Worth Reading - Nichols on Hockey

Dreger: Chiarelli not likely interested in Leafs' GM job

Chris Nichols — Wed, 15 Apr 2025 15:19:10 +0000

Darren Dreger was on Toronto’s TSN 1050 on Tuesday morning.

On if Peter Chiarelli would have interest in the vacant Toronto Maple Leafs GM position (after establishing that the Leafs should have interest in Chiarelli):

“I don’t speak for Pete Chiarelli. Do I think Pete Chiarelli would have interest in the job as defined with the Toronto Maple Leafs? No, I don’t. I don’t. I think that this is a guy that’s used to doing things his way. Not to say that he runs such a ship where it’s his voice and no one else’s matters. That’s not it at all. But I don’t think that Peter Chiarelli has a ton of interest in the dynamic and the structure of how things are in Toronto.

“But maybe that changes. He’s got three years left on his deal as well. So Peter Chiarelli might take some time to breathe, spend some time with his family, just let the dust settle and see what comes his way in the future.”

Source: TSN 1050/ Transcript: Nichols on Hockey

Friedman's 30 Thoughts

Chris Nichols — Tue, 14 Apr 2025 15:46:18 +0000

30 Thoughts, cleaning up my notebook on Awards & Regular Season -- http://t.co/vZfhCybgnX
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) April 14, 2025

GoPro: Ice-level with Patrice Bergeron & Tuukka Rask

Chris Nichols — Wed, 08 Apr 2025 16:23:29 +0000

Friedman on Thornton-Sharks buyout speculation

Chris Nichols — Mon, 06 Apr 2025 16:08:39 +0000

Elliotte Friedman was on Calgary’s Sportsnet 960 on Monday morning.

On what he sees as the first shoe dropping with the San Jose Sharks after the season:

“I’ve been told that when – and I have no proof of it – but when the owner stepped in when everybody kind of blew up at each other there, the word I was given was that Joe Thornton was told he was not going anywhere. That he’s going to stay and he’s going to retire a San Jose Shark. Which I do believe is the case. Joe Thornton has made it very clear he’s not getting traded unless he wants to be and he doesn’t want to be.

“And to be perfectly honest, he’s been their second-best player this year. So why would you want to trade him anyway.”

Later in the discussion on the Sharks:

“I’ve heard – I don’t know, I probably shouldn’t be passing along rumors, but what the heck – it’s radio and that’s what we do. Last year, that when this whole thing started and there was a debate about whether or not they wanted to trade him, he basically said: ‘You know what? I’m not moving. If you want to get rid of me, buy me out. Then I can go anywhere I want.’

“And they didn’t want to do that for obvious reasons. So unless his mind has changed, that’s been his thinking. If you want to move him, buy him out. And I don’t think San Jose will do that.

“I wonder if in the off-season they sit down and have another conversation. Doug Wilson has said this year that he will not ask Joe Thornton to be traded. And we’ll see if that changes in the off-season, or, if there’s a new GM, whether it’s Ray Shero or whoever it is, goes to him and says, ‘This is what I’m thinking.’ “

Source: Sportsnet 960/ Transcript: Nichols on Hockey

Friedman: Sabres, Coyotes may seek Savard's contract from Bruins

Chris Nichols — Mon, 06 Apr 2025 14:57:15 +0000

Elliotte Friedman was on Calgary’s Sportsnet 960 on Monday morning.

On the Boston Bruins:

“One of the things they’re looking at is trading Marc Savard. Now, for those of you who are unfamiliar, Marc Savard is never going to play again, unfortunately. He has a concussion issue. However, he has two years left on his contract. The cap hit is just over $4 million. I think it’s $4.07 million. However, his actual cash the next two years is $525,000 and it’s going to be picked up mostly by insurance. I think about 60 percent of it is going to be paid by insurance. So if you’re a team that gets that contract, you’re only going to have to pay about 240,000 of it.

“So that’s a great bargain if you are looking to get to the cap floor. And when I really sat down and did the math – I heard about this on Saturday afternoon. I checked with Peter Chiarelli and he didn’t really want to tell me, but he didn’t deny it either – so I knew it was kind of true.

“People will say, ‘Why don’t they just keep him and use it to go on LTI.’

