NHL Rumor Mill – January 30, 2024
Updates on the Flames, Penguins, Blues, Flyers and Blue Jackets plus the latest on Adam Henrique, Jakob Chychrun, Andrei Kuzmenko, and Arthur Kaliyev in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
UPDATE ON THE FLAMES
NHL NETWORK: Elliotte Friedman provided an update on Calgary Flames center Elias Lindholm, defensemen Noah Hanifin and Chris Tanev, and goaltender Jacob Markstrom.
Friedman believes there’s “a ton of interest” in Lindholm, listing the Vancouver Canucks and Colorado Avalanche as possible destinations. He thinks the 28-year-old center will get traded.
Calgary Flames center Elias Lindholm (NHL Images).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: CHEK-TV’s Rick Dhaliwal also interviewed Friedman, who told him Lindholm is high on the Canucks’ radar but it could cost them a little more because they’re dealing with the Flames.
The Athletic’s Corey Pronman and Julian McKenzie had the Avalanche and Canucks on their list of proposed trade destinations for Lindholm. They also included the Boston Bruins, Dallas Stars, Vegas Golden Knights and Winnipeg Jets.
Hanifin will have to decide over the All-Star break as to whether he sees his future in Calgary or somewhere else. At one point, the two sides seemed close to a contract extension but Hanifin changed his mind as the club struggled early in the season. They have reportedly resumed discussions.
There’s a big market for Tanev. The Ottawa Senators have an interest in him but he might not accept a trade this season to a non-contender. Maybe they’ll have a better chance of signing him as a free agent this summer.
As for Markstrom, Friedman said he doesn’t like the trade speculation. He believes that there’s an unwritten agreement between the goalie and Flames management that they won’t ask him about waiving his no-movement clause unless they’ve got an offer too good to pass up or he tells them that he wants to go somewhere. Neither scenario has happened yet.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Either scenario seems more likely to happen in the offseason given Markstrom’s $6 million AAV. I’m not saying either one will, just pointing out that it’s easier to move expensive contracts during the offseason when clubs have more cap space.
WHAT WILL THE PENGUINS DO?
NHL NETWORK: Friedman was asked if the Pittsburgh Penguins might make some big moves to retool their roster for next season. He doesn’t believe they’ll be buyers and that may be playing a role in the contract talks with pending UFA winger Jake Guentzel. They won’t trade their first and second-round picks and top prospects for playoff rentals. The Penguins could attempt to do a “soft rebuild” over the next couple of years.
LATEST ON HENRIQUE
NHL NETWORK: Friedman cited the New York Post’s Larry Brooks saying the Rangers might not want to pay a big price for a center to replace Filip Chytil because they haven’t played well lately.
Friedman acknowledged how well-connected Brooks is regarding the Rangers but he wonders if that’s a bit of a smokescreen. They have the eighth-best winning percentage in the NHL and if goaltender Igor Shesterkin regains his form there’s no reason that they can’t win their division in the playoffs.
The Rangers were seeking a fourth-line center before Chytil was sidelined for the season. Now they could be seeking another center. He believes the Anaheim Ducks’ Adam Henrique makes a lot of sense for them and he thinks that could be determined over the next month.
NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: James Nichols cited Friedman on his latest “32 Thoughts” podcast speculating that the Devils may have checked into Henrique’s availability. The 33-year-old center began his career with the Devils and spent over seven years with them before being traded to Anaheim during the 2017-18 season.
Nichols noted the Devils need to improve their goaltender and defensive depth and have sufficient centers to offset the indefinite absence of Michael McLeod. However, Henrique would generate more offense and would be stronger in the faceoff circle than anyone the Devils have beyond Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: If the Rangers want Henrique they might have to ask the Ducks to retain part of his cap hit, and that’s going to raise their asking price. The Devils have more cap space than the Rangers and could easily absorb Henrique’s $5.85 million cap hit.
I wouldn’t be surprised if general manager Tom Fitzgerald has looked in his availability. However, I think his focus remains on improving his goaltending and blueline depth.
