NHL Rumors: Latest trade talk around Penguins, Jonathan Quick’s time with Kings ending, and Sam Bennett move on hold
Anthony Scultore
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The Pittsburgh Penguins are playing decent hockey this season, but remain in the NHL Rumors Mill more than any other team to date. That will happen when you have Jim Rutherford abruptly resign and you hire two big hockey personalities in Brian Burke and Ron Hextall.
NHL Rumors: State of the Penguins and goalie shopping?
Brian Burke was recently asked about what he’s going to do running the Penguins out of the gate.
Well, we’ve agreed we’re going to see what we can do with this group. It’s win now if we can with this group. We’ve got to do some things if we’re going to do that. But it’s win first. Then we’ve got some tough decisions next summer and we’ll deal with those when we get there.
Brian Burke via NHLRumors.com
So far, their win now strategy is focused on a goaltender. It was rumored that they were after Marc-Andre Fleury in Vegas, but the Knights are denying those talks happened.
Over at Florida Hockey Now, they are speculating Brian Burke’s connection to Anaheim might see them engage the Ducks for goalie John Gibson. This is very similar to a rumor that had the Penguins looking at Jonathan Quick because of Ron Hextall’s time there. Lots of talk, so let’s see what happens.
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NHL Rumors: Jonathan Quick’s time with Kings almost over
Cal Petersen has emerged as the future for the rebuilding L.A. Kings in goal. His excellent play is exactly what the Kings were hoping to see. This calls into question what the Kings will do about the upcoming expansion draft.
Quick has two years left on his contract after this season and comes with a $5.8 million salary cap hit. The Kings have the most salary cap space in the NHL, so moving him isn’t due to finances. I’ll be interested to see if teams call Kings GM Rob Blake leading up to the April 12 trade deadline about the veteran netminder. And even if Quick stays in L.A., I’d be surprised if Petersen is exposed in the July expansion draft.
The Fourth Period
I’d expect Quick to be moved at the deadline. L.A. will need to get back a goalie they can expose to protect Petersen. If not, Quick in Seattle is a real possibility.
NHL Rumors: Sam Bennett trade talks on hold
Sam Bennett’s name has cooled off in recent days thanks to some injuries that have hit the Flames. The disgruntled forward has found himself on a line with Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan. He picked up a goal in his last game against the Canucks.
A week-and-a-half ago, it seemed like the Flames were going to accommodate Sam Bennett’s trade request and show him the door. Then, they plunked him on a line with Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan and the three seemed to find some instant chemistry.
Calgary Sun
So until the Flames gets some of their injured forwards back, we can hold off on any Bennett trade talk.