NHL Rumor Mill – November 12, 2022

by | Nov 12, 2022 | Rumors | 7 comments

Could the Canucks attempt to move J.T. Miller or Tanner Pearson this season? Will the Bruins trade Mike Reilly? Are the Devils in the market for a goaltender? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

COULD THE CANUCKS SHOP MILLER OR PEARSON?

VANCOUVER CANUCKS INSIDER: Rob Simpson mused over the possibility of the Canucks shopping J.T. Miller if this season continues to go south and the franchise opts to shake up its core.

Vancouver Canucks center J.T. Miller (NHL Images).

Miller signed a seven-year contract extension in September that begins next season and carries a full no-movement clause until 2026-27. However, he’s in the final season of his current deal which lacks no-trade protection.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Simpson acknowledged the notion of trading Miller is hypothetical and unlikely to happen. Nevertheless, we can’t dismiss the possibility. Miller’s contract extension could make him more enticing for contenders looking for more than a playoff rental at the March 3 trade deadline.

Simpson believes Canucks winger Tanner Pearson is the most likely to be moved depending on his health. He suggested teams might be interested in Pearson’s Stanley Cup experience.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The 30-year-old Pearson is signed through 2023-25 with an average annual value of $3.25 million. He’s currently sidelined for four-to-six weeks recovering from hand surgery. Pearson is an inconsistent scorer but he could draw interest from contenders seeking an affordable and experienced depth winger.

ARE THE BRUINS SHOPPING MIKE REILLY?

NHL.com contributor Mark Divver reported Boston Bruins defenseman Mike Reilly didn’t play for their AHL affiliate in Providence last night and isn’t expected to do so on Sunday. “Word is he’s hoping for a trade,” writes Divver. “No idea whether there is something in the works or not.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Reilly cleared waivers and was sent down to Providence due to Charlie McAvoy’s return to the Bruins lineup on Thursday. It’s unusual that he’s not playing if he isn’t injured or sick. Perhaps they’re holding him out of the lineup as the parent club works on a trade.

DEVILS CONSIDERING THEIR OPTIONS IN NET.

NJ.COM’s Ryan Novozinsky reported New Jersey Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald is willing to explore all his options regarding his injury-plagued goaltenders. “We’ll explore anything and everything,” said Fitzgerald. “If it makes sense for us to keep from overworking certain goalies or if we prefer to keep our (young goalies) in the AHL.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Perhaps Fitzgerald is in talks with the Dallas Stars? They had to keep Anton Khudobin buried in the AHL while Jake Oettinger was sidelined because they couldn’t afford to call him up. He’s in the final season of his contract and carries a $3.33 million cap hit but lacks no-trade protection. The Devils, however, have limited cap space ($1.2 million) so they might have to consider a more affordable option.

Then again, perhaps they’ll go with Jonathan Bernier if he is ready to return to action. He’s been recovering from hip surgery but has been recently spotted practicing with the Devils.







7 Comments

  1. Awwwww, the forever trade bait dangled by the media on the Canucks! Intriguing!
    CBJ sure could use some help defensively. Wonder if Reilly would be in play there or is Jarmo gonna hold out to make a bigger deal??? Klingberg or a defender from Calgary?

    • I don’t think the Jackets have the cap space to acquire Reilly without sending salary back. I don’t see the Bruins doing that.

      • Paul, that’s an incredible streak of bad luck hitting the Blue Jackets right now.

        So far – according to CapFriendly anyway – they haven’t yet moved Werenski and his $9,583,333 cap hit to LTIR, but with him gone for the season I imagine that happens soon. At that point could they not have enough to take Reilly?

      • George

        For sure they could as will have over 11 mil in cap space. Still do not see Cbj adding him though

  2. Will Bernier be NJ’s savior? Putting Blackwood on backdated LTIR and sending Schimdt down would get them cap compliant. Bernie did well with a terrible Detroit team, and I wish him well! Never complained and was always cool!

  3. The Jackets needed help before Werenski went down for the count . They need to add someone anyone on the backend

    The Flames are leaning on their D depth and doubt they move anyone right now.

  4. NJ,
    Vitek Vanecek is playing Great for NJ, he is 6-1 and low goals against .233 maybe they let him Run with it👍

    Blackwood is out for 3-5 weeks they said,

    Young 21 yr old Nico Daws is a call up

    They may pick up a back up goaltender on wavers
    as they dont have much cap room.. $1.2M unless its a trade of some kind to move out salary🤔

    They also have Jonathan Bernier who was/is out on LTR but is back at practice with NJ…..if NJ can hold on problem solved in goal👌