Latest news with #Granlund
Time of India
09-07-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Mikael Granlund shocks NHL fans with blunt Ducks comments after surprise free agency move
Anaheim Ducks made a surprising move by signing veteran forward Mikael Granlund (Image via AP) The Anaheim Ducks pulled off one of the more surprising free-agent moves of the offseason by signing veteran forward Mikael Granlund—without much warning or prior buzz. While the 32-year-old wasn't heavily linked to Anaheim in the lead-up to free agency, the team moved quickly to bring him in, signaling a shift in their mindset: from rebuilding to chasing wins. Mikael Granlund praises Anaheim's new direction under Joel Quenneville 's leadership Mikael Granlund's comments following his signing raised eyebrows across the league, not because of drama, but because of what they revealed about the Ducks' internal ambitions. Speaking to the media, Granlund emphasized that Anaheim is no longer just developing young talent—it's preparing to win now. "I haven't played a game with the team yet, so I'm sure understanding about that will be way better when the season actually starts,' Granlund said. 'But I've talked to people and I think they took a really big step last year with some of the new players that are coming in. With Coach Q coming in, I really feel like it's like, 'OK, now we are taking the next step and it's not about just growing players and learning. It's about starting to win some hockey games. So that's really encouraging and that's why I'm really excited about it.'" The mention of Joel Quenneville—returning to the NHL bench after years away—was particularly striking. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 월 2만원으로 아이들의 한끼 선물하기 굿네이버스 더 알아보기 Undo His hiring adds veteran gravitas to a locker room filled with promising talent like Leo Carlsson, Mason McTavish, and Lukas Dostal. Granlund's 2024–25 season with the Dallas Stars was limited to just 31 games, but he still managed to produce 21 points (seven goals, 14 assists). Anaheim is betting that, if he can stay healthy, he'll be a valuable middle-six contributor who can mentor younger teammates while delivering reliable offense. Also Read: Toronto Maple Leafs accused of downgrading as Nino Niederreiter pitched as Mitch Marner's replacement His signing may have flown under the radar, but if Anaheim continues to make bold moves like this—and Granlund lives up to his veteran pedigree—this could go down as one of the smartest pickups of the offseason. Anaheim isn't just talking about turning a corner. With Granlund and Quenneville onboard, they're sprinting toward it. Game On Season 1 continues with Mirabai Chanu's inspiring story. Watch Episode 2 here.
New York Times
01-07-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Jordan Kyrou's no-trade clause kicks in; Justin Carbonneau impresses at camp
ST. LOUIS — The clock struck 11 p.m. CT Monday with no news around Jordan Kyrou, which means the St. Louis Blues will now need his approval if they want to strike a deal with another team. Kyrou, 27, signed an eight-year, $65 million contract with the Blues in 2022, and his full no-trade clause has officially kicked in. Advertisement There was a lot of speculation surrounding Kyrou in recent weeks, but Blues general manager Doug Armstrong wasn't going to move the winger just to move him. Kyrou has scored 150 goals in 416 NHL games and finished tied for No. 16 in the league with 36 goals in 2024-25. He's got six seasons left on a contract with an $8.125 million annual average value (AAV), which will be a bargain — if it's not already — with the growing salary cap. But with the improvement Kyrou made with his overall game last season, the Blues also knew there was no harm in listening to potential offers from teams around the league. The Montreal Canadiens have been one of the clubs that expressed interest in Kyrou, as my colleague Pierre LeBrun wrote Monday. As LeBrun mentioned, Montreal would have to clear out salary-cap space to make a trade. The Canadiens are about $3 million over the cap, but they could put Carey Price's $10.5 million cap hit on long-term injured reserve (LTIR) in 2025-26. The Habs were trying to acquire one of the NHL's top 20 goal scorers, but there was no indication they were willing to part with one of their top-six forwards. Though that would've been a non-starter with fans, the Blues are in the market for a middle-six center, and Montreal's Kirby Dach fits that description. Dach, 24, was the No. 3 pick of the Chicago Blackhawks in 2019 before