NHL Rumor Mill – May 25, 2022
Check out the latest roundup of Bruins and Canadiens speculation in today’s NHL rumor mill.
THE BOSTON GLOBE: On Sunday, Kevin Paul Dupont speculated this could be the summer Bruins general manager Don Sweeney takes some bold risks to address his depth at center, especially if it appears captain Patrice Bergeron intends to retire.
Colorado’s Nazem Kadri, Florida’s Claude Giroux and Pittsburgh’s Evgeni Malkin could be available in this summer’s unrestricted free agent market. The best fit would be Kadri as the 31-year-old is coming off a career-best 87 points this season. Dupont felt it almost unfathomable that the fiery ex-Maple Leaf would be considered a fix for the Bruins’ depth at center but he doesn’t dismiss the possibility.
Boston Bruins winger Jake DeBrusk (NHL Images).
Winger Jake DeBrusk and defenseman Brandon Carlo could be used as trade chips in pursuit of a prime center in his mid-twenties. Dupont also suggested the Bruins look into acquiring promising Kirby Dach from the Chicago Blackhawks.
Dupont pointed out the Bruins had an interest in Alec Martinez last summer before the left-shot defenseman signed with the Vega Golden Knights. The 35-year-old Martinez carries a $5.25 million cap hit.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Cap Friendly shows the Bruins with $80.1 million invested in 22 players for 2022-23. They’ll have to shed salary to re-sign Bergeron or ink his replacement via free agency.
Packaging DeBrusk and Carlo would free up $8.1 million and could bring in a quality center in his playing prime. Nevertheless, I don’t see any team willing to part with that type of player for that package. This is why I wouldn’t be surprised if Bergeron returns for at least one more season to buy the Bruins time to find a suitable replacement.
As Dupont observed, the Blackhawks haven’t re-signed Dach yet. However, they’re not in any hurry to do so. He’s coming off his entry-level contract and lacks arbitration rights. I can see the rebuilding Hawks signing the 21-year-old center to an affordable bridge contract.
The Bruins addressed their need for a top-four left-shot defenseman by acquiring Hampus Lindholm. I don’t see them going after Martinez, especially if they need cap space to address their greater need at center.
MONTREAL HOCKEY NOW: Speaking of Dach, Jimmy Murphy referenced Dupont’s suggestion that the Bruins should look into acquiring the young Blackhawks center. He felt that’s something the Canadiens should also consider.
While they’re expected to select top prospect Shane Wright with this year’s first-overall pick and recently signed promising Riley Kidney to an entry-level deal, their NHL roster still isn’t that deep at center and they could use someone of Dach’s size and skill. Murphy suggested offering up the Calgary Flames’ first-round pick that they received in February’s Tyler Toffoli trade bundled with a roster player like Jeff Petry, Josh Anderson or Mike Hoffman and a top prospect.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson said he’s in the market for a first-round pick as his predecessor traded away this year’s selection as part of last summer’s Seth Jones trade. If the Blackhawks were looking at playoff contention next season, perhaps Davidson would be enticed to acquire a veteran player like one of those mentioned by Murphy. However, the Hawks GM has frequently indicated he’s rebuilding the roster, so I don’t see him parting with Dach for that offer.
Murphy colleague Marco D’Amico points out why the Canadiens don’t need to worry about a rival club attempting to sign away Alexander Romanov this summer with an offer sheet. As per the collective bargaining agreement, he hasn’t accrued three professional seasons, making him ineligible to receive an offer sheet coming out of his entry-level contract.
Bold move? I’m not sold on Boston goaltending, I’m not sold on this is a playoff team next year.
Ottawa, Buffalo, Detroit and Montreal will not be easy wins.
Boston may need to find two Centers not one.
Trading for an established C like 29yr old Mark Scheifele would cost Carlo and Debrusk, anymore no thanks,
Scheifele has a very good cap hit of $6.125 for two more seasons. Carlo and Debrusk have an $8.1 combined cap hit. The Bruins would gain almost $2m on the cap.
Bergeron comes back on a low deal $800g, gives the bruins some wiggle room.
If Boston finds themselves on the outside looking in at the trade deadline. I hope Sweeney has the courage to unload, Marchand, Hall, and all the ufa’s.
Sounds good. I’m sure Malkin and letang will return at a 800g cap as well.
Lol. None of the top ctrs like 37 and 71 signing gio money deals
Malkin already said he’ll no for 5mil.
I will bet anyone bruins will make playoffs next year
750 x 5 yrs each tops, lol.
I’m pretty sure one of them is gone..Letang had an amazing year and Malkin well…
Letang is more important to the team… Kadi, Trocheck and others are out there to be our number two center…
my bet Florida for Malkin…
Caper….Kind of se where you are going with this but Bergeron isn’t taking $800,000.
Bergeron is a Bruin and will either return to Boston (but not for league minimum) or retire. I do like Scheifele for Boston or for Pittsburgh that matter to replace Malkin..LOL
Bergeron is too good to take minimum…
MTL is in a very tough but not unique spot. They’re tight against the cap and looking to shed cap hits.
