In today's NHL rumor game, Connor McDavid was in the lead to get an optional skate for the Edmonton Oilers on Monday. Is that good news for the team when it comes to his latest injury? Meanwhile, are Minnesota Wild prepping with what they know will be the biggest contract extension offer Kirill Kaprizov? Finally, is there a problem in Boston between head coach Jim Montgomery and forward David Pastrnak?
McDavid is Skating Again with the Oilers
The Edmonton Oilers will play the New Jersey Devils on Monday night after the Oilers won on Sunday night against the Calgary Flames. Given the back-to-back nature of the games, the team understandably had an optional skate and Connor McDavid was on the ice. He looked good as he was predicted to be out for two to three weeks and only a few games.
The Oilers are 2-0 since McDavid's injury, and Leon Draisaitl has stepped up, putting up six points in those two games. Right now, there's no need to rush McDavid's return, but if he recovers well and can return sooner than expected, it's good news for an Oilers team that has leveled their record at 5-5-1.
Preparing A Monster Contract With Kaprizov?
Friedman said during his recent Thits 32 podcast that Kirill Kaprizov may be looking at a contract extension in the range of Auston Matthews and Leon Draisaitl. Quoting the book The Bald Truth by David FalkFriedman notes, “I'm talking about situations, and you say that maybe their situation but not this situation.”
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Friedman adds, “I don't even consider Kaprizov that he doesn't have a trophy or that he doesn't have 120 points in a season. I look at what that team looks like when it's not there and how important it is to that team, to that organization.”
Friedman concluded:
“When owner Craig Leopold said at the beginning of the year that no one would 'pay him more than we can afford', to me that is not only true but he also understands that they will have to pay him more. And, like when I say that I think he's going to be in the Matthews and Draisaitl range, I believe that, like if he wants to be. I mean, who knows? You never know what can happen, but I think this guy is going to be one of the highest paid players in the league because I think the Wild know that a) when he hits the market everyone is going to be chasing him and b) he's that important to their franchise.”
Pastrnak Says Bruins Head Coach Has No Problem With Playing The Bench
David Pastrnak did not play in the third period of Sunday's game against the Seattle Kraken. The Bruins won 2-0, but after a bad turnover and what fans called a lackluster performance, head coach Jim Montgomery sat the star. When Pastrnak was asked about his sitting on the bench on Monday, he admitted to the media that it was bad money. He takes responsibility for it and doesn't want it to be a distraction to the team.
“I want to move forward. I don't want to be a distraction to our team. The boys know how I feel about them here. It's a bad game. I am accountable and I am moving forward.”
It will be a distraction, if only because it is the second time Montgomery has called or punished Pastrnak and not long ago, the coach got into an argument with Brad Marchand on the Bruins bench. Outsiders began to wonder if there was a disconnect in that locker room and if the coach was losing the room. What the coach said Sunday night was, “The coach's decision in the third quarter.” That is all I will comment on.”
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