Hello and welcome to the Tuesday edition of NHL Rumours. Fans continue to wait around the world for hockey to return. A subtle reminder to folks out there that the Stanley Cup Playoffs would have just started last week. But alas we sit waiting and wondering if the coolest game on Earth returns for us to see. Even though there are no games being played, we here at the Last Word on Hockey will continue to bring the best analysis and news regarding rumours involving your favourite teams. Today’s NHL rumours feature the Boston Bruins and New York Islanders.
NHL Rumours
NHL Bruins
Rumour: The first of three NHL rumours comes to us via Matt Porter of the Boston Globe. Porter writes about how Boston Bruins defenceman Kevan Miller will not be able to return if there is a season but the team will entertain the idea of bringing him back on a more team-friendly deal.
To clarify: Shouldn't have worded it that strongly. Sides will discuss (obv., given unfortunate run of injuries, Miller wouldn't be at current $2.5M number).
Sweeney: “We’ll entertain the opportunity to bring Kevan back. He will also entertain whether he wants to come back."
— Matt Porter (@mattyports) April 10, 2020
Analysis: It might be best for the Bruins to move on Miller. The often injured defenceman has not played a game for the Bruins this entire season. Miller has played in 70 games once in six seasons with the Bruins. He last played in a game for the Bruins back on April 4, 2019, when he fractured his kneecap against the Minnesota Wild. While Miler had been skating on his own prior to the NHL suspending its season, general manager Don Sweeney felt it was in the best interest for him not and try to play this season. If the team were to bring Miller back they want him 100 percent healthy. However, there is fear if he tried to give it a go this year, he might have a set-back.
While the door remains open for both parties to sign an extension, clearly the Bruins have options on the back-end if they let Miller walk during free agency. During the 2019 off-season, the Bruins signed young defenceman Connor Clifton and Jeremy Lauzon to long-term, team-friendly money deals. These two players have been in the mix, and are showing signs of progressing in their development. The longer Miller sits, the longer he continues to be out of the mix, which will only hurt him. However, if Miller is not re-signed it will be a shame because he is a warrior and is the definition of what a Bruins player should be.
Boston Bruins #2
Rumour: Staying with the Bruins, Joe McDonald of The Athletic writes about how the time off could hinder Bruins captain Zdeno Chara‘s ability to play longer.
Will this time away help or hinder Zdeno Chara's ability to play longer? New from @TheAthleticBOS https://t.co/VD9w5LbJEl
— Joe McDonald (@JoeyMacHockey) April 10, 2020
Analysis: Bruins captain Zdeno Chara is getting up there in age. Currently, he is 43 years old and still anchors the Bruins defence. It was always a joke around the Bruins, who would last longer, Chara or Tom Brady. While Tom Brady is down in Tampa Bay, Chara remains in Boston. Clearly he is not the same player he was from five years ago. His speed and mobility are decreasing. The longer he is away from the game, the tougher it could be for him to come back for many more seasons. With not much access to training facilities, a guy like Chara will need more time to get up to speed. However, then again having time off could help him heal old wounds. This will make him fresher for seasons down the road as the Bruins tend to make deep playoff runs.
The approach the Bruins are going to take with Chara is similar to the contract he signed last season, which was a one-year deal. However, Chara is not the priority, Torey Krug is. The Bruins will have to do everything in their power to make sure Krug is a Bruin and then work on Chara. And when the time comes for Chara to sign a new deal, he will do what is best for the team, so the Bruins can have continued success.
New York Islanders
Rumour: According to Igor Eronko of Sports Express tweeted on Sunday that Ilya Sorokin plans on signing with the New York Islanders once his contracts expire on April 30.
Long awaited in New York G Ilya Sorokin refused to sign an extension with CSKA and is set to sign with the #Isles right after his current contract expires (April 30)
— Igor Eronko (@IgorEronko) April 12, 2020
Analysis: As reported last week, the CSKA Moscow was going to make a lucrative offer to Sorokin to have him stay in the KHL. However, he rejected it on the weekend. Not only does Sorokin want to play in the NHL so do the Islanders. He knows he is ready to play in the NHL. Not to mention his friend Igor Shesterkin is playing in the NHL with the New York Rangers. These two joked about how they will battle to determine who the King of New York really is.
Sorokin is the best goalie prospect had in years. With Sorokin signing a one-year deal, that means he will be alongside another fellow Russian Semyon Varlamov. Varlamov signed a four-year deal with the Islanders this past offseason. Sorokin is the future for the Islanders, but having a suitable backup like Varlamov is necessary. That means Thomas Greiss is on the way out. Greiss has been solid for the Islanders, but Sorokin is coming over for a reason. He has the goods to be an NHL ready goalie now. It appears the Islanders do not want to go down the same route the Rangers did with Shesterkin, Alexandar Georgiev and Henrik Lundqvist.
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