Daily NHL rumors: Kasperi Kapanen, Jakob Markstrom and Alex Ovechkin fill the scoresheet today
Anthony Scultore
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In today’s NHL rumors roundup, we check out the latest from around the league. Buzz worthy news, out of Toronto, Vancouver, and more. Let’s light the lamp!
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Daily NHL rumors: Toronto Maple Leafs, Kasperi Kapanen once again being talked about
Kasperi Kapanen is only 24 years-old and has a lot of upside. However, he is the one constant name in the Maple Leafs lineup that is brought up with regards to trades. Why?
The answer is simple, Toronto has cap issues and will need to move a decent player from their lineup. Kapanen and his $3.4 million annual cap hit make him the prime candidate.
There’s some whispers coming out of Toronto that depending out the outcome of their qualifying matchup with Columbus, they may be willing to include him in a package to move into the top 10 of this very talented draft pool.
Daily NHL rumors: Vancouver Canucks intend on re-signing Jacob Markstrom
One free agent goalie that will not be available come free agent frenzy will be Vancouver’s 30 year-old starter, Jacob Markstrom. He and Canucks’ GM, Jim Benning appear to be having some productive conversations towards a new deal.
“I’ve got a good relationship with Jacob, and you know we talked again yesterday,” Benning told Sportsnet. “We’re going to get something figured out for him. We both decided let’s just wait until after the playoffs are done. We’ll sit down with his agent Pat Morris and with Jacob and we’ll get something figured out. We want to keep him on the team. He’s been a good goalie for us here the last couple of years and a big part of the team.”
NHL.com
Daily NHL rumors: Alex Ovechkin and Washington Capitals won’t talk extension now
Alex Ovechkin is hands down one of the best goal scorers this game has ever seen. The 34 year-old Ovechkin will enter the final season of a 13 year deal next year and could become a UFA.
It is unlikely that the Caps will let go of not only the greatest player in their franchise but the 8th greatest goal scorer in NHL history. Ovechkin sits just two goals behind another Caps great in Mike Gartner, but Ovi scored all 706 as a member of the Capitals.
Expect this to get done after the playoffs.
“We’re waiting until after the playoffs to see how everything pans out here,” Capitals general manager Brian MacLellan said Friday. “I think it’s constantly been changing the whole year. I don’t think anybody could have predicted. We’re going to wait and assess where we’re at at the end of the year and make decisions then.”
NHL.com