NHL Rumor Mill – January 23, 2024
Could the Sabres trade Casey Mittelstadt? What’s the latest on the Predators? Are the Flyers interested in Arber Xhekaj? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
IS MITTELSTADT THE ODD MAN OUT IN BUFFALO?
ESPN: Kevin Weekes recently looked at several players who could become available by the March 8 trade deadline. One of them was Casey Mittelstadt, who could become the odd man out among the Buffalo Sabres’ young forwards.
Weekes praised Mittelstadt’s performance in filling in for sidelined winger Jeff Skinner. However, they’ve yet to sign him to a long-term extension as they’ve done with their other young players. He said Mittelstadt is drawing a lot of attention.
THE BUFFALO NEWS: Lance Lysowski reports Mittelstadt was surprised to hear his name mentioned on NHL Network as a trade candidate. Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams has not approached the 25-year-old forward or his agent yet about a contract extension.
Buffalo Sabres forward Casey Mittelstadt (NHL Images).
Mittelstadt has consistently been the Sabres’ most consistent player. He’s a versatile two-way player who can skate at center or on the wing among their top-six forwards.
Lysowski believes it could cost the Sabres $5.87 million annually (or 6.7 percent of their salary cap) on a five-year deal to sign Mittelstadt. They lack a proven internal replacement if they choose not to re-sign him.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Contenders seeking a player with Mittelstadt’s skills could be inquiring about his availability. He’s a restricted free agent with arbitration rights who’s also a year away from unrestricted free-agent eligibility in 2025.
I doubt that Adams is shopping Mittelstadt and likely intends on signing him this summer. He could be tempted by a significant trade offer but I don’t think he’ll get one leading up to the trade deadline. That sort of thing seems more likely in the offseason depending on how contract discussions go following this season.
LATEST ON THE PREDATORS
NASHVILLE HOCKEY NOW: Michael Gallagher recently provided updates on several Predators who have reportedly become trade targets.
He noted that some observers still believe there’s an outside chance the Predators could move Juuse Saros despite general manager Barry Trotz’s stated intent to re-sign him. The Predators’ asking price could be outrageous but Gallagher believes that’s the point. He thinks Trotz has set the bar ridiculously high that no reasonable GM would agree to pay it.
One Predators goalie who could be available is backup Kevin Lankinen. Gallagher believes several teams could be interested in him. If they do move Lankinen, it could be closer to the March 8 trade deadline to allow promising Yaroslav Askarov more playing time with their AHL affiliate in Milwaukee before calling him up as Lankinen’s replacement.
Defenseman Tyson Barrie has been sidelined for nearly a month with an upper-body injury. That’s affected his trade value, which wasn’t that high to begin with. Most teams with an interest in Barrie lack the cap space to acquire him right now. He’s still expected to be moved by the March 8 trade deadline but this could drag on for a few weeks.
Earlier this season it was believed the Predators could move one or both of Alexandre Carrier and Dante Fabbro. However, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman recently reported they could now be inclined to retain both players. Fabbro’s been playing recently on their top defense pairing with Roman Josi.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Predators could be unwilling to shake things up too much while they’re jockeying for a wild-card spot in the Western Conference. I don’t see Saros, Carrier or Fabbro getting shopped. Barrie will likely be a trade deadline move.
CANADIENS GETTING CALLS ABOUT XHEKAJ
MONTREAL HOCKEY NOW: Marc Dumont cited Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reporting the Canadiens may have received some calls about defenseman Arber Xhekaj. However, the Habs aren’t moving the 22-year-old blueliner, who was recently recalled from their AHL affiliate in Laval.
Friedman said he wouldn’t be surprised if the Philadelphia Flyers were among the teams expressing interest in Xhekaj.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Canadiens GM Kent Hughes recently said that Xhekaj was spending time in Laval to work on his defensive game. He also stated that he wanted the big blueliner to be part of their long-range plans.
Freidmans laughable.
Toronto should trade bertuzzi to vancouver for zadorov. Vancouver is looking for a top 6 forward which bertuzzi supposedly is and we need defence. Leads could pocket the contact difference to get taken and then away they go.
