{"id":75771,"date":"2020-05-21T08:30:51","date_gmt":"2020-05-21T12:30:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonhockey.com\/?p=75771"},"modified":"2020-12-21T14:49:23","modified_gmt":"2020-12-21T19:49:23","slug":"nhl-rumours-montreal-canadiens-toronto-maple-leafs-new-jersey-devils","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2020\/05\/21\/nhl-rumours-montreal-canadiens-toronto-maple-leafs-new-jersey-devils\/","title":{"rendered":"NHL Rumours: Montreal Canadiens, Toronto Maple Leafs and More"},"content":{"rendered":"

Welcome back to another edition of NHL Rumours<\/a> from the crew at Last Word on Hockey. While the status of the current season is still up in the air, general managers around the league are still hard at work prepping for the 2020-21 season. Today, we will focus on NHL rumours from the Montreal Canadiens<\/a>, Toronto Maple Leafs<\/a> and the New Jersey Devils<\/a>.<\/p>\n

All NHL Rumours come from their original source and are subject to change.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

NHL Rumours<\/h2>\n

Montreal Canadiens<\/h3>\n

Rumour: In the most recent Canadiens Mailbag<\/a> segment, Eric Engels was asked if the idea of Montreal extending an offer sheet to Tampa Bay Lightning<\/a> defenceman Mikhail Sergachev<\/a><\/strong> was realistic.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

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In his latest Canadiens Mailbag, @EricEngels<\/a> explores the possibility of a Mikhail Sergachev offer sheet, playoffs\/play-in scenarios vs. draft lottery positioning and the potential of an off-season trade with the Avalanche.https:\/\/t.co\/87mTJ7dfSt<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 20, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Analysis: Boy would this be a huge move by Marc Bergevin<\/a><\/strong>. Bergevin has shown he is not afraid to use the offer sheet option, as he used the offer sheet to sign Carolina Hurricanes<\/a> forward Sebastian Aho<\/a><\/strong> last summer. However, it was matched and Aho remains a member of the Hurricanes. So here we are again. Bergevin once again has plenty of cap space and could take advantage of a team that does not. Tampa Bay is certainly one of those teams. They currently have over $76 million spent on just 15 players. So if Tampa Bay wants to hold onto Sergachev, they’re going to have to move some pieces.<\/p>\n

There’s a couple of things to consider here, however. One, Marc Bergevin would need to make the offer stronger than the one he made for Aho. As Engels mentions, Bergevin will need to be prepared to make an offer in the $8 million range. This also means he needs to be willing to part with the compensation of a first, second and third-round pick if Tampa Bay does not match.<\/p>\n

Two, Marc Bergevin traded Mikhail Sergachev. And Sergachev never got the news<\/a> from Bergevin. Sergachev said he found out he was traded from a fan after they messaged him on Twitter saying “good luck in Tampa”. This frustrated and shocked Sergachev, although he says his phone did not work where he was located so Bergevin could not get a hold of him. Would Sergachev have any animosity towards the Habs and Bergevin for trading him? In which case, would he even sign an offer sheet from them?<\/p>\n

It’s an interesting target. As the Habs could certainly use the young promising left-shot defenceman. A left-side featuring Sergachev and Alexander Romanov<\/strong> would be scary moving forward for the Canadiens.<\/p>\n

Toronto Maple Leafs<\/h3>\n

Rumour: In the most recent Maple Leafs Mailbag, Luke Fox was asked what Kyle Clifford<\/a><\/strong>‘s next deal could look like.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

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Maple Leafs Mailbag: Will Soo connection help Toronto land Matt Murray? Trade Marner for Heiskanen? Most elaborate dressing room prank? Kyle Clifford’s next contract? Why did I underestimate the Oilers? https:\/\/t.co\/3NwffZmCeW<\/a> #LeafsForever<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/wBkzRWGi0h<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 luke fox (@lukefoxjukebox) May 18, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n