Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – January 21, 2024
Should the Avalanche attempt to reacquire Nazem Kadri? Who could the Canucks pursue at the trade deadline? Which players should the Jets target in the trade market? Find out in the Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup.
SHOULD THE AVALANCHE BRING BACK KADRI?
THE DENVER POST: Sean Keeler makes the case for the Colorado Avalanche to reacquire Nazem Kadri, who signed a long-term contract in 2022 as a free agent with the Calgary Flames.
Keeler believes the Avs can no longer count on winger Valeri Nichushkin, who’s taken his second extended leave of absence from the club, this time to enter the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program. He doesn’t want to see the club waste another season of Cale Makar, Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen while they’re still in their playing prime.
The Avalanche have been linked to Calgary Flames center Elias Lindholm but he’s slated to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. Instead, Keeler believes bringing back Kadri would be a better option given his style of play and his previous tenure in Colorado.
Calgary Flames forward Nazem Kadri (NHL Images).
Keeler acknowledged Kadri is on the wrong side of 30 (33) and has five more years remaining on his contract with an AAV of $7 million. However, he’s also expressed his reluctance to play for a rebuilding club if the Flames decide to go down that path.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Keeler admits this is wishful thinking on his part (“let’s get wacky”) though ESPN’s Kevin Weekes shares his opinion about bringing back Kadri, especially with the salary cap going up next season.
Nevertheless, there are too many hurdles to clear for the Avs. The biggest is their lack of cap space for this season unless they send the Flames a good young player like Samuel Girard or Bowen Byram as part of the return. I don’t see the Flames retaining a significant chunk of Kadri’s cap hit given how many years remain on his contract.
As for next season, the Avalanche currently have $84.8 million invested in 12 active roster players for 2024-25. They’ll get $7 million in cap relief if Gabriel Landeskog remains on long-term injury reserve as he has since last season. If he returns to action, however, they can’t afford to take on Kadri even with the cap going up without shedding considerable cap space in the process.
CANUCKS TO EXTEND ALLVIN’S CONTRACT, SEEK A TOP-SIX FORWARD
SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman reports the Vancouver Canucks intend to extend general manager Patrik Allvin’s contract by this week. They signed president of hockey operations Jim Rutherford to a three-year extension last week.
Friedman also indicated they’re “looking hard” for a top-six forward. The word is they’re looking at about four or five different players.
One of their targets could be Pittsburgh Penguins winger Jake Guentzel. Another could be Calgary Flames center Elias Lindholm.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: That need for a top-six forward is due in part to the ongoing struggles of Andrei Kuzmenko. Following a 39-goal, 71-point performance in 2022-23, the 27-year-old winger has just eight goals and 19 points in 40 games. He’s been a healthy scratch five times and seen limited playing time as head coach Rick Tocchet attempts to improve his overall performance.
That’s led to speculation suggesting Kuzmenko could become a trade candidate. He’s signed through next season with a $5.5 million average annual value and a 12-team no-trade clause. Perhaps he’ll become part of a trade package if the Canucks pursue a rental player such as Guentzel or Lindholm, provided either one is available by the March 8 trade deadline.
FIVE PROPOSED TRADE TARGETS FOR THE JETS
THE ATHLETIC: Murat Ates recently listed five players that he believes the Winnipeg Jets should target leading up to the March 8 trade deadline.
The Jets could use depth at center and among their right-shot defensemen. Ates proposed Calgary’s Elias Lindholm, the Montreal Canadiens’ Sean Monahan and the Anaheim Ducks’ Adam Henrique to address the centerman role. Calgary’s Chris Tanev and the Philadelphia Flyers’ Sean Walker are his suggested blueline options.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Lindholm would be the best option in terms of skills but the asking price could be too expensive for the Jets. Other clubs will also be interested as the Flames will try to get a bidding war going to ensure a better return.
