NHL Rumor Mill – October 31, 2023
Should the Flames consider tearing down their roster? Are the Flyers shopping Morgan Frost? What’s the latest on the Penguins? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
SHOULD THE FLAMES TEAR DOWN THEIR ROSTER?
TSN: Chris Johnston, Bryan Hayes, Jeff O’Neill and Jamie McLennan discussed the future of the Calgary Flames and what might happen if things don’t improve following their terrible start to this season.
Johnston wondered how the club’s poor start might affect plans to sign players such as Noah Hanifin to long-term contracts. He thinks it would be a painful teardown if they go that route comparable to what’s going on with the San Jose Sharks. They could also try to tough it out under new general manager Craig Conroy and new head coach Ryan Huska.
SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman and Jeff Marek also discussed the Flames during their “32 Thoughts” podcast on Monday. Friedman thinks some big decisions are going to have to be made.
Calgary Flames defenseman Noah Hanifin (NHL Images).
Friedman noted in his recent report that contract talks between the Flames and Hanifin were getting closer. However, there’s now a sense of “hang on here a second.” He believes everyone is taking a deep breath and a long look at what the start of this season could mean for the Flames.
Marek wondered what it could mean for all their players on expiring contracts such as Hanifin and Elias Lindholm. Friedman thinks there’s a little bit of uncertainty now.
Friedman noted that it wouldn’t be easy for the Flames to move on from good players but things aren’t working right now. “The way this is going might make the decisions for Calgary, instead of Calgary making the decisions for itself.”
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Things are getting grim in the Stampede City with the Flames near the bottom of the Western Conference standings approaching November. There’s still plenty of time for them to reverse their fortunes but it’s clear that the positive vibes from training camp and preseason are gone.
The blame for last season’s disappointing performance was placed on head coach Darryl Sutter. With Sutter gone and the club under new management, there’s no one left to blame.
It’s no coincidence that this team hasn’t been the same since the departures of core players Johnny Gaudreau and Matthew Tkachuk in the summer of 2022. Trading away Tyler Toffoli to the New Jersey Devils in June and the ongoing absence of Oliver Kylington certainly haven’t helped.
If the Flames fail to turn things around in November it could spell the beginning of the end of any hope of re-signing Hanifin and Lindholm. Conroy could be forced to become a seller by the March 8 trade deadline.
THE FLYERS AREN’T TRYING TO TRADE FROST
THE ATHLETIC: Kevin Kurz reports a league source informed him that the Philadelphia Flyers aren’t trying to trade Morgan Frost. The 24-year-old forward was a healthy scratch for six straight games before returning to the lineup on Monday.
Kurz indicates that Frost handled being scratched the right way and has been a good teammate throughout that period. The Flyers still view him as one of the young players they want to grow with this rebuilding team. They will give him every opportunity to become a productive player.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Frost is in the first season of a two-year, $4.2 million contract. He enjoyed a career-best 46-point performance last season. Kurz acknowledged that things could change but for now, the Flyers have no intention of moving Frost.
LATEST ON THE PENGUINS
THE ATHLETIC: Josh Yohe thinks a move by Pittsburgh Penguins GM Kyle Dubas is a possibility if the club’s upcoming California road trip goes poorly. They’re dead last in the Eastern Conference.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Yohe noted that Dubas has little leverage because of the number of players on his team with no-trade clauses. Nevertheless, he believes the Penguins GM can’t let this go on much longer.
Cap space will also be an issue for Dubas if he wants to go the trade route. He can’t afford to take on salary and most clubs are also pressed for cap space at this point in the season.
So Scooby Dubas has no cap space and no defence?
Stevie Wonder could have seen that coming.
Good job getting UltraSieve Jarry signed though, lmao.
100% spot on Ron – and loved the Stevie Wonder reference !
1967
Jarry was the only bad decision. Top 6 playing great, bottom size not so much.
The Penguins can beat Anybody but also lose to Anybody.
Gibson stoned them last night…why he wasn’t acquired in the off season is a mystery.
They will get better….bet on that
Hey Ron……Laugh now broi…
I wouldn’t bet against Crosby and Dubas..
16 of 17 years in the playoffs
You don’t think Dubas will do something else dream on Stevie Wonder.
