Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – January 16, 2022

by | Jan 16, 2022 | Rumors | 16 comments

The latest on John Klingberg and Evander Kane plus some suggested goalie options for the Capitals in the Sunday NHL rumor roundup.

LATEST ON JOHN KLINGBERG AND EVANDER KANE

SPORTSNET: Jeff Marek reports the Dallas Stars are stepping up efforts to move John Klingberg before the March 21 trade deadline. This comes a week after the 29-year-old defenseman expressed his frustration over his stalled contract extension talks with Stars management. He’s slated to become an unrestricted free agent in July.

Dallas Stars defenseman John Klingberg (NHL Images).

Marek believes Klingberg is going to get traded. “Hard to exactly when, but Dallas does seem aggressive in wanting to get something done soonish,” he said. Klingberg’s ice time has been declining over the past five games. He carries a $4.25 million cap hit for this season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: I believed the Stars would be reluctant to part with Klingberg as long as they remained in the playoff chase. That no longer seems to be the case.

With 38 points, the Stars are four points out of the final Western Conference wild-card berth. They possess one of the worst road records (4-12-1) in the league this season, including losing their last seven away from home.

A shakeup could be coming to the Stars if their fortunes don’t change soon. Klingberg lacks no-trade protection and his affordable cap hit would make him an enticing rental player for postseason contenders like the Calgary Flames, Florida Panthers, Los Angeles Kings or Nashville Predators.

Elliotte Friedman reports there are a couple of teams hoping for “clarity” on whether Evander Kane will face any further penalty for allegedly crossing the border from the United States into Canada on Dec. 29.

The 30-year-old winger was with the San Jose Sharks AHL affiliate at the time. He tested positive for COVID-19 and then flew to Vancouver on Dec. 29, when he would’ve still been in the AHL’s 10-day COVID protocol. The NHL and the Canadian Border Services are investigating but there’s no timetable when the investigation will conclude.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Edmonton Oilers general manager Ken Holland acknowledged speaking to Kane’s agent last week. One report suggested the Oilers could already have him signed to a one-year, prorated deal but there’s been no confirmation of this. The Carolina Hurricanes and Florida Panthers are also said to be interested in the former Sharks forward.

PROPOSED GOALTENDING OPTIONS FOR THE CAPITALS

THE ATHLETIC: Tarik El-Bashir recently observed the inconsistency of goaltenders Vitek Vanecek and Ilya Samsonov could be a concern for the Washington Capitals. He speculated GM Brian MacLellan could trade for an upgrade if they don’t improve in the coming weeks.

Three options who’ve won Stanley Cups are the Chicago Blackhawks’ Marc-Andre Fleury, the Dallas Stars Braden Holtby (who won with the Capitals in 2018) and the Los Angeles Kings’ Jonathan Quick.

Fleury would make the most sense given his solid play behind a lousy Blackhawks club. However, he has a 10-team no-trade clause. The Blackhawks could be in the market for futures in return.

Holtby would be a sentimental favorite whose performance has improved this season with the Stars. However, there’s no certainty they’ll part with him. Meanwhile, Quick is enjoying a resurgence in his play while the Kings are in the midst of the Western Conference playoff chase.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: If any of those goalies were available the struggling Edmonton Oilers would be all over them given their weakness between the pipes. Perhaps one of them hits the trade block before the March 21 trade deadline but the Capitals could be stuck with their current tandem for the remainder of this season.







16 Comments

  1. Dallas. Should definitely sell off what they can by the deadline. The assets like Klingberg. Pavelski. Raduluz. Holtby will give them Big returns. Can resign them next year if they wanted

  2. I still cant believe Carolina is in on Kane. They don’t have a need at forward and why would they risk the team chemistry and culture that they have. Kane is a 30 veteran that should be a mentor to younger players not a player you hope to change or control. He certainly is not a missing piece for Carolina. If Carolina is making a move it’s probably a defenseman.

    • @GP Carolina could sign Kane and bump Fast back to the 4th line which would be quite a improvement over Fast.

  3. Flames trade Zadorov and Pitlick for Klingberg
    Most people will think that is a low return for Klingberg but when player and team are at odds with each other (Klingberg was relegated to 3rd pairing and ice time severely reduced) you never get full value.

    To make a trade like this it all depends on what other teams offer, but that would be my opening offer

    • I believe. Klingberg will get much more then that opening offer

    • Yikes. With his low salary and no trade protection he will command significantly more than that. That’s an offer flames could make if klingburg had trade protection and said only send me to Calgary. He is now the top d man rental. If Montreal thinks they can get a first for chariot what would klingburg be worth?

    • So the top rental D with low cap and no trade protection gets you another D who is also UFA and who really isnt a 6th D plus Pitlick who has 2 assists in 25 games. Thats not even an opening offer, Calgary should pay Dallas to take those players. So what have you been smoking?

    • Not even close. Don’t forget that Klingberg is a RHD and they command a premium.

      No way DAL is trading a UFA for two other UFA. Especially not those two.

  4. Maf on caps would make me need to reach for the zofran.

    • It would look weird, wouldn’t it? Then again, it would give him a shot at playing for the Cup this season, something he’s not going to have in Chicago this season.

    • You Don’t Mess with the Zofran.

  5. Bruins playing well at this point is a understatement and doing it against physical teams, 3 needs for me a big physical Dman, a 2nd line center & a physical winger who can score some goals and get involved ….can’t take on extra salary so it’s going to be tough to get all three done

    • If bruins keep up the great play. Sweeney may go all in. And give the assets required for top LD and ctr But will probably get a forward and a d. More complementary. Types. With less assets. Time will tell

    • Debrusk and a 1st and a 3rd for Chariot (1/2 retained) and Lehtonen?

      • Most of the “trade proposals” I see on here make me think that people don’t even watch or pay attention to hockey atall. It’s not easy sports NHL its real life trades. Haha

      • What do you expect from us everyday fans, some sort of mystical insight? If you stay long enough you’ll see trade proposals here are always gonna make you shake your head, always… but neither the less, entertaining as hell.