We’re just days away from the start of the draft and free agency, but the NHL rumours are flowing. The 2020 off-season is going to be nothing like we’ve ever seen in history. We have NHL rumours on the Dallas Stars, Minnesota Wild and a training camp start date for 2020-21.
All NHL rumours come from the original source and are subject to change.
NHL Rumours
Dallas Stars
Rumour: Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic said the Stars have informed Anton Khudobin’s camp the team would love him back.
The Stars have informed Anton Khubodin's camp they want to keep him around. Easier said than done, of course. That plus another whirl around the NHL goalie carousel one week before free agency in my weekend Rumblings:https://t.co/vus1DatmJt
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) October 2, 2020
Analysis: LeBrun’s tweet also stated that re-signing the Russian netminder is going to be easier said than done. However, Khudobin and his camp do want to return to the club after his deep Stanley Cup post-season run.
He’ll surely get a raise from his salary of $586,667 over the last three seasons. However, one wonders how long the Stars will get the 34-year-old goalie for a term. Goalies can last a little longer than on-ice players, but age will be a concern.
Khudobin’s re-signing won’t spell the end of Ben Bishop’s tenure in the Lone Star State. Bishop still has three years and a $4.91 million average cap hit. However, Dallas wants to keep their goalie tandem together. There’s plenty of speculation that next season will have a compressed schedule and it could be all goalies on deck. Some teams may even have three goalies if injuries are factored into everything.
Minnesota Wild
Rumour: Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman said that talks between the Wild and San Jose Sharks involving goalie Devan Dubnyk are picking up steam. San Jose Hockey Now added that Minnesota general manager Bill Guerin is looking for a first-round pick.
https://twitter.com/FriedgeHNIC/status/1312203036291330050
Analysis: The Sharks want cover for Martin Jones, who has been shaky over the last couple of seasons. However, there are goalies like Henrik Lundqvist on the market and Frederik Andersen may be available via trade.
Dubnyk struggled last season and carries a cap hit of $4,333,333. The Regina, Saskatchewan native went 12-15-2 with an .890 save percentage and 3.35 goals-against-average. He lost his starting job to Alex Stalock and the Wild have AHL goalie of the year Kaapo Kahkonen waiting in the wings.
Veteran reporter Michael Russo of The Athletic added that Ryan Donato could be part of any deal that sends Dubnyk to the Sharks. Donato has yet to find his way with either the Boston Bruins and the Wild. However, he could be a sneaky-good acquisition.
2020-21 Training Camp
Rumour: Seth Rorabaugh of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review was told by Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Tristan Jarry to be prepared for a November 15 training camp.
Tristan Jarry indicated he and his teammates have been told to prepare for training camp to start on Nov. 15.
— Seth Rorabaugh (@SethRorabaugh) October 3, 2020
Analysis: This is the first sign that the NHL season could be starting sooner rather than later. However, there’s still plenty to be sorted out. There are still plenty of concerns surrounding carrying out a season during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The NFL is dealing with their own outbreak that has postponed a pair of games for Week 4. Plenty of fallout may still happen in regards to the schedule. Major League Baseball and college football has also dealt with similar outbreaks.
There are also concerns how Canadian teams will get games in for the season. The league could have a Canadian division of seven teams while the U.S.-Canadian border remains closed. It could be similar to what Major League Soccer did with the Canadian squads.
