NHL Rumor Mill – January 14, 2020

by | Jan 14, 2020 | Rumors | 50 comments

Could the Avalanche attempt to acquire Henrik Lundqvist? What’s the latest on Jean-Gabriel Pageau, Craig Anderson, Alex Martinez, Kyle Palmieri, and Alex Galchenyuk? Find out in today’s NHL rumor mill.

LUNDQVIST A TRADE TARGET FOR THE AVALANCHE?

THE DENVER POST: Mike Chambers believes the Colorado Avalanche have a trade option in New York Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist if their goalie tandem of Philipp Grubauer and Pavel Francouz fail to snap out of their midseason funk. Lundqvist, 37, is signed through 2020-21 with an annual average value of $8.5 million, but just $5.5 million in actual salary for next season.

Could the Colorado Avalanche make a pitch for New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist? (Photo via NHL Images)

Chambers believes the Avalanche have the salary-cap space and prospects/draft picks to entice Lundqvist to waive his no-movement clause for an opportunity to play for a Stanley Cup contender. With the Rangers carrying three goalies, Chambers believes they want to trade one of them. Los Angeles Kings netminder Jonathan Quick could be another option, though he’s got three years remaining on his contract.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It would be Rangers management, not Lundqvist, who might be enticed by the Avs cap space and their draft picks/prospects. The Avs can’t make that pitch to Lundqvist.

Every report I’ve seen and hear regarding Lundqvist’s future suggests he’s not leaving New York. I’m not saying it can’t happen, but he has to be willing to accept a trade.

We don’t know if anyone is making a pitch to the Rangers, or if “King Henrik” has been approached about accepting a trade to a Cup contender. If Lundqvist is willing to accept a trade, Colorado might not be on his list of preferred destinations.

LATEST ON THE SENATORS

THE ATHLETIC: Pierre LeBrun reports there haven’t been any in-depth contract talks yet between Ottawa Senators management and Jean-Gabriel Pageau. The 27-year-old center will become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. LeBrun speculates those discussions could begin later this month. How they go will determine if Pageau hits the trade block. If he does, LeBrun lists the Edmonton Oilers, Philadelphia Flyers, and Boston Bruins as potential suitors.

OTTAWA SUN: Bruce Garrioch reports Senators goaltender Craig Anderson’s performance must improve if he hopes to be moved by the Feb. 24 trade deadline. His stock has declined in recent weeks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: We can’t automatically assume Pageau will be traded. He’s a local boy who could be reluctant to leave the only NHL team he’s ever played for. He might want to be part of the club’s promising future. We’ll know within a month if he stays or goes.

As for Anderson, I can see a team taking a chance on him, though the Sens might have to pick up part of his $4.75-million salary-cap hit. His 10-team no-trade list could complicate things.

KINGS WILLING TO MOVE MARTINEZ

THE ATHLETIC: LeBrun also reports the Los Angeles Kings are open to dealing defenseman Alec Martinez, who’s signed through 2020-21 with a $4-million cap hit. The Carolina Hurricanes have internally discussed bringing a steadying presence to their blueline, but it would mean moving one of their rearguards to make room for Martinez. LeBrun also suggests the Colorado Avalanche or Winnipeg Jets as possible destinations, though the latter continues to face uncertainty over Dustin Byfuglien’s situation.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Martinez would be a fine addition to a contending club’s defense corps. LeBrun cites an Eastern Conference executive suggesting the Kings could get a second-round pick and a prospect in return. He also pointed out GM Rob Blake can afford to wait until this summer to find a better return.

LATEST ON THE CANADIENS, PENGUINS, DEVILS, AND SHARKS

If the Montreal Canadiens become sellers, LeBrun believes they could be reluctant to part with defenseman Jeff Petry. He also feels they have to listen to offers for Tomas Tatar. Both players are signed through next season.

Speaking of the Habs, LeBrun suggests the Boston Bruins inquire about winger Ilya Kovalchuk if he’s still playing well in a month. The Bruins had some interest in Kovalchuk after he cut ties with the LA Kings, but weren’t ready to offer him a contract at that time.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: LeBrun isn’t saying the Canadiens will trade Petry or Tatar, only that they should at least listen to offers. We’ll see if GM Marc Bergevin is willing to do that. Like Blake with Martinez, Bergevin can wait until the summer if he doesn’t receive any worthwhile offers leading up to the trade deadline. As for Kovalchuk, I can see the Habs shipping him to a contender if there’s sufficient interest.

