Latest on Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Jordan Eberle, Matt Duchene, Eric Staal, Cam Ward and more in your NHL rumor mill.
Highlights from Matheson’s latest “Hockey World.”
Could the Oilers shop a “soft skill” player like Ryan Nugent-Hopkins?
EDMONTON JOURNAL: Jim Matheson doubts the Oilers will trade center Ryan Nugent-Hopkins this season for a top-two defenseman, but suggests they should listen to offers next summer if teams come calling. He believes the Nashville Predators could be a good destination, as they’ve lacked a true number one center for years. He feels Predators blueliner and captain Shea Weber might be available, though the Oilers would have to put together a package that includes more than just Nugent-Hopkins. He also suggests Predators blueliner Seth Jones as another option.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Oilers aren’t getting Weber. Predators GM David Poile is quite adamant that he’s not moving his captain. Unless Weber demands a trade, he’s not getting dealt. Forget about Jones, they’re not getting him either. Matheson’s correct in his assumption the Preds won’t trade Roman Josi.
Meanwhile, it could take a player like Nugent-Hopkins to land a top-two defenseman. Then again, if they end up with a draft lottery pick, or actually win the damn thing again, they could peddle that pick (which will almost certainly turn into top prospect Auston Matthews) in a package deal for a blueliner.
Matheson doubts the Carolina Hurricanes will re-sign Eric Staal. He suggests Nashville could be a good destination, noting former Hurricanes head coach Peter Laviolette is now behind the Predators bench.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Matheson isn’t alone in considering the Predators as a fit for Staal. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman has frequently made that suggestion. I agree he’d be a good fit there, at least as a rental, but could they afford to keep him beyond this season?
The Washington Capitals could use a third-line center. Matheson believes Calgary’s Mikael Backlund or St. Louis Patrik Berglund might look good there.
With goaltender Ondrej Pavelec sidelined until January, Matheson speculates the Winnipeg Jets could take a run at Hurricanes goalie Cam Ward. He points out former Hurricanes coach Paul Maurice is now the Jets’ bench boss.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Don’t see that one happening. The Jets rarely make big moves during the season, in part because they’re a budget team. Besides, Ward has to agree to that move as he carries a full no-trade clause.
Could the Oilers eventually trade Nugent-Hopkins or Eberle?
EDMONTON JOURNAL: David Staples cites Sportsnet’s Mark Spector’s belief the Oilers will eventually trade “soft skill” players like Ryan Nugent-Hopkins or Jordan Eberle. Spector did back off a bit regarding his analysis of Nugent-Hopkins as soft. Staples feels the Oilers would prefer moving players like Teddy Purcell, Nail Yakupov or Benoit Pouliot.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: I concur with Staples. In fact, I think Oilers management is looking forward to seeing what their top-two forward lines look like once Connor McDavid returns to action in January. If any “soft” players are moved, it won’t be Eberle or RNH, unless of course they’re pursuing a top-two defenseman. In that case, it’ll take one of those two to land one.
No Duchene for the Flyers.
NJ.COM: Randy Miller dismissed speculation from a rumor blogger suggesting the Philadelphia Flyers were pursuing Colorado Avalanche center Matt Duchene. The biggest reason Miller doubts they’ll go after him is Duchene’s $6 million annual cap hit, which the Flyers cannot afford to absorb.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Following a poor performance in October, Duchene’s been tearing it up in November, tallying 17 of his 19 points since the start of this month. The Avs aren’t trading him to the Flyers or anyone else.
” … He suggests Nashville could be a good destination, noting former Hurricanes head coach Peter Laviolette is now behind the Predators bench….”
The way they played last night – not for long. I think Laviolette may be moving to the head of the list of the next coach to be canned, although Boudreau is still at the top in my opinion.
Winnipeg Jets are owned by the richest man in Canada, earn a profit each year, and have top 3 ticket prices in NHL…..yet….are a “budget team”. They are getting “budget results”
Eberle to the leafs for Phaneuf or Gardiner…hey, it could happen!
It would take a LOT more than Gardiner to land Eberle. Nor can I see see the Oilers committing to Phaneuf at that cap hit for 5 more years when, with cap uncertainty looking to be around for the next few years as the Canadian $ flounders, they are committed to Hall and Nugent-Hopkins long-term at $6 mil, Sekera at $5.5 mil, Pouliot at $4 mil, and Kelfbom at $4.167 AND, in that span, will need to deal with RFAs/UFAs Yakupov, Letestu, Draisaitl, McDavid, Reinhart and Nurse.
No, it could NOT happen.
They are already paying Hall 6 million, so a one million difference means that it COULD happen, though if Babcock keeps using Dion properly which he will, it may be tempting to keep him.
No it wouldn’t And it isn’t Hall he’s talking about it’s Eberle, also $6 mil yes, but that doesn’t take away from the problems they are going to have in signing all those I mention even WITH Eberle. This isn’t a knock on Phaneuf whose game has improved under Babcock by playing less minutes and on the 2nd pairing – which is where he really belonged all the time. Just not at $7 mil for 6 years (counting this one). Why would Edmonton take on a D at that price who isn’t going to make the difference in their reaching the playoffs any time soon and who would be a helluva lot harder to trade down the line than Eberle? For him they can likely get a solid, younger (and cheaper) Top 2 D.
