In today’s NHL rumors rundown, one scribe wonders if a trade out of Boston will help forward Jake DeBrusk explode offensively. Meanwhile, there is a ton of chatter surrounding Taylor Hall of the Buffalo Sabres and the asking price to acquire him in a deal before the deadline. The Montreal Canadiens are likely to make more moves after acquiring Eric Staal and are the Columbus Blue Jackets ready to give Patrik Laine huge money to stick around? Finally, what are the Carolina Hurricanes and Winnipeg Jets going to do over the next couple of weeks?
Will the Bruins Trade DeBrusk?
Acknowledging the fact that DeBrusk has underperformed with the Bruins so far this season, Fluto Shinzawa of The Athletic wonders if Boston has conceded to the idea of trading the forward and the scribe contemplated what happens if and when they do.
Jake Debrusk, Boston Bruins (Jess Starr/The Hockey Writers)
Shinzawa writes:
The conclusion the Bruins may reach is that DeBrusk serves them best in a trade. If so, they would be trading low. No opposing general manager would put his top cards on the table. The Bruins’ best bet would be receiving a similarly underperforming player.
source – ‘The Bruins’ big fear: Trading Jake DeBrusk will motivate him to meet his potential’ – Fluto Shinzawa – The Athletic – 03/24/2021
He goes on to say that DeBrusk could explode offensively if moved as “trades can shock young players awake to a greater degree than healthy scratches, benches and one-on-one meetings.” He cited Tyler Seguin as an example.
While Shinzawa doesn’t sound confident a deal makes sense for Boston, a DeBrusk trade became more of a possibility with the reduced quarantine time from 14 to seven days for over-the-border trades.
Everyone Talking About Taylor Hall
Yesterday, the rumor mill was abuzz with chatter about Hall and the fact he said he’d waive his no-move clause to facilitate a trade out of Buffalo if the Sabres asked him. The chatter about what he might be worth led to Pierre LeBrun reporting, “Hearing that the initial asking price for Taylor Hall involves a first-round pick… Probably going to be tough to get that in this buyer’s market but it’s the right place to start two weeks out if you’re Buffalo.”
Hearing that the initial asking price for Taylor Hall involves a first-round pick… Probably going to be tough to get that in this buyer’s market but it’s the right place to start two weeks out if you’re Buffalo. @TheAthletic@TSNHockey
On Friday, Eric Staal was traded for a third and fifth-round pick in the 2021 draft which some suggested could be an indication about the realities of the Sabres getting a first-rounder for Hall who has only scored two goals this season.
Canadiens to Make More Moves
Speaking of Staal, the Canadiens surprised people with the acquisition of the veteran forward as GM Marc Bergevin said that the team was more likely to remain quiet than do anything before the deadline. TSN’s Frank Seravalli asks what’s next for the Canadiens who are tight up against the salary cap after acquiring Staal?
Seravalli notes the Canadiens will need to send down a player in order to activate Paul Byron from their taxi squad and he added, “wouldn’t be surprised at all to see the Habs try and make a corresponding move to try and free up some salary cap space.” The NHL insider suggest Cole Caufield could come into play now that his NCAA season has ended. “He’s another guy the Canadiens may want to add into the mix and they’ll need cap space to do it.”
When asked what an extension might look like for forward Patrik Laine during mailbag segment, Athletic writer Aaron Portzline responded, “If I’m Laine’s agent, I feel really, really good about my leverage in these talks, and yes I realize he isn’t playing well right now. Doesn’t matter.”
Patrik Laine, Columbus Blue Jackets (Photo by Jamie Sabau/NHLI via Getty Images)
Suggesting Laine holds most of the cards and the Blue Jackets don’t want to risk losing the big asset that came back in the Pierre-Luc Dubois trade, both sides might agree on a one-year deal worth between $9 and $10 million. Portzline explains:
“You can safely assume he’s going to make well over $9 million, right? And I’m adjusting there for COVID, which owners will try to use as a negotiating tool against the players. It might hit eight digits. I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised to see the two sides do a one-year deal that so that Laine is an RFA again the following summer.”
source – ‘What’s wrong with Patrik Laine? Trade for a No. 1 center? Locking up Seth Jones: Blue Jackets Mailbag’ – Aaron Portzline – The Athletic – 03/25/2021
Portzline suggested a one-year deal makes sense so that Laine can get a better read on what will happen with the team, specifically what will happen with coach John Tortorella, who may or may not be back.
Hurricanes Could Move a Goaltender
As per a report on NHL.com: Carolina Hurricanes GM Don Waddell told The Athletic he could consider trading one of his goaltenders. Alex Nedeljkovic and James Reimer have split the goalies duties since Petr Mrazek was sidelined, but with Mrazek close to returning and the Hurricanes with limited cap space, the GM might use on of his netminders as a trade chip.