UPDATE ON THE BLUES
SPORTSNET: During his latest “32 Thoughts” episode, Friedman indicated that St. Louis Blues general manager Doug Armstrong had a lot of his players in the trade market but there wasn’t a lot of interest.
One player who would’ve drawn interest was winger Pavel Buchnevich. However, he doesn’t think Armstrong wants to move the 28-year-old winger, who’s second in team scoring with 39 points in 48 games.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: With the Blues having climbed into a wild-card spot in the Western Conference, perhaps Armstrong will stand pat and see how the season unfolds.
SHOULD THE BLACKHAWKS KICK TIRES ON KUZMENKO?
SPORTSNET: During the latest “32 Thoughts” podcast, Friedman suggested the Chicago Blackhawks should look into acquiring Vancouver Canucks winger Andrei Kuzmenko. He felt the Nashville Predators could’ve been a destination but the Blackhawks are struggling to score.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kuzmenko continues to struggle this season following his 74-point campaign in 2022-23. He’s signed through next season with a $5.5 million annual cap hit.
The Blackhawks can easily afford Kuzmenko’s contract. However, he also has a 12-team no-trade clause and might not be keen to join a rebuilding team.
CHYCRUN’S FUTURE IN OTTAWA
NHL NETWORK: Friedman believes Jakob Chychrun’s future with the Senators will come down to what he seeks on his next contract. He has one year remaining on his contract with an AAV of $4.6 million and will seek a big raise. That will force management to make some decisions.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: That decision could be moving Chychrun but that might not take place until the offseason.
KINGS OPEN TO MOVING KALIYEV
SPORTSNET: During the latest episode of his “32 Thoughts” podcast, Friedman believes the Los Angeles Kings are willing to trade winger Arthur Kaliyev. He believes they would swap him for a depth forward who plays with a bit of an edge to his game.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kaliyev is only 22 and in the final season of his entry-level contract. He could make be an affordable reclamation project for an aging team or a rebuilding club.
WHAT’S UP WITH THE FLYERS?
NHL NETWORK: Friedman thinks the Philadelphia Flyers will attempt to sign pending UFA defenseman Nick Seeler to a contract extension and they could take a run at re-signing Travis Konecny, who has a year remaining on his contract.
It seems less likely that they’ll re-sign Sean Walker since their recent addition of Jamie Drysdale. The 30-year-old defenseman has been linked to the Edmonton Oilers, Tampa Bay Lightning and Toronto Maple Leafs.
CHANGES COMING FOR THE BLUE JACKETS?
NHL NETWORK: Friedman noted rookie defenseman David Jiricek’s public frustration with his usage by the Columbus Blue Jackets. This comes at the worst time with the Jackets poised to miss the playoffs again but he thinks Jiricek handled it well by reporting to their AHL affiliate in Cleveland.
Friedman believes there could be big changes coming for the club and wondered how high up they could go.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: It starts with a new president of hockey operations, a new general manager and a new head coach. This franchise has been mired in mediocrity for years. The fans and players deserve better.
Freidman doesnt think the Penguins will move any of their draft picks.
Based on what?
Scooby Dubas’s long record of retaining and adding picks every trade deadline?
“Based on what?”
NHL people talk to him. That’s what it’s based on.
“Scooby Dubas’s long record of retaining and adding picks every trade deadline?”
Maybe you don’t watch the standings, but Dubas’s Leafs made the playoffs every year he was there. He traded draft picks because he was bolstering a playoff team. The Pens are not in the playoffs right now, so it makes no sense for them to trade picks to get better,
Have you ever watched hockey? Maybe you should comment on a sport you like and/or know anything about.
Just a suggestion.
Just out of curiousity. How did all of Scoobys mastermind deals work out for the Leafs?
1 Cup?
2?
More?
🤪😝
For all of his traded draft picks and prospects, Dubas Leaf teams managed to win one round in the playoffs!
Masterful!
Dubas will be active for the Penguins. They are only 5 points out of third in the metropolitan with games in hand and they are playing better as a team lately !!
They need to move Jake Guentzel (As much as we love him) he will want north of $10 million next year we must get something for him.
