Updates on Dustin Byfuglien, Evgeni Malkin and Eric Staal, plus the latest on the Predators in your NHL rumor mill.
Isles rejected Byfuglien offer?
The Islanders are reportedly uninterested in Jets blueliner Dustin Byfuglien.
SPORTSNET.CA: Elliotte Friedman yesterday stated his belief the New York Islanders rejected an offer of defenseman Dustin Byfuglien from the Winnipeg Jets for blueliner Travis Hamonic. That’s understandable, as Byfuglien is a UFA next summer. Friedman believes the Isles prefer Jacob Trouba but the Jets “aren’t really there to do it.” He isn’t sure if the Jets offered up Tyler Myers and doesn’t think that’s a deal either club wants to make. Friedman also reports the Calgary Flames and Edmonton Oilers “kicked the tires” on Hamonic, but neither club seems a fit right now.
WINNIPEG SUN: Ted Wyman believes Friedman’s report shouldn’t come as a surprise. “Who wouldn’t want to trade a 30-year-old pending unrestricted free agent for a 25-year-old with a long-term, team-friendly contract? And why in the world would the Islanders be interested in such a deal?” He feels the Jets would have to “sweeten the pot” with younger players, prospects and/or draft picks. Even then, Wyman feels that wouldn’t suffice for the Isles to take on Byfuglien for only two-thirds of a season. What this report suggests, however, is Byfuglien and perhaps fellow UFA Andrew Ladd could be on the trade block.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Unless Byfuglien is willing to re-sign with the Islanders upon being acquired, there’s no reason why they should acquire him. If we go by Friedman’s reports, it’s Trouba or nothing for the Isles.
Latest on Eric Staal.
THE HOCKEY NEWS: Stan Fischler believes it’s increasingly likely Evgeni Malkin will become the best trade chip for Pittsburgh Penguins GM Jim Rutherford. “The deal I can see — Malkin to Carolina for Eric Staal.”
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Fischler needs to visit an optometrist. He’s seeing things no one else can.
TSN 1200 (via TODAY’S SLAPSHOT): If Carolina Hurricanes forward Eric Staal is willing to waive his no-movement clause, Pierre LeBrun believes he’d be a good fit with the Nashville Predators or Montreal Canadiens.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: LeBrun’s thinking is the Hurricanes and Canadiens need a proven first-line center. Problem is, Staal can’t fill that role anymore. In fact, he’s now skating at left wing. As the Toronto Sun’s Steve Simmons recently observed, “Can we please stop referring to Eric Staal as a No. 1 centre? He isn’t anymore. He has 14 points this season, had 54 last year, 61 the year before that. He’s closer to being Vinny Lecavalier than Ryan Getzlaf.” Some observers feel Staal could improve with a change of scenery,. Perhaps as a playoff rental, he might be worth the gamble if the asking price isn’t too high. Otherwise, buyer beware.
ESPN NASHVILLE: Jeremy K. Gover reports it won’t be easy for Nashville Predators GM David Poile to acquire a top-line center. While notable such as Staal, Colorado’s Matt Duchene, Columbus’ Ryan Johansen, Edmonton’s Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and San Jose’s Patrick Marleau have all surfaced in the rumor mill (with some linked to the Predators), Gover indicates the asking price to land any of them would be painful for the Preds. It’ll take much more than the age-old “Colin Wilson and a first” to do it.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: If Poile decides to add depth at center he’ll make that move closer to the trade deadline. He’ll likely seek a rental player, rather than someone with term on their contract. I doubt the Avs are seriously considering moving Duchene now, as that trade talk last month seemed geared more toward improving his play. I don’t see the Oilers shopping Nugent-Hopkins this season. The asking price for Johansen will be expensive (hello there, Seth Jones, top prospect and/or a first-round pick), and the Preds reportedly aren’t on Marleau’s list of preferred trade destinations. He’s also 36, carrying a $6.6 million cap hit and becomes a UFA in 2017. As for Staal, as I noted earlier, buyer beware.
Love your reaction to Fischler’s “idea”. That’s the second time in this early season he’s tried to stir the pot in Pittsburgh. First it was trade Sid, now suddenly Geno is the guy the need to trade. Wait a month and Fleury will be on the block in his eyes.
It’s been painful to watch the Pens so far this year, but as of now, they are in a playoff spot and there’s no reason to think they will fall out.
I don’t have much confidence in this team right now, as they have been lucky to get great goaltending, but as long as they are sitting in a playoff position, none of the big names are going anywhere, especially without seeing if a coaching change helps.
In fairness to all young delusional leaf fans, THAT proposed trade by Fischler was the worst I’ve read all year.
Perhaps Fischler meant the entire Staal family, present and future LOL
Re the Staal situation – that’s the kind of potential deal that the Leafs — USED to make all the time – trade away futures for a fading star in the hope they could re-capture past glories. Caveat emptor indeed.
