Updates on Jonathan Drouin, Steven Stamkos, Dustin Byfuglien, Patrick Marleau and more in your NHL rumor mill.
Highlights from Friedman’s latest “30 Thoughts.”
Trade speculation persists over recently-demoted Lightning winger Jonathan Drouin.
SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman weighed in on Jonathan Drouin’s trade request from the Tampa Bay Lightning, believing Lightning GM Steve Yzerman won’t be pressured into making a deal he might later regret. Friedman believes every NHL team could call Yzerman to inquire what it would take to land Drouin, suggesting the asking price could vary from team to team. He suggests Chicago, Winnipeg, Anaheim, Carolina, Nashville, New Jersey and possible Ottawa could be teams with young assets that could interest Yzerman.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: If Yzerman shops Drouin, I suspect (like Friedman) he’ll target teams with promising young assets. The Lightning cannot afford to take back too much salary, as they have too many key players to re-sign this summer and in 2017. I don’t expect Drouin will be dealt before the trade deadline. If Yzerman decides to trade the young winger, it’ll likely be in the offseason.
Friedman also feels the smartest option for the Lightning is to wait until there’s clarity regarding the status of pending UFA Steven Stamkos. He believes Stamkos wants to remain with the Lightning and is willing to compromise, but he wonders if Yzerman is will to do the same.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Stamkos recently said both sides were still discussing a contract, but that’s as far as he was willing to go as both have agreed to keep negotiations out of the media. Right now, it’s likely a case of which side is willing to blink first.
Of the trade demands made this season, Friedman feels that of San Jose Shark’s forward Patrick Marleau is least likely to stick.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Even if the Sharks wanted to trade Marleau, they certainly won’t ship him to a California rival like the Kings and Ducks, while the New York Rangers can’t afford his $6.6 million cap hit. Those were the three clubs reportedly on his list of preferred trade destinations. If he truly wants to be traded, he’ll have to broaden that list.
It’s possible Philadelphia Flyers center Sam Gagner could become a trade candidate. He wasn’t claimed off waivers because no club wanted to take on the full salary. GM Ron Hextall “hinted there’s a trade possibility.”
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Most likely Gagner will be moved near the trade deadline, when most of his salary has been paid out by the Flyers.
With the Florida Panthers now a playoff contender, Friedman wouldn’t be surprised if they made a pitch for Winnipeg’s Dustin Byfuglien. GM Dale Tallon was part of the Chicago Blackhawks organization when they drafted Byfuglien and became GM during his rise through the ranks.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s not the first time we’ve heard that speculation that Tallon might pursue Byfuglien. However, Tallon recently said his priority would be to add a sniper. Unless he changes his mind, he won’t be chasing Byfuglien this season.
The Arizona Coyotes are trying to move forward Steve Downie.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: He could be moved by the trade deadline to a contender looking for fourth-line grit.
Friedman claims the Ottawa Senators were trying hard to move defenseman Patrick Wiercioch, but with Jared Cowen now in coach Dave Cameron’s doghouse, perhaps their focus shifts to moving out Cowen.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Of the two, Wiercioch could be the easier to move, as he’s an RFA at season’s end while Cowen still has a year left on his contract at a cap hit of $3.1 million.
Canucks inquired about Drouin and Johansen.
TSN 1040 (via TODAY’S SLAPSHOT): Vancouver Canucks GM Jim Benning said he’s inquired about Tampa Bay Lightning winger Jonathan Drouin and Columbus Blue Jackets center Ryan Johansen, adding the asking prices for both players are “really high.” Benning said his team is in a transition period and he wants to keep his young players and develop them into the next core of their team. He also dismissed the notion the Canucks should tank the season to improve their chances of landing a high draft pick.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s a safe bet the asking price for either player from the Canucks would include Bo Horvat, Jared McCann or Jake Virtanen as part of the return. Benning is doing the right thing by sticking with his kids. There’s no shortcut to success here. The best method remains drafting well and developing those promising youngsters. .
Chicago makes a tone of sense LW to play with Toews, relative cheap contract going down the road maybe a guy like Pokka or Svedberg going back the otherway with something else. Toews would hide and help with any defensive issues.
I like the fit too, but I can’t see Stevie accepting anything less than Teravainan, which is kind of a lateral move for Chicago IMO. Personally I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s moved for a top 6-8 pick at the draft by someone who didn’t get the player they wanted.
I think he will be moved by the deadline just to get it over with and lessen all the stamkos speculation going on. durt I think terevinan is the guy to move probably with a pick I cant see tb trading drouin to the east too young and upside even if hes not showing it yet
Not so sure Pokka is a rh D who would likely crack the second pairing in Tampa…and Teravainan plays RW Tampa is rather deep there with Filpula Kucherov Callahan and sometimes Stamkos…maybe but I font see the Bolts needing a RW as much as they could use a good young RH D man who can skate and move the puck.
