It’s time for another edition of NHL rumours. We’re getting ready for the start of the second round of the 2024 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs. On the other hand, there are a number of teams that have some decisions to make. This is just about players as executives are also trying to figure out what’s going on with their coaching situations. Today’s NHL rumours focus on two teams that faced off against each other in the opening round. We take a look at the Carolina Hurricanes and New York Islanders in this edition.
All NHL rumours come from the original source and are subject to change.
NHL Rumours
Carolina Hurricanes
Rumour: Multiple insiders weighed in on the on-going contract extension talks involving Head Coach Rod Brind’Amour.
Analysis: Brind’Amour has his contract end at the completion of the current 2023-24 season. He’s been one of the reasons that the Hurricanes year after year, have been a Stanley Cup contender. Carolina management and ownership are trying to prevent the former Canes player from hitting the open market. There are a number of teams that would love to have the highly-regarded coach behind the bench.
Seattle Kraken General Manager and former Canes GM Ron Francis has a coaching opening after firing Dave Hakstol. Francis would probably love to reunite with Brind’Amour in the Pacific Northwest. In contrast, Carolina owner Tom Dundon and General Manager Don Waddell are both hoping to wrap things up.
NHL.com Canes correspondent Walt Ruff said that Brind’Amour and Waddell have had positive talks in the last couple of days. Carolina’s head coach said he’s not concerned about current contract negotiations.
TSN’s Darren Dreger was on TSN 1050 and said that Brind’Amour would prefer to stay in Raleigh. However, Dreger did state that the Hurricanes head coach is willing to test the market to see if he and his staff can get a good payday. Brind’Amour would fetch a nice salary wherever he goes, but there’s some time before the heat really turns up this offseason.
New York Islanders
Rumour: NHL.com Islanders reporter Stefan Rosner speculated on the future of veteran forward Matt Martin with the club.
#Isles Matt Martin:
“The retirement narrative wasn’t something I started.”
Said he wants to play next season and wants to play here.
— Stefen Rosner (@stefen_rosner) May 3, 2024
Analysis: Martin is an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season and was making $1.5 million. Both him and Cal Clutterbuck have had rumours about their retirements swirl in recent weeks. However, it seems that both players want to continue with their respective NHL careers. It also seems that both players want to stay in Long Island.
Martin said “the retirement narrative wasn’t something I started” and wants to play for the Islanders. The 34-year-old has had a long career and there might be some questions with him and other veterans like Clutterbuck. Islanders General Manager Lou Lamoriello does have decisions to make this offseason. There are a number of restricted free agents like Oliver Wahlstrom, Simon Holmstrom, and others that need new contracts. The Islanders might want to go younger at certain positions, but there’s no substitute for veteran experience. Both Martin and Clutterbuck give that experience and the pair also have an edge to their game.
The veteran pair are staples of the bottom part of the lineup and do plenty of the defensive dirty work for the team. New York did make gains when it switched to Patrick Roy as the team’s head coach. The Islanders were left for dead at the midway point of the season, but Roy hit the right notes in getting the team third in the Metropolitan Division.
Lamoriello does have long relationships with players like Martin and Clutterbuck. Both would likely come back at a low cap number and give the team a veteran voice in the locker room. The ball is Lamoriello’s court with July 1 coming.
Main photo by: Danny Wild – USA Today Sports