The Pittsburgh Penguins’ asking price for winger Alex Galchenyuk is believed to be either a draft pick or a bottom-six forward. He’s a UFA on July 1 with a cap hit of $4.9 million.

Before being fired, former New Jersey Devils GM Ray Shero was telling teams he wasn’t interested in trading winger Kyle Palmieri. Now that Shero’s gone, it’s anyone’s guess what the future holds for Palmieri. He’s signed through next season and interested in re-signing with the Devils. LeBrun believes Palmieri would be a good fit with the Bruins.

LeBrun expects the struggling San Jose Sharks could become sellers at the trade deadline. They could dangle defenseman Brenden Dillon and forward Melker Karlsson, but they aren’t looking at blowing up the roster.







50 Comments

  1. Bruce Garrioch should consider that Anderson can’t start playing better……until he starts actually playing. Hogberg is getting all the starts right now.

    Colorado and Florida both know him and know what he brings as a capable reliable back up.

    I don’t think the Sens pickup any money and a couple throw in picks and prospects get tossed in the deal.

  2. Lundqvist will be 38 on March 2.

  3. Rielly injury for the Leafs changes their trade landscape? Are the Ducks a good partner, maybe for Manson or Lindholm, and Ritchie, get back Nylander/Johnsson and Liljegren and Bracco? Leafs should keep Kapanen over Nylander. How about Vince Dunn form Blues? One way or another, if the Leafs have hopes of staying in the playoff race, they have to move now, not later. They are rumored in the hunt for Georgiev from Ranges but that is not enough-they need to get a d-man from the Rangers also

    • Let them take Marc Staal or Brendan Smith together with Gregoriev. I would not like to lose one of out young D-men unless the return is REALLY justified.

    • They can have Marc Staal or Bendan Smith, no problem.

  4. Leafs have to get into the trae market right now given Rielly injury. Can they get a deal with Ducks for Lindholm or Manson, maybe Ritchie also? Give up Nylander and Bracco?, maybe Liljegren or Ceci also? How about Vince Dunn form Blues? I know they are looking at Georgiev from Rangers but they need a bigger deal than just a back-up.

    • Nylander cant be traded; if at all, until after July 01 when his signing bonus gets paid out.

      Maple Leaf window to win in not this year anyways so its more a case of plug n play and see what unfolds as it pertains to defence as every GM now sees the Leafs as not dealing in a position of strength.

      Leafs more apt to trade Kappy or Johnsson first for help be it in goal or defence than they are to sending Bracco packing. IMO anyways

      • “This is not their year “. Realistically speaking maybe so. However, any goalie that gets hot at the right time can carry a team to a championship. And that’s why they play the game.

    • All the leafs need is a backup like georgiev to give freddie rest heading to playoffs. The other easy move is dump or dont play ceci. Play lilligren and sandin and they are fine with holl barrie dermott …and marincin until muzzin returns after all star break. Their offense will carry them.

  5. As a Ranger fan I would be very sad if Lundqvist agreed to be traded to a contender but I would be happy for him. I believe he already is a HOF goaltender but he deserves another shot at a Stanley Cup before he retires. It would, however, free up a lot of cap space that the Rangers will need next year. I will root for whatever team he gets traded to (if he gets traded)

    • As a long time ranger fan I agree with you about the king…Would you trade Libor Hayak since we have Miller and Nils Lundquist in the wings.

      • You can never have too many young defensemen and you only know after 3-5 years what you really have. Look at ADA !! Last year everyone gave up on him and this year he has really turned things around. Good defensemen are always hard to find. But this is just my opinion.

  6. If Colorado wants, as an Isles fan I would send Varly back to Colorado if it meant we could secure Sorokin next season or bring Lehner back with Greiss.

    Varly would be a younger cheaper option than Lundqvist.

