NHL Rumor Mill – November 16, 2023
Should the Bruins try again to acquire Noah Hanifin? Will the Leafs pursue Patrick Kane or one of the Flames’ pending UFA defensemen? Would Nikita Zadorov be a good fit with the Canucks? Check out the latest in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
BOSTON HOCKEY NOW: Jimmy Murphy noted the earlier interest of Bruins GM Don Sweeney in Flames defenseman Noah Hanifin. With the Flames reportedly listening to offers on their UFA blueliners, Murphy wondered if Sweeney would take another crack at acquiring the 26-year-old Hanifin.
Calgary Flames defenseman Noah Hanifin (NHL Images).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Given the Bruins’ limited cap space for this season, Sweeney could wait until Hanifin becomes a UFA in July when his club will have the cap space to sign him. Murphy noted they would risk losing him to another club under that scenario but I don’t think they can free up sufficient cap room to acquire him via trade. They also lack sufficient depth in tradeable assets (first-round draft picks, high-quality prospects) to outbid other clubs in the trade market.
TORONTO SUN: Terry Koshan acknowledged the rumors linking the Maple Leafs to free-agent winger Patrick Kane. However, he believes the focus of Leafs general manager Brad Treliving should be on bolstering his defense.
Adding one or two of the Flames’ pending UFA defensemen (Zadorov, Tanev or Noah Hanifin) would help the Leafs. Koshan believes Zadorov would bring an element of size and toughness that’s currently missing from their blueline.
As for Kane, he’s a player the Leafs don’t need and can’t afford to sign. Despite an earlier report, it doesn’t sound like he met with the club on Tuesday.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: I don’t blame Treliving for looking into the possibility of adding Kane but signing him would take away cap dollars that could be better invested elsewhere on the roster. I agree with Koshan that the priority should be on improving the Leafs’ defense.
THE ATHLETIC: Harman Dayal and Julian McKenzie took note of the recent trade rumors linking the Vancouver Canucks to Calgary Flames defenseman Nikita Zadorov. They analyzed the 28-year-old Zadorov’s game to see if he’d be a good fit for the Canucks.
The cost of acquiring Zadorov could be a second or third-round draft pick provided the Flames would be willing to retain part of his $3.75 million cap hit. However, the Canucks are already set on the left side (provided the sidelined Carson Soucy isn’t out too long) and have a greater need for a right-shot defenseman. They suggest that Zadorov’s teammate (and former Canuck) Chris Tanev would be a better fit.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Their analysis was made before it was announced that Soucy will be sidelined for six to eight weeks. That could affect how the Canucks approach this situation.
Zadorov’s size and physical style would provide a boost to the Canucks’ defense corps. Nevertheless, I agreed with Dayal and McKenzie that he wouldn’t address their more pressing need for right-shot depth on the right side of their blueline.
Bruins should not trade for Hanifin. Would deplete the cupboard even worse. Wait till July signing for free should be the plan
Agreed wait to the off-season to make an offer
What about Coyle and DeBrusk for Huberdeau. Hubs can play 2 c with Marchand and give the young kids more time on line 3
Then work on moving ullmark in the off-season to have enough money to sign Hanafin
I don’t think anyone is touching Huberdeau and his contract right now. Especially the Bruins. He doesn’t help at all. That trade makes them worse by a mile…….or three.
Canucks still need a Zadorov. His size, tpughness and boisterous character are whats missing and would be a welcome addition to the dressing room. Deal with Soucey’s spot when that time comes but that toughness is needed
Tocchet/Foote would also love what he brings and surely wring all they can out of Big Z
Zadorov has size and plays a decent D but he can’t fight … there are fight tapes out there and he loses every one by large margins
Lyle, when you say “They (the Bruins) also lack sufficient depth in tradeable assets (first-round draft picks, high-quality prospects) to outbid other clubs in the trade market.” that could also be said of the Leafs in any pursuit of Zadorov ($3,750,000), Tanev ($4,500,000) and Hanifin ($4,950,000).
Each is a UFA at season’s end meaning IF – somehow – they could put together a package that appealed to the Flames, they’d be face with trying to renew the player obtained at something north of their current cap hit.
And that won’t be as easy as some may think. Capfriendly shows them with $34,205,333 in cap space at the end of the season – but that’s for 10 players signed.
Their own pending UFAs are: Nylander ($6,962,366); Bertuzzi ($5,500,000); Domi ($3,000,000); Brodie $5,000,000); Klingberg ($4,150,000); Giordano ($800,000); and Samsonov ($3,550,000).
Not all will be re-upped, of course, but those who are won’t be ready to accept deep cuts, while those that won’t will need to be replaced.
