NHL Rumor Mill – February 1, 2024
With Elias Lindholm off the trade market, check out the latest on Jake Guentzel and Sean Monahan plus updates on the Bruins and Sabres in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
THE LATEST PENGUINS’ SPECULATION
THE ATHLETIC: Josh Yohe believes Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas would like to re-sign Jake Guentzel. The 29-year-old winger is slated to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. It could depend on Guentzel’s willingness to sign what Yohe called a “somewhat team-friendly deal.”
Yohe believes Dubas isn’t afraid to trade Guentzel if a new deal isn’t possible. He won’t let the winger walk away for nothing this summer. Nevertheless, the Penguins GM would love to sign him for the right price.
Pittsburgh Penguins winger Jake Guentzel (NHL Images)
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Guentzel’s cap hit on his current contract is $6 million. With the salary cap projected to jump by $4.2 million for 2024-25, he could get between $9 million and $10 million annually on the open market.
My guess is Dubas’ number is between $7.5 million and $8 million per season. It would then come down to how much Guentzel wants to stay and remain Sidney Crosby’s wingman.
PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: Dan Kingerski noted the Penguins have a couple of holes to fix among their middle-six forwards. He wondered if Dubas would attempt to move struggling winger Reilly Smith and his $5.5 million annual cap hit through next season to make room for another solution in a similar role.
Kingerski’s suggested trade targets include Ottawa Senators right wing Vladimir Tarasenko, Buffalo Sabres winger Victor Olofsson, and former Penguins winger Jason Zucker of the Arizona Coyotes.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The 32-year-old Smith’s production is well down this season with just eight goals and 20 points in 40 games. He has a 10-team no-trade list for this season which becomes an eight-team list next season.
Smith might not be willing to move to a rebuilding team, though the Coyotes are showing signs of a potential breakthrough as a playoff contender this season. Whether the Coyotes would want him, however, is another matter.
UPDATE ON THE CANADIENS
SPORTSNET: In his Jan. 30 mailbag, Eric Engels was asked if the Montreal Canadiens will trade Sean Monahan and if so what type of return he might fetch.
Engels believes it would take a first-round pick for Canadiens GM Kent Hughes to part with Monahan. As for when Hughes can expect to receive serious offers for the 29-year-old center. Engels expects talks in the trade market will pick up following the All-Star break.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Those discussions could start now after the Lindholm trade yesterday. That was the first domino to drop. Trade activity won’t take place during the All-Star break because the league doesn’t want anything to overshadow that.
I wouldn’t be surprised if the next big move takes place soon after the end of the All-Star weekend. Teams that were interested in Lindholm could shift their focus toward Monahan and that could drive up his trade value.
WILL THE SABRES BECOME SELLERS?
THE HOCKEY NEWS: Michael Augello noted that the Buffalo Sabres have six pending unrestricted free agents (Victor Olofsson, Kyle Okposo, Zemgus Girgensons, Eric Robinson, Eric Comrie and Erik Johnson) who could become trade bait leading up to the March 8 deadline. However, he doesn’t expect they’ll fetch big rewards for the Sabres.
Augello also noted some recent speculation suggesting the Sabres could trade forward Casey Mittelstadt. He carries an affordable $2.5 million cap hit and is eligible for restricted free-agent status this summer. However, that might be a move that Sabres management can hold off on until this summer.
BUFFALO HOCKEY NOW: Jason Moser recently noted the speculation about David Jiricek’s future with the Columbus Blue Jackets after the rookie defenseman expressed frustration over being demoted to their AHL affiliate.
Moser thinks it could be worthwhile for the Sabres to look into acquiring Jiricek if he’s available. He thinks offering up a top prospect forward such as Matthew Savoie, Noah Ostlund, Jiri Kulich or Isak Rosen would make sense.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Sabres playoff hopes appear dashed for another season. It wouldn’t be surprising if the Sabres peddled some of those pending UFAs for middle or low-range draft picks and prospects that could be used as trade bait in the offseason.
They could move Mittelstadt but that could depend on how his contract talks go. If it appears he could be headed to arbitration they might shop him during the draft in June for a skilled defenseman or an established starting goalie.
As for Jiricek, he hasn’t asked to be traded and I doubt that the Blue Jackets want to move him given his potential as a top-pairing blueliner. If he did become available, however, the Sabres possess the depth in promising young assets to make a competitive offer.
WHAT MUST THE BRUINS ADDRESS BEFORE THE TRADE DEADLINE?
NBC SPORTS BOSTON: Nick Goss ranked the Bruins biggest needs to address as the trade deadline approaches.
Acquiring a physical veteran defenseman who can clear the front of the net, kill penalties and play tough minutes against quality opponents. is the top priority. Adding a middle-six forward with a decent scoring touch could also help.
Aaaaand there goes a 1st round pick and 2 prospects for a 3rd liner about to be a UFA.
Classic Rutherford, trade every prospect and pick you have then quit/resign.
Like adding Lindholm but overpaid for him.
Nucks are having a fantastic season. Doubt many of us saw that coming.
If there is some chemistry with EP and EL the trade is acceptable for this surprise VAN season.
Well, one of the prospects is UFA this summer and has little to no value. The other one can go either way. Some say he can be great some say a 3rd pair guy playing PP, I think his numbers are inflated due to the league he plays in and he wasnt selected to the US WJC this year. Kuzmenko is 50% a cap dump but who could be good again, just not in Vancouver. Then its a first in the 24-30 range and a 4th. So I dont think its an overpay by any means and apart from the 1st they are spare parts that can have upside. Fair trade for both sides
Bruins need to forget Hanifin after seeing the haul that the Flames got for Elias Lindholm. Think a guy like Godas would fit their need.