  7. Washington just invested 5 more years in 32 y/o Backstrom at $9,200,000 per.

    • and Backstrom negotiated the deal himself. That’s like another 3.5%

    • It just might pay off, George.
      They’re the best team in the League and are set up for a few runs.

      Think Holtby moves now?

      • It probably will pay off – at least for the first 3 years anyway and, who know, he might still be producing good numbers towards the end of that deal. I mean the guy’s been pretty dependable for several years now, barely missing any appreciable time in the past 7.

        As for Holtby, as Lyle says elsewhere, the Backstrom signing leaves them with just under $13 mil to sign 7 players next year (IF the cap goes to $84 mil which is no guarantee yet). Gudas is a UFA they’ll probably want to keep and he’ll be looking for a good hike from his current cap hit of $2,345,000 – probably closer to $4.5 and now they’re down to $8,394.672 to sign 6.

        Holtby, coming off a $6.1 mil cap hit isn’t having a banner year with a 3.02gaa and a 0.899 save %, but he doesn’t turn 31 until next September and if he’s not willing to extend below that current cap hit (and somebody will bite at a marginally higher number), there’s just no way they can extend him and still accommodate their 3 RFAs (Travis Boyd, Brendan Liepsic and Jonas Siegenthaler) who, combined, are coming off a total ELC cap hit of $2,214,166. Even marginal increases taking them over $3 mil combined will deplete what they have left.

        Unless they deal away someone else from their roster next summer, of course.

        Bottom line: I think Holtby is history.

      • Samsonov looks good in the Caps net as well. Been getting a decent workload recently too. Might be Holtby’s last run in DC.

  8. Sharks aren’t blowing up their roster? What’s left worth trading?

    Marleau, Thornton, Dillion, Milker, Sorensen, Vlasic, Couture

    They can all get traded for prospects at this point. Couture is an injury magnet and the Sharks have played better since he went down.

    It’s frustrating when they just make these half efforts to make the team better. Look at this roster and tell me it has even a shred of a chance. They don’t have much worth selling but they should sell what they can while they can.

    • And in other news my Sabres will do nothing or maybe trade for some over priced 3rd liners.

  9. Why wouldn’t Colorado be a preferred destination? Solid scoring unit, emerging D-core, good night life in Denver, cap space. With the exception of family resistance or possibly being in the Rockies and not a coast, I can’t think of a good reason why the King wouldn’t want to go to COL.

    • “With the exception of family resistance or possibly being in the Rockies and not a coast” could be exactly why Lundqvist might not want to move. He also could prefer staying in New York. Remember, just because a player hasn’t won a Cup doesn’t mean they want to leave their long-time team to pursue one late in their career. Joe Thornton also probably falls into that category. He loves San Jose and has little interest in leaving.

    • I read somewhere connor sheary for galchenyuk had no problem with sheary b4 any thoughts

  10. Lundqvist has shown no interest during rebuild in leaving, but with only 1 year left on contract, at this point he could consider. The end in NY is near one way or another. My question would be why wouldn’t the Av’s want the younger Gorgiev? Lundqvist does bring the proven track record, but Gorgiev would be a better long term fit and has better numbers this year than Hank. Something is going to happen, 3 goalie system won’t last long.

    • @slick
      Team confidence with Henrik back there vs the newly semi-proven Georgie.
      I dont think Henrik moves but the Rangers could really use that cap space next season

      I do wonder how he felt with the IGOR chants. I remember the first few games when Henrik took over for Weeks…. Weeks face sitting on the bench told it all

  11. Willie can be traded 3.5 million sign bonus in the next 4 years + 2.5 million salary = 6 million per year in really cash…Then the 6.9 and change cap hit

    • Take what you can get. He was bringing Matthews down, now he’s doing the same with Johnny T.

      • It could well boil down to “take what you can get” since you have to think – if what you say is accurate – the other 30 GMs and their scouting structure see the same thing. Then, of course, who would want to take on his almost $7 mil cap hit for 4 more years after this hoping they could find linemates who wouldn’t be brought “down” by his presence. IF that, indeed, is what he’s doing.

        Remember, perception doesn’t reveal reality … it creates it. Yours

    • martinez & tiffoli

      for

      nylander, ceci & pick

      • Why would L.A. do that? How does that improve their team?

