NHL Rumor Mill – February 17, 2024
Another Flames defenseman surfaces as a trade candidate, the Senators are linked to Matt Dumba, the latest on Jake Guentzel and Tony DeAngelo plus updates on the Leafs and Capitals in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
TEAMS HAVE INTEREST IN RASMUS ANDERSSON
ESPN’s Kevin Weekes tweeted that Calgary Flames defenseman Rasmus Andersson is drawing some interest in the trade market. Weekes believes he’d be an attractive option for suitors given his age (27) and his $4.55 million annual average value through 2025-26.
Calgary Flames defenseman Rasmus Andersson (NHL Images).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: With the Flames listening to offers for blueliners Chris Tanev and Noah Hanifin I don’t doubt that some clubs are expressing interest in Andersson. However, there is a big difference between listening to offers and shopping a player.
By all accounts, the Flames are peddling Tanev and will do the same with Hanifin if he’s unwilling to sign a contract extension. However, there’s no indication that they’re looking to move Andersson.
Earlier this week, Flames general manager Craig Conroy indicated that he’s not staging a full roster rebuild but is instead attempting to retool. Moving Andersson along with Tanev and Hanifin constitutes a full rebuild as it would significantly deplete their blueline. Unless Andersson is asking to be traded, Conroy has no reason to move him.
Bear in mind that Conroy is under no pressure to trade Andersson as he still has two more seasons left on his contract. If a rival team were to pitch a significant offer for him involving a good young NHL player along with a first-round pick and a quality prospect, Conroy would probably give it serious consideration. Otherwise, I don’t see Andersson getting moved.
JAKE GUENTZEL’S INJURY WON’T HURT HIS TRADE VALUE
DAILY FACEOFF: Frank Seravalli doesn’t expect Jake Guentzel’s upper-body injury will hurt his value in the trade market. The 29-year-old Pittsburgh Penguins winger is sidelined for four weeks, putting his recovery period beyond the March 8 trade deadline.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: It won’t hurt Guentzel’s value but it will have interested general managers seeking full assurances that he’s on track to return to action by mid-March. I wouldn’t be surprised if some of them attempt to attach conditions to their offers based on his injury.
SENATORS INTERESTED IN MATT DUMBA
Freelancer Graeme Nichols cited the Ottawa Sun’s Bruce Garrioch recently reporting the Senators were taking a look at Matt Dumba. The 29-year-old Arizona Coyotes defenseman is on a one-year, $3.9 million contract and is slated to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s well-documented that the Senators are seeking veterans with experience and leadership to help some of their younger stars. If they acquire Dumba they could look at signing him to a short-term contract extension.
WILL THE MAPLE LEAFS SHOP THEIR FIRST-ROUND PICK?
SPORTSNET: Citing colleague Nick Kypreos, Justin Bourne believes the Toronto Maple Leafs will use their 2024 first-round pick as trade bait to bolster their roster leading up to the trade deadline.
Bourne believes the Maple Leafs badly need a couple of defensemen. If they want to get anyone meaningful, they have to trade a legitimate asset. They don’t want to move their prospects so that leaves their first-rounder.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Leafs have been linked to Calgary’s Chris Tanev and Philadelphia’s Sean Walker in the rumor mill. Giving up a first-rounder for either guy would be an overpayment but the Leafs are in “win-now” mode and that means overpaying for one of them.
Otherwise, they’ll have to find cheaper, less-talented depth or stick with what they’ve already got and hope for the best. Either option ensures the Leafs will struggle again to advance in the playoffs. That means wasting another season for superstar forwards Auston Matthews, William Nylander and Mitch Marner while they’re still in the prime of their careers. It also means captain John Tavares watches his Stanley Cup hopes recede further into the distance along with his playing prime.
Parting with a first-rounder for Tanev or Walker doesn’t guarantee a trip to the Stanley Cup Final. Hell, it doesn’t assure getting beyond the opening round. Nevertheless, it gives them a better shot than standing pat or making cheap additions that don’t move the needle. If they’re unwilling to part with their promising prospects (and I agree that they shouldn’t), trading the first-rounder is their only option.
LATEST ON THE CAPITALS
THE HOCKEY NEWS: Sammi Silber recently reported on the trade rumors dogging the Washington Capitals as they struggle to remain in the Eastern Conference playoff race. If the Capitals become sellers by the trade deadline it might not become a total sell-off.
The New York Rangers could look into the availability of checking-line center Nic Dowd. Given how thin the trade market is on centers, he could fetch a first-round pick. The shrinking market in quality forwards might also work to their advantage with winger Anthony Mantha given the improvement in his goal production this season.