The part that is unique, is that they can use some of those veterans to add former 1st picks in need of changes of scenery.
The 1st one that I see (realistically) is:
To MTL: Cody Glass, Phillipe Myers, NSH 1st 2022
To NSH: Jeff Petry, Joel Edmondson
Glass and Myers were part of a blockbuster 3 way between Philadelphia, Nashville and Vegas that saw Ellis become Flyer. Glass and Myers haven’t really worked out for the Preds…but Glass is the former 6th ova pick of Vegas (2017).
2nd trade:
To MTL: Filip Zadina, Joe Veleno
To DET: Mike Hoffman
You’ll notice I’m targeting teams with actual cap space and team needs. DET is close. They have 2 promising right handed shot d men. What they need is help on the offensive side of the puck. Hoffman on an abysmal Habs squad had better production than Zadina and Veleno combined. At 4.5 mil Hoffman would be a steal as a secondary scorer for whatever center DET drafts this year.
3rd trade:
To MTL:. Brendan Lemieux, LAK 2nd 2022
To LAK:. Brendan Gallagher
In this deal, LAK reunites Gallagher with his favorite center (Danault).
4th trade:
To MTL: Vitali Kravstov, Alex Georgiev
To NYR: Jonathan Drouin, Jake Allen, Logan Mailloux
You’re more than likely retaining salary on the final years of both Allen and Drouin on this one.
Now, after all of that, if you still want to make an offer to CHI for Dach, you can offer them (Chicago native) Christian Dvorak and the Calgary 1st for Kirby Dach.
Ny isn’t making that trade, even with 50% retained on Drouin and Allen.
Ny has 11 million in cap space. With Vatrano, Strome and Copp all being UFA’s. More than likely already losing 2 of the 3. Also Motte, Rooney are UFA’s. Along with Blais, Kakko, Gautier rfas.
Ny has Kreider, Panarin, Laffrienere on the left wing. Where does Drouin fit in? I know he can play center, but CAN he play center?
Where does Logan Mailloux fit in? Fox, Trouba, Schneider own the right side. And the left has Miller, Lindgren, While Zac Jones,Robertson, Nils Lunkvist are waiting for regular NHL spots..
Ny doesn’t have the cap space to even consider that trade.
This trade scenario makes a lot of sense for Montreal. But from no perspective does it work for NY.
That is some impressive young depth for the Rags Captain. And they are already playing in the 2nd RD.
IMO they still need that C if Strome walks or demands too much.
If the B’s are competing for a C in the trade market, like a Dach if available, methinks they lose to the Rangers if also in on the same player.
Having said that why would Chicago look to trade Dach?
If these proposed trades were to come to fruition, the next moves that the Predators, Wings, Kings, Rangers, and Hawks need to make would be to fire Poile, Yzerman, Blake, Drury, and Davidson. I am pretty sure that assisting in the rebuild of the Habs without getting fair market value in return is not included in their respective job descriptions.
lago – it could not have been said better.
Sorry but those are awful trades.
Glass, Meyers and a 1st round pick for Montreal trash? Making that deal would put the Montreal GM in the Hall of Fame and Jerseys GM in the Unemployment Line.
Nobodys going to give up a valuable asset and a pick for 6 goal 6 million dollar Gallagarb either.
Why dont you add a Carey Price for Vasilevsky deal with zero dollars retained? Tampa gets a former Vezina, Gold Medal and Hart Trophy winner. Montreal saves a few dollars in cap space.
Crazy? No crazier than the trades listed above.
lol
Your trade proposals are ludicrous.
Shockingly bad trades.
The only trade the Habs might make at the draft is #1 overall for Alexis Lafrenière. And even then.
montreal has no depth at center in the NHL? after they draft Wright, they will have 5 C’s in their lineup – meaning one has to move to the wing.
1C Suzuki
2C Dvorak
3C Wright
4C Poehling/Evans
seems like a nice group to move forward with – pun intended.
Agreed, Rick. Dvorak played much better the last half of a bizarre, injury filled season. Keeping him allows Wright time to adjust to the NHL, at a time when fan expectations and pressure are low.
Same for a host of young D, who have Edmunston, Savard and Romanov to learn from during the first few years of a rebuild.
The Habs’ biggest need is a starting goalie, or failing that a second goalie who can take the load off Allen.
The only Risk Sweeney will take is to update his subscription to Forbes magazine. If he does anything at all he’ll most likely pick up another retread. Why does this guy and Neely still have jobs?!?!
Just to piss you off according to all the rumours out there
why are Bruins worried about any trade , just sign Kadri /
I wad “ keen” on this idea, ages ago , now could be a reality
More importantly….
How do Jack Edwards and Andy Brickley still have jobs?
Bruuuuuuutal.
Almost as bad as the LeafsNet and TorontoSportsNetwork drones.
Ron
Swap them out??? Then they be really lost