Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – November 27, 2022
Could the Sabres be a suitor for Jakob Chychrun? Which defensemen should the Leafs target to shore up their injury-ravaged blueline? Are the Oilers shopping for a forward? Find out in the Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup.
COULD THE SABRES OR LEAFS PURSUE CHYCHRUN?
SPORTSNET: With Jakob Chychrun returning to action last week for the first time this season, Jeff Marek wondered if the Buffalo Sabres might be a dark-horse candidate to acquire the 24-year-old Arizona Coyotes defenseman.
Arizona Coyotes defenseman Jakob Chychrun (NHL Images).
Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams has maintained he’s sticking with youth. However, Marek noted that “there is a feeling out there” that they’re running their young blueliners (Rasmus Dahlin, Owen Power and Mattias Samuelsson) hard this season. He believes they’ve got their young core locked in that doesn’t need any more prospects and need to start putting together their team.
Marek also expects the New York Islanders, Los Angeles Kings and Columbus Blue Jackets will be linked to Chychrun.
TORONTO STAR: Nick Kypreos believes Chychrun would be the best answer to address the Maple Leafs’ banged-up blueline corps. He claims Leafs GM Kyle Dubas had a great interest in the Coyotes’ rearguard from the start and that hasn’t wavered.
Kypreos claims the Leafs will have competition, saying there are believed to be six clubs sniffing around for a deal. Four of the more serious contenders have a wider range of prospects than the Leafs.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Chyrchrun rumor mill will grind away now that he’s returned to action from off-season wrist surgery. So far, he’s looked good in the three games he’s played, collecting three points with a plus-minus of plus-four. The longer he plays, the more interest he’ll draw and perhaps the sooner this year-long saga will come to an end.
The Kings have long been linked to Chychrun and possess considerable depth in prospects and young players to tempt the Coyotes. So do the Blue Jackets, who were rumored to have looked into acquiring him leading up to this year’s draft.
I don’t see where Chychrun’s a fit with the Islanders. They’ve already got two solid left-side defensemen in Adam Pelech and Alexander Romanov plus right-shot Noah Dobson has emerged as their blueline point producer. Their focus over the summer was finding a scoring forward.
The Sabres’ biggest need thus far seems to be reliable goaltending. If they want to bolster their blueline perhaps they’ll consider more affordable, healthier options than Chychrun.
As for the Leafs, I can’t see them outbidding other clubs for Chychrun, especially if the Coyotes insist on getting a couple of first-rounders and a high-end prospect or good young NHL player in return.
MORE PROPOSED LEAFS TRADE TARGETS
Nick Kypreos also suggested several other defensemen that could address their blueline woes if Chychrun wasn’t feasible. One was the Nashville Predators’ Dante Fabbro, who’s a restricted free agent next summer. Word is the Predators are willing to move the right-shot defenseman for the right price. Kypreos believes it could cost the Leafs prospect Matthew Knies.
The other is Vladislav Gavrikov of the Columbus Blue Jackets. He’s slated to become an unrestricted free agent in July and could cost a first-round pick and more to acquire.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: I must confess this is the first I’ve heard that Fabbro might be available. Perhaps the right price would be a scoring forward. The Predators, however, won’t be under any significant pressure to move him by the March 3 trade deadline given his RFA status.
I still believe the Blue Jackets will try to retain Gavrikov. Nevertheless, he will draw plenty of interest if he hits the trade market before March 3.
Other options include the Seattle Kraken’s Carson Soucy, the Vancouver Canucks’ Luke Schenn, the Anaheim Ducks’ John Klingberg and the Minnesota Wild’s Matt Dumba.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Soucy and Dumba won’t be going anywhere as long as their clubs remain in playoff contention by the trade deadline. Klingberg, on the other hand, will become available when his no-trade clause expires on Jan. 1. Expect the Ducks to start peddling him between then and deadline day.
OILERS SEEK A FORWARD
SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman believes the Edmonton Oilers are in the market for “edgy”, grinding depth forwards. There’s a feeling since Evander Kane was sidelined that they’re easier to play against. He points out that they’re close to the salary cap and wonders if they can find a budget player to address their needs.
Holy Crap! A long dissertation on the possible suitors for Chychrun … and Ottawa wasn’t mentioned. Could it finally have sunk home that they – for one – are out of the picture … as long as the demand remains two 1sts?
I’ve been saying it elsewhere, but the Sens need a true RD and they may be better served to address it next Summer when there are a bunch (Dumba, Sverson, etc) that are UFAs and it won’t cost them draft capital.
Having said that, Fabbro interests me. I’d rather spend the JC ask on him….
The smarter playoff play from the AZ roster is Ghost. He is UFA, same cap hit and likely will cost less long term. As he would be a rental and has excellent health history.
And the Coyotes would be willing to retain up to 50%
I missed the game last night against Pittsburgh
They seemed to handle the Penguins with ease , 4-1.
I am trying to get the Xmas shopping out of the way , Black Friday – what a zoo at a premium outlet mall off of the 401
Any take how this new addition – Timmons – fared out on the blue line .
