It’s time for more NHL rumours as we move deeper into the early part of the season. The clock has only just started on the 2023-24 season, but teams are already looking ahead to the future. General managers around the league will be happy that the salary cap will be going up next season. This means more cap room and more speculation in our NHL rumours. Today’s NHL rumours focuses on the Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals.
All NHL rumours come from the original source and are subject to change.
NHL Rumours
Pittsburgh Penguins
Rumour: Rob Rossi of The Athletic joined the Jeff Marek Show to discuss what the next Sidney Crosby contract may look like.
Analysis: Rossi said it could go one of two directions. Crosby could keep doing two-year contracts at $8.7 million for each deal. These short-term contracts would keep up the pressure on Kyle Dubas or whoever is in charge. Dubas did provide Erik Karlsson to Crosby this off-season.
Rossi mentioned that Crosby could go long-term like four to five years and give the team a hometown discount. That savings could be applied to other areas on the team that Dubas needs to address. A hole could pop up in Pittsburgh and some extra money could be used to fill those holes.
Barring disaster, Crosby will likely end his NHL career as a lifelong member of the Penguins. It would be an odd sight to see him in other than black and gold. Rossi said there’s almost zero chance that the Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia native is going anywhere. It’s just a matter if he’ll go long-term or short-term in his next deal.
Washington Capitals
Rumour: We go back to Headlines from Hockey Night in Canada and talk about Anthony Mantha as a trade candidate.
Saturday Headlines with @FriedgeHNIC:
Noah Hanifin contract talk, trade watch, and a NHL Draft decentralization update.
pic.twitter.com/KVAGYJajLS
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) October 22, 2023
Analysis: Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman mentioned Mantha as a possible trade chip. Mantha has been in-and-out of the lineup for Washington this season. The forward hasn’t been able to secure a spot in the lineup under new head coach Spencer Carbery.
Things are starting to go off the rails for the Capitals early on in the season. Teams could be calling in on some of the Washington players in general manager Brian MacLellan wants to shed some payroll. Washington seems to be in this weird spot where they’re not really a contender. However, the team is not slated to be a bottom-feeder.
Mantha could get some sort of return for the Capitals and it navigates some really murky waters. The Capitals have work to do if they want to save their season, but Mantha may not be part of it.
Main photo by: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
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