NHL Rumor Mill – January 31, 2024
The Rangers could pursue Elias Lindholm while Kaapo Kakko could become trade bait, plus an update on Chris Tanev and the latest on the Canucks and Capitals in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
LATEST RANGERS SPECULATION
NEW YORK POST: Larry Brooks reports sources tell him the Rangers have Elias Lindholm at the top of their wish list and had done so before Filip Chytil was ruled out for the rest of the season with a suspected concussion.
Lindholm, 29, is a skilled two-way center slated to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. Brooks noted that he’s not a bruising checking-line forward that would make the Rangers a tougher playoff opponent. However, he would improve the Rangers at five-on-five.
While the Flames could still attempt to re-sign him he could become what Brooks calls the “prize deadline rental property.” The asking price could be a first-round pick along with “at least one legitimate prospect and perhaps a young, NHL-ready player.
Calgary Flames center Elias Lindholm (NHL Images).
It could take Kaapo Kakko and a first-rounder for the Rangers to land Lindholm. “Or maybe the Flames would prefer Will Cuylle or Brennan Othmann”. The Blueshirts have the cap room to absorb Lindholm’s $4.85 million cap hit but it would leave them little room to address other issues. Brooks believes the Flames’ asking price could increase if the Rangers asked them to retain 40 or 50 percent of Lindholm’s cap hit.
TSN: Darren Dreger reported Kakko is an asset that Rangers general manager Chris Drury could use as trade bait. He said multiple sources claim Drury is taking calls about the 22-year-old winger, who was chosen second overall in the 2019 draft. Dreger speculates Kakko could be used to acquire “a significant piece” leading up to the March 8 trade deadline.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Rangers ownership and management consider themselves to be Stanley Cup contenders since reaching the 2022 Eastern Conference Final. They went big in last year’s trade deadline by acquiring Patrick Kane and Vladimir Tarasenko but were eliminated from the opening round of the 2023 playoffs by their arch-rival, the New Jersey Devils.
It shouldn’t come as a surprise that the Rangers will swing for the fences again this year. They must address their depth at center and have the cap space to do so with Chytil on long-term injury reserve for the rest of the season.
Dangling Kakko as the centerpiece of an offer for Lindholm could give the Rangers the edge in a bidding war. He’s struggled with injuries and consistency in his five NHL seasons but still has the potential to become a reliable top-six forward, especially after last season’s promising 40-point performance. A change of scenery could be just what he needs to reach his potential.
TEAMS LINING UP FOR CHRIS TANEV
TSN: Darren Dreger reports multiple teams are in the mix for Calgary Flames defenseman Chris Tanev. Among them are the Ottawa Senators and Toronto Maple Leafs.
The Senators would see Tanev as a foundational fit as they would be interested in signing him to a contract extension. Dreger also indicated some of the teams looking at Tanev are non-contenders like the Senators.
Dreger believes it comes down to whether Tanev is chasing the Stanley Cup this year. If he is, it will factor significantly into his decision as to where he wants to go.
OTTAWA SUN: Bruce Garrioch cites league sources claiming as many as 10 teams have reached out to the Flames about Tanev, including the Senators, Maple Leafs, Los Angeles Kings and Vancouver Canucks. It’s thought that Leafs general manager (and former Flames GM) Brad Treliving has made acquiring the blueliner a priority.
There aren’t many right-shot defensemen in this year’s trade market which is why Tanev is so coveted this season. Carolina Hurricanes blueliner Brett Pesce is the only other top-end right-shot blueliner available.
It’s believed the Flames asking price for Tanev is at least a first-round pick plus a prospect.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: A first-rounder plus a prospect seems like a lot to pay for a 34-year-old pending UFA defenseman. However, it wouldn’t be the first time a team has overpaid for such talent leading up to deadline day.
As for Pesce, his name was out there in the rumor mill earlier this season. With the Hurricanes rising in the Eastern Conference standings, I doubt that he’s available now. Like Tanev, he’s slated to become a UFA in July but the Hurricanes could be willing to hang onto him for the rest of the season and deal with his contract situation once the playoffs are over.
COULD THE CANUCKS TRADE ZADOROV?
CHEK-TV’S Rick Dhaliwal reports agent Dan Milstein doesn’t believe rumors that the Vancouver Canucks could trade client Nikita Zadorov at the trade deadline.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The basis of that speculation had the Canucks moving Zadorov as a cost-cutting measure to free up cap room to acquire someone like Calgary’s Elias Lindholm or Pittsburgh’s Jake Guentzel.