“The reason is in the summer, Marc Savard counts against your cap. You can’t put a guy on Long-Term Injury until the puck drops. In the summer you are allowed as a team to go 10 percent over the cap, but they have a lot of business they have to do, as you said. There’s Dougie Hamilton, there’s Carl Soderberg, there’s a whole bunch of things they have to do.

“And the team that I think we might be talking about here – there’s Buffalo, which is way below, and there’s also Arizona, which is – I don’t know how they’re going to get to the cap floor next year.

“So I wonder if Marc Savard is going to one of these teams, which frees up some room for Boston in the summer and it’s a very cheap way of getting to the salary floor. And that’s right up the... Coyotes alley with what they’re doing next year.”

Source: Sportsnet 960/ Transcript: Nichols on Hockey

Friedman on Babcock-to-Penguins speculation

Chris Nichols — Mon, 06 Apr 2025 14:35:14 +0000

Elliotte Friedman was on Calgary’s Sportsnet 960 on Monday morning.

As part of a larger discussion on the struggles of the Pittsburgh Penguins:

“And I’ll tell you this – if Pittsburgh doesn’t get into the playoffs, you are going to hear Mike Babcock rumours out of the wazoo. If Pittsburgh doesn’t get into the playoffs, that’s going to be – I know all year it’s been Toronto, it’s been wherever you want to name it. It’s going to go crazy. It’s going to start from Pittsburgh and it’s going to be nuts, the Mike Babcock rumours you’re going to hear out of there.”

Source: Sportsnet 960/ Transcript: Nichols on Hockey

GoPro: Ice-level with Tyler Seguin

Chris Nichols — Fri, 03 Apr 2025 16:03:10 +0000

Friedman's 30 Thoughts

Chris Nichols — Fri, 03 Apr 2025 14:59:21 +0000

30 Thoughts -- http://t.co/rcK23UOhJo
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) April 3, 2025

Friedman on Sabres' Murray: "He talks big. He believes big."

Chris Nichols — Wed, 01 Apr 2025 19:53:35 +0000

Elliotte Friedman was on Buffalo’s WGR 550 on Wednesday afternoon.

On his sense of how Tim Murray is being viewed around the league for his handling of this season:

“Again, I think people understand. He got hired at a time when the Sabres were already in this.

“I mean, I think a lot of the intrigue was last year when the Ryan Miller trade was going down and clearly Pat LaFontaine had one idea and Tim Murray had the other. When Tim Murray and Pat LaFontaine were there, there was no question everybody outside of Buffalo said, ‘This is not going to work.’ There were two people with very different opinions. And it was going to come down to one or the other. It just happened a lot faster than we thought.

“But he’s made good trades. The Ryan Miller was a good trade for you guys.

“The Evander Kane trade – we’ll see. The jury’s out. But it was bold. There’s no question that it was bold.

“Now the challenge is going to be - it’s easy to tear down, it’s harder to build back up.

“The one thing about him is that he is not afraid. The moment he got the job, he said, ‘Okay, let’s see these guys try to take advantage of the new guy. I’m ready. I’m waiting.’

“He talks big. He believes big. And he’s been unafraid to make trades that other general managers in this league probably wouldn’t make.

“So now comes the tough part. As a lot of other guys say, it’s easier to tear down than build back up. How is he going to build back up. That’s going to be the challenge.”

Source: WGR 550/ Transcript: Nichols on Hockey

Friedman thinks O'Connor will visit Oilers, Flames

Chris Nichols — Mon, 30 Mar 2025 14:21:08 +0000

Elliotte Friedman was on Calgary’s Sportsnet 960 on Monday morning.

On Matt O’Connor:

“Matt O’Connor, the goaltender from Boston University - he’s not going to play in the NHL this year because he’s made the Frozen Four.

"I’m under the impression that he has told Edmonton he will visit them. I don’t think he’s told Calgary yet that he will visit them – at least he hadn’t when I checked on Saturday – but I’m under the impression he will be visiting you guys somewhere toward after the season.”

Source: Sportsnet 960/ Transcript: Nichols on Hockey

Friedman sees Blues' Sobotka as "perfect fit" for Oilers

Chris Nichols — Fri, 27 Mar 2025 19:11:29 +0000

Elliotte Friedman was on Edmonton’s 630 CHED on Friday afternoon.

