NHL Rumors: Red Wings, Flames, Canadiens, Bruins – Hockey Writers – NHL Rumors

In today’s game of NHL rumors, what is the plan in Detroit when the team has three NHL forwards to start the season? Meanwhile, is it possible for Andrei Kuzmenko to be traded out of Calgary if he doesn’t get another gear beyond his top scoring? How close were the Pittsburgh Penguins to trading Kris Letang to the Montreal Canadiens? Finally, is James van Riemsdyk waiting for Jeremy Swayman’s condition to resolve itself before re-signing in Boston?

Red Wings Intend To Address Trouble Entering Training Camp

NHL.com’s Nicholas J. Cotsonika reports that the Detroit Red Wings are facing a challenge with three goalies heading into training camp: Ville Husso, Alex Lyon, and newcomer Cam Talbot. Last season, the team suddenly carried three forwards after Husso was sidelined with multiple lower-body injuries. Will they do it again?

GM Steve Yzerman admitted that they debated letting go of the goalkeeper but ended up holding out, a decision that turned out to be wise as the team relied on Lyon and James Reimer in Husso’s absence. Now, with Talbot signed to a two-year, $5 million contract after a strong season with the Los Angeles Kings, Detroit must decide how to handle their trio. Yzerman said they will check on Husso’s health during training. “We will play it by ear. We will figure it out as we go along.” The Red Wings are not expected to keep all three on the roster next season.

Kuzmenko Possible Trade Piece Out of Calgary?

The future of Calgary Flames defenseman Andrei Kuzmenko is unclear as he enters the final season of his two-year, $5.5 million AAV contract. After a solid NHL season with the Vancouver Canucks in 2022-23, where he scored 39 goals and 74 points, Kuzmenko’s struggles in Vancouver led to him being traded to the Flames. He also found his scoring touch there, scoring 14 goals and 25 points in 29 games.

While the Flames are holding out on Kuzmenko, his long-term future in Calgary depends on his ability to finish his game beyond just scoring goals. If he becomes more than a solid scorer, he could get a long-term extension. However, if he doesn’t, he could be a desirable trade target at the deadline before he hits free agency next summer.

Kris Letang to the Canadiens?

According to NHL insider Mark Madden of 105.9 The X and TribLive, the Pittsburgh Penguins have had discussions about trading veteran defenseman Kris Letang to the Montreal Canadiens. Letang, who is entering the third year of his $36.6 million contract, has been a cornerstone of the Penguins’ defense.

Related: Maple Leafs News & Rumors: McMann, Robertson, Minten & Tavares

However, after the Penguins missed the playoffs last season and were possibly out of the playoff picture and looking in, Letang has reportedly expressed interest in joining the Canadiens, his hometown team. Madden revealed that there have been talks between the Penguins and the Canadiens about a possible trade, but nothing is happening.

It’s unclear why the trade didn’t go down but the Canadiens chose not to make any significant moves this offseason, focusing on acquiring their young talent, including Kaiden Guhle, Juraj Slafkovsky, and Arber Xhekaj, on multi-year deals. Letang remains in Pittsburgh, but it will be interesting to see if there is any more talk of a trade in Montreal if the Penguins have things going wrong in 2024-25.

Can James van Riemsdyk still sign with Boston?

It’s surprising that James van Riemsdyk hasn’t gotten anywhere in NHL free agency yet. That could be because he’s waiting for the Boston Bruins to take care of business with goaltender Jeremy Swayman and sign a team-friendly deal with the Bruins once the club knows its salary cap situation.

Swayman is waiting for the right deal and the Bruins have $8.6 million in cap space. Signing anyone else first would complicate matters, so Swayman should come before other business.