NHL Rumor Mill – January 24, 2024
Jakob Chychrun denies that he wants out of Ottawa plus the latest speculation on the Oilers’ Philip Broberg, the Kings’ Arthur Kaliyev and the Canadiens’ Arber Xhekaj in the NHL Rumor Mill.
CHYCHRUN SAYS HE DOESN’T WANT TO BE TRADED
THE ATHLETIC: Ian Mendes reports Ottawa Senators defenseman Jakob Chychrun dismissed the recent trade rumors about him as “ridiculous,” saying he doesn’t believe it’s based on anything.
Chychrun was acquired last season from the Arizona Coyotes and there’s talk the Senators could shop him before the March 8 trade deadline. He understands there’s a possibility he could be moved given the club’s position in the standings and management’s need to shake things up.
Ottawa Senators defenseman Jakob Chychrun (NHL Images).
Nevertheless, he denied speculation that he wanted out of Ottawa. “I’m loving every moment here,” he said, noting the family ties he has to the city and the region. “I feel at home here. I bought a house and it’s five minutes from my sister and 10 minutes from my grandpa.”
DAILY FACEOFF: Frank Seravalli speculates Chychrun could be a trade candidate based on the Senators having two left-side defensemen Thomas Chabot and Jake Sanderson under long-term contracts worth $8 million annually. Chychrun, meanwhile, has one year remaining on his deal.
Seravalli doubts the Senators will invest a total of $24 million on just the left side of their blueline. Management needs to determine which players are part of their core going forward.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: If the Senators move Chychrun it’ll be because of the reasons listed by Seravalli. If it’s up to the defenseman he’d like to stay on a long-term contract but that’s not going to happen unless they move out Chabot or Sanderson and that’s not happening.
Bear in mind that the Senators aren’t under pressure to move Chychrun before the March trade deadline. Given his current contract, they can wait until the offseason if they don’t find any suitable offers now.
LATEST ON BROBERG AND KALIYEV
TSN: Darren Dreger is keeping an eye on Edmonton Oilers defenseman Philip Broberg and Los Angeles Kings forward Arthur Kaliyev.
Broberg was assigned to the Oilers’ AHL affiliate in Bakersfield in early December, where he’s been playing well. Dreger said that teams continue to call Edmonton general manager Ken Holland about the 22-year-old blueliner.
Kaliyev, meanwhile, has been a healthy scratch from several games with the Kings. That’s drawn some attention around the league. Dreger said the Kings aren’t ready to move the 22-year-old winger just yet but something has to change.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Oilers could listen to offers for Broberg but I think they’d prefer to hang onto him. There’s not as much urgency right now for them to address roster issues given their recent signing of Corey Perry as well as their rise up the standings thanks to their 14-game win streak.
Dreger noted the Kings are waiting for Viktor Arvidsson’s return from injury next month to provide a boost to their offense. Maybe that’s what they’re waiting for regarding Kaliyev’s status. Perhaps they also need to sort out the club’s direction under head coach Todd McLellan before making any roster changes.
MORE SPECULATION ABOUT XHEKAJ
TVA SPORTS: Jean-Charles Lajoie noted the return of fan-favorite Arber Xhekaj to the Montreal Canadiens lineup after he spent several weeks with their AHL affiliate in Laval.
Canadiens GM Kent Hughes recently said he has no plans to trade Xhekaj or employ him as a fourth-line winger. However, Lajoie isn’t convinced that the big blueliner remains part of management’s long-term plans for the club.
Lajoie wouldn’t be surprised if Xhekaj was involved in a trade between now and the NHL Draft in June. He pointed out that Hughes moved another popular defenseman at the 2022 draft by shipping out Alexander Romanov in a three-team deal that fetched center Kirby Dach.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Given the Canadiens’ depth in promising young defensemen it’s expected that Hughes could bundle one of them in a trade to bring in some established offensive help. Moving Xhekaj in a package deal would be an unpopular move among the Habs faithful unless the return is a scoring star.
