In today's NHL rumors, TSN's Darren Dreger reports that the Toronto Maple Leafs may choose to re-sign Mitch Marner versus trading for the forward. Meanwhile, the Vancouver Canucks are looking to add speed to their forward and defensive line. Who do they mean? Finally, despite a rough start to the season, Connor Brown came out strong in the playoffs for the Edmonton Oilers. Would they be open to re-signing him?
Maple Leafs May Prefer to Extend Mitch Marner
Darren Dreger was a guest on First Up on TSN and said, “And are we sure Toronto doesn't want to extend Mitch? I am not. I think Treliving would like to expand [Marner] rather than trading. But they haven't had those conversations yet. It is early, very early.”
Marner prefers to play out the remaining year of his current contract and Dreger said that doesn't mean Marner will leave at the end of that season. It's risky for the Maple Leafs to let that deal go through, but if Toronto wants to hang on to Marner, the team has been in this situation before. They waited last season for William Nylander and finally did it.
Dreger acknowledges that there may still be a situation where a trade is possible. He explained:
“Now, if Brad Treliving has a discussion with a club or clubs, and there is a potential trade situation that comes from those discussions, yes, he can take it to the Marner camp. And the Marner camp would say, 'Yeah, well, obviously you don't want me, so I'm fine with that. And by the way, is there a big extension that comes with it? Okay, yeah, good.”
Canucks Looking to Add Speed This Offseason
“I think we have to increase the speed, GM Patrick Allvin commented when asked what will be prioritized for the Canucks this summer. Thomas Drance and Harman Dayal of The Athletic think this could mean the kind of move the organization is headed for.
Related: Canadiens News & Rumors: Lindstrom, Picks at 5th, Too Much Defense & More
Among the names they mentioned are Chandler Stephenson of the Golden Knights, Kasperi Kapanen of the Blues, Ryan Lomberg of the Panthers, Ben Myers of the Ducks, Kiefer Sherwood of the Predators, and Connor Brown of the Edmonton Oilers. They also note that the Canucks may focus on speed on defense, looking at names like Oliver Kylington, Sean Walker, and Haydn Fleury.
When it comes to Connor Brown, the authors write:
Brown was an offensive flop in the regular season, totaling just four goals and 12 points in 71 games. He's back in the playoffs, though, and there are signs that he's finally shaken off the rust from his ACL injury. His top speed is back – NHL Edge data shows that his top speed and burst of speed over 20 miles per hour have increased significantly compared to the regular season, he is driving high results in the penalty kill and even scoring in the second offense.
source – 'Canucks free agent targets: 9 UFAs could add speed to Vancouver roster' – Thomas Drance and Harman Dayal – The Athletic – 06/17/2024
Oilers Thinking About Connor Brown Extension?
With the way Brown performed during the playoffs, there is speculation that the Oilers would like to bring him back next season, if they can get him to agree to a lower price, with no bonus. He struggled early in the season and took time to find his game after recovering from an injury that delayed his transition to the NHL. He's found his legs now and is one of the best depth defenders for the Oilers.
If teams like the Canucks are looking at him they may have a tough decision to make. He's considered one of the most exciting players in the Oilers locker room and one has to wonder if another season with high-quality offensive players could increase his value next summer versus trying to get a small paycheck this offseason.
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