NHL Rumor Mill – January 23, 2023
Would Anthony Duclair or Vladimir Tarasenko be worthwhile trade targets for the Flames? Could the Kraken become trade deadline buyers? What’s the latest on the Senators? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
SHOULD THE FLAMES LOOK AT DUCLAIR OR TARASENKO?
THE ATHLETIC: Eric Duhatschek noted the Calgary Flames still haven’t found a suitable replacement for Johnny Gaudreau after the winger signed last summer with the Columbus Blue Jackets. He wondered if the Florida Panthers’ Anthony Duclair or the St. Louis Blues’ Vladimir Tarasenko would fit for the Flames.
Duclair is expected to soon return to action from a torn Achilles tendon while the Panthers are trying to stay in the Eastern playoff race. Duhatschek believes that discussion should wait until it’s determined Duclair hasn’t suffered any lingering effect from his injury as well as where the Panthers are in the standings.
St, Louis Blues winger Vladimir Tarasenko (NHL Images)
Duhatschek wondered how well Tarasenko would respond to playing under Flames coach Darryl Sutter’s demanding system. He noted, however, that Marian Gaborik thrived under Sutter with the Los Angeles Kings.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Flames have been rumored to be in the market for a top-six winger for some time. There was speculation linking them to Montreal’s Josh Anderson but the Canadiens appear unwilling to part with him.
Tarasenko seems a more likely option for the Flames than Duclair as the Panthers reportedly wish to keep him. Tarasenko is an unrestricted free agent this summer who reportedly never rescinded his 2021 trade request. Whether the Flames can find a way to take on the remainder of his $7.5 million cap hit and meet the Blues’ asking price remains to be seen.
WILL THE KRAKEN BECOME DEADLINE BUYERS?
THE SEATTLE TIMES: Geoff Baker recently reported that Kraken general manager Ron Francis is keeping an eye on this season’s March 3 trade deadline. Carrying three second-round picks in his year’s draft, Francis could use one or two of them to add a talented player.
The Kraken’s blue-line depth remains thin and they’ve been lucky to be relatively healthy over the course of this season. He pointed out they went 3-3-1 over the seven games Jamie Oleksiak was sidelined by a November injury and a December suspension.
Baker noted that Anaheim Ducks defenseman John Klingberg has been linked to the Kraken in the trade rumor mill. He’s under a one-year, $7 million contract and becomes an unrestricted free agent on July 1.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Kraken jockeying with the Vegas Golden Knights for first place in the Pacific Division. It wouldn’t be a surprise if Francis goes shopping to shore up his blueline depth before March 3.
Klingberg might be an option for Francis. He could also make a pitch for Jakob Chychrun but I doubt he’d meet the Arizona Coyotes’ asking price of two first-rounders and a high-end prospect. Perhaps Chychrun’s teammate Shayne Gostisbehere could be a trade target.
SENATORS SCOUTING KINGS
NBC SPORTS CHICAGO’s Charlie Roumeliotis reported Ottawa Senators GM Pierre Dorion was in attendance for yesterday’s game between the Los Angeles Kings and Chicago Blackhawks. Dorion also attended the Kings’ game against the Dallas Stars on Thursday.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Kings are loaded with right-shot defensemen. Apart from Drew Doughty and Sean Durzi, they could be willing to part with one of them. Perhaps Sean Walker or Matt Roy might be available.
at this point, is Klingberg really an upgrade over Justin Schultz for the Kraken? i don’t think so
Chychrun is a better fit as a top d-man, but do the Kraken have the prospects to acquire him? Matty Beniers is untouchable
in your opinion would gavrikov be enough to get kostin and broberg and if cbj wanted a 1st or second would adding puljarvi be enough. on a other thught would gavrikov be enough to get kupari and byfield from la and wuld it take more on either side to swing this
With the way Broberg has improved this season and how Kostin has added the toughness that the Oilers needed in their top 9, I think it ”s safe to say that neither player will be used to acquire a rental.
Since Desharnai was added to the lineup the Oilers defensive play is where it was this time last season. The talk out of Edmonton has changed from acquiring a d-man with term to adding a depth rental. IMO Gavrikov is greater than a depth d-man and would be too expensive.
Ya, Broberg isn’t getting traded for a rental. I would bet $ he will end up being a better player than Gavrikov in the future, maybe even as soon as this time next year, but likely take a little longer. And I like Gavrikov and think he is exactly what the Oil need. 2nd pair shut down guy with experience. Pretty risky rolling with a 21 yr old Broberg in that spot if you are trying to win a cup. But the guy can skate with anybody, and has high end agility and smarts. Getting to practice against McDavid everyday has to help accelerate the process. But… I think they add a vet.
Would a 1st to CLB and including Puljujarvi to make the $ work get it done? Might need to add a bit. B prospect or a 3rd?
Or maybe your right KevJam, they just add depth. Depends how they play for the next month I suppose.
đOilers Best d/man paring over the past 5 Games has been the play of
BB guys
Bouchard & Broberg have played Exceptionally Well…, Even the local Meida are saying nice thing about them in Edmontonâď¸
There is No way ether one of these two get traded for a rental. they are both very young 23 & 21, the oil will need a more mature expericed guy for the playoff Run, we know that Ken Holland dose not like to trade his 1st round picksđ¤
With the Addition of Big RD man 6ft6 Vin Desiel AKA Vincent Desharnais from Backerfeild the defence has played So much better since he got here,
however they still need an experienced LD-man to round out the 8 defencemen for a playoff run,
Gavrikov would be Great, tops… A 1st pick and Jesse Puljujarvi
or
maybe LD someone not quite so expencive to trade for like…
Habs Edmundson, 2nd pick and Jesse Puljujarvi
or
2nd pick & Jesse Puljujarvi to AZ for Patrik Nemeth both big shut down guys
I know he’s an RHD, but a guy like Luke Schenn from Vancouver is the type of guy the Oilers need to acquire at the TDL. A decent big defensive guy who won’t cost much to get with a low-cap hit. He also has playoff experience.
