NHL Rumor Mill – November 10, 2023
Could the Canucks be making a trade soon? Can the Leafs make a trade to improve their performance? Could the Flyers peddle Morgan Frost? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
LATEST CANUCKS SPECULATION
THE PROVINCE: As the Vancouver Canucks roster gets healthier, Patrick Johnston wonders if it could lead to a trade by the team.
Johnston noted that Anthony Beauvillier is skating on the fourth line. He’s earning an average annual value of $4.15 million. While the winger has been fine so far, it may not be the best use of their cap space to have him at that position.
Vancouver Canucks winger Anthony Beauvillier (NHL Images).
Beauvillier has surfaced in trade rumors as his contract expires following this season and he lacks no-trade protection. Shedding his salary would free up cap space to add a new winger, which sources tell Johnston is a big target for Canucks management at the moment. They would also like to bolster their defense via trade, though the more likely course of action could be signing free agent Ethan Bear once he’s ready in December to return from shoulder surgery.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canucks were trying to move Conor Garland but he’s signed for three more years at $4.9 million annually and that’s difficult to move in a season when most teams are feeling the salary-cap pinch.
Beauvillier may be on an expiring contract lacking no-trade protection but his cap hit and limited production (five points in 13 games) could make it tough to find a trade partner at this point in the season.
The Canucks might have to retain some of his cap hit to facilitate a deal. Otherwise, they’ll have to wait until later in the season when teams have accrued more cap room.
LEAFS SHOPPING AROUND BUT NO QUICK FIXES COMING
TSN: Darren Dreger reports Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving is looking on the trade front for blueline help. However, it’s still very early in the season and “he doesn’t have a magic wand.”
Dreger noted that “there hasn’t been a consistent commitment to checking or defending and those aren’t things that a general manager can fix at this point of the regular season.” He thinks the forwards need to buy in and the coach needs to hold accountable those who won’t.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Maybe investing more in defense rather than adding “snot” to the forward lines (hello there, Tyler Bertuzzi, Max Domi and Ryan “All Talk No Action” Reaves) might’ve been the better course of action during the summer.
Treliving did add a defenseman in John Klingberg but he was never renowned for his defensive skills, something that’s become very apparent so far this season.
TRADE RUMORS STILL DOGGING FLYERS’ FROST
DAILY FACEOFF: Frank Seravalli noted that Philadelphia Flyers forward Morgan Frost has been dwelling in head coach John Tortorella’s doghouse thus far this season. After netting 19 goals and 46 points in 2022-23, the 24-year-old center has been a healthy scratch in seven games already this season.
Seravalli claims several teams have contacted the Flyers to make inquiries about Frost. To make a trade take place, however, there must be a higher level of interest. He believes they must play the youngster more often to boost that interest rather than ban him to the press box.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Recent reports out of Philadelphia (and elsewhere) claim the Flyers aren’t shopping Frost and have no plans to move him. He’s also trying to make the best of this situation and hasn’t said anything to add fuel to the fire.
Maybe the situation changes as the season goes along if Frost fails to improve or he and Tortorella start engaging in a war of words in the media. Until then, I wouldn’t expect him to be moved anytime soon.
Beauvillier is a better option than Garland for most teams. Evidently, the Nucks do not seem interested in any of the BJ’s defenders, or it might have happened already.
That may be changing with the Jackets showcasing Peeke.
If Frost has upside he might be of interest to Vancouver. Their number one need is a top four D, but after that, a C that can play on the second line in case of injury is priority number two since they have no one that can take that role today
Leafs :
No cap room and no prospects.
I guess Toronto expects someone to trade a valueable asset for nothing aaaaaaaand retain salary too?
Treliving, Keefe and the Shanascam Mastermind are all going down with the Klingdenberg.
Oh the humanity.
Tavares with a 1st to PHI for Sanheim and Atkinson
or for Sanheim and Risto
😂
Why would Philly downgrade for high cost? No thanks.
lol what good team has cap room?
