It’s time for another edition of NHL rumours to start your Tuesday. The Stanley Cup Playoffs may be soon, but general managers are already thinking about the off-season. Executives would love to keep certain players, but the flat cap era is going to make things a lot more difficult. Today’s NHL rumours focus on the Calgary Flames, Philadelphia Flyers and Minnesota Wild.
All NHL rumours come from the original source and are subject to change.
NHL Rumours
Calgary Flames
Rumour: TSN’s Darren Dreger looked at if the Flames can keep Matthew Tkachuk and Johnny Gaudreau next season.
Analysis: Dreger added there’s going to have to be some magical maneuvering to keep both players in Alberta. Tkachuk is a restricted free agent while Gaudreau is an unrestricted free agent. Both are going to get a lot of attention and will likely get a big contract number.
[pickup_prop id=”22632″]
Things have been great for Calgary and the team has a legit shot of making a deep post-season run. However, the questions about “what next” will happen as soon as the off-season starts. If General Manager Brad Treliving wants to keep both, it’s going to be very much like the Toronto Maple Leafs with their top-heavy contracts.
Tkachuk and Gaudreau combined would likely be $20 million for the pair. There could be a chance at a hometown discount, but things won’t be known until negotiations start. Dreger stressed that an hones negotiation will hopefully let all sides know where they stand.
Philadelphia Flyers
Rumour: Anthony DiMarco of The Fourth Period addresses if Ryan Ellis will be part of the team’s plans.
Ellis’ Future Up in the Air https://t.co/pmwc6t1tvP
— The Fourth Period (@TFP) April 22, 2022
Analysis: It’s been a season to forget for Ellis since he got traded in the off-season. Ellis thought he’d be a key cog on the Flyers’ defence, but injuries have gotten in the way. The Hamilton, Ontario native has only played in four games this season due to a variety of ailments. He’s had problems with his hips, groin and abdominal muscles.
The 31-year-old is a talented blueliner when healthy and was a big part of the Nashville Predators success. However, it’s not been the same in Philadelphia and he’s staring surgery right in the face. Ellis has been trying to avoid surgery, but it might be unavoidable.
General Manager Chuck Fletcher is planning an aggressive retool and one wonders if Ellis is going to be part of that. He’s got $6.25 million per year left on his deal for the next five seasons. His contract would be extremely hard to move if Ellis doesn’t want to stay with the club. His status will determine what direction the retool is going to go.
Minnesota Wild
Rumour: NBC Sports’ Adam Gretz looked at what Kevin Fiala is going to command this off-season. He also looks at who might have to move to accommodate the Swiss scorer.
The Minnesota Wild have to find a way to keep Kevin Fiala. https://t.co/1COZOTI0ai | @NBCSportsHockey
— Adam Gretz (@AGretz) April 23, 2022
Analysis: The Wild are going to have some major salary cap issues with the salary cap buyout penalties. Minnesota is going to have $12 million in dead cap space due to buying out Zach Parise and Ryan Suter. This is going to hamstring the Wild’s ability to keep their exciting young team together. Goalie Marc-Andre Fleury has recently expressed a desire to play one more season.
Projections have Fiala making over $5 million when his contract come up at the end of the season. The Wild have $8 million left in space this off-season and only 17 players under contract. Some pieces are going to have to move if the Wild want to keep Fiala.
Names like Jordan Greenway, Tyson Jost and Marcus Foligno could be on the block. However, the Wild could clear plenty of space by dealing blueliners like Mathew Dumba and Jonas Brodin. Both defencemen make $6 million a season and that would free up some space to sign some more pieces.
