NHL Rumors: Canadiens, Oilers, Sharks – The Hockey Writers – NHL Rumors

In today’s NHL rumour roundup, the Montreal Canadiens could be working on sourcing Ivan Demidov from the KHL. Meanwhile, is Brian Lawton an outsider to become the next general manager of the Edmonton Oilers? Finally, the San Jose Sharks are looking to add depth to their blue line. Who could they be looking at?

Canadiens negotiating transfer fee for Demidov?

It is unclear whether SKA will retain KHL player Ivan Demidov or not, or if he will not be joining their team. If not, speculation is that the Montreal Canadiens are monitoring the situation closely and will attempt to negotiate a fee to bring him over. Demidov could play in the NHL next season if a transfer fee can be worked out.

This would be the same kind of move the Philadelphia Flyers made with Matvei Michkov. Demidov would have incredible skills and would likely not play in the minors for the Canadiens. The article states:

It is difficult to predict what will happen with Russian players and the KHL. I expect Demidov to play out the last year of his contract with St. Petersburg at this point, but that could change.

source – ‘Habs Mailbag: Canadiens’ Sam Montembeault can be a No. 1 goalie’ Stu Cowan – The MontrealGazette – 07-19-2024

Is Brian Lawton on the Oilers’ radar?

As the Edmonton Oilers continue their search for a new GM, David Staples of the Edmonton Journal suggests that Brian Lawton could be an unexpected contender for the role. Lawton last worked in the NHL during the 2009-10 season as GM of the Tampa Bay Lightning and has extensive experience as an agent. He is also a regular guest on the radio show Oilers Now, meaning he is intimately familiar with the team’s roster and its movements in recent seasons.

Related: 9 NHL Teams That Missed the Free Market

Staples writes:

He’s an outsider to become general manager of the Edmonton Oilers at this point, but he could also be the obvious choice. Brian Lawton, 59, has a broad base of hockey experience, enough to meet Edmonton hockey boss Jeff Jackson’s criteria for bringing in a veteran NHL hand to manage the team.

Source – ‘Is the outsider candidate the obvious choice for Edmonton Oilers GM?’ – David Staples – Edmonton Journal – 07-16-2024

This dual perspective as agent and executive could be appealing to CEO Jeff Jackson, who is also a former agent and currently serves as Edmonton’s interim GM. Jackson said earlier this week that he aims to have a new GM named within the next few weeks. That was a few days ago. A decision should come soon.

Sharks Candidates in Trade and Free Agency

San Jose Hockey Now’s Sheng Peng has linked multiple right-handed defensemen to the Sharks, highlighting their need for experienced defensemen. The Sharks are exploring both free agents and potential trades.

On the free-agent front, Peng names Tyson Barrie, John Klingberg, Justin Schultz and Kevin Shattenkirk as possible targets. However, their respective production declines and individual injury histories make them less than ideal options. On the trade market, Peng points to Cody Ceci of the Edmonton Oilers, Trevor van Riemsdyk of the Washington Capitals, Zach Whitecloud of the Vegas Golden Knights and Aaron Ekblad of the Florida Panthers. Peng points out, “Ekblad also has a 12-Team No-Trade List, and there’s no reason to believe he would give that up to come to San Jose.”