NHL Rumors: Latest on Henrik Lundqvist Buyout, Shayne Gostisbehere Trade, More

The Tampa Bay Lightning have officially been crowned the Stanley Cup champions, which means it's time for the hockey calendar to shift to free agency and the offseason trade market.

With free agency set to open Oct. 9, teams are beginning to explore their options to retain or acquire talent while staying within the league's $81.5 million salary cap for the 2020-21 season. 

Here's the latest word on what will happen to some of the game's biggest stars in the coming weeks.

Henrik Lundqvist Will Be Bought Out

The Henrik Lundqvist era is coming to an end in New York, according to Rick Carpiniello of The Athletic and Larry Brooks of the New York Post. After 15 seasons with the team and franchise records in wins (459), shutouts (64) and postseason wins (61), the New York Rangers will move on from the legendary goaltender and buy him out of the last year of his seven-year, $59.5 million contract.

Lundqvist made way for Igor Shesterkin and Alex Georgiev, both 24 years old, in 18 of the final 19 games of the season. He started Games 1 and 2 in the postseason qualifiers but was sidelined in favor of Shesterkin, who returned from a groin injury in Game 3, ending his consecutive postseason start streak at 129. 

TSN's Darren Dreger reported last week that there were no teams interested in trading for the 38-year-old, so there was little option for the Rangers but to move on and go with their young netminder tandem.

According to Brooks, the move will give the Rangers an extra $3 million to work with. Lundqvist will enter the free-agent market and could be a solid veteran backup option for a number of teams looking for netminders this fall.

Should this be the end of his career, he will finish his career as the sixth-winningest goalie in league history (459-310-96), posting a 2.43 goals against average and .918 save percentage.

Update: The Rangers made this move official at 10 a.m. ET.

How Torey Krug Could Be Traded (Sort Of)

Winslow Townson/Associated Press

Boston's star defender Torey Krug is entering free agency, but teams are reportedly interested in trading for his negotiating rights to get ahead of other suitors.

TSN's Frank Seravalli said Monday that there had been "significant interest," and he added that the Bruins offered the defenseman a six-year deal at $6.5 million per year.

Krug has been clear about his desire to sign a long-term contract, but Boston would need the 29-year-old to take a discount after finishing in the top 10 in points among defensemen last season. But looking around at what other players have gotten, like 26-year-old Jacob Trouba's seven-year, $56 million deal in 2019, Krug knows he can get what he wants elsewhere.

"I've bet on myself," Krug told reporters in early September. "I've taken shorter-term deals, less amount of money my whole career now. This is my time in terms of my value at its peak. I have the ability; I'm in a position now where I need to make the most of it."

Philadelphia is Shopping Shayne Gostisbehere

Matt Slocum/Associated Press

After the Flyers signed one defender to a contract extension in Robert Hagg, the team is showing "a serious willingness to move" Shayne Gostisbehere with the right offer, according to Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic.

At 27 years old, Gostisbehere has three years remaining on his contract at a $4.5 million yearly cap hit. He scored five goals through 42 games this season and appeared in just four of the team's 13 playoff outings.

Gostisbehere demonstrated his offensive upside by posting a 46-point rookie season in 2015-16 and a 65-point campaign in 2018, but the Union product was affected by injury this season. He had knee surgery in January and missed three weeks before the season shuttered in March. Philadelphia general manager Chuck Fletcher said he was impressed by Gostisbehere's play in the bubble, though.

"I don't think he felt right for a lot of the year physically," Fletcher said Tuesday, per Jack McCaffery of the Delco Times. "He took the time to correct a lower-body issue that he had. I think when he came back into the bubble, he was skating the best he had all season."

That's a solid pitch for a player you're trying to shop around in a crowded free-agent market.