NHL Rumor Mill – December 29, 2023
Check out the latest on the Bruins and Canadiens in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
BOSTON HOCKEY NOW: Jimmy Murphy acknowledged it’s no secret the Bruins could use a bonafide top-six center/rugged winger and another defenseman. However, those players could further deplete the Bruins of draft picks and prospects.
With the Bruins performing better than expected in what is considered a bridge year for the club, Murphy suggested it might be better if general manager Don Sweeney waits until the offseason to pursue players like Calgary Flames center Elias Lindholm and defenseman Noah Hanifin.
Boston Bruins general manager Don Sweeney (NHL.com)
Lindholm and Hanifin are both eligible to become unrestricted free agents in July if they don’t sign contract extensions with the Flames before then. Sweeney would have around $28 million in cap space to pursue such players without having to part with draft picks and prospects.
THE ATHLETIC: Fluto Shinzawa believes the Bruins need a scoring winger with Jake DeBrusk struggling this season. He agrees that pursuing someone such as Lindholm could be beyond the Bruins’ means in this season’s trade market.
The price of acquiring a winger, however, wouldn’t be so costly. Shinzawa noted that the San Jose Sharks’ Anthony Duclair, the Chicago Blackhawks’ Tyler Johnson, and the Anaheim Ducks’ Adam Henrique could become available as rental players by the March 8 trade deadline.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Sweeney could try to make another big splash or two near the trade deadline to go all-in for another deep playoff run. However, as Murphy and Shinzawa point out, they lack the salary-cap space as well as depth in quality draft picks and prospects to win bidding wars for guys like Lindholm and Hanifin.
That doesn’t mean Sweeney will sit on his hands by the trade deadline. I expect he’ll try to make an affordable move or two. His big moves could come in the summer when he’ll have the cap room to bring in some long-term veteran talent.
SPORTSNET: In this week’s mailbag segment, Eric Engels was asked which defenseman the Montreal Canadiens could move to clear their logjam on the blueline. They have promising prospects Lane Hutson and David Reinbacher in their pipeline plus they’ll soon need to reintegrate Jordan Harris and Arber Xhekaj into the lineup.
As soon as Harris returns, Engels believes trading or waiving Gustav Lindstrom feels like the first step. After that, he thinks they’ll have to seriously consider moving David Savard. While the 33-year-old Savard remains valuable to the rebuilding Canadiens, his value in the trade market could be too high to ignore. He has a year remaining on his contract with an affordable $3.5 million cap hit.
Turning to the forwards, Engels doesn’t see the Canadiens trading winger Josh Anderson. He doesn’t rule out trading center Sean Monahan by the deadline as he could fetch a first-round pick or a quality prospect.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Barring injuries, Monahan and Savard are my candidates most likely to be traded this season by the Canadiens. I’m not sure if either guy can land a first-round pick but one should never underestimate the willingness of desperate general managers to overpay for help near the trade deadline.
Elias Lindholm destinations besides the Bruins and Avs?
would the Flyers pay for a rental when they are overperforming this season? Winnipeg worth the shot? The Rangers might be without Chytil longer…Carolina?
I am not sure Boston or Avs have best packages to make that move
Shefiele Lindholm 1&2 would be great, and Winnipeg has a lot to offer Calgary.
The Canes will have over $8.3m in TDL cap room and are looking to move RD Pesce and or Skjei with Pesce more likely the odd man out, but rumors are around the team is RBA isn’t happy with the play of KK at center who has no NTC protection and not thrilled with Orlov who has no NTC protection, also in the dog house is Necas, so the Canes could easliy make a package of players/picks and prospects to land who they need come the TDL and with Justin Williams in Tom Dundons ear every night it will certainly be interesting in Raleigh come the TDL…Hello Craig Conroy!
@roB
and Canes have so much off the books next season
I am sure they trying to flip Jesperi over there and not Necas…i would. and try to resign Lindholm……but yes would need to be Necas or Jesperi….too bad none of the Cane D are RFA….would help Calgary resign one
I think Boston gets him would love him in Pittsburgh…
Blockbuster
ToPittsburgh
Noah Hanafin Elias Lindholm
To Calgary
Jake Guentzel
Ryan Grave
Pierre Oliver Joseph
Either a number 1 or 2 draft pick
Bith teMs win all but one players are ufas
Calgary gets 28 year left dman Ryan graves who is locked up..and he did do well in Colorado and new Jersey…not doing well in Pittsburgh
Deaft pick may make this happen?
If hanafin Lindholm dont resign thats 9 plus million in cap space plus cap goes up 3 or 4 million..we will b alright
Thoughts
Lyle is right that Sweeney will probably tweek his roster but no high cost players this season. He should and probably will go after some big game in off season
GMs in January: “a 3rd round pick for Monahan? Ridiculous!”
