It’s Monday and it’s time for another edition of NHL rumours. Today’s version features Alberta very prominently as we talk Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames. We also give an update on whether or not NHL players will take part in the 2022 Winter Olympics.
All NHL Rumours are taken from the original source and are subject to change.
NHL Rumours
Edmonton Oilers
Rumour: Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman talks about a new contract for Ryan Nugent-Hopkins hitting a snag on Oilers Now with Bob Stauffer.
Plenty of thoughts on Scheifele's suspension and Oilers Now Trivia, courtesy @ProAmSports, on today's show with @Bob_Stauffer!
12:35 @FriedgeHNIC
1:05 @SportsnetSpec for @thehorsesab
1:35 @EdmontonJack⏰ 12-2 p.m. MT
☎️&📲 780-496-0063
📻 @630CHED
🎧⬇️https://t.co/ZpLTPykYIc— Oilers Now with Bob Stauffer (@OilersNow) June 4, 2021
Analysis: RNH is one of the few players that does give secondary scoring to the club. He’s been a 20-goal scorer four times and netted 16 this season. However, his time in Edmonton may be ending.
Friedman reported that the team and Nugent-Hopkins were close to deal, but it fell apart for some reason. The former top pick of the 2011 NHL Draft currently makes $6 million, but his contract expires at the end of the season. It looked like Nugent-Hopkins was set to stay, but Friedman doesn’t know what will happen next.
If RNH walks then Edmonton would accrue that cap space. There is also a possibility that Mikko Koskinen gets bought out in the off-season. If the Oilers cut both players loose, they would have room to look into some cheaper options. Friedman added it may not be the end of the world if RNH walks. However, the two sides could find their way back to a deal. This is a situation that’s hard to gauge.
Calgary Flames
Rumour: The Athletic’s Hailey Salvian broke down what Andrew Mangiapane‘s next contract might look like.
Analysis: Mangiapane is coming off a great regular season with 18 goals and 32 points in 56 games. He led the team in even-strength goals with 15 and 5-on-5 points with 33. The Toronto native also earned a gold medal with Team Canada and was the MVP at the IIHF World Championships.
The 25-year-old did hold out in 2019 and tried to cash in with a prove-it contract. However, he only scored eight goals that season. He did avoid arbitration the next season with a two-year deal worth $2.425 million. Now, Mangiapane has broken out and looks to be in line for a big raise.
He’s still arbitration-eligible after the end of next season, but Flames fans are hoping this round of negotiations go a little smoother. Salvian said that Mangianpane’s next deal could be between $3.5-4.5 million per season. Evolving Hockey has the deal falling at the higher end of the spectrum ($4.49 million) using its contract projections tool.
Calgary will prioritize a new deal for the left-winger and make sure he’s at least signed for the next few seasons. He’s a vital part of the lineup on a Flames team looking to bounce back into the post-season.
Olympics
Rum0ur: We go back to Friedman for the final rumour, as the NHL, IOC and IIHF are inching closer to an agreement for the 2022 Games.
Analysis: Things are moving slowly due to the IOC having to deal with the postponed Tokyo Games and trying to get through that. There’s plenty of uncertainty and other headaches they are dealing with which may be putting the Winter Games on the backburner.
The NHL would have liked to have gotten an agreement done by the end of May in order to get their schedule started; they need to know if they have to put in a long Olympic break as they’ve done in other seasons where NHLers have participated. However, the deadline seems to be more of a soft one and they’re giving the IOC and IIHF plenty of space.
Friedman added that the IIHF and NHL officials did have some talks in Riga during the Worlds. Progress has been made and a deal will hopefully be done soon.