being traded to the Canadiens in 2022. He has 43 goals and 121 points in 269 games, but has been injury-prone in his career. Any trade between St. Louis and Montreal would've likely sent a package back to the Blues, and with nothing materializing, it confirms Armstrong wasn't trying to move Kyrou at all costs. So now what, with NHL free agency opening at 11 a.m. CT Tuesday? The Blues still need a No. 2 center, and while there was a flurry of teams of re-signing their own UFAs Monday, most of them were wingers and defensemen: Toronto's Mitch Marner (sign-and-trade with Vegas), Florida's Brad Marchand and Aaron Ekblad, Columbus' Ivan Provorov and Detroit's Patrick Kane. Advertisement The top two centers on The Athletic's trade board — Mikael Granlund, who has jumped to No. 4, and Pius Suter, No. 6 — are still available. Granlund, 33, is older than the Blues' targeted age range, but could help the team stay competitive until Dalibor Dvorsky is ready. The Athletic projects Granlund's next contract at two years with an AAV close to $5 million. Suter, 29, is on the older side of the team's desired timeline, too, but also keeps them competitive. The Athletic projects Suter's next deal at four years, also with an AAV near $5 million. Both Granlund and Suter, however, are expected to draw significant interest, and the Blues could be priced out on the veterans. Meanwhile, the club is still trying to re-sign fourth-line center Radek Faksa, a pending UFA. The two sides continued talks last week, but as of Monday night, there was no deal announced. The Blues have an abundance of wingers, but pursuing a forward in free agency is not completely out of the question. Vancouver's Brock Boeser, 28, is a player the Blues may have interest in after a 25-goal, 50-point season with the Canucks. The Athletic projects that Boeser, who moved to No. 2 on the trade board, will get a six-year deal with an $8.5 million AAV. Are the Blues also looking to improve their defense in free agency? One might think so after the club was engaged in talks with the New York Islanders about Noah Dobson and might've had a deal if not for his desire to play in the Eastern Conference. But Dobson was a perfect fit for what the Blues are seeking in terms of age (25) and role (top-four), so just because they were all-in on him doesn't necessarily mean they'll go after another defenseman. Fans could know more on the first day of free agency Tuesday, but there's no guarantee of that, as Armstrong has indicated multiple times that the Blues may get more involved with the second and third waves of players. Advertisement Justin Carbonneau, who was the Blues' first-round pick (No. 19) in last week's NHL Draft, participated in his first practice with the team Monday. The 6-foot-1, 205-pound right winger made a good first impression on the ice and off. 'As soon as I got here, I just wanted to know where's the gym and what is the name of the coaches?' Carbonneau said. Get your first look at first-round pick Justin Carbonneau. #stlblues — St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) June 30, 2025 The Blues camp runs through Thursday with practices, including a three-on-three tournament, at Centene Community Ice Center at noon. Here's the roster: Forwards: Carbonneau, Cole Davis (invite), Antoine Dorion, Mikhail Fyodorov, Adam Jecho, Ondrej Kos, Tomas Mrsic, Juraj Pekarcik, Jakub Stancl, Nikita Susuyev Defensemen: Marcus Broberg, Quinton Burns, Lukas Fischer, Adam Jiricek, Anthony Kehrer (invite), Arseni Koromyslov, Theo Lindstein, Will McIsaac, Colin Ralph Goalies: Connor Androlewicz (invite), Owen Bartoszkiewicz (invite), Jacob Steinman (invite) The event is open to the public and admission is free. The Blues made qualifying offers to three players Monday: forward Nikita Alexandrov, defenseman Hunter Skinner and goalie Vadim Zherenko. Alexandrov, 24, who was the Blues' second-round pick in 2019, had 21 goals and 49 points in 48 games with AHL Springfield in 2024-25. Skinner, 24, who the Blues got in the trade that sent Vladimir Tarasenko to the New York Rangers in 2023, had eight goals and 23 points in 71 games with Springfield. Zherenko, 24, went 12-17-5 with a 3.44 goals-against average and .897 save percentage with Springfield. The Blues did not tender a QO to forward Tanner Dickinson and defenseman Anton Malmstrom, making them free agents. (Photo of Jordan Kyrou: Ronald Martinez / Getty Images)
Time of India
30-06-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Why pursuing Mikael Granlund could be a high-risk gamble for the Montreal Canadiens?
