NHL Rumor Mill – November 2, 2023
The struggling Flames remain a hot topic for trade speculation. Check out the latest in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman noted the Calgary Flames were far along on an extension for Noah Hanifin before the club paused contract talks with their pending free agents. The number was believed to be higher than the $50.75 million contract signed by Devon Toews with the Colorado Avalanche.
Hanifin decided to call timeout on his negotiations. Friedman isn’t sure if the 26-year-old defenseman wants to commit to the Flames if they decide to take what Eric Francis called a potentially “radical new approach.”
Calgary Flames defenseman Noah Hanifin (NHL Images).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: TSN’s Darren Dreger also reported that Hanifin decided to put his contract talks on hold for now.
If the Flames can right the ship and rise in the standings perhaps those discussions will resume. Should they continue to flounder, Hanifin and his fellow pending UFAs could end up becoming trade bait later in the season.
Friedman also noted that the Flames exchanged an offer with Chris Tanev “but things weren’t close.” Center Elias Lindholm’s asking price remains higher than where the Flames want to go.
BOSTON HOCKEY NOW: Jimmy Murphy noted the Bruins had expressed interest in Hanifin in the trade market. However, he doesn’t expect Boston GM Don Sweeney to target expensive talent such as Hanifin or Lindholm, citing the club’s lack of cap space this season. The Bruins also lack the first-round picks and prospects needed to pull off a trade without sacrificing a key roster player in the deal.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: In other words, the Bruins are not parting with promising center Matthew Poitras or defenseman Mason Lohrei. If they’re interested in Hanifin and Lindholm, they will probably wait and see if they become unrestricted free agents next July and attempt to sign them then.
WASHINGTON HOCKEY NOW: Jared Serre recently pondered the Capitals’ chances of landing a Flames forward such as Lindholm, Nazem Kadri, Jonathan Huberdeau or Dillon Dube.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Serre wrote this piece before Nicklas Backstrom announced he was stepping away from the club for health reasons.
Acquiring Lindholm would be a challenge as the Capitals lack any enticing roster players that would result in a strong offer. They do have eight picks in the first three rounds of the next two drafts and a deep prospect pool.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: There would also be the issue of re-signing Lindholm as I doubt the Capitals would want to part with assets solely for a rental. With Backstrom’s playing days likely over, they’ll want a long-term replacement. If he goes on permanent long-term injury reserve it would free up $9.2 million annually for the Capitals through 2024-25. That could be used to keep Lindholm in the fold.
However, the Flames reportedly intend to retool rather than rebuild. That would mean they’ll want one or two good young NHL players in return for Lindholm. It might be best for the Capitals to wait until next summer to bid on him if he tests the open market.
Serre speculated that acquiring Kadri (who has a full no-movement clause) would mean a swap for Evgeny Kuznetsov as a starting point. The Flames might be drawn to that with Kuznetsov’s contract expiring at the end of next season but adding an aging Kadri to the Capitals’ lineup could hurt their long-term expectations.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kadri might be willing to accept a trade to Washington if the Flames opt to retool their roster. However, I don’t see Kuznetsov agreeing to a trade to Calgary nor do I think the Flames would want him even as a short-term addition.
Huberdeau is likely out of the Capital’s price range in terms of return. His $10.5 million cap hit would be difficult to fit within their current cap payroll.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Backstrom going on LTIR could address the salary-cap issue for this season and next. However, the Capitals would probably focus on boosting their depth at center now.
Dube might be the most enticing option for the Capitals. However, he’s a restricted free agent this summer and the Flames might want him to be part of a retooled roster.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Dube will also turn 26 next July and will be a year away from UFA eligibility. If he’s unwilling to sign a lengthy extension the Flames could shop him next summer. Whether the Capitals would be interested at that point is another matter.
I don’t see Kadri to the Caps. Firstly, he has a full NMC. Secondly, I don’t know why the Caps would want him. He’s got six years left on a big money deal that’ll take him to just shy of his 39th birthday. His play has been spotty and is likely to decline. With Ovechkin nearing the end of his career and Backstrom likely done, the Caps are better off working youth into their lineup.
So it wasn’t Sutter last season as the problem . Player talent is the issue. No superstar or elite finisher. Not one. Most teams have a couple.
Lindholm is not worth $9m
Hanifin is worth more and is a younger comparable to Toews. i hope that term is 8 year’s otherwise an overpay to stay
Trade them both .
The problem there is, if Lindholm is not worth $9 mil that will be obvious to other teams – so who would take him at that price?
good to see we are both still kicking dust from our heels OBD
One day at a time OBD 🙂
The problem is ownership. The Flames need to be sold to someone that actually wants to build a competitive team, and moved to the U.S. to have a legitimate shot at the cup.
I think Both
Lindholm & Hanifin will test the UFA market on
July 1st..
Both could end up in Boston…?
At 26 yrs old the boston kid Noah Hanifin would fit in any to 4 d/men units in the NHL
Lindholm will be the /Top Centre in the UFA class on July 1st.