Forbort for Bertuzzi and Toronto retain 2.5 million for the money to equal out. Good defensive defenseman would help Toronto. Open a spot for Lohrei when Grzelcyk returns. Bertuzzi isn’t working out in Toronto, he seemed happier in Boston.
forbort and debrusk for nylander
Oh My God No!!!!
Nylander is one of the top wingers in the league while neither Forbort nor DeBrusk even move the needle.
Due to the cap, every trade in the NHL is like a small miracle. MOST teams can’t improve their rosters because of it. And those teams with space have no interest in improving their rosters. That makes it bad for the product so you really have to question whether it’s good for the owners or not. Which is what the cap is for, the owners.
And the dirty little secret is that revenues are down mainly because of less attendance, viewership and the broadcasters are losing money and are restructuring. This will affect the cap for next year! 😣
My theory is attendance is down because of a couple of things.
Inflation. No spare money amongst the commoners for sports anymore. I know in my neck of the woods budgets are tight.
Also, the broadcasters are garbage. Any controversial commentator has been weeded out on HNIC and sportsnet. The TV might be on between periods but I don’t think anyone is paying attention. These vanilla, politically correct commentators are not good for the game, not as entertaining. At least that Bissonette fella is speaking his mind.
The cap. In limited cases you can buy a guy out or put him on waivers, that’s it. Not exciting at all. Only option is to draft and wait.
And of course, no fighting.
Leafs have done so much to “get the forwards tough” over the past few years its ridiculous. Can’t teach a chicken to fly. Constantly trying to add sandpaper at forward- its not contagious when big guns dont buy in. As a result they have neglected defense. Truth is leafs top 6 is arguably top 3 in the league in skill- if they brought the toughness wouldnt matter wo played 3rd and 4th line.
I have seen increased physically from Matthews, NYlander somewhat, Marner zero and Tavares looks like a guy who would 40 shots to the face before he even reacted. Its a broken system.
Problem isnt fixed with adding a Tanev and or a Zadorov, maybe both would help- otherwise you need to sacrifice at forward to help that D – to say nothing of the goalie situation..
Love Nylander, but they arent trading Marner-(he seems to skate by every playoff without critique of lack of physicality )
There isnt a better time to trade Nylander- there just isnt and his value is sky high…make the bold move and truly change the culture otherwise its just the constant lipstick on a pig…
Nylander to Calgary just makes too much sense, they may want him re-signed first but maybe the leafs could say the same for Hanifin or Zadorov etc.
Zadorov Tanev Hanifin Vladar etc etc all targets – maybe they even eat some of Kadri’s money or Mangiapane’s .they take back Nylander and Samsonov , Picks and prospects to work out the difference,
Nylander for Hanifin and Dube would make a lot of sense, except for Nylander not sticking with Calgary. Huby, Lindholm and Willie would be one hell of a line!
Makes absolutely no sense at all!
That removes Leafs second best player from the roster for a LHD that isn’t a good fit on the roster and another 3rd line LW of which Leafs have an abundance.
Hang on a minute. Except for Reaves, didn’t a lot of pundits think adding Bertuzzi, Domi, and Klingberg made the Leafs better? I did. The additions were to help balance the scoring and improve the D, two areas of clear need.
Not sure why the Leafs needed more “snot” but the season isn’t done yet, and the Leafs will surely make the playoffs. Let’s give these guys time to settle in before we call the season less than 20% in.
Anyone who thought that adding Klingberg and Reaves to the roster would make Leafs better doesn’t know very much about hockey!
I think if the Leafs added Zadorov and Tanev it would push them very close to the edge. Might even put them over. Those men deliver more than what’s asked of them. Hard to play against big angry men with skill and skating ability.
If Leafs make a trade involving bringing Kadri back I will stop watching hockey.
And I was a Kadri fan when he was first with the Leafs.
The man is 32nyears old with a 7 year contract for $7 M per year.
