NHL Rumor Mill – November 7, 2022
What’s the latest on the Canadiens’ efforts to shop a surplus forward? Could the Golden Knights become a trade target for teams seeking a goalie? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
THE LATEST ON THE CANADIENS
MONTREAL HOCKEY NOW: Marco D’Amico recently listed Evgenii Dadonov, Jonathan Drouin and Christian Dvorak as the Canadiens’ most likely trade candidates.
Montreal Canadiens center Christian Dvorak (NHL Images).
Dadonov and Drouin are both pending unrestricted free agents who are struggling with the Canadiens and might benefit from a change of scenery. Dvorak could be more enticing to other clubs. He carries an affordable $4.45 million average annual value through 2024-25 and his play is improving after a slow start.
D’Amico suggested Dvorak’s strengths as a penalty killer and winning faceoffs could interest the Ottawa Senators and Philadelphia Flyers. The Senators apparently had an interest in Dvorak during the offseason and recently lost center Josh Norris to shoulder surgery while Flyers center Sean Couturier is out for at least four months due to back surgery.
Dadonov or Drouin could be a fit with the injury-ravaged Capitals’ forward lines if young Connor McMichael or call-up Sonny Milano fail to stick. The rebuilding Anaheim Ducks could also be a destination for either guy. The Canadiens have the luxury of retaining 50 percent of Dadonov’s or Drouin’s salary to facilitate a trade.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Dvorak is the best of this bunch but I think Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes prefers to retain him for the time being. The very things that could make him attractive in the trade market also make him a key player as their second-line center.
Washington Hockey Now’s Sammi Silber acknowledged TSN’s Pierre LeBrun’s recent report of the Canadiens talking trade with the Capitals. However, she doubts they’ll be enticed by Dadonov, Drouin or the equally struggling Mike Hoffman. The Capitals’ recent claim of Nicolas Aube-Kubel off waivers from the Toronto Maple Leafs probably brings any further trade discussion with the Habs to a close for now.
WILL TEAMS COME CALLING FOR A GOLDEN KNIGHTS GOALTENDER?
VEGAS HOCKEY NOW: Owen Krepps speculates the Golden Knights could draw interest from clubs in need of goaltending depth. They currently using Logan Thompson and Adin Hill as their goalie tandem while Laurent Brossoit is with their AHL affiliate on a conditioning stint after returning from offseason hip surgery.
The Golden Knights currently lack sufficient cap space to bring Brossoit back into the lineup. They could decide to trade him.
Krepps believes there are several clubs in need of help between the pipes. The Toronto Maple Leafs are relying on AHL call-ups with Matt Murray and Ilya Samsonov sidelined. So are the Chicago Blackhawks with Petr Mrazek and Alex Stalock on the shelf. Boston Bruins netminder Jeremy Swayman is week-to-week while the Minnesota Wild tandem of Marc-Andre Fleury and Filip Gustafsson has struggled through the early going.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Leafs recently indicated Murray could return within the next few days while the Blackhawks expect Mrazek back in the lineup soon. The Bruins will likely ride things out with Linus Ullmark and call-up Keith Kinkaid for the time being while Fleury and Gustafsson have improved since their shaky starts in October.
Nevertheless, one of those clubs could express an interest in Brossoit if their injured players suffer a setback or their regular tandems continue to struggle.
curious if the Flames are interested in Mike Hoffman. they seem to need a sniper, most players on their team are playmakers. Mangiapane can’t be the only forward on the team to score
The Flames are up against the cap so Hoffman’s $4.5 million cap hit may be difficult to take on. Also it’s a huge gamble to hope a 32 year old with 2 points in 10 games will regain his former touch.
Hoffman is a two way disaster and only scores on the PP, I would stay far away
I think Hoffman to the flames is only wishful thinking on the part of Habs fans. Complete nonsense.
On a completely different topic which surprised me. Apparently Konecky lives in Calgary in the off-season. I would love for the Flames to acquire him. Pretty sure the price would be steep and the Flyers would have to take back a contract or with hold salary but he is exactly what the Flames need.