Henrique carries a $5.825 million AAV and at 33 has slowed but he still has good hockey sense and two-way skills. He’d be more affordable than Lindholm in terms of asking price but his cap hit is a concern. The Ducks could retain half of that hit but that will cost extra to convince them. That’s assuming, of course, that the Jets aren’t on his 10-team no-trade list.
Monahan could be the best option here. He lacks no-trade protection and has an affordable $1.985 million cap hit. The 29-year-old won’t cost as much as Lindholm and Henrique to acquire, perhaps a second-round pick.
Tanev could also prove difficult to land as there will be several clubs that could get into the bidding. He also carries a 10-team no-trade clause. Walker lacks no-trade protection, carries an affordable $2.65 million AAV and shouldn’t cost as much to acquire as Tanev. However, he might not be available with the Flyers holding second place in the Metropolitan Division.
Pens can trade Jake for nuks 1st and Kuzemenko. And conditional 4th if nuks get to west final
This way Dubas has not given up on the season and adds pics to a bare cupboard
Jake to the Canes for Bunting and Drury, would be a better deal for both.
But would they trade within the division, maybe not….but they have been trading partners before.
No it wouldn’t.
Canes are targeting a center and looking to move a UFA D man so the Pens don’t have the parts they need, Calgary however might.
If in the Avalanche I take a hard pass on Kadri. He’s well into his 30s, he’s got 5+ years left on a big money deal, his game is in decline and the decline will only continue. Landeskogs contract is likely not an issue. Seems unlikely he’ll be back.
I’m on the bandwagon now for the Habs to try to extend Monahan as long as the term and money are reasonable. He provided solid play at center and veteran leadership. Much better that trading him for a second rounder, which will likely not turn into an impact player.
Nylander for karlsson and Pitts 1st round pick.
Your core 4 are now Matthews , marner, Reilly and karlsson.
No question the Loafs have Talent but they dont have Guts. No Guts no glory
If Dubas was still in Toronto, maybe a version of that stupid trade would’ve happened.
It’s moot now anyways with the Leafs core all having NMC…
Does anyone know actual facts that nylanders MNTC for 2023 was changed to NMC when he signed his contract extension?
Can’t change a previous contract in any form unless both parties agree to terminate it
The previous contract expires June 1st.
The new contract can have any terms agreeable to both parties.
Until June 1st, Nylander’s limited No Trade Clause with 10 teams remains in effect.
Would the Leafs possibly trade him?
I doubt Shanahan would give such a move the go ahead.
My apologies seems as if you can per cap friendly
CLAUSE DETAILS: Player submits a 10 team no trade list. | Update (Jan 8, 2024): As part of his 8 year contract extension, the M-NTC was changed to a NMC
Kadri is a 2b leaning hard to a 3 center. I think valuable but not $7m worth. Flames hold a couple million should be able to move him. Has been Playing with a couple of kids . Not terrible.
The Flames focus is Hanifin Tanev and Lindholm . I doubt much time for anything else
if the Flames want to Trade Kadri,….🤔
and if they could… Then they would have to Eat about $3.M per year of the 5 years that are left on his $7.M contract as he has already startet to slow down now
he is old 33/34 yrs old at the end of his contract and has a Big Contract at 5.5 years left and $7.M PA…..
new team would be paying him $4.M untill he is 38-39 years old….
It could well be “A Salary Dump ” and a pick
to take him of the flames hands with
Retained salary & Not a Trade……⁉️
They still have 3 X UFA to Move or they lose them for nothing…Hanifin Tanev and Lindholm, after trades they will all test the UFA market July 1st 2024….🤔
and
maybe Goaltender Markstrom, maybe at the NHL Draft will get traded to make room for Wolf to come up and get the Re-tool going in Calgary
Thinking Toronto is looking to trade Nylander 8 minutes after extending him is a bit wishful thinking.
If they were looking for a sign and trade, what’s the hold up? I’d imagine if this was their plan, the basics of the deal would have been in place before the extension was handed out.
