The Stanley Cup is officially complete. The Vegas Golden Knights captured the Stanley Cup and are planning the parade. However, the off-season is in full swing. The buzz around the league is starting to come to light. Today we focus on NHL rumours involving the Los Angeles Kings and New Jersey Devils.
NHL Rumours
Los Angeles Kings
Rumour: Sammi Silber from The Hockey News discusses a Tom Wilson trade.
The Washington Capitals are one team to watch for. Even though they did not make the playoffs, the club will opt not to rebuild. As long as Alex Ovechkin is chasing Wayne Gretzky and playing at a high level, the team will continue to go for it all. However, one player could be on their way out. The Los Angeles Kings have poked around and kicked the tires on a Tom Wilson trade. Wilson has one year remaining before he becomes a free agent.
After returning from an ACL injury, his second half-season surge turned heads. Wilson finished the year with 13 goals and nine assists. In only 33 games played, he was an effective player in his return. Wilson is an effective player using his size to his advantage. He is your prototypical power forward that can produce.
Making a trade would be a challenge. Los Angeles currently has $7 million in cap space. It would be enough to fit Wilson in, but money would need to go out. The club needs to shore up its goaltending.
New Jersey Devils
Rumour: Frank Seravelli from Daily Faceoff discusses potential candidates to not be qualified.
One player that could not be qualified is goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood. It makes total sense for Tom Fitzgerald to not go this route. Blackwood’s qualifying offer is $3 million. Given his health and sustaining injuries, qualifying for that much is a lot to ask.
Blackwood had a promising start to his career, but it has been downhill since then. Last season was abysmal for all goalies for the Devils, but particularly for Blackwood. He posted a .892 save percentage and a -12.7 goals saved above expected. Fast forward a season and things got better for him, but injuries derailed his season. His save percentage stayed the same, but his goals saved above expected improved. The writing was on the wall with the emergence of Akira Schmid. Schmid stepped in countless times when Blackwood was hurt. In fact, when Vitek Vanecek slipped up in the playoffs, Schmid was the goalie they turned to.
With Schmid being locked in at a cheaper cost, saying goodbye to Blackwood makes sense in this regard.
Main Photo: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