In addition, they have these RFAs to re-up and while none should go up significantly, whatever they receive will nibble at that cap space to some degree if they make the 23-man roster: Robertson ($796,667); Gregor ($775,000); Benoit ($775,000); Liljegren ($1,400,000).
In addition two of their current LTIR options come off the books: Muzzin ($5,625,000); and Murray ($4,687,500).
Quinn Hughes is MVP of league right now and it’s not really close wow what a start to the year the kid is on fire 🔥.
In fact, Obe, his fantastic start of 6g 20a 26 pts in 16gp is exceeded in the NHL scoring only by teammates J.T. Miller (16g 10a 26 pts in 16gp and Elias Pettersson (6g 20a 26 pts in 16 gp), nd is followed in 9th overall by teammate Brock Boeser (the bum everyone wanted to dump not too long ago) who has 13g 8a 21 pts in 16 gp.
Reality is only 7 teams have cap space.
A trade of dollar in and dollar out needs to happen.
A selling team isn’t going to want a pending ufa unless they know they could sign him.
And not helping, Caper, is current or future lack of LTIR options (both the Leafs big LTIRs expire at season’s end)
This article on that score is interesting
https://thehockeynews.com/news/sizing-up-the-nhls-ltir-landscape-heading-into-2023-24
Thomas Chabot, once healthy for Noah Hanafin and Chris Tanev.
That’s intriguing Jeff. Dorion wouldn’t have … but would Staios do it now or prefer to have a new GM in place who might have his own ideas?
I always love Leafs speculation.
D is weak? Sign another scoring forward.
No goaltending? Sign another scoring forward.
Have way too many scoring forwards signed and you’re up against the cap? Sign another scoring forward.
If Kane is serious about winning a cup, why go to the Leafs?Can he play goalie or defense?No don’t think so he is better off going back to Chicago where they love him and get the same result. Leafs are going nowhere fast, stop it already.
Pete, they just left for Sweden on a jet. I think they got there pretty fast.
Who do they play over there? I know Ottawa plays Detroit and Minnesota in their 2 games so is it Detroit and Minnie for Toronto as well?
If any team is serious about winning the cup, why sign Kane? The double hip resurfacing is serious and he either won’t be effective, or will, but for only a short time before he’ll be out again. Just ask Backstrom how these things end up.
Re; Canucks Defence & a Trade
Carson Soucy can play both sides.. LD/RD…👍
if they want, or need to go a RD, they should
go for the Flames RD Man & X Canucks
Chris Tanev’s & salary is $4,500,000
Flames Need more Fire Power up front……❓and a player to play with there $10.M dollar man J. Huberdeau
Trade
LW/RW Connor Garland $4.95.M and maybe a 4th round pick…..❓
Flames still have 6 NHL d/men and they have Oliver Kylington on LTD…and NHL d/man LD/RD Jordan Oesterle down on nthe farm…🤔
The Flames aren’t trading Garland. That makes zero sense for them.
Hey Chris,
Calgary Flames need to Fix and get some New Blood in there top 6 .. sorry make that Top 9❓
they need way more scoring and Huberdeau is not working out well with his line mates at all,
7 points in his 15 games so far…🙈
Nobody is trading for him at $10.M PA for 8 years…., he will be 38 or 39 years old at the end of his contract❗️
The Flames cannot trade Connor Garland. He plays for Vancouver.
Time for the Bruins to move on with Grez the guy is always hurt … I believe they sat him down more than a few times in playoff games because of his size
If the Canucks can land RD man Chris Tanev $4.5M in a trade for a Canuck winger Connor Garland $4.9 or
Anthony Beauvillier $4.2M
That may work out well for both teams?
Would prefer for Canucks to send out Beauvillier. Garland is actually playing fantastic right now. Not showing up on the scoreboard but is active and involved every time he hits the ice. The only problem with him is his salary is probably $1.5m too much.
Have to wonder how ownership is feeling about Lou and thier NYI’s at the moment.
They are trying to wake him up…afternoon nap for old man Lou…as they say in south Europe: Siesta.
FD, while there is early cause for concern, this group has re-bounded from similar starts in recent seasons.
But cap-wise, things look a tad tight. They have virtually nothing right now ($661,514) with 23 signed, but for next season, when the cap is projected to be $87,500,000, they have just $5,247,500 with 18 signed and 3 UFAs to either re-up or replace: Clutterbuck (exp. $1,750,000), Martin (exp. $1.5 mil) and D-man Aho (exp. $825,000). They also have 2 RFAs – Wahlstrom (exp. $874,125) and Holmstrom (exp. $863,333) to re-up.