NHL Rumors: Brandon Saad extension, AHL realignment, and more
Anthony Scultore
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Going through the media circuit around the NHL, you find some great gems. Today’s NHL rumor mill has some good nuggets of information. Let’s get to it.
Brandon Saad and Avs have not talked extension
On a recent @TheRink podcast hosted by NHL.com senior writer Dan Rosen, we learned Brandon Saad is waiting to talk contract with Colorado.
“We haven’t had any discussions, I think it’s a bit early, especially with not really knowing what’s going on with the season, but for me, thinking about it, Colorado has always been in my top because I want to win again,” Saad said on the latest episode of the NHL @TheRink podcast. “So to be in a great spot like that, on a great team, and then you hear wonders about the city, really, it seems like a great place that I want to play a long time. I think it’s just a feeling-out process, making sure I’m in love with it, and obviously they have to want me for a long period of time. But that’s definitely somewhere I could see myself playing out my career.”
NHL.com
Saad was traded by the Blackhawks to the Avalanche this offseason. The 28 year-old scored 33 points in 58 games last year and still has plenty left to offer. His current deal will expire at the end of the season and make him a UFA. If the Avs and Saad can’t reach a deal by the deadline, he will likely be on the move again.
AHL realignment
This morning I wrote about NHL realignment. Common sense says that the league’s top minor league system will do something similar. The AHL is expected to do a realignment for the Canadian based AND Canadian affiliated teams.
In proposals tabled earlier this month to start the 2020-21 campaign by the AHL’s head office, one scenario being studied would see the Belleville Senators, Toronto Marlies, Laval Rocket and Manitoba Moose in one division because of the restrictions around border travel in the United States. The Vancouver Canucks (Utica), Calgary Flames (Stockton) and Edmonton Oilers (Bakersfield) have the option of moving their AHL affiliates to their home cities while the threat of COVID-19 exists but they have opted not to do so because of the expense involved.
Ottawa Sun
Kyle Turris reached out to Edmonton
In reading the Edmonton Journal, I found this gem about Kyle Turris who was bought out by the Nashville Predators.
Contacts of mine in Ottawa are whispering that Kyle Turris not only entered free agency with Edmonton on his list, he may have initiated contact via his agent. In private, I’m told that Turris knows the past season was not his best work but also felt that he was not in the ideal situation to succeed. The opportunity to fill the 3C spot with his 2-way game in Edmonton may be the perfect chance to rebound. At least that’s how he sees it.
Edmonton Journal
Good on Turris to identify a place he wanted to play and believes can be successful for both sides. Even better for getting the deal done and landing there.