Rue de la Rumeur: In Another Words, NHL Rumors!

In The Maven's new weekly rumor column aptly named Rue de la Rumeur, he looks at where Patrick Kane could wind up; a Bruins hole to fill; this make-or-break year for one New York Ranger; futures in Winnipeg, and two men still on the outside looking in.

1. Patrick Kane is the most intriguing name on Rue de la Rumeur

although the displaced ex-Blackhawk-Ranger won't be available except as either a Thanksgiving or Christmas-Hanukah present.

That said; when he's surgically ready, he could very well rejoin the Blueshirts, as The Athletic suggests, or never play for New York again, if you believe the New York Post. 

The Maven believes that our favorite Irishman will wind up on the most offensively hard-up team in late Autumn. 

2. The gap-filling Bruins can't talk Patrice Bergeron nor David Krejci out of retirement -- at least not yet -- which means that GM Don Sweeney figures to focus on either Ottawa's gifted young Shane Pinto or Vancouver's equally talented Elias Pettersson.

Pinto's future in Canada's capital hinges on settling contract negotiations which so far are sunken deep in the Rideau Canal. Since the lad had a good rookie season, his agent will hold him out a bit. But it says here that new Senators ownership won't want to lose a budding star.

SIGN UP: The Fischler Report & Rue de la Rumeur Alerts

As for Pettersson, his name crops up in the rumor mill more often than fog over Vancouver harbor. Meanwhile, the Canucks must move some salary, which explains why Conor Garland is being mentioned on the "Will Go" pages as well.

How about this Conor joining the other Connor -- as in Bedard -- on the Blackhawks? 

The Garland version would look good on Chi's first line; not to mention the power play. Washington is said to be interested in Garland as well.

Frankly, The Maven expected more from Conor than Connor will provide for the Hawks. (And, yes, Berard already is the heavy fave to win the Calder.)

3. Rangers fans wondering what to expect from underachieving Alexis Lafreniere are in the same mindset as GM Chris Drury. There won't be any silly trade rumors about the less-than-fabulous French-Canadian if he gets out of the gate hot. But, if not, The Maven could see a FOR SALE sign hanging from Drury's front door.

4. The Maven believes Jets boss Kevin Cheveldayoff when he insists that both oft-discussed Connor Hellebuyck and Mark Scheifele will be in the starting lineup on opening night. Fair enough, but what about a month from then? A serious slump either way could mean bye-bye to The Peg.

5. Both suspended ex-GM Stan Bowman and ex-coach Joel Quenneville remain in the Quasi Questionable Department after they appeared at the recent NHL managers-coaches confab. Each -- in one form or another -- would compel interest from the first Team In Distress. So far, Commissioner Bettman has not made a judgment as to when -- or whether -- it will be appropriate for them to be reinstated. 

They need The Commissioner's green light before they can return. For now, Bettman is perfectly transparent when he states, "I'm just not discussing it until I'm ready to tell everybody what I'm thinking." 

(The Maven says, "Don't ask me; my name is not Gary!")