Latest on the Canucks, Penguins, Oilers, Blues, Jets, Blue Jackets and more in your NHL rumor mill.
CANUCKS JOIN THE SELLERS.
Could the Canucks shop Dan Hamhuis and Ryan Miller?
THE VANCOUVER SUN: Iain MacIntyre reports Canucks GM Jim Benning is open for business as a seller leading up to the Feb. 29 trade deadline, but will anyone buy what he’s selling? MacIntyre claims “Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, Washington” and a couple of other clubs are interested in defenseman Dan Hamhuis, but he must first waive his no-movement clause. He also speculates the decline in winger Radim Vrbata’s production could hurt his trade value. “And of the group of seven on Benning’s trade list (Bartkowski, Vey, Adam Cracknell, Yannick Weber and minor-leaguers Chris Higgins, Brandon Prust and Ronalds Kenins), it’s possible nobody will be acquired by another team.”
THE PROVINCE: Jason Botchford has some suggestions for Benning leading up to deadline day, encouraging him not to be afraid to deal players for draft picks, consider trading goaltender Ryan Miller and winger Jannik Hansen, and to pick up some salary as an enticement to make some players more attractive in the trade market.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hamhuis will attract the most interest and perhaps the best return, but it all comes down to his willingness to waive his movement clause. I expect Vrbata will also be dealt for a second- or third-round pick. There’s not much of a market for goalies this years, especially for an aging starter carrying a $6 million annual cap hit. Hansen, however, will attract attention if Benning decides to shop him. Like Vrbata, he could bring back a second-round pick.
PENGUINS SEEK A DEFENSEMAN.
TRIBLIVE.COM: Jonathan Bombulie reports Pittsburgh Penguins GM Jim Rutherford is in the market for a defenseman. Rutherford said he can add around $2 million at the trade deadline. He’s unwilling to move top prospects like goalie Matt Murray, winger Daniel Sprong or defenseman Derrick Pouliot at the deadline, and prefers hanging onto the second-round pick in this year’s draft that he received from Vancouver in the Brandon Sutter trade. Possible trade targets could include Calgary’s Kris Russell, Edmonton’s Justin Schultz or Vancouver’s Matt Bartkowski.
PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE: Seth Rorabaugh reports winger Sergei Plotnikov’s agent claims the Penguins have been shopping his client. If a trade is unavailable, Plotnikov could return to the KHL.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Rutherford’s been quite busy in the trade market this season and I expect he’ll make a move for a depth defenseman before the deadline on Monday. Wouldn’t surprise me if Plotnikov is part of the deal.
UPDATES ON THE OILERS.
TSN’S Ryan Rishaug reports Edmonton Oilers defenseman Justin Schultz is among the blueline options the Penguins are considering as a potential replacement for the sidelined Ben Lovejoy. Rishaug also reports a trade of winger Teddy Purcell to the Los Angeles Kings remains a possibility.
Darren Dreger reports the Kings are mulling the possibility of acquiring Schultz and Purcell.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Schultz and/or Purcell could be dealt as earlier as today.
OTHER NOTABLE NHL RUMORS AND SPECULATION.
SPORTSNET: Jeff Simmons lists Carolina’s Eric Staal, Arizona’s Mikkel Boedker, Boston’s Loui Eriksson, Tampa Bay’s Jonathan Drouin, Columbus’ Scott Hartnell, Vancouver’s Radim Vrbata, Calgary’s Jiri Hudler, Vancouver’s Dan Hamhuis, Calgary’s Kris Russell and Toronto’s James Reimer as the top players potentially available leading up to the Feb. 29 trade deadline.
STLTODAY.COM: Jeremy P. Rutherford reports Blues captain David Backes won’t be re-signed before the upcoming NHL trade deadline, but he also won’t be traded. Both sides agreed to let the season play out and see what transpires. “Backes possesses a full no-trade clause, but Armstrong said that he had no plans of dealing him even though the forward could sign elsewhere this offseason with no compensation coming back to the Blues.”
