Latest on Evander Kane, Mike Richards, Tyler Myers, Jeff Petry, Jeff Skinner and more.
NBC SPORTS: Jason Brough noted the Winnipeg Jets announcing today winger Evander Kane would undergo shoulder-surgery and could miss four-to-six month. Though one might expect that to put an end to the Kane rumor mill for this season, Brough cites Sportsnet’s Chris Johnston reporting Kane going on LTIR doesn’t mean he can’t be moved by the trade deadline, with some believing he could still be dealt.
TSN: Darren Dreger reports the news of Kane’s surgery has appreciably reduced the market for his services (Cup contenders like Boston, Anaheim, Pittsburgh unwilling to acquire a player who can’t help them now), but some teams could still view him (like the Vancouver Canucks) as a long-term option. Dreger believes there’s now a heightened sense of urgency for Jets management to add probably two wingers. They still have depth on their blueline to address that need…Dreger also reports the LA Kings could consider absorbing 30 percent of Mike Richards’ remaining contract, or take back a toxic contract if someone shows interest in Richards. Dreger claims a team with limited interest believed the Kings should add a pick or prospect to the deal in addition to picking up Richards’ salary…The Nashville Predators are rumored to have interest in Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Cody Franson, but they could has as much or more interest in one of the Leafs forwards, like Daniel Winnik or Mike Santorelli.
NICHOLS ON HOCKEY: Dreger also speculates the Ottawa Senators might have some interest in Kane.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: So, teams with Stanley Cup aspirations are out of the Kane bidding, but non-contenders could still have interest in him as a long-term asset. That’s fine, I guess, though if I’m Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff, I wait until the offseason to move Kane, when the market will be better and his value will be improved. Right now, he’s not going to get good value for Kane… If the Kings want to move Richards, they must pick up a good chunk of his salary and include a good player, a high draft pick or a top prospect in the deal…The Preds have more need for a top-nine forward than another defenseman.
Could the Ducks swap Cam Fowler for Buffalo’s Tyler Myers?
TVA SPORTS: Renaud Lavoie tweets, “Talks intensified between Ducks and Sabres on Tyler Myers. Other teams have interest in Myers. Can he be traded ? Its a real possibility.”
WGR 550: Lavoie claims the Ducks and Sabres are talking, with the Sabres wanting another defenseman (possibly Cam Fowler) as part of the return. At the very least, the Sabres seek a roster player and a prospect.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Not sure how keen the Ducks are to part with Fowler, a key part of their defense corps. He’s their second-leading scorer among defensemen this season, but lacks the size of Myers (though most NHL blueliners do), who’s more physical and has better defensive numbers than Fowler. It would certainly take a d-man like Fowler to pry Myers out of Buffalo.
NICHOLS ON HOCKEY: Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman believes the LA Kings, Vancouver Canucks and Detroit Red Wings could be interested in Edmonton Oilers defenseman Jeff Petry…Oilers GM Craig MacTavish acknowledged he’s received calls for Petry, who’s a pending UFA this summer. MacTavish suggests his club will be less active in this year trade deadline than in years past.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: He will be moving Petry, either on deadline day or leading up to it.
NICHOLS ON HOCKEY: Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman claims former Carolina Hurricanes GM Jim Rutherford made forward Jeff Skinner available before he stepped down and a couple of years ago. Friedman believes there could be some teams with interest in Skinner, but his concussion history is a concern…Friedman believes the LA Kings will pursue a defenseman, having made a pitch for Toronto’s Dion Phaneuf and expressing interest in Carolina’s Andrej Sekera and Pittsburgh’s Paul Martin…TSN’s Pierre LeBrun believes the Nashville Predators could be aggressive at the trade deadline, with interest in Ottawa Senators winger Chris Neil.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: If the Hurricanes shop Skinner they could have a hard time finding a trade partner or getting a decent return. Though talented, Skinner’s concussion history could be a deal breaker…The Kings could land a defenseman but they could be forced into the bargain bin if they don’t want to part with anyone besides Mike Richards.
NBC SPORTS: Mike Halford notes with New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist out for a month with a throat injury, and believes GM Glen Sather will shop for a short-term backup for Cam Talbot, who will fill in for Lundqvist. Halford suggests Detroit’s Jonas Gustavsson, Anaheim’s Jason Labarbera and Chicago’s Michael Leighton as options.
Lyle i find u bang on n one the best aling with Bob McKenzie.
Chevy can wait like he always does but its getting stale n he missed the boat. Kane is an asset n move him ASAP n move on n not the off season. Time is now for the Jets n everyone knows it but him it seems. He can trade for any asset n retrade that player eg Franson or whomever.
