NHL Rumor Mill – February 2, 2024
The ongoing fallout of the Elias Lindholm deal on the trade market, plus the latest on the Predators and Blackhawks in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
FALLOUT FROM THE LINDHOLM TRADE
THE ATHLETIC: Pierre LeBrun reports Sean Monahan of the Montreal Canadiens moves to the top of the list of available centers who are pending unrestricted free agents heading toward the March 8 trade deadline.
Montreal Canadiens center Sean Monahan (NHL Images).
He believes the Winnipeg Jets and Colorado Avalanche want to add a second-line center. The Boston Bruins and New York Rangers also make sense as destinations for Monahan.
The Anaheim Ducks’ Adam Henrique is probably next on that list. LeBrun also wondered if Scott Laughton could end up on this list if the Philadelphia Flyers fall out of the playoff race. He cited colleague Darren Dreger reporting the Flyers are getting calls about Laughton, who has two years left on his contract with an annual cap hit of $3 million. While general manager Daniel Briere isn’t keen to move the 29-year-old center he’s willing to listen to offers.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Monahan’s bounce-back performance this season and his affordable $1.9 million cap hit account for why he’s likely the top center in the trade market leading up to March 8. The Canadiens could even retain half of that cap hit but they’ll likely want a first-round pick and maybe a prospect or a promising young NHL player in return.
Laughton could be moved if someone pitches a significant offer to Briere, who isn’t deviating from his rebuilding plans despite his club sitting third in the Metropolitan Divison. As he said, however, he won’t make trades just for the sake of doing so. Briere indicated the trade market would determine what moves (if any) he’ll make.
LeBrun believes the Flames’ focus now shifts toward pending UFA defensemen Noah Hanifin and Chris Tanev. He thinks they’re still trying to re-sign Hanifin but will have to fish or cut bait by March 8.
It’s more likely that Tanev gets moved by deadline day. The Flames’ asking price is believed to be a second-round pick plus another asset but a club could have him right now if they’re willing to part with a first-rounder.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: LeBrun believes the Flames are rebuilding on the fly rather than engaging in a full roster teardown. They could seek a young roster player for Hanifin as he has more value than Tanev.
LeBrun also wondered what effect Lindholm’s trade might have on Flames goalie Jacob Markstrom as the two are good friends. Markstrom is signed through 2025-26 with an AAV of $6 million and a no-movement clause. If he wants out, moving him might have to wait until the offseason.
LATEST ON THE PREDATORS
THE TENNESSEAN: Paul Skrbina doesn’t see the Nashville Predators parting with starting goaltender Juuse Saros by deadline day. They’re jockeying for a wild-card berth in the Western Conference and promising Yaroslav Askarov isn’t NHL-ready yet. The only way he thinks that could happen is if a desperate general manager is willing to overpay to get him.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Somebody could pitch Preds GM Barry Trotz an offer too good to refuse but I don’t think anyone’s going to do that by the trade deadline. Maybe in the offseason if Saros’ contract extension talks get difficult.
Skrbina expects Tyson Barrie to be the more likely candidate following his recent public trade request. Pending free agents such as Tommy Novak, Yakov Trenin, Alexandre Carrier and Kevin Lankinen and pending restricted free agent Dante Fabbro could also become trade bait.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Not all of those pending free agents could hit the trade block. In Fabbro’s case, Trotz doesn’t have to move him by March 8 as he could wait for the offseason to gauge his market value if he doesn’t have a long-term future in Nashville.
SHOULD THE BLACKHAWKS LOOK INTO ACQUIRING KAKKO?
CHICAGO HOCKEY NOW: Nate Brown noted a recent report indicating the New York Rangers are taking calls on winger Kaapo Kakko and wondered if the Blackhawks should look into it if they haven’t already done so.
Kaapo, 22, could be an affordable acquisition and he still has time to reach his potential. However, Brown noted that the young Rangers winger has had ample opportunity to do so and hasn’t reached it yet. He also noted the Blackhawks are dealing with a struggling young winger of their own in Lukas Reichel.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Blackhawks already have enough promising youngsters on their club and within their system. They need more established young talent to help their rebuild and provide some much-needed depth around budding superstar Connor Bedard.