Did read yesterday the Bruins have their eyes on 5-6 wingers with scoring punch for their 2nd or 3rd line and I guess they are players that are pending UFA in this coming offseason..no names were given of course .. there was also a mention of a Dman with size that can keep the front of net in the D zone clean …every trade deadline Sweeney does something if Bruins keep playing the way they are this year shouldn’t be any different
@joe
I will get blasted by my fellow Ranger fans here but
I think it is time to move Kreider and his hometown makes logical sense
Rangers need a shakeup. One line or 3 players(panarin fox trocheck) are the only consistent players lately.
Kreider has become a beer league superstar who only hustles when he has the puck or up on the rush.
Not happening till after July 1, when his NMC turns into a 15 team no-trade list.
Would have liked to get Kreider 3/4 years ago they may have won a SC with him
@johnny…yeah unless he approves.
2 powerplay goals in the last 28 games…and thats his bread and butter.
I don’t necessarily disagree. But the guy is on pace for 70+ points. He’s become a regular contributor. It seems like only Fox, Panarin, Kreider , Zibanejad and Trocheck put up points.
Zero consistency outside of those players. Zero.
So who is replacing that production? Certainly nobody internally.
There are much bigger issues with this roster.
Goodrow, 5 points in 45 games !!! Yikers!
Bonino 5 points in 45 games.
Kakko 4 points in 26 games.
Pitlick 3 points in 29 games.
And so on. It’s clear what NYs issue is, secondary scoring. Moving Kreider only makes this issue worse.
The only bright spot on the bottom 6 has been Cuylle.
Ny needs to find help on that bottom 6 to take pressure off the top 6.
No , Othman isn’t the answer, and Perrault is nowhere near his time in the NHL.
To the PP:
I’m not even sure how or why this PP has been so successful at times.
4 righty’s and 1 lefty and never ending passing, nobody wants to shoot.
If I’m Drury, I’m looking for a 3rd line center that can actually put up points and a top 6 RW that’s an actual RW.
Laffrienere, is NOT that guy.
I think it was you that suggested 2-1st rounders for Josh Anderson the other day?
If that’s the case, here’s to 4-5 1st rounders for Kreider!!!
🍻 🍻 🍻 🍻!
Captain Obvious we agree on almost all
Kreider + Mika are doing very little even strength for months now. Time to break the duo up and I say removing Kreider from the room with his lazy backchecks is warranted
Sure he scored almost ever goal vs the Devils in the playoffs but he was so brutal in game 7 and his effort without the puck warranted a benching.
And there is no saying if Chytil can return to form or get reinjured quickly
Zibanejad in the month of December was 4th in the nhl in scoring with 21 points. Behind only McKinnon, Aho, and kucherov and tied with Mathews (21 points in 14 games 10 es 11 on the pp)
Kreider had 13 points in December in 14 games and only 2 points on the pp.
Are you watching the same team?
Not sure what you’re basing all that on? Eye test? Because they’re stats certainly aren’t backing up your view of this duo.
As far as last year’s playoffs, there are plenty of directions to point the blame and finger. Kreider led the team in points where Panarin (11 million dollar man had 2!)
He is literally the ONLY guy that shouldn’t be blamed!
there are games with neither 1st liner shows up
and watch Game 7 vs Devils highlights. Kreider could of taken a step or 2 on 3 of the goals….
and yes Panarin showed zip last playoffs or vs tampa
i think teams a shakeup… and that doesnt mean moving picks, prospects or a forgettable depth guy…
I get that, but what’s your suggestion other than trade Kreider?
And who is covering his projected 75 points? Good luck finding a guy putting up 70-75 points for 6.5 per or less.
Help is NOT coming from within, it’s just not there. Moving his production now leaves it on the other guys that actually contribute. Which as I point out above is already too few.
They need to be adding to that top 6 talent, not subtracting.
Panarin isn’t going anywhere. 11.6 per and full NMC means he isn’t an option. Certainly not mid season.
A Top 6 capable RW and a 3rd line center capable of putting up more than 5 points in a half season makes most of their issues go away. Miller also needs to find his way back with a quickness.