Yeah let’s trade Malkin for Staal and while we’re at it lets trade Kessel to Montreal for Alex Semin since we’re trading for players that haven’t been effective for a decade. If Malkin is our best trade we can get a lot more than that for him. The first move is to sit Scuderi and never let him stand up again. Next is to take Dupuis off of the Crosby line not Hornquist and put Kunitz back on it. Mike Johnston is digging his own grave, buying his own coffin and putting the dirt back on top. Hey Mike, you have some of the best offensive players in the league including an all Allstar first power play unit and you’ve implemented a Mickey Mouse defense first system best suited for an all AHL johrneyman lineup? Wow that is genius buddy.
I don’t know what you expect out of Scuderi. He’s been playing as the #4 Dman based on TOI/GP, at least 1 spot to high but he is a fairly reliable defensive Dman that plays a simple stay at home game. He logs his minutes at even strength primarily with Letang & is Pittsburgh’s #1 penalty killing Dman. Pitts ranks 7th in the NHL for the penalty kill yet 27th overall for goals against. He is a plus 6 to Letang’s minus 14. You remove Scuderi from this group of brutal D & they won’t be able to stop a beach ball.
The fact Scuderi has been on the ice for 20 more goals for than against in comparison to Letang is shocking. I accept plus minus isn’t a perfect stat, most aren’t but a 20 goal difference is significant & it says Scuderi who has to cover for Letang who like most offensive Dman gets caught out of position constantly pushing the play & carrying the puck deep is quite telling. It says you should be happy you have Scuderi as the only other Dman that has any idea how to stop the other team from scoring is Maatta & he’s injured.
Relative to himself, Scuderi is doing pretty good. But the whole team is struggling to score goals. Yes, Evgeni Malkin is on a hot streak, thank god. But overall, having Scuderi play so many minutes is crippling their chances to produce offense. If he doesn’t have 4 or 5 seconds to make a pass, its just going back to the other team for another shift in their own end where he can block passes and shots. Looks effective when he’s doing it, but the fact he has to do it so often is the issue.
Not to mention, anyone who follows the Pens or Mike Johnston knows that Johnston’s ideal game plan is to go with mobile, two way defenseman. Yet even with a healthy lineup, Scuderi was getting in every night while keeping Clendenning in the pressbox. It makes no sense.
If he was maybe 700k per year as the #7D, that would be one thing. But the fact Shero signed him for four years at his age and to that salary gives me zero sympathy for him getting fired.
Scuderi isn’t there to generate offense. That’s his line mates job Letang. Nor is he really a shot blocker. He’s 4th on D for shot blocks 3 above Dumoulin & 6 above Maata who’s played 3 less games.
Scuderi isn’t what ails Pittsburgh’s ability to score goals. Johnston’s system is. Other than Malkin & to a some what lesser extent the vaunted Pittsburgh offence is non existent.
If your expecting Scuderi to drive offense in any way that’s your problem. That’s not his job. That’s Letang’s, Cole’s, Dumoulin’s, Matta’s & potentially Clendenings. Scuderi is a safety net.
Some 1 has to stop the other team from scoring. That’s his job & in Pittsburgh he has been the best at this year.
should read. “& to a somewhat lesser extent Kessel.”
Another relevant # for you. Scuderi has turned the puck over 9 times in 23 games. Letang 19.
Seriously who you think has the puck more Scuderri or Letang? Of course Sciderri is going totirn the puck over less
If Scuderi is the “saftey net” I wouldn’t want to fall…. only thing left would be a chalk line where you splattered on the pavement.
A agree with you. My argument is that Scuderi does what he’s supposed to do. Play it safe & stop the other team from scoring. He’s accomplishing that. Pittsburgh’s penalty kill has been solid & Scuderi leads the team in SH/TOI/GP. If you want to complain about what’s happening in Pittsburgh your disgust should be addressed else where. Not yours as your just responding to a snap shot but Busterdown & Deeee.
I agree striker scuderi has been the pens best dman this year he is playing safe within is limits and just doin what he is supposed to do! letang is just a give away machine he is hurting the pens more than helping if im Rutherford letang is the guy I try to move( might be tough with that contract)
By no means am I down on Letang. 1 of the best offensive Dman in the game when healthy which unfortunately is rarely but I accept players for what they are.
Hey if we could all have 6 Ryan McDonaugh’s that would be perfect.
This all started with 2 Pitt fans disparaging Scuderi. If Pittsburgh didn’t currently have Scuderi playing as well as he is with in his abilities Flery’s #’s wouldn’t look any where as good. He’s 1 of only 2 Dman on Pitt currently that has any inclination never mind ability to make sure they don’t get scored on & that’s his job. It’s not to be a solid 2 way Damn or help drive offense. It’s to provide a solid D presence so Letang can do what he does, kill penalties & be reliable. Which he has been. Even at 3.375 that’s decent value.