Hey Lyle
Was curious of your opinion on the situation in Tampa.
With Stamkos unsigned and now Drouin unhappy, Is Yzerman maybe not the GM everyone thought he was or is Cooper really have an attitude problem?
Or is it, in your opinion seem like a player attitude problem?
Just speculating.
Hi, Tyler.
I don’t think Yzerman deserves the second-guessing he’s getting right now. He believes in his coach, who produced solid results the last two seasons. Yes, this season has been difficult, but the Bolts have lost several key players to injuries this season. As for Stamkos, it’s the media hyping his contract status. Both Stamkos and Yzerman insist on keeping this out of the media. There’s a long way to go to July 1. Drouin seems to be butting heads with Cooper, but the other younger Bolts are playing well under him.
I couldn’t agree more Lyle about the media hyping up the Stamkos contract, people seem to forget Kopitar isn’t signed yet either and you never hear any contentious talk directed towards Lombardi, only difference is Kopitar wasn’t born in the GTA.
Hoo. File that under “I wish I said that!”
That and you don’t see Kopitar conspicuously liking three separate tweets about him going to play in his hometown for a team desperate to have him.
Why are the “desperate to have him?” For the gate? They couldn’t possibly squeeze in any more fans. For merchandise sales? They sell it with the names of slugs on them anyway. To turn them into a winner and cup contender? He can’t do that with a better team around him. To clog up their cap situation? Well, there you have me if that’s what they are intend on doing because it will definitely do that for the next 3/4 years at least.
George, I’ve said a number of times that I’m not keen on Stamkos for the Leafs at 9 x 7 let alone the rumoured 10, 10.5 or more.
I’m simply pointing out that this speculation isn’t entirely constructed out of thin air as is frequently the case with the Toronto media.
totally agree king! lol the Toronto media goes way overboard when a big freeagent is coming up especially a hometown boy! the thing I don’t get is the media is also calling for a rebuild so why would they want to spend 10million on a guy when they have young hopeful talent coming up that they will have to pay after the 3 yr elc?
Yes bigbear, that is the $10 million question. The media is definitely constantly contradicting themselves.
Lyle,
Great assessment of the Stamkos situation. I do not envy Yzerman right now as he has several decisions to make. With all the young talent in TB and the subsequent contracts to be signed there are some hard calls to be made.
I would like some clarification from you why you think Stamkos would be a bad signing for the Leafs. From what I see you have Morgan Reilly as the only must sign player this year maybe Kadri if the management wants to continue down that highway.
Grabner, Parenteau, Winnik, Polak and Boyes are likely going to be rentals at the trade deadline.
Lupul and Bernier are likely to be traded next summer.
Even if you don’t trade Lupul or Bernier would you not rather have Stamkos in your lineup at 9-10 M a year for 7 years vs Kadri at 4 M? Thus meaning the Leafs don’t even bother qualifying Kadri.
With Van Reimsdyk, Bozak, Komarov, Holland, Nylander, Marner, Timashov, Kapanen and 1 to 2 First round picks this year at forward and then O’Rielly, Phaneuf, Gardiner, Marincin, and several strong D prospects why wouldn’t you upgrade 25 year old Kadri to a 25 year old Stamkos.
Nylander, Kapanen, Marner, and this years first round picks would not be unrestricted free agents until Stamkos’s contract was up and at 32 he would still hardly be old. To me this would be a perfect situation for both Stamkos and the Leafs.
I think Stamkos would get even better with Babcock. Babcock is likely one of 2 or 3 coaches Stamkos would respect enough to take his game even further.
Lyle, other than cap issues, I am just wondering why you are so sure the Sharks wouldn’t you move Marleau to a division rival? He is is 36. I would move him to the team that gave me the best deal.
Also, I don’t if you are aware but Larry Brooks spent the day claiming that the Rangers are getting Drouin for, he believes, Yandle. That deal makes absolutely no sense for Tampa. I don’t see Drouin being moved for a rental. Especially when Tampa looks no where near ready to compete for a Cup right now. Trading for Yandle and missing the playoffs and having him walk would be a complete disaster.
I didn’t say the Sharks wouldn’t trade Marleau to a division rival. I said they wouldn’t trade him to a California one. No way Doug Wilson ships Marleau to the Kings or Ducks. I duly noted the Brooks column yesterday and share the same opinion as you on the matter. I don’t doubt the Rangers are interested in Drouin, but I don’t see Yzerman trading him for a playoff rental player he cannot afford to re-sign.
