Updates on Loui Eriksson, Dustin Byfuglien, Jonathan Drouin, Mikkel Boedker, Teddy Purcell and more in your NHL rumor mill.
Latest from LeBrun’s “Rumblings.”
Coyotes winger Mikkel Boedker’s been a key part of his club’s improvement this season.
ESPN.COM: Pierre LeBrun believes contract negotiations have begun between the Arizona Coyotes and pending UFA right wing Mikkel Boedker, but gets the sense nothing’s been offered yet to Boedker’s liking. With the Coyotes jockeying for a playoff berth, it’ll be interesting to see if they’ll retain Boedker or moving him if he’s still unsigned before the trade deadline.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Boedker’s among the Coyotes’ leading scorers and a key reason why they’re in the playoff chase in the Western Conference. I think they’ll get a deal worked out at some point, even if it goes past the trade deadline to do so.
The Calgary Flames are getting calls about pending UFA right wing Jiri Hudler. LeBrun doesn’t think Hudler will sign an extension and suggests he’d be a good fit for the right price for a contender seeking a top-six forward.
The Edmonton Oilers haven’t decided yet if they’ll re-sign or trade winger Teddy Purcell, who’s also slated for UFA status in July.
Winnipeg Jets defenseman Dustin Byfuglien claims he’d love to stay. He’s eligible for UFA status in July but re-signing him could be costly. LeBrun speculates it could take between $7-$7.5 million per season.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: If the Jets re-sign Byfuglien, they’ll probably have to part ways with Tyler Myers ($5.5 million cap hit through 2018-19) or Jacob Trouba (reportedly seeking around $7 million per season). They’re a budget team and I don’t see them tying up over $22 million in three defensemen.
Updates on Eriksson and Drouin.
NBCSN (VIA TODAY’S SLAPSHOT): TSN insider Bob McKenzie believes Boston Bruins winger Loui Eriksson seeks a long-term deal between five-six years worth maybe upwards of $6 million annually. While there’s a sense the Bruins could trade Eriksson if still unsigned by the trade deadline, McKenzie stresses no door has been fully close yet in negotiations between the two sides.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: If the Bruins slide out of playoff contention, I believe Eriksson is a goner. However, as long as they remain in the hunt, they could be reluctant to trade him. They certainly won’t give him away, as they’ll want a return that helps them now and in the future.
McKenzie also reports dialogue continues between Tampa Bay Lightning GM Steve Yzerman and the teams believed to be interested in suspended winger Jonathan Drouin. It’s uncertain if Yzerman will move the unhappy Drouin before the trade deadline. The St. Louis Blues, New York Rangers, Minnesota Wild, Montreal Canadiens and Ottawa Senators are believed to be among the suitors.
Latest on the Hurricanes and Sharks.
THE NEWS & OBSERVER: Chip Alexander reports Carolina Hurricanes defenseman John-Michael Liles could be a trade candidate as the deadline approaches. The veteran blueliner is having a solid season and could attract interest from clubs seeking a rental player to add to their blueline. However, the Hurricanes are also jockeying for a playoff berth, leaving management with a interesting decision.
CSNBAYAREA.COM: Responding to a reader’s question, Kevin Kurz believes adding a defenseman should be a priority for the San Jose Sharks. He suggests they look at Toronto Maple Leafs blueliner Roman Polak, who’s rumored to be available. Kurz also doubts the Sharks will trade veteran forward Patrick Marleau by the trade deadline, suggesting that’s a possible offseason move.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Marleau has a full no-movement clause and carries a $6.6 million annual cap hit through 2016-17. He’s not being moved at the trade deadline.
Drouin would cost NY Kreider, or Miller +. No thanks on that!! With Klein sidelined again, I don’t think adding Drouin should be their first priority anyway.
As a Ranger fan I do not seeing them getting past the Capitals this season as they are.
Could SanJose take a contract back for Marleau? I am not in love with Marleau but the Rangers need a shake up.
Drouin does not help them this season and cannot see a deal that suits both sides there.
Ladd adds depth and would cost way too much.
Shattenkirk+ for ? should be Gordon’s objective if Shattenkirk is really on the market
Honestly I don’t see Marleau being that missing piece. Just another fading guy with a big cap hit for the next year. Another St. Louis deal. The only guys that bite off enough dollars are Lundqvist, Stepan, or Nash to make that deal happen anyway. I’d love to see Shattenkirk (a hometown guy) in NY. But who is going the other way? And it would creates a logjam of RH guys in NY. McIlrath, Boyle, Girardi, Klein, and Shattenkirk. Unless of course they can convince them to take Boyle back…..Hahahahahahahahaha
I agree on Marleau-team is just inconsistent and needs something asap.
