In today’s NHL rumors rundown, the Ottawa Senators waived a couple of players in the hopes that a waiver claim or an assignment in the minors might free up the money needed to sign Shane Pinto. What now that they weren’t claimed? Are the New York Rangers growing tired of waiting for Alexis Lafreniere to find his game? How close are the Seattle Kraken on extensions for Matty Beniers and Jordan Eberle? Finally, has Noah Gregor done enough to earn a contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs?
Can Senators Trade Bernard-Docker or Sokolov?
** Update: Both Jacob Bernard-Docker and winger Egor Sokolov cleared waivers on Wednesday.
Seeing as how the Senators still need to sign Shane Pinto and placed players on waivers to free up salary, can the Senators get a deal done with the RFA who has been resistant to sign and is one of only two RFAs left (the other being Jamie Drysdale)? Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun wrote: “My sense is there is interest in defenceman Jacob Bernard-Docker and winger Egor Sokolov, who were placed on waivers Tuesday at 2 PM. Bernard-Docker’s one-way contract for two years is a hurdle, but there are a few teams talking about Sokolov.”
It will be intriguing to see what the Senators do now that both players have cleared.
Might the Rangers Be Growing Tired of Lafreniere’s Struggles?
In their latest piece for The Hockey News, Stan Fischler and Stefen Rosner delved into the NHL’s current trade and rumor mill, highlighting the persistent challenges faced by Alexis Lafreniere in New York. Despite being the first overall pick, Lafreniere has continued to struggle, prompting discussions about the possibility of a parting of ways between the player and the team.
The reluctance to trade a top prospect is understandable, yet Lafreniere’s difficulties in meeting the high expectations set for him have raised concerns. The article suggests that a separation might be in the best interests of both Lafreniere and the Rangers, allowing both parties to move forward independently. On a more positive note, the Rangers have found solace in the growth of Kaapo Kakko, their 2019 second-round pick, who has overcome earlier challenges to establish himself as a promising NHL player.
Kraken Working on Beniers and Eberle Deals
According to Geoff Baker, the Kraken beat reporter for the Seattle Times, there are discussions about the contract duration for Matty Beniers, with options ranging from a two-to-three-year “bridge” deal to a more extended agreement. From the perspective of GM Ron Francis, committing to at least a five-year term or even longer seems ideal. Opting for a longer-term deal appears necessary to secure a player of Matty’s caliber at a reasonable cost.
Baker writes:
I’m not privy to discussions between Beniers and the Kraken, though they’ve no doubt exchanged broad details of what each side is looking for. A “bridge” deal for Beniers would usually cover two or three RFA seasons and still leave him primed for a big raise in Year 4 before hitting the open market if he wants. So, that would mean transferring leverage to Beniers that he doesn’t currently have. It’s probably more beneficial for the team to lock him up longer and get a cheaper back-end deal on some of his UFA seasons. That is, if the Kraken believe he’ll grow into a star player.
source – ‘Kraken mailbag: Is it time to worry about Matty Beniers’ contract?’ – Geoff Baker – Seattle Times – 09/23/2023
Simultaneously, Francis faces the challenge of retaining Jordan Eberle, who is in the final season of his original five-year contract with the Kraken. Eberle has proven to be an excellent fit both on and off the ice for the team, making it likely that negotiations will yield a favorable outcome for the Kraken. Finding the right balance between short-term flexibility and long-term stability is crucial for Seattle as they navigate these contract discussions.
Noah Gregor Likely to be Signed by Maple Leafs
According to Jonas Siegel of The Athletic, “It feels like a foregone conclusion that Gregor will earn a contract, whether it’s right away or, if injuries to Klingberg and Järnkrok linger, a few days into the season.” Noting that the winger has done enough on his PTO to warrant heavy consideration for a deal, Gregor has played well, scored, added speed to the team’s bottom six and showed well when auditioned on the penalty kill.
Siegel writes:
He looks like the best candidate from among [David] Kämpf and [Ryan] Reaves to punch in double-digit goals from down there and might even be OK for spot duty on the third line.
source – ‘What we’ve learned at Maple Leafs camp: Knies ready for more, Liljegren breaking out’ – Joan Siegel – The Athletic – 10/04/2023