NHL Rumor Mill – February 24, 2023
Could Patrick Kane end up with the Rangers? Are the Penguins interested in Jakob Chychrun or peddling Jeff Petry? What’s the latest on Vladislav Gavrikov and Brock Boeser? What about the Senators, Flyers and Capitals? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
COULD PATRICK KANE STILL END UP WITH THE RANGERS?
TSN: Chris Johnston reports the hockey world is still waiting for Chicago Blackhawks winger Patrick Kane to decide whether he’ll waive his no-movement clause before the March 3 trade deadline. Johnston believes the New York Rangers, Edmonton Oilers and Dallas Stars could be keeping tabs on the 34-year-old Kane.
NEW YORK POST: Mollie Walker reports the Rangers’ decision to sit Vitali Kravtsov and Jake Leschyshyn for “roster management reasons” prompted speculation they were getting closer to acquiring Kane. It would require a three-team trade to pull this off with the Blackhawks retaining 50 percent of Kane’s $10.5 million salary-cap hit and the Rangers and another club splitting the remainder.
Chicago Blackhawks winger Patrick Kane (NHL Images).
Walker also believes the Rangers would have to waive another player even if Kravtsov and Leschyshyn went to the Blackhawks. Another option would be waiving Kravtsov and Leschyshyn on Saturday and then waiting until March 3 to acquire Kane as the Rangers will have accrued sufficient cap space by that time to squeeze in the remainder of his cap hit in a three-team deal.
NYI HOCKEY NOW: Stefen Rosner cited a source claiming the Rangers and Blackhawks are hammering out the framework of a deal that would send Kane to New York. Kravtsov and Zachary Jones are named as part of the return to Chicago with a third team involved to spread Kane’s cap hit around.
ESPN’s Kevin Weekes reports Kane’s agent, Pat Brisson, said there are “plenty of contenders” interested in his client.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kane to New York won’t be easy to pull off but it’s not impossible. I don’t rule it out if Rangers general manager Chris Drury doesn’t have to give up a first-round pick, a top prospect or a young roster player like Alexis Lafreniere or Kaapo Kakko. Drury could end up with considerable leverage if the Rangers are Kane’s only preferred destination. In that case, the Blackhawks will have to accept whatever the Blueshirts are willing to offer as it’s expected that they’re going to honor Kane’s wishes.
THE LATEST ON THE PENGUINS
THE ATHLETIC: Rob Rossi reports sources are claiming that Pittsburgh Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan wants GM Ron Hextall to trade for Jakob Chychrun. However, Hextall is unwilling to do this because the Arizona Coyotes want him to include the Penguins’ 2025 and 2026 first-round picks as part of the return for the 24-year-old defenseman.
Rossi also noted the Penguins would have difficulty fitting Chychrun’s $4.6 million annual average value within their limited salary-cap payroll for this season. It would require the Coyotes retaining half of his cap hit or the Penguins sending a salaried player to Arizona. Hextall has informed the other NHL general managers that Kasperi Kapanen is available.
TSN: Pierre LeBrun noted a recent rumor flying around claiming the Penguins might be willing to part with defenseman Jeff Petry, who carries an AAV of $6.25 million through 2024-25. LeBrun indicated they’re not expected to make the 35-year-old blueliner available at the deadline.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hextall’s in a difficult position here. His club is sinking in the standings and could fall completely out of playoff contention without a big move to improve the roster. Chychrun could help but the Penguins GM would be sacrificing two major pieces that will be necessary to rebuild the roster once Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang reach the end of their careers.
As for Petry, his cap hit, age, 15-team no-trade clause and the decline in his production would make him a tough sell with so many teams carrying little or no cap space this season.
SENATORS NOT INTERESTED IN CHYCHRUN
TSN: Pierre LeBrun reports the Ottawa Senators are in the market for a defenseman as well as a center leading up to the trade deadline. However, they’re not among the suitors for Coyotes defenseman Jakob Chychrun. They’ve been linked to him for some time but Senators management considers the Coyotes’ asking price to be too high.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Ottawa Sun’s Bruce Garrioch has reported the same thing for weeks now. The Senators were interested in Chychrun but not at the cost of two first-rounders and a high-end prospect.
UPDATES ON GAVRIKOV AND BOESER
THE ATHLETIC: Aaron Portzline reports that multiple team and league sources confirmed that the Columbus Blue Jackets believed they had a deal in place that would’ve shipped defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov to the Boston Bruins. Instead, the Bruins acquired blueliner Dmitry Orlov from the Washington Capitals.
