{"id":80241,"date":"2020-07-14T08:30:31","date_gmt":"2020-07-14T12:30:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonhockey.com\/?p=80241"},"modified":"2020-12-21T14:49:15","modified_gmt":"2020-12-21T19:49:15","slug":"nhl-rumours-st-louis-blues-vancouver-canucks-and-boston-bruins","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2020\/07\/14\/nhl-rumours-st-louis-blues-vancouver-canucks-and-boston-bruins\/","title":{"rendered":"NHL Rumours: St. Louis Blues, Vancouver Canucks, and Boston Bruins"},"content":{"rendered":"

Hockey is officially back with the start of training camp 2.0. As the NHL inches closer to dropping the puck on August 1, news is coming from other directions. Especially in the NHL rumours mill. As things continue to swirl off the ice, the team here at Last Word On Hockey will continue to keep fans up to date on the NHL rumours<\/a> and rumblings around the league. Today\u2019s NHL Rumours feature the St. Louis Blues<\/a>,\u00a0Vancouver Canucks<\/a>, and Boston Bruins.<\/a><\/p>\n

NHL Rumours<\/h2>\n

St. Louis Blues<\/h3>\n

Rumour: As the St. Louis Blues<\/a> returned to the ice for Phase 3 training camps, Louie Korac of NHL.com<\/a> was there and all the attention was on defenceman Alex Pietrangelo<\/a><\/strong> as he said, “he remains hopeful he will sign a new deal with the Blues.”\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Analysis: Pietrangelo is arguably the biggest free-agent defenceman to hit the market in a long time. Most players of his caliber have signed deals already to remain with their respective clubs. Pietrangelo’s goal from the beginning has been to get something done with the Blues. However, he is focused on getting back on the ice and staying healthy through the NHL’s Return to Play. A guy like Pietrangelo will command big dollars on the open market. And it is tough to replace an elite defenceman like Pietrangelo, who helped the Blues win the Stanley Cup last season. They also have an excellent shot to win this year too.<\/p>\n

He is in a different situation. With the salary fixed at $81.5 million, it is unclear whether or not Pietrangelo will find the money his looking for. Though most believe the top guys will still get theirs despite a fixed salary cap of $81.5 million. That means general manager Doug Armstrong<\/strong> will have to figure out a way to get a deal done. And with nothing likely to get done during this season, Armstrong has a short window before next season starts to sign Pietrangelo. Armstrong will have to be smart about the kind of money<\/a> he gives Pietrangelo. The Blues have committed about $78.5 million towards the salary cap next season. That means they have about $2.9 million to spare to sign Pietrangelo and RFA defenceman Vince Dunn<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Armstrong is in a pickle and will have to figure which players he will need to make room to keep this defence corps intact. After signing Justin Faulk<\/a><\/strong> to a new contract this past off-season<\/a>, you have to wonder if Faulk will replace Pietrangelo if he decides to leave via free agency.<\/p>\n

Vancouver Canucks<\/h3>\n

Rumour: Following up on a report from Friday<\/a> about Vancouver Canucks<\/a> forward Brock Boeser<\/a> <\/strong>being on the trade market, general manager Jim Benning<\/a><\/strong> made it clear to the media at the start of training camp that he has no intention of trading Boeser.<\/p>\n

\n

“I have no intention of trading Brock Boeser<\/a>. I haven’t had one conversation about that, so I don’t know where this stuff comes from.” – Benning<\/p>\n

\u2014 Vancouver #Canucks (@Canucks) July 13, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n