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NHL rumors roundup Week 1: Top insiders' major updates on Swayman-Bruins contract drama, Maple Leafs' cap to force trades, & more
The 2024-25 regular season' start in North America is less than three days away, and the NHL rumor mill is still grinding. With the future of marquee franchise players still under question, two elite goaltenders are the biggest talk of the town as we head into the NHL's 108th regular season.
Rangers' Igor Shesterkin and Bruins' Jeremy Swayman have been headlining NHL rumors ever since the start of preseason, with insiders reporting on the rumblings between the franchises & player agents, regularly.
There have also been rumors about the NHL expanding to a new market, but the league's top brass in commissioner Gary Bettman & Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly is currently tight-lipped, despite a very well-reputed NHL player agent calling their silence out and claiming expansion talks are being held behind-the-scenes with Bettman (eventually) demanding a $4 billion fee to establish an NHL franchise in a brand new market.
Deep dive into the current top 4, hottest NHL rumors
This week's NHL rumor roundup is surrounded by the league's rumored expansion in Houston, Atlanta, the Leafs' salary cap problems requiring a trade or two, Rangers' final decision about Shesterkin's future in the Big Apple, and a major update on Jeremy Swayman's contract drama with the Bruins.
#4. Houston, Atlanta pegged top destinations for NHL expansion; Rockets-owner breaks silence on his interest
Bally Sports' Andy Strickland named Houston Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta, and billionaire mogul Vernon Krause (for an Atlanta franchise) as the two suitors for a new NHL expansion team. Fertitta addressed the rumors of his interest in buying an NHL expansion team in Houston, and essentially said the NHL's current asking price for an expansion team is too high, and he would be willing to make a move only for "the right price".
Also read: Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta speaks out on rumors of purchasing NHL expansion team in Houston
#3. Toronto Maple Leafs have to become cap-compliant quickly; three prime trade targets include two D-men
According to Puckpedia, the Leafs are currently $1,069, 667 over the cap limit. They have till Monday to become cap-compliant. The Leafs need to dump one or more contracts quickly. With only Jani Hakanpaa on LTIR, the Leafs will save his $X contract from affecting their cap.
The Leafs would have to trade a player or place them on waivers, to become cap-compliant in such a short while. Three prime trade candidates are blue-liners in Calle Jarnkrok, Timothy Liljegren and forward David Kampf. TSN's NHL insider Darren Dregger named Jarnkrok ($2.1 million AAV) and Kampf ($2.4 million AAV) as his prime candidates to help the Leafs dump some money.
Defenseman Timothy Liljegren is a newcomer into trade talks after a disappointing preseason performance. Sportsnet's Luke Fox deems his $3.1 million AAV contract 'too high for a sixth or seventh D-man, and questions if the Leafs can find a buyer for the 25-year-old D-man.
Leafs will also look to sign PTOs Max Pacioretty and Steven Lorentz to one-year contracts. A salary dump from any or more than one of the above-mentioned players will help the Leafs confirm these signings, and leave space for the March trade deadline as well.
#2. Friedman: Rangers have "made their choice" regarding Igor Shesterkin's future
Igor Shesterkin is one of the best goalies in the modern NHL. He is expected to become the highest paid goalie in NHL history, besting Carey Price's $10.5M AAV contract with the Habs, somewhere around $12M AAV. Sportsnet's NHL insider Elliotte Friedman speculated on Igor Shesterkin's upcoming extension with the Rangers and said:
"... it just comes down to what the numbers going to be.But until I’m told otherwise, I expect them to work out. I believe the Rangers have made their choice here."
For Friedman's full report, read: NHL Rumors: Elliotte Friedman claims Rangers have "made their choice" over Igor Shesterkin
#1. Top insiders provide latest updates on Jeremy Swayman's: "Ask may have dropped to just under ... "
(Bruins have since confirmed Swayman's 8x$8.25M extension)
The Jeremy Swayman-Boston Bruins contract drama took an ugly turn last week when Cam Neely came out guns blazing, and all but revealed that the Bruins had offered Swayman a $64 million contract. Swayman's agent, Lewis Gross, denied the Bruins's $64 million offer and deemed Neely's comments as unfair to Jeremy, and stated they'll take a few days to discuss the next steps.
On Saturday night, NHL insider David Pagnotta reported (4:32) a drop in Swayman's demands from the Bruins. Pagnotta said:
"The ask may have dropped a little bit from Swayman's side to just under $9 million per year on an AAV, somewhere in the high eights."
Early on Sunday morning, Elliotte Friedman reported Bruins and Jeremy Swayman are finally concluding a contract extension.
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