Maple Leafs, Bruins, Oilers, Sharks

In today’s NHL rumors rundown, the Toronto Maple Leafs and defenseman Rasmus Sandin are at a contract standstill. What will the team do to get over the lack of progress in negotiations? Meanwhile, the Boston Bruins have been holding trade talks with teams about Craig Smith. The Edmonton Oilers may not really be in the running for Phil Kessel or P.K. Subban. Who are they likely to add? Finally, could the San Jose Sharks have an interest in Subban?

Maple Leafs Stuck in Talks With Sandin

Luke Fox of Sportsnet is reporting that the Maple Leafs and defenseman Rasmus Sandin aren’t further along when it comes to negotiations over a new contract. Fox reports that Lewis Gross, the agent for Toronto Maple Leafs RFA defenseman Rasmus Sandin said, “Negotiations are going nowhere.” When asked why Gross wasn’t able to give a clear answer. All he would say is that he wouldn’t say much, even if he did know, and reiterated, “But they’re just going nowhere right now.”

Speculation is that Sandin was offered a deal similar to Timothy Liljegren’s a two-year, $2.8-million bridge contract. The belief is that if the Maple Leafs are going to try and find money to give him more than that, they’ll need to make another move on the roster first. There’s a real debate in Toronto about what to do here. Some believe Sandin hasn’t shown enough to be given more than a bridge deal. Others suggest he’s already shown he can play as a top-four defenseman and that he’ll only get better.

Craig Smith Trade Almost Finalized

Jimmy Murphy of Boston Hockey Now notes that teams are showing interest in Boston Bruins forward Craig Smith and the organization has held trade talks with at least one team about moving Smith recently. It sounds like things got pretty far in terms of a potential deal but are now on hold.

Murphy writes, “I can confirm an actual trade offer was made but after trying to find common ground for a while, the talks were put on hold. This team really wanted Smith and wanted this to happen.”

Smith has a year left at a $3.1 million salary cap hit and the Bruins are trying to move salary seeing as they are $2.2 million over the salary cap ceiling. Both Smith and fellow Bruins winger Nick Foligno have been mentioned in trade rumors throughout the summer.

Realistic Signings for the Oilers

Allan Mitchell of The Athletic took a look at…