Collections of rumors from around the NHL, including the latest on the Leafs, Flames, Blackhawks, Flyers, Kings, Hurricanes and more.
Trade rumors thoughts from Elliotte Friedman.
SPORTSNET: In his weekly “30 Thoughts” column, Elliotte Friedman reports notes Maple Leafs like Phil Kessel, Dion Phaneuf and Tyler Bozak have limited no-trade clauses, but wondered if the trio might be willing to widen their lists if it’ll get them out of Toronto…The Leafs are trying to move Bozak, but the three years and $4.2 million annual cap hit left on his contract could make him a tough sell in the trade market at the deadline…The Leafs could hang onto Mike Santorelli up to deadline day to boost his trade value. Friedman speculates he might fetch a second-rounder right now…Anaheim Ducks are seeking a defenseman…Senators winger Chris Neil could end up in Nashville if Predators GM David Poile wants him…Are the Blues willing to try another splash at the deadline?…The Sabres asking the Bruins about promising goalie Malcolm Subban. “No”, was the reply.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Wouldn’t surprise me if Kessel, Phaneuf and Bozak could widen their list of acceptable trade destinations, especially if they know they’re no longer wanted by the Leafs front office. Still, they’re not going to accept just going anywhere (sorry, Edmonton and Buffalo)…The Leafs could face pressure to pick up part of Bozak’s salary if they want to move him on deadline day…I don’t believe Santorelli will fetch more than a second rounder. I know GMs can overpay on deadline day but only to a point. Santorelli isn’t a star, so if the Leafs can get a second round pick for him, git ‘er one.
Short shifts from Jim Matheson.
Could the Flames have interest in Phil Kessel?
EDMONTON JOURNAL: In his weekly “Shorts Shifts” column, Jim Matheson suggests the Edmonton Oilers inquire into the availability of LA Kings backup Martin Jones…The Blackhawks have interest in Arizona’s Antoine Vermette. Matheson believes the ‘Hawks will have to move Patrick Sharp this summer and let Johnny Oduya depart via free agency to free up cap space. The Coyotes seek a first-round pick and a prospect for Vermette…He wonders if the Calgary Flames might have interest in Phil Kessel, noting former Leafs GM Brian Burke is now Flames president…He believes Flames winger Curtis Glencross would be a good fit with “New York”, who seek third-line depth.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Martin Jones isn’t going anywhere. The Kings need him for their playoff push in case Jonathan Quick gets hurt…Don’t see how the Blackhawks can possibly squeeze Vermette into their limited cap space this season unless they convince the Coyotes to take on part of his remaining salary. I also expect Patrick Sharp will be a trade candidate this summer, but teams could push for blueliner Brent Seabrook, who’s a UFA in 2016 and could cost over $7 million annually to retain. Seabrook is blueline gold and teams will happily pay him whatever he wants… I don’t see Kessel as a fit in Calgary. They’re building a good thing there and don’t need to blow up their budget chasing an expensive star. While they looked into Evander Kane’s availability, Kessel is too costly in salary and return. Besides, Calgary could be on his “no-trade” list…I’m assuming Matheson meant the Rangers when he said New York, but they’re looking for a versatile third liner who can win faceoffs. Glencross doesn’t fit that category.
List of potential Flyers trade bait.
NJ.COM: Randy Miller lists 10 Philadelphia Flyers who could be trade bait leading up to the March 2 trade deadline. Notable include Kimmo Timonen, Nicklas Grossmann, Braydon Coburn, Nick Schultz, Michael Del Zotto, Luke Schenn, Matt Read and Mark Streit.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Of these, the only guys who could move are Coburn and Read. Timonen has health issues, Grossmann and Schenn scarcely generate any trade buzz, Streit is too expensive and the Flyers reportedly hope to re-sign Schultz and Del Zotto. Read, however, has played through injury so they could retain him, knowing how well he plays when healthy. Coburn could still have some value as there’s a belief he could improve playing for a better team.
Latest Kings and Hurricanes rumors.
SPORTSNET: Damien Cox wonders if LA Kings GM Dean Lombardi has another notable trade deadline deal in him akin to last season’s when he landed Marian Gaborik,who helped the Kings win the Stanley Cup last spring. This season, the Kings need blueline depth Cox believes Lombardi would be leery of parting with a first round pick or top prospect the Maple Leafs could want for defenseman Cody Franson. Oilers blueliner Jeff Petry might be a more affordable option.
NEWSOBSERVER.COM: Luke DeCock reports we’ll soon learn how good a general manager Ron Francis is, for with the trade deadline fast approaching, he’s got a desirable trade chip in pending UFA blueliner Andrej Sekera. Francis is in his first season as Hurricanes GM and has yet to make a significant move. What he gets for Sekera, and to a lesser degree winger Jiri Tlusty, will be a good indication of how savvy a wheeler-dealer he can be.
Lyle I agree with you about Kessel in Calgary.
Calgary is known for being the lunchbox crew that comes out every night to outwork the other club. Kessel just does not fit that mould.
TO is jockeying for a first line center and there is no way Calgary will give up Monahan or Bennett at this time.