The Ducks GM needs to hung upside down and the soles of his feet beaten with 2X4’s if he trades Fowler for Myers. There’s no guarantee that Myers would be that much better than Fowler,LA is stuck with Richards, as that contract is as toxic as a river in Shanghai, and might I suggest Eddie Lack to back up
Talbot in New Yawk, how swede it is.
Big Leaf trade tonight Broll and Ashton to Tampa for a 7th round pick…lol
Opens up a couple spots for contracts tho so maybe more trades soon.
Honestly, I think the Wings will acquire a right shooting defenseman. Question will be if it will be Myers, Franson, Zidlicky, or Petry.
For these players, I see Detroit parting with the following:
Zidlicky- Mid/late pick. He is smaller and at 38 years old, how much does he still have left?
Petry- Mid/late pick. While he is younger, he is basically a 3rd pair defenseman in production with a horrid plus/minus rating of -63 in his 5 seasons including this one. ONE season he was a +, the rest…..
Franson- Like Petry, he is 27 years old and a UFA. He is by far more productive than Petry and suits the Wings style a bit better and has size. Wings could offer up Kindl and a mid pick. Would that do it?
Myers- This is just a large behemoth of a defenseman. Size and power is definately an asset even though his production has dropped significantly since his rookie year. Regardless, highly sought after. Unfortunately, I think the price is too high for this very expensive player salary wise.
I think the best offer could start around Jurco and Kindl. I can see a package including 2-3 prospects that are NOT name Mantha or Larkin. Frk, Ferraro, Marchenko, Sproul, and Jensen possibly?
What do you think Lyle Richardson?
I am not Lyle but Myers is getting way more than that or else why move him?…. a 1st one of the prospects that you say the Wings are unwilling to give up would probably be at least a starting point…the Sabres dont need to move Myers.
Shticky-
I value your opinions as well, I read what you say a quite a bit. Very few times have I not agreed with you. Now, in regards to Myers, I did say that was my opinion of what the Wings could offer, not what they could get elsewhere. I think what I mentioned was fair, considering that is. Will Buffalo get more? Probably, but I wouldn’t want to see the Wings pay more than what I suggested and Holland is a smart GM who makes very few mistakes. (Legwand was a mistake in hindsight)
Truthfully I think think there are guys out there that would be m8re affordable options than Myers who would work out just as well for the Wings Sekera Petry or Franson would cost much less than Myers amd would serve their purposes just aswell. Myers is going to have a huge price tag due to him being locked up and the position the Sabres are in. I am not sure why if you are looking for a righthanded top 4 D man you would pay that kinda price for Myers…Imo he is not a true 1-2 type any more than the other 3 I mentioned. Still young could develop in to one but I am not sold on it.
Myers is a true top 2 defenseman unlike Franson, Sekera and Petry.
We’ve had Sekera before and he is very streaky. He is a 3-4 defenseman. The only thing I see Sekera having over Myers is his passing.
Petry is like last years Fayne. He doesn’t even belong in this conversation. He is a bottom 4 defenseman. Petry has nothing over Myers.
Franson could be a 1-2 defenseman on a really crappy team but Myers is easily ahead of him on the depth chart. Franson however is more physical. Myers not blessed with the old Leafs offense when they used to score earlier in the season lol. But Myers easily better offensively and defensively. Physicality would go to Franson though.
I actually wouldn’t mind anyone’s opinion on this as well, not JUST Spector.
I don’t understand the logic behind a Myers for Fowler trade. The Ducks need to add a defenseman right now. Not trade one for one. I don’t see that happening. I can see something like Ritchie + Gibson for a late first and Myers
Jes I agree thats a step backwards if any truth to it n it happens.
I believe i figured out the Leafs strat. Go with Horachek n tank for a high draft pick. Hole in the tactic was Shanny blew it n should have fired Carlyle at start of season n get in the McEichel sweepstakes.
Myers trade won’t include Fowler – no idea where that comes from cuz Anaheim will not trade him.
My take on Myers to Ducks – Myers, + St. Louis’ #1 pick in 2015 for Ritchie, a young d prospect and Gibson. That might work.
That is a little light for Myers and put a 1st rounder in the deal to Anaheim also? I don’t think that would work. The 1st would have to be dropped.
@ 4th Hanson brother
Your trade proposal seems a little askew. You expect the Sabres to give up Myers plus a 1st for Ritchie a prospect and a back up????
You presume Buffalo is unloading him and the Ducks are being nice to them. You are completely backwards.
Try and put your personal bias aside or your fanboy ideas.
All you are going to get from GM TM for that package is his middle finger.
@theman you call Gibson a “backup” like he is some had been or someone that can’t crack the line up. He is considered the top goalie prospect in the game and had only played in less than 25 games in his career. On and he is 20. His trade proposal wasn’t so bad. Change the first to a second and it not so far off.