Welcome to another special edition of Full Press Hockey’s NHL Rumors! The NHL Draft is history, and every team has high hopes for the prospects they added. Now, we turn to free agency and rumors abound. Clubs are always working to improve their rosters for next season. In this Wednesday edition of NHL Rumors, we will take a look at the Calgary Flames, Colorado Avalanche, Edmonton Oilers, plus many more.
Calgary Flames – Johnny Gaudreau
Rumor: Per – Eric Duhatschek – theathletic.com. The Calgary Flames’ attempt to sign pending unrestricted free agent Johnny Gaudreau to an eight-year contract extension evaporated Tuesday, when the two sides couldn’t agree on terms and Gaudreau elected to test the open market, sources told The Athletic.
Reminder, when we’re talking about the contract Johnny Gaudreau will get, these are likely the only teams with enough money to sign Johnny Hockey and still fill out their roster. Others could if they can shed salary elsewhere pic.twitter.com/lq9PGg2pbT
— Ian Kennedy (@IanKennedyCK) July 12, 2022
A team like the New York Islanders may be interested in signing Gaudreau but could only offer seven years at $9 million AAV. In the end, Gaudreau stated it was a “family” decision and not about money. Sure, right and that may be true. It now seems like the Philadelphia Flyers and New Jersey Devils will be the top two teams who could add the valuable forward to their roster. It goes without saying, that we are all holding our breath.
Colorado Avalanche – Andre Burakovsky
Rumor: Per – Shane Seney – nhltraderumors.me. While the Avalanche appear to be walking away, look for a number of teams to have interest in signing Burakovsky to a multi-year deal.
Per hockey insider, Chris Johnston, “All indications are that Burakovsky will be moving on from the Avalanche after winning the second Stanley Cup of his career. Look for him to land with a team that has less offensive depth and can deploy him in a more frontline role. Seattle looks like a potential fit.” Other interested teams could include: Ottawa Senators, Buffalo Sabres and Detroit Red Wings. Burakovsky’s 60 points in 80 games and eight points in 12 playoff games make him a contested commodity.
Carolina Hurricanes – Vincent Trocheck
Rumor: Per – Shane Seney – nhltraderumors.me. Carolina Hurricanes center Vincent Trocheck is expected to become a free agent on Wednesday and he’s been categorized as a ‘Plan B’ option for a number of teams this summer.
Trocheck is linked to the Colorado Avalanche, Pittsburgh Penguins, where he’s from, and the Detroit Red Wings. Per insider Chris Johnston: “He’s at the top of the second-tier free agents available in this class. Teams that fall short on Kadri or Malkin will quickly pivot to Trocheck – with Detroit, Colorado and Pittsburgh among the possibilities. Trocheck is a steady 50-point performer when healthy and a solid No. 2 centre option.”
This 200-foot player tallied 21 goals, 51 points in 81 games and should land a lucrative contract wherever he signs.
St. Louis Blues – David Perron
Rumor: Per – Shane Seney – nhltraderumors.me. St. Louis Blues forward David Perron wants to return to the Blues and sign his sixth straight contract in St. Louis, but from all accounts, it doesn’t sound like negotiations are going very well.
Perron scored 57 points in 67 games and even at age 34, is not slowing down. The Blues had hoped that Perron would agree to a decreased salary around $2.5-$3 million, but Perron hasn’t agreed to that. So, it appears that teams like the Seattle Kraken, Carolina Hurricanes, and Edmonton Oilers may look into acquiring him.
Around Full Press Hockey
NHL: Colorado Avalanche Long Journey Back To The Stanley Cup
NHL Rumors: NHL Rumors: Washington Capitals, Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Rangers
NHL: 2022 NHL Draft: Player Rankings, Risers, and Fallers V 3.0
NFL: Best Bets For 2022 NFL Defensive Rookie Of The Year
Full Press Bets: Odds Favor The Avalanche To Repeat As Stanley Cup Champions
PODCAST: Full Press Hockey Weekly: Ep 33: Stanley Cup Final Preview
New York Rangers – Ryan Strome
Rumor: Per – Shane Seney – nhltraderumors.me. Strome is an offensive talent and contributed 54 points in 74 games. His power-play abilities help also with him being involved in 14 extra-man goals. As many as five NHL teams may be interested in adding Strome to their rosters.
Per hockey insider Chris Johnston: “Strome is part of the second tier of centremen eligible to hit the market. He logged more than 18 minutes per game last season and played a role on one of the NHL’s most effective power play units. He is not expected to be back with the Rangers.” Teams who may take a flyer on him are Seattle Kraken, Detroit Red Wings, Ottawa Senators, Buffalo Sabres, and Anaheim Ducks. He will be a good add wherever he goes.
New York Islanders – Josh Bailey
Rumor: Per – Michael DeRosa – nhltraderumors.me. According to The Fourth Period, the Coyotes are one of the teams linked to Islanders forward Josh Bailey.
Bailey still has two years left on his contract paying him $5 million AAV. The Arizona Coyotes have about $28 million in cap space and need to get to the cap basement. Bailey had a good 2021-22 season with 14 goals and 30 assists in 74 games. He is an effective shooter with a 16.1 percent accuracy rate. The Isles want to do some cost-cutting and Bailey’s deal may be targeted. For Arizona, it adds another veteran player to help guide the younger players.
San Jose Sharks – Brent Burns
Rumor: Per – Sheng Peng – sanhjosehockeynow.com. Burns, 37, has three years left on his contract with an $8 million dollars Annual Average Value. He also has a three-team trade clause – that means there are just three places that the San Jose Sharks can move Burns to right now without his consent.
While Burns has his three-team trade clause, he may want to get out of San Jose and go somewhere that he can win. Quite a few teams have shown interest in him including the Dallas Stars and Carolina Hurricane. The Stars may lose John Klingberg and the Canes lost Anthony DeAngelo. Still, with his huge $8 million price tag, that could be a roadblock to a trade being made.
Vancouver Canucks – Conor Garland
Rumor: Per – Michael DeRosa – nhltraderumors.me. According to The Fourth Period, the Boston Bruins are one of the teams currently linked to Canucks forward Conor Garland.
This forward was listed at #7 on the summer trade list before the trade deadline, and he remains there still. While the Boston Bruins may covet the feisty forward, their cap wallet is nearly empty. With merely $2.1 million in cap space, unless the Bruins unload some contracts, Garland will remain in Vancouver. He carries a $4.95 million contract through the 2025-26 season. He did collect 19 goals and 33 assists in 77 games.
That concludes this extensive NHL rumors article! Stay connected to Full Press Hockey for all the latest trades that go down and free agency news as well.