It’s time for another edition of NHL rumours for your Sunday. The 2023-24 campaign has started and that means we’ve got a number of NHL rumours are starting to ramp up. Teams are trying to sign players and plan for the future. Progress has been made on some talks while some things have a long way to go. This West Coast bias edition of NHL rumours focuses on the Calgary Flames and San Jose Sharks.
All NHL rumours come from the original source and are subject to change.
NHL Rumours
Calgary Flames
Rumour: Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman said that progress has been made on a contract extension for defenceman Noah Hanifin. This was mentioned during the Hockey Night in Canada Headlines segment.
Analysis: This seems to be lining for another win for new General Manager Craig Conroy. There was a worry that the Flames were going to see an exodus of players at the end of the 2023-24 season. Calgary had a tonne of unrestricted free agents and Conroy was possibly in a bind. However, Mikael Backlund signed a contract just recently.
Hanifin met with Conroy during the summer and brushed aside contract talks. However, the Massachusetts native has seemingly reversed course and is open to a new deal. Hanifin is already off to a solid start on the scoresheet and averages nearly 23 minutes per game.
Getting Hanifin to sign a long-term deal would be a big step for the Flames in keeping their core together. The Flames have some good pieces in place, but it’s a matter of putting things together. Conroy seems to be on a mission to keep his long-time group intact for a Stanley Cup Playoff push.
San Jose Sharks
Rumour: We stay with Headlines and Friedman mentioned the latest about Sharks forward Kevin Labanc.
Analysis: Labanc was an early scratch for the Sharks until the last two games. The Brooklyn, New York native has yet to record a point for San Jose this season. Labanc has been a double-digit goal-scorer a number of times in his career.
The Sharks veteran was supposed to be placed on waivers, but management has reversed course. That reversal has allowed the right winger to get back into the lineup.
San Jose General Manager Mike Grier knows that it’s going to be a rebuild for a couple of seasons at least. He can probably get picks or prospects for Labanc if he makes a deal. There’s a long way to go before the trade deadline, but the former sixth-round pick is probably going to get a decent return.
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