Check out the latest on Jake Guentzel, Steven Stamkos, Jacob Trouba, Patrik Laine, and more in the Sunday NHL Post-Draft Rumor Roundup.
JAKE GUENTZEL TO THE LIGHTNING TO REPLACE STEVEN STAMKOS?
THE ATHLETIC: Pierre LeBrun and Chris Johnston report league sources claim the Tampa Bay Lightning could be interested in Jake Guentzel.
The 29-year-old Carolina Hurricanes winger is heading to free agency on Monday but the Hurricanes have yet to give up trying to re-sign him. Meanwhile, it appears Lightning captain Steven Stamkos will test the free-agent market.
SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman also cited sources indicating the Lightning could pursue Guentzel should he become available when the free-agent market opens on Monday at noon ET. He also speculated the Hurricanes could trade Guentzel’s signing rights before Monday.
**UPDATE** The Carolina Hurricanes trade Jake Guentzel’s signing rights to the Tampa Bay Lightning for a 2025 third-round pick.
Carolina Hurricanes winger Jake Guentzel (NHL Images).
Speaking of Stamkos, Friedman believes the Nashville Predators have the best chance of landing him. He also indicated the Lightning pitched a long-term, low-average annual value contract and a shorter one that would’ve made him eligible to sign a one-year, bonus-laden 35-plus contract.
Friedman also said the fact Stamkos had to wait so close to free agency while other teammates were taken care of in advance ruptured the relationship with management.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Lightning appears to be looking at Guentzel as a replacement for Stamkos. If they couldn’t afford to re-sign their captain, they could struggle to win a bidding war for Guentzel. He could get offers worth over $9 million on the open market.
THE LATEST RANGERS RUMORS
THE ATHLETIC: Arthur Staple and Peter Baugh report the New York Rangers could find it difficult to move Jacob Trouba.
Momentum appeared to build toward a trade to the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday. Nothing materialized, and the 31-year-old defenseman may not be inclined to speed the deal along.
Trouba has a full no-movement clause until July 1, when it becomes a 15-team no-trade list. If he waits until Monday to submit his list to Rangers management, he could spike the deal by including the Wings on that list.
NEW YORK POST: Larry Brooks reports the Rangers trading Jacob Trouba to the Detroit Red Wings remains on hold. He wondered if that move would prompt winger Patrick Kane to re-sign with the Red Wings rather than test the UFA market.
The Rangers remain interested in the 35-year-old Kane. However, his camp continues their contract discussions with the Red Wings.
Brooks believes the Rangers would be interested in signing Steven Stamkos but he’s heard the Nashville Predators could be all-in on the Lightning winger.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Athletic’s Arthur Staple believes they could also look at Jake Guentzel but the Lightning may have moved to the front of the line.
Ranger goaltender Igor Shesterkin’s representatives are seeking a contract extension that would be worth 14 percent of the Rangers’ cap hit. That would be $12.9 million annually under an expected cap of $92 million for 2025-26.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Shestekin holds the leverage here. Brooks observed the Rangers can’t let him simply walk out the door next summer. Losing their starting goaltender would be a big blow to their Stanley Cup hopes.
UPDATE ON PATRIK LAINE
THE ATHLETIC: Aaron Portzline reports the Columbus Blue Jackets haven’t been told yet if Patrik Laine has been cleared from the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program.
The Jackets can trade the 26-year-old winger while he’s still in the program. However, clubs interested in trading for him have told Jackets management that they want to speak with Laine first.
Laine carries an average annual value of $8.7 million through 2025-26. The longer this situation goes on through the summer, the harder it’ll be to facilitate a trade as cap space evaporates around the league.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Portzline also cited TSN’s Craig Button stumping for the Minnesota Wild to acquire Laine, suggesting he would provide them with an offensive boost.
However, the Wild have limited cap space for 2024-25. GM Bill Guerin has suggested his club might not make any major additions via trades or free agency this summer.
DEVILS INTERESTED IN TWO PENDING UFA DEFENSEMEN
DAILY FACEOFF: Frank Seravalli reported on “X” that the New Jersey Devils are expected to take a run at signing defensemen Brett Pesce and Brenden Dillon.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Pesce is coming off a six-year contract with the Carolina Hurricanes. Dillon completed a four-year deal, spending the last three seasons with the Winnipeg Jets.
LATEST ON THE PENGUINS
THE ATHLETIC: Josh Yohe reports sources claiming Pittsburgh Penguins GM Kyle Dubas was willing to trade goaltender Tristan Jarry and winger Reilly Smith. However, he couldn’t find any takers.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Players coming off a down season with modified no-trade clauses and $5 million cap hits tend to be difficult to trade.
SENATORS STYMIED IN TRADE EFFORTS
OTTAWA SUN: Bruce Garrioch reports Senators GM Steve Staios tried to wheel and deal at the draft but couldn’t find any suitable offers for Jakob Chychrun, Mathieu Joseph, Erik Brannstrom, and Jacob Bernard-Docker in the trade market.
A restricted free agent, Brannstrom could become a UFA if the Senators don’t qualify his rights by 5 pm ET on Sunday. That could happen if he’s unwilling to accept a pay cut. It’ll cost the Senators $2 million to qualify his rights.
Limited salary-cap space could mean the Senators won’t qualify forward Parker Kelly’s rights.
Garrioch expects the Senators could target a defenseman like Brandon Montour or Matt Roy if they hit the open market on Monday.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Garrioch indicated the Senators only have $11.5 million available. They won’t win a bidding war for Montour. They could have better luck with Roy but that depends on what the market looks like for defensemen after Montour, Brady Skjei, and Brett Pesce are snapped up.
UPDATE ON YAROSLAV ASKAROV
THE ATHLETIC: Chris Johnston and Pierre LeBrun report the Nashville Predators will continue to listen to offers for Yaroslav Askarov. However, they’re comfortable keeping him as an understudy for Juuse Saros, whose new eight-year contract should be finalized on Monday.
The Predators also hope to add some scoring and bolster their blueline. They could pursue potential free agents like Steven Stamkos, Brady Skjei and Chandler Stephenson.