The Jackets have held Gavrikov out of the lineup for over a week now for “trade-related reasons”. It’s unclear if he’ll return to the lineup for Saturday’s game against the Edmonton Oilers. Portzline indicates the Edmonton Oilers, Los Angeles Kings and Toronto Maple Leafs are in the market for a left-side blueliner.
Portzline also noted there is speculation linking the Blue Jackets to Arizona Coyotes defenseman Jakob Chychrun. The Coyotes seek at least a first-round pick as part of the return but there’s no way the Blue Jackets are parting with their 2023 first-rounder as it could become the first-overall selection.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: I believe Gavrikov will still get traded but the Blue Jackets might not get the type of return similar to what they had lined up with the Bruins. Still, they could use the following week to see if they can stoke a bidding war between the interested clubs.
SPORTSNET: Iain MacIntyre reports Brock Boeser’s agent, Ben Hankinson, has been working with Vancouver Canucks management trying to find a trade for the 25-year-old winger. However, his $6.65 million salary cap hit through 2024-25 is a major obstacle. Canucks GM Patrik Allvin said he still values Boeser and doesn’t want to force anything.
Hankinson said Boeser would fit in well with the Minnesota Wild. However, the Canucks would have to retain a significant portion of the Minnesota native’s cap hit.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canucks were believed unwilling to retain any portion of Boeser’s salary. However, MacIntyre noted that Allvin didn’t rule it out in a recent interview, saying it depended on the deal and what’s included.
Boeser to Minnesota is possible if the Canucks are willing to retain half of his cap hit. That would also mean the Wild having to give up a significant asset in return. Allvin could seek a top prospect like Jesper Wallstedt, Marco Rossi, Liam Ohgren or Brock Faber.
UPDATE ON THE FLYERS
TSN: Chris Johnston believes Philadelphia Flyers winger James van Riemsdyk could be a “Plan B” option for teams that lose out in the bidding for San Jose Sharks winger Timo Meier. Those could include the Carolina Hurricanes, Winnipeg Jets or Vegas Golden Knights. He also thinks teams that aren’t in on Meier, like the Colorado Avalanche and Minnesota Wild, could be keeping tabs on van Riemsdyk.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: van Riemsdyk isn’t a 70-plus point performer like Meier but he’s an experienced, big-bodied winger with playoff experience who has reached or exceeded 20 goals seven times in his career, including 24 last season. He’s on an expiring contract with a $7 million cap hit but the Flyers will likely retain half of it for the right offer.
NBC SPORTS PHILADELPHIA: Jordan Hall cited Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli reporting Joel Farabee’s camp has expressed their displeasure to Flyers management over how this season has unfolded under head coach John Tortorella.
Farabee has struggled this season in part because of neck surgery last summer throwing off his offseason training program. He’s managed just nine goals and 17 assists in 59 games this season.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Seravalli listed Farabee at No. 20 on his updated trade targets list. He’s in the first year of a six-year, $30 million contract so I don’t see him getting moved at the deadline. Still, it’ll be worthwhile to keep an eye on this situation.
Farabee isn’t the only player who’s had some difficulty with Tortorella. Kevin Hayes has surfaced occasionally in the rumor mill after he was scratched from a couple of games earlier in the season.
WHAT NEXT FOR THE CAPITALS?
THE ATHLETIC: Tarik El-Bashir looked at who else could be on the trade block for the Washington Capitals after they dealt Dmitry Orlov and Garnet Hathaway to the Boston Bruins on Thursday. Anthony Mantha, Lars Eller, Conor Sheary and Marcus Johansson are among those who could be available.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: All but Mantha are slated to become unrestricted free agents this summer. Mantha has another year remaining on his contract. With a dozen players eligible for UFA status this summer, it’s probably a safe bet that Capitals management will be listening to offers for them.
Trading first round picks is the last thing the Pens should be doing right now. Their core had quite a run over a period of more than 15 years but their window has seemingly now closed. Those guys are all over 35 now and the Pens need new blood. Their prospect pool is not great. Their first rounders over the next couple of years would be the guys expected to take over when Crosby, Malkin & Letang hang up their skates. I can’t blame Sullivan though. As much as holding onto those picks will help the Pens in the long run, it won’t help him. The next coach will reap the benefits.
Pens with those new deals for Malkin and Letang forced themselves into a continuing win-now window. fans booing Hextall were all happy he resigned those all time Pen players
tough spot and dont envy that front office.
