NHL Rumor Mill – December 20, 2023
The annual holiday roster freeze runs from Dec. 20 – 27 but that hasn’t stopped the trade speculation. Check out the latest on Blue Jackets winger Johnny Gaudreau plus updates on the Predators, Devils, Hurricanes and Oilers in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
COULD GAUDREAU BE AVAILABLE IN THE TRADE MARKET?
PHILLY HOCKEY NOW: Jonathan Bailey cited a recent report by the Ottawa Sun’s Bruce Garrioch in which a league executive told him the Columbus Blue Jackets “are willing to discuss just about anybody.” That prompted Bailey to speculate whether Johnny Gaudreau could be “up for grabs.”
Columbus Blue Jackets winger Johnny Gaudreau (NHL Images).
Bailey pondered the possibility of the Flyers acquiring Gaudreau. He acknowledged the Blue Jackets won’t give the 30-year-old winger away plus he carries a no-movement clause through 2026-27 and a $9.75 million average annual value. The asking price would likely be a first-round pick and either two really good roster players or two top prospects.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Bailey believes Gaudreau would approve a trade to Philadelphia as he cheered for the Flyers while growing up in South Jersey. However, I wouldn’t hold my breath waiting for that deal to happen.
Flyers general manager Daniel Briere recently stated he’s sticking to his rebuilding plan and wasn’t going to sacrifice assets for a return that could improve his team’s chances of clinching a playoff berth this season. I daresay that also extends to struggling 30-something players carrying expensive contracts through 2028-29.
ARE THE PREDATORS SHOPPING MORE THAN TYSON BARRIE?
NASHVILLE HOCKEY NOW: Michael Gallagher recently noted that Predators general manager Barry Trotz is still actively shopping Tyson Barrie after granting the 32-year-old defenseman permission to speak with other clubs about a trade.
Gallagher also wondered if Trotz might be peddling more than one blueliner. He cited Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman recently pondering the futures of Dante Fabbro and Alexandre Carrier in Nashville. Friedman noted that they’ve both been healthy scratches several times during this season.
Fabbro seems the more likely of those two to be moved. Citing a team source, Gallagher stated they’d prefer to retain Carrier as he’s better suited to head coach Andrew Brunette’s system.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s also worth noting that Carrier is slated to become an unrestricted free agent next July while Fabbro becomes a restricted free agent with arbitration rights.
I think Trotz’s priority for now is finding a trade for Barrie. As long as the Predators remain a playoff team, he could hang onto Fabbro and Carrier for the playoffs. However, if the Preds fall out of contention by the March 8 trade deadline, both blueliners could become available.
LATEST SPECULATION FROM TSN’S INSIDERS
TSN: Pierre LeBrun reports the New Jersey Devils don’t have a firm deadline for when defenseman Dougie Hamilton will return from surgery to repair a torn pectoral muscle. LeBrun’s understanding is he’s probably out until the playoffs. That means they’ll have his $9 million cap hit to play with leading up to the March 8 trade deadline, which they could put toward adding a defenseman and a goaltender.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Devils haven’t placed Hamilton on long-term injury reserve yet because they’re sitting just under the $83.5 million salary cap. However, they could do so at any time if they need to add players to their roster. Keep an eye on them in the coming weeks.
Chris Johnston believes the Carolina Hurricanes will be looking for help in the goalie market. He pointed out they raised a lot of eyebrows recently by demoting Antti Raanta to the minors while his replacement (Yaniv Perets) came from the ECHL.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Hurricanes got some good news recently as starter Frederik Andersen has resumed skating after a blood-clot issue sidelined him for six weeks. They also signed Aaron Dell to a professional tryout offer. Perhaps they’re hoping to buy some time here with Perets and/or Dell backing up Pyotr Kochetkov until Andersen is ready to return to action.
Darren Dreger believes a trade remains likely for Philip Broberg. The 23-year-old Edmonton Oilers defenseman was recently demoted to their AHL affiliate in Bakersfield but still wants to play in the NHL. Dreger suggested the possibility that he becomes a sweetener if they want to try and move Jack Campbell’s contract and free up some salary-cap space.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: It will likely take more than Broberg in the deal to tempt any club from taking on Campbell’s contract right now. Even then, the Oilers will probably have to retain some salary in the deal.
I don’t see anyone trading for Gaudreau anytime soon. He’s got a huge contract for five more years, had hit 30 years of age and may be starting to slip.
The league is basically made up of two types of teams. Neither of which would be a fit. There are the young rebuilding teams who shouldn’t give up picks and prospects for aging players with big contracts. And there are the contenders who dont have the cap space.
Dreger is such a fool. He should be diligent with his work. He’s throwing out hot takes that are worse than we saw on ek’s site whatever it was called…something, something, hockey, something , mouth breathers rumors.
Yes Ron, Dreger, along with Seravalli, both practice the art of throwing stuff up against the wall to see if anything sticks. I have no respect for either.
Re; Oilers
The Jack Campbell Trade package
Will be the following to a Rebuilding Team like
-Sharks,
-Hawks,
-CBJ,
-Ducks,
-AZ,
-Jack Campbell & his $5.M Contract
-A Oilers 1st pick
-Phillip Broberg, top prospect young d/man
-Good young prospect like Centre Xavier Bourgault from Bako.