Miller is much more of a liability these days than Kreider! I get that he’s had some personal issues. Maybe he needs more time away from the game? If he regresses any further this year, he’ll be back in the womb.
Again, Kreider is earning his check, time for everyone else to start earning theirs !
Blaming the 2nd line wing for the massive issues NY has today is grossly short sighted.
Having Shesterkin not giving up 4-5-6 as often as he has this year wouldn’t hurt either.
And as far as giving up picks, why not? NY sucks at drafting and development of forwards.
Andersson = bust
Kravstov = bust
Kakko sure looks worthless
Laffrienere looks more like a bottom 6 than top 6. Zero consistency.
Chytil started to come around , concussion’s may end his career. They have certainly slowed down his development.
Othman looks promising, but not nhl ready. (Yet another left winger)
Taking it further , defensemen:
Jones stuck in the AHL
Lundkvist traded , because he was stuck in the AHL.
Miller regression is terrifying.
If only they had guys like JT Miller , Buchnevich on that top 6! Lol
@captain
having a 3rd line that is a threat would be a start
I still think something off and needs shakeup.
Which means moving a big player… and i still choose Kreider…even if his points are hard
If i had a choice i trade the captain but thats not happening
tossing wheeler bonino goodrow pitlick every game on the ice is not gonna win many games. we have alot riding on Chytil returning to his 25 goal potential… i dunno..
team started so good.
What about Fox? NY played fine without him during his absence, and what player would bring back that kind of return?
Blasphemous? Maybe, but he is a guy that brings back a ton of assets.
Kreider isn’t the issue. Nor is Fox. But if we’re spitballing. Why not trade the guy with a pretty friendly contract , and probably one of the more valuable d-men in the league?
The only way that the Bruins are in on a winger is if they cannot find a centre they need. They have a few young guys that would be asked about, but those guys are not going anywhere.
To me if they get anything in the form of a legit Centre, it will involve Debrusk and/Or Ullmark going the other way.
If the Bruins were serious about a bigger meaner D man they missed out on that with Zadorov. All the Canucks gave up was a 3rd rounder.
Zadorov was a move BRUINS should’ve made
B’s didn’t have the cap space to go after Zadorov, so would have needed to send a roster player the other way.
Zadorov AAV is $3.75M
They could have sent Grez and a 3rd to make the money work and CGY could have traded Grezx after that.
He is easily the Bruins Weakest link come playoff time IMO.
He would have to be the guy if they traded for Zadorov, I have no clue if Calgary had interest in him.
Or if Sweeney had interest in Zadorov.
They don’t come bigger than Zadorov, and he will at times hit with a purpose. But B’s have big D men on the left side already and not sure Zadorov is an upgrade on those 2. He’s not the fastest guy.
I don’t mind Grz, but he does seem to get hurt come playoff time, or knocked around. Just not big enough.
Without cap room, a first round pick and no prospects they want to move I’m not sure what that can do other than D man depth.
every trade deadline Sweeney does something if Bruins keep playing the way they are this year shouldn’t be any different
Re; Ottawa & Jackob Chychrun
The media Really need to lay of this kid….
That Bruital they say he want out of ottawa, Grandpa & sister living close by and he loves it there…
He has been the Sens top scoring d/man and can play LD & RD….
I would trade the ” injury prone LD ” man
Thomas Chabot first he has never played a full season mostly 40-50 games⁉️
Have Chychrun and Jake Sanderson as the 2 top 4 LD men and get Chychrun under contract for 8 years,
Maybe they can swap out LD man Thomas Chabot for a top 4 RD man…..🤔🤙🏿
Chabot for Risto + 3rd
I would at least consider it given Chabots constant injuries
Chabot most definitely should be moved, but it’s going to be a tough sell at 8M per season and the bad play he exhibited this year so far… not even to mention the injuries.
However, maybe Staios can sell someone on Chabot’s potential? He has the ability and skills, but maybe his time with Ottawa has burnt him out. Sometimes a change in scenery can make all the difference. I think if Staios doesn’t ask for a King’s ransom in return, he could be moved. Then re-sign Chychrun to an extension and get a RD defenseman.