Trade Sid for the packages being tossed around for rentals….. ;-0 he has 3 very good seasons left. Two 1sts and a grade A prospect! never gonna happen though
Not Hextalls’s fault. Ownership and Burke would not let him not sign Letang and Malkin to expensive long term deals. They almost escaped Malkin but Sid wanted it to be happy.
Petry is his fault though. The rest of the cap constraint really is what he was handed.
He is smart for not trading their firsts. You only give that up if you believe a cup is on the horizon.
That being said if the D is their sore spot according to Sully then Hextall needs to be creative and move dollar in dollar out and see if other GMs bite.
Kapanen to Minny for Greenway? bigger body, more physical….about same in points and drives to the net.
What about
Petry a 2nd to a CMB for Gavrikov and Voraceck contract?
Then Pitts puts Voracek on LTIR for cap relief..
What are you talking about? Malkin and Letang did resign long term, or do you not get internet service in a cave?
Who says irony is dead!
Ed, read it again.
Malkin not the problem. Still PPG player. How do you re-sign Kapanen to that contract? Carter and Petry as well. Those are the type of deals that kill. Their D is sad and if Jarry hurt they are dead. See last year.
LOL. Don’t expect a response Ray.
Breaking News – Kasperi Kapanen placed on waivers.
Hi Speed Kills
there was a golden opportunity to also put Dumo on waivers… why didn’t they do that?
Dumo down and buried; Smith up….. net Cap savings…. BIG improvement on D
CR down; Friedman up… small but positive space gain….. but MASSIVE improvement on D
It’s mind boggling that Sully just keep playing same old same old
Hi Pengy, little rumor, Penguins might trade Dumoulin for a draft pick opening up additional cap space.
If Kane is digging in and saying NYR or nothing, then Chicago will have no leverage in any deal.
If Rangers can trade Kravtsov, Leschyshyn plus a non-1st-round pick to get Kane then I’d do it (from the Rangers side).
The Senators trading of Zaitsev has created the cap space to acquire the D-man they’ve stealthily been targeting all season… Rasmus Ristolainen! And all this time everyone thought it would be Chychrun! As a Flyers fan, YES, I’m trying to wish this into existence! lol
LOL SJFlyerFan. Even Aladdin’s Lamp wouldn’t facilitate that deal.
Not when you’re talking about Rasmus (What’s A Blue Line?) Ristolainen, he of the CAREER -173 and costing $5.1 mil off the cap per for 4 more years.
But seriously, with Chabot, Brannstrom and Sanderson, what they don’t need is another one-way-only D.
And I don’t mean to suggest Sanderson is a one-way D. He is, however, one of the 3 with puck-carrying/moving skills but, unlike the other two, he is just as good on the defensive side of things.
The reason Arizona would want picks in those years is cause that would be the target for a cratering point for the pens. Likely lotto picks.
Chrisms, entirely possible.
I’ve only watched them twice this year.
They played well against the B’s in the Winter Classic against a good team on a big stage.
The Oil can make teams look bad for a period when they’re rolling and start feeling it offensively, but that looked like a Pens team that mailed it in for, like someone else said, 59 minutes.
So are they actually that bad or just a bad night?
To me, they looked like a team that’s decided – collectively – that no amount of effort is going to turn a figurative sow’s ear into a silk purse. So, why bother? Maybe they need someone like Craig Berube behind the bench.
I’m not piling on the Pens here, but I’ve felt that amature scouting is their biggest issue. They don’t hit gems often at all. Outside of the core they tanked for, (Sid, Geno, Flower, Letang) they haven’t drafted well.
Didn’t use to be the case. Murray rust were third rounders. I used to remember a bigger list but it tells to your post that I can’t.
The Caps are selling so the Pens should inquire about Eller. Many will say the Caps won’t trade within the division but that is not as important now as it was a few years ago. They made a big deal with Boston so it shows they are not shy from dealing within conference!
So how many teams are left that might give CLB a 1st and 3rd for Gavrikov?
Oil could use him.
Holland gonna go bargain hunting next Friday AM?
Hi Ray
Yes Oil could use him… but 1st and 3rd… too much for what the increase (for only this season) in team play
Oil should be looking at players with term; OR…. now that it appears Soucy is possible….
Soucy (lucky number 13 on TSN trade bait board) @ 50% and a 3rd for Yammo? Net annual Cap…. ~ 900 K… so about $225 K in real Cap space for balance of year
take that 3rd; add JP; 1st for Timo Meier (@ 50%)
D improved
Top 9…. McD, Leon, TM, Kane, RNH, McLeod, Foegle, Kostin Hyman….. 82 game pace (just did it on the computer)…..323 goals (3.93 Goals a game)!!!!!