Zadorov has struggled at times since joining the Canucks but he plays with a physical style that could prove invaluable in the heat of playoff competition. A more likely trade candidate would be Andrei Kuzmenko, who carries a $5.5 million AAV through next season. However, his declining performance this season could make him tougher to trade.
UPDATE ON THE CAPITALS
THE HOCKEY NEWS: Sammy Silber cited Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli including Washington Capitals forward Nic Dowd on his list of trade targets. He’s among the league’s best defensive forwards and has a year left on his contract with a cap hit of $1.3 million.
Silber expects Dowd will be a trade candidate if the Capitals become sellers at the March 8 trade deadline. So will pending UFA winger Anthony Mantha. Max Pacioretty, Joel Edmundson and Nicolas Aube-Kubel could also draw some interest as could defensemen Nick Jensen and Trevor van Riemsdyk.
Winnipeg is getting Lindholm and Tanev. You can book it.
And they’ll get them under the salary cap how?
The Jets have just under $7 million of cap space available at the deadline as per Cap Friendly.
Also as per Cap Friendly Lindholm has $1.9 million in remaining cap hit left this season and Tanev has a $1.8 million cap hit remaining this season. So unfortunately the Jets have plenty of cap space to add the two.
Tripper what’s the return? If such a deal was to happen.
1st round pick, Alex Iaffalo, Nikita Chibrikov and Logan Stanley
You spelled Vancouver wrong.
If the Rangers trade Kakko for a rental that is a bad move.
If the player that comes back in a trade for Kakko pushes or could potentially push the Rangers over the top and into a position as a serious cup contender. If that is the case, the trade is worth it. Teams have to strike while the iron is hot. I commend Drury for at least considering a move like this.
Rangers have not shown they are the team to beat in the past 6 weeks so not sure any one player puts them over the top
and Lindholm would be playing wing with Kreider and Zib not center. he is not a third line center…. he is too good for limited ice.
the Rangers need their 4th line to stop losing games for them as well. and a 3rd line that can score alittle
Wouldn’t adding Lindholm to the 3rd line provide the scoring the Rangers are missing? I mean, you have to add skilled players in order to improve scoring. Lindholm would also be a rental not a long term solution on the 3rd line. Maybe he’s comfortable with a little reduced ice time for one chance to go for it? He’ll get paid in the summer anyway, right?
Not advocating for this specific trade and maybe you’re right, the Rangers aren’t strong enough to make a push for the cup. Maybe this year isn’t the year to go for it?
Zero chance NY trades both Kakko and Laffrienere.
And no chance Tarasenko commands Laffrienere for a rental.
Last year Tarasenko (50% retained) and Mikkola were traded for Blais, Skinner a conditional 1st and a 4th.
I don’t see how his value has increased that significantly.
I’d be kind of surprised to see one of Kakko or Laffrienere shipped out, both? I just don’t see it.
I’m curious. If the offer is Kakko (RFA at the end of this season) straight up for Lindholm (UFA at the end of this season) who wins? Or would one side need to add something to make it work?
The offer isn’t straight up Lind for Kakko. – the flames would never do that deal. It includes the Rangers first rounder as well.
Kakko isn’t a bust yet. But he is definitely in your running out of time to prove you’re not a bust territory. I’m not sure I’d take him if I was the flames unless no other teams offered a better prospect.
When it’s suggested that NY trades Kakko / Laffrienere etc. I think JT Miller/ Marc Savard.
Extremely hard to really evaluate both of these players. For the most part, they’ve found success on the 3rd line together with Chytil centering them. Up until this year, neither have seen significant ice time , Pp time etc. Now they have Laffrienere playing on the RW.
I’m not totally against trading either. NY can afford to move a lw (Laffrienere?) with Kreider , Panarin holding down 1&2 spots. Othmann coming soon. Kakko and Wheeler are the only RWs in the organization.
Moving either Kakko or Cuylle in a deal hurts that 3rd line. So adding a center and taking either guy off that line makes no sense.
Re; NYR
I think your right with NYR going after the Flames Centre Elais Lindholm.
I also think they will go after Scoring winger Vladimir Tarasenko from Ottawa too that would give them 2 good Scoring lines……. After the first as the NYR have a hard time scoring some nights…
1st Trade
It could take Kaapo Kakko and a first-rounder for the Rangers to land flames Lindholm, flames retaine $2.M salary❓
2nd Trade
to get a Tarasenko from Ottawa, they may ask for
Alexis Lafrenière,
Ottawa may add in d/man to make it all work as the NYR dont have a 7th NHL d/man….❓ Sen’s could add 24 yr old LD/RD
Erik Brännström Or
an older d man like 33yr old Travis Hamonic
Sen’s Retaine some salary……🤔
NYR need way more scoring apart from a Centre,
100% Kakko is getting traded…
His name has been out there All Season since last years NHL draft.