Are you delusional? There is ZERO interest in Bertuzzi. I know the Leafs would love to offload his anchor of a contract but it doesnt mean other teams want him.
Bertuzzi would crack trying to fill the shoes of his Uncle Todd and no thanks. He’s done f-all to help Boston last year and Tor this year.
With Soucy injured Zadorov is stayin right where he is unless Treliving blows Allvins socks off with a rediculous package return.
But they should make it a bigger deal. The Canucks will throw in a 3rd and the leafs will throw in Matthews-50% retained.
Dumont CITED Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reporting the Canadiens MAY HAVE received SOME calls about defenseman Arber Xhekaj.
Friedman said he WOULDNT BE SURPRISED
THEN
However, the Habs aren’t moving the 22-year-old.. Canadiens GM Kent Hughes recently said that he wanted the big blueliner to be part of their long-range plans.
Multiple hands going to receive blame for creating rumors from nothing. They said they’re not trading. Just another example of how bad and lazy yet very imaginative hockey reporters are.
Sweet goal by LeTurnover and Malkin last night.
Lol
Terrible goal, in my opinion more on Malkin than on Letang since Malkin should have known he was getting a pass
agree. Malkin to blame on this one.
Malkin also not playing well at all in general.
I didn’t see this until I read about it here. Not sure I’d agree. Why is Letang even thinking that passing in the general vicinity of a vacated net? Especially considering he had 2 other options on the other side? Crosby and someone else who could have easily gone forward.
Worst case scenario, the Coyotes touch up and Pittsburgh gets the power play and an offensive zone face off.
Ill advised pass.
I mean I thought it was rather impressive. Play keep away to burn clock off the PP, then score, but yeah wrong net…. lol Crouse really used his head on that one.
First time posting, been reading on here for years. I’m a born and bread Penguins fan. I am on vacation in Phoenix; and was at last night’s game. Tragedy in many ways…. Arena is crap, Penguins were crap. Watching an NHL game live with maybe 4,200 fans (there were definitely many empty seats in the 4,600 seat “barn”. Only thing positive…. Was able to sit at Centre ice and bought scalped tickets for $80— that’s total for the pair!! Is there anywhere else in the NHL you can sit at Centre ice and pay only $80 for a pair???
New chapter now evident for Penguins. The current team will not make the playoffs. The overpay in acquiring Karllsson, and the acquisition of very poor depth is now showing … loud and clear. Time for a change. Hate to see him go… but Guentzel will not be a Penguin next year anyway; so trade him now. Canucks salivating. Take advantage. Guentzel (25% retained), Accairi, Ruhweedel for Myers and Blueger, 1st and 2nd. Use two other teams in trade to bring over Myers, with first team retaining 50% and second team retaining 25%. He’s only owed about 320,000 now so those teams are “buying” assets for $160,000 (give them one of Gruden or Rathbone) and $80,000 (give them a 5th rounder). That is closing in on $4M in extra space created. Use the 1st and 2nd above, send to Chicago for Dickenson. Move DOC to Ducks for Henrique (50% retained). Myers/Blueger replacing Rhuweedel/Accairi is a huge uptick for Pens. Just huge. Neither Dickenson or Henrique are near Guentzel, but the overall change (Myer/Dickenson/Henrique/Blueger in for Guentzel/Accairi/Rhuweedel/Doc) will have the team extremely better defensively and will result (overall) in more offense. This change definitely gets Pens in playoffs this year; and I believe gives them a shot at winning a round (maybe 2).
This change provides a great deal of space next year (Guentzel would have gotten $8M + as he deservies it; and Pens rid the overpaid Accairi ($2M) contract…. that $10 M+ commitment replaced by $$4.25 M for Dickenson) , and first crack at re-upping Myers. Next year’s cost for those advantages (over now)— is the loss of DOC. Great young depth player with size, but to me, that trade-off is worth it.
Lastly… Power play a mess…. Reirden is failing miserably … time to move on from him. I’d also flip Letang in on 1st PP over Karlsson. Things are just not clicking.