WINNIPEG FREE PRESS: Ed Tait wonders if Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff has other moves planned before the upcoming trade deadline. Cheveldayoff shipped Andrew Ladd to Chicago on Thursday night. Tait wonders if defenseman Toby Enstrom could be a trade candidate, if not at the deadline then during the offseason. He also touched on the possibility of offering Jacob Trouba or Tyler Myers to the New York Islanders for Travis Hamonic, but doubts the Jets will get into the bidding for suspended Tampa Bay Lightning left wing Jonathan Drouin. Indeed, Tait doesn’t expect the Jets will add any player at the deadline that could lessen their chances of winning the draft lottery.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hamonic won’t be moved by the Islanders this season and I don’t think the Jets are in the bidding for Drouin. Enstrom could be shopped in the offseason, as he’s got two more seasons at over $5 million per left on his contract plus a no-movement clause, making him tough to move at the deadline.
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH: Aaron Portzline reports the Blue Jackets will be sellers again at the trade deadline, noting left wing Scott Hartnell and defenseman Fedor Tyutin continue to surface in the NHL rumor mill. Hartnell’s been linked to the Nashville Predators, but he must be willing to waive his no-trade clause. Portzline claims that when the Blue Jackets and Predators “were putting together the Johansen-Jones trade, they discussed a larger deal that would have included Hartnell” . As for Tyutin, he speculates Detroit, Boston, Los Angeles and Tampa Bay could be potential destinations. He said it’s unclear if there’s a market for center Gregory Campbell and right wing Rene Bourque, and it wouldn’t be surprising if Kerby Rychel gets traded.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hartnell would be a solid addition to a playoff club, but his cap hit ($4.75 million through 2018-19) and no-trade clause complicates a possible deadline deal. Not suggesting it can’t happen, but the Jackets could face absorbing part of his salary or taking back another club’s unwanted contract to make it happen. Same goes for Tyutin. I don’t expect there’s a market for Campbell or Bourque, but there could be for young Rychel, who surfaced several times this season in the rumor mill.
SPORTSNET: Luke Fox muses over the possibility of the Tampa Bay Lightning trading Jonathan Drouin after the Feb. 29 trade deadline but before the offseason. However, “players acquired in post-deadline trades are not eligible for the playoffs,” which wouldn’t help the Lightning’s efforts to add a defenseman.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s an interesting theory, but my guess is if Yzerman can’t move Drouin at the trade deadline, he’ll wait until the offseason to do so.
Chad Johnson will probably be moving somewhere before Monday afternoon. Good teammate and backup goalie would be a welcome addition at low cost.
One thing I can’t figure out with Buffalo is if they are happy with any of the young goalies in the organization? Linus Ullmark is the only goalie that has played this year and not others in Rochester have been called up.
I think it’s time for Buffalo to get a trade deadline steal for a young goalie.
Did you miss the memo? Robin Lehner was acquired last season & since returning has played great. He is the goalie you want them to acquire.
Correct Striker…. The memo also stated what happens if Lehner gets hurt again and we trade Johnson?
So in regards to my question, I don’t think Buffalo is “happy” with the current state of the young goalies in Rochester!
I’m all for grabbing a good solid Veteran goalie at the deadline, but would rather grab a steal at the deadline in the form of young goalie buried in some organization.
Sabres have a couple young goalies that have shown promise. The concern is can any of them move to the next level. Lehner is under team control i believe for two more years. BUF has a little time to figure out where to go long term with goaltending.
Johnson is a good backup, but BUF has to clear a path so these younger guys can move up. Aside from hopefully trading Johnson, I believe they will make a decison on one of the Rochester guys this year.
Sorry misunderstood your post. Ullmark, Makarov & to a lesser extent Lieuwen & possibly even Kadorf playing in the ECAC.
That seems like reasonable youth coming in net & in any off season you can go buy a decent back up for pennies on the dollar. With only 60 full time NHL jobs available till injures hit, goalies aren’t that hard to find. Superstar goalies are as generally it’s a very long development period from the time you spend a high draft pick till you turn the reigns over to them.
Shticky how long does that take?
Kasdorf
I’d assume at this point Dan Humhuis and Chicago Blackhawks are not an option due to their recent flurry of moves. He carries a $4.5m cap hit and I don’t see the Canucks absorbing much of his salary unless the return is that good. Blackhawks don’t have much left to trade away. Go big is their motto this morning.
The only way Chicago could take on Hamhuis’s contract even if the Canucks ate 1/2 of it would be to move out a contract. There are rumors they may pay someone to take Bickell’s contract off their hands. If that happened they could certainly afford to take on Hamhuis’s full cap hit but having no 1st; Ladd, or 2nd; Timonen, this season & no 2nd, Mtl, next what could they give up to get Hamhuis. 2016’s 1st & Ryan Hartman? But if they do that, what are they using to pay someone to take Bickell?
