Latest on Steven Stamkos, Travis Hamonic, Kevin Shattenkirk, Sami Vatanen, Marcus Johansen & more in your NHL rumor mill.
Highlights from the Ottawa Sun’s “Insider Trading.”
OTTAWA SUN: Bruce Garrioch reports there’s a growing uneasiness among Tampa Bay Lightning fans regarding the future of captain Steven Stamkos. He’s a UFA next summer and there’s no indication he or the Lightning are drawing closer to a new contract. Garrioch believes Stamkos could command $11 million annually on the open market. If he hasn’t re-signed by the Feb. 29 trade deadline, Lightning GM Steve Yzerman will have to decide what his next move could be.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Nothing new here. As long as Stamkos remains unsigned, expect more of the same between now and the Feb. 29 trade deadline.
Forward Daniel Winnik has emerged as one of the players the Toronto Maple Leafs could be shopping.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s assumed the Leafs will shop a few veterans at the trade deadline for draft picks and prospects. Winnik might be part of that bunch.
After replacing their head coach, perhaps it’s time for the Pittsburgh Penguins to consider shopping some of their core players to see what they might fetch.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Management will wait and see how the team performs under new head coach Mike Sullivan before deciding if any player movement is necessary.
Sami Vatanen is the latest member of the Anaheim Ducks to surface in the rumor mill. Garrioch claims the Ducks aren’t shopping Vatanen but speculates that “at the very least if they could get a return they would make a deal.”
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Or maybe the Ducks become the next team to replace their head coach? They’re currently spinning their wheels in the standings and their offense continues to flounder.
The Vancouver Canucks are believed in the market for a defenseman.
Blues could face a decision over defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk.
The Columbus Blue Jackets are apparently trying to see if he can land New York Islanders blueliner Travis Hamonic. However, Hamonic wants to be dealt close to his home in Manitoba so there might not be a fit there. The Isles want a comparable defenseman in return.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: I’m sure the Blue Jackets would love to have Hamonic patrolling their blueline, but they’re not among his preferred trade destinations and they don’t have a comparable rearguard to offer up in return.
The St. Louis Blues could face a decision in the coming months regarding defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk. He’ll be a UFA in 2017 and will be expensive to re-sign. The Blues would like to add a top-six forward.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: If the Blues decide to shake things up I daresay that’ll happen in the offseason, not at the trade deadline. Shattenkirk won’t be moving this season.
Names to watch in the trade market.
SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman noted the current gridlock in the NHL trade market, but floated a couple of names to keep an eye on in the coming weeks. Some teams have inquired about Washington Capitals forward Marcus Johansson, but the Caps first want to see if Andre Burakovsky is capable of becoming a top-six forward before making that move.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Johansson is a restricted free agent next summer with arbitration rights and will be a year away from unrestricted free agency. That would explain why the Caps might listen to offers.
Florida Panthers forward Brandon Pirri could attract interest from clubs seeking scoring. However, the Panthers also need offense and could be unwilling to make that move. With the club’s new arena lease deal, Panthers ownership is further committed to investing in their promising young players.
Boedker could fit that need for scoring in Fla and his age makes him a puretty good fit with the core of that team. The panthers could part with a couple younger guys or picks to help with whats going on in Arizona.
the yotes moving boedker really doesn’t make much sense? they are in a playoff spot and hes producing well on the second line
It is obvious Stamkos rumours is a mainstay in the rumour mill, he is a daily fix on this site. But even if Tampa continues to fall in the Standings; the salary cap restrictions, & Stamkos having final say in trades, will not allow teams to do anything until next summer. Even at that a trade could be near impossible, as it could potentially turn into a rental player trade for the team trying to trade for him.
Interesting Globe article to day that Yzerman has alreadyhad some discussions last summer about moving Stamkos to the Sabres for the no 2 pick probably with other pieces, but without an extension it didnt go anywhere, also more of the same Cooper (with his new extension) and Stamkos dont really like one another….I say interesting because James Mirtle isnt really known for insider speculation type pieces. Or pandering to Leaf fans. He is one of the few in Toronto hockey media who is actually more of a journalist, than an “insider” type. More and more I am thinking Stamkos wont be a Bolt next year. Go get’m Rangers lol
myrtle isn’t a very reliable source I would listen to simmons before him lol
Not surprising Big bear
The Rangers have loved this guy for a while. They had a handshake deal that almost made him a Ranger! But today, it can’t happen. NY doesn’t have the cap space, or pieces to make it happen. Not pieces that would be beneficial for Tampa.
