NHL Rumors: Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Rangers, and the Calgary Flames
The play of Kevin Hayes and the rest of the NY Rangers will make some decisions more difficult

A former GM says Nylander to smart to lose a season … maybe

Steve Simmons of the Toronto Sun: The Toronto Maple Leafs have three weeks to get William Nylander signed before the December 1st eligibility deadline. The Maple Leafs have played well without Nylander so it lessens the pressure on GM Kyle Dubas.

A former NHL GM on Nylander.

“I think Nylander is too smart to lose an NHL season, but I’ve been wrong about this before.”

Hayes and the Rangers play could make it harder to make a move

Brett Cyrgalis of the NY Post: The New York Rangers started off slow but are unbeaten in their past six games (5-0-1) and are now a game over .500

Their play is worsening their draft pick for the rebuild and could be making a decision on Kevin Hayes a little trickier as he’s playing excellent.

Hayes is a 26-year old pending unrestricted free agent. He trade value is increasing, but the team is showing that they may not be as far away as they may have initially thought.

31-year old Mats Zuccarello is also a pending free agent and he could be returning tonight. His fate may be determined closer to the trade deadline.

22-year old goaltender Alex Georgiev is showing that he might have the potential to be a No. 1 goalie, but it won’t be with the Rangers as long as Henrik Lundqvist and Igor Shestyorkin are around. Shestyorkin could head to North America next season.

Flames leary of trading Bennett

Chris Nichols of Nichols on Hockey: Elliotte Friedman was on Sportsnet 960 and was talking about Sam Bennett and how expectations for him may need to be altered. He’s not going to be a huge scorer but could be a pest to the other team and score 20 goals and 50 points. He can be really effective that way.

“I know that Calgary is looking at a guy like Max Domi and what he’s doing in Montreal and saying, ‘That’s why we’re not trading Sam Bennett.’