We’re lower than two months from the NHL commerce deadline and it is undoubtedly getting busy across the NHL. One big — and surprising — commerce was already accomplished this week between the Philadelphia Flyers and the Anaheim Geese. What else may very well be within the works? Listed here are among the rumblings I have been listening to at rinks across the NHL.
ONE OF THE most intriguing storylines is what’s going to occur to Jake Guentzel. There is a very actual likelihood that probably the most common and constantly productive Pittsburgh Penguins gamers will get dealt, and the following few weeks are essential. “This may get actually heated down the stretch,” Guentzel’s agent, Ben Hankinson, advised me final week. “It may get attention-grabbing.”
Hankinson harassed that he has a superb relationship with Penguins GM Kyle Dubas. They talked over the summer season and perceive the place either side is working from. Possession believes the Penguins ought to attempt to chase Cups whereas Sidney Crosby continues to be working at an elite stage — however the workforce, which has trended older, is on the playoff bubble but once more. The Penguins even have a depleted pool of prospects and draft picks. That places Dubas in a precarious place.
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Guentzel, 29, is ending up the ultimate 12 months of a five-year, $30 million deal. He is possible due for a increase. Hankinson and Dubas haven’t had substantial talks progressing towards a brand new contract. Guentzel adores enjoying in Pittsburgh, however signing a brand new long-term deal won’t make sense for each side. Different groups I’ve talked to more and more imagine Guentzel shall be obtainable. The curiosity shall be huge — and the acquisition value may very well be excessive. Guentzel reveals up when it issues most. In 58 profession playoff video games, the winger has 34 targets and a Stanley Cup.
One undercurrent to all of this: Crosby loves enjoying with Guentzel. That is not insignificant. The captain’s voice has critical energy throughout the group. Crosby quietly campaigned when issues weren’t going nicely with Evgeni Malkin’s and Kris Letang’s contract negotiations in 2022. So we’ll see the place this goes.
THE CUTTER GAUTHIER story gripped the NHL this week. The Flyers traded their blue-chip prospect to Anaheim three days after he helped lead Workforce USA to a gold medal on the World Championships, but it surely was the explanations — or actually, lack thereof — that despatched the hockey world right into a tizzy.
“I’ve by no means seen something prefer it,” one longtime entrance workplace govt advised me this week. “Conditions occur. A drafted school participant has the precise to not signal with a workforce. It is occurred earlier than. It is going to possible occur extra usually given the character of this subsequent technology. However I am unable to keep in mind a workforce ever getting iced on solutions — or a public response from a entrance workplace like that after.”
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The Flyers have been understandably miffed. For eight months they knew Gauthier, the No. 5 choose of the 2022 draft, did not need to sign up Philadelphia however by no means may get a solution of why, nor current their case. Gauthier’s agent, Kurt Overhardt, advised me he had “a number of conversations” with the Flyers. However when Gauthier nonetheless refused to fulfill with Flyers GM Danny Briere and president Keith Jones in Sweden, they knew they wanted to maneuver on.
In buying and selling Gauthier for defenseman Jamie Drysdale and a second-round choose, Flyers administration declared: Should you do not need to be in Philadelphia, then we do not need you. Contemplating the eagerness available in the market, it is no shock followers galvanized across the rallying cry.
Gauthier nonetheless hasn’t revealed a lot, citing “non-public household causes” in a video name with Geese reporters Wednesday. Gauthier was residence in Michigan together with his household when the commerce went down, which is lucky as a result of the response was overwhelming — and in some situations, nasty.
“We dwell in a world the place everybody thinks they should know every little thing,” Overhardt stated. “And the reality is, they do not.”
Overhardt stated they’ll use this as a studying expertise. “We’re attempting to take the excessive street right here,” the agent stated. Gauthier is simply 19 years outdated, together with his whole NHL future forward of him. It is a dramatic begin, however Gauthier is a assured participant with unbelievable promise. He can write his personal script now.
“Gamers like that do not grow to be obtainable fairly often,” Geese GM Verbeek advised me. “We did not have a participant like this in our prospect pool.” Verbeek, for context, was granted permission to talk with Overhardt — who notably additionally represents one of many Geese’ finest gamers, Troy Terry — as soon as commerce talks intensified.
Verbeek would not have given up defenseman Jamie Drysdale — a superb prospect himself, albeit one with an harm historical past — with out perception that Gauthier’s reasoning for not desirous to play in Philadelphia would not chew the Geese in a while.
