Dan’s Daily Links: Gusev Rumors, Leafs Get Creative With Marner

The U.S. general managers took the day off but the Toronto Maple Leafs decided to own July 4 with all of the news fit to print. GM Kyle Dubas dished contracts to their revamped defense and made a headline-grabbing admission about their negotiations with restricted free agent Mitch Marner. Rumors are heating up around Nikita Gusev including the Pittsburgh Penguins rumors.

In several many cities across the NHL, Nikita Gusev rumors are hot. There are a few fanbases presently expecting a trade for the KHL MVP, including Pittsburgh. Here’s the baseline situation from Vegas (NBC Sports)

I think fans took Rob Rossi’s hypothetical three-team trade which he opined in the Athletic as a report. That’s not to say there isn’t some smoke the Penguins-Gusev fire, but it would take moving at least two, likely three players to gain the cap room necessary for Gusev and the Penguins RFAs. I don’t see it happening but those are famous last words when Jim Rutherford is in wheeler-dealer mode.

The San Jose Sharks are trying to find salary cap room, too. Their RFAs and UFAs are still unsigned. (NBC Bay Area)

The Toronto Maple Leafs efforts to sign Mitch Marner are going to get as “Creative as we possibly can,” according to General Manager Kyle Dubas (Sportsnet)

Toronto also extended Cody Ceci and Alex Kerfoot, two recent acquisitions in their summer of turnover. (TSN)

The Montreal Canadiens signed former Winnipeg defenseman Ben Chiarot to a three-year deal. Ben is a stay-at-home defenseman who isn’t a speed demon. It is funny how different fan bases treat such players. (Eyes on the Prize)

You mean the player doesn’t need to be excoriated and figuratively burned at the stake, daily? Doesn’t need to be blamed for everything from a winger’s bad year to the destruction of the team?

Here’s TSN’s list of the top remaining free agents (TSN)

If the Penguins get creative, Marcus Johansson would be a personal preference, but enjoy the rumor mill!