I do agree about Jarry….they should have signed Korpasalo who is better and steadier or traded for John Gibson who basically made 4 5 bell stops in the 4-3 loss..
They will get fixed….just wait
Penguins look like the Leafs during Dubas’s tenure as GM.
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Yeah All except this Penguins group has won 3 Stanley Cups in 4 finals…and the Leafs not so much..1967???
Give Dubas a second to clean up the mess of 2 years of Crap Hextall and Old man worthless Burke
Flyers need to trade Konecny and Hart for a haul!
Things should be looking up for the Flames after all they get Andersson back after he served his 4-game suspension Which should have been at least 10. Laine has missed 5 games since the uncalled-for dirty hit and is listed week-to-week
I think it’s time for flames to shake things up if Lindholm won’t sign it’s time to trade him and get something for him I think a trade to Bruins along with Duer for Debrusk and Frederick and Lauko might help both teams I don’t think Bruins would want to pay Debrusk the 5 to 6 million per year he will want losing Frederick would hurt but you need to give up something to get a need back Duer with Lucic and Beecher would make a great 4line
Not happing unless whatever player that goes there is an RFA or has a couple years on the contract. Flames need assurances that the player will stay in Calgary.
It’s not the craziest trade I have seen on here Pete.
Johnny, Lindholm is a pending UFA just like DeBrusk but ya is a more valuable player by quite a bit.
Federic is signed for this year and next and Lauko is only 23.
Thinking the Flames may want more, but I suppose it depends where they are in the standings in the New Year. Will they want picks and prospects or retool with proven NHL guys?
Same could be said for the B’s with regards to DeBrusk. Looong way to go before making those decisions.
Flames have Huberdeau at $10million/yr and Kadri at $7.5 million/yr. They have a whopping 7 points between them in 9 games and have the worst +/- on the team at -10 and -11 respectively. When Zadorov said there were too many players along for the ride I’m sure that was directed at those 2.
That’s way too much for Lindholm. Given Calgary’s play this year and last year, I think it is a fair question to ask regarding just how good Lindholm actually is. Is he just a middle 6 forward who had a good statistical year a few years ago when he had Tkachuk and Johnny Hockey on the team? Hard to justify $9m a year for a middle six player. If he is a legit #1 center, why has Calgary consistently underperformed with their collective talent? Maybe he has lost his drive? Also, the Bruins are not trading Debrusk soon, as they are still trying to gauge his play over the long term. Is JD going to be more like “greasy Jake” going to the dirty areas to score goals, or is he going to be “floater Jake” trying to make his fly-bys look like floor checking? Which Jake the Bruins think he will be over the next several years will decide whether or not they sign him, as they can make a $6m offer work for next year, it is just the challenge of trying to forecast what Debrusk will be in the long term. If the Bruins were going to package Frederic and Debrusk in a trade package, it would be for a young emerging top center like Mason McTavish.
Lindsay I agree it’s a lot to give up but it’s not just the points that Lindholm puts up he is a very good 2way player and Duer is a good 4liner I have watched a lot of playoff hockey and the 4liners make a huge difference in playoff style hockey Debrusk shows up in maybe 60 percent of games he can frustrate the heck out of me plus I think he’s a Moms boy so I think he would prefer to be closer to family
I totally agree I think Zadorov was directing towards those 2 I also think that Lindholm is also loosing his drive I think Zafron is totally right but unfortunately he will probably be the one that gets moved I think Calgary definitely needs to change things up sorry I meant Zadorov
Flames are a tire fire & it’s obvious this group needs to be blown up.
Pens cap troubles is nothing new to Dubas who loves having his cap problems.
Tight cap around the league has really caused problems & teams looking ahead to it rising has GM’s salivating. Nothing new here as you can bet there are few GM’s that are wise enough to be smart enough to play hard ball on new contracts. They’ll cave as they always do. When the dust settles only a few GM’s will look good.
Pretty sure Boston are happy to their start 8-0-1 no need to trade for center the kid Poitras will only improve and Pavel proving more than capable. Who has worse goaltending Toronto or Edmonton? What team besides Penguins is old and slow and over rated? Are Buffalo and Ottawa still making playoffs?