GMs in February: “a 3rd round pick for Monahan? Ridiculous!”
GMs in March: “I’ll give you a 1st, two 2nds and a conditional 3rd for Monahan.”
The deadline causes crazy behavior!
As much as I want to see my Canadiens in the playoffs, I honestly don’t know how realistic that is. I think if anyone is willing to overpay for the services of Allen, Monahan or Savard, Hughes has to take it. If they can get anything at all for Pearson move him out too. Kovacevic could be of value to a team looking for a rugged right handed shot who’s cap friendly.
No big swings for Boston, last year was the bug push to get another one for Bergeron.
Boston has Debrusk, Van Riemsdyk, Heinen, Grzelcyk, Shattenkirk, Forbort and Lucic as ufa’s
Don’t care if their all moved or none moved nothing there that is bringing back much of anything.
Debrusk and Grzelcyk highest return.
Next season the bruins just have one big rfa signing and that’s Jeremy Swayman who is presently making $3,475,000 I would think his next contract would be over $5m but under $6 this will leave the bruins with about $20m in cap space.
If Elias Lindholm wants $9m plus then let someone else foot that bill. in 2021- 2022 season he scored 42 goals that line was one of the best in the nhl. Lindolm next highest goal scoring season was 29 in 2019-2020 season. This season he is on pace for 18 goals.
Looking at capfriendly for center that are ufa’s next season Lindholm is by far the best available so he may get his money.
Agree with both Boston writers …they’ll wait till off season to restock this Bruins team … DeBrusk won’t be resigned his whole game is to inconsistent … can’t see them going with two #1 goalies next season and paying $10 million combined for each one to play 41 games each … Ullmark will be moved which will give them more $$$ to use.. What is needed is exactly what’s stated, get that legit 1st line center, a Dman with size and can move the puck & add some size and toughness to team, it should be a interesting offseason in 2024
i agree that bruins dont need 2 goalies at over 5 million each .the bruins were not expected to compete for stanley cup this year . why not trade ullmark while you can get something in return to help for for upcoming years. i agree i would not pay lindholm 9 millions a year but maybe closer to 7.5 or 8 millions .as bruins dont have much draft picks or good young players in minors so why not try a 3 team trade .bruins to devils ullmark and mitchell bruins to flames debrusk lysell and 2026 first and devils to flames holtz and 2024 first flames to bruins lindholm and hanifin
Ullmark for RNH edm. Same age pretty much same cap hit. Helps both teams this year and next year.
Hey Jeff,
Dont see the Oilers moving RNH
young goaltender Skinner is the #1 Goaltender in Edmonton for many years to come now. 12-2-0 in his past 14 starts👌
Shutout last night… 5-0 win
They need to play Pickard more to see what he has got if he can be the back up 2 games in 6-7 weeks in not enough
On the Oilers farm team in Bako, the Oilers top young Goalteing Prospect Olivier Rodrigue is put up very good number in the AHL in his past 6 games
GA, under 2 …. SV% is 9.35 👌
Now he has taken away the starters role from
Jack Campbell ⁉️
Ullmark and Debrusk for Leo would work the best for Boston
I think you forgot the a bunch of 1st rd pics to oil aswell 🙄
Makes too much sense for it to happen.
RNH may be only viable trade candidate- unfortunately it also ensures that McDavid and Draisatl wont be playing together. Always worry about goalies like Ulmark…the Boston D is solid- the Oilers is not-…but he is definitely an upgrade
Maybe Boston should really wait and go for Draisaitl when he’s up for ufa.
I really dont know if Boston will trade Ulmark….❓
If they they can re-sign both goaltenders at a reasonable rate…..LU for 4 years $4M & $6.5M for Swayman….❓
if they go after Both Calgary UFA players Centre & local boy Noah Hanifin.. they will be set as a powerhouse for years to come. They will have $26M in cap space….
if they can trade out 32 yr old Charlie Coyle & his $5.M salary for 2 more seasons thats would give the $31.M in cap spacefor 2024 season to re-tool after some big signings at the UFA period.
Ww
They may move Ullmark next year but Coyle is not going anywhere I can see Debrusk being dealt by deadline though IMHO
i can see them doing a low cost deal to keep Debrusk 1 or 2 year deal at $3-4M to see if he gets his came back or not🤔
if they get Lindholm from Calgary to be #1 centre
and #2 centre 25 yr old Pavel Zacha
they wont need A 32 yr old…Charlie Coyle at $5.M to be the 3rd line centre in boston❓