NHL Rumor Mill – January 13, 2024
Can the Blue Jackets find a trade partner for Elvis Merzlikins? Did the Flyers try to acquire Bowen Byran from the Avalanche? What’s the latest on the Bruins and Canucks? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
CAN THE BLUE JACKETS FIND A TRADE FOR MERZLIKINS?
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH: Brian Hedger reports learning that the Blue Jackets are seeking potential trade partners willing to acquire Elvis Merzlikins and the remainder of his contract.
The 29-year-old goaltender yesterday confirmed his agent spoke with Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen about a trade. He’s unhappy over what he considers his demotion since December from being the Jackets’ starting goalie to their third-stringer.
Merzlikins is signed through 2026-27 with an average annual value of $5.4 million and a 10-team no-trade list. Hedger believes the Jackets might have to absorb part of that cap hit as well as package Merzlikins with a prospect or draft pick “in exchange for, essentially, nothing but completing an addition-by-subtraction move.”
Hedger thinks that not playing Merzlikins prevents him from damaging his trade value with a poor performance. However, it also prevents him from improving it.
Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins (NHL Images).
Trading Merzlikins seems the most likely conclusion. They could attempt to buy out the remainder of his contract this summer but that’s at two-thirds of the remaining value of the contract over twice the remaining term. They could also put him on waivers and if he clears send him to their AHL affiliate, freeing up just $1.15 million of his $5.4 million cap hit.
THE ATHLETIC: Aaron Portzline reports Merzlikins hasn’t requested a trade but he and the club have reached a mutual decision to pursue a “new scenario” for him. Kekalainen, meanwhile, declined to comment that he’s seeking a trade for the netminder, adding that Merzlikins must play his way back into the starter’s job or they’ll find someone else.
This decision might’ve made sense at the end of last season when Merzlikins was statistically among the NHL’s worst goaltenders with a 4.23 goals-against average and a .876 save percentage. He’s been much better this season, sitting 14th in save percentage (.907) and 26th in goals-against average (3.25).
Nevertheless, Merlikins’ play this season and his contract will make it difficult to move him even though several NHL clubs could use help between the pipes. Kekalainen said he has not discussed Merzlikins’ “no-go” list with the goalie.
EDMONTON JOURNAL: David Staples suggested a deal in which the Oilers send Jack Campbell to the Blue Jackets for Merzlikins. He cited their near-identical AAVs as well as the fact that both goalies could use a change of scenery. From the Oilers’ point of view, he thinks it’s better to roll the dice on Merzlikins.
Staples also observed several clubs possess the cap space to acquire Merzlikins or a pressing need to upgrade in goal. However, they might not want his contract or currently have goaltenders who are better than the Jackets netminder.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Moving any player with a significant cap hit and several years remaining on their contract is difficult to do during the regular season under a salary cap. Doing so in a season like this one with so many teams carrying so little cap space is a daunting challenge.
As Hedger pointed out, the Jackets’ best option could be retaining part of Merzlikins’ cap hit and packaging him with a draft pick or prospect.
A swap of Merzlikins for Campbell could work for the Oilers but I doubt the Blue Jackets would be warm to that idea The Oilers would get the better goalie while the Blue Jackets would be saddled with one whose confidence is so rattled that he hasn’t played his way back into the NHL.
FLYERS ATTEMPTED TO ACQUIRE BYRAM FROM THE AVS
PHILLY HOCKEY NOW: Jonathan Bailey cited Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman saying he believes the Flyers attempted to trade Cutter Gauthier to the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for defenseman Bowen Byram. However, Friedman doesn’t think the Avs were willing to go there, that it had to be more than just Gauthier for Byram.
The Flyers instead shipped Gauthier to the Anaheim Ducks for defenseman Jamie Drysdale and a draft pick.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: I suspected the Ducks weren’t the only club the Flyers talked to regarding Gauthier. So what do you think, Avs fans? Did your team make the right decision? How about you, Flyers fans? Would you have preferred this deal instead of the one with the Ducks? Let us know in the comments section below.
LATEST ON THE BRUINS AND CANUCKS
NBC SPORTS BOSTON: Nick Goss cited ESPN’s Emily Kaplan reporting that Bruins GM Don Sweeney is in the market for some depth at forward. She’s heard the Bruins are scouting “middle-six forwards, especially someone who could add a scoring punch.”
Goss conceded the Bruins could use more offense this season. However, he noted that many other contending clubs have better trade assets. Their prospect pool has improved but isn’t among the top 15. They also lack a first-round pick in 2024 and they don’t have second-rounders in 2024 or 2025.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: That won’t deter Sweeney from shopping around as any GM in his position would. Nevertheless, he could find it more difficult to bolster his roster this year compared to recent years when he has more cap space and depth in tradeable assets.
THE SCORE: Sean O’Leary cited The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun reporting Vancouver Canucks president of hockey operations Jim Rutherford would like to add another top-six forward to his roster.
Rutherford said he and his management team will still keep an eye on their defense but felt they’ve done a good job this season. He thinks adding a top-six forward would give his club a better chance.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canucks have been the busiest team in this season’s trade market, swinging four deals involving players thus far. Their most significant move was their Nov. 30 acquisition of defenseman Nikita Zadorov from the Calgary Flames. I wouldn’t be surprised if they make a move to land a top-six forward before the March 8 trade deadline.
Staples needs to explain why the Jackets would take Campbell when part of the reason for trading Merzlikins is to make roster space for Tarasov to start while one or more of the Jackets’ goalie prospects develops.