For the Montreal Canadiens, second-line centre has long been their glaring weak spot, haunting them season after season. General manager Kent Hughes tried to fix it with the bold Kirby Dach trade in 2022, but last season told a harsher story. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Dach's staggering -29 goal differential at centre was among the NHL's worst, underlining the depth crisis behind Nick Suzuki. Now, with NHL free agency offering few reliable options and a roster built to grow around young stars, the Canadiens are forced to weigh their next move carefully. Mikael Granlund offers undeniable production—but carries the kind of defensive risk that could backfire spectacularly. High reward, even higher risk: Offensive production can't hide Mikael Granlund's defensive flaws—and the Montreal Canadiens know it is coming off his fifth career 60-point season, split between the struggling San Jose Sharks and the contending Dallas Stars. He delivered 66 points over 83 games in 2024–25, then added 10 more in the playoffs as Dallas reached its second consecutive Western Conference Final. His offensive skill is beyond question, especially given he's still producing well into his 30s. Yet those numbers don't tell the whole story about how teams deploy him. In Dallas, he was given 63% offensive-zone starts. When asked about that deployment after the trade deadline, Stars head coach Pete DeBoer told reporters in Dallas, 'We wanted to put him in spots where he could produce. It worked for us, but it was a specific fit.' That 'specific fit' is precisely what Montreal can't replicate. The Canadiens don't have the luxury of elite two-way forwards to shelter Granlund. Their defense is already a problem: they allowed 261 goals last season, ranking among the worst in the league despite a late surge to make the playoffs. Even Kirby Dach, for all his struggles, rated better defensively in 2024–25 by Evolving Hockey's RAPM metrics. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Crucial call: Should the Montreal Canadiens gamble on Mikael Granlund at centre? Granlund is projected to command around $5 million annually on a two-year deal, according to AFPAnalytics—a reasonable price on paper for a consistent 60-point centre. But for the Canadiens, it's a risky investment at precisely the wrong moment. They need a second-line pivot who can help secure their own zone, balance the lines, and support young stars like Ivan Demidov without giving up endless scoring chances the other way. Signing Granlund might add goals. But it won't solve Montreal's real problem—and could wind up as their biggest offseason gamble yet. Is it a risk the Canadiens can really afford to take? Also Read:
Yahoo
25-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Mikael Granlund: A Viable Replacement If The Maple Leafs Don't Re-Sign John Tavares?
