Welcome to the Friday edition of NHL rumours. We still do not know when hockey will return but that doesn’t mean there isn’t news to cover. Last Word on Hockey will bring you the best news each day as it breaks. Today’s NHL rumours feature the St. Louis Blues, Edmonton Oilers and the KHL.
NHL Rumours
St. Louis Blues
Rumour: Our own Jersey Joe podcast recently featured former NHL skater Cam Janssen. It revealed that there is mutual interest in Alex Pietrangelo returning to St. Louis.
Analysis: It is sounding more and more likely that Pietrangelo returns to St. Louis. The team does have several important players to re-sign including Vince Dunn and Sammy Blais but it seems very likely that they will stop at nothing to bring back their best defenceman from 2019-20.
Pietrangelo was having an outstanding year. The 30-year-old had scored 16 goals and 52 points in 70 games before hockey operations were suspended. That was the second-most points of any pending free agent defender after Anthony DeAngelo of the New York Rangers. Pietrangelo had put himself in position to become one of the highest-paid defenders in the league thanks to his strong play in recent seasons. He will still have a cap hit greater than the $6.5 million he currently sports but it might be in the range of $8-8.5 million instead of the $9 million or more he could have commanded.
It is unfortunate that Pietrangelo might not maximize his earning potential but it is smart given the uncertainty surrounding hockey. There is no timetable to resume operations for 2019-20 and we have even less knowledge of how 2020-21 will play out. The salary cap’s increase might not be as large as players would like. Owners and the league might want a smaller cap increase to limit spending in a time where hockey is making no money. Pietrangelo and his representation may consider a hometown discount to avoid the unknown that will surround free agency this offseason.
Edmonton Oilers
Rumour: The Oilers are in pursuit of another bottom or middle-six forward after Russian target Anton Slepyshev decided to remain in Russia. This is according to Oilers beat writer Jim Matheson.
https://twitter.com/NHLbyMatty/status/1248373204030074884?s=20
Analysis: The Oilers will be looking for more cheap depth going into 2020-21. They had been targeting former Edmonton skater Anton Slepyshev but he chose to remain in the KHL. Edmonton could be letting a handful of players leave via free agency but they will look for replacements. They currently sit second in the Pacific Division and are poised for more solid results whenever play resumes.
The easiest thing for Edmonton to do would be to extend several of their current bottom-six including Gaetan Haas. Haas joined Edmonton last summer after playing in Switzerland for years. He was slow to adjust to the NHL but still contributed five goals and 10 points in 58 games. Haas could anchor the third line next year after his initial experience in North America this season.
There will still be talent even if Edmonton does not retain its pending free agents. The front office could target someone like Vladislav Namestnikov who was very good in 2019-20 playing for three teams. Someone like Jimmy Vesey or currently-injured forward Colin Wilson might also fit the Oilers need for an experienced bottom-six forward that doesn’t cost much.
KHL
Rumour: News recently came out that players in the KHL with expiring contracts are free to sign NHL deals as of now.
Analysis: Russian players would have originally needed to wait until April 30th before they could sign NHL contracts. That requirement ended when the KHL cancelled the remainder of its games due to the global pandemic. This could be a major boost to the NHL as teams seek to secure more talent for whenever play resumes.
The Toronto Maple Leafs jumped in early with Alexander Barabanov but more KHL players could come to North America for next season. The Montreal Canadiens have been linked to their 2018 draftee Alexander Romanov and Pavel Datsyuk is considering a return to the NHL as well. Datsyuk is particularly interesting. The 41-year-old is in obvious decline but still has the quickness and mental strength to carve out a new role for himself. He scored two goals and four points in four recent KHL playoff games. There might be some life for a team willing to risk a deal with the future Hall of Fame skater.
The KHL situation will be particularly interesting for Minnesota Wild fans. It might finally represent forward Kiril Kaprizov coming to North America years after he was originally drafted. The Wild originally selected Kaprizov in the fifth round of the 2015 Draft but have watched him develop under a KHL contract. Kaprizov was excellent for CSKA Moscow this season with 33 goals and 62 points in 57 games. He also scored two goals and four points in four playoff games. Kaprizov and the others are notable but there could be more international skaters that could join NHL squads this summer.
Keep your eyes peeled for the next edition of NHL Rumours coming your way.
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