NHL Rumor Mill – February 7, 2024
The latest on Noah Hanifin, Chris Tanev, David Savard and Erik Johnson plus the latest on the Red Wings, Rangers, Flyers and Devils in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
UPDATES ON NOAH HANIFIN AND CHRIS TANEV
TSN: Chris Johnston reports a resolution in the Calgary Flames’ contract negotiations with Noah Hanifin could be coming soon. The agents for the 27-year-old defenseman are expected to meet soon with Flames management to present their final position. Johnston speculated that Hanifin could be moved before the March 8 trade deadline if the two sides fail to reach an agreement on a new contract.
Calgary Flames defenseman Noah Hanifin (NHL Images).
Meanwhile, Pierre LeBrun said Hanifin’s teammate Chris Tanev is considered the top defenseman in the trade market because he is available. Where the 34-year-old Flames blueliner ends up could dictate the direction of the market for defensemen.
The asking price for most teams is expected to be a second-round pick plus another asset. However, for teams like the Toronto Maple Leafs who lack a second-rounder, the price is a first-round pick. Leafs general manager Brad Treliving might be unwilling to do that.
THE ATHLETIC: Speaking of Tanev, the Leafs are Julian McKenzie and Shayna Goldman’s list of potential trade destinations for the Flames’ rearguard. Others include the Ottawa Senators and Vancouver Canucks.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Tanev may be the top defenseman currently available but that will change if Hanifin ends up on the trade block. However, the Flames will set a higher asking price for Hanifin because he plays a more complete game. I daresay that teams who express an interest in him will also want to know if he’ll be willing to sign a contract extension.
LATEST ON DAVID SAVARD AND ERIK JOHNSON
TSN: Pierre LeBrun acknowledged David Savard doesn’t want to be traded. The Montreal Canadiens could move the 33-year-old defenseman if they receive a suitable offer but they’re not committed to trading him and haven’t brought him up in trade talks with other clubs.
Speaking of veteran defensemen, LeBrun said there’s a chance that the Buffalo Sabres move Erik Johnson. However, they haven’t committed to that yet and want to speak with the 35-year-old rearguard and his agent before reaching a decision.
RECENT RED WINGS SPECULATION
DETROIT HOCKEY NOW: Kevin Allen believes Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman isn’t shopping promising winger Jonatan Berggren, who surfaced at No. 39 on TSN’s latest trade-bait board. However, he doesn’t rule out Yzerman moving him for the right offer.
Allen also mused about whether the Red Wings might attempt to pry another player away from the Ottawa Senators such as defenseman Jakob Chychrun…If the Red Wings fall out of playoff contention before the March 8 trade deadline they could approach Patrick Kane about waiving his no-movement clause…David Perron, Shayne Gostisbehere, Daniel Sprong and James Reimer could also become trade candidates if the Wings become sellers.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Red Wings are jockeying for a wild-card berth in the Eastern Conference. Yzerman could be a buyer rather than a seller this year.
RANGERS NOT WILLING TO MOVE THEIR 2024 FIRST-ROUNDER
TSN: Darren Dreger reports the New York Rangers could be unwilling to part with their 2024 first-round pick in their efforts to acquire a forward. Team owner James Dolan is the owner of Sphere in Las Vegas where the 2024 NHL Draft will be held. He wants his club to be part of the spotlight in that draft. Dreger believes they could be willing to part with their 2025 first-rounder.
FLYERS AND DEVILS GET CAP RELIEF
PHILLY HOCKEY NOW/NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: The Philadelphia Flyers and New Jersey Devils will receive salary cap relief due to leave of absence by the Flyers’ Carter Hart and the Devils’ Michael McLeod and Cal Foote as they deal with charges of sexual assault in the 2018 World Junior Hockey Canada criminal proceedings.
That would provide both clubs the opportunity to free up cap space to put to use acquiring players leading up to the March 8 trade deadline. Those three players are currently listed as non-roster players. Hart earns a cap hit of $3.979 million while McLeod and Foote earn a combined $2.2 million.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: This isn’t a rumor but it could become a factor during any future trade speculation involving the Flyers or Devils leading up to the March 8 deadline.
Re; Chris Tanev
Think there are a number of teams intrested in him
6-8+ that could use him for sure,
Flames would like a 1st pick, or a young player back a young d/man or Forward that can play right now they only have 3 d signed for next year 1 a rookie and
5 UFA d/men this year
So.
Is the Ottawa Senators classic stay-at-home defender Travis Hamonic considered a top trade candidate then? A year younger and 3 million cheaper than Tanev who’d undoubtedly waive his NMC to go to a contender.
The problem is, no one wants Hamonic while everyone wants Tanev!
You know what would really be a spotlight? Trading your picks for an opportunity to make a run at the cup!
Holding onto it so you can have a spotlight at the draft is just plain stupid. This pick will not be a top 10, and won’t be helping the Rangers anytime soon. Just flat out bad idea.
NY has picked 10-1st rounders since 2017 with the normal coin flips success. They are in a place they need to be going for it now. Because they’ve confused their rebuild. Ny shouldn’t care about drafting right now. Nor showcasing the draft.
I’d be pushing for:
Turcotte
Vatrano
I’d check in on D. Strome, Doubtful) but settle for Henrique.
Maybe go all in on a Zegras? That way NY could showcase that Michigan goal approximately once every 70 games!!!
I kid! See what I did there?
whats the cost difference for Vatrano vs Tarasenko?
You mean cap, or cost to acquire?
Vatrano is cheaper cap hit. But my guess would be more expensive to acquire because he has a year left after this year.
