Jun 18, 2015
Pens not dealing Malkin; looking for wingers
Keep up to date on the latest trade, draft and free agent speculation and rumours from around the league. Thursday's round-up includes Pittsburgh Penguins general manager squashing rumours Evgeni Malkin could be traded, while divulging on a key area of need.
TSN.ca Staff
The NHL's off-season is upon us and teams are already looking to re-shape their rosters for a more successful 2015-16 season. Keep up to date on the latest trade/free agent speculation and rumours from around the league.
Ge-"No"
Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford squashed rumours Evgeni Malkin could be traded this summer on Wednesday.
Rutherford told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that neither the star forward nor the Penguins are interested in looking for a trade.
"No, he's not available," Rutherford said. "Based on my communications with him or with his agent, he does not have an interest [in a trade]. He loves Pittsburgh and he wants to win here. Like everybody else, he's disappointed with us not reaching our goal. He played hurt. He actually played when most guys wouldn't play. There's no interest from either side [the club's or the player's] in moving him."
Rutherford said the Penguins own a core group that win a Stanley Cup, but need to build their supporting cast, specifically their forward group.
"We didn't need to see the finals to know it; we knew down the stretch that we need more skill on the wings," said Rutherford. "That's a priority for us."
The Penguins were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs with a 4-1 series loss to the New York Rangers.
Backup Move
Ryan Miller isn't going anywhere.
Fellow Vancouver Canucks goaltenders Eddie Lack and Jacob Markstrom, however, have not been guaranteed that same security.
Speaking to TSN Radio 1040 Vancouver on Wednesday, Canucks general manager Jim Benning confirmed Miller would return to the team, but failed to give the same assurance to his backups.
"I want to keep an older experienced goalie and Ryan is that guy," Benning said. "Then we are going to decide on either Lack or Markstrom. I don't feel comfortable going into the season with two young goalies… Ryan for sure will be back."
Though he stayed mum on Lack, who posted an 18-13-4 record last season, Rutherford heaped praise on Markstrom who helped the Utica Comets reach the Calder Cup Final earlier this month.
"He is ready to be an NHL goalie now," Benning said of 25-year-old. "He worked with Dan Cloutier all year and Dan helped him tighten up his game and of the 11 or 12 (playoff) games they won, I think nine of them went to overtime. They were all close games and he was under the gun every game to be good and he was good."
Markstrom is a restricted free agent this summer, while Lack is set for unrestricted free agency after 2015-16.
Calling for Cam
A market appears to be forming for New York Rangers goaltender Cam Talbot.
TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger reports at least five teams are interested in adding Talbot, including the Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames.
Talbot has one season remaining on his contract, carrying a $1.45 million cap hit. The 27-year-old posted a 21-9-4 record last season with a 2.21 goals against average and a .926 save percentage.
Make Me an Offer
Restricted free agent Brandon Saad could receive an offer sheet this offseason, but the 22-year-old is still unlikely to leave Chicago.
According to TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun, at least one NHL general manager has heard Saad could receive an offer sheet.
LeBrun notes, however, that the Blackhawks are likely to do whatever it takes to keep the budding star and address any cap issues after.
"I cannot imagine under any scenario Stan Bowman would not match it," LeBrun told TSN 1040 on Wednesday. "I think he matches it and then he just goes from there. The one thing to remember about the off-season is that you don't have to be under the cap now. You just have to be under the cap in the fall, so you've got all summer to figure that out."
Saad scored 23 goals and 29 assists in 82 regular season games with the Blackhawks. He added eight goals and three assists in 23 playoff games.
St. Louis Stay
St. Louis Blues general manager Doug Armstrong is confident restricted free agent Vladimir Tarasenko will be returning to St. Louis next season.
Armstrong told Jeremy Rutherford of the St. Louis Post Dispatch Tuesday signing a deal with Tarasenko is only a matter of time.
“(Tarasenko) knows he’s going to be here, we know he’s going to be here,” Armstrong said. “When it happens, it happens.”
The general manager also added the Blues' management of the salary cup should ensure they have no trouble keeping the 37-goal scorer.
“Our team, when you look at the salary cap and you look at our structure, I would imagine that we’re not going to be very far apart in dollars," said Armstrong. "So, I have a really good feeling of what it’s going to take and I think he does, too.”
Tarasenko registered 73 points in 77 games with the Blues last season. The 23-year-old added six goals and one assist in six playoff games.