I did view the highlites
Marner has really bulked up in the off season , his feistiness , mucking in the corners has resulted in alot of turnovers , with him being the premium contributor on many goals.
@George – You should focus your interest on the Leafs right now , as your Senators are at least a couple of years away , as per contenders , Lol
This Chychrun saga hopefully comes to an end soon .
My prediction the Kings
Ken, Timmons was not in the line-up (I expect he’ll be a fixture with the Marlies while they get a good look at him). Hollowell was up and he and Mete played the least amount of minutes (11:30 and 15.24),
Liljegren, Sandin, Giordano and the much-maligned Holl each played over 21 minutes, limiting Pittsburgh to just 26 shots on the rookie, while the Leafs fired 41 at DeSmith. Pittsburgh’s age is showing up more and more as the season grinds on. Some looked leg-weary extreme.
With forwards paying as much attention to the defensive side of the game as they do offense, the Leafs look like a team “tuned in” to whatever the coaches have laid out to weather this injury storm.
As for cheering for them, once the playoffs begin I’ll be pulling for them out of deference to my long-suffering grandson and daughter-in-law in Scarborough, both loyal fans.
Why would Chychrun want to go from one poorly run organization to another one in Buffalo?
I’m not sure the Leafs should pursue him either. He has a long list of injuries and he’s only 24…
He lacks a no trade or no movement clause. He is also under contract for 2 years and the remainder of this year. If he were a pending rfa, ufa it may give him some say. However, he’s not. He won’t have any say in where he ends up.
@Captain Obvious
As per capfriendly Chychrun has a 10 team no trade list.
Daryl, that no-trade list doesn’t go into effect until next season. https://www.capfriendly.com/players/jakob-chychrun
@Captain Obvious
My apologies. Didn’t notice that the NTC doesn’t kick in until next season.
Still don’t see Buffalo making a push for him.
On Sabres
They have a young goalie in UPL who is in his last year of waiver exemption. They hope to sign Levi and/ or Portillo after the NCAA season.
In their losing streak they without 2 or more of their top 5 Dmen
They don’t have much in terms of prospect depth at D. From 2018 draft to now their top 60 drsfted Dmrn are Power, Samuelsson, and Power who are all on the Sabres. Thry also drafted Ryan Johnson who is a senior at the university of minnesota this year.
In the last 3 drafts other than Power, they have drafted 4 D in the mid/ late rounds.
In Chychrun trade they have no D other than Johnson to send back in a trade. He only has 2 full years left which doesn’t fit well theSabres plan. He also is not a RD.
I think if they are shopping for a deal it would be around a player with more term/ team control with an age that fits the core of the team.
Chychrun’s value is cap. A second-for 2 million under market and a first as a top three D. You can’t add a ton more in asset maybe a very good prospect There has be way more teams looking and not just the ones mentioned
Bobrovsky to Buffalo for Anderson and one of Buffalo’s 2nd round picks.
Florida holds 2m in salary, it frees up 6.5 million in cap space that they desperately need and gets Buffalo the goalie they need.
The only sticking point would be for Bob to waive his nmc and accept the trade. Probably wishful thinking but would help both teams.
Well someone on here said Gio had lost a step maybe he should open his eyes next time when watching. Leafs look there structure is paying off. Hopefully we can get Chychrum traded soon it’s a long way to the deadline.
I said it earlier this month after watching several Leafs games in October when they were playing poorly. His performance, and that of his teammates, has improved since then.
Leafs need to ride out the injuries. Play Timmons and send Mete down. When the next guy comes back send Hollowell back. It is interesting that with Reilly and Brodie it is getting a first pair. For his health I hope Muzzin doesn’t play again. He is a warrior.
If they can keep Murray and/or Samsonov healthy goaltending is set.
A good physical winger is needed. Maybe Knies provides that but he is a rookie. It might sound strange but Ritchie seems to have got his game together so I would try him again?
Leafs need to move a few guys to get some open spots on the 50 player list. Cap wise things will be better when Muzzins situation is finalized. That still leaves Kerfoot, Malgin and maybe Robertson along with picks and prospects to make a hockey trade? A guy like Crouse or , Martha would be good. o’Reilly or Monohan would be good trade deadline pickups?
Except the Leafs are not going to get the likes of a Crouse, Mantha, O’Reilly or Monahan for a Kerfoot, Malgin and a pick that would be well down the list in each round and/or prospects that don’t include a Knies.
Mete looks REALLY good. I’d like to see him stick on the 3rd pair.
I’d also like to see the rolls of Sandin and Lilegren swapped. Lily’s speed would be better served on the PP and Sandin’s lack on speed would be less important on the PK.
Stupid suggestion of the day:
Chychrun for Rielly
I like Reilly but feel he is slightly overrated. ARZ wants to go younger but they could flip Reilly for a much better package.
I also think Chychrun’s future is potentially better and, health permitting, longer than Rielly’s, as well as cheaper for teh remainder of Chychrun’s contract.