We’re two weeks into the extension. I don’t think it’s happening.
C.O>
I think they keep A top Winger Nylander who can Score and wait for JT contract to Run out next year….
Then spend the $11.M of Tavares Salary on Real d/men that the leafs have not had for years⁉️
Dubi could not figure that out …..
Hopfull the New GM Can….. Gun & Run dose not work unless you have a Good d & Good Goaltender the leafs have had Neither❓
I agree with that take. Not sure what d-men coincides with Tavares contract. But I don’t think Toronto has any true intentions of trading Marner, Nylander or Mathews.
Fun to speculate, but I don’t see it happening. And none of them would be in season trades regardless.
They need to start by replacing the coach
Sounds like Perry to the Oil
Sounds like Mcdavid needs a o stop bringing his mom to games and functions!😀😀😀😀
I kid!
Solid pick up.
C.O.
It looks like Really Very Good Crop of UFA d/men in 2025……👌 about 25 to 30 in UFA Market
J.Chychrun –27
A.Ekblad —29
A. Garvrikov –29
N. Point —30
E.Lindell—31
A. Larson —-32
and Victor Headman –34
Once the leafs get JT & $11.M of the books after next season im sure they can pick up a couplegood quality d/men.
I dont think Leafs GM will do much this year
But maybe at the Draft go after a Starting Goaltender to train Jo Woll with a couple of years on his contract……❓
leafs have a couple of Very Nice young forward prospects to bring up that would also help there Salary Cap and training going forward,
Fraser Minten, Easton Cowan, Ryan Tverberg
Next year i dont see them bring back Tyler Bertuzzi he has been a Big Bust at $5.M.❗️
I think they bring Domi back on a 3 year deal about $3.M…❓can play 2nd and good for the 3rd line centre or Winger…
Maybe they bring TJ Brodie’ back at $1.5M for 1 or 2 more years to play 3rd paring d man.. to play with young Simon Benoit❓
Then they look for a UFA to fill his spot in the top 4 or wait till next years 2025 Crop…….🤔
Not sure they would want to bring back Domi.
4 goals, 44 games, $3M doesn’t seem like a very good return on investment.
Domi has added little to the team (taken a number of bad penalties) and should be replaced by a more suitable 3rd line center.
Tavares will still need a contract. Won’t be $10 million per, but he’ll want at least $3-$4 million. The whole contract isn’t going to come off the books.
Would Josh Anderson and 3rd to VAN for a 1st 2024 & 2026 along with Meyers work?
Offer Dvorak to AVS in the off season for best picks available. He fits their time window and not MTL. Won’t cost AVS too much
Trade a 1st with Gallagher to SJ 😂
That’ll free cap for MTL to make a pitch for Guentzel, Hanafin, Lindholm
Maybe even Stammer
If Allvin hates his job and wants to be unemployed, yes. This works!
2-1sts for Josh Anderson? Huh? 12 points in 42 games Anderson? Often injured Anderson?
I get Myers Is a salary dump here, but so is Anderson at this point.
2-1sts? Huh?
2-1st round draft pick could go a lot further than this idea.
Not sure they would want to bring back Domi.
4 goals, 44 games, $3M doesn’t seem like a very good return on investment.
Domi has added little to the team (taken a number of bad penalties) and should be replaced by a more suitable 3rd line center.
If Vancouver wanted another C at 8,5 million they could have kept Horvat. I also think it would be a big mistake getting a second line C since it would basically staple Pettersson to the wing for the foreseeable future and I dont think he as any interest in that. Sure, he might enjoy playing on the lotto line in short stints but I think he sees himself as a center. They should target Buchnevich or Konecny but if they get a guy like Lindholm and extend him, I wouldnt be surprised if Pettersson decides not to resign anything but the qualifying offer. Not saying its a sure thing but they take a huge risk if they sign a 2C in my opinion