NHL Rumor Mill – February 18, 2022

by | Feb 18, 2022 | Rumors | 31 comments

Check out my analysis of Daily Faceoff’s Trade Targets list in today’s NHL rumor mill.

DAILY FACEOFF: Philadelphia Flyers captain Claude Giroux, Montreal Canadiens defenseman Ben Chiarot, and San Jose Sharks center Tomas Hertl top Frank Seravalli’s top-25 NHL trade targets list.

Philadelphia Flyers captain Claude Giroux (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Lot of speculation over where Giroux could go with the Colorado Avalanche believed the front-runner. As Seravalli points out, the 34-year-old Flyers captain’s no-movement clause gives him full control over this situation.

Chiarot is expected to return to action next week from a minor injury, sparking conjecture the Canadiens could trade him soon. The Florida Panthers, New York Rangers and St. Louis Blues are said to be among his suitors.

Hertl and the Sharks have reportedly started contract extension talks. As Seravalli observes, there’s no certainty they’ll reach an agreement before the March 21 trade deadline.

Chicago Blackhawks winger Brandon Hagel and Arizona Coyotes blueliner Jakob Chychrun sit fourth and fifth. Seravalli reports the Florida Panthers, Toronto Maple Leafs, New Jersey Devils and Calgary Flames were known to have talks with the Blackhawks about Hagel, though the Flames moved on to Tyler Toffoli.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: I noted yesterday the report by Ben Pope of the Chicago Sun-Times citing a source saying Hagel was virtually off the table. The Blackhawks could be listening to offers for just about everyone but Hagel probably won’t be moved unless they get a terrific offer.

As for Chychrun, lots of teams are believed to be interested. However, the Coyotes’ hefty asking price of a high first-round pick, a top prospect and a good young NHL player explains why he’s still in Arizona.

Vancouver Canucks winger Brock Boeser, Dallas Stars defenseman John Klingberg, Blackhawks goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury, Canadiens blueliner Jeff Petry, and Seattle Kraken rearguard Mark Giordano fill spots six through 10.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Seravalli notes the Boeser trade chatter increased soon after the Canucks new management team was in place. He’s a restricted free agent with arbitration rights who’ll cost $7.5 million to qualify his rights.

However, the Canucks are still chasing a playoff berth in the Western Conference. Hockey ops president Jim Rutherford and general manager Patrik Allvin both said there’s no urgency to make trades. They could wait until the offseason to shop Boeser if they can’t reach an agreement on a new contract or receive a suitable trade offer before the March 21 deadline.

The Stars are also in the playoff hunt in the Western Conference. They might not shop pending UFA Klingberg unless they fall out of contention over the next four weeks. Fleury’s contract and modified no-trade clause make shipping him to a Stanley Cup contender a difficult move. The same goes for Petry. Giordano, on the other hand, could end up on the move before March 21 if the Kraken can find him a suitable destination.

Ottawa Senators forward Nick Paul, Canucks forward J.T. Miller, Stars winger Joe Pavelski, New York Rangers goalie Alexandar Georgiev, and Columbus Blue Jackets netminder Joonas Korpisalo fill spots 11 to 15.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Paul, Pavelski and Korpisalo are UFAs this summer while Georgiev is a restricted free agent. The Senators hope to retain Paul but they could shop him if they can’t reach an agreement on an extension.

What I said about Klingberg applies to Pavelski. I continue to have my doubts the Rangers will move Georgiev as that will send them into a thin goalie market for an experienced, reliable backup.

New Jersey Devils forward Pavel Zacha, Winnipeg Jets forward Andrew Copp, Blue Jackets winger Max Domi, Boston Bruins winger Jake DeBrusk and Vegas Golden Knights winger Reilly Smith are in spots 16 to 20.

Zacha and DeBrusk are RFAs with arbitration rights while the others are UFAs. The Devils could entertain offers for Zacha but they can also afford to wait until the offseason. It’s been three months since DeBrusk requested a trade.

Copp will draw interest in the trade market if the Jets become sellers but that’s not yet a certainty. The well-traveled Domi could be on the move again. The Golden Knights won’t have to trade Smith to clear cap space if Mark Stone and Alec Martinez remain on LTIR for the remainder of the regular season.

