NHL Rumor Mill – December 2, 2023
Could the Maple Leafs be the Flames’ next trade partner? Could the Bruins pursue Noah Hanifin? What next for the Canadiens after re-signing Sam Montembeault? Is Jakub Vrana playing his way out of St. Louis? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
COULD THE LEAFS PURSUE CHRIS TANEV?
SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman believes the Toronto Maple Leafs could make Calgary Flames defenseman Chris Tanev a trade target. Tanev, who turns 34 on Dec. 20, is slated to become an unrestricted free agent next July. He carries a cap hit of $4.5 million and a 10-team no-trade clause.
Friedman isn’t sure how hard the Leafs will pursue pure rentals this season. However, Tanev is what Friedman called “a Toronto guy”, noting that Leafs general manager Brad Treliving signed him to his current contract when he was the Flames GM. He also feels they’re “pretty confident” that they could keep him beyond this season.
Calgary Flames defenseman Chris Tanev (NHL Images).
The Flames’ resurgent play in recent weeks prompted some to wonder if they might pump the brakes on any trade talk. However, Friedman thinks trading Nikita Zadorov earlier this week to the Vancouver Canucks indicates they’re willing to entertain strong offers.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: With John Klingberg, Mark Giordano and Timothy Liljegren sidelined by injuries, the Leafs’ battered blueline needs shoring up. If Klingberg is out of the season, that will provide Treliving with sufficient wiggle room to acquire a suitable replacement. The question then becomes how much they’re willing to part with to make it happen.
The Flames only got a 2024 conditional fifth-round pick and a 2026 third-rounder from the Canucks for Zadorov, but the latter punched his ticket out of Calgary with a public trade request that reportedly didn’t sit well with some of his Flames teammates. They could seek more for Tanev, who has gone about his business without making any demands (that we know of) for a trade.
COULD THE BRUINS STILL PURSUE HANIFIN?
BOSTON HOCKEY NOW: James Murphy wondered if a report by TSN’s Pierre LeBrun suggesting the Flames could agree to a sign-and-trade scenario involving Noah Hanifin might tempt Bruins GM Don Sweeney into pursuing him.
Like Tanev, the 26-year-old Hanifin is eligible for UFA status next summer unless the Flames re-sign him. LeBrun indicated the two sides were close to an eight-year contract extension worth $7.5 million annually but the deal was pulled by the Flames after Hanifin indicated he wanted to wait and see how the season unfolded.
An NHL source close to the situation told Murphy that the Flames would be willing to do a sign-and-trade with Hanifin. He also thinks the Bruins could be interested if that came to pass.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Bruins GM Don Sweeney has been interested in Hanifin for some time. His club will have the cap space to take on Hanifin after this season but they currently lack the space to absorb his $4.95 million AAV for this season unless they shed a comparable salary in the deal or in a separate trade.
WHAT NEXT FOR THE CANADIENS AFTER SIGNING MONTEMBEAULT?
MONTREAL HOCKEY NOW: That’s the question posed by Marc Dumont specifically aimed at their goaltending situation. They’re currently carrying three netminders in the recently re-signed Sam Montembeault, veteran Jake Allen (who has a year remaining on his contract) and young Cayden Primeau who continues to struggle at the NHL level.
One way to address this is to place Primeau on waivers and send him back to their farm team in Laval. The risk of losing him to another club is the reason the Canadiens are still carrying him on their roster. However, his sporadic starts and .875 save percentage might not be that enticing to other teams.
The Canadiens could trade Allen but he won’t fetch much of a return for him at this career stage. Dumont also suggested the possibility of trading Montembeault now that he’s under an affordable three-year contract.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: As I mentioned in today’s Morning Coffee Headlines, I don’t believe the Canadiens intend to trade Montembeault. They signed him to that extension to bring stability between the pipes for their rebuilding roster over the next three years
I think it’s between Allen and Primeau, neither of whom has much trade value. At this point, I believe the Canadiens will take the risk and put Primeau on waivers.
ARE VRANA’S DAYS NUMBERED IN ST. LOUIS?
THE ATHLETIC: Jeremy Rutherford recently pondered Jakub Vrana’s future with the St. Louis Blues. He’s been a healthy scratch in four games (five since Rutherford’s piece was published) and has just six points in 17 games.