I agree with Lyle. Dvorak plays a solid role with the Habs. I don’t see Hughes trading him right now. Not during the season.
As for pending UFAs Dadanov and Drouin, they’d be lucky to get a mid round pick for them. Hopefully they’ll pick up their game by deadline time.
Agree. Considering what the Habs gave-up for Dvorak, the contract term, and the team’s face-off percentage from other players, I can’t see the Habs trading him unless the offer is too good to pass.
I don’t think there will be any takers for Drouin or Dadonav until the TDL and the return won’t be much. Maybe something can be worked-out with Hoffman. Suspect Dadonov gets waived and sent to AHL.
I agree, Howard. Though we send up with the same conundrum that’s always around with trade rumours: if the player is playing badly, no other team will want him. If he’s playing well, then the team doesn’t want to trade him.
I don’t see the Habs wanting to move Dvorak or being able to move anyone else. Waivers seems the most likely move. (Pezzetta – 45%, Dadonov – 45%, Slafkovsky – 10%)
Damn, Habs waived Rem Pitlick instead.
Wow, I’m surprised! Pitlick has struggled this year, but is a versatile forward on a cheap contract. Pretty shocked he was the one waived.
Thompson, Hill and Brossoit. Really, that’s going to save your teams goaltending.
Last night;
Kallgren 967 save percentage
Freddie Andersen 857
Unless you’re trading for Vasilevskiy a proven goaltender, then stick with what you have and drafting more goalies might be an idea.
I agree.
What kind of value does Montreal fans think Dadonov or Drouin bring back in return?
Both with 0 goals and both with a cap hit of $5m or more.
The cap space alone would be a win for Montreal at this point.
They have no value Caper, in fact negative value even with 50% retained.
These guys need to get it going, or it will cost MTL to move them.
Caper. Dadonov and Drouin have absolutely no value so best case scenario you trade them for future considerations. Worst case you have to include a draft pick or prospect which makes no sense since they are UFA’s at season end and we don’t need the cap space now. So we are stuck with them for the rest of the season.
I like the thought of Marner – Tavares – Dvorak. Marner and Dvorak had great chemistry in London.
It would leave a top line of Nylander – Matthews – Robertson/Bunting/Malgin.
Not sure what they’d need to give up to get him at 50% retained though, especially from a rival, but I don’t think his value is high.
excellent point—i thought of that too lol—
Dvorak has 2 more years after this one, Montreal is NOT retaining anything! But I am sure you could get him and Drouin(50% retained) and a 2nd for Nylander + Holl 😁
@Johnny Z
Definite pass on that one. And I’m not a Nylander fanboy. Drouin isn’t worth more than league minimum, until he proves otherwise. He’d be a good fit in Arizona.
I thought and Laurent Brossoit was there good Back up and going to be the starter this year….
with Robin Lehener out most to all of the season❓
Both of these guys can be back up… But Not sure about a starter for the whole season, they are right up at the Cap,
They have lots of Salaries tied up in Goaltenders $10.3M
they will try to move one of the $2M+ contracts❓
Thompson @$760,000
Hill at $2.1M….!!
Laurent Brossoit @$2.35M
Robin Lehner’s $6,500,000 cap is $5,000,000.
The Zamboni driver that beat the Leafs a few years back has played more than Matt Murray.
He belongs at the bottom of the pecking order if you ask me. I’d put him on waivers now and use the cap space to upgrade in net or elsewhere.
When Samsonov returns, he can handle the starting role unless they can upgrade. Kallgren can hold his own. I also think Petruzzelli should be given an opportunity.
Murray on waivers at that price tag may attract someone to take him on waivers or trade. I think he should hone his skills in the minors not rolling the dice with the Leafs.
I don’t think I want to roll into the playoffs with a Samsonov + Kallgren duo, not at this point at least.
Murray, whatever his demons may be would still be my choice for 1B.
Petruzzelli may not be ready as yet, I’d rather he get some games in the minors before being exposed to the NHL, trial by fire can kill his confidence.
Re Habs shopping surplus forward for a D…..
Drouin (25 % retained) for
Dumo & 4th
Change of scenery for both????