NHL Rumor Mill – February 23, 2024
Teams are expressing interest in Blues winger Pavel Buchnevich, the Canadiens inquired about Ducks forward Trevor Zegras, the Golden Knights could get busy in the trade market if Mark Stone is sidelined long-term, and more in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
BLUES ARE GETTING CALLS ABOUT BUCHNEVICH
THE ATHLETIC: Jeremy Rutherford reports a league source claims the St. Louis Blues are getting calls about Pavel Buchnevich. General manager Doug Armstrong is listening but he’s not shopping the 28-year-old winger, who has a year remaining on his contract with a cap hit of $5.8 million. Buchnevich also carries a 12-team no-trade clause.
St. Louis Blues winger Pavel Buchnevich (NHL Images)
Rutherford’s source believes it would take a substantial offer for Armstrong to consider moving Buchnevich. Still, teams are operating on the premise that it’s possible to acquire him. With so little high-quality talent in this year’s trade market, Buchnevich could have a much higher value.
EDMONTON JOURNAL: Jim Matheson indicates the Oilers have been scouting the Blues. He believes they’re looking at Buchnevich as a second-line winger option. Matheson believes the cost to acquire him could be comparable to what the Oilers gave up in last year’s Mattias Ekholm trade (a first-round pick, a fourth-rounder and a prospect).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Blues are currently battling for a wild-card spot. Armstrong could be reluctant to part with one of his best forwards while his club remains in the playoff chase.
Buchnevich has another year left on his contract which means Armstrong is under no pressure to move him at the deadline. If he doesn’t get any suitable offers, he’ll wait until the offseason.
I think it’ll take more than a couple of draft picks and a prospect to get Buchnevich. The Blues are retooling rather than rebuilding their roster. They’ll want something that helps them now and in the future, and that likely means a good young NHL player as the centerpiece of the return.
CANADIENS CALLED ABOUT ZEGRAS
MONTREAL HOCKEY NOW: Marc Dumont cited TSN’s Pierre LeBrun recently reporting that the Anaheim Ducks were casually taking calls about Trevor Zegras. LeBrun also confirmed the Montreal Canadiens were among the callers. He indicated the Ducks haven’t been calling around mentioning Zegras but rather it’s other teams making inquiries.
Dumont doubted that a Zegras trade would come to fruition by the March 8 deadline. However, the young Ducks forward could be a name worth keeping in mind for the offseason.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Based on this report, the Ducks aren’t shopping Zegras and no one’s made an offer for him. Like Dumont, I don’t expect the 22-year-old forward to be on the move by March 8 but this could be something that carries over into the offseason.
Canadiens GM Kent Hughes has mentioned he’d like to add more scoring to his roster. He has the depth in draft picks, prospects and promising youngsters to make a competitive bid for Zegras if he becomes available. The youngster’s dazzling offensive abilities would be a big boost to the Canadiens scoring lines while his age makes him a good fit alongside their other young players.
However, there would be some concerns here. One is Zegras’ poor defensive play, though that can be improved with time and maturity on his part.
Another is whether he can handle the intense pressure of playing in a major hockey market. Zegras hasn’t faced the kind of media and fan scrutiny in Anaheim that he would have to endure in Montreal playing for a storied franchise like the Canadiens. Some players have handled it well while others have wilted under that harsh spotlight.
Finally, there’s the asking price. You’re not getting Zegras for a bunch of mid-range picks, second-tier prospects, and veterans or castoffs. The Ducks will want a significant return such as a first-round pick (Montreal’s 2024 without any top-10 protection), a top prospect (hello there, Lane Hutson) and a good young NHL player. Hughes has a reputation as a tough negotiator but so is Ducks GM Pat Verbeek.
STONE INJURY COULD SEND VEGAS INTO THE TRADE MARKET
TSN: Darren Dreger speculates the Vegas Golden Knights could go shopping for help if captain Mark Stone ends up on long-term injury reserve for the rest of this season. Stone is currently listed as week-to-week with an upper-body injury and they’ll reevaluate him near the March 8 trade deadline.