Nick Seeler would be a nice fit for the B’s … big tough in front of net Dman
Re; The Bruins
They may look to add one more physical tough d/man like
Chris Tanev or Nick Seeler, lower cost maybe a 2nd pick
at Forward the other big guy they may look at it Patrick Maroon from the wild …??
I see that Jacob Middleton’s name has been mentioned as a Dman they could use
Ron
If you are implying Lindholm is a third liner you should lay off whatever koolaid that is getting passed around😉Solid #2 on any team. Can be a 1 with the right wingers playing beside him
Bruins would love Hanifin. But not trading for him or any other top player. No cap space little trade assets this year
Sweeney will try to add middle help either on d or forward. His big fish hunting will be in off season
Craig Conroy GM of the year wow what a haul.
4 wild cards and a troubled winger is not a haul…..but could be in the future. It will take 4-5 yrs to evaluate this trade.
Way more than I would have paid for a rental it’s a haul to me wow.
he has 2 D signed next season. was nice move to stock 2 more young defenseman.
i expect his next trade brings in a signed Dman
Raise your hand if you ever heard of either prospect before this trade?
Outside of Calgary, nobody has! Lol, they’re both 3rd round guys that more than likely amount to fringe nhl’ers at best.
I haven’t seen any proposals here that were including either of these guys. (Or even an honorable mention) Which tells me they weren’t on anybody’s radar.
I gotta say, I wish I had half the enthusiasm that people have on 1st round picks or former 1st round picks as some have in 3rd rounders or worse (they never heard of) prior to being dealt.
Neither one of those two will be in the NHL next year, and you’ll be lucky to see ONE make it in the next 3-4.
This is NOT a fleecing by any stretch.
The D in the OHL has gotten a lot of attention in Vancouver and could be something, but by no means a sure thing
As I said before:
Jake G for Bunting and Drury and maybe a 3rd-4th
Dubie would do good to get something for him now rather than TOTALLY bankrupt the Pens future with this aging roster!
Jake would bring back a similar return as lindholm. Not a strong enough offer.
Johnny Z.
j
Jake Guentzel to Vancouver
Nils Hoglander & Carson Soucy and a second round pick to Pittsburgh
Vancouver gets another stud on top of Lindholm for their major cup push.
Pittsburgh gets a 23 year old young talented winger who has 14 goals, speed, and a start to getting younger….imagine he will score 20 plus in Pittsburgh…we also get a big physical defenseman who can actually play defense in our top 4 to make us better in our own end.
This deal would be music to Pengy’s ears. He’s been talking about Soucy as a Penguin for years.
Not happening, Nucks made their big splash. Now they just need some D depth and maybe a physical 4th liner.
This is just weird, sorry. The “biggest” trade piece is gone, so what will we moan about until the trade deadline passes. I think Dubas has to double down on Pens dubious plan to stick with veterans, dooming them to a decade or mediocrity or worse. Flames still have some assets to trade, but big players in market are looking for centers, not D. And anyone who overpay for Monahan, a solid 3C, well tey get what they deserve. Good year to be a seller. Goalies available are pure dreck and someone will purchase. Hopefully not my Devs. Get a good Dman or pass on this year.
Pens with 4 games in hand a few teams and still have a shot at 3rd in the division.
If they don’t keep Jake as their own rental I can see a 3team trade where Jakes goes to a team in the West.
Ds..i totally agree third in the metro is real with games in hand and a smart move, trade or add by Dubas will get is there.
One move veteran for veteran
Vladimir Tarasenko 32 UFA $ 5 million
Reilly Smith 32 1 year $ 5 million
Tarasenko i think can help his fellow Russian Malkin get moving again and Reilly Smith is an excellent two way player and a pro which is what Ottawa said it is looking for makes sense for both teams…maybe a pick is added somewhere???
former Penguins winger Jason Zucker
That might be enough to bring back old friend Pengy, to go on a good rant.
Boston doesn’t need a center, team chemistry is there.
Agree a Miller, MacQauid type dman and a scoring winger with size and pace.
If Washington falls out of the playoff picture maybe Anthony Mantha for the wing.
Can’t see bruins doing much of anything unless a player leaves the roster. Aka. Griz, Forbert, DeBrusk. They have little cap space and even less pics And no they are not moving a tender
Marcus Foligno and Jacob Middleton would be a dandy fit.
Rick Middleton is even better…
Mrbruin4, they will add some depth. Agree won’t be top 4 d and won’t be top 6 forward.
Caper.
I agree Sweeney will add someone no stars just depth
Randino…….Has anybody heard from Pengy ?
We cant afford Hannifin but I know Rutherford is salivating over Jake Guentzel and we can get this package..
Dubas wont stand still..
Soucy isn’t Makar, Hedman or Jossi but he is steady, big, physical and can actually play defense which is what the Penguins need
No, I don’t think anyone has heard from Pengy in a while. I didn’t realize how much I enjoyed his verbal shenanigans until I stopped reading his posts every day.
I just remember Pengy begging GMJR to pick up Soucy as a 6th or 7th defenseman. He preferred soucy to jack Johnson and brought it up on a regular basis.
yeah that’s sooo true…that’s Pengy
I’ll take a chance on the 3 rd leading point getter in the OHL in anarguably top Major Junior league . And he is a defence man .
I have a feeling Lindholm signs and is not a rental. He’ll give them a discount and leave millions on the floor. Otherwise a lot of assets regardless if they pan out or not 5-1 . Lindholm might not pan out. It’s a funny game
@silver
If Brzustewicz translates and is a 2nd pair Dman for the Flames that changes the trade for sure
If Vancouver finds a way to resign EL after EP’s new contract…