John Tavares has made it clear he wants to remain a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs, but the club and the player are reportedly struggling to find a middle ground on a fair contract. At market value, it's been speculated that Tavares could fetch a 3-year, $7.5 million contract extension, much like his former New York Islanders teammate Brock Nelson just inked with the Colorado Avalanche. Alternatively, Matt Duchene's recent contract extension in Dallas, where the forward signed for just $4.5 million per season, offers a different perspective. On the recent edition of TSN's Insider Trading, Pierre LeBrun opined that a four-year deal at $5 million per season might be enough to get it done. While that apparently hasn't happened yet, the Leafs should be looking at shoring up the position regardless, and perhaps Mikael Granlund could be the right fit. Advertisement Tavares, at his peak, was a No. 1 center, which is why he signed a seven-year, $77 million deal when he came to Toronto on July 1, 2018. While his value may have diminished as a 34-year-old, he scored 38 goals last season as Toronto's second-center option behind Auston Matthews. While an elite offensive player, Tavares has never been known for his skating. He's made up for this, especially in recent seasons, with a high hockey IQ. He particularly excels on the power play and in the faceoff circle, an area of his game that has only improved over time since he became a Leaf. Maple Leafs and John Tavares Reportedly 'Not Close' on Extension Maple Leafs and John Tavares Reportedly 'Not Close' on Extension Will John Tavares remain a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs after his contract expires? According to the latest from The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun, it's not looking like a sure thing. In his NHL rumblings column published on Saturday, LeBrun revealed that the two sides are not close on finalizing a contract extension. Advertisement Granlund, much like Tavares, entered the NHL with a high pedigree when he was selected 10th overall by the Minnesota Wild in the 2010 NHL Draft. Dubbed the "Finnish Army Knife" by Stars GM Jim Nill upon acquiring him from the San Jose Sharks in March, Granlund has proven his ability to be a cerebral playmaker who would fit well on a line with someone like William Nylander. Granlund and Tavares differ massively, however, on the penalty kill and at the faceoff dot. While Tavares has excelled in the circle, Granlund has struggled; conversely, Granlund has been the better defensive player and penalty killer. As the Leafs focus on better defensive play, that might tip things in Granlund's favor. To make an informed decision, the Leafs' management would need to weigh the distinct advantages and disadvantages of making such a change. Here's a breakdown of what the team would lose and gain by swapping Tavares for Granlund: How The Maple Leafs Can Add A Center This Summer To Fix Their Depth Problem How The Maple Leafs Can Add A Center This Summer To Fix Their Depth Problem When the Toronto Maple Leafs glance into the free agency cupboard on July 1, they may only be left with a few choices at center. What is Lost if Tavares Departs: Elite Faceoff Ability: The most significant and unavoidable loss would be at the faceoff dot. The team would go from having a top-5% faceoff specialist to a below-average one, resulting in a tangible loss of puck possession at every stoppage. Proven Goal Scoring: The team would lose a proven 30-35 goal scorer. Tavares's finishing ability, particularly from in close, is a reliable source of offense that would be difficult to replicate from that position. A Premier Power-Play Weapon: The first power-play unit would lose its premier net-front presence and one of the league's most effective finishers in that specific role. Can Matt Duchene's Extension Offer Clues For John Tavares' Next Contract With The Maple Leafs? Can Matt Duchene's Extension Offer Clues For John Tavares' Next Contract With The Maple Leafs? One of the few center options the Toronto Maple Leafs could've had in free agency is now off the market. What is Gained if Granlund Replaces Tavares: Penalty Killing Contribution: The team would gain a top-six forward who can be a core member of the penalty kill. This is a significant addition that addresses a perennial area of need and improves the team's overall defensive structure. Positional Versatility: The team would gain a player who can seamlessly transition between center and wing, granting the coaching staff immense flexibility for in-game line adjustments, injury management, and matchup optimization. A High-End Playmaker: The team would add a high-end, pass-first playmaker whose primary instinct is to distribute the puck, potentially unlocking even greater offensive output from the team's elite goal-scorers. Improved Team Speed and Transition: While not an elite skater himself, Granlund's high-end hockey sense and responsible puck management could lead to a more fluid 5-on-5 transition game, helping to mitigate the notable skating deficiencies of the player he would be replacing. Advertisement Granlund is a free agent on July 1 and is coming off a four-year deal that carried an average annual value of $5 million. If the Leafs could sign both players, it would certainly go a long way toward addressing their center depth issues. Former Maple Leafs Forward Alexander Mogilny Finally Inducted Into Hockey Hall Of Fame After Years Of Snubs Former Maple Leafs Forward Alexander Mogilny Finally Inducted Into Hockey Hall Of Fame After Years Of Snubs Finally, after nearly two decades away from the game, former Toronto Maple Leafs forward Alexander Mogilny will be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. Hockey Legend Joe Thornton Becomes First-Ballot Hall Of Famer After 24 NHL Seasons, Including Maple Leafs Stint Hockey Legend Joe Thornton Becomes First-Ballot Hall Of Famer After 24 NHL Seasons, Including Maple Leafs Stint Former Toronto Maple Leafs forward Joe Thornton is a first-ballot Hall of Famer. Former Maple Leafs Forward Matt Martin Announces Retirement, Joins Islanders' Front Office Former Maple Leafs Forward Matt Martin Announces Retirement, Joins Islanders' Front Office Former Toronto Maple Leafs forward Matt Martin is calling it a career.