My mistake, I should have written Kings or Ducks. I definitely wouldn’t want to help the Kings win another cup but, other than that, I would have no worries about facing Marleau for the next two years.
As for Drouin, I think if there is any deal to be made with the Rangers it would have to center around Hayes or Kreider. Thanks for your input.
I seriously doubt that Yzerman would do a Drouin for Yandle swap, First off Tampa Doesn’t have the cap space to take on Yandles contract and besides Yandle is a LHD and Yzerman is looking for a RHD The Ducks might make some sense with Vatanen and Fowler possibly available though Fowler is out 4-6 weeks with a leg injury. I could see Drouin if traded going to a solid contending team.
I can see valeri nichushkin (Dallas) in a swap for drouin..
I don’t think dallas wants to give up on nichushkin just yet they don’t need offense at this point
Good point big bear, if Nichuskin is traded it will most likely be for D help, as you say that’s IF they are willing to give up on him.
Habs fan is also on to something as well, you know they are salivating at potentially adding a French Canadian who was drafted so high. In saying that though, Yzerman wants young d in return and no Tinordi isn’t going to cut it, and you just know Yzerman will be demanding Beaulieu.
So in saying that maybe they aren’t good trade partners.
I agree dallas needs a solid defensive dman king. im sure the habs would want drouin but as lyle said before tb and mtl have a good playoff rivalry going and no tinordi is not getting drouin beaulieu is the guy tb would want
Good to see Lindy getting a chance with a real team. Good coach, even better guy.
With a real team? Buffalo had really good seasons under his watch
Not in a long time jason – the core that was left after 2007 was not worthy of being called a core.
No, that ain’t happening. Nichushkin is a big body RW with more upside than Drouin.
Drouin to Colorado for Tyson Barrie
Re-united with Nate to put the spark back in him. I just don’t know what Colorado has to put with Barrie to make this happen. Also if Tampa get Barrie they can then move Coburn, which they have been trying to do all season.
Jonathan Drouin wouldn’t be the first player drafted high in the first round to flounder…Huberdeau hasn’t done much, guys like Kadri,even Galchenyuk slower development, but at least in the case of the latter two they are playing both ends of the ice. All that being said, Im not sure I trade a strong two way player like Teravainen for Drouin…I know you can never have enough offense but at what cost?
At some point Nashville has to jump in here, don’t they? So teams are probably shying away from Weber- but he is the guy I deal for Johanssen…or in the case of Drouin – you move an Ekholm or Ellis, just too many quality defenseman and not enough offense, the Preds are being way too patient here…the window with Toskala is closing.
As for Marleau, at this stage who cares where you trade him- no upside, decline is obvious, I do believe they would deal in-state because there is nothing to worry over- just don’t think those teams want a 35 year old making that kind of coin.
Kerby Rychel and Wennberg for Drouin and call it a day
Good point Shticky. Maybe a deal centered around Dano?
The Islanders make sense too. They have been looking for a LW for Tavares for quite some time and the Islanders have the cheap players/prospects to make it work.
pretty sure tb would want terevinan over dano. TT can help right now
Where is he going to play right now In Tampa? He plays RW and even if he was truely ready to play C Johnson is back…that leaves him as a 3rd line c at best and a 4th line RW unless you put 6 million dollar Callahan on the 4th line, in which case he is a thirdliner….not sure he helps that much, its a latteal move for Tampa at that point moving a good young player who was just sent to the miors because they dont want him playing so few minutes on the third line and bring in another good young player and play him on the third line.
tt is playing on the third line with the blackhawks way easier to teach offense than defense learning the defensive side first on the third line will help in the long run
TB is still carrying 1.6 of Gagner’s cap hit. His annual cap hit was only 1.408 & considering essentially 1/2 the season has been played Gagner only costs a team approximately .702 the remainder of the way. If no 1 wants him at that cost, then does anyone really want him?
It is a no brainer for me that the Ducks will be front runners for Drouin.
I also think Drouin will be moved this season before the deadline as the Bolts are playing mediocre hockey and could use some help.
Tallon can take a look at Byfuglien, but he is more interested in a sniper, although right now i don’t think he is as interested. Either way, Tallon will have his hands full when he will have to re-sign some key RFA players in 2016 and 2017, and decide whether or not to keep Mitchell and Campbell. The Panthers cap hit will increase significantly with its own players. I wonder how much can be spent on a UFA or acquired high salaried player.
what do you think ana would be giving up for drouin mick? vatenan,theadore or Ritchie I think would be a good start?
20 year olds have no leverage in trade negotiations. Suck it up, buttercup. Being sent to the minors is all part of player development.
I couldn’t have said it better. You think alotta coaches and GMs in the league want to deal with a player would does not want to earn his way to the NHL?
