NHL Rumor Mill – November 4, 2023
Does Nicklas Backstrom’s ongoing hip injury suggest the Red Wings should avoid Patrick Kane? What’s the latest on the Canadiens and Blue Jackets? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill
SHOULD THE RED WINGS PASS ON PATRICK KANE?
DETROIT HOCKEY NOW: Bob Duff suggested that Nicklas Backstrom’s decision to step away from the Washington Capitals for health reasons should be taken as a note of caution if the Red Wings are seriously considering the pursuit of Patrick Kane.
Backstrom, 35, underwent a hip resurfacing procedure in 2022 but struggled to regain his form since returning to action in the middle of last season. Earlier this week, he announced that he was stepping away amid ongoing issues related to his hip.
Free agent winger Patrick Kane (NHL Images).
Kane, 34, underwent a similar procedure in June and is expected to be ready to return to action by December. His camp is expected to begin fielding contract offers from interested clubs later this month. The Red Wings are rumored to be among those teams.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Duff raises a good point, one that interested teams could keep in mind. Backstrom isn’t the only NHL player who underwent this procedure. Those who have, like Ed Jovanovski, Ryan Kesler, Carl Hagelin were never the same. Indeed, Kesler never played again.
Kane is hoping for better luck in his return to play. He’ll likely only get one-year offers from clubs as they’ll want to evaluate his performance before committing to anything long-term.
LATEST CANADIENS SPECULATION
DAILY FACEOFF: Frank Seravalli believes Sean Monahan could be a good trade chip for the Montreal Canadiens if he remains healthy and maintains his current performance.
Seravalli noted Monahan had 17 points in 25 games last season before he was sidelined for the rest of the 2022-23 campaign. He believes a healthy Monahan, who recently turned 29, could have 20 goals by the time the March 8 trade deadline rolls around.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: In 10 games this season, Monahan leads the Canadiens with six goals and sits second in points with nine. He also carries a very affordable $1.985 million on a one-year contract and lacks no-trade protection.
If Monahan remains healthy and productive the Canadiens could get a nice return for him by the trade deadline. That’s assuming they’re well out of playoff contention and he prices himself out of their market given his UFA status in July.
TSN: Darren Dreger noted the Canadiens continue to carry three goaltenders with Jake Allen, Sam Montembeault and Cayden Primeau sharing the duties. They can’t risk trying to send Primeau to their AHL affiliate because they know he won’t clear waivers.
Dreger believes there’s a decision coming. That could include attempting to trade one of their goalies.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Primeau seems the most likely candidate. Despite his struggles to crack the Canadiens lineup, there are reportedly some teams that feel the 24-year-old needs a change of scenery to reach his potential.
BLUE JACKETS’ KENT JOHNSON CHANGES AGENTS
SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman recently observed that Columbus Blue Jackets forward Kent Johnson is now represented by CAA. He also noted that the 21-year-old forward is trying to find his way with the Jackets.
Friedman doesn’t think there’s any reason for Columbus fans to panic but he pointed out that CAA also represented former Blue Jackets Pierre-Luc Dubois and Seth Jones.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Johnson was the Jackets’ first-round pick (fifth overall) in the 2021 NHL Draft. He’s in the final season of his entry-level contract and had a 40-point performance in 79 games as a rookie in 2022-23.
I don’t think the Jackets plan to move Johnson as they see him as a key part of their rebuilding process. However, they didn’t want to part ways with Dubois or Jones but Friedman noted that both players wanted out of Columbus. Dubois was traded to Winnipeg in January 2021 while Jones was shipped to Chicago in July.
Johnson won’t have any leverage over the Jackets as he’ll lack arbitration rights next summer. Unless they become disenchanted with his play I expect he’ll get a short-term bridge deal with them.
Kane’s contract will only be for the rest of this season. So there is that.
I have a question for Leaf fans here.
What was the point of signing Reaves, if you weren’t going to send him out after Marchand’s cheap shot?
Anybody?
Because goons fighting stars is against the code. It never happens. The softies on the ice should have responded but once again didn’t.