Robidas moved at the deadline last year after coming back from back-to-back broken legs and not playing all season and turned into a 4th pick, so I’d say Timonen could be moved if he gets some games in and plays decently before the deadline.
I’d be surprised if anyone ponies up a 2nd for Santorelli. He was an ok 3rd or 4th liner in Vancouver, picked up off the scrap heap and has looked good in Toronto but mainly by comparison. He certainly works hard which had led to some opportunities but a 2nd in a deep draft? I agree Lyle if they can get someone to offer that up they should jump at it.
I think you are the only person here who doesn’t realize how versatile Santorelli is.
He was a solid player for Nucks who were silly for letting him go. He can play all forward positions including spot duty on any line. Not many players, especially at that cap hit, can make that claim.
You’re right I forget which guy it was but one of the analytic guys I follow on Twitter had a comparison of vermette to Santorelli .. Near identical number with Santorelli playing nearly 200 less games
lol yep…still not going to get what Vermette will but just about the identical player.
Hmm versatile, that can also be interpreted as not good enough to earn a regular spot. He’s being paid $550,000 by the Leafs after the Nucks decided to just let him walk. Everyone else in the league apparently took a pass on him or he’d be making more than he is now. His home town team, Vancouver, didn’t offer up even a minimal contract. Apparently it’s not just me “undervaluing” this amazing asset but the decision makers for nearly every team in the NHL. I wonder how he suddenly became so valuable? Oh yeah that’s right he put on a Leaf jersey. Cause we all know that just throwing on the white and blue automatically makes you incredibly valuable 🙂 Are you a #4 D man? well lets pay you like a #1 cause hey you’re a Leaf. 2nd or 3rd line centre? Clearly you need to make #1 centre money cuase of that spiffy jersey.
Santorelli has looked good as a Leaf because he actually works hard. For most other clubs “versatile” would mean he plays well on the 3rd line, 4th line or in the AHL.
I’m not saying he is ryan getzlaf but with all the hype about vermette I’m just making a comparison
https://twitter.com/steveburtch/status/566320318776872960
Ahh look at that the Islanders make the playoffs for the first time in a decade and all of a sudden, Styx starts acting lke they are a contender thats been going on for years….lol
Not sure you’ll even read this Shticky as it’s a day later 🙂 Didn’t say anything about the Isles, have trashed them here plenty. Still have a sick feeling in my stomach every time they lose a couple in a row (are the wheels coming off now?). Just saying that a guy who averages about 1/3 of a point per game and has only been good enough to play 80 once in his career and that for a Panthers team that wasn’t very good. He’s headed for one of the better seasons of his career in terms of games played and points but I suspect a lot of that has to do with the Leafs situation this year. My response wasn’t to Aki but rather Cob who stated that I was the only one hear to didn’t understand how valuable Santo is.
As for Vermette, do I think he’s worth a first and a player or high prospect? No not really. We saw Kane go for two prospects and a late first. Vermette is no Kane. Vermette is a far more consistent commodity than Santo though. He’s averaged about .5 pts per game over a long career and given his consistent inclusion in the line up we can guess that he’s a solid all round player. Course somebody tweeted that Vermette and Santo are the same so I guess that means they are, perhaps separated at birth? Tough to pick out of a lineup by most GMs?
I think Tyler Bozak could make a great second or third line center on a contending team. Don’t sell the guy short, he’s just not a first line guy. He’s a proven two way center who can win face-offs. This coming from a habs fan.
The habs can take him then lol…
Cheap….please take captain faceoff.
I agree he’s over paid, but come deadline he could be a good addition for a team going for a cup run.
Timonen is not a health risk and is an outstanding player and leader. He’ll be traded. My guess is he goes to Detroit for a pick or, hopefully, Teemu Pulkkinen.
I can see the Wings going after Timmonen, but Pulkkinen would be a massive overpay.
Curious to know what n when the Leafs rebuild blueprint will be released. With the East having so many doormats points r easy to be had nuts n bolts of the plan oughta be straightforward enough. Dump as many stupid contracts as possible even at a discount if necessary. Keep or resign the few players who show up every night. Winnik Santorelli Komarov n go from there deciding what or if any others will be the core players. True character n leadership n hardworking players r the only keepers.
If it’s a rebuild at 3 years, then this makes sense and is a very good turnaround for that timespan with better prospects, more prospects, youth, leaf picked positional/character/size drafting, while allowing current players (under 25) to enter prime right when 2015-2017 picks enter league.
First Round player/prospects in 3 years:
Good(7): 2015/2016/2017/VanReimsdyk/Reilly/Kadri/Nylander
OK(5): Holland/Gardiner/Gauthier/Percy/Bernier
Extra(1-3)One good prospect for Kessel; 2 OK prospects for Franson, Phaneuf, Bozak
With Bergevin’s Hawk knowledge/history is there any chance he looks at adding Sharp and Seabrook at the draft? May cost Plekanec, Tinordi/Ememlin, Fucale and a first rounder but could be the pieces needed to take a run at the cup.
Time to get in on this talk.