That is w/o adding goals by 4th line or D
That is ouchville!!!
Pengy
You know there is zero percent chance that San Jose takes a 1st and 3rd and retains 50% on Meier.
If you added another 1st I’m still not sure Grier accepts that offer?
Re Rossi and Pend and Chychrun
Too much to give up; still not getting past first round; may even miss playoffs still
Chychrun is a puck mover
Pens are flailing on the Defensive side of things
Chychrun is great offensively but has issues defensively
For the amount Armstrong wants for Chychrun…. Better to go after
Crouse, Vejmelka, Bjug (UFA)
My daily ships snd giggles way out there nutso move….
Dumo (UFA), Teddy B(UFA) , Kappy (1more year) ; DeSmith (1 more year UFA); McG (2 more years); O’Connor (RFA); Poehling (RFA); 1st (lottery protected) ‘23; 1st (lottery protected) ‘24; 2nd ‘24
for
Crouse (4 more years after this); Vejmelka (2 more years);
Bjug (UFA) ;
Stetcher (UFA);
O’Brien (grit-1 more year then UFA)
All the futures given up above ; worth getting this line-up (good this year and next)
Sid/Guentz/Rackell
Gino/Zucker/Rusty
Bjug/Crouse/Heinen
Carter/Arch/O’Brien
Tanger/Pettersson
Petry/P-O J
Friedman OR Stetcher/ Smith
Rutta/ Friedman OR Stetcher
Jarry/Vejmelka
Petry and Peterson and top 15 protected 1st to Ana for Klingberg?
Then send Ruuta to Van for Schenn ?
Sign Klingberg immediately.
Letang/Schenn
Klingberg/Doumolin
?
I’m afraid no amount of “tinkering” is going to salvage this season – or future seasons for that matter – where the Penguins are concerned.
This follows several years of doing just that to try and add improved support for Crosby, Malkin, Guentzel and Letang. It kept them “in the picture” in that span … but now their top stars are getting too long in the tooth and, to be honest, I doubt ANY team sees value in the ones they’re trying to peddle, Certainly not the kind of value Pittsburgh desperately needs.
Hi IHC
certainly don’t want to lose Pettersson
Schenn would not be paired on top D line and he is also an RD
Schenn in at 3RD perfect
Don’t think Jimbo will accept Rutta (term and much more Cap) for Schenn
Klinger is UFA…
Too much of a Penalty just to rid Petry’s contract though
Just sitting Dumo and Ruhweedel …. no trade…. just that alone will help the team
Tanger/Petterson
Petry/P-O J
Friedman Smith
Much much better than one they have been putting out there
They could also save $1.2 M (minimum) in annual Cap by waiving Dumo …. if he gets picked up (ummmm …. nope) then that is $4.1 (annual) off of Cap. if not… buried $1.2 M… something to think about
Burying Dumo; brining up Smith… Nets $400 K Cap (annual rate) AND improves the D tremendously
Ruhweedel waived … is below the threshold so his entire hit is burried…. replace with Friedman….
That is only a small Cap savings…. but huge improvement on the ice
Agree George re “tinkering” (multiple tweaks)
My solution above won’t happen just due to sheer magnitude of players and getting two GMs on board
That said…. if it could happen…. for sure this helps Pens this year…. should secure them playoffs; but still exit round one (compared to heading now in the Bedard direction); and more importantly….
Crouse and Vejmelka additions (huge uptick on line 3; massive improvement at back up) are with term… so helping in the out years as well
The deal also moves Kappy contract from next year (NOTE— was put on waivers this aft…. so $1.2 M annually will come off the books for rest of season— strange that they also didn’t do that for Dumo???); so that is a plus for out years as well
McG’s contract gone for out years in my proposal
Zucker will be moving on as well
So…. with my proposal (again won’t happen with so many moving pieces)— big uptick now; uptick on roster next year and year after; massive opening of Cap space next year
Sadly… the only thing HexBurkie has accomplished recently (today) is putting Kappy on waivers…. burying a massive $1.2 M … but only for remainder of season…. so move actually saves but $300 K in ACTUAL cap space
could have double that with putting Dumo on waivers
It’s hard to let go of fan favourites, but I think the Pens future would be best served if they sold off their core for big returns and started a rebuild now. Otherwise, I see a limbo in their next 5 years of trying to make the playoffs but not really getting anywhere.
