Speculation Station (8/27/20)
Today's edition of the #PuckReport Spec Station features Taylor Hall and the Coyotes, Cam Talbot and the Flames, Josh Anderson, Todd Reirden, and more.
TheFourthPeriod: “According to what sources close to the situation have told me, I would be borderline-shocked if Taylor Hall signs a new contract with the Coyotes this off-season. Arizona might be part of the mix, maybe they won’t, but Hall’s going to test the waters when the free agent market opens up.
Pending UFA Carl Soderberg won’t be back either. Neither will Brad Richardson.
As for the Flames, I’m not expecting UFA Travis Hamonic to return, while TJ Brodie might be playing elsewhere next season – the Flames agreed to trade him in a package to Toronto for Nazem Kadri last summer, but Kadri refused to waive his NTC … the addition of a top-4 defender will be on their priority checklist.
The Leafs want to re-sign Kyle Clifford and I believe they will consider extending another league-minimum offer to Jason Spezza, but Cody Ceci and Tyson Barrie’s time in Toronto are likely over.
Luke Fox (Sportsnet): Keep an eye on the Columbus Blue Jackets this off-season. They have no pending UFAs to take care of and have cap space to spare.
GM Jarmo Kekalainen: “I don’t believe in the July 1 signings to be the answer or recipe for success. That’s been shown very many times. Growing from within is going to be a key for us.”
With so many Eastern contenders struggling with a flat cap, the opportunity is there for CBJ to add an impact forward or two this off-season. Would be shocked if RFA Josh Anderson isn’t used as a trade piece.Eric Stephens of TheAthletic (subscription required): Anaheim’s reported interest in acquiring Kasperi Kapanen before he was dealt to Pittsburgh means that GM Bob Murray has no intention of blowing it up.
There might be other player available in a similar role this off-season for cheaper: Jake Virtanen and Josh Anderson are both pending RFAs with Arb. rights. Maybe it’s worth a shot at Jesse Puljujarvi.
NHLRumorsDaily: The bubble plan the NHL has discussed for next season is only as a potential last resort option, nothing is in the advanced stages. Still hopeful that next season can begin with fans at every team’s market.
Tarik El-Bashir (Q&A) on the Capitals’ off-season: “I do think there’s a chance Brenden Dillon re-signs, maybe a little less after the playoffs than before. Braden Holtby walks.
I don’t see GM Brian MacLellan blowing it up. But I do think there’s a decent chance there will be a move no one sees coming … I expect MacLellan to work the phones and try to use a trade to add another impactful defender.”
Scott Burnside (TheAthletic): Recently fired Capitals coach Todd Reirden will probably be one of the top pursued assistant coaches this off-season. One thing to consider: Reirden was at one point getting interest from the Flames before he signed an extension with WSH in 2017.
It’s hard to see how the St. Louis Blues and Alex Pietrangelo find a way to make a contract extension work, unless he takes a huge “hometown discount.” It looked like Vegas could have been a fit but the Alec Martinez acquisition pretty much negates that. The 7-year, $6.5M AAV extension to Justin Faulk seems like an enormous anchor.
Hard to imagine the Flames don’t explore what’s available to them on the free agent goalie market before inking Cam Talbot to an extension.
A number of sources indicated they don’t think Steve Sullivan is ready for the Coyotes GM role yet. They don’t have much time to sort that out and improve the team. On Taylor Hall, scouts say he doesn’t drive play and isn’t a cornerstone player. One NHL executive on Hall’s upcoming free agency: “Watch Nashville.” They’d probably have to move out salary (Turris) to make it work.
The Hurricanes have shown interest in Robin Lehner before, maybe he’s the answer to their goaltending problem. They’d have to move out one of Mrazek or Reimer, but “that doesn’t seem like a Herculean task.”
