It’s time for a second helping of NHL rumours for your Sunday. There’s plenty going on in the world of hockey, so we’ve an extra edition of NHL rumours. We’re almost at the end of the Stanley Cup Playoffs and the buzz starts picking up. Today’s set of NHL rumours focus on the Colorado Avalanche, Ottawa Senators and San Jose Sharks.
All NHL rumours come from the original source and are subject to change. We also want to wish our readers a Happy Father’s Day.
NHL Rumours
Colorado Avalanche
Rumour: Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman said that Valeri Nichushkin will be a priority for the Avalanche this off-season.
Previously-unsung hero Valeri Nichushkin could be in line for a big pay raise with the Avalanche — or someone else — this summer.https://t.co/gB2G5Mk07y
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) June 19, 2022
Analysis: Nichushkin has proven himself to be a valuable commodity for a star-studded Colorado squad. The Russian has come alive and has three goals and four points in the first two games of the Stanley Cup Final.
Nichushkin has come pretty cheap for the team, but those days will end when he becomes an unrestricted free agent. The 27-year-old makes $850,000 and he’s in line for a big pay raise. However, the Avalanche have said that Nichushkin will be a top target this coming off-season.
Colorado does have some decisions to make as Nazem Kardi is also looking to parlay his strong season into a fat new contract. It’s unlikely that both Kadri and Nichushkin will stay unless general manager Joe Sakic can weave some salary cap magic.
Whatever the case, Nichushkin will get himself a nice new deal in Denver or elsewhere. Friedman did state that it’s likely that Nichushkin will stay in Colorado.
Ottawa Senators
Rumour: Let’s stay with Freidman and he said that the Senators will have to decide the future of Connor Brown.
Analysis: Brown will be a UFA at the end of the 2022-23 season and he makes $3.6 million. There’s a feeling that Brown will want to test the free agent market next off-season and the Sens don’t want to lose him for nothing.
Brown is a two-time 20-goal scorer and would be a valuable to a team that needs a depth forward. The 28-year-old only scored 10 goals in 64 games last season. He’s shown flashes of being a solid scorer, but he’s been in and out of the lineup.
Ottawa is trying to make some forward progress after general manager Pierre Dorion infamously said the rebuild was over. It’s put up or shut up time for the Senators and for Brown in the same breath. The Senators do have some solid young players and some cap space, but the on-ice product needs to be much better if they want to move forward.
San Jose Sharks
Rumour: The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun said the Sharks have whittled down their list of general manager candidates. LeBrun stated the list is down to four or five names.
Rumblings ! Updates on Trotz, Petry, DeBrincat and more ⤵️
via @TheAthletic https://t.co/xzIVMppCY7
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) June 17, 2022
Analysis: San Jose is trying to find the replacement for longtime general manager Doug Wilson. The team hopes to have its new GM in place before the start of the NHL Draft and free agency in early July. However, the team isn’t going to rush anything and will be thorough in their hiring process.
LeBrun added that of the four or five names that only two have previous experience as a general manager. San Jose could be going in a new direction as it figures out its path forward. The Sharks are in this middle area where they have talented players, but missed the post-season.
Whoever gets the job is going to have to make some big decisions. Is it time for a teardown that will have a possible long rebuild? Will the new GM be able to sign Timo Meier at the end of next season and figure out the goaltending situation? The new general manager will have to hit the ground running.
