NHL Rumor Mill – January 6, 2024
Check out the latest on the Senators and the Blackhawks in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
THE HOCKEY NEWS: Adam Proteau recently looked at which two players the Ottawa Senators will likely shop leading up to the March 8 trade deadline.
Looking at the Senators’ record, Proteau believes they don’t have a chance at reaching the playoffs this season. General manager Steve Staios will have to decide which players to keep and which ones to send packing by the deadline.
Ottawa Senators winger Vladimir Tarasenko (NHL Images).
Winger Vladimir Tarasenko is their best trade asset. He’s on a one-year, $5 million contract and becomes an unrestricted free agent on July 1. The 32-year-old winger currently has eight goals and 24 points in 32 games. Staios could move him for young players and draft picks.
Dominik Kubalik is another trade candidate. The 28-year-old winger is also slated to become a UFA this summer and has eight goals and 11 points in 34 games with a $2.5 million cap hit.
OTTAWA SUN: Bruce Garrioch reports Staios continues his search for veteran help before the trade deadline. He seeks a third-line forward who can help support alternate captain Claude Giroux by acting as a leader for their younger players.
Garrioch also indicated that Shane Pinto is expected to sign a one-year contract worth around $800K. There is speculation that Staois could be discussing a long-term extension with Pinto’s agent but it’s unlikely to be the case.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Barring a second-half performance for the ages, the Senators will not make the playoffs this season. Staios will be a seller at the trade deadline.
It will be surprising if Tarasenko and Kubalik aren’t moved by March. As for Pinto, Staios will likely evaluate his performance over the remainder of the schedule before getting into contract talks beyond this season.
Staios will also want a veteran leader or two with term remaining on their contracts. Whoever they bring in must be willing to be there and help to lead their younger players. Staios might have better luck finding those veterans via free agency this summer.
Hiring the right kind of coach will also be necessary for the Senators to make any real progress after this season. We know that Jacques Martin is only a stop-gap measure for the rest of this season. Whoever they hire as their full-time bench boss will have to keep Daniel Alfredsson on the coaching staff. With everything else going on, the new ownership must avoid repeating the mistakes of the past by alienating the popular Senators Hall-of-Famer.
THE ATHLETIC: Scott Powers dismissed recent speculation suggesting the Chicago Blackhawks could be looking to add big-name talent to their roster for next season. “If you were dreaming of someone like William Nylander, you’re going to be disappointed,” he writes.
Powers noted the Blackhawks will have plenty of salary cap space for 2024-25. “If someone wants to get paid more than market worth on a short-term deal, the Blackhawks would be happy to open their checkbook.” However, it’s unlikely to happen for long-term deals.
Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson isn’t likely to deviate from his current rebuilding plans until he has a better idea of the talent available in his prospect pipeline. He doesn’t want to pay a veteran for the next eight years with the money that will be needed to re-sign Connor Bedard and Kevin Korchinski when their contracts expire in 2026.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: That will also puncture last week’s speculation suggesting Elias Pettersson will forsake the Vancouver Canucks to join the Blackhawks this summer.
Pettersson is a restricted free agent with arbitration rights playing on a team that is jockeying for first place in the standings, a team that will pay him handsomely to stay in Vancouver. He’s not going to stage a holdout to force the Canucks to trade him. The Blackhawks aren’t going to send him an offer sheet as it would probably be matched. Even if the Hawks successfully signed Pettersson away, they would owe the Canucks five first-round draft picks as compensation.
As Powers noted, the Blackhawks won’t be rebuilding forever. For now, Davidson isn’t going to change his current plans.
Re; the Sen’s🍁
One player i would Love to see in Ottawa is the former Blues Captain Ryan O’Reilly….
i know he has 3.5 years more on his contract in Nashville
He would be great to help the young Sens Develope they just have way to many young players and
The Worst Goaltending Tandam in the NHL….❗️🙈
if they could trade Vladimir Tarasenko for a 1st pick he would be a great addition on any top six,
8 goals and 24 points in 34 games this year, sen’s could also retain some of his salary too…..
im sure they could get a good prospect or a 2nd pick for there other UFA LW/RW Dominik Kubalik who also has 8 goals this season..🤔
At the NHL 2024 Draft if they could trade a 1st pick for older good vets, this would really help solve problems in stablizing the team, offer a 1st round pick and a good young d prospect could get it done
For the Preds
Luke Schenn & Ryan O’Reilly as it looks like Nashville could go into a re-tool there❓
The Preds have lots of old players…the top 4 d is Old 32,33, & 2X34 years old….⁉️
Dead cap space they have over the next 3 years they have $9.M in 2024
have $11.M in 2025
have $9.M in 2026
all of this points to a Re-tool with the picks they have stock pilled ….9 picks in the 1st 4 rounds in 2024
and in 2025 2 X 1st round picks next year so far…🤔
Juuse Saros there 28 yr old Goaltender could be a Very Hot commodity in 2025 when he becomes a UFA 29 yr old Goaltender.. Question is would he want to stay or go to a contender….❓
As
we have all seen this year Top Goaltenders are in Very big Big demand….
Tarasenko has no trade. This will narrow the field and he alone decides
Chabot would return a nice package .
Sens need a shakeup aside from Fringe players. Agree they need a couple of very good third liners that they can use up and down the lineup
Re: Ottawa
Curious why Staois would require the incoming coach to require including keeping Alfredsson on the coaching staff? What previous coaching experience does he have?
Not all great players make great coaches.
Alfie is popular with the players and the fans, why alienate them?
Kent Nilsson
Because this isn’t about popularity, it’s about winning.
Alfredsson has no prior coaching experience. Wayne Gretzky didn’t make a very good coach…
All very good takes here ✌
Im not expecting much for Kubalik, streaky player who is soft.
Pettersson to Chicago never made sense since they are not far enough into their rebuild yet.
There are things that could make Pettersson move.
1/ While Vancouver is playing way above expectations, are and will they really be a true cup contender? With or without Pettersson, I just dont think so. The team isnt deep enough – has glaring holes and lack enough cheap, high end prospect
2/ OEL buyout will cripple them for a few years
3/ Capped out
If he signs, its a 3-4 year deal. If not these teams come to mind. Dallas, Benns deal ends. Montreal and Arizona if they move to a real arena or move to a place like Houston
The primary constraint among all teams in the playoff is cap space and lack of it thereof.
Speculation drives webclicks and internet traffic but I’m thankful Lyle that you boil it all down from reputable sources and citing them with links to where it came from.
So many internet bloggers out there cobbling their ideas on how to get clicks vs something worth clicking on.
Yesterday’s doozy courtesy of some guy named Rob Ellis…had the Rangers sending Kakko, Schneider AND a 2nd round pick to Calgary for 34 yr old Chris Tanev, Adam Ruzicka with the Flames retaining 50% of Tamev’s cap hit on his expiring deal.
Where does this crap come from? 🤔