. There are still plenty of free agents still on the board. Not to mention all the RFAs that still have yet to sign with their respective clubs. While the news may not be that exciting this deep into July, the rumour mill is still active as the off-season marches on. We’ll try to keep you up to date with the latest rumblings around the NHL. We look at the rumours surrounding Brayden Point, Charlie McAvoy, Kyle Connor, and Rasmus Ristolainen.
All NHL rumours are taken from the original source and are subject to change.
NHL Rumours
NHL Rumours: Tampa Bay Lightning
Rumour: Joe Smith of the Athletic Tampa Bay reports there is nothing new on the Brayden Point front except. In a report Smith wrote, Point is open to wide of term, anything from a two-year bridge deal to a five-year Auston Matthews-type deal to an eight-year lockup.
Other than Brayden Point (nothing new on that front yet), the other main rostered #tblightning RFA not yet signed is Adam Erne. Erne did not file for arbitration by last week’s deadline. Am told both sides just still working on a deal. Paquette, Martel, Verhaeghe signed last week
— Joe Smith (@JoeSmithNHL) July 9, 2019
Analysis: Point like so many players on the Lightning love playing down in Tampa. Point’s loyalty was reportedly a factor in why Montreal GM Marc Bergevin decided to offer sheet Carolina’s RFA centreman, Sebastian Aho on July 1. However, the big question for the Lightning will be cap space.
Lightning GM Julien BriseBois still sees Point’s extension as a top priority. However, he like so many has to juggle the salary cap. The best thing for Point might just be a short-term bridge deal and wait until players like goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy, defenceman Mikhail Sergachev, and centre Anthony Cirelli get their new extensions next summer.
BriseBois already freed up funds by trading winger J.T. Miller to Vancouver and placing Ryan Callahan on long-term injured reserve.
Boston Bruins
Rumour: Pro Hockey Talk’s Adam Gretz speculated that Charlie McAvoy should be “in line for [a] huge contract” in one of his most recent articles. NBC Sports Boston’s Joe Haggerty believes that may be a bold statement by Gretz, citing that McAvoy’s history with injuries might keep him from getting a much-desired lucrative pay raise.
Analysis: Charlie McAvoy has been one of the Bruins best defencemen over the past couple of years. Since Ekblad signed his new contract all McAvoy has done is outpaced him offensively. If the report is true that McAvoy is looking for more than $7.5 million, that would make him the highest player on the Bruins.
After losing in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final to the St. Louis Blues, McAvoy made a point of saying how much he loved playing in Boston and wanting to be a Bruin for life.
Charlie McAvoy on his future in Boston. He is an RFA this summer: “I want to be here forever. … This is the best place on earth.”
— Conor Ryan (@ConorRyan_93) June 14, 2019
Like so many players, McAvoy’s health is a cause for concern. He has yet to play in more than 63 games in a season as he has dealt with heart and concussion issues. With defenseman Brandon Carlo also in need of a new contract and the Bruins only having $8.1 million in cap space for both something will have to give. Either McAvoy will sign a shorter-term deal or withhold his services until he gets what he wants.
Winnipeg Jets
Rumour: Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic reported that rival clubs have reached out to Kyle Connor’s camp, but that doesn’t guarantee an offer sheet is forthcoming.
Analysis: Kyle Connor has put up back to back 30 goals seasons for the Winnipeg Jets. Connor is coming off a career-high in goals (34), assists (32), and points (66). He was one of the lone bright spots for the Jets in their first-round exit to the Blues. Connor has shown he has great chemistry with on the top line with Mark Scheifele and Blake Wheeler. Connor has shown not only is he valuable on the power play but the penalty kill as well.
With Nikolaj Ehlers making a team-friendly $6 million per season, does Connor get more? Considering he is a better player Andy Strickland thinks so.
If Nikolaj Ehlers is worth $6 mill, what’s Kyle Connor worth? Better player #gojetsgo
— Andy Strickland (@andystrickland) May 3, 2019
Buffalo Sabres
Rumour: The Score.com recently published an article on five players that could still be traded this off-season and Rasmus Ristolainen‘s name was on it.
Analysis: Even as the trade winds swirl around Ristolainen, his departure out of Buffalo is merely just speculation. However, if you put the pieces together, his days with the Sabres could be numbered. The Buffalo Sabres recently went out and got themselves three more right-handed shot defencemen in Brandon Montour, Colin Miller, and Henri Jokiharju.
Ristolainen will carry a salary-cap hit of $5.4 million over the next three seasons. Considering what defenceman make, Ristolainen’s salary is pretty good for teams that are looking to upgrade defensively. While he has some flaws defensively, Ristolainen is only 24 years old. It takes defencemen a little longer to develop in the NHL than forwards. Who wouldn’t want a defenseman who scores 40-points a season? A contending team will no doubt go after his services at some point this off-season or at the trade deadline.
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