Dreger said losing a heart-and-soul player like Stone hurts the Golden Knights. However, they’ll do everything they can to backfill on the trade front.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Golden Knights did the same thing last season when Stone went on long-term injury reserve following back surgery. He carries an average annual value of $9.5 million, so placing him on LTIR will give them considerable cap relief. It could make them a major player in the trade market leading up to March 8.
DEVILS REJECTED OFFERS FOR MERCER
NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: James Nichols cited Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman saying some teams that have been speaking with the Devils have asked about the availability of Dawson Mercer. However, they told those clubs that the 22-year-old forward is not available.
CAPITALS COULD BECOME TRADE-DEADLINE SELLERS
TSN: Pierre LeBrun reports the Washington Capitals could become sellers if they haven’t made any progress in the standings by the trade deadline. Trade candidates would include pending free agents such as Anthony Mantha, Max Pacioretty and Joel Edmundson.
FLYERS IN CONTRACT EXTENSION TALKS WITH SEELER
TSN: Darren Dreger reports the Philadelphia Flyers are engaged in contract extension talks with Nick Seeler. The 30-year-old defenseman is slated to become an unrestricted free agent this summer and was a frequent fixture in trade rumors this season involving the Flyers.
Hmmmm ? All that back and forth a few weeks ago about Zegras to Montreal. Seems like Montreals brass was interested after all?
Shocking! It’s hard to believe they’d have interest in a guy that only scores Michigan style goals. I mean all 3 Michigan goals would turn any GM interest to zero.
I said a few weeks ago, any GM not showing interest because of his “flashy “ Michigan style goals (all 3 of them) is an idiot. Any GM of a team that’s a bottom dweller not showing interest should be fired and never allowed to be in any position in the NHL!
Zegras won’t be winning a selke in the near future, and that part of his game definitely needs work. The same could be said about a lot of young players.
But if you think this guy is nothing but trick plays and Michigan goals , you’re not watching this player outside of his 3 Michigan goal highlights and that bizarre over the net pass.
Odd ability to find space and even more of an odd ability to work with zero space. Probably some of the smoothest hands in hockey!
Without a doubt would be Montreal’s #2 and very possible their #1.
I don’t really think he’s available. But if he is 20+ teams should be inquiring about him.
Why do they call it the “Michigan goal” it’s actually “Lacrosse Goal
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michigan_goal
Nope, it’s actually referred as a “Michigan goal”
Ahhhhh i see. It seems Canadians calling games call it “lacrosse goal” and American broadcasters call it the •Michigan “ due to it originating in a wolverines game.
Can’t are friends north of the border give us credit for ANYTHING?
I kid!
I meant our friends not are friends.
Yep! The Lacrosse goal. lol
First, the suggestion that Zegras would supplant Suzuki as the Habs’ # 1 center is ridiculous. You clearly aren’t watching him play (although I can’t blame you for avoiding Habs games).
It may well be that Caulfield put in a good word about his buddy Zegras, but he would actually slot in as the # 3 center, behind Suzuki and Dach. Meaning that the Habs would have a 5.75 million third center. That’s about all you need to know about the feasibility of Zebras coming to Montreal.
In all your Hallelujah Chorus’ on behalf of Zegras to Montreal I don’t recall you explaining why, if he is such a valuable commodity, the Ducks would see him as the third center in their organization, behind McTavish and Carlsson – an assessment that comes 37 games in for Carlsson – and therefore expendable.
What the Habs needs are scoring wingers.
Somebody needs to tell Dach he’s a #2. Because his numbers sure as hell don’t look like it. I get he’s not been healthy, but that’s a problem on its own.
He’s never surpassed 34 points. Zegras has surpassed 60 twice. Last time people were saying “look who he plays with”. Primarily Milano and Terry.
Zegras 146 points I. 200 games
Dach 99 in 212.
We can argue all day that Suzuki is better. Offensive stats +/- per game are identical. Defensive game goes to Suzuki.
But Dach shouldn’t even be I. The same conversation. Not even close.
If Montreal thinks Dach is the long term solution, they’re even in worse shape than most thought.
And when was Zegras playing behind Mctavish or Carlson? When he was put on ir? Clearly if you think he was behind either, it strengthens my point that Montreal fans keep watching the same 3 highlight reels and nothing else.
