NHL Rumors: Bruins make Krug one more offer, Tampa offer sheets, Gostisbehere on the block, and more bubble hockey?
Anthony Scultore
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The euphoria of the Stanley Cup victory will be soaked in by the Lightning players for awhile. Unfortunately, the front office will need to get to work pronto with the draft just about a week away and no cap room to sign key players. Let’s check out today’s rumors.
NHL Rumors – Tampa at risk for an offer sheet
The Lighting are the 2020 Champs, but are in trouble for next season. They have just 15 players under contract and only $5 million in cap space. Plus they have two RFA’s they could lose to an offer sheet.
While many keep pointing to Anthony Cirelli as the candidate for an offer sheet, John Shannon told me that Mikhail Sergachev is the player likely to get one. Let’s see if that happens on October 9th.
NHL Rumors – Bruins make Krug one more offer
Yesterday, we noted that Torey Krug was likely to have his rights traded heading into the draft. While that is expected to happen, it sounds like Boston put one last offer on the table for him to review.
NHL Rumors – Flyers looking to unload Ghost
Per The Athletic’s, Pierre LeBrun it seems the Philadelphia Flyers want to unload Shayne Gostisbehere and his $4.25 million cap hit. While Ghost is an offensive delight, his struggles in his own zone are very noticeable.
Seriously, why else would any team want to trade a 27 year-old offensive defenseman. Well, a rearguard’s primary job is to play….defense. Let’s see if there any takers, but Philly will likely need to retain some salary in the move.
More Bubble Hockey in 2021?
If you thought the bubble experience ended with Stamkos lifting the Cup, you may be wrong. Per TSN, it sounds like both sides will be meeting soon to discuss a hybrid bubble plan to start next season.
A meeting is likely to be scheduled between the NHL and the NHLPA for some time next week to begin discussions. The NHLPA is in the process of finalizing a committee of players to participate in the discussion directly with the league, similar to the Return to Play committee that was created shortly after the pandemic put this season on pause in March.
One concept for a hybrid bubble that has been kicked around on a preliminary basis — but not in a formal manner yet — includes four to six ‘bubbles’ in various locales around the NHL, preferably in cities where fans would be allowed inside arenas.