Anaheim Ducks winger Rickard Rakell, Blue Jackets center Jack Roslovic, Detroit Red Wings defenseman Nick Leddy, Coyotes winger Phil Kessel and Calvin de Haan round out the list.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Rakell could be on the move if the Ducks continue to slide out of playoff contention. Roslovic has really struggled following the Jackets coaching change last summer. Leddy and de Haan should be affordable pickups for playoff contenders seeking defensive depth. Kessel could also interest clubs looking for a winger with playoff experience.







31 Comments

  1. The bruins stink sell. everybody is expendable everybody

    • I’m thankful that Holland didn’t acquire Ullmark. LOL

    • change your team already geez wine much

      • If you don’t like my comments don’t read em. Sweeney has taken this team out of the valley of mediocrity and onto the high plains of chaos. The reality is Spanky this team’s Window has closed. it’s fine to be optimistic, but you’re looking for great scenery & it’s a detour. Wake up!

      • Rick, we all know what’s going on with the B’s. So does Sweeney. So does Neely. So does Jacobs. So do the players. So does the hockey media. So do the fans.

        The only difference between you and the rest, is you seem really angry about. Some of your recent posts suggest you might be on the way to the acceptance stage, but if you wouldn’t mind, hurry up please?

    • Rick, you spelled Flyers wrong, lol

    • Probably a Rask hater to go along with Sweeney and Neely
      Probably love Peter too.

      Nuf said

      • MrB Peter brought a Cup to Boston. I certainly won’t be complaining about him.

        If he had to be left there for the draft, most likely by reports I read, Kyle Connor would’ve been a Bruin.

      • Good moves- the Hall trade,even the Rick Nash trade at the time it was made and the drafting of Pasternak and McAvoy. Bad moves everything else. Sweeney never acts- he reacts but very slowly. He always thinks that the kids will come up to replace players and by the time he realizes that the system is weak ,it is too late. He needs to go.

      • Peter help get a cup no denying that. But then he gave out over priced contracts to every 3rd and 4 th liner from that cup team a pooched the Bruins-in cap hell for years if I remember correctly. LA ended up doing same

    • I love it when the bandwagon fans come up with such smart comments. “ they suck” lol let’s move on to a more intelligent level. Bruins need a second line center and a tough gritty D man and they will be fine.Ully has been good no way in hell is he to blame for last night nor most of the games he backstopped that are loses. Marshy really screwed the team over this time. Teams are certainly taking liberties at a high rate these days. No one sticking up for each other can’t imagine that makes a team come together. We need a single goon. There’s a lot going on here Rask retired Bergy got hurt and Marchands dumb antics. Does Bergy resign leave or retire?Are guys upset with Rasks retirement and losing a long time friend who’s been an elite goalie 11 yes out of 15. DK gone. If Marshy was my teammate I’d be pissed myself. We are near if not already there to the teams heart and soul for 10 yrs. Soon it will only be Pasta Mac and sway. Time to make some tough decisions. And smart ones at that.

      • Would love to see the Bruins trade for a LHD to play with and compliment Mcavoy.All the players the B S have tried 6.28.48,58,none of them are right for him.

      • They need to do what it takes to trade for Chychrun without giving up Swayman, Lysell or Lohrei. They aren’t going to blow it up, but have to rebuild on the fly. Team toughness under Sweeney is a joke, needs to be addressed. Sweeneys contract is up after this year, probably his last if they go one and out

  2. Gorgiev will go the way of Raanta and Talbot. Backup on Rangers, but possible starter elsewhere. NY will ride Shesterkin. They’re not giving Gorgiev a raise. They can trade him at deadline and bring up Kincaid to backup, or wait for off season and bring some of their prospects to camp. Western conference is a lot more competitive for playoff spots than East. Teams would need to really fall off pace before going into sell mode. Don’t see Rangers having any interest in Chiarot. If they do go for a rental, it’ll probably be for RW.

    • @Slick
      I can see the Rangers holding Georgie unless the offer is that good and deal him this summer. He seems to be good in the room

      • ds. Not so good in hallway leading to room. Lol

  3. How does a team ask for a high first round pick? No playoff team will have a high first round pick. So are the Coyotes looking to make a deal with a non-playoff team?
    I can’t help but think that the team that acquired Giordano will soon regret that move. He isn’t close to the player he was just a couple of seasons ago.