“ In all your Hallelujah Chorus’ on behalf of Zegras to Montreal I don’t recall you explaining why”
Didn’t I clearly explain why in the 1st post? And a few weeks ago? Pretty sure I covered it both times.
Maybe he can play wing with Dach and Newhook on the second line and fill in as center when needed.
Premier’s thought is a good one, but Dach likes to distribute the puck. If the Habs were to acquire Zegras they would have to be confident that Dach can make the adjustment to wing. Not unheard of, but I don’t see it. I know Newhook has played on the wing but that would be three centers on one line, Premier.
CO, I too am concerned about Dach’s durability. IMO, were we a year from now the logic of adding Zegras would be clearer, knowing what Dach can do, and how many games he played.
But we are in the here and now. And no, CO, you did not explain why Zegras is such a valuable player and why the Ducks would prefer Carlsson after a 1/2 season. How is Zegras such a prize and expendable at the same time?
Could he not play wing for the Ducks? Why not move McTavis, whose points, projected on a full season, are the same as Zegras? It can’t be for cap reasons, as the Ducks have 8.5 million in cap space. Too many questions unanswered.
That said, unlike you, I am not going to try and win this debate by carpet bombing this site with posts banging on ad nausea about my position on this. If Hughes sees more in Zegras than I do he will acquire him. End of, for me.
Fair enough, I thought I was pretty clear but I’ll do my best to be a little clearer.
Early on, I had the same thoughts on Zegras as many do. My son said “dad watch this guy.”
The man has good speed, amazing creativity, ability to create space and has a very odd ability like I’ve never seen to do things with no space at all. He can score from about any angle , and even his “gimmicky “ plays are just pure vision and amazing hands .
We’ve all seen the Michigan ( lacrosse goal” caper ? ) but this man can do all that in full stride without a pause.
No question, his defensive game needs improvement. As do a lot of young offensive minded players . But this man’s vision is remarkable! And has amazing hands.
Watch some of his highlight reels (other then the Michigan (lacrosse goals caper) . I think you’ll be impressed.
Again, he needs work. But could easily be an 80-100 point guy with some work. And could improve his defensive game in the process.
Just watch his hands and ability to do things from bizarre angles and zero space.
Anybody passing on an opportunity to land this guy would be crazy and a dinosaur that does not belong making decisions.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=EcFCM_wMDdQ
No way Le Habs give up Hutson! If they did it would be a 1 for 1 for Zegras, like the Gauthier-Drysdale trade.
Zegras was 9th pick, so I think Montreal’s 1st round pick top 5 protected which will be probably about 6th and Harris.
Gabe Perreault is ranked higher than Hutson on any “top prospect rankings”out there.
I’d gladly give Othmann or Perreault straight up for Zegras .
Hell, I’d throw in a 1st and another b prospect.
Montreal has a lot of prospects in the top 100. But I don’t think any one of them get Zegras straight up.
Prospects are just that, prospects. No telling what you’re actually getting.
I really like Hutson but he is a Smurf! Shelf life is as a Krug or Grezlyk!
He’s the same size (in between this group) but with BETTER NCAA production, as Cale Makar, Adam fox, and Quinn Hughes. So unless you think they’re all garbage, you need to stop disrespecting Hutson. He’s legit been BETTER than ALL THREE in his first 2 NCAA seasons
Did I say say anything about garbage? Does that always translate to nhl level?
Let’s see him play an nhl game before we put him in the hall of fame, or compare him to 3 of the 4 best NHL d-men?
Oilers and Blues RW Pavel Buchnevich
Oil still looking fill 2nd line RW, this week its
Pavel Buchnevich from the blues, He is a really good RW but at $5.8M pa…for 1.3 more seasons
Im not sure how the Oil fit that in as they are caped out,
I wonder if a 1st pick, RW Raphael Lavoie, and C Xavier Bourgault would get it done
New Jersey is wasting their window of opportunity. Step up and make a trade for a goalie. Sooner or later the Devils are going to have to make a trade at some point when Luke Hughes and Nemic come off their entry level deals. Trade Mercer and Marino for markstrom and Tanev. Solves 2 glaring holes for the Devils. Better to win with Hughes and nemec on their entry level deals. Hamilton is probably a goner because of cap constraints.
Trevor Zegras is available because the Ducks have Mctavish and Carlsson ahead of him and he will be a $5.75 million 3rd line center.
