NHL Rumors: Marc-Andre Fleury off the market, Jimmy Vesey available, David Quinn on the hot seat in New York?
Anthony Scultore
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The NHL Rumor Mill has slowed down a bit today, which allows me to catch my breath. For the last week plus the Penguins, Canucks, and Predators have dominated the topic. I’m sure they will work their way back in but for this edition we will start in Vegas.
NHL Rumors: Marc-Andre Fleury off the market
Marc-Andre Fleury has been sharp this season for the Vegas Golden Knights. His name came up in trade talks this past summer with the Carolina Hurricanes being the closest to acquire him. Then it was learned that the Penguins had asked about getting MAF back in Pittsburgh.
I don’t believe Marc-Andre Fleury is available. He’s on fire, rejuvenated. In a year where some teams can’t make it work even with four goalies, why would you move him?
Elliotte Friedman
Reports coming out of Vegas is that they’ve denied any talks of moving Fleury this season. That may be the case for now, but come the trade deadline these things can change on a dime.
NHL Rumors: Jimmy Vesey on his way out of Toronto already?
Things don’t appear to be working out for Jimmy Vesey and the Maple Leafs as both sides had hoped. Jonas Siegel discussed the latest in The Athletic and highlighted Vesey’s lack of production.
Vesey, who signed a one-year deal worth $900,000, has gone eight straight games without a point. He has only three points on the season, 16 games in. His two goals were both can’t-miss opportunities courtesy of William Nylander.
Vesey is playing under 13 minutes a game, the fewest of his NHL career. Early opportunities alongside Auston Matthews and John Tavares evaporated quickly.
The 27 year-old forward could be moved as a rental at the deadline in exchange for a draft pick.
NHL Rumors: Is David Quinn on the hot seat with the Rangers
David Quinn has not had an easy go of it in season three of his NHL head coaching career. The Blueshirts fell 5-2 to a NJ Devils team that had not played in 16 days. This has the cat calls coming from some in the fanbase looking for his removal. That was further driven by Larry Brooks in today’s NY Post.
Games such as this may force club president John Davidson to ask some pointed questions about just what the hell is going on here? When a team loses because of effort, does at least some of it have to bounce back on the coach? I’ll answer that: Uh, yeah.
Larry Brooks NY Post
So is David Quinn on the hot seat? Not this season, which Brooks intimated as well. Many of you are aware I cover the Rangers extensively at Forever Blueshirts. I’ve received no indication from the organization that David Quinn’s job is in trouble at the moment.
The Rangers are one of the youngest teams in the NHL, and while Quinn is doing all he can to win his main responsibility is laying the foundation for next season. Development of Kaapo Kakko, Alexis Lafreniere, and K’Andre Miller are paramount.
Additionally, the Rangers will have almost $18 million in cap space to play with to improve the team at the center ice position. Per a source, they are already thinking about the potential market as they will have the money and the assets to make a blockbuster deal.