I am flabbergasted of reports from (normally) sound hockey journalists that Yzerman hasn’t even exchanged formal bids with the Stamkos camp yet. That sounds astounding to me. I wonder if that is really true or false rumors. If it’s true, it doesn’t bode well for Tampa.
Garrioch should be taking a closer look at the team right in his own back yard and some elements there that might shore up weak 3rd and 4th lines and a combination of F and D that give up THE most shots and chances in the league among those teams mentioned as playoff contenders. They’ve now dropped 3 or 4 on the road, two of them to teams (the Rangers and Habs) that have been struggling mightily of late. Why are the Sens getting a free pass? Murray needs to make a move or two.
the sens need dmen in a bad way! they left Anderson hung out to dry lastnight
You got that right. And the one D-man who will get physical was playing F while Shane Prince was a healthy scratch. Seems like Cameron is following in the steps of his predecessors and starting to “think” too much instead of icing his best possible line-up.
ya I didn’t understand boro moved up to forward?
Everyone and their dog is complaining about the benching of Prince and moving Boro to forward. Yet last night none of that had anything to do with there pathetic effort. Montreal had more shots that first period than the Sens did the whole game. It seems the Sens are starting the Christmas break earlier than most.
PHOENIX should make a move for Stammer. They have Hanzal or Boedker along with 1st rd picks to throw at Tampa for Stamkos and can easily pay him the 10 million a yr. That will attract other free agents to build something competitive.
Thoughts? besides he only wants to play for a contender (as most top contenders cannot pay the 10 million)
IHateCrosby too, but do you really think Stamkos is going to want to sign in Phoenix? I’ve lived there and in south Florida. I certainly understand his desire to go back home. The Coyotes can trade for him for 6 or 7 weeks, but there’s zero chance he resigns there.
is there a possible trade of Fowler to ‘Canes for Skinner out there? The Ducks need offense and Kesler or Getzlaf feeding him the puck might recharge his offense.
It’s not his offense that needs re-charging – it’s his head. A series of concussions has a lot of teams wary – including Carolina!
It’s been pretty much the same thing about Stamkos since the season started. Could just copy, and paste rumours about him
Winnipeg needs to make some moves. Big Buf to LA, LA ships a few players to the Coyotes and Winnipeg get Boedker. Then the Jets can afford Ladd. LA becomes the cup favourite, Coyotes build for the future and the Jets get some offence. But the Jets also need Hamonic.
LA cannot afford to resign Byfuglien, hence a trade would be a waste. LA is working with Lucic for an extension. Any salary room will be eaten up by that contract going forward. Byfuglien is a pipe dream for LA.
Yes, I’m surprised the Ducks didn’t make a coaching change after the 5-1 loss at home to the Hurricanes. Meanwhile, in Boston, Claude Julien is doing a great job with the Bruins. What a laugh on the “talking heads” or so-called experts who thought Julien would be the first coach canned, and that the Bruins would have a miserable season. Looks like Sweeney made some good moves, after all. The club is much faster, have tightened things defensively, have some excellent young players, are scoring goals like they’re going out of style, and lead the league both in power play goals and wins on the road. Sweeney has re-tooled the team, on the fly.
and 2 points from being out of a playoff spot! lol boston is playing well but lots of season left to be out of a playoff spot
I agree bigbear, its a little too early to call the bruins a success however they are doing better then most predicted they would. Lots of room for improvement on the d.
totally agree caper they could use some help on d
Pasternak returning soon and they will have some cap space if they put Kelly on LTIR
Comets 5-4 OT over the Marlies
OT SHG winner
Typical kinda Bernier thing 2 shutouts back to back then lets in the first shot and something like 3 in the first 5 shots….man just find some consistency already, The guy is frustrating.
3 shutouts in a row, this game he was back to normal. Bernier let in the first shot of the game, 1st shot of the 2nd and the 1st shot in overtime. All this with Babcock in the stands.
Bernier is an enigma.
Given the #1 spot was a gamble n not looking great.
Cannot trade him easily n time to move on IMO
Maybe I’m late to the party, but just saw that Johnston was sacked in Penguin land…at last. Not a second too early.
How many coaches did Rutherford fire in Carolina? Maurice twice, Laviolette, Mueller. Didn’t do them much good. We’ll see.
I’d rather Rutherford sacked himself. But that ain’t gonna happen…