Flipped the channel to LeafsNet for a peek at the NHL All Star festivities.
Found Micheal Buble, Justin Beiber and 3 on 3 girls hockey.
Hard pass on the rest of it.
Stylistically, I think Henrique is a better 3C fit on most teams in the post season than Monahan. I think he would still be solid at both ends of the ice playing outside the top 6, whereas I don’t see Monahan thriving in a bottom 6 role.
Big cap difference between the 2 though. Anaheim will likely need to retain 1/2 salary on Henrique to make a deal work with most playoff teams.
Sure hope Nostrils or MeLander win the million, cause they likely need the money.
Classier move would have been to donate the prize to the charity of the winners choice.
“Found Micheal Buble, Justin Beiber and 3 on 3 girls hockey.
Hard pass on the rest of it.”
“Sure hope Nostrils or MeLander”
“Classier move would have been”
Sorry, do you think you’re qualified to talk about class?
That’s a good one.
I like the donation to charity idea, Ron. On another note, in your opinion, are the Canucks for real?
I have a lot of oldtimer buddies who hope this is the year.
BCLeafs fan,
Time will tell on the Nucks but theyre well balanced and playing really good hockey. Im not sold on the defence yet though.
The Jets are nearing a deal to acquire center Sean Monahan from the Canadiens, Pierre LeBrun of TSN and The Athletic reports Friday. The deal is not finalized, but “all indications” are pointing toward the trade getting done, per LeBrun.
Go Jets!
Lebrun is reporting that the Jets are closing in on Monahan. I hope the Habs could pick up one of Barlow, McGroarty or Lambert plus the Jets 1st or at least the Habs 2nd, which the Jets now hold, which won’t be too far removed from the Jets 1st.
Re; Sean Monahan
My thoughts are still the same for Hab’s Monahan
To the Hab’s
A 1st pick,
A top Prospect
For SM.
After this happens it will turn to Ducks Centre Adam Henrique …..I Wonder if the Ava’s are looking at him for there 2nd line…..❓
Or
Could it be brings Kadri back..🤔
I didn’t see either return you suggested yesterday or today for Monahan. Pending UFA, and nowhere near that kind of return.
Honestly, I’m shocked that someone didn’t offer up a little more, but not much more.
A 1st plus a top prospect for Monahan a 29 year old, often injured, UFA this summer would be a huge overpayment.
As it is the 1st they received plus a conditional 3rd is an excellent return on their investment.
Well, now official: Monahan to the Jets for a first and a conditional. Mixed feelings: a first is valuable and Hughes might use it as a package of picks to acquire an offensive player. But the Habs will miss Monahan.
I would assume that Monahan didn’t want to sign an extension yet and asked for a trade to a contender. Not impossible that the Habs try to sign him in July.
Hey Lyle,
Monahan is a UFA July 1st free to sign where ever he could return to the Hab’s or resign with the jets….🤔
Yes, either scenario is possible. Not a certainty.
Jets pony up a 1st and a conditional added pick to habs for Monahan. Crazy season has officially begun
Anyone know what the condition will be?
3rd in 27 if peg wins cup in 24
So is Habs fans are in a dilemma. Do we root for the Jets to collapse and miss the playoffs or to win the Cup.
I think we all agree that the higher 1st rounder is much more valuable than a 3rd.
So my new second favorite team is whoever’s playing the Jets.
You have to commend Montreal GM Hughes. He got a 1st for taking Monahan from Calgary and he gets another 1st for sending Monahan and a conditional 3rd to Winnipeg.
Too much for a soft third line center…the cost I guess plus I forget the luminary who suggested a first plays McGroaty or Barlow; both these young forwards are better that the 3 best Hab players and on leadership alone never mind talent
Drury should chase someone off the radar.
What the deal with Turcotte? Why has he fallen out of favor in LA? They continue to draft, sign and trade for other centers? Just played 2 games, is he being showcased?
Definitely a guy I’d check in on. Pending RFA that won’t be getting any type of increase next year. Young, cost controlled and I think will be a solid guy.
I’d also check in on Dylan Strome if Washington falls further down the standings. If they’re willing to retain 1-1.5 per I’d grossly overpay!