{"id":52513,"date":"2019-07-25T08:30:20","date_gmt":"2019-07-25T12:30:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/?p=52513"},"modified":"2020-12-21T15:06:35","modified_gmt":"2020-12-21T20:06:35","slug":"nhl-rumours-winnipeg","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2019\/07\/25\/nhl-rumours-winnipeg\/","title":{"rendered":"NHL Rumours: Winnipeg Jets, Montreal Canadiens, Vancouver Canucks, and Washington Capitals"},"content":{"rendered":"

We\u2019re in the middle of summer, but we still have plenty of NHL\u00a0<\/span>rumours<\/span>\u00a0to check out. Teams are trying to figure out their salary cap situations and see what they can get at a discount. Today we examine\u00a0<\/span>rumours<\/span>\u00a0surrounding the\u00a0Winnipeg Jets<\/a>,\u00a0Montreal Canadiens<\/a>, Vancouver Canucks<\/a>, and Florida Panthers<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

NHL Rumours<\/span><\/h2>\n

Winnipeg Jets<\/span><\/h3>\n

Rumour:<\/em>\u00a0We start off NHL Rumours with Ken Wiebe of The Winnipeg Sun stating that Andrew Copp<\/strong><\/a>‘s new deal<\/a> could mean the Jets may need to make some cost-cutting moves<\/a> to re-sign both Patrik Laine<\/strong><\/a> and Kyle Connor<\/strong><\/a>. He also stated he doesn’t expect a buyout of Dmitry Kulikov<\/strong><\/a> to do this but rather possibly a trade like the Joel Armia<\/strong><\/a> and Steve Mason<\/strong><\/a> one last season. Lastly, he mentioned both Laine and Connor’s contract talks could extend deep into the summer.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0Analysis<\/em>: It would make sense that the Jets would look to move some money off the books. The question is, who and what would it cost? One of the ways teams win the Stanley Cup is by having solid depth that contributes to the big games. Cap teams often find themselves trading this away for space for the big players but also then find they need the assets later on.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Jets have a tricky situation because lots of their roster is still very good or young. A contract like Bryan Little<\/strong><\/a>‘s will need to be moved likely at some point. However, given the recency of the extension it wouldn’t make sense it’d be this season. Mathieu Perreault<\/strong><\/a> is an under-valued player on a good contract but someone like him may have to go.<\/p>\n

Making room for the big young players will be key and the Jets will need both of them to play their best next year if they wish to return to the Western Conference Finals.<\/p>\n

Montreal Canadiens<\/h3>\n

Rumour<\/em>:\u00a0Yvon Pedneault of TVA Sport’s reported on speculations about the Habs<\/a> and Patrick Laine. He said that a trade is very unlikely and there may have not been much talk at all. However, if there were to be something started Max Domi<\/strong><\/a> would be a rumoured piece going the other way.<\/p>\n

Analysis<\/em>: It seems that the Canadiens may just be kicking the tires around the league. This is totally fair and part of the job for general manager Marc Bergevin<\/strong>. The Habs already tried to offer sheet Sebastian Aho<\/strong><\/a> and still have lots of cap space left. This cap space could allow them to try and pursue another young star on a capped out team.<\/p>\n

Whether this is via offer sheet or trade, they would have the space to sign a long-term deal and make them part of the future. With so many young players unsigned still look for the Habs name to keep popping up in these rumours.<\/p>\n

Vancouver Canucks<\/h3>\n

Rumour<\/em>: Luke Fox of Sportsnet reports that<\/a> multiple teams are interested in former Canucks defenceman Ben Hutton<\/strong><\/a>. We lump him in here because it’s plausible Vancouver could be one of those teams.<\/p>\n

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Quick Shifts: Why the Canucks can’t calculate benefit of signing Mats Sundin | Roberto Luongo’s bizarre captaincy explained | Multiple teams waiting for Ben Hutton | Pete DeBoer’s text to Joe Pavelski + 8 more NHL things https:\/\/t.co\/foJ93mRisa<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/jhqfnymgrX<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 luke fox (@lukefoxjukebox) July 22, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n