{"id":73175,"date":"2020-04-14T08:30:59","date_gmt":"2020-04-14T12:30:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonhockey.com\/?p=73175"},"modified":"2020-12-21T14:49:29","modified_gmt":"2020-12-21T19:49:29","slug":"nhl-rumours-boston-bruins-and-new-york-islanders","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2020\/04\/14\/nhl-rumours-boston-bruins-and-new-york-islanders\/","title":{"rendered":"NHL Rumours: Boston Bruins and New York Islanders"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Hello and welcome to the Tuesday edition of <a href=\"http:\/\/lastwordonhockey.com\/rumours\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">NHL Rumours<\/a>. Fans continue to wait around the world for hockey to return. A subtle reminder to folks out there that the Stanley Cup Playoffs would have just started last week. But alas we sit waiting and wondering if the coolest game on Earth returns for us to see. Even though there are no games being played,\u00a0we here at the Last Word on Hockey will continue to bring the best analysis and news regarding rumours involving your favourite teams. Today\u2019s NHL rumours feature the <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonhockey.com\/nhl-teams\/bruins\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Boston Bruins<\/a>\u00a0and <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonhockey.com\/nhl-teams\/islanders\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">New York Islanders<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2>NHL Rumours<\/h2>\n<h3>NHL Bruins<\/h3>\n<p><em>Rumour: The first of three NHL rumours comes to us via Matt Porter of the Boston Globe. Porter writes about how <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonhockey.com\/nhl-teams\/bruins\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Boston Bruins<\/a> defenceman <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/m\/milleke03.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Kevan Miller<\/a><\/strong> will not be able to return if there is a season but the team will entertain the idea of bringing him back on a more team-friendly deal.<br \/>\n<\/em><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">To clarify: Shouldn&#39;t have worded it that strongly. Sides will discuss (obv., given unfortunate run of injuries, Miller wouldn&#39;t be at current $2.5M number). <\/p>\n<p>Sweeney: \u201cWe\u2019ll entertain the opportunity to bring Kevan back. He will also entertain whether he wants to come back.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Matt Porter (@mattyports) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/mattyports\/status\/1248663163765239808?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">April 10, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p><em>Analysis:<\/em> It might be best for the Bruins to move on Miller. The often injured defenceman has not played a game for the Bruins this entire season. Miller has played in 70 games once in six seasons with the Bruins. He last played in a game for the Bruins back on April 4, 2019, when he fractured his kneecap against the Minnesota Wild. While Miler had been skating on his own prior to the <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonhockey.com\/2020\/03\/12\/nhl-suspends-2020-season\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">NHL suspending its season<\/a>, general manager <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/s\/sweendo01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Don Sweeney<\/a><\/strong> felt it was in the best interest for him not and try to play this season. If the team were to bring Miller back they want him 100 percent healthy. However, there is fear if he tried to give it a go this year, he might have a set-back.<\/p>\n<p>While the door remains open for both parties to sign an extension, clearly the Bruins have options on the back-end if they let Miller walk during free agency. During the 2019 off-season, the Bruins signed young defenceman <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/c\/cliftco01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Connor Clifton<\/a><\/strong> and <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/l\/lauzoje01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Jeremy Lauzon<\/a><\/strong> to long-term, team-friendly money deals. These two players have been in the mix, and are showing signs of progressing in their development. The longer Miller sits, the longer he continues to be out of the mix, which will only hurt him. However, if Miller is not re-signed it will be a shame because he is a warrior and is the definition of what a Bruins player should be.<\/p>\n<h3>Boston Bruins #2<\/h3>\n<p><em>Rumour: Staying with the Bruins, Joe McDonald of The Athletic writes about how the time off could hinder Bruins captain <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/c\/charazd01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Zdeno Chara<\/a><\/strong>&#8216;s ability to play longer.<\/em><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Will this time away help or hinder Zdeno Chara&#39;s ability to play longer? New from <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/TheAthleticBOS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">@TheAthleticBOS<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/VD9w5LbJEl\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">https:\/\/t.co\/VD9w5LbJEl<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Joe McDonald (@JoeyMacHockey) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/JoeyMacHockey\/status\/1248695049610825729?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">April 10, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p><em>Analysis:<\/em> Bruins captain Zdeno Chara is getting up there in age. Currently, he is 43 years old and still anchors the Bruins defence. It was always a joke around the Bruins, who would last longer, Chara or Tom Brady. While Tom Brady is down in Tampa Bay, Chara remains in Boston. Clearly he is not the same player he was from five years ago. His speed and mobility are decreasing. The longer he is away from the game, the tougher it could be for him to come back for many more seasons. With not much access to training facilities, a guy like Chara will need more time to get up to speed. However, then again having time off could help him heal old wounds. This will make him fresher for seasons down the road as the Bruins tend to make deep playoff runs.