We’ve got more NHL rumours for you as we close in on the start of a very busy week. We’re just days away from the NHL Draft and the start of the free agency period. Teams are making moves to extend players or make some big deals. However, teams are up against it with the draft on Wednesday. The Vegas Golden Knights are coming off winning a Stanley Cup while the Ottawa Senators are looking to get back into the post-season. This edition of NHL rumours focuses on those two teams.
All NHL rumours come from the original source and are subject to change.
NHL Rumours
Vegas Golden Knights
Rumour: Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman said the Golden Knights and goalie Adin Hill are close to agreeing on a short-term contract.
Some other stuff today: sounds like Stanley Cup champion Adin Hill is looking at an extension in Vegas around the 2x$4.9M range. Nothing official yet, though.
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) June 25, 2023
Analysis: Hill was set to be an unrestricted free agent on July 1. However, the Cup-winning netminder might not get to the open market. The Sportsnet insider said that Hill is closing on an extension of around $5 million for the next two seasons. Vegas general manager Kelly McCrimmon is looking to reward Hill for him being a vital cog in winning the Stanley Cup.
Hill has been a journeyman goalie for most of his career, but has found a home with the Knights. Vegas does have other goalies like Laurent Brossoit and Logan Thompson, but both were injured last season. Jonathan Quick and Robin Lehner are also on the roster, but Quick is likely gone and Lehner is out for the foreseeable future. Brossoit and Quick are both UFAs like Hill, but there’s a feeling both won’t be back next season.
Vegas does want to see if it can bring back Ivan Barbashev, but the money may not be there. The Golden Knights do seem like a good destination for players that want to be on a contender. Locking up Hill will help the team stay in the mix.
Ottawa Senators
Rumour: The Fourth Period’s David Pagnotta speculates on the Alex DeBrincat trade situation.
Ottawa continues discussions with multiple clubs about Alex DeBrincat. The #GoSensGo could get into the first-round and bring back a 1st as part of a deal, but it’s not a prerequisite for every team they’re talking to. Wings own picks 9 & 17 overall and remain in the mix for him
— David Pagnotta (@TheFourthPeriod) June 25, 2023
Analysis: Pagnotta said the Senators have been engaged with multiple teams in dealing the restricted free agent forward. However, nothing has come about as of yet. Ottawa would love to get back into the first round of a very loaded draft. The Senators don’t pick until the 108th selection in the fourth round.
Ottawa is trying to trade DeBrincat because the team isn’t likely to sign the RFA. The Senators are trying to get something in return for the team’s troubles. Ottawa gambled in getting DeBrincat, but it couldn’t turn that into a Stanley Cup Playoff appearance. The Senators thought they would be further along, but things didn’t work out last season.
There’s been speculation that DeBrincat wants to go to Detroit. The Detroit Red Wings have two first-round picks, but they may not be willing to part with those selections. It’s likely that DeBrincat gets traded, but Senators general manager Pierre Dorion wants to get a great return for the young sniper.
Main photo by: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