He will net a young roster player, a pick and a prospect. Reilly Smith is an excellent two way player will help any contending team he just hasn’t found his niche in Pittsburgh after a strong start.
There will be moves made because the Penguins can beat anybody and they have Colorado, Tamps, New Jersey, Carolina Vegas, La Kings, Boston but they can also blow leads with the best of them and lose to a high school team.
Henrique would be a great pickup by the Devils, he was always a fan favorite. But Fitzgerald really needs a #1 goalie and defensive dman for his team to make the push for the playoffs.
When healthy, a Hughes/Hischier/Haula/Lazar set of centers is more than fine. Other than Hughes they are all strong in the faceoff circle
Never mind Tanev not accepting a trade to Ottawa or any non contending team. Why would anyone even suggest that a non contender would give up assets and trade for a pending UFA.
As explained previously. They’re looking for pros to mentor the younger players.
H. Reilly Smith a consummate pro fits that bill.. and you have one more year left.??
Hey Howard,
Its been Very Well Documented that the young Senators need more veteran leadership for there team up front in there Top 9 and one more on there defence
13 of there 21 players are 25 or under….❗️🤔
Chris Tanev would be a Perfict pick up in Ottawa as a player and leader to help the Defence.
he is 100% what the Sens need on there d…..
This may well be a July 1st pick up for Tanev❓
Steve Staios has openley said they need leadership and more veteran experience on his team,
Staios is open to trading for that Now and before the deadline in March, and on July 1st when UFA market opens up…..
The other player they could look at is Pred’s forward
Ryan O’Reiley……….
H, Willie,
At this point, I certainly don’t see Tanev signing an extension with any team other than Calgary. He’s come this far, he’ll test the market. Ottawa’s better off taking a run at him as a UFA.
Yeah, Howie, it would have too be a sign and trade, which makes the price even higher! And after all, Dorion is no longer there , LOL.
I find the love affair from Ottawa over anyone named Tanev baffling. But this particular Tanev is one year older and 3 million MORE expensive than Hamonic….but they need some kind old mentor person? Head scratcher.
My offer to the Penguins stands.
Chabbot — expensive but makes Karlsson better
Brannstrom–off the books end of this year do what you want with him.
for:
The other Joseph brother, Smith, Acciari and 2024 2nd round pick.
The math almost works. Change of scenery for a bunch and a bit of a refresh for both teams.
It was rumoured that the Flames owner, Murray Edwards, is adamant that the Flames will not make a deal with the Oilers or Canucks unless it’s a huge overpay. The only reason that Conroy was able to talk Edwards into accepting the deal with the Canucks for Zadorov is that the Canucks deal was the best out of all the other team’s offers and there was zero salary retained. Apparently, no deals can be made without the approval of Edwards.
Well if this “rumour” is in fact the case. It is the answer to why the Flames organization is such a dumpster fire.
If I’m Kuzmenko I’m asking to go to Chicago. He has to get away from Van so he can rebuild his worth/stats. Chicago would give him an excellent chance to play in the top 6 and likely alongside Bedard on the PP for all of next year. If he succeds, he can cash in. Not too many other places he will get a prime shot like that.
ok im no expert just a dreamer. blue jackets fan i was wondering what everybody thinks it would take the jackets to acquire zegras from ana. also what kind of returns could we get on laine jenner boqvist heck any of the jacket players. thanks
You aren’t getting anything for Laine. You’d have to pay (cap retention, picks, prospects; probably 2 of the 3) just to be rid of that contract.
Jenner and Boqvist might have some value, though probably not enough to move the Jackets forward with any haste.
Laine would absolutely have value on the open market assuming he completes his treatment. Value commiserate with what he might have gotten a year or two ago? No. But there definitely wouldn’t be a sweetener needed.
That being said he probably couldn’t be moved until the offseason due to salary and teams wanting to see his response to the program.
I agree with Chrisms, Laine does have some value. I don’t know what it is, but the reason why he entered the Player Assitance program is probably the main reason why his play has dropped the past couple of seasons. Once he gets back and gets healthy and you put him on a team that has a strong playmaker like Marner (I am not saying that the Leafs will be going after Laine) you should see his production increase dramatically.
