Michkov Staying Put in Philadelphia, Burakovsky’s Ottawa Experiment Ends, and Leonard Faces Discipline for Reckless Slash

Today’s NHL rumour roundup begins in Philadelphia, where the Flyers have reportedly informed Matvei Michkov that he will not be traded, despite speculation that he had submitted a trade request. From there, attention turns to Ottawa, where Andre Burakovsky and the Senators appear ready to part ways after just eight games together. Finally, Washington Capitals forward Ryan Leonard left a lasting impression in Sunday night’s game against the New Jersey Devils, delivering a hard slash to the face of Cody Glass that could well result in a suspension.

Flyers Tell Michkov He Is Not Going Anywhere

Following a week of turmoil surrounding Michkov, Flyers management sat down with him in person, with general manager Daniel Briere and president of hockey operations Keith Jones both taking part in the conversation. According to Elliotte Friedman, Michkov was informed during those meetings that the organization does not intend to move him.

Friedman expanded on his report, noting that Michkov was told the Flyers are committed to building around him and their other young players. With Porter Martone, Denver Barkey and others continuing to develop alongside Michkov, there is genuine reason for optimism about the club’s future if the pieces come together.

Management also checked in with other young players on the roster to gauge their feelings about Michkov, and the feedback was said to be positive.

Of course, winning answers a lot of questions, and the Flyers are not winning right now. Sitting at 6-10-6 through 22 games, they hold just a two percent chance of reaching the playoffs, according to MoneyPuck.

Even with reports of a desire for a change of scenery, bench disagreements involving players, and a potential rift with head coach Rick Tocchet, the apparent plan is to stay the course with Michkov.

Senators and Burakovsky Both Want a Fresh Start

Before turning to the Michkov story, Friedman opened his Saturday Headlines segment by reporting that the Senators and Burakovsky are each seeking a fresh start for the forward.

There were rumours over the summer that the Chicago Blackhawks would buy out the remaining $5.5 million cap hit on Burakovsky’s final year, but in a low-probability bid to add scoring to their top six, Ottawa instead sent a sixth-round pick to Chicago for his services.

The move raised eyebrows at the time, and now, after eight games, bouts with injury and a stint as a healthy scratch, the Burakovsky experiment in Ottawa appears to be finished.

Across those eight appearances, Burakovsky failed to record a point and offered little in the way of inspiration while on the ice.

Would another team be interested in acquiring a player of his profile? Perhaps, but his cap hit is far too steep for what he has shown he can contribute. If the Senators do move him, they may need to include an additional asset to make the deal palatable.

Ryan Leonard’s Dangerous Slash to Glass’ Face Could Bring Discipline

During Saturday’s matchup between the Capitals and Devils, Leonard was carrying the puck and being pressured by Glass along the boards. After moving the puck up ice, Leonard raised his stick and delivered a two-handed, baseball-style swing that caught Glass in the face.

Leonard was assessed a double-minor penalty for the play, but he may also be handed a suspension.

In 2017, Gustav Nyquist delivered a strikingly similar slash to the face of Jared Spurgeon and was suspended for six games. While Spurgeon appeared to be in more pain than Glass, the plays and the infractions were remarkably alike, and that precedent should serve as the baseline for any disciplinary discussions.

Source link