NHL Rumor Mill – April 12, 2021
The Trade Deadline is at 3 pm ET today. Check out the latest on Josh Manson, Rickard Rakell. Mike Hoffman, Jaden Schwartz, Sam Bennett and more in today’s NHL rumor mill.
THE ATHLETIC: Responding to a reader’s question yesterday, Eric Stephens believes the Anaheim Ducks will set a higher asking price for defenseman Josh Manson and winger Rickard Rakell because they each have a year remaining on their respective contracts. He feels the Ducks should seek a first-round pick and a top prospect for each player. Stephens doesn’t know if general manager Bob Murray is shopping Manson and Rakell but he’s getting a lot of calls.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: With so many of the top rental players off the market perhaps there will be more interest in Manson and Rakell before the deadline.
STLTODAY.COM: Tom Timmermann reports the Blues’ recent surge back into playoff contention muddies the waters regarding their trade plans. Pending free agent winger Mike Hoffman seemed the most likely trade candidate but that may have changed due to an injury to forward Robert Thomas.
St. Louis Blues winger Mike Hoffman (NHL Images).
It would take a significant offer and pessimism on the part of Blues’ management over contract talks to pry winger Jaden Schwartz loose. Like Hoffman, he’s a UFA this summer. So is center Tyler Bozak, who might be enticing to clubs seeking depth at center. Vince Dunn is a restricted free agent and could be appealing as an offensive defenseman.
Timmermann believes the Blues would seek draft picks to restock their prospect pipeline.
EDMONTON JOURNAL: Jim Matheson reports the Oilers need a left-winger, a second-pairing defenseman and a third-line center. GM Ken Holland, however, doesn’t want to part with a first-round pick or a Grade-A prospect for a rental player. He’s also hampered by limited salary-cap space. Matheson speculates Holland could wait and see if the price drops for pending UFAs such as the Blues’ Mike Hoffman or the Philadelphia Flyers’ Scott Laughton.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Holland could pursue a player or two with term on their contracts. That will require some salary-cap creativity as we saw in the Savard and Foligno trades over the weekend in which a third-team used their cap space to broker a deal.
CALGARY SUN: Wes Gilbertson believes Sam Bennett is the Flames’ most valuable trade chip approaching the deadline. However, the fact he’s still in Calgary over two months following his agent’s public trade request suggests any offers have been underwhelming.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Bennett’s a restricted free agent this summer so Flames GM Brad Treliving doesn’t have to move him at the deadline. He could wait for a better offer during the offseason before the Seattle expansion draft.
THE NEWS & OBSERVER: Chip Alexander reports Carolina Hurricanes GM Don Waddell recently mentioned a right-shot defenseman and an extra forward as trade deadline possibilities. He speculated Waddell may have had discussions with the Ducks about Josh Manson or the Los Angeles Kings about Sean Walker. Both are right-shot defenders with term remaining on their contracts.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: We know the asking price for Manson could be expensive. The Kings could be reluctant to part with Walker as he’s in the first season of a four-year deal with a $2.65 million annual average value.
PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: Dan Kingerski reports the Penguins could be attempting to acquire physical winger Nicolas Deslauriers from the Anaheim Ducks.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: It was reported yesterday the Penguins had acquired Deslauriers but that was subsequently walked back. Perhaps it was because they were in the process of acquiring Jeff Carter from the Kings. We’ll find out later today if they revisit a Deslauriers deal.
NEW YORK POST: Larry Brooks expects a quiet trade deadline for the Rangers. He believes GM Jeff Gorton would listen if he received offers for Ryan Strome, Pavel Buchnevich or Mika Zibanejad to perhaps lay the groundwork for offseason deals. However, they haven’t gotten any such inquires.
Brooks also believes the Rangers could buy out the final season of banished defenseman Tony DeAngelo’s contract this summer if he’s not traded at the deadline or selected by the Seattle Kraken in the expansion draft.
THE ATHLETIC: Scott Powers and Mark Lazerus report a Chicago Blackhawks source said management is resigned to getting less than expected for forwards Mattias Janmark and Carl Soderberg after seeing the Detroit Red Wings receive only a fifth-round pick from the Montreal Canadiens for Jon Merrill.
The Blackhawks’ cap space remains their hottest commodity for cap-strapped clubs seeking a third-party broker to facilitate a trade. They could also listen to offers for pending RFA defenseman Nikita Zadorov but they aren’t actively shopping him.
NBC SPORTS PHILADELPHIA: Jordan Hall lists Scott Laughton, Michael Raffl and Erik Gustafsson as likely Flyers trade candidates because of their UFA eligibility this summer.
Defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere is a fixture in the rumor mill but his $4.5 million annual cap hit over the next two years makes him difficult to move. Hall also doesn’t rule out the possibility of young forward Nolan Patrick as a trade option for a second-round pick.
WINNIPEG FREE PRESS: Mark McIntyre reports Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff won’t mortgage his club’s future for a rental player to bolster his blueline. He does have draft picks to use as trade bait and can add a salary with Bryan Little on long-term injury reserve.
McIntyre believes a rental player is a likely route. He suggested defense targets as New Jersey’s Dmitry Kulikov, Ryan Murray Sami Vatanen, or Ottawa’s rugged Erik Gudbranson. Others include Dallas’ Jamie Oleksiak or Detroit’s Marc Staal.
B’s with a couple of wingers added wouldn’t mind seeing DeBrusk & moved for a top 4 Dman with contract left
But he isn’t worth a top 4 Dman …
Did you not see the &
With Reilly gone to Boston and Coburn to the Islanders I seriously doubt that Gudbranson is going anywhere. He could re-up in Ottawa (at a much reduced cap hit from his current $4 mil) as the 7th D heading into the next couple of seasons
George your thoughts on Reilly? what should we expect to see?
Don’t expect a lot of goals – but he is adept at finding Fs with nice lead passes and, defensively, is steady, not taking unnecessary chances. Careful in other words and quite capable of playing the 5/6 role steadily and can fill in at 3/4 for stretches without killing you. In fact, if thrust into that role that’s where he becomes ultra careful.
George,
Sens could take Vatanen off waivers and have a better D till the end of the year.
Heck I hope the Habs take him.
I doubt Dorion goes that route habfan30. He knows his young team likely won’t catch even Vancouver or Calgary so, with playing time needed in what’s left of the season, he needs to make sure Bernard-Docker and Thompson both get some time in for proper assessment of their play at the NHL level, not to mention Brannstrom. And then there’s Top 5 pick Sanderson down the road.
If he wants to add a veteran D for next season there will be far better options either through trade or off the UFA list than Vatanen.
St. Louis is in a good position and the team is starting to surge.
They could stand pat and most likely will unless the asking price is met on their pending UFA/RFA
Hoffman is a 1st or a Prospect and 2nd
Schwartz is a 1st and top 5 prospect
Dunn is a 1st.
Your overvaluing players,
Hoffman gets you a 3rd
Schwartz 1st & Good prospect
Dunn gets you a 2nd maybe just maybe
Jaden is your best option at a return and Blues need to make trades.
Hall Last 2 seasons, 18 Goals 71 Points
Hall Last 3 seasons, 29 Goals 97 Points
Hoffman Last 2 seasons 40 Goals 82 Points
Hoffman Last 3 seasons 76 Goals 154 Points
Hall Nets a 1st and Hoffman a 3rd? Get the Heck out of here! LOL
Hall nets a 2nd? Sorry for the typo.
People are under valuing both Schwartz, Hoffman, and Dunn. Blues dont have to do anything unless they are blown away by an offer.
Brian
To me with Hoffman, why his numbers are so good ther last couple of year really show how good Barkov and Huberdeau are.
Can he score, absolutely but he does no have anyone like that in STL to get him the puck.
You are correct in him being under valued, however his year might not help the return.
George O
I was hoping the Leafs would take a shot at Reilly for the exact reasons you mentioned. Definitely and upgrade from Dermott and maybe Mike could show Morgan how to play a little more careful
Hopefully Carter has something left in the tank … would also still like Deslauriers for Boston & Washington, they are cheap shot teams and the Pens need a little muscle …
Greatgonzo, I agree Hoffman has played with some solid centers, however Hall has played with Nico, Eichel, McDavid, and Drait and scored 30+ goals once in his career. There is a reason he will play for his 4th team in 74 games.
Re the Patrick rumor from NBC Sports- the story doesn’t suggest he could be acquired for a 2nd round pick. It suggests his potential as a former 2nd pick overall is still promising.
To me, the Taylor Hall trade looks a lot like the Rick Nash trade. Just a less expensive.
I had a similar thought CO…really hoping the end result is better.
Hey! Gonna post this on a few segments cause I’m legit curious. If a team takes a major penalty… then the team on the power play takes a minor… if the team with the minor scores 4 on 4 do they get credit like it was a pp goal cause the was supposed to be short handed? Then does it revert to a 5 on 4? Or cause they had the same amount of skaters does the two minutes keep going?
No it`s even strength whether it` 5 on 5, 4 on 4 or 3 on 3. and it stays that way even if a goal is scored for the duration of the penalty
Any gas in the tank for today ? Never seen such action in the couple of Days leading up to the deadline. Hall a second Foligno a first ?
Oleksiak…..Manson…….Bennett
one could be a Bruin by days end
if the bruins can land Bennett to play RW with Krejci and Hall they will have a formidable 2nd line.