<\/p>\n<p>The approach the Bruins are going to take with Chara is similar to the contract he signed last season, which was a one-year deal. However, Chara is not the priority, <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/k\/krugto01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Torey Krug<\/a><\/strong> is. <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonhockey.com\/2020\/04\/08\/nhl-rumours-boston-bruins-pittsburgh-penguins-florida-panthers\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">The Bruins will have to do everything in their power to make sure Krug is a Bruin<\/a> and then work on Chara. And when the time comes for Chara to sign a new deal, he will do what is best for the team, so the Bruins can have continued success.<\/p>\n<h3>New York Islanders<\/h3>\n<p><em>Rumour: According to Igor Eronko of Sports Express tweeted on Sunday that <strong>Ilya Sorokin<\/strong> plans on signing with the <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonhockey.com\/nhl-teams\/islanders\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">New York Islanders<\/a> once his contracts expire on April 30.<\/em><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Long awaited in New York G Ilya Sorokin refused to sign an extension with CSKA and is set to sign with the <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/Isles?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">#Isles<\/a> right after his current contract expires (April 30)<\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Igor Eronko (@IgorEronko) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/IgorEronko\/status\/1249363199620796416?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">April 12, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p><em>Analysis:<\/em> As reported last week, the CSKA Moscow was going to make a lucrative offer to Sorokin to have him stay in the KHL. However, he rejected it on the weekend. Not only does Sorokin want to play in the NHL so do the Islanders. He knows he is ready to play in the NHL. Not to mention his friend <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/s\/shestig01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Igor Shesterkin<\/a><\/strong> is playing in the NHL with the <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonhockey.com\/nhl-teams\/rangers\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">New York Rangers.<\/a> These two joked about how they will battle to determine who the King of New York really is.<\/p>\n<p>Sorokin is the best goalie prospect had in years. With Sorokin signing a one-year deal, that means he will be alongside another fellow Russian <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/v\/varlasi01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Semyon Varlamov<\/a><\/strong>. Varlamov signed a <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonhockey.com\/2019\/07\/01\/semyon-varlamov-signs-with\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">four-year deal with the Islanders<\/a> this past offseason. Sorokin is the future for the Islanders, but having a suitable backup like Varlamov is necessary. That means <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/g\/greisth01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>Thomas<\/strong> <strong>Greiss<\/strong><\/a> is on the way out. Greiss has been solid for the Islanders, but Sorokin is coming over for a reason. He has the goods to be an NHL ready goalie now. It appears the Islanders do not want to go down the same route the Rangers did with Shesterkin, <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/g\/georgal01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Alexandar Georgiev<\/a><\/strong> and <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/l\/lundqhe01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Henrik Lundqvist<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>Main Photo:<br \/>\n<a id=\"2cuL2tibSz9nzla66SbEMQ\" class=\"gie-single\" style=\"color: #a7a7a7; text-decoration: none; font-weight: normal !important; border: none; display: inline-block;\" href=\"http:\/\/www.gettyimages.ca\/detail\/1208821142\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Embed from Getty Images<\/a><script>window.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'2cuL2tibSz9nzla66SbEMQ',sig:'Fro_10_roafgZickfuNBMaPZaeonp6Kg_U3CkE7M-AM=',w:'594px',h:'396px',items:'1208821142',caption: true ,tld:'ca',is360: false })});<\/script><script src='\/\/embed-cdn.gettyimages.com\/widgets.js' charset='utf-8' async><\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Hello and welcome to the Tuesday edition of NHL Rumours. Fans continue to wait around the world for hockey to return. A subtle reminder to folks out there that the Stanley Cup Playoffs would have just started last week. But alas we sit waiting and wondering if the coolest game on Earth returns for us [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3130,"featured_media":73210,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[5,2,17,4321],"tags":[90,1999,372,4035,2300,2917,491,5715,3877,4150,1198,1535,179],"class_list":["post-73175","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-bruins","category-featured","category-islanders","category-rumours","tag-boston-bruins","tag-don-sweeney","tag-henrik-lundqvist","tag-igor-shesterkin","tag-ilya-sorokin","tag-kevan-miller","tag-new-york-islanders","tag-nhl-rumors","tag-nhl-rumours","tag-rumours","tag-semyon-varlamov","tag-torey-krug","tag-zdeno-chara"],"modified_by":"Dan Mount, Editor","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/73175","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3130"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=73175"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/73175\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/73210"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=73175"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=73175"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=73175"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}