It’s time for some more NHL rumours. We’re now into the off-season and we’ve got plenty to sift through. The Vegas Golden Knights are the Stanley Cup champions, but the other teams want that championship. There’s plenty of chatter surrounding the 31 other teams that didn’t hoist the Cup. Teams are trying to figure out their respective futures and see if they’re championship contenders or rebuilding. Today’s NHL rumours look at the latest surrounding the Vancouver Canucks and Philadelphia Flyers.
All NHL Rumours come from the original source and are subject to change.
NHL Rumours
Vancouver Canucks
Rumour: The Athletic’s Harman Dayal looked at the 10 biggest offseason questions. One of those was about the future of Canucks forward Elias Pettersson.
The NHL’s 10 biggest offseason questions — Elias Pettersson’s big decision, Leafs changes, potential star trades and more:https://t.co/LIGneu7XJo
— Harman Dayal (@harmandayal2) June 15, 2023
The Swedish sniper can sign an extension after July 1, but there are questions on if he’ll commit to the team long-term. Both Pettersson and Auston Matthews will become free agents at the end of the next season. However, the cases are a little different.
Matthews will be an unrestricted free agent if he hits the open market. Pettersson will be a restricted free agent and the Canucks will have a little more control over the player. However, he would only be a year away from becoming a UFA. He could do what Matthew Tkachuk did by forcing a trade if he says he won’t return.
Petterson’s agent is J.P. Barry, who got David Pastrnak that massive contract. Pastrnak waited until the middle of the season in order to sign his mega-deal and Pettersson could do the same. The Canucks star could wait to see the team’s direction before committing long-term. Vancouver is hoping Pettersson will sign a long-term deal, but a mid-range deal might be in the offing.
Philadelphia Flyers
Rumour: Elliotte Friedman stated that the Flyers are listening to offers for Scott Laughton. This was during the Headlines segment on Hockey Night in Canada during Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final.
Analysis: Friedman said that teams have asked about the Oakville, Ontario native as the Flyers are going into a massive rebuild. New general manager Daniel Briere has already traded Ivan Provorov this off-season. However, Briere may not be done making moves. Earlier NHL rumours pieces this week had Carter Hart and Travis Konecny as possible trade candidates.
The Fourth Period’s Anthony Di Marco reported that the Flyers have turned down offers of late first-round picks for Laughton. Philadelphia values the 29-year-old centre very highly. Laughton may get traded eventually, but it looks like the Flyers will get plenty in return.
Main photo by: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