I can see Boston brining Noah Hanifin home,
3 d/men that wont be back in Boston are all UFA
Derek Forbort $3.5M
Matt Grzelcyk $4.5M
Kevin Shattenkirk $1.M
I can also see boston moving out 31 yr old Centre Charlie Coyle $5.5M to clear some cap room or in a trade
WW
I do not think Coyle is going anywhere he is part of the new core in Boston. They may even resign Griz depending on ask and who if any D they sign. Yes would love both in spoked B next year
i cant see bruins trading coyle this season but in the summer i can see bruins trading coyle and ullmark to free up more money and get assets back from trades for both i would love to see bruins wait to see if both lindholm and hanifin go to free agency and then hopefully they want to sign with bruins which i think they would both be up to it i would either trade greizlic or let him walk next july having mccavoy lindholm carlo hanifin and oreih as well as swayman in goal would be a great young core for years to come and still have money to acquire another score nylander all wishfull thinking but a good posibility
Mrbruin4
Charlie Coyle has 3 years left and make $5.25M as the 2nd line centre in boston,
He is more of a defencive 3rd line centre not a big point getter, 6 points in 9 games as 2nd line centre this year….he hits an avrage of 40 point a year & he is 32 in march
The Bruins will need to move someone out to help re tool, and sign Debrusk who is also a UFA on july 1st
Young Matthew Poitras has 5 point’s in 9 games and looks like a keeper👍
Re; UFA d/man Matt Grzelcyk $3.6M, the bruins have been trying to trade him all last season🤔
WW
They never tried to move Gryz last year. Rumours were in off season but did not get good enough offer to trade him. Bruins have a lot of space next year so they will not need to move anyone to create space they are in good shape cap wise for free agents next year. I can actually see both Lindholm and Hanafin signing if still available. Time will tell
Charlie Coyle is just a solid good hockey player he is very underrated for sure.
Boston would be foolish to move him. He stays in Boston
They might go UFA but it won’t be from from Calgary, the Flames will have no choice but to trade those guys by the TDL if unsigned.
Brock
For sure flames should not keep if unsigned at deadline that would be a death blow
Agree, every team should trade their next year UFA’ s, if they can’t sign them or they will get Tavaresed, those Pajamas have a very strong pull, gravity an all…
Mrbruin4
i did her his name bening mention in all the boston trade talk.
they wanted to move him because of his salary and yes in the off season to
they have $25.M in cap space next year,
Debrusk
is the main boston UFA they want to resign, he could get $6.M..?
Go after the 2 UFA from calgary could cost them $17.M..
they would need to she some salary to fill the rest of the roster,
Coyle, 3 years at $5.25M
Matt Grzelcyk $3.6M a UFA,
Linus Ullmark’ @$5.M this yr & 1 more year
I can see them trying to resign Ullmark for 4 more years as they make a great tandem
with cleaning up some salary its posable…🤔
Mrbruin4
i did her his name bening mention in all the boston trade talk.
they wanted to move him because of his salary and yes in the off season to
they have $25.M in cap space next year,
Debrusk
is the main boston UFA they want to resign, he could get $6.M..?
Go after the 2 UFA from calgary could cost them $17.M..
they would need to shed some salary to fill the rest of the roster,
Coyle, 3 years at $5.25M
Matt Grzelcyk $3.6M a UFA,
Linus Ullmark’ @$5.M this yr & 1 more year
I can see them trying to resign Ullmark for 4 more years as they make a great tandem
with cleaning up some salary its posable…🤔
I think the Flames will go the Re-tool route…? as they look Horable this year again
Backstrom is likely finished. Pacioretty might be as well, The Caps should be in a rebuild by the end of the season.
Flames should trade Lindholm and Hannifin NOW to see if the return would help them to selvage this season. If they can’t get good NHLers in return them, yeah wait for the deadline. Seems like Lindholm to the Caps no would be their best bet. A sign and trade would garner the best return.
Lindholm signs a 8 x $8.75 and gets Lapierre, ’24 1st (top 5 protected) and Vincent Iorio.
@islesforever…its been 5 years !
I can’t help but laugh.
Interesting Boston gone from having no prospects to not parting with Lohrei or Poitras.
Looks good eh, Caper?
I think we’re in for a stomping tonight though.
So far so good on both young guys. May have found a gem in Poitras, poise with the puck. Almost Krecji ish.
In tough tonight, but always a chance with our tending, Swayman’s turn I think.
Why are the Leafs so popular at parties?
Because they always bring the boos!!!’
This quote made me 😃
Debrusk Lauko and Lysell for Hanifin
Again, way too much from Boston. If the Bruins were not going to sign Debrusk, then Debrusk for Hanifan straight up maybe. But their current make up does not have them trading a forward for a d-man. They would have to pull-off another trade where one of the d-men gets traded for a forward, and Sweeney would be reluctant to rock the boat that much, but possible if they don’t sign Debrusk.