      • Nylander is a younger forward locked in for years. Tiffoli is older

        pick can be a 2nd ..allowing them to replenish

        Ceci is a stop gap and can be flipped.

        Lewis will be up this off season

        Creates cap space for them and can grab assests

        Will TML need to add more to this? Sure maybe even Johansson, but idea is LA gets more cap room for flexibility to retool.

        Martinez is 32 and Tiffoli is 27
        Nylander is 23 and Ceci 26

        They are not competing today and getting younger assets make sense.

      • Nylander may be young, and while he’s indeed “lock in” for the next 5 years, it’s close to $7 mil per. If he’s a drag on the Leafs roster – as some are suggesting – again I ask, how does that help L.A. moving forward?

        By the way, where the heck is Pengy – he’ll be glad to hear the Pens have activated Crosby today from the IR. Not sure he’ll be happy to hear that the Leafs D for the immediate future anyway will consist of Sandin, Lilegren, Marincin, Barrie, Holl and Ceci.

      • Ya where is Pengy? More clients taking up his time again?

      • I think I can fill in here…..

        Leafs MUST trade WW. GmKD MUST call gmjr and MUST trade JJ. He is responsible for 14.5 losses , is horrible everywhere on the ice. But I think he could land Draisatl if GMjR throws in a 4th and holds 18.76% retention on JJ and GMKH holds 46.875% on Draisatl. Coach MS would be better off playing ptbn, certainly not JJ.

        Leafs…

        GmKD MUST repeat MUST trade for defenseman DD from La using WW after his sb is paid on 01/07/20! MUST!

        Under NO circumstances should GMJR trade Jarry or Murray! He MUST I repeat MUST sign both to extensions and Trade MM on the off-season for AM in a 3 way deal with Arizona.

        Did I get it???

  12. aj & Ceci for Martinez is closer ( I think)

  13. John Moore and David Backes for Nylander and Spezza. 😏

    • Why does Boston do this?

      • To help Toronto.

  14. If Sharks are sellers and Dell remains starter, Jones is gone. Vlasic, much as I hate to say it, could also become expendable. Kane too, though I love his style of play. Who knows, maybe SJ goes after Holtby.

    Realistically, it’ll prob be whom everyone else is saying in Melker Karlsson and Brendan Dillon. Don’t agree with it, but that doesn’t mean much.

  15. I have read a few posts here suggesting teams pursue Vince Dunn from the Blues, but I don’t think he is going anywhere. He is going to be a fixture on their blue line for years to come. I see him right now as Samuel Girard x1.5 … perhaps in the near future more like the best of Cam Fowler.

    Not only that, but if Dunn is moved, they will have to bring in a left hand defenceman to replace him. On their left side, the depth chart right now is:

    Vince Dunn
    Jay Bouwmeester
    Carl Gunnarsson
    Derrick Pouliot
    Andreas Borgman
    Jake Walman

    If they lose Dunn, it is pretty damn thin.

  16. Haggs must be reading the material here… did mention last week letting Acciari leave was a mistake by the Bruins for the $$$ they signed Ritchie & # 20 ( forgot his name) they could’ve signed Acciari and had $$$ left over … a Acciari .. Wagner & Kuraly lime would’ve worked (hindsight)……so Haggs get your own material please

  17. Lindholm …not #20

  18. Rask gets knock out of game by a illegal hit and as of now nothing is done about it by the Bruin players there certainly needs to be let’s see how this plays out …..

    • Sneaky or unintentional?

      Someone will rough him up a little, I bet.

      • If not Chara it’s nobody …..

      • You’re right, Joe.
        T’was no one.

  19. About William Nylander, I just get the feeling that he’ll be one of those guys whose name always comes up in trade rumours, who never actually gets traded and instead plays a long, long time with the same team.

  20. WW 41 points and 20 goals to date-about half way through the season. Yeah he is just awful

    • That was the gist of my replies above and why I kept saying “IF” in relation to his perceived – by some – detrimental effect on the team in general and Tavares in particular. Seems every time the Leafs go into any sort of funk, his name pops up as the one that needs to go in order to free up enough cap space to fix a leaky D and wonky back-up goaltending.