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NHL Rumours: Chicago Blackhawks, Buffalo Sabres, Edmonton Oilers and More

NHL Rumours

We’re less than 10 days away from the start of the regular season. There are still NHL rumours to be had despite plenty of restricted free agents signing contracts. Training camp battles are coming down to the wire and we could see some roster shuffling. Today we have NHL rumours on the New Jersey Devils, Chicago Blackhawks, Buffalo Sabres and Edmonton Oilers.

All NHL rumours are taken from the original source and are subject to change.

NHL Rumours

New Jersey Devils

Rumour: Are the Devils and former Hart Trophy winner Taylor Hall making traction on a new deal? TSN’s Insider Trading segment said that Hall’s agent Darren Ferris met with Devils general manager Ray Shero over the weekend. Darren Dreger said progress may have been made between the two sides.

Dreger added that Hall has liked the moves Shero has made in the off-season, including the deals for P.K. Subban and Nikita Gusev. He said Hall has been pleased with how professional the team has been in addressing some of the problem areas and a deal could get done sooner rather than later.

Analysis: Shero would do well to prevent Hall from hitting the open market because former league MVP would command top dollar. Hall currently gets $6 million per season in salary. The Devils missed Hall last season due to injury and it showed in the standings.

Shero has been busy this off-season and the Devils are a sexy pick to make some noise in the Metropolitan Division and in the Eastern Conference. The Calgary native wanted to wait and see what the New Jersey GM would do and he’s delivered a much-improved squad. The moves may be enough to keep Hall at The Rock for a while.

There are still be some negotiations left to do, but Hall seems to be open committing to the Devils.

Chicago Blackhawks

Rumour: Scott Powers of The Athletic (Subscription required) speculated on the upcoming contract negotiations between emerging star Alex DeBrincat and the team. The 21-year-old said he hopes for easy negotiations, but understands why young RFAs are standing their ground.

He said he sees both sides of the story, but wants to be out on the ice and not sitting at home for the start of next year’s training camp. DeBrincat becomes a restricted free agent at the end of the coming season.

Analysis: The Farmington Hills, Mich. native has plenty of types of deals to work from depending on what he wants. He and agent Jeff Jackson will wait to see what other contracts from remaining RFAs Kyle Connor, Patrik Laine and Matthew Tkachuk for comparable numbers.

DeBrincat could get a bridge deal similar to what Brock Boeser got from the Vancouver Canucks. The impending collective bargaining agreement may have RFAs take shorter terms to score big money. Players like Boeser, Brayden Point and others counting on more TV money.

The young Blackhawks forward could opt for the security of a longer-term like William Nylander, Mitch Marner and David Pastrnak did. All left some money on the table, but they got a longer deal that secured more money upfront. They won’t have to sweat coming with big seasons three or four years from now.

General manager Stan Bowman will have some decisions to make but will have some space after deciding between goalies Robin Lehner or Corey Crawford. That money and a hopefully bigger cap number will go towards keeping DeBrincat in the Windy City.

Buffalo Sabres

Rumour: Paul Hamilton of WGR 550 in Buffalo said that the Sabres are experimenting with Marcus Johansson at the second centre spot. The Swede hasn’t played centre in a couple of seasons but is fine with the move. He’s been on a line with fellow countryman Victor Olofsson.

If the move works, it could mean that Casey Mittelstadt might be going to AHL Rochester. The young Minnesotan struggled at the second pivot spot and could gain confidence with the Americans.

Analysis: Sabres fans may be hesitant to see another winger get moved to the centre position. Some will remember the failed Ville Leino experiment from a few seasons back. That moved was against Leino’s wishes, but Johansson seems to be agreeable to it.

He knows there will be some tough nights at the circle, but he’s willing to work at getting his team first crack at possession. According to Hamilton, Johansson won 8 out of 20 draws. Johansson will have to keep up a solid 200-foot game as there is much more to centre than just winning draws.

Mittelstadt might be the odd man out and the Sabres would send him down to get his bearings. He’s had a slow start to the pre-season and he knows he has to play better. A roster spot could be depending on it. He mightly struggled last season after expectations were set very high due to his solid final year in College.

Edmonton Oilers

Rumour: Allan Mitchell of The Athletic (subscription required) said that Matt Benning could be a moveable asset. General manager Ken Holland would love to improve the third-line centre spot and Benning could help get that for Edmonton.

Analysis: The Oilers right side of the future seems to be set with options like Joel Persson, Ethan Bear and Evan Bouchard. That means Benning could be the odd man out due to his RFA status and slow start to the pre-season. Holland may decide to show patience and wait for the right offer.

Benning’s cap hit would be easy to digest at $1.9 million for the upcoming season. That kind of number for a defenceman that may be on the second pair is enticing. He’s been fairly solid at all three phases of the game.

The Oilers defensive core seems set with Oscar Klefbom, Adam Larsson and Darnell Nurse. The emergence of Persson may squeeze out Benning and force a deal. However, Holland won’t be hasty and they’ll be patient.

New head coach Dave Tippett will likely put Benning on the third pair for now and hope Benning can give some good bottom-pair minutes. Benning showed plenty of promise before suffering an injury in Feb. 2017.

Main Photo:

NEWARK, NEW JERSEY – NOVEMBER 21: Taylor Hall #9 of the New Jersey Devils takes the puck in the second period against the Montreal Canadiens at Prudential Center on November 21, 2018 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

Dan Mount, Editor

Dan Mount, Editor

Longtime sportswriter for the Watertown Daily Times. I have covered minor league and NCAA hockey in women's Division I and men's Division III. Also produce the nationally-syndicated Spadora on Sports radio show.

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