Johnny
I would do that trade……and ask philly for a 2nd pick as Ristolainen is 3 years older,👍
I read Ryan Reaves has asked for a trade; Reaves says he has two bad knees. Good on 36yr old Reaves to turn two bad knees into a 3yr, $4m contract. Reaves recently Jan 20/24 turn 37
Not sure if there is a market for him. If it was an expiring contract sure but not with two more years.
He said in the Luke Fox article on SN that his knees pop out when he gets out of bed. He wears braces almost 24/7. I think he’s toast. Last 2 years of that contract are his “gold watch”.
Is it good on Reeves or bad on the GM dumb enough to give him that contract?
I know that was a rhetorical question Howard, but it’s beyond comprehension that Treliving gave that contract out at all, let alone on a cap strapped team.
No worse than the ND contract fletcher handed out for the Flyers. 4th liner who brings nothing but size and is always late to the play and can’t defend.
Re; Leafs Ryan Reaves,
Was a Terable contract done by the New GM
Brad Treliving… $4.M over 3 years⁉️
they need team toughness first in the top 6 and there defence to start.
Leafs top six a light weights who shy away from the tough stuff all the time
= Golf in April Again for the leafs….
Xhekaj on his own won’t bring in much. He’d have to be part of a package to add some offense. Eventually one of the young Dmen will have to be packaged in this sort of deal.
Bruins should ask Caps about JOEL Edmundson
This is a new topic but I think of interest to everyone here. All us Habs (and certain other teams’) fans are left with is calculating what draft pick our team will get, as a solution to its mediocrity. What follows is an exploration of that thinking from Arpon Base of the Atlantic:
“Looking at those 60 players — the top three forwards on two Stanley Cup finalists over 10 years, noting that several players show up repeatedly because their team made the Final multiple times — revealed that 36 of them were drafted. Only 13 of those 36 players were picked top five in the draft. Another eight were taken later in the first round of the draft, and 15 of them were taken in the second round or later.
Of the other 24 forwards, 13 were acquired via trade, five were signed as unrestricted free agents, four were expansion draft picks and two were undrafted free agents.”
It reinforces the difficulty of landing a home run draft pick in the years that the likes of Matthews or McDavid types aren’t available.
Just like Dreger, I’ve had my eye on Broberg too. I think he’d look good in the BlueNote!
Something like Perunovich, Toropchenko and a 3rd round pick??
(probably crazy, but if I ran the show, I would include a bigger package with Binnington and Saad for Campbell, McLeod and Lavoie. Blues aren’t going anywhere–might as well add younger pieces)
IP
Hey Iowa Prince, I understand you don’t start with your best offer, but Broberg for a 3rd and who? I had to look those guys up.
It did help me understand why St Louis is struggling though, when guys like that actually play on the NHL team! Not sure either one would make the NHL roster in Edmonton judging from their history.
I agree it will be expensive to move Campbell, but the Oil really like McLeod. I don’t know if the Oil can afford to move him, because it costs too much.
Word is that he is playing much better the last few weeks down on the farm. I suppose stranger things can happen and he makes his way back to the NHL team as Skinner’s backup.
Barky, perunovich and torpor are 2 current roster players. Perun won the hobey baker and skates and rushes puck really well. A bit undersized. Torpo would be perfect for Edmonton! 2 way player, kills penalties…they would love him. I might be giving too much!?!? IP
Why would The Oilers take 2 pieces of garbage from The Blues in exchange for 2 young talents and 1 piece of garbage from themselves?
Wow! Carter Hart?
Don’t think his name will be in the rumor mill anytime soon!
In a sad note and commentary Alex Formenton, Dillon Dube, Carter Hart, Mike McLead and Cal Foote have been required to report to the London, On., police headquarters to answer questions regarding a sexual assault in 2018.
If true and they are charged and convicted they will have ruined a young woman’s life, ruined their own lives and futures, shamed their families in front of the world and given Canadian hockey and Canada a black eye.
It saddens me as a Canadian and a hockey fan!
I think Hockey Canada already embarrassed us when they paid Josh money out of public funding.
If these guys are guilty I hope they never play again.