However they might need another dman. I am super surprised that they did not put in a claim on Vatanen for a LD
This the most active I’ve seen Sweeney since the great Depression! I think that stinker last night got him off his sorry carcass in hurry. That’s what happens when you send of team of ahlers against an elite team! I don’ t like to see my team lose like that but, they needed a wake up call and that was it! I rate the trade as an A
thus far, but let’s be serious something is up with Hall I don’t if it’s psychological or even Physical but I think a few shifts of Krejci feeding him passes will chipper him up a bit! Lazar is the sleeper in all this he could turn out to be a steal good two way game and he plays mean! I haven’t seen too much of Reilly but if Sweeney can land another big fish on defense the bruins could go from a team that barley squeaks into the playoffs to a Team to contend with
Rick, if you believe that Sweeney decided to trade for Hall because of one game when 4 of your top 6 D and both starting goalies were out you are wrong.
Sweeney has been talking to teams for weeks, all of them. The deals happen later as the leverage of time kicks in.
What do you think GM’s do sit around and all of a sudden the idea to trade for Hall pops into his brain so he calls and does it?
You don’t that for sure it could have been months
Yes Rick, that was his plan. Bring up a bunch of young inexperienced Dman to see how it goes.
I think that they should just pick up sam Vatanan from NJ on waivers.
Kyle Dubas please go after Josh Manson or Jamie Eleksiak both big d men would toughen up back end for playoffs
Excellent move re Carter….. pittance given up; nobody off roster given up; 50% ; and with realistically just less than $900 K take home next year and already earned over $70 M in career; and already 36…. liklieood of retiring off-season … reasonably high…. for a 3rd and 4th (neither this season)👍👍👍👍
I posted quite a few times re Carter as a great great add to Pens:
Great hands; size; dynamic; brings maturity; has Cup credentials. Recently mostly playing W but has several hundred games under his belt as a C
I’m hoping they put him 3C (with Rodrigues and Zucker) that allows McC to play wing with Gino/Kappy.
The other option is Carter on W with Gino and Malkin
Both scenarios keep the Zucker damper away from Gino so 👍👍👍
Re DesLauriers … another player I thought would be a prudent add … of course appeasing the Burkie request
Friedman reported trade already done yesterday then retracted 🤔🤔🤔
DesLauriers had a decisive dust up yesterday and did hurt his hand… some reports speculated broken??? Anybody know if that is confirmed?
Pens still have buckets of space (Gino and Kappy) LTIR so technically could act as a to-through partner absorbing Cap… perhaps then getting a 4th for retention… in essence … getting the Carter at 3C for only a 3rd!
Lillie hood of Pens playing middleman is slim, but option is there if someone comes calling
Pengy, first off Carter has stated many times now that he has no intention on retiring and will play out the remainder of his contract.
Second, Carter is easily one of my favourites during the cup runs and the Kings dont win cups without him. That said, the injury he sustained a few years ago from the skate cut (similar to Karlssons) has rendered him slower than molasses in January. He hasnt been the same player since, so dont expect the Carter from 5 years ago. He still has a great shot though.
Thanks CK
Yes I had heard that he said that many times last year, just hadn’t seen it recently
That was me throwing in what I would do at 36 , with less than $900 K take home at stake , and lifetime over $70 M and then having to either move fam; or be away from them for most of season ; just for one year
All the better for Pens to have him next year at only $2.6 M on the Cap…. his addition in and of itself is great… I too like his play… slower or not…. the great added advantage is (1) adds more vet presence in dressing room with (2) added SC credo; (3) brings size; (4) gives flex in roster; (5) didn’t “replace” with a roster player so team chemistry not broken and (6) very importantly that his addition to Pens keeps Zucker off Malkin’s line (Malkin’s numbers plummet when Zucker is on with him, surge when he’s off)… the correlation is irrelevant… Pens need Malkin producing at his capable level
I like this add👍👍👍
Good Morning ALL
I told you all about Freddie’s injury and Soupie taking over.
Do you want to know about other trades that will be happening today?
They haven’t been announced yet.
Janmark just got announced.
That was one of the ones I knew about.
There are more that still haven’t been announced.
Sure, just keep posting after they get announced and let us know that you knew ahead of time, that’ll be fine.
Ryan Murray is NOT being traded.
Alex Iafallo is NOT being traded. Is resigning.
Marc Staal has refused to waive his NMC and is NOT being traded.
Will share more in next posting.
LA loves Iafallo . No stretch there.
Curtis Lazar is a throw in and in no way tough . Can’t stay in the lineup on a normal team. Buffalo is an exception over his career. Back to eating popcorn in the stands with the Bruins.
