NHL Rumor Mill – February 19, 2024
Check out the latest on Noah Hanafin, Chris Tanev, Boone Jenner, Vladimir Tarasenko, Jakob Chychrun and Sean Walker in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
LATEST ON HANIFIN AND TANEV
SPORTSNET: Pat Steinberg wonders if the Calgary Flames will consider sitting Noah Hanifin and Chris Tanev for trade protection leading up to the March 8 deadline. He believes it’s almost certain that the two defenseman will be moved by then.
Calgary Flames defenseman Noah Hanifin (NHL Images).
Despite their fading playoff hopes, the Flames aren’t giving up on the season. Staying in the race means Hanifin and Tanev will continue logging big minutes but that also puts them at risk of injury, which could hurt their value in the trade market.
Steinberg noted the Arizona Coyotes sat out Jakob Chychrun last season for three weeks before trading him to the Ottawa Senators. “It looked bad on the Coyotes, did the player no favours, and is something the league is keen to avoid going forward.”
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Calgary fans who want both players moved for the best possible returns would probably prefer if Hanifin and Tanev were benched until they’re traded and to hell with how it looks. However, that probably won’t happen until trade talks heat up and a deal seems close. I can see the Flames sitting one or both for no more than a week while they hammer out the details of a trade.
BOSTON HOCKEY NOW: Speaking of Hanifin, Jimmy Murphy pointed out that Bruins general manager Don Sweeney has long been interested in acquiring the Flames rearguard. He wondered if Sweeney would try to trade for him before March 8 or wait until the offseason and sign him as a free agent.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Sweeney would probably love to land Hanifin by the deadline and sign him to a contract extension. However, I don’t think he’s got sufficient trade assets to outbid other clubs with an interest in the Flames defenseman.
The Bruins have no picks in the first three rounds of this year’s draft and you have to think the Flames will want a first-rounder as part of the return. They could also want a high-value prospect such as Mason Lohrei or a promising young player like Matthew Poitras.
BLUE JACKETS NOT TRADING JENNER
THE JEFF MAREK SHOW: On Friday, Columbus Blue Jackets president of hockey operations (and interim general manager) John Davidson spoke with Marek about Boone Jenner. The 30-year-old Jackets captain has been the subject of recent trade speculation.
Davidson confirmed to the Sportsnet host that his club is getting a lot of calls about Jenner. However, he stated, “Boone’s not going anywhere, and Boone doesn’t want to go anywhere.”
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before the Jackets fired general manager Jarmo Kekalainen, Jenner told The Athletic’s Aaron Portzline that he didn’t want to be traded. It’s apparent from Davidson’s remarks that they don’t want to move him regardless of who’s calling and what they’re offering.
UPDATES ON TARASENKO AND CHYCHRUN
OTTAWA SUN: Bruce Garrioch reports teams have been calling the Ottawa Senators about Vladimir Tarasenko, who is slated to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. The 32-year-old winger is on a one-year, $5 million contract with a full no-trade clause.
Garrioch believes Tarasenko recently changed agents to facilitate a possible contract extension if he gets moved by the March 8 trade deadline. The Senators could get more of a return for him if they agree to retain part of his salary.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Tarasenko is the priority for the Senators given his free-agent status. The Athletic’s Ian Mendes and Shayna Goldman believe if Staios can land a second-round pick and another asset for Tarasenko that he’ll have done a decent job given the limitations of the winger’s no-trade clause. The Edmonton Oilers, Carolina Hurricanes and New York Rangers were among their suggested trade destinations.
Jakob Chychrun, meanwhile, is generating interest from teams seeking more than a playoff rental player. The 25-year-old defenseman is signed through 2024-25 with an average annual value of $4.6 million with a 10-team no-trade clause.
It’s thought the Senators have set a high asking price for Chychrun. If no one pays it, they’re content to wait until the offseason.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Chychrun publicly stated last month he doesn’t want to be moved. Senators GM Steve Staios said it was “disappointing” to see the blueliner come up in trade rumors, adding that they could find a way to re-sign him to a contract extension.
Staios may be setting a high price to discourage teams from calling about Chychrun. However, if someone is willing to pay it, he’ll have to give it serious consideration, provided the offer isn’t coming from a team on the blueliner’s no-trade list.
Erik Brannstrom, Dominik Kubalik and Mark Kastelic are also considered to be trade candidates. Garrioch doubts they’ll fetch more than draft picks if moved.
WILL THE FLYERS TRADE OR RE-SIGN SEAN WALKER?
SPORTSNET: Jeff Marek considers Sean Walker among the most intriguing players around the NHL trade deadline. The 30-year-old defenseman is slated to become a UFA on July 1 and carries an affordable $2.7 million cap hit this season.
It’s believed the Flyers are hoping Walker would fetch a first-round pick or a high second-rounder. If no one meets that price, Marek can see them retaining the veteran blueliner for a playoff push.
Marek also wondered if the Flyers could re-sign Walker. Based on his play, he could price himself within the $4 million and $5 million range.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Some of you probably read that line and believe that’s far too much for Walker. However, that’s the going rate for second-pairing defensemen in the NHL. Maybe he might accept a little less for the security of a long-term deal to stay in Philadelphia.
If the Flyers don’t re-sign Walker, he’ll probably have little difficulty landing a lucrative new contract on the open market this summer, especially with the salary cap projected to jump by $4.4 million.
Chris Tanev is consider a shot block machine, with that comes a risk of injury on any given shot.
Tanev knows how to block shots and mediate some of the risk. At the same time Calgary doesn’t want to lose this player to injury before a trade is completed.
Calgary has 7 games before the trade deadline
The only way Hanifin ends up in Boston is if Sweeney flips his 2025 1st round pick and/or Hanifin says Boston or nowhere.
Caper
I think Sweeney will wait to end of year for Hanafin. Supposedly he said he is going to test free agency. Which is good news for Bruin IMHO
Hannafin didn’t say that, it seems Freidman said it. But it seems to fit, and it is the most lucrative thing for him to do.
Hanifin has an 8 team no trade list he must submit, which opens the door to a trade of 23 teams.
He can’t say Boston on nowhere. Well, I suppose he could say it, but his contract says otherwise.
Thanks Captain, i should’ve known that.
Captain
No doubt He will be traded even with his ntc clause. Flames not letting him walk with no return that’s for sure
But he can say he’ll only sign an extension with the Bruins
Mb,
I have absolutely no doubts he gets traded. I was just pointing out that his leverage isn’t really that good.
He could make it near impossible to trade to one of the 7 non playoff teams by refusing to sign an extension. But he’s wide open for any team heading into the playoffs that don’t care about anything beyond this year as a rental.
An extension or not, that’s not going to stop a team for trading for him if they think this helps put them over the top.
Last year Boston traded for Orlov and he walked, Bertuzzi and he walked, Hathaway and he walked.
Rangers Tarasenko walked, Kane walked, Mikkola walked.
Year prior NY : Braun walked, Vatrano walked, Copp walked.
Calgary holds the power here, and 10+ teams I’ll wager will make that trade regardless of a contract extension.
He’ll go to the highest bidder.
“he could price himself within the $4 million and $5 million range.” Any wonder why all these dumb ass GM’s are always up against the cap!
JULY 1ST, 2024.
Mr Hanifin, Welcome home to Boston ✔️
&
did you bring you buddy Lindhom with you….
PS.
thanks for watching.
We read not watched and it was painful.
Sweeney should have a fun offseason with around 28 million to spend not counting what he’ll get for Ullmark and whoever else they move
Remember when MTL wanted to sit Scott Gomez for an entire season to avoid injuries cause they wanted to buy him out? lol
Hanifin has to have a first in the deal . Doesn’t it ?
I think an elite prospect and a lesser pick and multiple picks conditional with a roster player to offset money
I like Detroit Dallas Islanders . Flames hold no dough
Markstrom to LA.
I was light yesterday
a first . Kaliyev ,conditional 3rd and Arvidsson to balance the money Flames hold no dough
Tanev to the Leafs for a conditional first , Robertson and Abruzzese . Flames will have to hold 50%
A 1st for Tanev is a terrible trade for the Leafs
David Perron would be a good fit with this current Oilers team. I know the Wings are still in the playoff hunt, but they’re also still rebuilding and it doesn’t make sense for them to keep Perron as an own rental when they can just bring up Berggren from the AHL.
I think you can make the same argument for Ghostisbehere. His power play skill isn’t as easily replaceable, but his +/- is the lowest on the team. The pick or prospect would be more valuable in the long run.
Kind of surprised these two aren’t kicking up more dirt in the rumor mill
It looks like the Red Wings will make the playoffs
Along With the NJD.. if they get a goaltender, ❓
Then if they dont get a tender….its a fight with Philly as Carter Hart is done for the year for the final 2 spots in the East… 🤔