What’s next for the Canucks after trading J.T. Miller and acquiring Marcus Pettersson? What does a higher salary cap mean for the Leafs’ efforts to re-sign Mitch Marner? What’s the latest on the Bruins and Sharks? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
WHAT’S NEXT FOR THE CANUCKS?
THE PROVINCE: Patrick Johnston believes the projected hike in the salary cap to $95.5 million means Brock Boeser should hold firm on asking for a significant raise.
The 27-year-old Vancouver Canucks winger is slated to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. Contract extension talks between Boeser and management have been reportedly lukewarm.
Vancouver Canucks winger Brock Boeser (NHL Images).
If the Canucks part ways with Boeser via trade or free agency, Johnston believes his replacement will be promising winger Jonathan Lekkerimaki.
NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: James Nichols recently observed rumors suggesting Boeser could become available at the March 7 trade deadline barring a significant turnaround in the Canucks’ fortunes.
If Boeser finishes the season in Vancouver, he could become available in this summer’s free-agent market. Nichols believes the Devils should look into acquiring Boeser because they need a shooter on their first power-play unit.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canucks trading J.T. Miller to the New York Rangers on Friday shifts the focus on Boeser’s future with the club. He carries a $6.65 million cap hit coming off a three-year contract. His production is down this season but he’s not the only Canuck facing that predicament.
Boeser tallied a career-high 40 goals last season and will use that to seek a significant raise on a long-term contract. The skyrocketing increases in the cap starting next season mean the Canucks can afford to re-sign him. Whether they will remains to be seen.
HOW WILL A HIGHER CAP AFFECT THE LEAFS’ EFFORTS TO RE-SIGN MARNER?
THE ATHLETIC: James Mirtle examined the pros and cons of how a rising cap over the next three seasons will affect the Toronto Maple Leafs, especially their efforts to re-sign pending UFAs like Mitch Marner and John Tavares.
On the plus side, it’ll open up more cap space to re-sign those players and to address other roster weaknesses. The downside is the possibility of pending UFAs and their agents negotiating their cap percentage based on substantial cap increases beyond next season.
Mirtle believes the Leafs should be able to re-sign Tavares and restricted free agent Matthew Knies without much difficulty. However, Marner is harder to forecast because of his status among the league’s top forwards. He could get more than $13 million annually on the open market but it remains to be seen how much more.
TORONTO STAR: Kevin McGran speculates Marner could seek a higher average annual value than Auston Matthews’ current team-leading $13.25 million. He also thinks Tavares’ AAV will drop from its current $11 million but not by much, perhaps to $8 million annually.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Leafs will have over $29.6 million in projected cap space for next season with 17 active roster players under contract. They can afford Marner, Tavares and Knies but the trio will take up a significant chunk of that cap room.
Assuming Marner agrees to stay below Matthews’ number and accepts $13 million, Tavares gets $8 million and Knies $5 million, that’ll eat up over $26 million.
WHAT’S BRUIN IN BOSTON?
NBC SPORTS BOSTON: Nick Goss reports Bruins captain Brad Marchand could draw plenty of interest if his struggling club becomes sellers by the March 7 trade deadline. The 36-year-old winger is UFA-eligible this summer.
Marchand said he’s focussing on the day-to-day and isn’t concerned about what management has in store. “They’re going to do what they feel is necessary for the team. And all we can do is worry about our play and what we can control,” he said. The Bruins captain also said he’s not paying attention to media rumors and has no control over that.
If the Bruins intend on retooling for a bounce-back performance next season, Goss believes it would make sense if Marchand stayed put.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Marchand is a heart-and-soul Bruin who wants to stay in Boston. Bruins management would prefer retaining him. However, it will depend on what type of contract he wants and what kind of trade offers the Bruins get for him.
Goss also believes bringing back Trent Frederic would make sense at the right price. His production is down from last season’s 40-point pace but the 26-year-old forward is in his prime and his physical style suits the Bruins. Goss felt a fair contract would be one comparable to Dakota Joshua’s four-year deal with the Canucks worth $3.25 million annually.
If a new contract isn’t possible, Goss believes the Bruins should trade Frederic for a draft pick or a prospect. He considers him too valuable to lose for nothing.
SEVERAL SHARKS COULD SOON BECOME TRADE CANDIDATES
THE MERCURY NEWS: Curtis Pashelka recently reported several San Jose Sharks players are in limbo with the March 7 trade deadline on the horizon.
The Sharks’ list of pending UFAs includes forward Mikael Granlund, Luke Kunin and Nico Sturm, defensemen Cody Ceci and Jan Rutta, and goaltenders Vitek Vanecek and Alexandar Georgiev.
Sharks GM Mike Grier intends to examine his options as the deadline approaches. It’ll depend on what type of return those players could fetch.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Granlund has 45 points in 52 games this season and should exceed last season’s 60-point performance. That production should make him enticing for contenders seeking scoring depth.
Ceci is a right-shot defenseman and they are currently a hot commodity in the trade market. He also has playoff experience, including his run with the Edmonton Oilers to the 2024 Stanley Cup Final. Kunin is a versatile two-way forward who could tempt teams seeking a third-line center.