Glendening has 8 teams interested.
Draft picks being discussed.
Chicago, Minnesota, Pittsburg, Philly, Buffalo, Islanders, Columbus and Rangers.
I heard there is a front runner.
4 r in ahl and 4 in echl
Did anyone hear anything on the rumour that Burke wants a Zucker Lucic flip?
I’ve had two different cousins from the Pitt area text me they heard this on the radio… could be a caller “suggesting” it, just wanted to know if anybody had heard anything on this
It sounded far fetched but the term is the same … cap hit only $250 K diff
Zucker 82 game pace this year…. 20G14A 34 Pts
Lucic…pace 14-18-32
Adv for Pens is small save on Cap …. the only reason I see it is the Burkie wish for longpants…. the flip …. gets 4” in height and 40 lbs in beef….
Zucker has 10 team NTC list ; Lucic has full NMC
Weird rumour just to say the least
not true
Hi John
If you are saying not true then it must be almost a completed deal
Ryan Dzingel NOT being traded.
Alexander Wennberg NOT being traded.
Grigorenko NOT being traded.
Brendan Smith NOT being traded.
Jake Gardiner has 5 teams interested in him.
Minnesota is the front runner.
St. Louis, Chicago, Columbus and Detroit the other teams.
Erik Haula has 5 teams interested in him.
Picks being discussed.
Buffalo should trade Skinner to VAN for Sutter & Eriksson & Virtanen
then flip Sutter to Pittsburgh for their 3C
for a pick
Mike Hoffman to Winnipeg is what I am hearing.
2nd & 3rd Draft Picks being discussed.
Toronto offered a 2nd pick for Hoffman.
St. Louis said no.
Regarding Hall to Toronto Dubas never made an offer.
Any rumors to the contrary is 100% BULL.
Kreider for 2 1st…anyone?
Kreider NOT being traded
not happening
Anybody else not getting traded John?
I got a couple hundred if you’re interested.
How about guys being discussed, you know same guys that have been rumored for a while?
Ian Cole to Toronto?
Is John the new Eklund lol
winnipeg now in on cole
multiple draft picks discussed
leafs pushing hard for hoffman
st. louis wants too much so it’s not going to happen
winnipeg might get both hoffman and cole?
Bennett on his way to Florida
Habs are getting D Erik Gustafsson from Flyers
not happening
Well that aged well. You know who isn’t being traded and don’t know who is being traded…it’s Elliott Freedman undercover!
lol
Austin Matthews is NOT being traded.
LOL
not a ufa
LOL
Alex Ovechkin was NOT traded.
Neither was the Great One but he did
For old times sake……………….
BEN HUTTON!!!!!!
ben is a good pick up
look at his playing time
points per game
and most importantly
his salary
great pick up by toronto
toronto was also interested in merrill but merrill chose to go to montreal
Lol Merrill of the no NTC ???
Wendell – what does your comment mean in Hutton ?
…it’s just a stick tap to an old adversary on this site…
WOW….. this day was a trading dud …
Yep. Just the way it is with flat cap and revenue down.
The deadline has been a dud for at least 10 years, watching those guys sit there on TSN trying to fill the day…this isn’t new.
Anyone know anything about Ben Hutton ??
Bruins give up a second for Taylor Hall and Chris Lazar
Sweeney needs the medal of honour
Theft ….
Great deal !!!!
A deal , I predicted …
Home run for Boston !!’
it will either be a home run or he is going to suck there too.
Rick Nash was mentioned above, too bad he got hurt a couple of years ago.
Yes, when he talks people listen……oh wait no thats E.F…
Marchand will motivate Taylor Hall Greatgonzo
Buffalo was a gong show !!
Flames got a 2nd(2022) and last yrs 2nd (43rd over all) from the Panthers for Sam Bennett and a 6th (2022). Considering the market this year, a decent return. A heck of a lot more than a bag of pucks! LOL
Wish him the best of luck in Florida
Mantha trade was a good move for both
Mantha behind Wilson on the 2nd line will good for him. He never played well in Detroit’s system. WSH style fits him better. Great move by Stevie Y to get picks and get cap clearance to take on dead cap and garner even more assets.
This trade is NOT Erat for Forsberg lol.
An excellent TDL for Dubas saving his job!
Adding Riley Nash, Nick Foligno, David Rittich and Ben Hutton without subtracting any roster players or prospects and when they looked like they had no cap space…just brilliant!!!!
Hats off to the cap wizard.
Ken should be happy with Dubas haul of players.
He still didnt address the elephant in the room DERMOTT is it so much to ask for size at the backend.
Benn Hutton fetched a 5th round pick. The Bobby Orr of the khl landed a 4th-5th string AHL goaltender.