  4. What a weak group of potential trade candidates. And, as usual, some manager will ridiculously overpay.

    Why have the Wild and Senators been scouting each other? Why have the Predators been scouting the Senators for over a month? Brannstrom to the Preds? It’s been speculated elsewhere.

    The Bruins are at that final year of what they can do with this core without some kind of a re-tool. (like the Penguins did) Don’t blow it up, just move it sideways and sweep the dirt off of it. They’ve become easy to play against. Sweeny should have realised it was time when they got manhandled in a game 7 at home by a Blues team that played “Bruins” hockey against them.

    • If Dorion has been informed that Nick Paul and his agent are leaning more and more towards testing the UFA market to get more $ and/or term than he’s willing to dish out, it wouldn’t surprise me if he’s the one of interest to Minnesota and Nashville. I doubt Brannstrom is going anywhere – he’s been playing better and better as he develops more NHL-level confidence.

      I am a bit surprised that UFA C Chris Tierny is not mentioned in Seravalli’s list – I would think he’s a better option than 3/4 of the crap on that list.

    • I didn’t think the B’s got manhandled in game 7 Dark G? B’s dominated that game early on, trust me we B’s fans remember it well. Binnington stood on his head, Blues got a bounce on a goal, and shut it down. Then March got burned. Game over.

      Blues were a very good defensive team that was physical that year, kudos to them, but that series could have gone either way.

      • Agree Ray but I do think the 1st goal by the Blues was very weak.

        When Bettman making his decision after the 6 game is up

  5. Shows why Marchand is MVP Bruins need him in lineup or they have trouble winning. Bruins will be fine just need to get into playoffs healthy I wouldn’t trade my first round pick for any rental. Swayman is the real deal and will be starting when playoffs start. Rumors saying teams want Fabian don’t move him the kid is dynamite.

    • Obe

      Your remarks are right on point. Save the 1st unless you get term and 63 stirs the drink for Boston
      Health is alway key to a playoff run

  6. I agree Swayman is the long term play but he looks like he is still young and easily rattled. And Ullmark is hit and miss and was given an absolutely stupid deal. Like a “Pierre Dorion to MDZ” deal. A full no move? Que? If I was the Bruins I’d send a 7th round pick for Craig Anderson. He’s stable, reliable and will bail you out with a big save once or twice a game.

  7. If Cam Neely can’t convince Don Sweeney to get some grit and a 2nd line centre then nobody can. Bruins are still 6 points up on Detroit with 3 games in hand. Should still hang on but how deep?

  8. I guess Hagel is sought after for 1.5 million reasons and that is also why he is not moving . Nice speed and grit and hustle. Playing with Kane

    I like Rakell as a pick up if you need a forward
    Bruins only stink without Marchand AND Bergeron. A clear look at the not too distant future but not this year. Pastrnak is the best “value” in the NHL

  9. 3-way?

    New York gets: B.Chiarot & C. Primeau & JT.Miller

    Montreal gets: A. Giorgev & B. Schnieder & J.Halak

    Vancouver gets: NY 1st, MTL 5th, S.Montembeault
    and one of C.Dvorak / J.Drouin / B.Gallagher

    Montreal retains salary as needed to make the shuffle work. Vancouver saves Halak’s bonus by shipping him and returns a superior long-term backup.

  10. Swayman allows 2.15 goals a game and stops 923 shots out of a thousand you can win with that plus he is gaining confidence and his teammates love him. Sign Krech back for another run and see how it goes I would keep tons of cap room for a Mackinnon or Matthews if not rebuild with Charlie -Pasta Swayman Carlo Brad Hall Fabian not a bad core

    • You can’t just sign Krech. He will have to go through waivers.
      You can sign Eric Staal though. LOL

      • Krech will say he will only play for Boston

    • Ya can’t see Krech playing anywhere else if he comes back Obe. Calim if you want, but a useless move. Not 100% on when the season ends over there, but if they go on a bit of a run in playoffs may not be done in time to qualify for playoffs in NHL. If he even decides to do it.

      Lohrei also looks like a prospect worth keeping an eye on. Big kid with skill on the back end. Late bloomer but making big strides.