NHL Rumor Mill – December 13, 2023
An update on the Flames’ Chris Tanev, the latest on the Blue Jackets and Sharks, Ethan Bear could sign with the Capitals, and more in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
UPDATE ON CHRIS TANEV
TSN: Pierre LeBrun reports the Calgary Flames have told teams they’re not ready yet to trade Chris Tanev. They’ve told them to be patient as they want to see how the trade market plays out. If Tanev’s value right now is a second-round pick, perhaps that could rise to a first-rounder as interest continues to build for the gritty 33-year-old blueliner.
OTTAWA SUN: Bruce Garrioch reports Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving has Tanev at the top of his list as he seeks help for his injury-depleted blueline. The Vancouver Canucks have also “kicked tires”.
Calgary Flames defenseman Chris Tanev (NHL Images).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Tanev is currently listed as day-to-day following an injury suffered on Monday against the Colorado Avalanche. That’s unlikely to hurt his value in the trade market unless he ends up sidelined longer than expected.
Treliving is the former GM of the Flames so he knows how valuable Tanev would be to his defense corps. Whether he can land the rugged rearguard remains to be seen if more clubs start showing interest in him.
LATEST FROM GARRIOCH’S “INSIDER TRADING”
OTTAWA SUN: Bruce Garrioch reports the talk around NHL circles is there could be changes coming to the Columbus Blue Jackets front office if things don’t improve soon. It’s believed the heat has been turned up on president of hockey operations John Davidson and general manager Jarmo Kekalainen as ownership grows impatient over the club’s poor performance this season.
There’s been talk that Patrik Laine could be traded but the struggling Blue Jackets winger hasn’t asked to be moved. He’s signed through 2025-26 with an average annual value of $8.7 million. Unless the Jackets agree to retain part of that cap hit he’s not going anywhere.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kekalainen’s in his 11th season as Jackets general manager. During his tenure, they’ve reached the playoffs five times but things have gone off the rails in recent years. Barring a miraculous turnaround they’re going to miss the postseason for the fourth straight year. As Garrioch observes, it’s only a matter of time until there’s a change in management.
Laine’s contract is difficult to move during a season when most teams have limited cap space. He would draw more interest if he were scoring at the same pace as earlier in his career.
If the Jackets were to shop Laine, it would have to be an offseason trade when clubs have more cap space to work with. Even then, the Jackets could face retaining part of his salary to make it work.
Mike Hoffman could be an attractive option for clubs seeking scorers near the March 8 trade deadline. The San Jose Sharks winger has eight goals and 11 points in 27 games. Other potential Sharks trade bait include forwards Anthony Duclair, Alexander Barabanov and Kevin Labanc.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: All four are slated to become unrestricted free agents next July.
The Carolina Hurricanes are among several clubs in the market for a goaltender. It’s also believed the Seattle Kraken, Edmonton Oilers, Buffalo Sabres, and Toronto Maple Leafs have been calling around for help between the pipes. Garrioch suggests they call the Montreal Canadiens as they’re taking calls on Jake Allen and Cayden Primeau.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canadiens have been carrying three goalies since the start of the season. They recently re-signed Sam Montembeault so he’s not going anywhere. General manager Kent Hughes has a reputation for being patient in the trade market so it could be a while until he find a suitable offer that prompts him to part with Allen or Primeau.
REPORT: BEAR TO SIGN WITH CAPITALS
TSN: Chris Johnston reported that is appears free-agent defenseman Ethan Bear will sign a two-year contract with the Washington Capitals that could be worth around $2 million.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Johnston said the final details were still being ironed out. Perhaps we’ll get an announcement as early as today.
If Laine was scoring at a pace similar to earlier in his career, no team would trade him for less than a king’s ransom. Right now though he’s a shell of his former self.
I know it won’t happen, but a line of Hyman – McDavid – Laine sounds like a lot of fun. LOL
I’m surprised the Avalanche aren’t part of the group looking for a goalie. They are constantly needing too 3 goals or more each night.
Following 8 seasons with Winnipeg and Columbus, Laine’s scoring stats have – to this season anyway – been fairly consistent.
With the Jets he played 306 games scoring 140g 110a for 250 pts and 82-game averages of 37g 29a 66 pts and was a cumulative E in the +/- category .
With the Blue Jackets he has played 173 games scoring 63g 74a for 137 pts and 82 game averages of 30g 35a 65 pts but is a cumulative -60 – which is probably somewhat indicative of the relative strengths of the players around him on each team.
His total career stats to date involve 479gp with 203g 184a for 82-game averages of 35g 32a 67 pts.
If he continues at his current pace for the rest of this season he’s looking at 82-game averages of 24g 15a 39 pts and, sporting a current -12, who knows what the final figure will be in that category.