Status quo will have Penguins missing playoffs and getting nothing for Guentzel, and only downward looking towards next year. Changes above give them playoffs this year and still a door opening next year for the sunset of Sid, Evgeni, Chris.
Bettman will make sure Pittsburg get a few 1st overall picks like he did for the New York teams and the two luminaries, especially Leetong made a spectacular play…couldn’t happen to a better team
Ny lands 2 top 2 picks in 50 years and it’s a conspiracy? Lmao.
Priceless!
Thanks for your contribution!
Bettman fixes the lottery?
He’s made tons of mistakes; the biggest one being Coyotes; but there is no way he’s fixing the lotteries.
“Mittelstadt has consistently been the Sabres’ most consistent player.”
Yeah, but the question with him is consistency.
Does TML offer a 1st and Bertuzzi for Mittelstadt?
Does it make sense?
Mittelstadt can center 3rd line with Knies
Matthews with Nylander
Tavares with Marner
Mittelstadt with Knies
Balance out lines better?..
Tavares also only has one more year so Mittelstadt fits their age group and now they have a 2c/3c for years
That 1st is late anyway so Mittelstadt would be a predictable assets over any undrafted player projected to be that late a pick.
Reasonable for both or nah?
Why do you think anyone else wants Bertuzzi, when it appears the Leafs, at least in their fans mind, want to unload him ASAP. No way Buffalo makes this trade, within their own division. If anything I see Buffalo asking for Knies and a 2nd or Knies and Robertson. Toronto will say no, but if I’m Buffalo that’s my ask.
Why would any team want Bertuzzi let alone Buffalo? The package for Mittelstadt probably needs to look more like what Winnipeg got back for Dubious. High end roster player or a 1st, quality depth player, quality prospect and another pick.
Trade Proposel
25 yr old Centre Casey Mittelstadt and a there 1st pick in 2024 …..Or Ukko-Pekka going with Mittelstadt
as a swap…,
looks like its going to be between a top 10 pick or close to top 5 pick
To the Preds for starting goaltender Juuse Saros❓
Buffalo need to add a experinced top 4 d/man they are very young on the back end🤔
21, 23, & 23..?
I still think the Sens can put the best package together for a Sarros trade. Chychrun plus…
Nashville’s defence is on the older side, especially on the left side. The Sens need a goalie. Makes sense on both sides depending on what the Sens need to add to get the deal done.
Hey Kev
That would be a great trade for the Sen’s to get
Juuse Saros…,
Chychrun + RFA d/man Erik Brännström and a 2nd pick, that would help fix Preds defence…🤔
They would need to Dump Joonas Korpisalo at 4.5 years X$4.M…..❓
thats a real mess…..
I wouldn’t trade UPL or Chychrun straight up for Sarros. UPL is younger, bigger, less expensive and has played better this year. BUF drafted him early for a reason, why trade him when he starts to play well?
If I was OTT or BUF I wouldn’t trade a 1st for him either, in fact I wouldn’t even call Trotz about him.
There will be more tenders available on the UFA market that have had better seasons than Sarros. Why pay the big $, and give up assets, for a small guy who has been just OK this year. Neither team is winning the cup, address it in the off season.
Flyers should be shopping Carter Hart, he makes sense for about 5 teams question is what the return would be.
Who is UPL
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen,
He is 24 yrs old, and is the Buffalo young goaltender there #1 netmender at pressent…..
next up for the Sabers is 22 yr old Goaltender
Devon Levi, he just tured 22 last month he needs one or two more years in the miniors playing 55-60 games in a season… if not they are going to want him⁉️
I call Ukko Pekka Luukkonen
6 K
Flames should pursue Mittlestadt ( if he will play in Canada) . Less snow than Buffalo
They have not had a number one C like forever. They have the assets to meet any demand
Mittelstadt should be a point-per-game player and scoring over 20 goals this season. He needs to finish climbing the mountain.
Mittelstadt extending with Buffalo is dependent on his production for the remained of the season. The more he scores, the more money and term he earns. If his production plateaus, he could be on a two-year bridge contract.
The Sabres will need to address acquisition needs for a goal scorer and a top four defenseman before the trade deadline.