That would make Treliving’s other moves look intelligent.
So.
This will never happen.
But how about Chabbot for Nylander straight up.
Leafs get a proven minute eating D man that has in the past produced some points. They don’t need points but bonus if he gives them some. And while I think Nylander has more upside the Sens are paying more by giving the leafs a defenseman who’s signed for more 4 more. And if they sour on Thomas in the future the contract has no, no-move.
The Sens get even more scoring. But are once again in a situation like DeBrincat. They have to sing him or move him. They’re tight up against it already and even moving Chabbots 8 (ten in actual cash) Nylander is probably going to command 10.
I know. A pipe dream.
@Dark G
I dont know if its a pipe dream. Ottawa has the sameproblem as the leafs in reverse. Sanderson locked at 8 mill, Chabot already there and soon Chychrun will need to be resigned. I think big deals take stones, something Dubas never had, always tinkering. Love Chabot- he seems to be hurt quite a but though..
Nylander situation is tough because I think, unless he gets an unreal offer, he’s going to go UFA. He’ll be taking advice from his father and following the money. So it’ll be tough to get a Chabot for him. They’re going to have to hang on to him and let him walk, unfortunately.
But obviously try to resign him.
🤢🤮
You’re attempting to add some humor to a dire situation, right?
Do the Oilers know its too late to Tank for Bedard?
All for good trade ideas BUT they aren’t trading Tavares he is their Captain and has an NMC. They arent trading Bertuzzi or Domi or Klingberg they were Trelivings first signings lol.
They are limited but they have huge piece to deal in Nylander- he would be missed-cant be replaced BUT would rather try tofill in a second line winger (even though he is a top line anywhere else) then a top pairing D …
Tortorella can ruin the best of players, especially young players. Didn’t he bench and try to bury Cole Caufield in Montreal until Martin St. Louis came in and played Caufield so he could become the superstar he was born to be?
Wait. When did Torts coach in Montreal?
The nasdaq is in negative territory today.
Another year for Tortorella and another ( different) sacrificial lamb.
Zadinov Markstrom with a percentage held for Robertson Samsonov and first
Boston ain’t giving up one of the goalies. Too good of chemistry and gives them a chance every night. Tandem leading the league in save percentage
If the Bruins don’t trade Ullmark in season they will probably move him next offseason, with Sway a pending RFA and will probably get Ullmark $$$ if not more there’s no way they are going to pay two goalies a total of close to $11 million to be on ice only 50% of the time … If they wait till next offseason to deal Ullmark they will have a good idea what they have in the AFL for goalies ..
Lindholm, Hannafin and FLA 1st for Draisaitl
If only Bennett could do a friggin chin up Draisaitl would be with the Flames now.
Hahaha!
Ha ha ha!
That is brilliant!
Flames & Oilers Trade👎
Why would they trade one of the Top 5 Centre’s to Calgary….?
Both of these player’s are going to be UFA at the end of the season… and they are Both going to end up in Noah Hannafin’s home town of Boston as UFA in July 1st✔️✔️
They both played for Carliona and both get traded to Calgary are are very good Friends…..⁉️
Hello Boston July 1st
I agree with the “trade Nylander” talk. The Leafs NEED a defensive defenseman. Nylander is their ticket to get it. His stock will never be higher and I don’t see this hot streak lasting much longer. He’s already showing signs of disappearing for entire periods.
They need big, quick, and tough. A Scott Stevens-type.
Exactly whom would you be referring too?
Needs to be someone 27 years or younger, already signed with at least 5 more years for $6.9 or less.
Best NHL UFA signing JVR 13 GP 10 points playing awesome
Worst NHL UFA signing Ryan Reaves 0 points lol 12 PIM lol minus 9 embarrassing himself.
JVR 1 million
Reaves 1.35 million
Connor Brown Oilers is close second for futility 0 points but only being paid 775,000
Let’s not forget about Connor Brown’s $3.25M in bonuses that will apply against next years cap.