NHL Rumors: Sabres “wide open” for business, Carey Price on the move, and Rickard Rakell on the Rangers?
Anthony Scultore
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The Buffalo Sabres are in a complete free fall. It just isn’t that they are losing, it looks like they are mess doing so. From questions about quitting on their coach to stretches where they look like they’re playing pee-wee hockey – it’s really bad.
NHL Rumors: Buffalo Sabres are wide open for business
Buffalo Sabres General Manager, Kevyn Adams held a press conference on Friday and called everything “unacceptable”. It was a critical session and to the reporters’ credit in Buffalo – they asked some pointed questions.
Last night on Sportsnet’s Headlines, Elliotte Friedman noted that the Sabres are “wide open for business.” Aside from the usual suspects like Jack Eichel and Eric Staal, another name was added in Sam Reinhart.
“They are listening on all options,” Friedman noted. “I heard there’s been a lot of questions about Sam Reinhart and Eric Staal, along with other names you’d expect.”
Bottom line is that it looks like the Sabres are going to tear this down and start anew. As of right now, Rasmus Dahlin looks like the only untouchable.
NHL Rumors: Carey Price really up to be traded?
There’s enough talk brewing in Montreal about Carey Price’s struggles that a trade seems like a real possibility. Moving his contract though will be next to impossible but Eric Engels thinks there’s a chance.
He must be protected for the Seattle Expansion Draft because he has a no-movement clause in his contract. And a trade is not only hard to pull off due to the cap implications, it’s almost impossible in the current financial climate to get another team to agree to pay out the terms of Price’s contract in its actual structure.
Even if Price comes to management and says he wants out, and even if they’re willing to deal him at a loss just to earn the cap space, the financial complexities are onerous for both the Canadiens and whomever their trade partner would be.
Sportsnet
Aside from the $11 million in signing bonuses he’s owed in actual money, his AAV of $10.5 million until 2025-26 make his contract basically immovable – but you never know.
NHL Rumors: Rickard Rakell on the Rangers
The Rangers have reasserted themselves into the playoff picture winning six of their last eight. They may want to bolster their C/W position with a smart acquisition and Rickard Rakell might make some sense.
Rickard Rakell is a 27 year-old forward on a bad Ducks team. He is being used as a wing but can play center. His cap hit is $3.789 million and he has one year remaining on his contract. This means he’s not a rental and a very intriguing player available on the market.
It sounds like the Ducks may try and rebuild and Rakell may no longer fit into their plans. While he’s struggling, along with the rest of Anaheim this season Rakell can put up points.
Prior to this season, Rakell was averaging .73 points per game over the last three years and would bolster a lot of team’s top six. He’s a name to watch for next month as the Ducks would likely get a young roster player and prospect/pick back for him.