Miami Herald
27-05-2025
- Sport
- Miami Herald
NHL Rumor Roundup: The Latest On The Kings, Canadiens And Devils
Rob Blake stepped down as GM of the Los Angeles Kings on May 5. Eleven days later, they hired former Detroit Red Wings and Edmonton Oilers GM Ken Holland as Blake's replacement. On May 22, Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic reported Holland intends to be aggressive in this summer's trade and free-agent markets. He believes the new Kings GM could go 'big-game hunting' to upgrade their roster following four straight first-round playoff exits to the Oilers. The Kings have $21.7 million of projected cap room and 21 active roster players under contract for next season. LeBrun noted they have the cap space to make a big splash in the free-agent pool. LeBrun wouldn't be surprised if Holland gets into the bidding for Mitch Marner if the Toronto Maple Leafs right winger tests the UFA market on July 1. He could pursue a more affordable option like Nikolaj Ehlers of the Winnipeg Jets or Brock Boeser of the Vancouver Canucks. The Hockey News' Jim Parsons listed Boeser and Marner as targets as well as the Leafs' John Tavares, Oilers' Connor Brown and the Florida Panthers' Brad Marchand and Sam Bennett, but he noted there will be a lot of competition for the high-end free agents. Turning to the Montreal Canadiens, they're expected to pursue a second-line center via trade or free agency following the Stanley Cup playoffs. TVA Sports' Tony Marinaro and Jean-Charles Lajoie recently looked at possible UFA options for the Canadiens. They felt Mikael Granlund of the Dallas Stars might be a good fit. The 5-foot-10, 185-pound Granlund lacks the size that the Canadiens could seek in a second-line center, However, Marinaro and Lajoie believe he'd be a decent short-term addition. Lajoie recommended signing the 33-year-old Granlund even if the Habs find someone else to center their second line, citing his ability to step up into that role if injuries strike. Granlund is completing a four-year contract with an average annual value of $5 million. He's coming off back-to-back seasons of 60-or-more points following a disappointing 2022-23 campaign with the Nashville Predators and Pittsburgh Penguins. In New Jersey, the Devils could move one or two players this summer to free up salary-cap space to address other roster needs. James Nichols of New Jersey Hockey Now indicated the no-trade protection for 34-year-old forwards Ondrej Palat and Erik Haula will change on July 1. Palat's drops from a full no-movement clause to a 10-team no-trade list, while Haula's goes from a full no-trade to a six-team no-trade list. Haula might be the easiest to move because he has a year left on his contract with an average annual value of $3.125 million. Palat has two years left at $6 million annually. Nichols noted the Devils need more scoring, suggesting Drake Batherson of the Ottawa Senators, Alex Tuch of the Buffalo Sabres and Pavel Dorofeyev of the Vegas Golden Knights as trade targets. However, the Senators are unlikely to move Batherson and his team-friendly contract, the Sabres are reportedly keen to sign Tuch to an extension, while the Golden Knights probably prefer to retain the 24-year-old Dorofeyev, who tallied 35 goals this season. Get thelatest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and bysubscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting belowthe article on Copyright 2025 The Hockey News, Roustan Media Ltd.