Either would work, but at least with Vatrano it’s not a rental all or nothing deal.
This puts Vatrano on the 1st line with Zibanejad and Kreider which worked a couple of years ago. Probably more successful than anyone of the 10-12 players they’ve tried on that line. Leaves the 2nd line intact, and puts Wheeler on the 4th line with Vesey and Goodrow.
Kreider / Zibanejad / Vatrano
Panarin / Trocheck / Laffrienere
Cuylle / (Strome, or Henrique) / Kakko
Vesey / Goodrow/ Wheeler.
Brodzinski back to the AHL.
Pitlick scratch.
Don’t necessarily think this puts them over the top. Not sure what really does, but imo, it starts with Sheterkin finding his game again.
Here’s to hoping Allaire is working his magic as we speak!
Cost to acquire…deal with cap issues in the summer and agree Vatrano fit with his style with that line.
My concern is they move Kakko and keep Wheeler in the top9. He loses too many puck battles and his pace is not built for 2024.
Bjustad might cost less than Henrique if he is made available.
Right Now
Vatrano vs Tarasenko
Vatrano is 29 & $3.6M cap hit and with 22 goal’s YTD, he will score over 30 for the Ducks with 1.5 years left, i dont think the ducks trade him this year, they like him and need more older player as the Duck are a very young team
Tarasenko is 32 & has a cap hit of $5.M with
13 goals, YTD
He will get traded from the Sens for a prospect young player like a Kakko from NYR…..
or
a 2nd pick maybe more depending on how the next 4 weeks go for VT……
Sens will also trade young 24yr old d/man
Erik Brännström @$2M.
and
Trade
28 yr old winger Dominik Kubalik @$2.5.M
I could see NY trading Kakko * for Vatrano, I don’t see them moving Kakko for Tarasenko.
Very good chance Kakko gets moved, but I don’t think for a rental. Why would NY pay more this year for Tarasenko than they did last year?
More than likely Tarasenko gets moved for a pick and possibly a prospect. But not a high end prospect.
Kakko is a work in progress. I don’t think the Sens are looking to add another young piece.
would be shortsighted to trade kakko imho… he had 18 goals playing 3rd line minutes and no powerplay time. banged up again this season
plays 200 ft game
Good Take
You know what they say; just get in and you can win.
Out of the last 16 Cup winners:
12 finished top 4 in their conference
1 5th in conference St.L 2019
2 6th in conference LA 2014 TB 2021
1 8th in conference LA 2012
interesting that 2 of the 4 cups that went outside the top 4 belong to LA
Does nylander have a no trade this year? If not
Nylander
Broadi
Robertson
For
Kadri
Hanafin (assume trade and sign)
Tanev
No thank you. Also, why would the Flames trade for Broadie when your GM let him walk for free as a Flame?
22 million (more than 25% of next years projected cap) on 2 LW’ers for Calgary?
31.25 million (34% of next years projected cap hit) on 3 centers for Toronto ?
Outside of the ntc obstacle I don’t see any issues with this deal at all! Here’s to Hannafin agreeing to a league minimum deal. 🍻 🍻
🍻
It’s difficult to imagine Detroit having any interest in Chychrun, or any LD for that matter, since LD is probably the organizations strongest position throughout their prospect pool. Ther are 2 NHL ready LD’s in the AHL in Grand Rapids, and another probably in 2025 or 2026. I doubt that Yzerman will be a buyer under any circumstances, but, if he was, LD might be the last position on the ice he would give up assets for.
Hanifan would be a no.2 in Boston! Much better than Lindholm,Carlo,Forbort!Can the team afford to wait and sign him as a free agent this summer?
Hey Steve,
I think your 100% right about Hanifin….👌
if hNH wants to go home to boston as a UFA July 1st
he would give the Bruins a great and younger
top 4 d core…..
After that they should look at UFA centre E Lindholm Hanifins buddy, this is a Very weak area for Boston, if they get knocked out in the 1st round again its a no brainer to Fix
let Jake DeBrusk walk as a ufa, keep hearing he want’s a LT deal at $5-$6.M……❗️😲
he is Very inconsistant and only has 12 goals in 48 games this year……👎
Fix it at Centre 1st……
Another Good Take
Bruins have enough plug-in players to play center/wing. They desperately need Hanifin. A trade for him would give the Bruins the top 4 defensemen in the league and they already have the best goaltending duo.
Tanev is not the one Ottawa should target. He is too old and not the long term solution. Why not try something like Chychrun, Brannstrom for Dobson or Chychrun and 2nd for Dobson. We need a legit top line R/D and Tanev is not the guy.
I can’t imagine that Dobson is available at any price right now – 52 points, +22….why would they trade him, especially for a 28 point, -11 LH d’man ?
Because Dobson is a borderline Norris candidate ?
Because Dobson is a RHD while Chychrun is a LHD?
Because Chychrun has a lengthy history of serious injuries while Dobson does not.
Islanders have one of the best top 4 defensive corps in Romanov – Dobson, Pelych – Pullock and will not be trading any of them for Chychrun and Brannstrom (who is barely an NHL caliber defender).
Lou is old but not stupid!
Outside of Stutzle and Tkachuk I doubt there is any player on the Senators team that Lou would consider trading Dobson for.
Why all the forward discussion ?
For a deep playoff run you need 8-10 on defence. That is one reason why Tanev and Hanifin are leading the charge on trade boards .
Calgary should do exceptionally well as a result
Why are we not hearing anything about Gudas on the move. Picks would serve the ducks better than keeping him.