NHL Rumor Mill – November 15, 2023
The Flames are listening to trade offers on several players, the latest on Patrick Kane’s search for a new team, and an update on Predators goalie Juuse Saros in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
FLAMES “OPEN FOR BUSINESS”
TSN: Pierre LeBrun reports Calgary Flames general manager Craig Conroy and his staff are listening to offers on more than just defenseman Nikita Zadorov following his trade request on Friday. They’re also willing to entertain trade proposals regarding their other pending unrestricted free agents such as center Elias Lindholm, and defensemen Noah Hanifin and Chris Tanev.
LeBrun noted that Hanifin was reportedly close to signing a contract extension but opted to wait “and now that ship has sailed.” He said the Flames aren’t in any hurry to move those UFAs as they’ve got until the March 8 trade deadline.
Calgary Flames forward Nazem Kadri (NHL Images).
Darren Dreger said the Toronto Maple Leafs, Vancouver Canucks and New Jersey Devils are the “primary teams” interested in one of those Calgary defensemen. He also believes that center Nazem Kadri isn’t keen to stick around if the Flames regress, adding that there could be others who feel the same.
THE ATHLETIC: LeBrun believes Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving has an interest in Zadorov but “there’s no question” he also inquired about Tanev.
CALGARY SUN: Daniel Austin took note of Dreger’s remark about Kadri, who signed a long-term deal last year with the Flames.
He pointed out that there are other Flames veterans like Jonathan Huberdeau, MacKenzie Weegar, Blake Coleman, and Jacob Markstrom on long-term contracts who expected the club would try to compete for the Stanley Cup.
Austin also wondered whether players like Rasmus Andersson would want to re-sign if they saw their teammates getting traded away.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Things are a mess in Calgary right now. Zadorov’s trade request could set off an avalanche of change this season if the Flames fail to improve before the New Year.
Pending UFAs such as Zadorov, Lindholm, Hanifin and Tanev will draw plenty of interest from playoff contenders seeking rental players. Trading those with hefty contracts such as Kadri, Huberdeau, Weegar and Markstrom, however, could prove more difficult. Those moves might have to wait until the offseason when teams have more cap space and a willingness to spend.
THE LATEST ON PATRICK KANE
ESPN.COM: Greg Wyshynski reports free agent right wing Patrick Kane has started meeting with teams this week to determine his next NHL destination. His agent Pat Brisson said there is no timetable for his client to sign.
It’s expected Kane will meet with up to eight teams this week. He’s been linked to the Buffalo Sabres and Florida Panthers, who have checked in with him since free agency. The New York Rangers and Detroit Red Wings were also said to be on his radar.
NEW YORK POST: Larry Brooks reports well-placed sources claim the Rangers are not getting into the Kane sweepstakes this time. They acquired the future Hall-of-Fame winger before last season’s trade deadline but the two sides parted ways on July 1 when his contract expired.
Brooks listed the Sabres, Panthers, Red Wings, Toronto Maple Leafs, Dallas Stars and Tampa Bay Lightning among the possible suitors for Kane.
TORONTO SUN: cited NHL analyst John Shannon reporting he’d heard that Kane met with the Maple Leafs on Tuesday. He also claimed the Lightning, Stars and Carolina Hurricanes were among the interested parties.
TSN: Darren Dreger said Kane and Brisson hope to cut that list of potential destinations down by this weekend and hope to have a final decision in place by early next week.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Your guess is as good as mine where Kane ends up. At least we’re finally into the end game of this saga after months of speculation.
Some clubs, like the Sabres and Red Wings, have the cap space to sign him to a decent contract. The others, however, could give him a better chance to win the Stanley Cup this season provided he’s willing to accept an affordable one-year deal.
SAROS NOT GOING ANYWHERE
THE ATHLETIC: Pierre LeBrun noted that Nashville Predators goaltender Juuse Saros would be a “dream addition” for some teams, “including wishful thinkers in Edmonton.” However, he reports the Preds have “no intention to move him.”
Predators GM Barry Trotz told LeBrun that he met with Saros’ agent and indicated his intent to re-sign the 28-year-old goaltender. Trotz acknowledged the recent trade rumors swirling about Saros but he doesn’t plan on moving him.
LeBrun suggested that could change if the Predators can’t get Saros signed next summer to an extension. However, they seem confident that he’ll want to stay.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Trotz said that his club is in “a little bit of a retool type of situation here” and sees Saros as their backbone once it’s completed.
As LeBrun noted, things can change if a rival club makes an offer for Saros too good to pass up. However, I wouldn’t hold my breath waiting for that to happen this season.
with Tage Thompson’s possible broken wrist, think the Sabres now would be the favorites to sign Kane, the hometown boy
Panthers are probably 2nd but they need to clear space, especially when Montour/Ekblad return
Montour and Ekblad supposedly both returning this weekend, so we’ll see what kind of roster/cap adjustments they make soon enough.