As for Jenner, he should get a decent return. He seems to be a strong leader, has good character, and is a hard-working team-first type of player. I hate to say it because of their recent past, but a team like the Blackhawks could use a guy like Jenner. They will need a Jenner type guy in their dressing room to keep the young skilled players in check and make them accountable in the defensive zone.
@ Chrisms, Laine on the open market would have some value.
But he’s not in an open makert. Laine in a trade with a salary/cap hit of $8.7m for 2 more years? Zero value there. Columbus would need to retain half the salary plus give away picks to get out of that contract. He’s stuck in Clb for at least another year.
Nope. So long as teams feel he likely progresses after his treatment, with his talent Columbus would be able to trade him. In the offseason.
Whaler..I would take Boone Jenner and Adam Boqvist on the Penguins in a heartbeat.
Love Boone Jenner character guy good player and Boqvist a young skilLed third pair maybe second pair RHD.
Reilly Smith, Pierre Oliver Joseph, Valteri Pustinen and a 2nd round pick for
Boone Jenner and Adam Boqvist ??
That is $ 6.6 million to Columbus
That is $ 6.3 million to Pittsburgh
Monies are even both teams get needs and Jackets get a pick..
I’m with you Blackngold. I like both Jenner and Boqvist and would have no problem with them coming about 300 miles southeast.
Still, from the Columbus side, I don’t know that either of them would bring a King’s ransom that would jumpstart the team. I fear for their fans’ sake that it’s going be a long slog to respectability.
(we’ve been there)
Re; Flames🔥
I think it will be a Re-tool Re-build in Calgary
and the Move ALL there UFA players +
➡️Noah Hanifin
sign’s in hometown Boston on Julys 1st
➡️ Elias Lindholm
He go’s to the higest bidder, Lots of teams intrested and need a 2nd line centre like
NYR, Boston, Ava’s, Jet’s, Canucks, Vegas,🤔
➡️ Chris Tanev
lots of intrest, Oilers and Senators ++
Flames goaltender
➡️ Jacob Markstrom $6.M X 2.5 more years, he maybe a Draft deal due to his $6.M contract and other teams with Very limited cap space he may Not want to do a Re-build in Calgary…⁉️
Flames only have 2 NHL d/men sighed for next year the other 5 are ALL UFA
Then there is
➡️ Nazem Kadr and his 6 more years at $7M.Maybe he is the Centre that gos back to the Ava’s…..❓
Kadri to the Avs? I think he might go for that.
Kadri (retain $1M) for Girard, O’Connor and a ’26 2nd. If that happened the Flames could re-sign Lindholm! 😁
NOOOoooooooooooooooooooooo! We do not want the bad contract! Plus It would be a mistake to trade Girard or O’Connor.
Sure, the Habs own Calgary;s 1st rder next season, so yes, sell the farm.
The Bruins (sorry, i know they weren’t included in todays topic) should target Marcus Foligno and Jacob Middleton from the Wild, or do nothing at all.
Centers are too expensive right now. We’ll have to wait until the off season to get one, if it’s still on The Don’s list.
Whaler..I would take Boone Jenner and Adam Boqvist on the Penguins in a heartbeat.
Love Boone Jenner character guy good player and Boqvist a young skilLed third pair maybe second pair RHD.
Reilly Smith, Pierre Oliver Joseph, Valteri Pustinen and a 2nd round pick for
Boone Jenner and Adam Boqvist ??
That is $ 6.6 million to Columbus
That is $ 6.3 million to Pittsburgh
Monies are even both teams get needs and Jackets get a pick..
Take Roslavic instead of Jenner and keep the 2nd rounder. 👍
Johnny Z Maybe Rosolovic is talented but Jenner is all around and cheaper/….LOL
Bruins go to the Flyers and get both Nic
Tanev will sign with Vancouver (again) in the offseason. Just ask Quinn Hughes. The only question is will Van buck up and get him for the playoff run. That’s why Zadorov’s name is out there. Kuzmenko and his $5.5 will be offloaded for a top 6 forward. Who that is remains to be seen.