It’s time for another round of our NHL rumours. We take a look at who wants to sign a new deal and who is on the move. We’re almost to the month of February and the trade deadline is later in that month. The NHL rumours are only going to grow by the day. Today we take a look at rumours focusing on the Toronto Maple Leafs, Buffalo Sabres and New York Rangers.
All NHL rumours are taken from the original source and are subject to change.
NHL Rumours
Toronto Maple Leafs
Rumour: Mark Masters of TSN reports that defenceman Jake Muzzin would like to stay with the club. Muzzin is an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season and is from nearby Woodstock, Ont. He raved about the organization taking care of its players and the 30-year-old wants to be part of the future.
From @markhmasters: Muzzin expected to make big impact in return for Leafs. MORE: https://t.co/IZVBWMil6y pic.twitter.com/24S6r8jZE2
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) January 27, 2020
Muzzin is coming to the end of a five-year, $20 million deal that he signed with the Los Angeles Kings. He returned to the lineup Monday night after suffering a broken foot on Dec. 27. Toronto went 4-3-3 without him, but lost Morgan Reilly to a long-term injury.
Analysis: Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe called Muzzin the conscience of the team in an interview with NHL.com. Keefe raved about having the veteran in the lineup.
Toronto always faces a cap crunch and trying to fit Muzzin under the number will be difficult. The club has to make a decision if they want to keep Tyson Barrie on the club. Both players will be looking for a raise and a long-term deal.
Muzzin will hopefully stabilize an injury-riddled defence and that steady play may lead to that new deal.
Buffalo Sabres
Rumour: TSN’s and The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun said the Sabres are open for business and willing to make some moves. LeBrun said that defencemen like Zach Bogosian and Rasmus Ristolainen are the ones that general manager Jason Botterill wants to deal.
Young defenders like Rasmus Dahlin and Henri Jokiharju are considered the only untouchable blueliners according to LeBrun. Both of those players should be cornerstones of the Buffalo defence.
Analysis: It seems like another disappointing end to a season for the Sabres unless they turn it around. Buffalo hasn’t been able to sustain early-success and it looks like it will sell again at the deadline.
However, Dahlin and Jokiharju have been bright spots on the backend for Buffalo. Dahlin has been great at both ends of the ice while Jokiharju has done well at his own end of the ice. No matter if Botterill returns next season, both these Scandinavians will be key in Buffalo’s quest to end its long playoff drought.
New York Rangers
Rumour: Larry Brooks of the New York Post says the Blueshirts might check in on Minnesota Wild forward Jordan Greenway. The young forward is stuck on the fourth line with the Wild and has plenty of potential.
The Canton, NY native is 6-foot-6-inches and played under Rangers’ head coach David Quinn when he was at Boston University. He scored 28 goals across three seasons with the Terriers. His size was a big asset for him in the collegiate ranks.
Analysis: Greenway makes just under a million dollars and is a restricted free agent at the end of the season. He would be a decent low-risk play for a Rangers team thinking about their forward future due to Chris Kreider likely being dealt at the deadline.
The 22-year-old is a former Olympian that is averaging over 14 minutes of ice time. Quinn knows Greenway and did a good job developing him in the NCAA. Greenway would be an asset with his physical game and could be used in both parts of special teams.
TORONTO, ON – OCTOBER 19: Karson Kuhlman #83 of the Boston Bruins battles against Jake Muzzin #8 of the Toronto Maple Leafs during an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena on October 19, 2019 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Maple Leafs defeated the Bruins 4-3 in overtime. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)