Seems odd that NY went from basically only team he’d go to at deadline, to NY not ever being in on him this season. Perhaps it’s lack of cap space? I can’t believe if Kane was willing to accept a cheap deal like Wheeler, that Rangers wouldn’t consider him an option on top line in place of Wheeler. Maybe he just didn’t gel in locker room with established leadership group. Or maybe he wants the money more than the cup.
Re “Daniel Austin took note of Dreger’s remark about Kadri, who signed a long-term deal last year with the Flames. He pointed out that there are other Flames veterans like Jonathan Huberdeau, MacKenzie Weegar, Blake Coleman, and Jacob Markstrom on long-term contracts who expected the club would try to compete for the Stanley Cup. ”
Maybe, just maybe mind you, they OULD be up there with the top dogs, competing seriously, if, for $28,650,000 (over a third of their cap) being spent on Kadri, Huberdeau and Coleman up front and Weegar on D, they had something better than 9g 13a 22 pts and a combined -20 to show for it after 15gp for the 3 Fs named – a total currently exceeded by 8 different skaters around the league.
WOULD …
Well said too many “ME” players.
I would think Calgary isn’t in any rush to trade their Ufa’s as not one of them is off to a great start.
Lindholm does not look like a $9.5m man 15gp 2g 6a 8pts -4
Hanafin does not look like a $60m contract
15gp 2g 4a 6pts -8
Zadorov 14gp 1g 5a 6pts -5 big and nasty
Tanev 15gp 0g 2a 2pts -4
not trading any of these players for value at this moment. Calgary needs these players to lift their game and contribute more to help increase their trade value.
Zadorov is the guy I hope the Bruins trade Grez for. Bigger, strong and the kind of playoff guy many teams could use.
I do not even care if they have to add a sweetner to make it happen.
I don’t expect the Bruins to do much via trades this year but this could be a move they make depending on the ask from CGY.
1 for 1 should do it
Nope. It wouldn’t.
If Calgary was to trade Zadorov along with some others like Tanev, Lindholm, Hanifin etc, it would seem to signal some level of rebuild .
If that is the case why would Calgary trade a 6’6”, 230lbs, 28 years old defenseman for a 5’9”, 178 lbs, 29 year old defenseman.
The very thought defies belief.
Calgary will be looking for picks, pprospects and young players under the age of 22 – 23 years of age to hasten their rebuild.
Any older players going back to Calgary will be merely for cap balancing purposes and would likely need to have expiring contracts.
I believe that the Coyotes will get Zadorov by the end of the month. They have 3 2nds in ’24 and a need with Valimaki sideline.
Lyle have u heard anything from pengy haven’t heard from him in a while hope everything is alright. I like reading his post
Thanks Robo, I was wondering about Pengy also.
Will take Zadorov back in Colorado!!!!
So the “experts” and “insiders” claim the Leafs are in on Zadorov or Tanev as well as trying to sign Kane.
No prospects, no cap room and nothing of value to trade outside of the Drab 5.
Good luck with that, lol.
Trade proposal, 🔥 and Leafs 🍁
Leafs get to fix there d…
Flames get picks 1st & a 3rd picks and tradable assests at the deadline in Bertuzzi maybe a 2nd pick or a good prospect & maybe John Klingberg depanding on his play …..?
-Zadorov $3.75M
-Tanev $4.5.M
-AJ Greer $762,000
-Total salary $9,012,000 … to the Leafs
To the Flames
-1st rd. pick, in 2024
-3rd pick in 2024
-John Klingberg’s $4,150,000 X1year & UFA
-Tyler Bertuzzi’s $5,500,000 X1year & UFA
-Conor Timmins $1,100,000 X 2 years
– A prospect from leafs??
Leafs retain $500,00 of Bertuzzi’s salary to make the money work some what….🤔
Total $ $10,250,000
Does anyone have a comprehensive list of players who have had hip resurfacing procedures and then successfully returned to the NHL?
Brock, I looked into how this surgery actually works and it is a lot more invasive than the name makes it sound.
From what I could find online the list of players who have “successfully” returned to the NHL is:
Thanks Ray, that’s my list so far too. Those who check the daily comments on this site might remember me saying Backstrom should retire after his procedure rather than risking further long term health issues. Kane should heed the same advice.
Ya, I would want to see a lot in his workouts and medical reports before I paid him any real money. I suppose specialists could improve results on the surgery as they learn and make adjustments?
I dunno, but it looks like something you should be happy to golf with let alone play NHL hockey.
Kane would be easy to fit if he and the Leafs wanted this.
It’s not known if Kane is looking to sign a league-min “show me” contract to play with a contender, or looking for top dollar from a contender.
At league-min, he’ll fit on any team by sending a contract down to the minors, even if waivers is needed.
If he’s looking for top dollar, let’s say $5M for argument’s sake, the Leafs could arrange a lucrative sponsorship for him in lieu of a big contract which doesn’t effect the cap, then sign him to a league-min. This would work for many teams, but I think it would be easiest in the GTA.