Minimum offer for Flames Lindholm will be
A 1st Pick and A Kakko
Most other teams will be offering similar offers
There could be a 3rd peice offerd for the big centre EL…🤔
And dont be surprized to see NYR go after a big scoring winger…. Vladimir Tarasenko from Ottawa
Way more scoring isn’t exactly accurate. More secondary scoring yes, but with not much coming from the bottom 6 they still rank 10th in the league.
I don’t think having your name in a rumor mill makes a trade imminent.
Louongo, was rumored for years, Ditto Lecavalier , Etc.
I’d say Laffrieneres name has been more active than Kakko.
And a 1st plus Kakko is a bit steep for a 3rd line center / rental. I don’t see Drury pulling that trigger.
And as I mentioned above, trading your 3rd line RW for a 3rd line center makes very little sense. Now they have their 3rd line center but now need a 2nd and 3rd line RW?
Monahan definitely come cheaper than that ask.
If that’s Calgarys ask, good luck finding a trade partner!
Give Rangers DeBrusk … Bruins probably won’t resign him
Hey CO,
I would use Lindholm as my 2nd line Centre,
he is #1 Centre in Calgary🔥, and Top Centre avalable at pressent
if you dont need a 2nd line centre NYR… then dont trade for EL…..🤔
Would not be surprised to see Laffrienere get moved but i dont think they move both RW at the same time but you never know…Right?
The NYR have had a mix of player’s playing 2nd line centre & winger postions this season experimenting
Now Filip Chytil is out again for the season
they need to replace him with a Centre .
They also need to add a Good Scoring winger to there top 9….
I hear the Habs want a 1st pick for Monahan…
with the shortage of Good Centres avalable
they are holding the cards, First trade with a centre will start it All….😁
Trocheck was last years #2, the experiment was Chytil at #2 to start the year.
I don’t think EL is that guy for NY. Trocheck is having a fantastic season, has better production than any rumored center out there. (On pace for 80+ points, EL on pace for 60) Why force a change where it’s not needed?
They need to be looking at a #3 c and a top 6 scoring RW.
Last time with this … like to see the Bruins add a tough Dman with size like Seeler & a 4th line winger to take the place of Milan
( DESLAURIERS ) both can fit in cap space left, adding a top 6 who can score is probably out of the question without moving one of their goalies …
What does Boston have that Philly would want in order to give up Deslauriers? Getting that guy isn’t going to come cheap. Flyers are in a playoff spot and he has term left on that contract.
Deslauriers has played for 4 NHL teams … have you seen what he’s been traded for ? He’s not going to cost that much in trade value
I think you’re way off on the value of a guy like Deslaurier at this time of the year. He has 2 years left on his deal so he has term. He is affordable at 1.75 per year. The team he plays for is in a playoff spot and he’s a key role player.
If he’s even available that is. I understand that Bruins fans want a guy like this but he’s not going to come cheap. IMO. I also don’t think his trade history has any bearing on what his current value is.
Maybe a 2nd & 3rd rounds picks for both would get it done.
I’m not too familiar with the Rangers forwards style. If they have a winger who can rush the puck up the ice then Lindholm will fit right in with them. He will look more like the player from 2020-2022 when he had Gaudreau on his wing. If they don’t then expect the Lindholm that you see with the Flames right now.
IMO it’s buyer beware with Tanev. I live in the Calgary area and see and hear a lot about the Flames. Tanev’s play has taken a step back this season, and at the age of 34 and the style in which he plays he doesn’t have too many seasons left.
I have a huge amount of respect for the guy as a player, but I’m glad my team isn’t in the running for him.
Interesting view/points. As a Devs fan was interested in Tanev, but in my opinion that price is insane.
so Lindholm is not going to the kind of player to create his own chances as the third line center?
He has 5 even strength goals average around 20 minutes a night. does not seem like he will add that much scoring playing diminished minutes further down the lineup
I haven’t heard Tanev’s play has taken a step back this year and I live in Calgary. If anything, fans are terrified he’s still playing fearless on a losing team and will get hurt before being traded.
Looking at his career stats on Natural Stat Trick a lot of them haven’t been this low since his last season with the Canucks in 2019/20 when he had a young Quine Hughes as a partner. Hughes was in his second year and was known to be defensively poor at that time.