All very interesting, although Chicago has addressed all their depth & holes at forward they haven’t done so at D & I can’t see why Bowman would stop short, he’s all in. Even with Ehrhoff being acquired I just don’t see Bowman not adding a solid top 4 Dman. After the big 3 in Chicago it’s kids Gustafsson & TvR who have both looked good but like any young D make mistakes & in the playoffs that could be very costly & then there is Rozsival.
Somethings going to happen at D to get a top 4 guy even if a border line top 4. Hamhuis is the best solution of those available but Bowman has to continue to work his magic which I have no doubt he will.
Seems like a big gamble to not add another dman. Hawks a great team but they miss Oduya and don’t have a quality defenseman to put in that spot. Maybe Erhoff will pick it up with the change of scenery? Still not enough
Chad..you think the B’s will do anything ? Colin Miller and Frank Vatrano are playing very well in the minors ..might make it easier for them to move Eriksson
I can’t speak for Chad but Boston will be spending the close to 7 million that generalfanager says they can take on in an annual equivalent contract.
Can’t wait to see what Sweeney has up his sleeve. Hoping for Hamhuis & McGinn but not certain Sweeney wants to give up that much future for today. Those 2 players will cost at least a 1st; Hamhuis & 2nd; McGinnis plus a decent prospect to Vancouver & a lesser prospect to Buffalo. Picks could be in further years though & maybe there are other ways to make that happen.
Boston has some serous waver issues in play to start next season as a # of prospects currently in the minors will no longer be able to clear wavers & the current roster doesn’t have enough space to accommodate all of them. Although that’s potentially a problem to address in the off season but could lead to 1 or 2 of them being moved out at the deadline as Boston just doesn’t see them fitting long term.
Kris Russell is only $2.6 and more affordable than Hamhuis maybe him and 2016 second for Ryan Hartman
Possible. Russell’s fancy stats are brutal but he does block shots & is 1/2 the cost. Chicago doesn’t have 2016’s 2nd; Timonen trade last year,. They do have 2017 which I thought went to Montreal but that was a 2018’sw 2nd. Apparently they want to keep their 1st & 2nd’s in 2017 as they have the draft.
Apparently Pens and Bruins are kicking the tires on Justin Schultz, Oilers are supposedly asking for a pick and a b prospect. Don`t forget Toronto has offered to take Bickell off of Chicago`s hands.
Shake my head, the Pens need solid, veteran defense to sure up the back end – Schultz is the exact opposite of that.
I would say the same for the Oilers. There’s always been talk about trading one of the soft scoring forwards for a young stud Dman, literally for years – it’s not happening.
I think what would do them a world of good is a solid, stay at home or defensively responsible type. If they have to overpay for a Hamonic, as an example, I would think it’s well worth.
Nothing wrong with mixing in an older player. You get some structure to that back end and ability to retrieve pucks and move them out, more than enough to offense to put goals on the board.
I have a feelin that Yak goes to The Habs . He definitely won’t be with the Oilers next season. With the right centre he will light it up. The Habs needs some offence as well. Not sure what the cost is though. Drouin seems to be the sexy trade , but his numbers are terrible , Yak to me has more worth as he plays harder and hits. Drouin is a lighter version of Eberle, lots of flash that in the playoffs gets you nowhere. This is why Tampa didn’t play him in the playoffs.
Just wondering what others opinions are about this scenario:
To Edmonton: Nazem Kadri + Jake Gardiner + Pitts 1st rounder from Kessel deal,
To Toronto: Edmonton’s 1st rounder + RNH or Draisaitl
Let me know
I don’t believe Edmonton will make that deal. I think they still live in a dream world where they are still rebuilding and don’t want to move any of their first rounders. It’s sad what’s happening in Edmonton. I want to like that team.
Why would the Oilers do this trade? A downgrade at centre and draft position to add another Dman that is not top pairing material. Oilers have 3/4 and 5/6 pairing D. They need 1/2 pairing D.
Edm won’t move their 1st until the lottery is held. If it; their 1st, or RNH moves, or both it will be to buy the best Dman they can find. Gardner doesn’t meet that criteria. At least not today & although he might in time, that’s to hard to predict & Gardner isn’t the answer today, to risky. Why swap RNH or Draisaitl in any form for Kadri? Pointless.
