Check out the recent Rangers and Sabres speculation in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
RANGERS STILL LACK CAP FLEXIBILITY AFTER FAILING TO TRADE TROUBA
NEW YORK POST: Mollie Walker suggests Rangers general manager Chris Drury could be looking at running it back next season with more of his roster’s core group than expected.
New York Rangers defenseman Jacob Trouba (NHL Images).
The Rangers have little salary-cap flexibility after failing to move Jacob Trouba in a cost-cutting trade. That was a touchy subject that played itself out in the media. It’s also left them with limited cap room and restricted free agents Ryan Lindgren and Braden Schneider to re-sign.
Meanwhile, winger Kaapo Kakko remains a Ranger after signing a one-year, team-friendly contract at his qualifying offer price of $2.4 million.
Despite acquiring winger Reilly Smith from Pittsburgh and signing forward Sam Carrick, the Rangers don’t look very different.
Walker noted any additional roster-shifting moves haven’t happened yet and might not occur this summer.
THE ATHLETIC: Peter Baugh observed Trouba became the subject of criticism among some Rangers fans for putting his family’s needs above the team’s.
Baugh defended Trouba for exercising his contractual rights by not providing his 15-team no-trade list a week before his no-movement clause became a modified no-trade clause on July 1. That may have prevented the Rangers from making moves but none of it falls on Trouba.
“The 30-year-old captain never once violated the deal he negotiated,” wrote Baugh. “He is exercising the rights in the contract to do what’s best for himself and his family, and that’s beyond acceptable”.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s not Trouba’s fault that Drury painted himself into this corner. He reportedly had a deal in place to send the defenseman to the Detroit Red Wings before July 1. That might not be on the table anymore following the Wings’ recent forays in the free-agent market.
The Rangers GM could try to move Trouba to one of the teams not on his no-trade list. However, that could be difficult with many clubs using most of their cap space in the free-agent market.
Drury could try and peddle Kakko but he won’t provide much cap relief and there might not be much of a market for him.
ARE MORE MOVES IN STORE FOR THE SABRES?
THE ATHLETIC: Matthew Fairburn observed Buffalo Sabres GM Kevyn Adams acquired winger Jason Zucker and signed free-agent checking-line forwards Sam Lafferty and Nicolas Aube-Kubel on July 1 However, he wonders if Adams has anything else up his sleeve.
The Sabres GM seemed open to adding a top-six forward but he doesn’t appear to consider it urgent. Fairburn expects they’ll have plenty of salary-cap space after re-signing Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, Henri Jokiharju, Peyton Krebs and Beck Malenstyn.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Adams could see what’s available in the trade market later this summer or during training camp and preseason. It wouldn’t be surprising if he banks that cap space to use during the season, perhaps in the lead-up to the 2025 trade deadline.