The Edmonton Oilers may have a Darnell Nurse decision on the table, and the key detail, according to David Pagnotta, is how much money would be coming back if a deal actually gets done.
On Hello Hockey, Pagnotta said, “My understanding if this trade does happen with the Ducks, there would be no salary retention. I think there is retention in place if he goes to Philly…I don’t think it’s overly significant”
Out in Detroit, Patrick Kane’s future is still open, but the Red Wings have at least made their interest clear. Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press reported that GM Steve Yzerman said over the weekend that Dylan Larkin requested a trade shortly after the season ended, though Yzerman also said he wouldn’t guarantee Larkin would be traded.
That matters for Kane, who is a pending UFA. Yzerman said the Red Wings would love to have him back next season. Kane produced 16 goals and 57 points last season after putting up 21 goals and 59 points in 72 games the year before.
Kane said after the season that he’d like to come back and be a part of the solution, but that was before Larkin’s trade request became public. He’s been on two straight one-year deals, both signed on June 30, the day before free agency.
In New York, the Rangers appear set to keep Alexis Lafreniere. Peter Baugh and Vincent Z.
Mercogliano of The Athletic reported that two league sources said Lafreniere is expected to remain with the Rangers heading into next season. The team is looking for more scoring forwards, not to subtract one in Lafreniere.
Braden Schneider’s situation has been quieter. Heading into draft weekend, sources said contract talks with his camp had been quiet. The Rangers did look into a trade, but they were not interested in draft picks.
Their shopping list also includes a young offensive forward. Potential free-agent targets could include Ville Heinola, described as a puck-moving defenseman, and Beck Malenstyn for the bottom six, though Malenstyn re-signed with the Sabres this morning.
The Rangers are also looking for a fourth-line center to replace Sam Carrick, who was traded to Buffalo at the deadline.
In Other News...
Yankees Suddenly Made Another Change As Tigers Keep Applying Pressure
The Yankees kept churning their bullpen mix Tuesday, sending right-hander Yerry De los Santos down to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and bringing right-hander Yovanny Cruz back into the major league relief corps. It is another small but notable roster tweak for a club trying to steady itself while the Tigers continue to apply pressure in the standings, and it shows how quickly New York is willing to move pieces around as it searches for the right late-game answers.
Cruz is not a new face to the big leagues this season, and his calling card is obvious enough once he takes the mound. The right-hander brings the kind of fastball velocity that can change the tone of an inning in a hurry, which is why his return is worth watching even in a move that might otherwise look routine on paper. [Read more 🡒]
This Tigers Infielder Is Suddenly Back In Deadline Trade Buzz
The deadline chatter around Detroits infield has started to pick up again, and it comes at a time when the market is being shaped by contenders looking for a right-handed bat. Bostons recent five-game surge has kept it in the playoff picture despite a mediocre American League field, and the Red Sox have at least given themselves a reason to keep searching for upgrades as the rotation continues to pile up quality starts.
For the Tigers, the part that matters is how a players rest-of-season value gets weighed against everything else in July. A bat with versatility across the middle infield and a contract situation that can make him more appealing to buyers usually draws notice, and Detroit is the kind of club that has to listen when that kind of name comes back into the rumor mill, even if the health question still clouds the conversation. [Read more 🡒]
Braves Suddenly Have A Real Shot At A Deadline Ace
Atlantas need for starting pitching has only grown as the club tries to hold onto first place in the NL East, and that kind of pressure usually pushes a front office toward the top of the market. MLB.coms Mark Feinsand has tied the Braves to Tigers ace Tarik Skubal as a possible deadline target, a sign that Atlantas combination of urgency, financial flexibility and prospect depth is being viewed as a real factor as July approaches.
For Detroit, any conversation around Skubal carries obvious weight because he is the kind of arm contenders covet and rebuilders rarely move without a steep return. The Braves already have a rotation stretched thin by injuries and uneven results, which is why the fit keeps making sense on paper, but the rest of the equation is still very much unsettled as the deadline picture starts to come into focus. [Read more 🡒]