His value is whomever sets the tone in negotiations, a 1st line scoring center or a defensively weak 3rd line center.
From a Hab perspective he’s the type of player that fits well. I’d be surprised if any draft pick this year has Zegras offensive potential and the team has been loading up on defensive prospects and to date they are all clones and replaceable .
Verbeek and Hughes are in similar situations and have similar trading styles, collecting draft picks, moving players that don’t fit long term plans, managing for tomorrow not today.
These two GMs can safely deal with each other, different conferences, rebuilding, years from being SC competitors.
In addition to what I posted above to CO, HF30, I ask you how such a trade comes about if both Hughes and Verbeek are hard bargainers? It would means Hughes overpays, or Verbeek gives in.
This in turn would mean Hughes overvalues Zegras (which he won’t), or Verbeek can’t get top value from another GM and decides to lower his price. That would not be an endorsement of Zegras.
The third option, an even trade, is also illogical, unless you subscribe to your logic that Zegras is a # 1 center and ahead of Suzuki …
LJ,
I wouldn’t get hung up on whether Suzuki is really a 1C or not, having another center who can put up points like him is something the Habs need if they want to 2 solid scoring lines.
Dach is the projected hope to be a 2C but he has yet to show that it’s his role.
I’d be surprised if Verbeek really wanted to be rid of Zegras unless those rumors of him falling out of favor are true.
If and that’s a big IF, Hughes has the upper hand in negotiating a deal of some sort.
Yeah, fair point. I don’t care how others rate Suzuki. And yes, they certainly do need offensive help. Other than their top line, no forward is contributing to the offence.
While flexibility is helpful down the middle I prefer players playing their natural positions. The Habs wings in particular have been dismal this year, that’s where I’d focus.
Ottawa continues to show that, generally speaking, they can be a handful for the better teams in the league with their recent wins over Tampa and Dallas and their 2-3 OT loss (after coming back from a 2-0 deficit in Miami) to Florida. They also continue to show that, when playing teams sharing, with them, the bottom third of the 32 teams, they lose more than they win.
So, overall, their season pretty much follows the same pattern – in their past 10 they have gone 5 – 4 – 1 – a .550 pace for a slight improvement (but nowhere near the .650 pace they’d need in order to get back into a playoff scramble) with 30 goals for and 35 against for averages of 3.0 goals for and 3.5 against. For their previous 44 games they went 19 23 2 for a .455 pace with 152 goals for and 155 hoals against (averages of 3.5).
Although not mentioned in trade rumours the past few days, you have to think Staios is working the phones trying to set up a deal or two, at least involving his two main pending UFAs – Tarasenko and Kubalik. Although he’s stated he’d like to remain in Ottawa, Tarasenko (15g 22a 37 pts in 54gp AND a +15) will likely wave his NM provisions for the right destination (i.e., a legitimate shot at a Cup) and, in so doing, could bring back a decent draft pick or a roster player with term. Kubalik (9g 3a 12 pts in 50gp AND a glaring -21 will be lucky to produce a 7th rounder (or perhaps a career AHLer to bolster Belleville).
But I think there may be other options coming into focus for Staios – especially at C where he has Stutzle, Norris, Pinto and Greig – and of those 4, right now I could see Norris ($7,950,000 per) as the one to go. He’s having a so-so season with 15g 13a 28 pts in 47gp (and a -7). That puts him on a pace for 26g 49a 65 pts. Being a Top 2 C he might bring back assets better suited elsewhere – leaving the top 3 C spots to Stutzle, Pinto and Grieg – in that order.
His biggest priority, however, has to be a new home for Korpisalo who, although suffering from inconsistency, is at least durable and, who knows, may well show better results with a more reliable defensive structure in front of him.
Just a passing thought, but I haven’t seen any Red Wings mentions in ages. They’re firmly in a WC position at this point so I’d be curious to hear rumors/commentary on what they could possibly do at the deadline. Thanks.
The reason there haven’t been much Red Wings rumors is because there really haven’t been many to post up. That doesn’t mean Yzerman won’t be doing anything but so far it’s like a cone of silence around them right now.
I would love for zegras to be a NYR and play with panarin and trochek