NHL Rumor Mill – December 9, 2023
Would Ducks goalie John Gibson help the Devils? Will the Avalanche trade for a center? What’s the latest on the Rangers and Bruins? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
COULD THE DUCKS JOHN GIBSON HELP THE DEVILS?
THE ATHLETIC: Eric Stephens noted the improved stats this season of Anaheim Ducks netminder John Gibson despite his club’s porous defense. He looked at whether the 30-year-old could help the New Jersey Devils improve their goaltending.
Anaheim Ducks goaltender John Gibson (NHL Images).
The Devils lack a clear No. 1 goalie as Vitek Vanecek and Akira Schmid have struggled to fill that role. Their goals-against per game is among the league’s worst and a big reason why the Devils are struggling this season. Gibson would be a clear upgrade.
Stephen also noted that Gibson’s $6.4 million cap hit could be too rich for the Devils to take on. Asking the Ducks to retain part of his salary will mean an increase in what they’d want in return. With top defenseman Dougie Hamilton sidelined, their focus could be on improving their blueline corps.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Devils need an upgrade between the pipes. Given their constraints this season, however, they’ll likely seek a more affordable, short-term option.
Stephens listed the Montreal Canadiens’ Jake Allen, San Jose Sharks’ Kaapo Kahkonen and the Detroit Red Wings’ James Reimer among such targets. The Devils could perhaps look at someone such as Gibson during the offseason when they’ll have more cap room to work with.
WILL THE AVALANCHE MAKE A TRADE FOR A CENTER?
THE DENVER POST: Mark Kiszla believes the Colorado Avalanche won’t have a chance at winning the Stanley Cup this season unless they land a second-line center. He acknowledged the club’s salary-cap limitations but called on general manager Chris MacFarland to get creative to fix the problem.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kiszla makes a good point about the Avs’ need for a reliable second-line center. His dream trade targets are the Minnesota Wild’s Joel Eriksson Ek and the Columbus Blue Jackets’ Boone Jenner.
Salary cap constraints aside, the Avalanche depleted their prospect pipeline making other acquisitions in recent years. They lack sufficient depth in tradeable assets to land players like Eriksson Ek or Jenner.
They’ll have to pursue more affordable options. The Athletic’s Peter Baugh recently listed Montreal Canadiens’ Sean Monahan (if the Habs retain part of his salary) and the Philadelphia Flyers’ Morgan Frost (assuming the 24-year-old can handle the role) as two cost-effective possibilities.
SUGGESTED FORWARD TRADE TARGETS FOR THE RANGERS
THE ATHLETIC: Arthur Staple acknowledged the New York Rangers’ strong start to this season but feels they’re not yet a complete team. He believes they need to add another forward (or two or three) to “make this group faster and deeper.”
Rental options could include the Seattle Kraken’s Jordan Eberle, San Jose Sharks’ Anthony Duclair, Ottawa Senators’ Vladimir Tarasenko, Montreal Canadiens’ Sean Monahan, Columbus Blue Jackets’ Jack Roslovic, Anaheim Ducks’ Adam Henrique, Chicago Blackhawks’ Anthony Beauvillier and Nashville Predators’ Kiefer Sherwood. Staple also suggested the Ducks’ Frank Vatranov and the Philadelphia Flyers’ Travis Konecny, who are each signed through next season.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Staple also noted the Rangers lack third-round picks in 2024 and 2025 as well as no second-rounders in 2025 and 2026 to use as trade chips.
Bear in mind that Staple isn’t saying the Rangers are interested in those players or pursuing them. It’s merely his list of suggested targets that he thinks could improve the Blueshirts’ forward lines. Whether general manager Chris Drury goes after any of them or can win a possible bidding war before the March 8 trade deadline remains to be seen.
LATEST BRUINS SPECULATION
BOSTON HOCKEY NOW: Jimmy Murphy reports Bruins GM Don Sweeney continues to search for options to strengthen his blueline. It’s believed he remains interested in the Calgary Flames’ Noah Hanifin.
Murphy also noted that there are more affordable options available in the trade market. They include Hanifin’s teammate Chris Tanev, the Nashville Predators’ Tyson Barrie, the Carolina Hurricanes’ Tony DeAngelo and the Winnipeg Jets’ Logan Stanley. There’s also unrestricted free agent Ethan Bear, who will be ready soon to return from offseason shoulder surgery.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: I don’t doubt that Sweeney wants to upgrade his defense corps or that he’s interested in Hanifin. However, his limited cap space and lack of trade capital hurts any chance of winning a bidding war for his services. They’ll have a better chance of landing him next summer if he decides to test the free-agent market.
With cap hits of over $4 million, Tanev and Barrie will still be tough to acquire, especially if their current clubs aren’t interested in retaining any salary. DeAngelo, Stanley and Bear are more cost-effective but there’s no guarantee they’ll significantly improve the Bruins’ defense.
After watching Simon name, I don’t think the NY Devils are paying in draft selections or talent to acquire a veteran. The real deal.
Namec.
I typed Nemec!
ha
Little early to be drinking Bill lol I guess it is Saturday . But no matter how you spell it he looks like a stud in the making
Name!
I typed Nemec!
ha
If MTL were to retain 50% of Monahan’s salary, I imagine it could land them COLs, 1st in 2024
🤪
Sweens has been interested in Hanifin for a long time, so it’s possible. But how, who knows. Murphy tends to make stuff up occasionally. So there’s that. Both McAvoy and Forbort are hurt. They still need a center more than anything IMHO.
