In right this moment’s NHL Rumors rundown, how has Brent Seabrook dealt with being a wholesome scratch the previous two video games? Plus, can the Calgary Flames lengthen defenseman Travis Hamonic throughout the season, and what’s the standing of head coach Pete DeBoer after the San Jose Sharks’ gradual begin? Lastly, what does the return of John Tavares and Zach Hyman imply for the Toronto Maple Leafs?
Seabrook Upset with Being Scratched
In Tuesday evening’s sport in opposition to the Nashville Predators, the Chicago Blackhawks scratched veteran defenseman Brent Seabrook for the second straight sport. They misplaced Three-Zero and allowed 51 photographs on purpose. The 34-year-old has struggled the previous few seasons and solely has one level in 9 video games in 2019-20 whereas averaging a career-low 17:39 of ice time. Him being scratched comes after he’s acquired criticism lately, a lot of which surrounds his contract that has 4 years left on it after 2019-20 with a $6.875-million cap hit and a full no-move clause by 2021-22.
After studying he was being scratched in final evening’s sport, Seabrook voiced his frustration in an interview with the Chicago Solar-Occasions’ Ben Pope:
I’m 34. You guys appear to need to write articles about my age and my pace. I really feel like I’ve nonetheless obtained so much to supply on this league and nonetheless be a very good participant for anyone. from ‘ Brent Seabrook, scratched once more by Blackhawks, vents about “robust state of affairs,”‘ Chicago Solar-Occasions, 10/29/2019
As Pope factors out, Seabrook’s inclusion of the phrases “for anyone” speaks volumes. Even by the criticism of his play, he had by no means hinted at waiving his no-move clause, but “for anyone” makes it seem as if he would take into account waiving stated clause. Nevertheless, even when he had been to comply with a commerce it doesn’t imply the Blackhawks would have the ability to transfer him. His cap hit, when mixed with the contract’s remaining time period and his age, make a commerce unlikely, however not unattainable. The Blackhawks must retain the utmost 50 % of his cap hit, however even that will not be sufficient they usually may have so as to add in a draft decide.
Brent Seabrook, Chicago Blackhawks, Nov. 9, 2017 (Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)
Search for the Blackhawks to do every thing potential to commerce him, although, as a result of his contract goes to make life tough for the staff with the necessity to re-sign restricted free brokers and the enlargement draft looming within the coming years. Maybe the staff performs him extra to prop up his worth and present he can nonetheless play, however with the staff attempting to be aggressive this season, taking part in Seabrook will not be within the staff’s greatest curiosity for 2019-20.
Hamonic Not Keen to Negotiate Mid-Season?
On this week’s Insider Buying and selling, TSN’s Darren Dreger spoke concerning the Flames and their pending free agent defensemen, T.J. Brodie and Travis Hamonic. Dreger stories that the Flames had discussions with Hamonic and his representatives over the offseason, however nothing got here from them. Now, Hamonic has determined to not negotiate throughout the season.
Travis Hamonic, Calgary Flames (Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)
If that’s the case, normal supervisor Brad Treliving may have a tough path forward. The Flames solely have 11 gamers at the moment on their NHL roster who’re signed by subsequent season with solely $22 million in cap area for 2020-21. Treliving could also be compelled to show his consideration to Brodie earlier than circling again to Hamonic within the offseason. Another choice, though unlikely contemplating the Flames are a Stanley Cup contender, is probably buying and selling Brodie or Hamonic with the intention to not lose both in free company.
Are the Sharks Contemplating a Teaching Change?
It’s secure to say that the Sharks haven’t gotten off to the beginning that they had hoped for in 2019-20. With a Four-Eight-1 file, they’re at the moment in seventh place within the Pacific Division and eight factors out of first place. That naturally results in hypothesis surrounding the job safety of head coach Pete DeBoer. Nevertheless, Pierre LeBrun doesn’t assume there’s any motive to consider DeBoer is on the new seat.
Not proper now. Actually, in the event you have a look at (GM) Doug Wilson’s historical past, he doesn’t make teaching modifications in the course of the season. I do know everyone seems to be questioning about Pete DeBoer’s future. Pierre LeBrun
LeBrun goes on to speak about Ron Wilson and Todd McClellan, DeBoer’s predecessors, and the way each had been let go over the offseason. As a substitute, LeBrun thinks that the Sharks’ issues are rooted of their prime gamers under-performing. Particularly, he factors out Logan Couture, Erik Karlsson, Martin Jones, and Timo Meier. Couture, Karlsson, and Meier have simply 4 targets between them and the Sharks at the moment rank 23rd in targets scored.
San Jose Sharks head coach Peter DeBoer (AP Photograph/Jeff Chiu)
In the meantime, Jones, their beginning netminder, is sporting an .890 save share (SV%), whereas his backup, Aaron Dell, isn’t a lot better, at .891. When mixed, the Sharks are tied for the league’s sixth-worst save share, which is barely higher than final season once they had been dead-last. It’s going to be a tough drawback to face, nevertheless, because the have simply over $300,000 in cap area and a variety of long-term contracts given to getting old veterans. Any substantial commerce would require cash being moved out.
Maple Leafs Getting Reinforcements
The final rumor includes the Maple Leafs and the return of forwards John Tavares and Zach Hyman. Tavares has been out a number of weeks with a damaged finger and might be again within the lineup as early as this weekend. In the meantime, Hyman has been recovering from an ACL damage and will nonetheless be a few weeks away. And whereas their returns will definitely increase a struggling Maple Leafs staff that has began the season 6-5-Three, strikes must be made to create area for them.
TSN’s Bob McKenzie stories that Tavares is because of return to the lineup sooner and that Hyman’s return is the one that may drive the entrance workplace to make strikes. He means that the staff must ship three gamers to the minors to get them underneath the wage cap. At the moment, the Maple Leafs have $217,000 in cap area and that features Hyman’s $2.25 million on long-term injured reserve. And when he returns from injured reserve his contract will rely in opposition to the wage cap, which means they might want to create roughly $2 million in area. This implies a number of gamers must be moved, with forwards being the probably possibility since they solely have seven defensemen on the NHL roster. Nic Petan, Jason Spezza, and Nick Shore appear to be the obvious candidates.