Max Pacioretty, Joel Edmundson and Nicolas Aube-Kubel could also be shopped.
UPDATE ON TONY DEANGELO
THE ATHLETIC: Cory Lavalette reports Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Tony DeAngelo has been the subject of trade rumors with the Hurricanes shopping him. He’s due to become a UFA this summer and has been a frequent healthy scratch this season.
DeAngelo and his agent have met with Hurricanes management to discuss what’s best for both sides. He admits that his reputation and his past could be holding up a potential trade.
Teams should stay away from Dumba, all the numbers show that Arizona is better without them than with him, so the same situation as the last couple of years in Minnesota.
For me Tanev is the guy for Toronto, and thinking the first is to much makes no sense since they will need Calgary to retain cap
Agree & if they believe in their team & word is after 20 the draft quality drops, that 1st shouldnt deter them. Their window is closing not opening. Tanev at 50% is worth the late 1st rounder.
Kent Nilsson, you don’t like? How come so terrible for calgary? You would be getting a good defenseman with offense, skates like the wind, good term left on contract, LOC, great skater& penalty killer, 13 goals on the season so far. A
Always sticks up for teammates,Avalanche 1st round, good prospect in Olousson who has good potential possibly making NHL regular next year for
Markstrom ssounds like he wants to leave and Anderson good defenseman. Wouldn’t that fulfill conroy’s requirement of “a good young player in girard & another in LOC, a 1st & prospect like Oluasson? Just sayin?
Is it me or I didn’t read with salary retained anywhere ? + In my opinion a late first round pick is still a first round pick which means having the right to pick one of the 32 best players available that year out of 192. Tradewise, don’t forget that late first rounders brought Vancouver Lindholm and Winnipeg Monahan.
Could not agree more Kent.
Why on Earth would Ottawa consider Dumba? Because he was selected 7th overall in a draft?
Right now, most of the Arizona D – a team struggling lately – are having at least decent years in terms of their defense, with 3 of them on the plus side – Durzi +3, Kesselring (+2) and Moser (+5), while Valimaki sits at -2, and ex-Senator Josh Brown at -4.
Dumba is a glaring -13 in comparison and ex-Leaf Dermott -14.
And, since his highwater offensive mark in 2017-18 while with Minnesota (14g 36a 50 pts) that side of his game has progressively dwindled.
There’s a reason – at only 29 years of age – he has seen his cap hit shrink from $6 mil per to $3.9 mil
He is NOT what they need.
Hey George, a correction…Dermott is an ex Canuck technically. Leafs cut bait (albeit late) with him two years ago at least.
Dumba might not be the complete answer but might bring one element to a team like the Sens though one will need to judge it worth it and in your eyes, he is not. You gotta start somewhere since you believe the Sens are in worse shape than they are.
The ONLY problem I see with the Senators is an established inability – unwillingness?? – to develop consistency in effort.
When it comes to pro sports – and the salaries they earn – I can live with losses associated with simple differences in talent level, bounces, whatever – but NOT through consistent lack of effort – and I’m not referring to the odd game here and there over 82 but rather consistently every 2 or 3 games throughout a season . And that sticks out like a sore thumb.
To a man they KNEW they absolutely had to win the 3 games involving Columbus, Anaheim and tonight Chicago if they hade any hopes of closing the gap. They beat Columbus not because they outplayed them – they didn’t – but because their goalie was a worse sieve than Forsberg. There was NO effort in that one and certainly none in the Anaheim game. I don’t expect to see any tonight.
And I think it’s that that drives coaches/GMs nuts as well.
Ok then in that case, isn’t Dumba a “plays the game the right way” type of guy which sounds like you like to see more since young players are….you know, green.
And I just thought from yesterday’s posts you would be ok with a big turnover in the roster since you said something in the lines of almost no one is untouchable or see go?
Imagine this team without Giroux. A Dumba or someone like him back there might not move the needle on GA, +/- or wins but I feel it will benefit the team in the long run being perennial contenders.
Good young teams are heartbreakers. It’s taken the Leafs young core how many years before they got past the first round?
Does Frank work for Pittsburgh? This absolutely craters Guentzel’s value.
He is becoming injury prone also!
No. It doesn’t. Either he will not be traded at all, or the Penguins will get the expected return for him. They won’t take a crap return for a player scoring at point per game pace injury or not. No chance the injury isn’t really that severe and the IR designation is meant to shelter him until a deal is made (if they intend to trade him)? Nahhh, teams don’t play personnel games like that, do they?
Not traded at all may make a crap return look amazing!
They’re willing to let him dance out the door for nothing? Sounds like a pretty solid strategy!
4 weeks while not career or season ending is pretty serious. I’d imagine he’ll take a couple of weeks to return to form. Which means any buying team will be hoping he goes straight from that to the playoffs. With a new team, line mates, coaching staff, coaching strategies etc. With the very real possibility of being re-injured or even the possibility of a setback before ever returning.
And to boot, he’s a pending UFA that may dance out the door on the buyer without every playing a game?
It’s a bit of a risk on the buyers part. Do I think he goes for a 3rd round pick? Absolutely not. But to think this doesn’t at least somewhat hurt his return is pretty optimistic.
Then they’ll get nothing… which suggests his value is now low. No one is giving up a boatland for an injured rental.
Rumor – Jake Guentzel’s injury is dislocated or broken pinky finger. In other words, this isn’t serious injury.
A guy who can’t play because of a hurt pinky… exactly what every team chasing the Cup needs.
It supposedly happened on the Mikkola hit, nothing about that particular hit looks hand or finger related. Looks more like head or shoulder.
I think if it were just a broken pinky, he wouldn’t be out 4 weeks.
“Then they’ll get nothing”. So, re-signing him is out of the question? Not gonna happen? That ship has sailed?
Gonna be fun to watch Brock eat those words.
Leafs Update :
Still have no cap space
Still have next to no draft picks
Still have no prospects
Still have NM clauses for any current roster player of value.
Rinse and repeat each day until trade deadline passes.
Nylander has become a very good player.
but they have a better chance of a Cup exchanging him for better D and depth
Keep the big 4 and piece mealing another D-core is not going to get them deep in the playoffs….unless one of their backup goalies turns into a Dryden
Nylander is a very good hockey player. Is he worth 11.5 million? Seems to me the way out of the Leafs’ mess is trading him or Marner. Matthews is untouchable IMO, and Tavares is unmoveable unless the Leafs retain 1/2 is salary.
Word is that the Leafs are trying to acquire a d with multiple late round picks, and that is surely not going to get them a D who will be a difference maker.
So that does indeed leave them stuck with the most likely option of trading a first, which would leave them with one first round pick and no seconds for the next three years.
Ouch!
LJ when Nylander was paid $6.9M you (and many others) said the same thing and like before your wrong.
Ron you closet Leafs fan, don’t worry they be fine, their history proves it. By all means, I’m not saying they have it all solved and cup bound but there’s probably around 20 teams in worse predicament than them whether it be cap, standings, prospects and/or roster.
It’s too bad you waste everyone’s time reading your senseless comments that saying something thought provoking about your team, the Flyers, who are having themselves quite the unexpected season…but I guess your priorities are in order.
Are you saying I am wrong that Nylander is a very good hockey player, Ron?
If that’s all you got from what I said, then yes, he’s not very good but elite. 😵
Re Flames d/man
27 yr old Rasmus Andersson is not going anywhere❗️
Both him and MacKenzie Weegar are the only 2 d/men signed for next year in there top 4,
the other 5 are all UFA….. Even if they could sign UFA 26 yr old Noah Hanifin they would keep him to as he is only 27 yrs old ❓
For the Leafs to be giving up a 1st round pick it absolutely must be for more than an overhyped Tanev.
How about a 1st and a player ( fill in the blank) for Adam Larsson. Big, right handed shot. Was a 4th overall pick. Has another year left on his contract. This is pending Seattle doesn’t climb into a playoff spot.
Then the most important transaction that should happen sooner than later. A replacement for Keefe. As in Spector’s notes; wasting another season. Is there an explanation for putting Matthews, Nylander and Marner on the ice for the last 2 minutes of almost every game when they’re down a goal or two. How about putting your best players on the same line for the whole game?
The money Johnny T makes doesn’t make him a fast, skilled, playmaking sniper. He’s always been a grinder. How about putting that type of player on his wings. Bertuzzi and Knies comes to mind. Of course Dubas let Hyman walk. He would fit the bill.
Anyway, happy Saturday
Cheers!
What about a trade:
Colorado gets
Markstrom
Anderson
Cal 2nd Round in 2025
Calgary gets
Girard
LOC
COL 1ST Round in 2025
Rights to Olousson
Thats a terrible trade for Calgary
Larson would be someone to trade for. But I bet he fetches 3 good assets or a very good NHLer no named Taylor Hall! 😁
As far as Trono goes, I really think Cowan or Minten and a ’24 1st for Larson and a 3rd. Cowan or Minten project to be that good.