Still waiting to hear who this mythical team is thats looking to give away a top pairing D man for RNH or Eberle…there would have to be quite a bit more to it imo, not a knock on either of the Oilers but teams dont trade top pairing D if they can help it. Hammonic is a completely different circumstance. So while its fine to knock Phaneufs contract I doubt a 1 for 1 swap of an Oiler forward for a D produces much better results….again not a knock on the Oilers or trying to boost Phaneuf…its not exactly a buyers market for D men.
Jaysus man, get a thicker skin! I wasn’t knocking Phaneuf either. All I was trying to say is, the Oilers have some hefty LONG-TERM contracts now and will be faced with quite a few more expensive decisions LONG before a Phaneuf $7 mil contact would expire, and that he – at that price – just isn’t the answer for a team like the Oilers. Would Eberle alone attract a Top 2 D? Probably not, unless some team figures they are deep enough in D and need a young top C desperately enough. Not likely but a lot more plausible than a Phaneuf for Eberle (or Gardiner for Eberle) deal.
nobody is giving any on ice value for phaneuf maybe a bad contract and a pick. as well as babcock has phaneuf playing he is still way overpaid!
“For him they could likely get a asolid younger and cheaper top 2…”
Im not defending Phaneuf I am saying youre as about as farr off as the comment you are scoffing at…the young top 2 solid D man on an affordable contract wont be getting traded to Edmonton for Eberle…just not happening it would take so much more…if there was one avaliable and 90% of the time there is not
Once again, READ what others say IN TOTAL – quit taking things out of bloody context to prop up your sanctimonious “I’m never wrong” approach. I SAID “Would Eberle alone attract a Top 2 D? Probably not, unless some team figures they are deep enough in D and need a young top C desperately enough.”
Bottom line? there have been many dumb trades along those lines made in the past and who’s to say they will NEVER happen again? You?
Minny is looking for a forward.. Eberle and conditional pick or Eric Gryba in exchange for Marco Scandella and Nino Niederreiter.
Eberle for Phaneuf or Gardiner?
One word……WHY?
Hard for Philly to afford Duchene with his 6 million dollar cap hit. Ryan Johansen on the other hand…
Cap hit aside Johansen being RFA 4 mill deal the return the Jackets would be looking for may be tough for Philly aswell. Same problem as the Leafs I am not sure the jackets will be looking for wingers and cant see the Schenns making the cut.
Johansen also makes $6M in his last year (albeit a lower AAV), so any team he’s on must make an $6M offer to keep his RFA rights for next year. It’s the same money.
A Johansen deal is too complicated to do during the season. Also I think management must assess the player having a whole subpar year to convince themselves that trading is the best option for a young 1st C. After a wasted season, still I’m not convinced they’d pull the trigger on him. IMHO they would have to encounter bad attitude during the season or problems resigning him for next year for a trade to become a reality there. You just can’t trade that guy and get similar value back.
Duchene was supposedly available. Now he gets hot so he isn’t going anywhere? This sounds like the GMs in my fantasy hockey league. They peddle a guy that is off to a slow start to everyone in the leauge for 2 weeks and then the guy has a 2 point game and he is off the market. Lmao!
You have that type in your pool too eh?
I have guys in my league that are in panic mode before Halloween.
LOL. I hear ya. I once took Mike Schmidt in a baseball pool – a notoriously slow starter – from the same guy two years in a row who was panicky by May.
You snooze you lose.
I had a few guys like Jones I was trying to sell the first couple weeks of the year. Now that San Jose looks decent and Jones is doing well I took him off the market.
I held on to guys like Getslaf, never put them on the market got a few offers but heck that is the name of the game. What are you doing for me now and what do I think you will do for me later.
You have to wonder if the Rangers will be in the Eberle or Johanesen markets (assuming they ARE in any “market”). They deem to be in free-fall, losing again today 3-0 to Philadelphia!
Lol, you win 9 in a row ,lead the league (or tie) and nobody notices, you lose 3 and “the sky is falling!!!!!” They’re still only 4 points behind Montreal, Ranger fans aren’t exactly ready to jump off the nearest bridge just yet….. See us after a 4 game losing streak. Lol
maybe they can trade yandle for duclair and a 1st!! lol phoenix might be thinking playoffs this yr!
Yeah, because Duclair is exactly what Ny is missing! No way they drop 3 in a row if he’s in the lineup!!!! Maybe they could trade away two 1st rounders for Kessel re-sign him, trade him and hold 1+ million for 5-6 years and get a bad return to boot?
My my, I see a Rangers diehard’s feathers are being ruffled.
See George, I see it the exact opposite. Ny has been a contender pretty much since the cap era began. Yet most people refuse to say it out loud. Meanwhile …. Tampa makes the playoffs 2 consecutive years, or Winnipeg 1 year…. And they’re the greatest thing since sliced bread! Edmonton wins 4 consecutive games after years of being putrid, ” they’re starting to turn the corner”…… You’d think after a lifetime of being a ny fan I’d be used to even successes coming with disclaimers…. But I mean really, they get zero respect no matter what they do here. A little beyond ridiculous / hater garbage…..a 3 game losing streak is hardly the end of the world. If they play .500 hockey over the next month they’re still a playoff team! ….”jaysus”!