As part of a discussion on Vladimir Sobotka potentially leaving the KHL:

“Sobotka is going to be an interesting one there because I think there’s going to be... if you think you can sign him - and I’ve heard he’s looking for about between 3 and 3.5 a year over three years – you can get him.

“It all depends on what St. Louis wants to do. Do they look after the playoffs this year and say, ‘Okay, we’re going to keep him.’ Because there’s been a lot of bad blood there.

“But if not, if you’re willing to commit three years, somewhere between $9.5-10 million - you’ll probably get the deal done and I think he’d be a perfect fit for a team like Edmonton. I think he could do a lot of good for you guys.”

Source: 630 CHED/ Transcript: Nichols on Hockey

Friedman: Oilers, Sabres, Leafs may have interest in Ducks' Gibson, Andersen

Chris Nichols — Fri, 27 Mar 2025 18:59:08 +0000

Elliotte Friedman was on Edmonton’s 630 CHED on Friday afternoon.

As part of a larger discussion on the Anaheim Ducks:

“I think one of the interesting things about the Ducks is they hold the key to I think a lot of off-season goaltending decisions. They’ve had a lot of teams – I think Edmonton has been one of them. Buffalo, Toronto have been among the teams that call them and say, ‘What are you doing with Andersen and Gibson? What’s your plan? How much longer until you decide you have to move one of them?’

“Knowing the Ducks being kind of a budget team, I think their preference is the two of them combined next year make $1.9 million under the cap. So I think that’s their goal, is to keep them together for one more year.

“But if they have a terrible playoff, and you can see a situation where they might, I wonder if all bets are off and one of those two guys goes.

“So I think Bob Murray has a lot of control over how the goaltender market is going to work this summer.”

Source: 630 CHED/ Transcript: Nichols on Hockey

McKenzie: O'Connor front-runners include Oilers, Senators, Sabres, Rangers

Chris Nichols — Fri, 27 Mar 2025 14:17:01 +0000

Bob McKenzie was on Edmonton’s TSN 1260 on Friday morning.

As part of a discussion on Matt O’Connor:

“He’s a 6-foot-5 goalie, by the way, from Toronto and has played three years at BU and put up some real good numbers. And he’s the top college free agent this year. I know that we’ve had other guys. Kenney Morrison signed in Calgary. Kyle Baun signed in Chicago yesterday. We had Casey Bailey sign with the Leafs last Saturday from Penn State. But the guy right from the get-go who has been sort of No. 1 – in admittedly a rather thin year for U.S. college free agents – has been Matt O’Connor, the big goalie.

"As I understand it, the teams that it’s narrowed down to and at this point are the front-runners would include the Edmonton Oilers, the Ottawa Senators, the Buffalo Sabres, and surprisingly the New York Rangers.

“But we saw yesterday where Kyle Baun chose the Chicago Blackhawks, so don’t always discount the contending teams that have some depth because sometimes they make a good sales pitch and circumstances change. So that’s kind of where it’s at.”

Source: TSN 1260/ Transcript: Nichols on Hockey

McKenzie: "Sharp is gone for sure"

Chris Nichols — Thu, 26 Mar 2025 19:54:16 +0000

Bob McKenzie was on Vancouver’s TSN 1040 on Thursday afternoon.

As part of a discussion on Kyle Baun signing with the Chicago Blackhawks and the transitional period coming up for the team:

“This group that’s going for the Cup this year, as it’s constructed – I mean, Bickell could be gone. Versteeg could be gone. Brent Seabrook may eventually be gone. He’s a year away from unrestricted free agency. There’s no question in my mind that Johnny Oduya is not likely to be back.

“There’s going to be a big turnover here once you get past the top five or six forwards on the Blackhawks and I think this kid recognizes that if he goes and develops and plays well in the American Hockey League, he’s going to have a chance to play on what will still be a good team, but there will still be an opportunity for him.

On if he would be surprised if Sharp or Hossa were gone too:

“Oh, Sharp will be gone. Sharp’s gone. Sharp is gone for sure.

“I think they’ll be able to keep Hossa around. But I think Bickell is probably at some point is likely to be gone. Versteeg is likely to be gone.