Bruins top need as Turk stated is a top ctr. But I do not see them getting either Hanafin or a top ctr till next off season. They will be the team they are this year IMHO
It is silly to keep saying that they cannot afford Hanifin. All the Bruins need to do is throw in Grez and this would almost take care of the cap situation. Are the Bruins better with Hanifin? They definitely are- more of a scorer and wouldn’t be pushed around as much. However, I agree that defense is not the number 1 need- a scorer is -does not have to be a center. A scoring winger would do.
And why would the Flames trade Hanifin for a soon-to-be 30-year-old pending UFA defenseman who isn’t of the same caliber as Hanifin?
Hanafin and Lindholm will be on other teams with new contracts at the TDL unless Calgary wants to swallow a sword and not get anything for both…In other words not happening for the B’s.
I don’t think the Bruins are an ideal trading partner for the Flames. Conny is not taking Grz or Debrusk or Carlo back to help Boston to fit our two best players under the cap. Conny would be run out of town if he did that.
Why do Bruin fans all seem to think that throwing in a 5’9”, 30 year old, 3rd pairing, Grzelcyk is going to facilitate a trade for a top 3 defenseman?
His only value comes as a balancing cap hit.
It’s the young assets and draft picks that make the trade possible and Boston has little of either!
Boone Jenner getting traded? When he’s the Jackets’ captain, leading goal scorer and is happy playing for the Jackets? I don’t think so. While nobody is untradable, it would take a bowl-you-over-with-a-feather offer for the Jackets to trade Boone while he’s mentoring their host of rookies and young players.
Re; UFA 🔥
The Calgary Flames will be looking for 1st picks for both 26 yr old Hanifin and 29 yr old Lindhom in deals, they are dealing from a strenth position
no old UFA coming back in any deals the flames cant afort it…
or
they could be looking for a Good 20-22 year olds Prospect that can step in right away to help the flames re-tool makeing the salarys work
I think we will see lots of Salary retention at the trade deadline this year to make deals work with lots of 3 team deals going on, with picks for taking salarys again….
On opening day of the UFA period July 1st
Hanifin will sign with his home town
Boston Bruins
as for #1 centre avalable E Lindhom will go to the highest bidder…? or maybe with his good buddy Hanifin to Boston Bruins…….❓🤔
I know Bruin fans wont concur, but Flames had a 8 year $60mill deal on the table for Hanifin. $7.5 avg. which is reasonable for him. For Bruins to give him $60 mill on 7 years add at least a $mill to cap hit. If he goes UFA Im sure he will get offers from other teams to drive price up. In the best interests of Sweeney, a sign & trade would be in their best interests. They have no picks & are up tight against the cap.
Here’s a trade scenario maybe Conroy might look at: Hanifin extended to 8 year deal for Carlo (Flames will need a 2nd pairing D once they move Hanni & Tanev) & Carlo has 3 more years. then add Debrusk, which will allow Flames to see the fit, maybe extend or sell at Trade deadline. Then Bruins will need to part with one of Poitras or Lohrei (who is what Conroy should push for) Sounds steep, but no picks & Bruins gain over 3.0 mill in cap space which is worth something as well. Just a food for thought trade scenario.
The only way Hanafin goes to bruins is because he wants to as a ufa. Bruins will pay but not overpay same for Lindholm. They both would fit nicely on the bruins just up to player It’d it is all about $$ they will sign elsewhere as that is not how bruins do business
He also has a fractured jaw.
Re; Goal Tending
Next Season or at the Draft Boston will have
Linus Ullmark to trade also as he will be in his final year of his contract at $5.M🤔
they could get a good back up for $1M range
Lots of teams need a starter’s and mentor for the young and coming goaltenders….
like
Buffalo, CBJ, Sharks, Hawks,
even contenders could be after him ..
like
NJD, Wild, Blues, Kraken, Carolina Hurricanes..⁉️
30 yr old Linus Ullmark
would be an up-grade to what they have just now…
We
That could very well happen. Bussi in Ahl is good enough to be a back up next year. Plus they have a top ncaa goalie svdedberg as well as 2 other Ahl goalies who are decent. It is probably their biggest area of strength
Thanks for the Avalanche talk Lyle!!!….IMHO, I wouldn’t put much stock in what Kizla thinks. I consider him a “bandwagon” hockey fan. I remember getting the Denver Post for years and he never talked hockey, very rarely and now he thinks he is an authority on what the team needs? Adrian Dater and Colorado Hockey Now or DNVR are much better sources for the team. Despite that perhaps, he’s right. Johansen really struggling to keep up; however, he wins all the face offs and contributed a lot earlier this year. To me, the Avalanche biggest problem is they are extremely careless with the puck and make poor decisions with it and expect Georgiev to come to their rescue all the time. He gets pissed and you saw it play out the other night against Winnepeg where he whacked Kaminski because he screened him on that goal making it 3-1 Jets! Although, I don’t agree what Georgiev did, I get where he is coming from. The Avalanche and especially the big 3 are really careless with the puck and it is costing us? I would even bet that they probably would have lost approx only 3-4 games had they just pay attention to details. GO AVS!!!!
Malinski, Sam Malinski the defenseman. Stupid auto correct!!!!!
Boston needs grit! Their last game their D had one hit register and that was by Lindholm.
The Bruins need a McQuaid or Miller type dman..
This team is far to easy to play against.
Here my trade that won’t happen:
Linholm and Grzelcyk (1m retain)
For:
Hanafin, Tanev and a 2nd round pick
Need Lindholm to waive his protection
Why would Calgary do that?
What is the attraction????
Grzelcyk has little to no value and is simply cap filler.
Lindholm will be 30 in another month!
Calgary will be looking for young players and high draft picks when they trade these two!