“Once I talked to Cutter, he was enthusiastic about enjoying in Anaheim,” Verbeek stated. “I see him enjoying within the NHL subsequent season for positive. He’s going again to Boston Faculty the place they’re having a terrific season, after which we’ll take it from there.”
Verbeek stated Gauthier is an “elite skater with an elite shot,” particularly his one-timer. The GM foresees Gauthier creating extra of an influence sport, and loves his versatility to play with any of the workforce’s facilities.
Verbeek continues to be preaching the gradual play within the Geese’ rebuild, but it surely’s onerous to not get enthusiastic about their future. Gauthier joins a younger ahead core of Leo Carlsson, Mason McTavish, Terry and Trevor Zegras. The Geese have misplaced 18 one-goal video games over the primary three months, which shall be a spotlight down the stretch. “I continually must remind myself endurance,” Verbeek stated. “However by way of tradition, work ethic and compete, we have made huge positive factors in constructing the muse of the home.”
CROSBY PROBABLY ISN’T getting sufficient credit score for the way good he has been this season, at age 36. It is the byproduct of somebody who revels within the work. I lately requested Crosby about his mindset, coming into his nineteenth season. “Not an excessive amount of completely different. I nonetheless adore it,” Crosby stated. “Having a ardour for it helps so much. Love the sport, love studying — that does not change all these years later.”
What does that seem like behind the scenes? Frankly, it is obsessive. Crosby operates on a special wavelength than most. No element is simply too minute. Coach Mike Sullivan shared a couple of examples with me.
Say Crosby misfired on a seam cross on the ability play. The following day at follow, he is arriving quarter-hour early. Assistant coach Ty Hennes will feed pucks from the very same spot, and Crosby will emulate the very same situation. Crosby will take 50 reps of the play he missed the night time prior earlier than anybody else will get on the ice.
If Crosby did not have a superb night time within the faceoff circle, similar factor with assistant coach Mike Vellucci dropping pucks for him the following day.
Penguins coaches are used to getting late-night texts from Crosby as he watches different video games on TV. “Did you see what this workforce did on their energy play? Can we strive that?”
Sullivan famous that Crosby’s line usually scores on the tip of shifts. Crosby takes satisfaction in grinding down different groups. Sullivan tries to handle the workload over the grind of the season. However Crosby is usually asking him to include extra low battle drills at follow. It is to say he is the one participant asking for them.
THE DEPRESSED GOALIE market ought to get transferring nearer to the commerce deadline. Some have puzzled whether or not the Boston Bruins would deal away both Linus Ullmark or Jeremy Swayman, contemplating it is an space of surplus for Boston and there is such a thirst for goaltending across the league. From what I perceive, that does not look like the trail they’d select in the course of the season. In reality, Swayman was eligible for an extension on Jan. 1, and some individuals have advised me to anticipate that to get completed quickly.
The Bruins, regardless of as soon as once more exceeding expectations, are going to really feel stress to do one thing on the commerce deadline to enhance their workforce. It is simply the character of the group and the market. I’ve heard they’re scouting middle-six forwards, particularly somebody who may add a scoring punch.
ONE OF THE BIGGEST areas by which the New York Rangers improved this season is within the faceoff circle. Up to now 5 seasons, they have been a bottom-five faceoff workforce. Thus far in 2023-24, they rank third.
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Speaking to a couple gamers, it has undoubtedly been improved by an elevated emphasis at follow, becoming with Peter Laviolette’s theme that each time the Rangers get on the ice, it is a competitors. “We have undoubtedly been specializing in [faceoffs] extra this 12 months than every other season I have been right here,” Mika Zibanejad advised me.
However one other secret is a method that a number of of their centermen have used. When taking a faceoff of their offside circle, the middle will flip the stick round. Should you’re a right-handed shot, having your left hand so low on the stick feels awkward at first — and a few gamers do not suppose they’ve the energy or coordination to drag it off. However in the event you get a cling of it, it may be a serious benefit.
Retired middle Paul Gaustad was believed to be the primary participant to do that within the NHL. Nick Bonino picked up the trick from Gaustad once they performed collectively in Nashville, and introduced it to the Rangers. Bonino switches his stick most constantly, however Barclay Goodrow and Vincent Trocheck (who’s main the Rangers with a career-best 61.9% within the circle) have been doing it, too. Just a few different facilities have been noodling with it across the league, together with New Jersey’s Erik Haula and Detroit’s Dylan Larkin and J.T. Compher. I might keep watch over this as a rising development.