“And as I said, a lot of these kids that you just mentioned that are playing in Rockford are going to get opportunities.

“The worst case scenario is if you do really well in the American Hockey League for an organization like Chicago, somebody else will figure it out and they’ll want you. So it’s just a matter of developing and having an opportunity.”

Source: TSN 1040/ Transcript: Nichols on Hockey

Friedman thinks Sharks' McLellan "will be elsewhere next year"

Chris Nichols — Thu, 26 Mar 2025 17:57:57 +0000

Elliotte Friedman was on Toronto’s Sportsnet 590 on Thursday afternoon.

On the ramifications of the Sharks’ season, if Todd McLellan will be out, and if there’s a chance they’ll move Joe Thornton:

“No, I don’t think Thornton wants to go anywhere though.

“... As usual, with everything I say, I have no basis in fact. I’m just pure opinion. But I do think that you will see Todd McLellan elsewhere next year. It’s my opinion. I think things run their course.

“I’m not as certain about Doug Wilson. I don’t know what to make of that. But I do think that Todd McLellan will be elsewhere next year and I think it’s just a matter of where.”

Source: Sportsnet 590/ Transcript: Nichols on Hockey

Related: Insider Trading

Dreger: Avalanche will do "everything they can" to keep O'Reilly

Chris Nichols — Thu, 26 Mar 2025 16:17:07 +0000

Darren Dreger was on Edmonton’s TSN 1260 on Thursday morning.

On how much more money Ryan O’Reilly could get on his next contract – whether on the open market or the team to which he might get traded - given what he got via the offer sheet:

“Right, well that would be a concern for the team that’s trading for Ryan O’Reilly. It’s not his ability. It’s not the impact that he can provide. It’s what is he going to cost long term.

“And you’re creeping close to unrestricted free agency for Ryan O’Reilly. He’s got another season under contract, then he’s a UFA. So if you’re making that trade, then you’re going to want to be absolutely certain that there’s a deal to be reached and an extension to be had. Otherwise, you’re not going to pay a top asset to acquire Ryan O’Reilly.

“But know this – Patrick Roy loves Ryan O’Reilly for all the reasons you saw and mentioned last night. So I think the Colorado Avalanche are going to do everything they can to keep him in the mix, but everything has a price tag. So that’s going to be multiple conversations between Joe Sakic of the Avalanche and Pat Morris, who represents Ryan O’Reilly.

“But he is such a key piece of that team. It’ll be real difficult for them to replace him, but as we know – every team has to deal with the salary cap. And in the end, if Joe Sakic and the Avalanche don’t believe that Ryan O’Reilly is worth 6.5 or $7 million per year, then chances are they’ll have to make that conclusion this summer and at that point then they’ll find a trade.”

Source: TSN 1260/ Transcript: Nichols on Hockey

Related: Insider Trading

Dreger relays Maurice-Rutherford 2003 Hurricanes tanking anecdote

Chris Nichols — Wed, 25 Mar 2025 21:53:34 +0000

Darren Dreger was on Winnipeg’s TSN 1290 on Wednesday afternoon.

At the end of a discussion on tanking in the NHL, noting a recent Nick Cotsonika line that coaches and players don’t tank, GMs do:

“Get Paul Maurice to tell you that story, if he will on record, in the future.

“Going back to the Eric Staal draft. Because his general manager at the time, Jim Rutherford, I believe went to him in like January – was it 2003? – and said, ‘Look, you’re getting no help moving forward.’

“(Laughs) That’s how managers can manage in these situations.”

Source: TSN 1290/ Transcript: Nichols on Hockey

Dreger: McLellan "more suited" for Oilers than Babcock; Don't disrepect Nelson

Chris Nichols — Wed, 25 Mar 2025 21:38:40 +0000

Darren Dreger was on Ottawa’s TSN 1200 on Wednesday afternoon.

On if there’s any chance the Oilers go big game hunting for a head coach this summer and try to land Mike Babcock or the like:

“Yeah, I think that there’s a chance of that. I really do. And why wouldn’t Mike Babcock give it some consideration? But man, there’s still a pile of work to be done in Edmonton, as we know. Their top priority is a goalie. They still feel they need to add a top-pairing defenceman. Go down the list of needs that they have up front to be a playoff-contending team.