For you Leafs fans. Why did they sign Reaves if they
didn’t send him out after Marchand’s dirty hit?
I don’t get it?
As with Colton Orr before him, what, exactly, would that accomplish?
The day of the pure goon is gone. With the cap situation becoming ever tighter as top salaries continue to rise, a team CAN’T waste a roster spot and cap space on a one-dimensional goon.
George, But Reaves IS a one dimensional goon.
Which is why I do not understand this.
If you’re going to waste a roster spot on a goon, why not use him when appropriate?
Why else is he there?
As for what it would accomplish, it would send a message that the leafs will not be taken advantage of. And who doesn’t want to see Marchand get a beating?
Nevinstip, that scenario wouldn’t last any longer than a general scrum, taking about 5 minutes to sort out, a parade to the penalty box, followed by a commercial break … then back to hockey with nothing accomplished. “twas ever thus!
And no matter what he does it wouldn’t stop players like Marchand (who EVERY team would want on THEIR roster – without exception) from “doing their thing.”
Over his career Reeves has spent 19 full games sitting on his ass in the penalty box for St. Louis, Pittsburgh, Vegas, NYR, Minnesota and now Toronto and I really doubt anyone can point to one stop where his presence prevented the team from being taken advantage of.
As I say, the theory of the value of a one-dimensional goon is past.
Not my team george. Never in life.
Exception
Well, the point is moot. Marchand isn’t old enough to be on the Penguins. đ
Boom. đ
If you send a goon like Reaves to beat up a smaller Marchand you can guarantee Lucic will be coming for Mathews, Marner and Nylander. Also wasnât a hit or dirty play at all.
Agreed NOT a dirty play! Get over it.
Then why is he on the roster?
Because Treleving is “old-school” enough to think having his – or someone like his – presence will give the opposition pause for thought about “taking advantage of his stars …”
Meanwhile, in limited ice-time over 10gp he has contributed 0g 0a 0 pts – 12pim and has managed to be a -6.
All that for $1,350,000 off the cap for 2 more years after this, at the end of which he’ll be pushing 38 y/o!
I guess that’s worth the while and expense to get a few yahoos among the fan-base out of their seats and tugging on their logos as and when he wins the odd fight. Yay!
Lucic can hit him from the press box?
Lucic is injured. If Reeves even touches Marchand in the Dec rematch, Lucic will walk through the entire Leafs roster. Think John Wick without the guns and blades.
Side note: Johnson was also sent down to Cleveland to find his game. Changing agents won’t change the fact that he’s looked lost, this year.
I would sign Kane to a league min contract w bonuses.. if he recovers and regains his form, then maybe another 2yrs at most..
Flames should look to a Lindstrom K.Johnson trade. I think a nice package fitting both clubs needs could be reached. Reunited with J. Hockey
Sillinger Johnson Peeke for Lindholm a second third conditional picks . Would be transformational for Flames . Hanifin somewhere else -BUffalo JJ Peterka and Olufsson and an exchange of picks
Scratch Peeke . Heavy minus player . No wonder he is a healthy scratch for the Jackets. âReplace with Bean and we have a dealâ
You ainât getting that for a guy who can walk after this year.
I have mostly defended Treliving given what I suppose are orders from owners as well as the hand he has been dealt(MT). However the deal to send Monahan to Montreal to sign Kadri, I never understood then and now even less. Terrible decision
Monahan has been great in Montreal but he only played 25 games last year.
He’s had a great start this year but will he stay healthy? He actually has a bonus clause if he plays more games than last year.
Great trade for Habs because of the 1st round pick, Monahan’s play is a bonus.
The trade should be good for both teams despite Kadri’s slow start this year.
If Monahan stays healthy and continues his strong play I hope the Habs make a strong effort to re-sign him. Obviously the term and price have to be right.
George O., Reaves will be 37 in January and will be 39 when his contract ends, a brutal signing indeed.
He has a big mouth among his own teammates and I think they will be sick of him by the end of the first year of his contract.
That’s not the type of toughness needed in the playoffs.