I would think the primary questions in the minds of any GM contemplating an attempt to acquire him in a trade would be “is he capable of rising above his career 82-game average?” If not, “is he worth an $8.7 mil cap hit for the 2 seasons remaining on his contract after this one?”
The list of current cap hits among Fs in the same range reflects a wide range of production (and, of course, age): Timo Meier ($8.8); Sydney Crosby ($8.7); Dylan Larkin ($8.7); Mika Zibanejad ($8.5); Pierre-Luc Dubois ($8.5); Filip Forsberg ($8.5); Bo Horvat ($8.5); Steven Stamkos ($8.5); Leon Draisaitl ($8.5); Mikhail Sergachev ($8.5); Sebastien Aho ($8.4); Roope Hintz ($8.4); Tim Stutzle ($8.3); Jakob Voracek ($8.2). Brady Tkachuk ($8.2)
With Columbus, he has also run into injury issues. The most he has played in one season with Columbus is 56 games.
Very true Kevjam. Here’s his injury history in both places.
In Columbus
12/5/23 – Illness
10/20/23 – Upper Body
3/24/23 – Triceps
12/27/22 – Covid-19
11/12/22 – Ankle
10/12/22 – Elbow
4/19/22 – Upper-body
11/5/21 – Oblique
1/19/21 – Upper body
In Winnipeg
8/3/20 – Wrist
2/27/20 – Lower body
10/29/19 – Lower body
3/21/18 – Lower-body injury
I don’t agree kevjam !! Although the Avalanche goalies have struggled @ times, their play hasn’t been the issue. If you have followed the team, it is obvious to see that the Avalanche give up easy goals because they don’t cover their man, turn the puck over constantly and generally are lackadaisical with the puck in all parts of the ice. In other words, careless which results in breakaways, odd man rushes, backdoor plays, letting guys just walk into prime scoring areas uncontested and getting outcompeted for pucks. You hardly can blame goaltending for that? It’s easy to blame the goaltending and one thing the Avalanche do very well is hang their goaltenders out to dry !!!
Laine’s scoring stopped very suddenly after his record setting (jets record? league record?) goal month in November 2019. From Dec of that year something changed, not sure if it was complacency (he still has really lazy feet and doesn’t shift to open areas naturally) , other teams figuring out how to defend him?, injury? Before that he was a 40 goal scorer with 60 goal potential, now he looks like a 20-25 goal guy with defensive liabilities.
82 game averages are meaningless for a guy who only plays 50 games a season. Laine gets paid $8.7M a year to play 2/3rds of the games and score 20-25 goals. Not great value. I actually thought he could rebound but this year but it’s the worst one for him so far. He’s a shadow of his once former potential.
Re; Chris Tanev Whats Value in a few month’s❓
Calgary Flames yet to trade Chris Tanev. they want to see how the trade market plays out for sure and are in No rush….
If Tanev’s value right now is a second-round pick, Would it or could rise to a first-round pick ❓
Its more that likely for a Shutdown & physical d/man like Tanev.
If he was traded to let say the leafs… for a 1st they may ask for a d/man back like RD Connor Timmons who is signed for 1.5 more years at $1.1M and the flames send back a 3rd pick & hold salary for Tanev to make it all work ?
The big two they have to trade….
Elias Lindholm & Noah Hanifin would get more of a pachage coming back,
A good young player age 19-22 and a good pick..?
or
A 1st pick and a very good prospect or a player with a 1 yr or 2 term to help the Flames Re-tool
How would you compare Tanave to Ekholm? Here is what the Oilers gave up for Ekholm plus a 2024 6th round pick at last year’s TDL. D Tyson Barrie, F Reid Schafer (2022 32nd overall pick), 2023 1st-round pick, 2024 4th-round pick.
What on earth are you talking about? Rambling.
CBJ day one season ticket holder here. Yes I’m nuts.
It just may be time to make a top management change in Columbus. This last move is puzzling to me. Jet Greaves gets called up and performs lights out named the second star in both games he played and his reward is thanks go back to Cleveland. Why because Tarasov must come up or be placed on waivers. That would make sense if Tarasov had done anything but he hasn’t since he came to North America. Take a chance Jackets put Tarasov on waivers. Chances are pretty good he will clear. Not many teams out there looking for a 6′ 5″ goalie that plays like he’s 5’6″ when he’s not hurt.
heres a question for everybody. could the blue jackets call up dumais in middle of season. yes i know he would have to be here the rest of the year. with jackets going nowhere and needing scoring help seems like this would be a good time to call him up. if nothing else it gets him ready for future nhl play. just dont know what the rules are on this.
I think he has to stay in JR till that season is over.
thank you i know they could of kept him at start of season but would of had to be for the whole year. didnt know how it worked for mid season.
Laine regular season pattern :
Lights out exhibition
Sold handful of games to start regular season gets hurt , comes back gets hurt ,comes back and is solid for the last 30 meaningless games
I want to see Noah Hanifin in Detroit to upgrade their D