“So is Babcock going to look at Edmonton as the right fit? I don’t know.

“Todd McLellan is another name. I think Todd McLellan is more suited for Edmonton than Babcock might and we might be being really disrespectful to Todd Nelson and the work that he’s doing there. The more the players come to work well under Todd Nelson, the harder it is for that organization to turn their back on that.

“And Edmonton is not in it for the public relations, but how do you turn away from a coach who is believed to have done a good job? And right now, I think that Edmonton management believes that Todd Nelson is doing a heck of a job.”

Source: TSN 1200/ Transcript: Nichols on Hockey

Dreger on possibility of Richardson or Babcock coaching Sabres

Chris Nichols — Wed, 25 Mar 2025 21:21:36 +0000

Darren Dreger was on Ottawa’s TSN 1200 on Wednesday afternoon.

On if Luke Richardson could end up being the next coach of the Sabres:

“Well, there’s a strong chance. Again, you’ve identified the relationship there and Luke Richardson’s name has been thrown out there very recently. But there’s a lot of work that has to be done between now and that announcement.

“Here’s another name for you and I know that Mike Babcock isn’t looking for that project. Right? But, you know, if the Buffalo Sabres were to win the lottery and land Connor McDavid, could that be enough to lure a top-notch coach like a Mike Babcock into the equation.

“And then to balance it all off, you obviously have the deep, deep, deep pockets of the Pegulas. I know they’re not going to be afraid to spend money on a head coach and if you’re trying to lure someone like Mike Babcock, maybe that ticket comes in at 4, 4.5, upwards of $5 million. And if it does, they could afford to pay that and the Detroit Red Wings aren’t likely going to match.

“So it’s not money being everything for Mike Babcock, but if you’ve got Connor McDavid and now you’ve got an owner that’s offering you better than 4 or upwards of $5 million per year, that might be enough to grab perhaps the most coveted unrestricted free agent coach.”

Also:

“I still think though that the respect that Babcock and his family has for the Ilitch family is tremendous and we can appreciate why given the level of success that the Ilitch family has enjoyed under the guidance of Mike Babcock, the high level of success Mike Babcock has achieved as head coach of the Detroit Red Wings.

“He couldn’t have predicted that Detroit was going to have as good a year as what they have. And there’s no way they would have thought that they would have been a contending team.

“When I talked to Mike Babcock prior to the start of the season, he said to me: ‘Look, if I was in the mood or market for a project I’d stay in Detroit because that’s what Detroit is – a project.’

“And that’s why I always go back to that word.

“But Detroit’s had a heck of a year. And there’s a chance to win. And I’m sure that Kenny Holland is going to be active when necessary, be it in the free agent market. Maybe he grabs one or two of these unrestricted college free agent kids and continues to build with what he has.

“So let’s not count Detroit out of the mix entirely yet.”

Source: TSN 1200/ Transcript: Nichols on Hockey

Dreger: "Long shot" that both Nolan, Tippett return with Sabres, Coyotes

Chris Nichols — Wed, 25 Mar 2025 20:58:43 +0000

Darren Dreger was on Ottawa’s TSN 1200 on Wednesday afternoon.

On what the odds are that Ted Nolan and Dave Tippett are back with their respective teams next season:

“Well, to be honest it’s probably a long shot that both are back. I doubt very much that Ted Nolan is back for the Buffalo Sabres. In fact, I’m almost convinced he’s not going to be back.

“Dave Tippett, the last time I spoke to someone close to Dave Tippett, which wasn’t that long ago, the message I got back was Dave and his wife are going to meet at the end of the season and they’re going to consider what’s best for their future.

“Now I don’t believe that anyone has come out and confirmed that Dave Tippett has an out in his contrac. We know that he has term remaining on his contract. So until that happens it’s all very speculative, but if Dave Tippett and his wife are meeting, are going to discuss their future at the end of the year, that sounds to be like he’s got an out in his deal.

“If he has an out, I’d be surprised if he didn’t exercise it because I can’t imagine that Dave Tippett signed his contract extension again knowing that he was going to face a rebuild.”

Source: TSN 1200/ Transcript: Nichols on Hockey