NHL Rumors: Minnesota Wild, Chicago Blackhawks, Buffalo Sabres

Welcome to another edition of Full Press Hockey’s NHL Rumors! The NHL 2022-23 regular season games have begun and players will be evaluated. Now, with free agency moves mostly done, rumors are still around. Clubs are always working to improve their rosters for next season. Some teams are having difficulty creating enough cap space to make moves. Others are experiencing severe injuries to star players. Trade rumors/signings are still prevalent. In this Sunday edition of NHL Rumors, we will take a look at the Minnesota Wild, Chicago Blackhawks, and the Buffalo Sabres.

Minnesota Wild – Matt Dumba

Rumor: Per – Adam Proteau – thehockeynews.com. The Minnesota Wild have surrendered a whopping 23 goals in just four games, giving them the worst goals-against average in the league thus far.

Of late it seems at least a half dozen NHL teams have shown interest in trading for Jakob Chychrun. It now seems that according to Proteau you can add the Minnesota Wild to that list. You see, due to extensively huge contracts given to both Zach Parise and Ryan Suter the Wild had to buy out their deals.

Over the next three years, the team will be out $42.2 million and that just about destroys their financial outlook. So, say they want to trade for Chychrun, they will need to conserve as much cap space as possible. If a trade sending Chychrun to Minnesota could be worked out, the team would save about $1.4 million. Dumba has a $6 million cap hit as opposed to Chychrun’s $4.6 million.

The downfall may be that Dumba will be an unrestricted free agent after this season, which is not an attractive thing for general manager Bill Armstrong and his current rebuild.

The Wild may need to throw in a prospect and/or a first-round pick to make it work. A good example of a prospect may be Michael Milne who had 38 goals, 43 assists in 68 games with the Winnipeg Ice of the WHL.

Chicago Blackhawks – Max Domi

Rumor: Per – Michael DeRosa – nhltraderumors.me. Blackhawks forward could be traded before the deadline.

Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews may not be the only two forwards on the trading block in the Windy City. Max Domi should be able to display his skills on a rebuilding team and thus obtain a good return in a trade deadline deal.

The feisty forward had 11 goals and 28 assists last season split between the Columbus Blue Jackets and Carolina Hurricanes. He has a $3 million cap hit and can help a playoff team advance.

He has added two goals in four games and is averaging over 18 minutes of ice time. If he can show good statistics and consistent play, he could be headed to a playoff team soon.

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Buffalo Sabres – Eric Comrie

Rumor: Per – Mike McKenna – dailyfaceoff.com. Why Eric Comrie stunned the Edmonton Oilers – and why he can do it again.

For many seasons past the Sabres have lacked a goalie who can keep them in games and even push them to a win when needed. The wait may be over, as Eric Comrie has shown early in this new season that he has what it takes.

His 46-save performance in the Sabres Tuesday night win against the powerhouse Edmonton Oilers was impressive.

Comrie has adjusted his style of play in the net to stop bad angle shots and has learned to stay in a standing position giving him necessary quickness to respond.

He has every chance to become the number-one goalie with veteran Craig Anderson pushing him. After being a backup goalie his entire career, this could be his chance to step up on a young, talented team.

The Sabres have made quite a turnaround thus far this season. They have a 3-1 record and have defeated the Oilers and Calgary Flames in the process.

Are they for real? We’ll soon find out with Comrie planted between the posts.