It’s time for another batch of our NHL rumours on this Tuesday. We’re a week into the regular season, but plenty of teams are trying to make moves. General managers are trying to plan for future seasons or kickstart slow starts to the season. Today’s NHL rumours swirl around the St. Louis Blues, Jesse Puljujarvi and the Vancouer Canucks.
All NHL rumours are taken from original source and are subject to change.
NHL Rumours
St. Louis Blues
Rumour: Jamie Rivers of ESPN 101’s Stalter and Rivers show said that the Blues and team captain Alex Pietrangelo are close to inking an extension. Previous rumours have stated that the deal could be eight years at $8.25 million per season. That’s the same money that the Arizona Coyotes paid defenceman Oliver Ekman-Larsson.
Sportnet’s Elliotte Friedman added that 29-year-old’s agent were supposed to meet with general manager Doug Armstrong ahead of Monday’s game at the Toronto Maple Leafs. Pietrangelo’s representation is from Newport and may have laid the groundwork of a new deal with the team.
I’m feeling like a deal could be announced today regarding a Pietrangelo Extension with the @StLouisBlues. Once again I know that I may be guzzling too many @budlight but my Spidey sense is tingling. #stlblues @StalterRivers pic.twitter.com/8gO40l9E4M
— Jamie Rivers (@JamieRivers08) October 7, 2019
Analysis: Armstrong and Pietrangelo have a great rapport with each other and want to continue the relationship. The Blues are the only NHL organization that Pietrangelo has been a part of since he was drafted fourth overall in the 2008 NHL Draft.
St. Louis seems to be getting a head start on the next summer’s free agency as they re-signed Brayden Schenn before he hit the open market. Pietrangelo would have gotten substantial offers had he listened to other team’s offers. However, it looks like the 6-foot-3, 210-pound defender is going to give the Blues a hometown discount.
The Blues are going to have to figure out a way to re-sign impending free agent Vince Dunn in the coming off-season. Dunn has played well in his tenure with the team and should be a due a nice raise. St. Louis is going to have to get creative in clearing space. Justin Faulk signed a new contract for seven years after coming over in a trade. The team would love to lock down Dunn, but Armstrong will have to do some work.
Jesse Puljujarvi
Rumour: Allan Mitchell of The Athletic (subscription required) speculated on potential landing spots for exiled Finnish winger Jesse Puljujarvi. Mitchell went on to add that the Anaheim Ducks, Carolina Hurricanes, Winnipeg Jets, Tampa Bay Lightning and the St. Louis Blues could be good fits for the disenfranchised forward.
Puljujarvi is playing in Finland for Karpat while he waits for the Edmonton Oilers to find him a new home.
The Teams
Analysis: Puljujarvi is doing well in the SM-Liiga with three goals and five assists in the first nine games. He even added a game-winner in Saturday’s game. The young forward has always been full of offensive potential. However, he has not been able to secure a full-time role in the Oilers’ lineup.
Anaheim would love to get their hands on a playmaker like Puljujarvi. Nick Ritchie has been a healthy scratch for coach Dallas Eakins and may be a bargaining chip. Ritchie’s deal runs through the 2020-21 season and has a cap hit of just under $1.5 million. He may not be an ideal fit with Edmonton with new general manager Ken Holland seeking speed.
Carolina has been linked to the Finn for a while since he’s teamed with countryman Sebastian Aho in international play. The Hurricanes do a good job of using advanced stats to go after potential targets. General manager Don Waddell might be able to get Puljujarvi for less than previously thought about. Could forward Julien Gauthier be something the Oilers get in return?
The Jets may have to wait until they find out what happens with Dustin Byfuglien before making a move. Winnipeg is without Bryan Little and has been using a variety of centres, including Mark Scheifele, Andrew Copp, Adam Lowry, Mark Letestu or Jack Roslovic. Puljujarvi isn’t a centre but could be used on the wing. Roslovic might be the odd man out and could be trade fodder.
Tampa Bay has plenty of prospects in Syracuse of the AHL, including Alex Barre-Boulet and OHL prospect Taylor Raddysh. He played with Connor McDavid in 2014-15 in Erie. The Lightning would love to stockpile another low-cost depth winger like Puljujarvi.
St. Louis has done reclamation projects like Nail Yakupov and Magnus Paajarvi in the past. Armstrong might be intriqued on getting another low-cost depth forward with loads of potential. The article speculated that Klim Kostin could be someone the Oilers would look at as a return.
Vancouver Canucks
Rumour: Elliotte Friedman said on Sportsnet 960 in Calgary that the Canucks have “kicked the tires on” Florida Panthers defenceman Mark Pysyk. The New Jersey Devils are also looking at the veteran defenceman.
Freidman’s latest 31 Thoughts column had the Devils in the mix for the Sherwood Park, Alberta native.
Mark Pysyk has heard the trade rumors, but says he “likes it here” and that it is a good time to “be a Panther.” He’s back in the lineup Tuesday after being scratched in the first two games. https://t.co/CHVd31FLva
— George Richards (@GeorgeRichards) October 7, 2019
Analysis: Vancouver is in the market for another blue-liner after sending Alex Biega to the Detroit Red Wings late on Sunday night. Biega had been a seventh defenceman for the club and was fighting for a spot in the lineup.
Pysyk has yet to appear this season for the Panthers after being a healthy scratch. He’s been playing on the left side even though he is a right-handed shooter. His contract is $2.73 million and the Panthers would love to get that deal off the books for a guy that’s a bottom pair defender.
Pysyk is an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season and could be some interesting trade bait. He did tell George Richards of The Athletic that “he likes it here” in Florida. However, he will be in the lineup tonight against the Hurricanes.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – JUNE 12: Alex Pietrangelo #27 of the St. Louis Blues celebrates his first period goal with Alexander Steen #20 against the Boston Bruins in Game Seven of the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Final at TD Garden on June 12, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