If you ask me, Gavvy is worth more than a 1st & 3rd. Since that’s what Savard brought and Gavvy is both younger and will have a longer career, he should bring in more. Maybe a 1st, a 3rd and a defenseman prospect. Or some combination which does not involve a forward, which the Jackets do not need.
I would argue that the Jackets are in big need of a first-line centre to play with Gaudreau and Laine. Or are you banking on the Jackets winning the draft lottery and getting Bedard? lol
Agree he looks better than Savard Paul, although Savard was a proven horse in the playoffs back then. The guy played hard and tough minutes.
If the Oil trade for Gavrikov it will be as a rental, so his long career doesn’t rally matter to them, just this season does.
But you’re right Savard cost a 1st and 3rd. Interesting. CLB could get more, depends who else is available and right now and not many shut down LD’s being rumored.
It’s a good comparable and seems like the ballpark anyway.
Yes agree but that was then and now is now
willie w check your head if you think you’re getting Edmundson, who still has term on his contract at $3.5 M per, for a 2nd rounder and a 4th liner
While Dorion might, indeed, be scouting the Kings for a possible deal to obtain a RD, any such move would be to unload a UFA or RFA they have no intention of trying to retain.
It certainly can’t be with any design on a WC spot, sitting as they are in 24th place overall with 43 pts (tied with Montreal but with a game in hand) and 7 teams to climb over. NOT going to happen – and definitely not with Smith behind the bench. Not now and not next year either.
Maybe Dorion wants to unload Debrincat for Durzi ++????!!!!!!
George, think of this off-season scenario. I think it may put a nice Monday smile on your face.
The Sens sends a private jet to pick up Torts. The first person that Torts sees as he comes off the jet is new minority owner Ryan Reynolds! How can anyone say no to Ryan Reynolds!?!? đ
Heh. That would be something to see. But if I have my druthers the guy I want to see behind the Ottawa bench is Claude Julien.
Sean Walker and Matt Roy are signed through next season, so trading for them would be about next year for Ottawa. Both have a cap hit similar to pending UFA Cam Talbot, who might interest LA with their struggles in goal.
đĽ
Just Heard Ottawa’s Josh Norris is Done for the Season with a Shoulder injury…âď¸âď¸
This guy has No Luck….
.
The shoulder didnât hold up. The hope was rehab could do the trick. It didnât so the next step is surgery.
He was grimacing at the end of the game vs Winnipeg and flexing his shoulder.
Maybe it first wrenched when he slammed Malkin into the boards in the 1st period of a recent game. Whatever the case, any notion of dealing Pinto just went out the window – at least until the summer or until they get a better handle as to when Norris is cleared to practice again.
sitting here playing gm for cbj trying to figure reasonable deals for cbj. for nyquist from new jersey for holta and bahl. enough or more pieces either way. from calgary nyquist for dube and ruzicka or more. from dal nyquist for johnston and lundqvist or more pieces either way
Um the Devs would trade neither of those players straight up for Nyquist, never mind combined. Maybe Bahl. But Holtz is not anywhere near that deal. The Devs have enough bottom six options, do not see them trading for more. A top six winger is what they need.
Keep dreaming. Gus, at best, will bring a 2nd round pick and more likely a 3rd round pick.
I honestly think Jarmo is more interested in futures, not players.
“Duhatschek wondered how well Tarasenko would respond to playing under Flames coach Darryl Sutterâs demanding system. ”
This is said a lot about Sutter and high-end skilled players. The list is much longer with the number of players who thrived under Sutter than not. Gaudreau and Tkachuk are two of them who thrived under Sutter. Those who keep saying this still underestimate Sutter’s coaching ability.
Yeah not sure Duclair going anywhere. Especially in that scenario as the cap situation would need to be sorted out to get him playing, even if itâs temporary. I think itâs possible they may have Hornqvist on IR long enough to get to a point where it may not need to be a major move. Not sure how but just a gut feeling
I would be leery about spending anything for Duclair. This is his 6 th team donât know what that is all about but he seems to thrive on a team with a loose structure which would not be good for the Flames. Huberdeau and Weegar are taking a long time to fit into the rigid structure Sutter employs. Giving up draft pick and/ or prospects will not help the Flames this year.
As for Tarasenco a good player but there is no way the Flames will be able to fit him into their cap not to mention what they would have to give up. Plus he is injured right now.
If past practice is any indication of future behaviour I expect Treliving will be going after depth defensemen at the deadline.
He loves giving up mid round draft picks for big middling defensemen, drives me crazy. Complete waste of draft picks.
Tarasenko will be back tomorrow night. Its ironic that he has played very well in Berube’s tough system, .93 points per game, which puts him in the top 40 NHL forwards during that span. Tarasenko’s career is .86. So one would assume that Berube’s tough system has been good for Tarasenko. However he has a NTC and when he first requested a trade more than 18 months ago, he was only willing to lift the NTC for 10 Teams, and there where zero teams from Canada on that list. Both Jeremy Rutherford (Blues Writer) and Frank Seravalli, remind us daily that Tarasenko never lifted his trade request publicly so they probably realize that the trade list hasn’t changed either. Of course those in the Blues locker room, Schenn, Faulk, ROR, as well as GM Army have said that story is water under the bridge. But Army and Seravalli need to keep pumping the clicks and subscriptions on their sites…..so who knows.
With the Flames making it to the finals in 2004 I believe they used 11 defence men . Something like that. You never have enough
Treliving also likes pairs. It will be two players or two trades.