The start of the NHL season is nearly a week away and that means more NHL rumours. We’re closing in on the beginning of a new hockey season, but plenty there is plenty of talk surrounding teams. Some clubs will have to make some hard roster decisions. These teams may have to put a player on waivers and hope they clear. Other teams are trying to lock up some of their players for the future. Today’s NHL rumours focus on the Montreal Canadiens and the Minnesota Wild.
All NHL rumours come from the original source and are subject to change.
NHL Rumours
Montreal Canadiens
Rumour: Darren Dreger and James Duthie of TSN discussed what Habs should do with their goaltending situation on the latest Insider Trading.
Analysis: Montreal is in a holding pattern when it comes to their netminders. There is plenty of young forward talent on the Canadiens, but the goalie question looms over the team’s head. Carey Price is probably done with his career due to his injury. This leaves a three-headed monster in net for the Canadiens. Montreal general manager Kent Hughes could try to slide goalie Cayden Primeau through waivers. This would leave Jake Allen and Samuel Montembeault in goal.
However, someone could claim Primeau and the Canadiens would lose him. There are teams that are always looking to shore up their goaltending. The Tampa Bay Lightning lost Andrei Vasilevskiy for an extended period of time and Primeau could be a good future option. Hughes probably doesn’t want to risk losing a young goalie like Primeau, so the three-goalie solution might be what the club goes with.
The situation is similar to what the Toronto Maple Leafs may face with Ilya Samsonov, Joseph Woll and Martin Jones. Carrying three goalies isn’t an ideal situation, but it may be the only one for the time being for Montreal.
Minnesota Wild
Rumour: Michael Russo of The Athletic said that getting a new Ryan Hartman contract done is a high priority.
Ryan Hartman said Bill Guerin met with him, Mats Zuccarello and Marcus Foligno on the same day earlier in camp to discuss their futures. All 3 made it clear they want to stay and build something special here. So far, Zuccarello/Foligno got done and his is in the works (1/2)
— Michael Russo (@RussoHockey) October 1, 2023
Analysis: The Wild and general manager Bill Guerin have been busy locking up some key players. Mats Zuccarello and Marcus Foligno each got new contracts and Hartman seems to be next in line. Russo said that Hartman wants to stay in the fold in the Twin Cities. The trio made it clear that they feel something special is in the air with the Wild.
One problem is the dead money that the Zach Parise and Ryan Suter buyouts loom are eating a decent chunk out of the team’s salary cap. There should be some more cap room coming at the end of the season. However, no one knows how much money the number will go up by. The contracts for Marc-Andre Fleury and Alex Goligoski will also come off the books and give the team some flexibility.
Guerin and the Wild have another year of salary cap pain coming in 2024-25. However, the Wild could be a threat to land some prime time players.
Main photo by: Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports
