NHL Rumor Mill – February 3, 2024
What’s next for the Canadiens after trading Sean Monahan to Winnipeg? What’s the latest on the Islanders and Senators? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
WHAT NEXT FOR THE CANADIENS FOLLOWING THE MONAHAN TRADE?
SPORTSNET: Eric Engels praised Montreal Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes for a master class in asset management by trading Sean Monahan on Friday to the Winnipeg Jets for a 2024 first-round pick and a conditional third-rounder in 2027. This after Hughes obtained a 2025 first-round pick from the Calgary Flames in 2022 to take on Monahan’s contract at a time when his trade value was at its lowest.
Montreal Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes (NHL Images).
The Canadiens now have two first-round picks in the 2024 draft and two in the 2025 draft. They also have four more picks in the second round and five more in the third through 2026.
Engels speculates that Hughes could use some of those first-round picks as trade bait. He traded first-round picks in each of the last two drafts to acquire Kirby Dach and Alex Newhook.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hughes recently spoke of his club’s need to bolster their scoring depth. He could draw upon his cache of high draft picks to bring in an established young scorer who could help accelerate the club’s rebuilding process. The Canadiens GM could do that before the March 8 trade deadline or during this year’s draft.
THE ATHLETIC’s Arpon Basu reported Hughes indicated yesterday that he’s not shopping defenseman David Savard.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Savard is under contract through next season but he had surfaced in the rumor mill as a possible trade candidate. It sounds like Hughes isn’t that keen to move him. Savard brings veteran experience and leadership to the Canadiens’ young defense corps.
LATEST ISLANDERS SPECULATION
NYI HOCKEY NOW: Andrew Fantucchio recently listed three possible trade candidates for the Islanders if they become sellers by the March 8 trade deadline.
Fantucchio listed goaltender Semyon Varlamov, winger Simon Holmstrom and center Brock Nelson as possible trade options, though he considered Nelson unlikely to be moved.
Varlamov, 35, is in the first year of a four-year deal along with a full no-trade clause in the first two years. The 22-year-old Holmstrom is enjoying his best season to date with 12 goals and 18 points.
Nelson, 32, has two years left on his contract and a 16-team no-trade clause but has averaged over 36 goals per season over the last two years and is once again on pace to finish the season as the Isles’ leading goal scorer.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Fantucchio goes into greater detail regarding the pros and cons of moving those three.
Of the three, Holmstrom would seem the easiest to move but he won’t fetch a big return. Varlamov’s age and NTC should ensure he remains with the Isles this season.
Nelson would draw plenty of attention and bring the best return but I doubt he’ll be traded unless Isles GM Lou Lamoriello decides it’s time to tear things down and rebuild. I don’t think Lamoriello is at that stage given his recent hiring of Patrick Roy as head coach.
THE HOCKEY NEWS: Stefen Rosner listed five reasons why the Islanders have placed forward Julien Gauthier on waivers. One of them could be to clear additional salary-cap space for a trade. If Gauthier clears, he’ll be sent to their AHL affiliate and his $785,500 cap hit will be freed up, giving the Isles nearly $5 million in projected trade deadline cap space.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: If that’s the reason, it would mean Lamoriello intends to be a buyer before next month’s trade deadline.
SENATORS SHOPPING THOMSON?
OTTAWA SUN’s Bruce Garrioch reports a league executive told him that he wouldn’t be surprised if Senators defenseman Lassi Thomson is traded to another organization before the March trade deadline.
Full Press Hockey’s Murray Pam cited a report out of Sweden suggesting Thomson could be heading to Swedish club Malmo next season.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: As we say on The Face Off Hockey Show, “All roads lead to Malmo”. (Inside joke. Those who regularly follow the show will get it).
Once a highly-touted prospect, the 23-year-old Thomson has struggled to crack the Senators lineup. He’s appeared in just 18 games with the Senators, spending most of his time since 2020-21 with their AHL affiliate in Belleville.
My Islanders are stuck in mediocrity hell. We struggle mightily to barely scrape into the playoffs while our prospect pool is among the weakest in the league. We need to begin a major rebuild ASAP, but Lou is not the guy to do it.
I would agree, Lou is not the guy to do it. At his age he is at a win now or else. I hope they don’t trade any more draft picks away. I would look to trade Martin,Clutter,Casey, Holmstrom Varly if he waived his NTC, and Pelech. They need youth and speed. If Nelson is traded, they better get a first round pick plus young players. Anything should be on the table. Let’s see how the next 10 games play out then make hard tough decisions. Roy should be in Lou’s ear about what to do.
MTL has to have their sights on Zegras. Will take a couple of firsts plus. Chemistry with Caufield
Hanifin trade is going to be of interest. Flames have a full month to deal with it. I think the trigger again will be pulled early. 3 -4 assets. A Roster, first round , conditional pick and a young minor leaguer. Maybe even not to a playoff team
Tanev at the TD to a playoff team
A second and a 23-24 year old suspect (prospect)
No thanks, Silver.
First, Caufield has chemistry with Suzuki.
Secondly, Zebras has 7 points in 20 games this year, and just 4 goals.
Third, even acknowledging the Ducks are lousy, Zebras has huge minus #s.
Fourth, Zebras has just been voted the NHL’s most overrated player by a poll of 101 current players. Doesn’t mean he has no value, but when your peers say you are overrated …
Montreal needs a center, but a reclamation project dropped into St. Louis’ coaching scheme that demands accountability makes little sense. Let alone at your suggested cost of 2! first rounders.
Now is the time to make a move for PLD!! Oui!
I’d ignore that on the basis of you trolling, Johnny, but given some of your other trade proposals it’s hard to tell.
And sorry about the typos on Zegras.
Actually, I think Martin would be able to put him back on tracks.. I would love the Habs to go out and get him if he’s available. Don’t forget he’s only 22 and already has two 60 points seasons under his belt, he can still mature.
What an absolute garbage poll to even ask players that question. But to take the results of this poll seriously?
He received 12.89% of the vote which equates to roughly 13 players out of 101 which is totally a misleading. Basically, the vast majority of those polled (87%) did not feel that way.
It’s funny, because Zegras numbers (the good and the bad) are identical to Suzuki’s.
Points per game both at .73 career
+/- per game both at – .22 per game career.
Is Nick Suzuki on that list of overrated?
I’m not a Ducks or Zegras fan. The man is not a Mcdavid by any stretch, most players are not.
But he has shown he is a capable guy. Without question on a better team (that is not Montreal, who is marginally better than Anaheim) I think he could without question be a ppg player.
Terrible idea for a poll, and even worse / misleading results for that poll!
If 30-50% of players answered Zegras it may be something to lean on, 12% is laughable.
Wondering if Edmonton would be interested in moving Dylan Holloway to the Habs for Jake Allen with some salary held & say a 3rd or 2nd rd pick??
Oilers are fairly deep at center & are likely going to sure up their backup tending to give Skinner some rest down the stretch.
They might consider moving Holloway Uwey, but not for a backup tender.
Either a significant upgrade to Ceci as the #4 D, has to be a right shot (he is actually playing pretty good in a shut down role), or a scoring winger. And better than a guy like Tarasenko.
Bourgault or their 1st are more likely to be moved IMO. I think they really like Holloway and Broberg so would need to be a really good player coming back.
Chychrun and a 3rd for Dobson