Jun 23, 2016
News and Rumours: Flames seek help in net
The NHL's off-season is upon us and teams are already looking to re-shape their rosters for a more successful 2016-17 season. Keep up to date on the latest trade/free agent news, speculation and rumours from around the league.
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 2016-17 season. Keep up to date on the latest trade/free agent news, speculation and rumours from around the league.
The latest from TSN Senior Hockey Reporter Frank Seravalli:
--
Nail for Sale?
With all the Edmonton Oilers trade rumours surrounding the big three of Taylor Hall, Jordan Eberle, and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, the Edmonton Journal’s Jim Matheson believes a different first-round pick will find himself in new colours very soon.
An anonymous NHL pro scout echoed the sentiment.
“Yakupov’s value has dropped significantly over the last two years … they may have to take somebody else’s failed prospect. I don’t think the Oilers will get a whole, big return for him,” the scout said, as quoted by the Edmonton Journal.
“I’d describe him as a pond hockey player. He’s got NHL skills and the ability to create stuff and there’s times when he’s quite effective, but he sees himself as one type of player when he’s really not. He can’t do things by himself. He has to learn to use the players around him better.”
--
Steep Price
The Ottawa Senators would like to move up from the No. 12 selection at the 2016 NHL draft on Friday, but according to the Ottawa Citizen they likely don’t have the funds.
“For us to move away from No. 12, it will take a significant trade,” Dorion said. “I doubt it. That’s why I say if I had to bet, I’d bet on No. 12.”
Despite his desires, Dorion says he is “comfortable” should the Senators stay put.
“I’m extremely comfortable at No. 12,” he said. “I’m extremely comfortable with taking the player that we’re going to take. I really am comfortable.”
“The thing is, if you’re picking closer to No. 1 that player has a better chance of playing right away, when you’re closer to No. 12 that player might be a year away.”
--
Ready to move
“If we can trade a couple picks and improve our team, we’re going to continue to do that,” Murray said at a news conference. “There’s been a lot of calls. There’s been a lot of framework or blueprints. It’s who you get back to or who gets back to you.”
“You have to feel there’s a mutual fit. The guys who are calling me are calling 28 other guys, and I’m doing likewise. It’s who you get back to and who you zero in on because you had a good feel on the first call or first two calls. We’re not there yet, but we’re close.”
The Sabres traded two first-round picks and the 31st overall pick last year and appear to have no problem going down the same road.
“If we trade the picks to make the team better, that’s just the way it goes,” the Sabres’ director of amateur scouting Greg Royce said, as quoted by The Buffalo News.
--
“Open-minded”
The Arizona Coyotes made their first big splash of the off-season with the signing of defenceman Alex Goligoski after trading for his negotiating rights from the Dallas Stars.
“If we do stay at seven and 20, then we’ll get good players,” General Manager John Chayka said, as quoted by azcentral. “If we make a decision to move, then we’ll get good players that way, as well.”
The Coyotes have eight picks in the 2016 draft.