Does Boyle have a no-trade? St Louis probably prefers an expiring contract…
I still want Backes
Even if they want an expiring contract, I’m more than certain it won’t be Boyles. Not sure if he has a NTC, but I think he does. They just need to bench him and play Mcilrath more. Mcilrath….who I absolutely hated until this year.
I don’t really see them doing anything drastic between now and the deadline. Maybe Yandle goes, but most of me doubts that happens. I see depth moves but overall a quiet deadline in NY. I could be wrong.
Something has to give-
Part of me keeps seeing Nash on the line with Toews, Hossa lifting the Cup…
Chicago would have to move a pretty big contract or two to make that happen. Or NY would have to retain salary and take a sizable contract in return. I can’t see NY holding salary at this point.
We hear Regier is leaving Arizona – wonder how that will impact the resigning of Mikkel Boedker?
I doubt it would have any impact. It seems that most teams come together on a decision, have a team strategy and direction that they try to maintain. All have input but in the end the GM has to make the final decision.I hope Regeir is okay. Don’t wish hard luck or situations on anybody.
I never understood his role with the Yotes. YEah I hope all is OK – Darcy was always a good guy.
It’s because they are a budget team that they won’t trade Myers. His cap hit is 5.5 mil however his actual salary declines each year. Next year is 4 mil, then 3.5 and then 3 in his final year. When they traded for Myers this was mentioned as an important component because they are a budget team. If Trouba is seeking 7 million per season he will be the one to go and he should be at that price tag. This is all providing Buff is signed, and I get the feeling that the delay is that they have been trying to move Pavelec’s salary out to free up space, not sure that is going to be possible.
Do you really want Buf for $7-7.5 x 7 or 8 years? If I were a Jets fan, I wouldn’t be too excited about this prospect.
They’ve actually been talking about 5 years for Buff mostly, 7-8 years is a bit much but I would do 5 in a heartbeat. I’m a season ticket holder and watch him lots and they guy is an absolute game changer his positives far out weigh his negatives. If he is gone he would leave a huge irreplaceable void in the lineup. I also heard a pretty interesting thought on Buff and his contract that is very risking but interesting nonetheless. Sign him to a deal ( as short as possible of course ), but if it ends up being a 7 year deal so be it and then the though was that you could likely only end up having him for 3-5 years, leave him unprotected in the expansion draft and with possibly two teams coming in the chances of him being picked up would be pretty good. I wish I could remember the guy talking about it but he went on to say that Buff in vegas would help put buts in the seats.
There will have to be a pretty big carrot to persuade the union, that players with nmc can be left unprotected in am expansion draft. Cant see it myself. Assuming Buff would probably want one in a contract. No move means no move to another team. All this talk of getting out of contracts by leaving them exposed in an expansion draft is way early. Previous expansion didn’t have the numbers of these types of contracts to deal with and from a legal stand point Im pretty sure the NHL will have a mighty tough row to sew to get out of it in a court. Legal binding documents arent generally up for interpretation. Good idea if it works, but I have my doubts
I don’t think you’d get Buff to wave a no move to go to Vegas. In an interview he was asked what he’d be doing if he wasn’t at the all-star game. His response was ice fishing. He’s an outdoorsman and he lives in Winnipeg year round, so I believe him when he says he wants to stay. Whereas Ladd lives elsewhere in the off season
I always discount play in contract years. Haven’t followed it as close to you so I’d go with your assessment, but I remember not that long ago there were questions about his commitment and I think even whether he would be bought out if I’m remembering correctly? If you can get him for 5, great – but you got to imagine he’s going to be looking for 7.
I recently read an arcticle that teams would be able to leave players signed to contracts unprotected so that could work It would all depend how good buff is doing at that time lol
I expect to see Buff in a bruins uniform at some point. Sometimes you just get a feeling about a player and a team – Buff would be idea for Boston.
Lets have some fun and make a list of bilingual coaches looking for work. Maybe we can make another list of bilingual assistant coaches for the offseason. Not trying to speculate anything.
Guy Boucher’s bilingualism and established credentials at the NHL level (as well as in European Hockey) and his history with Montreal (played and coached for the McGill Redmen) and the Habs organization (coaching the Hamilton Bulldogs) would likely make him *THE* prime candidate to replace Therrien.
Lol, good one Arnie.
Jean Perron
Mike Keenan…just that the other language is probably more curse words than french.
Guy Boucher. By the way,check out http://www.habseyesontheprize.com – it has a column with 51 candidates to replace Michel Therrien. No stone unturned or what??
http://www.habseyesontheprize.com/2016/1/18/10685184/michel-therrien-hot-seat-montreal-canadiens-habs-new-head-coach-bench-boss-replacement-candidate
Yeah, the authors of that blog are concerned that if there isn’t a coaching change the stanley cup window will close. Talk about delusions of adequacy. Lol. Habs suck lol.