Not sure if that’s able to happen, though. Do they all have no-move/trade clauses? (Letang, Malkin, Crosby, Gentz)
That’s the way I see it, too, WestBrantKid. Crosby – NMC; Malkin – 35+NMC; Guentzel – M-NTC; Zucker M-NTC; Rust – NMC; Carter – 35z+NMC; Petry – M-NTC NMC; Letang – 35+NMC; Dumoulin – M-NTC.
Those deals may have had them feeling all comfy/cozy when negotiated and the team was still among the top echelon. Now, they are roadblocks to trying to build a prospect pool for the future, an absolute necessity for a team ranked 32nd in the prospect pool.
Some may wave those clauses … but not necessarily to go to the team making the best offer, while the teams they’d LIKE to join simply can’t take them on under cap constraints.
Talk about a GM having his hands tied.
Yikes! That’s a lot no-no clauses.
Leafs should circle back and re-acquire Kapanen – he worked well here and could be the bottom 6 forward for point production. Been absent for a while I agree did score 20 playing with Matthews. However, he would be counted on for bottom 6 and could jump up if needed for injury. HIs speed and creativity is like Nylander just a step below for sure.
Kapanen back to the Leafs. Interesting. Pens take 50% so he comes in at $1.6. Then if leafs could move out Engvall at $2.25 it’s a savings of $650000.
Why stop I’m gonna go with this. It’s been a long/short week.
Trade kerfoot to a contender looking for depth. Take the $3.5m + $650 =$4.15m add in Holl at $2m = 6.15m. Bring in Schenn for 7th dman and Meier $6m up front.
Wow. Shore up the defence, the bottom 6 and put the top 6 over the top. This was fun.
So just like the Blondie song “Dreaming”!
Bottom Line, Kapanen would be a complete waste of money and cap space – $3.2 million and 1 more year on the contract. When Murray returns from LTIR and Joey Anderson is sent to the Marlies, Toronto will have a 22 man roster and 1.5 million in cap space. IF Dubas does anything, expect an upgrade on defense.
If the Leafs – or anyone else – wants him, he was just placed on waivers by the Penguins.
And at $3.2 mil with another year to go I would be surprised, indeed, if anyone put in a claim.
how about jenner to pittsburgh for pitt 1st and kapanen. than trade gavrikov to edm for edm 1st and puljarvi
Jenner isn’t worth a First.
with taking kapanen off pittsburgh hands he is
kapanen put on waviers take my deal off table
Hi IHC
Jenner in; Kappy out; Jenner replacing Carter at 3C…. for just a 1st…. steal!!!
Hi NDC
setting aside Kappy on waivers
this Pens fan would take that deal in a heartbeat
Jenner over Carter at 3C; locked nicely for 3 more years; AND booting Kappy contract
Can we boot Dumo and CR over to Jackets in the deals as well?
“HurriKane’s”
They should make the deal just so they can say that.
Make the trades to reunite the Kane brothers, Evander and Patrick.
The Pittsburgh “fans” chanting “fire Hextall” are the same windbags that were screaming Hextall should be fired if he didnt resign Malkin and Letang.
Penguins are old, slow and soft.
Another year or two and PPG arena will be half empty as the Pens tumble back to the bottom of the standings and another bankruptcy.
Pittsburghs issues dont come from Hextall, the blame for their current predicament lies with current Vancouver mastermind Jim Rutherford.
Strange how people think of fans as one entity. Like, all fans of one team think the same.
When you have 1 million fans of one team, you will have 50,000 loud voices saying to trade someone, the 50,000 equally loud voices complaining that you traded that player. “Fans” are not one entity, no matter what team they cheer for.
Side note, this is why Leafs fans get a bad rep. When you have that many fans, you’ll get a proportionate amount of idiots voicing their opinions on which streets the parade should follow. 99% of Leafs fans are realistically expecting disappointment will simultaneously hoping for a championship. LOL
Hi WBK
1 million fans??? with 50K disgruntled
Yotes would like just the 50K in fans total!!! LOL
Don’t see how IVAN BARBASHEV don’t get moved … are you listening Bruins
Zyboril and Rielly. For him. Getter done
Forgot my 4. Lol
Fixed it for you. Cheers!
MB4— the 4 is crucial… we like you…. we LOVE the best hockey player ever!!!
LOL
TGIF. Enjoy the weekend Lyle
You too!
Caps are making a big play for Chychrun !!!!
Playing with Boston’s money!