The latest on the Canucks and the Kraken, plus updates on Islanders captain Anders Lee and Sharks defenseman Mario Ferraro in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
THE ATHLETIC: Thomas Drance recently looked at which players will stay with the Vancouver Canucks and which ones could be gone.
Drance believes the rebuilding Canucks are at least open to moving center Elias Pettersson and wingers Brock Boeser and Jake DeBrusk. The trio is under long-term contracts with full no-movement clauses.
Vancouver Canucks center Elias Pettersson (NHL Images).
Pending free agents Evander Kane and Pierre-Olivier Joseph are not expected to be re-signed.
THE PROVINCE: Paul Chapman cited Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, who recently said that he expected the Canucks would have a lengthy meeting with Pettersson about where the team is going and what the options are. That would include moving him to teams he’d want to go to.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Even if Pettersson provides a list of preferred destinations, there’s no certainty that those clubs will be interested. His expensive contract and the concerning decline in his performance over the past two years will hurt his trade value.
Teams that might be willing to take that chance could insist on Vancouver retaining part of his $11.6 million annual salary-cap hit. Even then, the Canucks aren’t going to get a significant return.
KRAKEN COULD HAVE DIFFICULTY ATTRACTING PLAYERS
SPORTSNET: Nick Kypreos reports the Seattle Kraken face two issues that will make it difficult to improve their roster. One is the lack of depth in this summer’s unrestricted free-agent market. The other is convincing players to join them.
Kraken general manager Jason Botterill was interested in St. Louis Blues forwards Jordan Kyrou and Robert Thomas at the March trade deadline. However, he couldn’t get them to waive their no-trade clauses.
The Kraken also had permission from the New York Rangers to make a contract extension offer to Artemi Panarin with an average annual value higher than $14 million. However, he wasn’t interested in going to Seattle and was subsequently traded to the Los Angeles Kings.
A league executive claimed the Kraken thought they had a deal with the Nashville Predators for Erik Haula by giving up a second and a third-round pick. However, there was no trade call, and no indication of why the deal didn’t happen.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The lack of depth in this summer’s UFA market will make it tough for the Kraken to draw talent to Seattle. Botterill will have to get creative and target players lacking no-trade clauses in the trade market, which is easier said than done when he’s trying to add an offensive star.
WHAT’S NEXT FOR ANDERS LEE AND MARIO FERRARO?
NEW YORK POST/THE MERCURY NEWS: Ethan Sears of the Post and Curtis Pashelka of the Mercury News looked at the uncertain futures facing New York Islanders captain Anders Lee and San Jose Sharks defenseman Mario Ferraro.
Both players are eligible to become unrestricted free agents this summer. They’d like to remain with the only NHL teams they’ve ever played for, but it remains to be seen if they’ll receive contract offers that will convince them to stay.
The Islanders’ late-season collapse could force GM Mathieu Darche to reexamine his roster. The Isles also have limited cap space this summer, meaning the 35-year-old Lee would have to accept a discount.
Sharks GM Mike Grier said teams expressed an interest in Ferraro before the March trade deadline. However, Grier opted to retain the 27-year-old defenseman, adding that he’s open to re-signing some of his UFA players.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ferraro’s youth and the Sharks’ $42.5 million in projected cap space for next season make him more likely to stay with his current club.