In today’s NHL gossip, reports have surfaced that the Florida Panthers are actively trying to trade Sergei Bobrovsky. What are you willing to do to move it? Meanwhile, the Dallas Stars are expected to name Peter DeBoer as their next head coach. Have the Vancouver Canucks landed the KHL’s biggest free agent and are they looking for a top-four defenseman? What will the Buffalo Sabers do if no senior goalie is considering them? Will Brayden Point eventually play Game 3 for the Tampa Bay Lightning?
Panthers trying to trade Bobrovsky
The Panthers are reportedly trying to trade goalie Sergei Bobrovsky. Said Nick Kypreos on the show Real Kyper & Bourne. “Regarding the takers who need a goalie and we are willing to withhold money. And I’ve been told it’s up to 50 percent.”
If that’s true and the Panthers are willing to keep 50% of his contract, it’s not a bad deal for a number of teams that could use a starter. A healthy and productive Bobrovsky for four seasons at $5 million a season is a solid value contract. In 54 games in 2021-22, he went 39-7-3 with a .913 save ratio and a 2.67 GAA and helped lead the Panthers to the President’s Trophy. His numbers have dipped at times, including this year’s postseason (0.911 SV% and 2.70 GAA in 10 games), but he was still a strong goaltender.
He’s still only 33 years old and has a no-move clause that takes effect in July 2024.
Stars to hire DeBoer
According to Elliotte Friedman, “I heard that Peter DeBoer will be the next head coach of the Dallas Stars.” There hasn’t been an official announcement from the Stars yet, though TSN’s Pierre LeBrun writes that the two sides are “working on a four-year deal worth over $4 million per season, sources say.” Still not signed, but that’s where it will go once it’s done.”
The stars are in win-now mode and DeBoer is known as a coach who can bring out the best in his roster. The hope seems to be that he will spark some of the team’s more offensive guys who haven’t been as offensive in the last couple of seasons.
Canucks and a top 4 defender?
During the Donnie & Dhali Show, Thomas Drance asked Rick Dhaliwal if he heard anything about the Canucks potentially chasing a top-four defenseman. Neither said they heard anything specific, but both believe the team will eventually seek one.
Internally, the feeling was that both Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Tyler Myers were being backed too much by the club and played too often. They also believed Ekman-Larsson was strong last season, especially when he was asked to play a shutdown role. They would still like to put him in more offensive positions.
In other Canucks news, Andrey Kuzmenko’s agent has confirmed that the Canucks have landed the KHL’s free agent. He writes, “Confirmation of Andrey Kuzmenko’s intention to sign with Vancouver Canucks. Contract details will be worked out shortly.”
Saber to play in the goalie backup pool
According to The Buffalo News’ Lance Lysowski, the Sabers don’t expect to have some of the more senior UFA goaltenders available to them. As organizing will not be an Option A for many of the top-tier netminders, they are expected to take the cheaper route this summer.
He writes:
In the free hand, the Sabers are more likely to target bargain hunters like Casey DeSmith, Mikko Koskinen, Eric Comrie and Kevin Lankinen. Trading opportunities abound. Will the Bruins make Ullmark available when they rebuild? Jonathan Quick, John Gibson, Semyon Varlamov, James Reimer and Adin Hill are just a few names to keep an eye on.
Source: “Sabres Mailbag: Goalie Schedule, Piluts Status, Free Agent Tracking and Draft Day” – Lance Lysowsky – Buffalo News – 06/12/2022
Show a game time decision
Jon Cooper says Brayden Point is a game-time decision against the Colorado Avalanche for Game 3. Point didn’t take the morning skate. Neither does Andrei Vasilevskiy, but he will play tonight despite the onslaught of goals he faced in Game 2.
Cooper says Point wasn’t exactly the same player he was before his injury, but noted he was asked to play against the NHL’s fastest team and it’s a tough situation to be thrown into.
Jim Parsons is a senior freelance THW writer, part-time journalist, and audio/video host who lives, eats, sleeps, and breathes NHL news and rumor while also writing features about the Edmonton Oilers. He’s been a trusted source at The Hockey Writers for more than five years, but beyond that, his mission is to keep readers up to date with the latest NHL gossip and tech talk. Jim is a daily must-read for readers who want to be “in the loop.”
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