NHL Rumors: Patrick Kane, Mathew Barzal, and Trevor Zegras
Anthony Scultore
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Today’s NHL Rumors follows up on the news coming out of Chicago regarding the future of Blackhawks superstar Patrick Kane.
From there we will look at the latest regarding contract talks for the New York Islanders center Mathew Barzal. Also there will be no contract talks in Anaheim for the three key Ducks.
NHL Rumors: Patrick Kane calls rumors noise
Kane, 33, has one year left on a deal that hits the cap at $10.5 million. He registered 92 points in 76 games last season and will return a haul of picks and prospects when he’s ready to waive his full no-move clause.
However, at this time the Blackhawks have no desire to trade Kane or Jonathan Toews. That’s what GM Kyle Davidson said this week regarding the matter and Kane called out the rumors as well.
“Like I said before, it’s not really something I’ve thought of or anything I’m thinking about right now,” Kane told The Athletic (subscription required). “It’s just a lot of noise right now. It was just all rumors. I don’t think there was really any legitimate discussions between any team or the Blackhawks, as far as I know.”
Kane has recorded 1,180 points (430 goals, 750 assists) in 1,107 career games since the Blackhawks selected him with the top overall pick of the 2007 NHL Draft. If he is made available at the NHL Trade Deadline there’ll be no shortage of suitors.
At the end of the day, Kane is simply not concerning himself with it.
“To be honest, there hasn’t been much discussion about anything, even with my agent or my parents or my family,” Kane said. “I mean, I think we all know the situation, what could potentially happen. It’s not really anything I’m thinking about as of yet.”
NHL Rumors: Mathew Barzal extension
A contract extension is likely in the works for New York Islanders star forward Matthew Barzal. He is entering the final year of his deal and will be a restricted free agent with arbitration rights in July.
Barzal, 25, picked up 59 points in 73 games for the Isles last season.
“Hopefully, there’s still two weeks before the season and we can hammer something out,” Barzal said Thursday, following the first practice of training camp, when asked why an extension had yet to materialize. “I’m not really worried about it, just cause my heart’s here and I know we’ll get something fair. Something both sides will be happy about.”
NY POST
The Islanders should be able to sign him to a max contract at 8 years. He currently makes $7 million against the cap, but Semyon Varlamov’s $5 million cap hit will be off the books in 2023-24 to accommodate.
No contract talks for Trevor Zegras
Anaheim Ducks GM Pat Verbeek does not want to discuss contract extensions during the season for restricted free agents.
Trevor Zegras, Jamie Drysdale, and Troy Terry are all entering the final years of their deals.
“We’re going to wait until the season goes,” Verbeek said via The Athletic. “That way the players don’t have a distraction. It gives the players the full year to kind of just concentrate on playing hockey and then at the appropriate time we’ll talk with the agents and do what we got to do.”
Zegras, 21, was the No. 9 overall pick in 2019 Draft and got a taste of the NHL last season. He finished with 61 points on the strength of 23 goals in 75 games last season.
Drysdale, 20, recorded 32 points in 81 games in 2021-22. He was selected 6th overall in the 2020 Draft.
Terry, 25, registered 37 goals and 67 points last year in 75 games.