Yzerman isn’t going to start letting the hens run the hen house, that system leads to disaster. Numerous teams have coddled or bent over to accommodate specific players & in almost all situations that leads to problems.
Teams need proper structure & players like Drouin need to learn; apparently the hard way, that it’s about the team & organization. Get with the program or get out.
Yzerman has shown himself to be an astute judge of talent or at the very least surrounded himself with such & built 1 of the best teams in the NHL that can compete for the cup for years with or with out Stamkos or Drouin. This team is loaded with great young players at every position now & more are coming. They made the cup finals last year & if not for injuries; the Johnson, Palat & Kucherov line which was 1 of the best lines in hockey last season has had barely a dozen games together this season.
Had the Canadian dollar not gone into freefall we wouldn’t be discussing Stamkos’s contract. He would have got his 10 million but in this cap market with a potential stagnant cap for years how can any team justify that much money for 1 player? Chicago signed Toews & Kane in July of 2014 when the Canadian dollar was 93 cents & this blood letting hadn’t started.
Just because Yzerman is struggling to make the dollars work & has a premadona in Drouin who’s been cow toed to his entire life doesn’t all of a sudden make him a bad GM. Just the opposite in my opinion. He’s showing fiscal restraint trying to get a contract for Stamkos that makes sense & not letting Drouin run the the house. The kid will toe the line or perish as it should be.
Striker, we need to see how the Stamkos and Drouin situations play out before we pass judgement. Drouin gets dealt in a Turris-type deal and Stamkos walks for nothing, people are going to see things differently than the picture you just painted.
Dallas needs to add depth and proven Playoff run gamers. They will be inline for the rental players.
Yzerman should trade Drouin to Ottawa as a thank you for robbing them of Bishop for nothing couple years back.
Hey, now…The Sens got Cory Conacher. The kid was lighting it up in Tampa and was even a dark horse for the Calder.
Dunno what happened to him under Paul MacLean, but Yzerman didn’t need to twist Murray’s arm to swing that deal. At the time, Bishop was slotted behind Anderson and Lehner, and considered quite expendable.
As a Tampa fan (who’s watched every shift Drouin’s played) I can’t say I share Yzerman’s vision of the kid’s future…I’d go so far as to say Drouin’s a “Mini-Me” version of Filppula; an aimless, self-indulgent dangler. A notorious puck-hog who contributes very little to scoring while skating in circles until he’s knocked on his keester/turns the puck over.
Drouin’s not playing Hockey – He’s still mentally stuck in the QMJHL, auditioning for the scouts every night.
Not saying he’s watching his own reflection in the plexiglas, shift after shift, every night – But, it wouldn’t surprise me in the least if he were.
He’s coming off like a petulant little shyte – He’s done nothing to prove he deserves the TOI. He needs MUCH more development. Just cos you can dangle in a phone booth doesn’t mean you can score (which he hasn’t, much) or be defensively responsible (which he’s not) or play a sound game (Drouin, Filppula and Matt Carle are Masters of the Universe for the Blind Pass Giveaway) – And now he’s showing himself to be even less of a team-player.
Anyone coughs up serious trade pieces for Drouin? I know I’d be guffawing and knee-slapping for a day or two. And NO – he ain’t Tyler Seguin – he’s an entitled little smurf who was picked way too high in the draft order and has shown nothing more than a bit of flash and a propensity to sulk on a roster jammed with forward talent.
If all it’ll take to get Droin is trading Beaulieu do it .. I’ll even throw in TINORDI plus Jacob de la rose and a 2nd to get it done …
Frank, a collection of young, future depth pieces isn’t enough to land Drouin, even with his value diminished as it is. I think you need to be talking about a solid roster player or a comparable young talent.
As a Sens fan, we went through this crap a while back with Duchene. There’s very little of value in our system that would help us land Drouin. He’s not coming here.
I wonder if a 3-way deal between the Sharks, Rangers and Islanders might get everyone what they need. Sharks have a player they need to send to the Rangers. The Islanders have a player they need to send to the west coast. Just need to finish off the what the Isles get out of it.
Vinny and Schenn to the kings-good job hexxy dumping salary
what an odd trade? is carter hurt for longer than they expected
Pretty smart trade right there for Philly basically a 2 for 1 deal with 50% of both contracts held gives LA a bit more depth on D with Schenn.
a lot of people on here said nsh wouldn’t move josi,weber or jones for johansen! well just happened straight up for jones
And some said maybe if Nashville got desperate they might move Jones but not 1 of the top pair who play close to 30 minutes a night. Guess they were right.
And I seem to recall a couple days ago some saying the Flyers might be able to move Streit but not the other “plugs”, while others said the Fluers mighht finally be able to trim some monney off their cap by providing another team with some depth on defense….but who is paying attention to all these things