Today he has Hanifin as a partner who is a strong partner to have.
Kevjam I watched Tanev make a save with his mouth last December. That’s why teams want him. He sacrifices himself to win and that’s why other teams want him. It’s not for his point total.
Agree Tripper, those 2 are exactly what the Jets need for their playoff run. I think we have more than enough to overpay Calgary to get it done. Say our 24 first rounder, plus a combination of youngsters like Chibrikov, Rashevsky, Lucius, and then Heinola or Stanley on the back end. To make the $$ work more for the Jets, maybe send Schmidt the other way as well. Calgary is in a tough spot as any deal is going to have to be for futures but close to NHL ready. Hanifan and Markstrom will want out soon after the big 2 go. I don’t envy Conroy.
I agree, your trade proposal is what it will take and Chevy is all in with this group. Probably Bowness’ last year, great reward for Helly and Scheifele and this team is going for it.
I don’t understand the thought process to move Lafreniere? What do ranger fans want from this guy? Very good hockey player coming into his own it seems to me. He’s a #1 pick. You don’t just give up on those guy’s that easily. When I watch the Rangers, admittingly, don’t see them all the time, he is the one guy on that team that does a lot of things well: goes to the net, get his stick on pucks, can give and take a hit, chips in with timely goals, plays with a bit of an edge, etc. Ranger fans are expecting 50 goal seasons it sounds like? This guy is someone you need in playoff hockey and when Chityll, Kakko and lafrieneirre were together, that was easily the Rangers best line. We will take him in Colorado if you want to make a deal. GO AVS!!!!
Rangeez fans were expecting a Generational talent, and he turned out average at best (which is still better than a ‘flop’). The NHL even rigged a lottery for them.
Lol, why was it rigged? Because NY won? Priceless! The Rangers don’t pick a top 3 for OVER 50 years and they end up with a 1 and 2 back to back and it’s a conspiracy?
Priceless!
Edmonton gets 20 in a row and nobody blinks. NY wins ONE lottery and the fix is on!
If they’re gonna go ahead and rig NY drafts, why not Mcdavid, Bedard, Hughes etc? Why does it have to be the most shallow draft in recent years!?
I don’t get Ottawa’s plan, trading for Tanev feels like a Harmonic 2.0 trade but even more expensive? What’s the point exactly, where’s their window here?
Hey Brock,
Re; Chris Tanev
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,
Or
on July 1st when UFA market opens up….. 🤔
I think it’s a decent UFA move at the right contact, but again, I don’t understand the Sens getting into a bidding war giving up 2nd round pick(s) or a 1st rounder for a 34 year old player.
Hey Brock,
I dont think Ottawa Steve Staios offer up offer a 1st pick, for Chris Tanev
Staios is a Very Smart Guy, thats why the Oilers had him and were groming him for the GM job when Holland reties this summer.
maybe a 2nd pick & something if its a sign and trade other wise they wait till July 1st to do it
It’s not about the offer they want, it’s about the bidding war from teams trying to win the Stanley Cup. If they want to pick up Tanev, they’ll pay the piper, even if he’s overrated due to scarcity.
If I was a GM I would be looking at Sean Monahan, David Savard, Josh Anderson and Jake Allen and trying to determine what Montreal is asking in return.
Jake Allen would likely bring in a 3rd and a mid level prospect. Maybe a 2nd if a teams really desperate. Hughes doesn’t have to move him this year.
As to Savard, once again Hughes does not have to move him. He’d probably ask for a 2nd and a good prospect.
Anderson is untradeable right now, not playing well and a sizable cap hit with three years left.
As to Monahan, Hughes will ask for a 1St at least. Maybe even a solid prospect if a bidding war develops.
After alot of thought, I’m going to let the Rangers undo a previous mistake:
to NYR: Buchnevich + Vrana + 2nd/4th round picks
to Blues: Kakko + Cuylle
Will hate to lose Buchy, but speeds up the Blue’s “retool”
IP
Vancouver got throttled if what I read is true wow crazy Bruins stay put please.
Lindholm done not signed
No money held for a
First 2024
Leading OHL scoring defence man
Brzutewicz
Kuzmenko
Fourth 2024
And a minor league D…Jurmo
Well done grasshopper. A week off reset early .
Well the Kakko rumors didn’t age well Darren…you have to ask yourself the Rangers have a depth center need and willing to give up a 22 yr old top 6 forward for a 3C rental…which makes absolutely zero sense.
In the end Vancouver overpaid massively.