Edm should be able to turn RNH into a decent young up & coming Dman with a few years of NHL experience that is close to becoming a #2 or is already there but not available till the off season or Hamonic.
Vatanen, Brodin/Dumba, Hamonic or Trouba. I can’t really see anyone else unless they move into the veteran category; Shattenkirk although contract would need to be resolved to justify cost, or stop gaps as they just can’t get any of the others. Streit, Wideman, etc. Not ideal.
I should qualify. I’m not implying that RNH would get any of those Dman straight up just that those would be targets who might be available in some form of trade between Edm & their respective teams. The balance/asstes of those trades to be negotiated.
I don’t see them moving Draisaitl – I wouldn’t
Blackhawks are setup for another run in the playoffs
The only pick we know of right now is Winnipeg will be picking 30th. Chicago is still the class act and the team to beat. They just got a whole lot better too. 4 cups in 7 years?
because they added 3 bottom six wingers, a number 7 defenseman and a borderline 4th liner? Plan the parade!
you need depth to win. Any good hockey person knows that.
Ladd isn’t a bottom 6 forward, he is a top 6 winger & will play with Toews & Hossa on the #2 line & do all the heavy lifting, going up against every other teams best line. Weiss will slot in as the #3 RW for now as Shaw moves to C/LW that line with Veravainen at LW/C. Fleischmann will take the #4 slot at LW over Mashinter & play with Rasmussen at C & Desjardins at RW. Panik will be the spare. When Kruger returns, Rasmussen will be pushed out of the line up & Kruger will take his spot.
Call them what you want but no team in the NHL can ice this quality & depth at forwards.
Panarin, Anisimov, Kane.
Ladd, Toews, Hossa.
Teravainen, Shaw, Weise.
Fleischmann, Rasmuussen, Desjardins.
Spare. Panik.
Flip flop Shaw or Teravainen, they will share face off duties regardless & when Kruger is fit to play he’ll take over as the #4 & as the playoffs advance & he gets his game back he probably pushes Shaw to RW & Weise to the 4th line. Although not sure who would then C that line as it would push Rasmussen out of the line up. Desjardins has played some C so perhaps he moves to the middle or they just keep Kruger there.
CNNSE Bruins….
According to one source, the asking price for an interested Eriksson suitor in St. Louis is big, skilled left winger Dmitrij Jaskin and a draft pick that would have to be a first-rounder in order to close the potential deal.
I don’t like that trade specificly. If Eriksson can’t be signed I’d like the player returning to be a Dman that has top 4 potential as a 2 way or defensive Dman not offensive. Not sold on Jaskin being anymore than a 3rd line winger. That said he might have #2 potential & he will be an NHL regular for a long time as a #3 winger if that’s his ceiling.
He does have solid NHL size 6’2″ 215 lbs is a very good skater which Boston seems to be accumulating as part of this rebuild.
If that’s the best deal on the table including StL 1st & Eriksson can’t be signed I say take it.
To me, the only way they should deal Eriksson is like you said, for a D-man. Boston is top three in goals, so they would be fine there. They pretty much need someone to play with Chara. So maybe they could do something like Eriksson, and a pick for a D-man with years left on his contract. And if Eriksson gets signed by that team, Boston gets a pick
Riemer and Jeremy Morin to the Sharks for Ben Smith Alex Stalock and a conditional 4th 2018
Sad to see him go…return kinda sucks but, goalies values are always underwhelming. The tank is full steam ahead.
Ya but Reimer and a throw away for 2 throw aways and a conditional pick. Not exactly a foot note you`d want on your resume
the leafs got nothing for reimer very odd move
Disappointed the leafs didn’t get anything in return. I mean zip. I kind of liked rims.
The real laugh is there`s supposed to be some kind of bidding war going on between L.A, Pitts and Boston for Purcell and Schultz. That should be good for a laugh. 2 clubs, no 3 hearts
Jiri Hudler to Fla. for 2 picks 2016 2nd 2018 4th
Another one that gives you a warm feeling about the potential return on PAP. I’m thinking we’re good for a 2nd
Fla. just gave a 3rd for Purcell, so a second for P.A. isn`t out of the realm. So much for Monday