Waddell said he could keep all three goalies, but suggested he’d like to add a right-shot defenseman to his blueline corps.
Jets Linked to Different Defensemen?
Ken Wiebe of Sportsnet wonders what the Jets might do if their primary targets of Mattias Ekholm and David Savard are off the table because of where their respective teams are in the standings. He writes, “Another player with term on his deal that could make sense for the Jets is Anaheim Ducks blue-liner Josh Manson.”
Wiebe points out that the Ducks will be guaranteed sellers and that Manson, 29, has one season left at $4.1 million but also notes his injury history is concerning. A backup name to monitor is Rasmus Ristolainen of the Buffalo Sabres. The Sabres are selling and the Jets have shown interest in Ristolainen previously. If the price has come down on the blueliner, he could be an option.
TORONTO – Reigning PWHL MVP and scoring champ Natalie Spooner will miss the start of the regular season for the Toronto Sceptres, general manager Gina Kingsbury announced Tuesday on the first day of training camp.
The 33-year-old Spooner had knee surgery on her left anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) after she was checked into the boards by Minnesota’s Grace Zumwinkle in Game 3 of their best-of-five semifinal series on May 13.
She had a goal and an assist in three playoff games but did not finish the series. Toronto was up 2-1 in the semifinal at that time and eventually fell 3-2 in the series.
Spooner led the PWHL with 27 points in 24 games. Her 20 goals, including five game-winners, were nine more than the closest skater.
Kingsbury said there is no timeline, as the team wants the Toronto native at 100 per cent, but added that “she is doing really well” in her recovery.
The Sceptres open the PWHL season on Nov. 30 when they host the Boston Fleet.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 12, 2024.
LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — A top official of the Pakistan Cricket Board declined Friday to confirm media reports that India has decided against playing any games in host Pakistan during next year’s Champions Trophy.
“My view is if there’s any problems, they (India) should tell us in writing,” PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi told reporters in Lahore. “I’ll share that with the media as well as with the government as soon as I get such a letter.”
Indian media reported Friday that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has communicated its concerns to all the Champions Trophy stakeholders, including the PCB, over the Feb. 19-March 9 tournament and would not play in arch-rival Pakistan.
The Times of India said that “Dubai is a strong candidate to host the fixtures involving the Men in Blue” for the 50-over tournament.
Such a solution would see Pakistan having to travel to a neutral venue to play India in a group match, with another potential meeting later in the tournament if both teams advanced from their group. The final is scheduled for March 9 in Pakistan with the specific venue not yet decided.
“Our stance is clear,” Naqvi said. “They need to give us in writing any objections they may have. Until now, no discussion of the hybrid model has happened, nor are we prepared to accept one.”
Political tensions have stopped bilateral cricket between the two nations since 2008 and they have competed in only multi-nation tournaments, including ICC World Cups.
“Cricket should be free of politics,” Naqvi said. “Any sport should not be entangled with politics. Our preparations for the Champions Trophy will continue unabated, and this will be a successful event.”
The PCB has already spent millions of dollars on the upgrade of stadiums in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi which are due to host 15 Champions Trophy games. Naqvi hoped all the three stadiums will be ready over the next two months.
“Almost every country wants the Champions Trophy to be played here (in Pakistan),” Naqvi said. “I don’t think anyone should make this a political matter, and I don’t expect they will. I expect the tournament will be held at the home of the official hosts.”
Eight countries – Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Afghanistan – are due to compete in the tournament, the schedule of which is yet to be announced by the International Cricket Council.
“Normally the ICC announces the schedule of any major tournament 100 days before the event, and I hope they will announce it very soon,” Naqvi said.
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Ottawa‘s Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe of New Zealand are through to the doubles final at the WTA Finals after a 7-6 (7), 6-1 victory over Nicole Melichar-Martinez of the United States and Australia’s Ellen Perez in semifinal action Friday.
Dabrowski and Routliffe won a hard-fought first set against serve when Routliffe’s quick reaction at the net to defend a Perez shot gave the duo set point, causing Perez to throw down her racket in frustration.
The second seeds then cruised through the second set, winning match point on serve when Melichar-Martinez couldn’t handle Routliffe’s shot.
The showdown was a rematch of last year’s semifinal, which Melichar-Martinez and Perez won in a super tiebreak.
Dabrowski and Routliffe will face the winner of a match between Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend, and Hao-Ching Chan and Veronika Kudermetova in the final on Saturday.
Dabrowski is aiming to become the first Canadian to win a WTA Finals title.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.
