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NHL Rumours: Vancouver Canucks, Pittsburgh Pengiuns, Chicago Blackhawks

NHL Rumours

It’s time to start your work week with a fresh dose of NHL rumours. General Managers have decisions to make regarding coaches and players alike. Can the two sides meet each other halfway to get a deal done in these three cases? Today’s NHL rumours focus on the Vancouver Canucks, Pittsburgh Penguins and Chicago Blackhawks.

All NHL rumours come from the original source and are subject to change.

NHL Rumours

Vancouver Canucks

Rumour: The Athletic’s Thomas Drance on the Donnie and Dhali Show to discuss Bruce Boudreau‘s future behind the bench.

Analysis: The Canucks were mathematically eliminated from Stanley Cup Playoff contention after a loss to the Calgary Flames. However, there’s no denying that Vancouver was a whole new team under “BBQ Bruce.” The team ran out of steam and couldn’t dig out of the early-season hole it got put into.

Drance went on to say there’s hope Boudreau will stay on with the club for next season. General Manager Patrik Allvin and Jim Rutherford want to try to bring Boudreau back behind the bench. Things may have been different had Canucks’ management pulled the trigger on a coaching change sooner.

Boudreau also seemed to have a good relationship with the Canucks’ fan base. He’s earned himself another coaching gig, but whether it’s in Vancouver or not will be the main thing.

Pittsburgh Penguins

Rumour: TSN’s Darren Dreger looked into the negotiations between impending free agents Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang. This happened on the latest edition of Insider Trading.

Analysis: The Penguins have some interesting choices to make regarding their free agents this off-season. Malkin has previously stated that he’s “got plenty of money” and may be inclined to take less money to keep the core together. Bryan Rust, Casey DeSmith and Rickard Rakell are both unrestricted free agents along with Letang and Malkin.

The Penguins and Letang have been talking throughout the season with hopes the deal gets done. Pittsburgh and Letang’s camp want to focus on the season, but there’s a connection between the two sides. Letang has 67 points, which is the most since the 2015-16 season. He may have just celebrated his 35th birthday on Sunday, but there seems to be plenty in the tank.

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Rust has been a key contributor and Rakell has done well since coming over from the Anaheim Ducks at the trade deadline. DeSmith will likely fetch some interest from teams in the goalie market. He’s filled in nicely for Tristan Jarry since the latter’s injury.

Chicago Blackhawks

Rumour: It’s another day and another Blackhawks forward rumour from Mark Lazerus of The Athletic. Today’s edition deals with where Tyler Johnson will fit on the rebuild with Chicago.

Analysis: Dylan Strome was the focus on one most recent pieces from The Athletic scribe. This was part of the Sunday edition of NHL rumours. Strome seems to have an ally in Patrick Kane, who wants him to return to the club next season.

Johnson is the focus of the rumour mill this time around and he wants to be part of the rebuild. The Spokane, Wash. native was a fixture of the perennial contending Tampa Bay Lightning. He’s only scored three goals and got three assists in 27 games this season, but wants to be part of the team.

He still has two more years and $5 million left on his deal that also has a modified no-trade clause. It’s been an odd season as Johnson has not been consistently in the lineup like he was with the Lightning. However, he could still serve as a mentor to the young core that will be tasked with pulling the weight for Chicago in the future.

However, General Manager Kyle Davidson could move the $5 million salary off the books and get something for him. Johnson may still have some value to a team and get some assets back in return.

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