Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – January 22, 2023
Updates on Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, Bo Horvat, Vladislav Gavrikov, Timo Meier and Jake McCabe in the Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup.
LATEST “32 THOUGHTS” RUMORS.
SPORTSNET: Jeff Marek reports that it sounds like long-time Chicago Blackhawks stars Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews aren’t prepared to make a decision on their respective futures until sometime in mid-February.
Marek also believes Carolina Hurricanes winger Max Pacioretty’s season-ending injury could make things interesting for Kane and Toews and maybe other players who could move by the trade deadline.
Chicago Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews (NHL Images).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Hurricanes need a second-line center and could use a winger to replace the sidelined Pacioretty’s offense. Toews or Kane could fit into one of those roles in Carolina.
Sportsnet’s Ryan Dixon and Jason Bukala included the Hurricanes among their four suggested trade destinations for Toews along with the Boston Bruins, Colorado Avalanche and Winnipeg Jets.
Marek reports the Vancouver Canucks’ asking price for Bo Horvat is three players, including a top prospect. Friedman believes the Canucks are narrowing down the possible suitors to those willing to meet that price or at least willing to continue discussions about it. He doesn’t think that they’re close to a trade at this time.
Friedman didn’t name any clubs that could be among the interest parties for Horvat. However, he mentioned the Seattle Kraken and Minnesota Wild during his “32 Thoughts” podcast on Friday. He doesn’t believe the Canucks are allowing teams to speak with the pending unrestricted free-agent center.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canucks could still surprise us as they did with J.T. Miller and re-sign Horvat but I think he’s a goner now. Based on recent comments by Canucks president of hockey ops Jim Rutherford, they aren’t comfortable paying Horvat for what they consider an outlier performance this season. It remains to be seen which team will meet their asking price before March 3 and whether the Canucks will allow them an opportunity to speak with Horvat about a contract extension.
Friedman also believes the Edmonton Oilers and Toronto Maple Leafs are among the teams to have inquired about Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov. It’s believed the Jackets are allowing interested clubs to speak with him.
Marek thinks the Blue Jackets’ preference may have been to re-sign Gavrikov but he doesn’t believe that’s going to happen. He thinks they’ll seek a first and a third-round pick or a first-rounder plus other assets in return.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Gavrikov isn’t the only defenseman the Leafs and Oilers are looking at in the trade market. Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli reports they’re interested in Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Jake McCabe, who carries a seven-team no-trade list. The Los Angeles Kings are also thought to be among the suitors.
Seravalli believes McCabe’s no-trade list includes every Canadian team except for the Leafs. He’s carrying a $4 million annual cap hit through 2024-25 but Seravalli wondered if the Leafs could sway the Blackhawks into retaining half of it.
Speaking of teams being allowed to speak to players, Friedman thinks the San Jose Sharks will allow that to happen for restricted free-agent winger Timo Meier.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Maybe the Winnipeg Jets could be among those teams talking to Meier. The Winnipeg Sun’s Scott Billeck believes the 26-year-old left winger could be a dream catch for Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff.
Billeck believes Meier would be a perfect replacement for Blake Wheeler, who has one season remaining on his contract. The Sharks asking price and Meier’s $10 million qualifying price, however, are two significant hurdles.
Horvat to Seattle for a rental yes. dont see the longterm fit…but you get a player who really can keep his family and base in Vancouver for the short term. and maybe tempt him to resign. Shane Wright overpayment?
No one is going to give up three players for a rental. That is terrible roster management.
If I’m a Star hockey player and am being traded to Seattle I’m saying No … the City is a sewer
If Bo is a rental, Wright is an overpayment. If Bo signs I would still not give up Wright plus other assets. The Kraken are good, but I do not believe this is their year. Wright will be ab awsome 2C fo them down the road.
Ron Francis MO is that he will not make a major trade for a rental. He has a long term plan of building a consistent contender and he won’t waiver from that. Polar opposite of Las Vegas.
To be fair, LV is a completely different marketplace. If you lose the fans attention there even for a short time, they will quickly go to some other form of entertainment in that City.
If Seattle could resign Bo I think this could make the fake rivalry a little more real . Plus that would be a great 1,2 punch for next few years for them.
I don’t think JR would trade Horvat to any team in the west especially a team within the division, and would prefer to move him to a Eastern team, Even if he were to trade him to a division/conference rival they would indeed have to pay more than a team in the East.
Would Rutherford consider Nyqvist & Roslovic for Horvat?
Roslovic fairly young center on cost controlled contract.
Nyqvist can be trade to playoff clubs for assets to align with his “major surgery”
I think Roslovic with Miller on his wing works
Let me think about that…..no.
The Jackets can’t afford Horvat’s salary.
I read the above trade possibilities for Horvat ..
I am glad everyone feels the way they do , underestimating Horvat ‘s true worth ..
I thought in the beginning , no possibility – Beantown – too much going the other way ??
Perfect – Bruins can be his future landing spot , Rutherford – “the mad scientist” is going to pull the trigger 1 way or another !
How did Pengy put it – If Bruins obtain Horvat – contending teams can forgettaboutit !!!
He won’t be a rental , if going to Boston , if Rutherford was smart – he would allow other teams to negotiate a contract prior to the trade , but the mad scientist – Mr Hyde – will have his way !
I think Horvat signs in Detroit, regardless of where he’s traded this season.
Larkin either signs for what Yzerman offered, or he can sign elsewhere as well.
If Hotvat signs in Detroit and Latkin leaves, the Wings ate back to square one. They are short a top 2 center now, and still would be after.
Larkin should sign, imo.
There’s 32 teams in the league. Of those 16 make the playoffs. S team has to win 4 best of seven series. Toronto, Boston and TB have to go through each other so one or two of these “contenders” are out in the first round. Who would overpay for a rental? That’s insanity. If you’re going to give up the assets that are going to be bandied out it should be on the player agreeing to an extension with the club that’s trading for him.
Horvat wi t win anyone a Stanley Cup. He can’t even lead his team to the playoffs.
What is unique in the Atlantic division is Toronto and Tampa know who there opponent is in the 1st round.
Each one knows What they need to add to increase their chances of eliminating the other.
The Race For Luke Schenn!
Toronto needs a legit LW for the second line. Secondary scoring has killed the Leafs in their last two playoffs.
What they need most is the belief in themselves that they can do it.
Would Schenn be considered a depth option?
Right now their 3C and 4C are Holmberg and Kampf. A little more depth at C is never a bad thing. Kerfoot or Engvall is a possibility… I’m not sure they’re eager to call up
Gaudette in an emergency?
Toews is coming home to Winnipeg, you can book it. Take over third line center, move Lowry to wing on Scheifele’s line.
Immediately improves defensive play of Scheifele’s line and make third line a scoring threat.