Can Stan see dead people?
Nice one. Stan Fischler’s achieves another personal best for dumb. He is amazing – actually the fact that he is employed is amazing.
You Pittsburgh fans will be happy to note that it’s only taken Johnston 15 games; that’s when Dupuis returned, to finally decide to put the Crosby with Kunitz & Dupuis line back together. I assumed that would have happened immediately upon Dupuis’s return. How Johnston still has a job as coach in Pittsburgh boggles the mind.
I agree that he should be back with Kunitz and Crosby, but my best guess is they intended on easing him back to 1st line minutes, especially after the scare out west last month. In my mind 9-10 games would be about right. 15 is a bit much, but perhaps that was a decision made from within.
I’m not even saying it’s necessarily going to work but it had for several years so at the very least give it 5 to 10 games to see if they can rediscover what they used to have. Age & health for Kunitz & Dupuis is certainly a concern but did we really need to see Crosby with all these various line-mates be this bad before trying what used to work?
That raises the issue on insanity or stupidity. Repeating the same action repeatedly but expecting a different result.
Can I be the crazy one today and suggest a Malkin/Johansen swap.
Seems like a useless move for the Pens, if they are going to trade Malkin they need to split that money in to a couple guys not just a replacement.
I’m just touting a crazy line. I felt left out. Perhaps other pieces could be added on either side to shore up both teams. Perhaps it is a bad idea. I think though perhaps it isn’t so crazy beyond the fact it ain’t happening. It could produce some intriguing player movement between the two teams.
It’s not that bad of proposal. If Penguins prefer Age, Salary cap room and Potential over Proven talent, they might go for it. If Blue Jackets doesn’t mind the 6 years age difference and has given up on Johansens play and attitude, they might also go for it.
Man I hate agreeing with Simmons but he’s right. Although somebody will still overpay for Staal at the deadline (thinking a late 1st and a decent prospect) but Staal will most certainly not be worth it. Bergiven seems too shrewd to make that move, and Poile used last year’s 1st to get Franson an Santorelli. I can’t see those teams pulling the trigger even though there’s a need, but somebody will. St. Louis maybe?
lol exactly what I was thinking.
At 31 E. Staal’s situation may be complacency & a lack of quality teammates to produce big #’s. Carolina has 1 of the worst rosters on paper in the entire NHL & last season’s was worse yet his 54 points were only 6 out of the top 50.
In to days lower scoring NHL where points are spread out over a greater # of players as most teams roll 4 lines quite consistently 5 on 5, a really good player only gets in or around 65. 3 on 3 overtime should see about a 15 to 20% increase if the #’s hold to the top end players who play 3 on 3.
I think E. Staal as a #1 C on a team with better personal should still be a 65 point player. He will easily garner a 1st & solid prospect & if resigned by the team that trades for him at the deadline probably more with futures.
MTL needs Staal like EDM needs a lottery pick. Unless CAR would accept Semin and Tokarski for Staal, walk away. MTL needs wing depth. Vrbata would be a solid rental target for MTL.
Tokarski and Semin has no value. Tokarski just went unclaimed on waivers and Semin would too. Staal will get around a late 1st pick plus mid prospect if history is any guide. It all depends on the bidding war for him.
craig… I agree about vrbata to play on the second line with galchenyuk I still think the habs should be talking to edm with the likes of tinordi,emelin,patyern and fucale I think a deal could made for a winger from edm
I agree with you about the winger bigbear. I think Galchenyuk’s best friend Yakupov would look good in Montreal. As good as he looks with McDavid though it would not surprise me to see Eberle headed out over Yak.
Eberle to Mtl for scoring sensation Dale Weise.. come on, Chiarelli, do it!!
Montreal needs wing depth you say. Didn’t Lyle in form us that Staal is now playing the wing. I do agree his contract is likely not a fit for the habs but he apparently can add to depth on the wing and add another face off option during draws.
staal is an option but bergevin I wouldn’t think has staal high on his list at this point in time
I’d trade Trouba for Hamonic. Less money to free up for next season and Hamonic is young and entering his prime with a very cap friendly contract. Trouba may have future potential, but that’s all it is right now is potential. He’s had moments this year and that’s all.
Last year the Blackhawks added Vermette for a 1st and Dalhbeck . Im sure the Canes can do better or just as good at the deadline this year with several teams interested . a 1st is a given even as a rental player which he most likely will be .
Hurricanes are crazy if they resign Cam or Eric there both over the hill and will get big money based on what they did years ago. Trade them and get young guys with potential and speed. The NHL has quickly become a young mans game except for Jagr lol he amazes me.