Since you mention Boston and Vancouver how about Debrusk for Kuzmenko? Two players that could benefit from a change of scenery!
Maybe they can work out a deal with. Toronto. Mezlikins and severson and retain 50% of mezlikins salary for samsonov, Robertson. Not sure if the salary works but Severson would be a good fit in Toronto on the right side.
Not nearly enough from Toronto to get both Columbus players – not even close.
Was thinking Columbus might be interested some cap relief by getting out of the severson contract. I think they are going to go in a different direction after the season. Clean house on mgmt group side of things.
LJ I was hoping Boston would have taken a run at Monahan going into the season.
I still think he be a good fit in Boston. Unfortunately Boston doesn’t have a second round pick and if a team is willing to give Montreal a 1st round pick they should jump on it.
Monahan could also be a good pickup for Winnipeg.
Monahan would be a good fit for the Bs for sure, Caper. We rarely see players traded to a conference rival, but the Habs are going nowhere for the next couple of years so a deal might be possible. Hate to give him up for a second though, which would be about the 60th pick.
Jeff,
Even with cap relief, it’s not enough. Besides, with Werenski injured, Severson is going nowhere. Try again come summer.
@Iago from a Toronto point of view hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahhaha not even if Columbus threw in a couple of unprotected 1st rd picks to go with that crap
Iago your negative bias for Toronto makes you look like you don’t know s#it when it comes to making a call on players value making your comments moot and easy to ignore.
Yogi/Ron,
While it is true that I am not a Leafs fan, looking at this proposal, it’s difficult to imagine how the value is even. So far this season, Samsonov has been a basket case. His save percentage is .862. Even if Toronto ate 50% of his cap hit, I don’t see anyone taking him without a sweetener attached. Merzlikins, playing on a bad team, still has a respectable. 907 save percentage, and has some positive value. Robertson has yet to show that he can be a top 6 forward, but Severson is a very serviceable defenseman who I’m sure NJ wishes they had back right now. So, should Columbus retain 50% on both players, the return needs to be much more than a basket case goalie and a bottom 6 forward.
Look, we all tend to overvalue our teams players, but, in this case, you are taking that tendency to a whole new level.
I stand firmly on my assessment, Toronto fan or not.
By the way Yogi/Ron, to be clear, I have stated that I am not a Toronto fan, but neither am I of the Blue Jackets. I’m a Michigan man, and I have no use for any teams from Ohio, let alone one from Columbus. If I am bias, I am no less so of Columbus than of Toronto. I can look at this issue with zero favor shown toward either team.
You may, of course, disagree with my assessment, but it was not developed with favor toward either team – strictly hockey judgement.
Are you certain that your opinions are not influenced by bias toward Toronto ?
Samsonov and Robertson are pure garbage, Noway would Jarmo Kekelainen trade Merlikins and Severson for trash. The leafs don’t even have the pieces to get both players out. Their prospect pool is suspect at best.
Ray Bark: Before I get to your comments on Monahan from yesterday …
A decade ago I made a bet with a an Oiler fan friend about which of our teams would win the Cup first. Despite this, I am cheering for the Oilers to bring the Cup to Canada this year. Just not relishing the thought of the slaughter I will witness when they play each other tonight … gravol, anyone?
As for Monahan: the Habs will trade him if they get an appealing offer. I just don’t buy Dreger’s story that the Habs “promised” him he’d be traded to a contender. He signed for under 2 million for one year, a price any team that wanted him could have afforded. I hope the Habs keep him. But the Oil should make a move for him, as the Canucks are kitting up and look legit.
I think Dreger is right up there with Eklund and Seravalli as the least reliable NHL bloggers with no real info to back up the vast majority of their claims. They are merely dreaming and speculating.
Jarmo was on my flight from Toronto to Winnipeg yesterday, so it looks like he has more pressing matters than sorting out the Elvis situation.
Or he’s scouting potential players to get in return.
I don’t see either the Jets or Flyers needing a starting goalie though…
As an Avalanche fan, I am glad the team didn’t make that move despite the talent that Gauthier is. People probably forget Byram is what 22 Y.O. a good young defenseman that has already contributed to us winning a Cup! Those guys don’t exactly grow on trees? Despite some of his defensive lapses, he has an edge to his game, sticks up for teammates and is still rounding out his offensive abilities. That’s why the Flyer’s coveted him. It would take more to get the Avalanche to part with him. Maybe they still move him but it would take a Lindholm or someone comparable for that to happen IMHO? In the end, Flyer’s seemed to have got what they wanted in Drysdale deal; however, not Byram. GO AVS!!!!….Landeskog on the mend!!!!
Yeah that was my first thought too. Why would the Avs trade Byram for futures. Their window is now with Mack & Makar in their primes. I can see a huge blockbuster between Avs & Flames that would include Lindholm & Tanev or Vladar for Byram & that 2024 1st or Ritchie. If Landy ready to go for the playoffs, yikes, lookout.
Agree, it would be more of a blockbuster. Who knows, maybe will be something like that? Byram has lots of upside to his game
Can’t see Landeskog returning, will try but I think his career is over
Flyers wanted a young 22-23 year old
Blue chip defence man with upside that has some NHL games. I bet they asked LA on Clarke I am sure there are a handful of others . Guhle Schneider Nemec ?
Elvis has left the building
I believe most Flyers fans are happy with the deal that went down. Solid young right shooting defenseman, and a 2nd round draft pick. I think the team did ok in this deal given the hand they were dealt.