It’s time for another round of NHL rumours to start your week. Things are really starting to heat up with the NHL Draft and the start of free agency coming up. There have already been a few deals on Saturday, but there are probably more coming. The Los Angeles Kings and Buffalo Sabres are two younger teams that are showing plenty of promise. They’re trying to add some more key pieces to their respective rosters.
All NHL rumours come from the original source and are subject to change.
NHL Rumours
Los Angeles Kings
Rumour: The Athletic’s Murat Ates said the Kings are in the mix to land Winnipeg Jets forward Pierre-Luc Dubois.
Today is PLD's 25th birthday. He delivered No. 1C results for half a season, fell off in a bad way from mid-Jan to late March, then ramped it up leading up to a great G1. That was as good as it got.
Still expect a trade before the draft. Still believe LA is a very good bet.
— Murat Ates (@WPGMurat) June 24, 2023
Analysis: Ates said that Dubois is likely to get dealt before the NHL Draft on Wednesday and Thursday. The Athletic writer also said that the Jets winger going to the Kings is “a very good bet.” Dubois is one of a number of players that are likely heading out of Winnipeg. Both Connor Hellebuyck and are probably going to be traded. Blake Wheeler may also be dealt or get a buyout pretty soon.
Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff will probably want some sort of return before he deals PLD. There a couple of names Ates mentions in his article and they are Gabriel Vilardi and Alex Iafallo. The Kings would have to send one of those talented players back to the Jets to make the cap numbers work. It seems like Quinton Byfield is probably untouchable and won’t be part of the trade.
There seems to be a fire sale coming to Winnipeg, but Cheveldayoff can get some good players and picks in return. The trades of Dubois and Hellebuyck are going to be very important in Cheveldayoff’s reign. Trading Sean Durzi has given the Kings some space, but let’s see if that’s enough to get the Kings some room.
Buffalo Sabres
Rumour: Bill Hoppe of The Buffalo Hockey Beat said the Sabres are working on extensions for key defencemen Rasmus Dahlin and Owen Power.
"There was an excitement from both of them and a clear message to me that they both want to be here long-term."#Buffalo #Sabres notes on:
— Upcoming contract extensions for Rasmus Dahlin and Owen Power
— Kevyn Adams' confidence in his goalies
— Morehttps://t.co/UUT9429Px6— Bill Hoppe (@BillHoppeNHL) June 23, 2023
Analysis: There’s a lot of promise in the Buffalo roster with some talented young players. General manager Kevyn Adams also has a decent amount of salary cap space to work with. Adams addressed the media and said extending his two young defenders is a top priority. There have been rumblings that Dahlin is going to fetch an extension of eight years and around $10 million per season. Power’s deal may not be as lucrative, but he should get a decent raise from his entry-level contract.
Dahlin and Power are both top draft picks and are going to be cornerstones on the backend. Buffalo will try to make some additions to end the sport’s longest post-season drought. Adams has done well so far, but there needs to be some additions in depth and a goalie before the team can truly contend. Getting extensions for Dahlin and Power are near the top of Adams’ list this off-season.
Main photo by: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
