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NHL Rumors: Maple Leafs, Wild, Penguins, More

In today’s NHL rumors update, there is news on the Auston Matthews situation and Kyle Dubas’ take, plus news out of Minnesota and Pittsburgh.

In today’s NHL rumors update, there are more details coming to light about the Auston Matthew incident and news that Toronto Maple Leafs GM Kyle Dubas was completely in the dark about the allegations until he heard about through an unlikely source. There is news the Minnesota Wild are looking for help at center and will the Penguins move a blueliner?

Dubas Found Out About Matthews on Twitter

As per a report by Chris Johnston of Sportsnet, Maple Leafs GM Kyle Dubas found out about the Auston Matthews incident on Twitter. While we know a lot of people get their news on the social media platform these days, it can’t be a good sign that Dubas was completely in the dark about it and didn’t hear anything from the player, his family or otherwise.

At this point, Matthews is saying he’d like to move on from the incident but knows his behavoir has hurt the team and likely his chances of being named captain (even though he may still get the letter) . Johnston reports, Auston Matthews says it was “an error in judgment on my part” when asked why he didn’t inform #leafs management about the incident in Scottsdale when it happened.

There’s also more details coming from the woman who felt like she was being assaulted by Matthews and his friends. A video has been provided to The Athletic where she talks about the incident. She explains:

“You do not approach a female at 2 a.m. in the morning thinking it’s funny to see how she would react to get in her car. There’s three of you, there’s one of me. You could’ve done anything to me and I was at a disadvantage because of that,”

The victim here, 33-year-old Fayola Dozithee, said she wouldn’t have pressed charges if Matthews and his father hadn’t acted as though nothing was wrong or denied the allegations. When Matthews’ father called her a liar, that’s when she decided to step forward.

Related: NHL News: Update on Patrick Laine and the Jets

Wild Looking for a Center

According to Darren Dreger of TSN, the Minnesota Wild are looking for a top-six center.

On the latest edition of Insider Trading, Dreger said:

He’s willing to be aggressive but he’s also a realist. He wants a top center, or a second-line center. How do you acquire that piece? The Minnesota Wild have an abundance of wingers, they have a good draft pile in terms of prospects and they also have a good picks list. So he’s willing to use all of that as bait, but again, he’s also careful knowing that the market just doesn’t throw a player like that out there.

Former attempts in Minnesota to find that piece haven’t gone terribly well. Former GM Paul Fenton sent Nino Niederreiter to the Carolina Hurricanes for Victor Rask. He hasn’t done much for the Wild and may not make the team. Ryan Donato isn’t a sure thing and Mikko Koivu is still dealing with injuries.

Related: NHL Rumors: Blue Jackets, Devils and Hall, 31 Thoughts, More

Penguins to Trade a D-man

Dreger also reports that the Pittsburgh Penguins will trade a defenceman. The name that seems to be floating around the rumor mill is Jack Johnson. “That’s a tough contract to move, but Jimmy Rutherford will move one of his blueliners,” Dreger said.

Rob Rossi of the Athletic noted that Johnson was scratched last night and it appears that it’s something that could be a trend. There are opposite reports however, from multiple sources that “nothing was going on” with regards to Johnson trade. He is entering the second year of his five-year deal.

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