NHL Rumors: Olympic Rosters, Cooley Contract, Canucks-Jets Trade Discussions
In the latest NHL rumors roundup, several significant announcements were made regarding Olympic rosters, player contracts, and trade discussions. Team Canada and Team USA unveiled their Olympic lineups, while the Calgary Flames extended goaltender Devin Cooley’s contract. Meanwhile, trade speculation surrounds the Vancouver Canucks and the Winnipeg Jets.
Olympic Rosters for Team Canada and Team USA
As the anticipation grew, insiders shared insights into the expected Olympic rosters. Teams were finalizing their selections ahead of Wednesday’s announcements. Notably, Macklin Celebrini was confirmed for Team Canada, with high-profile players like Connor Bedard on the edge of selection.
Insider Elliotte Friedman reported that Team Canada would retain eight defensemen from previous tournaments, including:
- Cale Makar
- Devon Toews
- Josh Morrissey
- Shea Theodore
- Colton Parayko
- Travis Sanheim
- Drew Doughty
- Thomas Harley
Players like Matthew Schaefer and Evan Bouchard narrowly missed the roster. Additionally, Sam Bennett, Celebrini, Mark Stone, and Tom Wilson were viewed as integral additions to the team.
Official Roster Highlights
The final roster for Team Canada features several stars:
- Goalies: Jordan Binnington, Darcy Kuemper, Logan Thompson
- Defense: Drew Doughty, Thomas Harley, Cale Makar, Josh Morrissey, Colton Parayko, Travis Sanheim, Shea Theodore, Devon Toews
- Forwards: Macklin Celebrini, Anthony Cirelli, Sidney Crosby, Brandon Hagel, Bo Horvat, Nathan MacKinnon, Brad Marchand, Mitch Marner, Connor McDavid, Brayden Point, Sam Reinhart, Mark Stone, Nick Suzuki, Tom Wilson
Calgary Flames Extend Devin Cooley’s Contract
In other news, Devin Cooley, goaltender for the Calgary Flames, expressed his excitement after signing a two-year contract extension worth an approximate annual value of $1.35 million. General Manager Craig Conroy noted Cooley’s desire to remain in Calgary, emphasizing the mutually beneficial nature of the deal.
The Flames have solidified their goaltending duo with Dustin Wolf as the starter and Cooley as his backup.
Trade Speculations Surrounding the Vancouver Canucks
Discussions regarding potential trades involving the Vancouver Canucks continue to generate buzz. Elias Pettersson, a 27-year-old center, remains a focal point of speculation. Recent reports indicate that teams are inquiring about Pettersson, but the offers presented have not met Vancouver’s expectations.
Pettersson, in the second year of his seven-year contract with a cap hit of $11.6 million, has produced 23 points in 31 games, igniting questions about his market value. Insight from Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman hints that the San Jose Sharks may show interest in Canucks winger Kiefer Sherwood.
Challenges for the Winnipeg Jets
The Winnipeg Jets face a challenging road ahead after slipping in the standings. GM Kevin Cheveldayoff is under pressure to address the team’s scoring issues. Paul Friesen of the Winnipeg Sun stresses the urgency for the Jets to bolster their lineup, suggesting that action is needed before it’s too late.
Reports indicate Cheveldayoff may opt for a patient approach, potentially evaluating pending unrestricted free agents for draft picks after the Olympic break if the team’s performance does not improve.
