Off-Season Watch: Blues' Krug unwilling to waive NTC as deal with Flyers remains up in the air
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Ahead of the NHL Draft on June 28-29 and the opening of free agency on July 1, TSN.ca keeps you up to date with all the latest rumours and speculation from around the NHL beat.
Hayes on the move?
TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger reports that the "waiting game" for an apparent significant trade between the Philadelphia Flyers and St. Louis Blues continued Sunday morning.
Jeremy Rutherford of The Athletic reported Saturday that the trade is highlighted by Flyers forward Kevin Hayes and could also feature "several elements."
Rutherford adds that one of the Blues players involved in the possible trade has invoked his no-trade clause which is causing the delay.
On Sunday, TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun confirmed that the player unwilling to waive his no-trade clause was Blues veteran defenceman Torey Krug.
"My understanding at the moment is that Torey Krug won’t waive his NTC for a trade to Philadelphia. I suppose he could always change his mind, but that’s where it is as of now," LeBrun said on Twitter.
Dreger adds that Flyers general manager Daniel Brière was looking for other options earlier Sunday, but says the deal is "basically dead" until something changes.
The 31-year-old Hayes had the best season of his career when it comes to point production in 2022-23, scoring 18 goals and 36 assists for 54 points over 81 games on a Flyers team that finished near the bottom of the Metropolitan Division.
It was Hayes' fourth year in Philadelphia as the American is entering the fifth year of seven-year, $50-million contract that brings an annual cap hit of $7.14 million.
Krug, 32, scored seven goals and added 25 assists over 63 games with the Blues in 2022-23, his third season in St. Louis after signing a seven-year, $45.5 million free agent contract with the team in 2020.
The American, who spent the first nine years of his career with the Boston Bruins, still has four years remaining on his deal with an average annual value of $6.5 million.
Rutherford notes that the Flyers would retain a "significant" portion of his salary in a trade with the Blues.
Kings closing in on Dubois?
The Los Angeles Kings are reportedly talking contract extension details with Winnipeg Jets forward Pierre-Luc Dubois, according to Murat Ates of The Athletic.
Dubois, a 25-year-old restricted free agent, is just one notable name that has the potential to be moved by the Jets this off-season. Goalie Connor Hellebuyck and longtime forward Mark Scheifele are also trade candidates this summer in Winnipeg.
The native of Ste-Agathe-des-Monts, Que., is coming off a career season with the Jets, scoring 27 goals and 36 assists over 73 games.
Dubois has spent the last three seasons in Winnipeg, earning $6 million in 2022-23.