Montreal needs to make a drastic move now. It needs to seriously wake up the players and the fans.
To Montreal: Byfuglien + Pavelec
To Winnipeg: Subban + Condon
lol
BIG LOL
Habs stink! Right Bigbear? Lol.
Even NHL 16 wont do that deal !!
Sure it would, just add 3 3rd round picks and its done ..
Hahaha! You’re funny!
I am surprised more 3 team trades at this point are not being heard
Suppose
Chicago, Carolina and Winnipeg get involved.
WPG send Meyers to Carolina, Chicago sends picks to Carolina
Chicago sends Player TBD and prospects for budget team WPG
Carolina sends E Staal and Liles to Chicago who are looking to get a top 6 winger and top 4 d man.
WPG sending out Meyers contract has more room to sign Big Buff & Trouba.
What say you?
Has Myers played his way out of Winnipeg, or are these trades scenarios simply based on contracts + budget?
Myers contract is very team imposed budget friendly. Myers isn’t going anywhere. I would imagine that Enstroms contract is the one they would like to shed.
this is how bad advance stats are starting to become! go check out james tanner on hockeybuzz.com he is saying because of adv stats that jake gardiner yes that’s right jake gardiner is a better player than drew doughty lmao
Advanced stats aren’t bad, hockeybuzz is bad.
E4
Never really understood the “fancy stats”, who cares is player x has an awesome corsi or whatever the other catagories are, if they are’nt producing and the team isn’t winning what good are the fancy stats? I f a player has bad possession metrics or bad on ice shooting percentage for, but puts up 40 goals and 90 plus points, is there really an issue? I think there is way to much put into that “fluff” while people ignore the things that actually matter in hockey like wins….
my thoughts exactly mike
Babcock really doing a great job with Jake!
Seriously though, his style – he’s good at carrying the puck on the rush and lobbing in shots from the outside – and obviously those stats don’t account for all the terrible errors he makes.
If you just look at ATOI, he’s clearly the 4th D on the Leafs in terms of usage behind Rielly, Phaneuf, Hunwick. And then in terms of offensive production, he’d be 3rd.
There was a situation earlier in the year when Toronto was among the absolute best ‘Corsi for’ clubs in the NHL, all the while they were dead last in the standings. There were several articles raving about Leafs play and the positive changes, all while they were losing on a daily basis. It’s all in the perspective I guess… I also appreciate that Leafs now play a more solid overall game than last year, but they underwhelm in so many other important areas all the same.
Even though the advanced stats is interesting in itself, many involved with it in media are so nerdy it’s tough to hold interest over time. I tend to avoid most of them if I can help it.
the Bruins have enough offense if they can put Eriksson in a package with a 1st rd draft pick and a player to get a young top 2-3 Dman then it’s a no brainer..
If that’s the package then we have Jake Gardiner for you.
not big enough and to soft
It is refreshing to see that Buffalo has not called up players like Kaleta and Ellis. Watching Ellis play in Buffalo the last few years really showed how bad of coaching we had!
That said, you can kind of see the mindset of Buffalo starting to shape up and who I see as the Centers that will be traded or tradeable:
Tradeable Buffalo Centers – Tyler Ennis, David Legwand, and Phil Varrone.
Once McCormick comes back we will have Reinhart, Eichel, and O’Reilly. And in the wings we have Varrone who has had many changes to stay up with the big club – to me it’s a make or break year for him. We have the other O’Reilly and Schaller in Rochester, so I wouldn’t be surprised to see Varrone get tossed in a package.
Legwand is the most tradeable of the three – Varone is a minor leaguer.
Ennis is too fragile for anyone to really want him unless they can get him cheap and get BUF to keep some of the salary.
I am with you on Ellis and Kaleta – time to make room for guys who have a chance at contributing on the big club someday. Ellis takes up space.
Fortunately, Ennis is only small and he’s much more tradeable than a Tim Connolly of years past (Ennis does have some value)….
Earlier they said that Ryan Nugent-Hopkins was possibly on the block.
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Eric Gryba to Buffalo for Tyler Ennis and Mark Pysyk.
Pysyk has to pick it up – i like the kid but he has to start moving forward
I think you’d have to give up more to get RNH
I would like to see Calgary trade Hudler to a team for a good young right handed Right wing. Calgary could trade him to Chicago for another run and take a player like Ryan Hartman or he could go to NY Rangers for Kevin Hayes who’s only 23.
Even at the deadline, I don’t think the numbers work for NY. And I doubt they have interest in trading a cost controlled player for a rental.