But then let’s get real: Larson for a 1st, Robertson, and Neftyanik Almetievsk
Re; Calgary’s Chris Tanev
It sounds like all 4 Canadian playoff teams are intrested in Calgary’s Chris Tanev
-Oilers,
-Canucks,
-Jets,
-Leafs,
Lots of media chatter in Edmonton about the oil looking to upgrade there RD position moving out RD man Cody Ceci, for RD man Tanev would be great addition with Nurse
and a 2nd or a 3rd pick this would help calgarys d out as Ceci is signed up for 1.5 more years….❓🤔
Trading Deangelo makes sense if Carolina needs the cap space for a player of significant need but keeping him on the roster in case of an injury also makes sense. He has played well playing with Chatfield when Pesce was out. Also Deangelo is Carolina’s next best option to Burns on the power play. You could make an argument that it may be a better career move to tell Carolina he prefers to stay with team.
Carolina has decided they will deal with their UFA’s after the playoffs so I don’t think an expiring contract will be the primary reason for trading anyone.
Minten and Cowan
Guentzel for Vatrano and a top 10 protected 1st or If the Ducks pick up another 1st in trade, Pitt can have that one for Guentzel (if he will sign an extension with the Ducks…..big if!)
Vatrano just makes too much sense if Pitt is to salvage this season.
You see Vatrano as an upgrade over Guentzal? Why would they do better with a lesser player than they did with Guentzal?
Also, why would the Ducks take on a rental?
Your Right CO,
Why would the Ducks want a Rental..? who will want about $9.5 to $10.M as a UFA
The Ducks will pick top Five this year, they are some great players in the top 6,
Like Big d/man 6.ft 7 Silayev & big Centre 6.ft3 Cayden Lindstrom
with
Frank Vatrano’s salary is $3,650,000 for 1.5 more years The Ducks will probly resign him this summer, he is on pace for 30+ goals & maybe 60+ points👌
Toronto needs a favour. Not sure they are getting one . Tanev for a first this year with Calgary holding 50% for adding Robertson
If Hanifin and Markstrom move in the next 3 weeks. It is a rebuild not a retool . Markstrom not a rental and I hope they both stay
Andersson way down on the priority list .
Why would anyone trade anything of value for total bust Robertson?
It’s his first full season where he hasn’t dealt with injuries and he gets no time in the top 6 while for some reason Bertuzzi is a constant fixture there. They’ll never know what they have until they feed him top 6 minutes. If that doesn’t work out then I can get behind “bust”.
I get a little hesitant about giving up on a young player like that. I saw what Alex Steen(back a while) and to a lesser extent Trevor Moore became.
Ron, how embarrassing! Your lack of hockey knowledge is showing or your crystal ball is off maybe. What do you know about young 22yr old players development curves? I guess your intuition told you 8-9 yrs ago that Konecny wasn’t a bust, right? If you like to give up on young players, I’ll take them like when Konecny was often talked in trades.
Ron Jull
Robertson is on pace for nearly 40 points this season while averaging 11 minutes a game.
If they do move on a goalie I can see Markstrom in LA .
Arvidsson Kaliyev & 2025 3rd and Calgary holds a million
Terrible trade for Calgary.
Arvidsson will be 31 in a month. Kaliyev has been a healthy scratch as often as not and when he plays it is 3rd/4th line minutes.
3rd round picks don’t hold much value.
Plus you want Calgary to retain?
Seriously??
NJ Devils are offering more.
If a 1st isn’t in the equation Markstrom isn’t Moving.
doesn’t matter what dman the Leafs acquire, they aren’t going to win a playoff series with Samsonov, Jones or Woll as their goaltender
Annti Niemi, Matt Murray, Holtby, Binnington, Keumper, Hill. Wouldn’t be over the moon with these goaltenders heading into the playoffs. All Cup winners! Oh and Bobrovsky. Never won the cup but was terrible in the regular season. Timing is everything for goaltending. Get hot at the right time.
This is why teams need to be wary of Dumba!
But right around the 2018-19 regular season, that narrative changed:
What’s notable about that steady downturn in goal differential is that Dumba is doing it despite the teams he’s playing for. From 2018-23 for example, the Minnesota Wild were 71 goals better than their opponents, 13th best in the NHL and reliably a playoff-calibre team. Over that same timespan, the Wild were outscored by 13 goals with Dumba on the ice. Said another way: both Minnesota and Arizona have played better with him on the bench, rather than on the ice.
The decline in offensive production with Dumba on the ice is staggering, and this season in Arizona, the Coyotes are nearly a full goal better per 60 minutes with Dumba off the ice. That caps off what is looking like a five-year (and counting) trend of waning offensive impact. Couple that with defensive numbers that have reliably been worse than team averages, and you have a player who just doesn’t appear to have much of a positive impact
See, Ron. Allan gets it.