To fix Ken Holands big bad signing..⁉️🙈
Maybe a back up goal tender coming back the other way……❓
HAHAHA The Oil are stuck with Campbell’s contract. Just more proof that Holland is not a cap era GM.
Everyone remembers the bad and never the good. The Hyman signing is looking really good right now along with the Kane signing.
Hey Paul
I bet you Campbell is Traded out of Edmonton before Or at the NHL Draft ….To a rebuilding team👍
-Oilers 1st pick in 2024 Or 2025….
they way they are playing right now it could be a Top 10 Pick…❓🙈
-Phillip Broberg,
-Good young prospect
-Xavier Bourgault
– J Campbell
for a back up Goaltender or Elvis Merzlikins…😜
You gotta love rumors. Jackets ownership is angry at Davidson and Jarmo, so their jobs are on the line if the Jackets don’t get close to the playoffs. Yet, supposedly, Gaudreau, Laine and Merzlikins – Three must have players if the Jackets are to achieve that goal – supposedly are available for trade.
So, let this fan make some sense for the professionals.
Neither Elvis or Johnny Hockey are going anywhere unless they specifically request a trade. And nothing on any Jackets blog or news site has suggested that possiblity. Laine might – Let me stress, MIGHT – be available, once he comes off IR, due to his lackluster play and several trips to the IR.
Who is easily available on the Jackets roster? Peeke, Boqvist and Bean. And Bemstrom is, very likely, also available.
But the idea that nearly everyone on the Jackets could be available sounds like wishful thinking or the byproduct of a steer eating.
He Paul,
CBJ
I can see Merzlikins in the Goaltenders Market to be moved… as Goaltenders are in Demand Right now lots of teams looking to do something when ever they can most likely it will start Trades in the New year,
I think its time for a chage of scen for Elvis
that may help him out
Maybe a swap with the Oilers and a sweetner like Broberg & Jack Campbell….🤔
Johnny hockey is a non mover he is there for 7 years that why he picked CBJ & has a NMC
However….
Patrik Laine is a diffrent story…..his average is 30 goals with the Jets 2017 to 2020.
and
only 20 Goals with CBJ 2021 to 2023 end of season 3 year period each team…..
At $8.7M PA for 3 more years he maybe hard to move at that price, Maybe get him a better centre…..❓
Johhny Z should get a job with one of the two major networks, he gets as much stuff stick to the wall a the paid pundits.
I
Laine to the Habs for Anderson, a 1st round pick and 12 Bell Center hot dogs with the works!
Laine is not worth the 12 hotdogs right now with just ketchup lol
Bruins should probably sit down with Ullmark before his trade value takes a big hit and see if he’ll agree to be moved to a team that will use him as their #1 goalie … say a Ullmark/DeBrusk and whatever for a legit 1st line center even if it’s a pending UFA ..also try to find a Dman … they have 3 NHL Dmen and the rest are AHL Dmen
If they move Ullmark it wont be until this summer
Hey Joe,
(Where you goin with that gun in your hand?)
Sorry, I couldn’t help it.
I’m wondering, and I’m seriously not being a jerk here. I’m actually genuinely curious to who you think that trade partner would be.
I’m having a hard time wrapping my head around a contender trading away a genuine #1 or even #2 center for Debrusk (pending ufa) on a down year, and Ullmark.
And equally have a hard time thinking a team that’s either rebuilding or headed towards a rebuild pulling the trigger on the deal for the same reasons.
The closest thing I can think of is Calgary (if they completely fall out of contention) but still don’t see Calgary taking on a ufa winger or a goaltender with Markstrom still on the books.
Your thought?
Poitras and geekie for lindholm cal. Cal retains 50% of lindholm’s salary
Boston isn’t a trading fit for Calgary other than everyone thinks Hanafin wants to return home. Flames should engage Arizona (who declared their rebuild over) or the Devils, who have more to offer.
Hi H,
If its Noah Hanafin’s game plan he becomes a UFA July 1st By Noon he will Sign with his
Home town Boston Bruins
I think every one knows that…
Then they go after Calgarys 🔥 UFA Centre then they dont have to give up a 1st pick and prospect….👌
Willie quite playing checkers. This is chess.
Expand the deal for Lindholm and Hanifin for Grz ,Ullmark, Lysell,and a 2025 2nd round pick.
Calgary has 3 NHL goalies why trade there best 2 players for one more crazy
If we’re going to propose dumb trades. How about Calgary trades Huberdeau to Boston for Lysell and a second?
Debrusk for kuzmenko!
I like that
H
Your Smoking some good stuff tonight….
Nobody in there Right minds is taking on
Huberdeau @ 8 yrs @ $84,000 Milion dollars.❗️😂
PS I think every one knows that Hanifin will be a Bruin on July 1st.2024
I am going to keeping stating this until the Boston will just wait on Hanifin stops
MTL was just going to wait on Dubois. Publically stated he would like to play for the Habs He lives 3 blocks away . Home enough?
Hanifin might very well sign in Boston but in no way is that a sure thing . He was offered $7.5m and it didn’t get done. Calgary can move him to location just as good as Boston and that club convinces him to stay.
Let me know where?
Willie’s logic. Then Makar is gonna be a flame. What the hell is Willie talking about? Where did he ever state that? Show me