We’re back with our NHL rumours after a small holiday break. Teams are trying to decide if they want to make some deals to stay a contender or rebuild. Some hard decisions are going to be made at the trade deadline or in the off-season. Today is another West Coast bias edition of NHL rumours. We have items on the Vancouver Canucks, Edmonton Oilers and San Jose Sharks.
All NHL rumours come from the original source and are subject to change.
NHL Rumours
Vancouver Canucks
Rumour: Luke Fox of Sportsnet said the Canucks will re-work their core and Brock Boeser may be the odd man out in his Bold Predictions.
More 2022 @NHL Bold Predictions from our writers. ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/RFWVGkWPVt
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) December 27, 2021
Analysis: There’s still a lot to decide as Vancouver has yet to find a new general manager. Jim Rutherford is serving in an interim capacity but has plenty of input on what roster moves are made. Both J.T. Miller and Bo Horvat will be unrestricted free agents at the end of the season. Thatcher Demko, Conor Garland and Quinn Hughes are all locked up long-term, so something will come to a head.
Vancouver also has to find deals for Elias Pettersson and Vasily Podkolzin in the next couple of seasons. The Canucks will hopefully get some small bumps in the salary cap, but it likely won’t be enough for them to keep everyone. Miller could be traded at the deadline to free up some space, but it will still be hard to fit in Boeser.
The former North Dakota product is owed a $7.5 million qualifying offer at the end of the season. Rutherford and whoever assumes the GM may have to depart with a key player.
Edmonton Oilers
Rumour: Daniel Nugent-Bowman of The Athletic took a look at what Jesse Puljujarvi might command for his next contract in a recent mailbag.
It’s a Festivus mailbag!
Jesse Puljujarvi’s next contract? Expectations for Dylan Holloway? Trading for Evander Kane? … And more.
via @TheAthletic https://t.co/9V4kQwvZeT
— Daniel Nugent-Bowman (@DNBsports) December 23, 2021
Analysis: General manager Ken Holland said the Oilers are already tight against the cap going into the offseason. Edmonton has given big money to Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl and that doesn’t leave much for the rest. The Oilers also have needs at defence and in the goal that they need to address.
Holland usually likes to give younger players a bridge deal to buy some more time and salary-cap space. Edmonton has $75.3 million committed to 17 players next season and the young Finn will be expecting a raise. Both sides have said they’ll wait until the season is over to talk a new deal. This is what Puljujarvi’s camp wants to hear because it’ll give him a chance to beef up his numbers.
The player known as “the Bison King” can’t become a UFA until after the 2024-25 season. Pierre-Luc Dubois and Matthew Tkachuk are comparables that draw $5 million and $7 million, respectively. He should get paid as long as they don’t punt it down the road with a bridge deal.
San Jose Sharks
Rumour: Curtis Pashelka of the San Jose Mercury-News said there may be some reluctance to deal Tomas Hertl at the deadline.
Five keys for the #SJSharks to staying in playoff hunt over the next five weeks https://t.co/Y2p6Snlod7 via @mercnews
— Curtis Pashelka (@CurtisPashelka) December 25, 2021
Analysis: The Sharks have cooled off after a hot start, but they’re six points out of a playoff spot. San Jose will likely have 36 games left after the All-Star Break, but time will be limited to make a run.
Hertl is in the final year of a $5.62 million contract and he would be a good asset for San Jose to get something in return. He is a former 30-goal scorer and can add some speed to a top-six of any lineup.
However, the Sharks may want to have one final run with the group they have. However, they’ll need to start getting wins and points sooner rather than later. A bad start after the pause may force San Jose to deal him a cup favourite.