Rutherford doesn’t see this ending well for Vrana, who is now on his third NHL club. He’s not a Craig Berube-type player and could eventually be moved if anyone’s interested.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Vrana has shown the ability to score but not the consistency. In recent years he was plagued by injuries and spent some time last season in the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program.
Traded to St. Louis last season by the Detroit Red Wings, he had a strong finish with the Blues, netting 10 goals and 14 points in 20 games. However, he hasn’t followed that up this season as hoped.
Vrana, 27, is eligible for UFA status next July. The Blues could shop him if they become sellers by the March 8 trade deadline but there might not be much interest in him.
Not sure what Boston would trade. I’m sure Calgary wants guys like Lohrei, Lysell, Poitras, Beecher or picks. We don’t have many picks available and I don’t see Boston trading Lohrei. I’m sure Calgary doesn’t want guys on expiring contracts like Debrusk, Grzelcyk or Forbort.
Seems to me, if its a sign & trade, Grz would be a decent piece to balance the cap but yup, Bruins would have to part with 2 of the following; 1st round pick, Lohrei, Poitras. Then Sweeney has his man with an extension in place. Seems logical to me.
Sounds about right. I can imagine Conroy also wanting a lottery ticket in the form of a 5th rounder. If its a sign and trade there can be no salary retention so a roster player has to come back as well. It would give the Bruins one great D corps
With DeBrusk being a Western Canadian guy in his prime the Flames could want him as a sniper with some grit who might be happy with a long term deal out west. He actually would tick a lot of boxes for them. Of course with Hanafin being a top 5 pick himself and a top pair dman, Calgary would insist on a young dman back. Perhaps the Bruins have somebody who could fill a 3 or 4 spot eventually?
I was hoping for a different outcome, but I’m afraid that Vrana is “out of chances”.
Maybe a 6th rounder?
IP
Lyle have you heard from pengy lately I hope he is fine we miss his comments on your site anyway have a nice weekend
Robo: I haven’t heard anything from Pengy in a while now. Like you, I hope he’s doing okay.
Can’t see Boston trading any of their young players away when they can sign Hanifin for nothing next year. Noah is rumored to want to play in Boston it’s the Taylor Hall situation all over again. Boston needs a center why would you trade a young promising center in Poitras makes zero sense. If Boston wants him this year than I could see maybe Beecher Gryzzzzz and a pick they could extend Gryzzzzz if he is willing
Thats fine. Hanifin will get more than your offer at the trade deadline as a rental. I get it, if you dont want to pay the price & prefer to take your chances on the off chance the player is available come July 1 & doesnt go elsewhere on a sign & trade. That’s cool. You dont think there are other teams that wont be able to offer an appealing scenario for Hanifin?
I agree, if they want Hanifin, that will be the cost, they or someone else will pay it. Maybe Florida will trade for Hanifin and trade away Montour
Example Montreal was going to just wait on Dubois
Calgary has cap space $5.1 m ?
use it wisely and they can improve the team for years to come . It won’t mean as much next year and as it does right now
Conny has made it clear. We’re getting younger, faster and giving our younger players a chance to play. We don’t need Boston’s undersized and older players that cost money.
On a different path, I believe that Danny Briere should have a quiet word with John Tortorella. His benching for the entire game of Joel Farabee was not instructional, but punitive. Sitting him for a period would have sufficed, particularly after Hathaway was ejected. Sitting him for the remainder of the game was excessive. It taxed the 10 remaining forwards and sitting your top scoring even strength forward seems to be counterproductive. Oh Danny boy, discipline is one thing, this was simply not that.
Isn’t every player in the Rumor Mill a “Toronto Guy”? Or does it just seem that way?
I don’t see anyone claiming Primeau on waivers. I know that goalies take some time to develop, but I don’t think he’ll be more than a career AHLer. The Habs were hesitant to risk losing him on waivers while they were unsure of locking up Monty. Now that it’s done, I see Primeau taking the short drive to Laval.
Somebody might take a flier on him Howard, but agree and will go with probably not.
Most teams have a guy like him already don’t they?