Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – February 18, 2024
Check out the latest on Flames goalie Jacob Markstrom and defenseman Noah Hanifin plus updates on Flyers forward Scott Laughton and Oilers blueliner Philip Broberg in the Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup.
LATEST ON THE FLAMES
SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman believes that Calgary Flames goaltender Jacob Markstrom’s situation has reached the point where he’s told management that if they get an offer to bring it to him and he’ll decide if he’ll agree to be traded.
Calgary Flames goaltender Jacob Markstrom (NHL Images).
Friedman’s colleague Eric Francis noted that Markstrom is trying to ignore the trade speculation swirling about him. However, it can’t be easy for the 34-year-old netminder, especially after being lit up for four goals on 12 shots on home ice during Saturday’s 5-0 loss to the Detroit Red Wings.
Francis believes Markstrom’s situation could linger through the summer, if not addressed leading up to the March 8 trade deadline. He also believes Markstrom’s teammates Chris Tanev and Noah Hanifin will be moved by deadline day.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: As frequently noted whenever Markstrom comes up in trade chatter, he’s signed through 2025-26 with an average annual value of $6 million plus a full no-movement clause. Even if the Flames can hammer out a potential trade to move his contract, he must give his approval for the deal to go down.
It’s been over a week since Friedman reported the Flames had trade discussions with the New Jersey Devils about Markstrom, which fell through over salary retention. The Hockey News’ Adam Proteau wondered if the Toronto Maple Leafs or Carolina Hurricanes might be interested but I daresay his contract would be more cumbersome for those two teams than it would for the Devils.
Friedman also said it appears that Flames defenseman Noah Hanifin intends to head to the free-agent market on July 1. He said he’s had no confirmation from the blueliner’s representatives or the Flames but he believes it’s “pretty clear” that Hanifin is going to market.
Friedman believes there are Canadian teams interested in the 27-year Hanifin but there are American clubs more confident of signing him to a long-term contract.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: If Hanifin isn’t going to re-sign with the Flames they have no choice but to trade him for the best possible return. He’ll become the top defenseman in the trade market, garnering the Flames a solid return, one that could be even better if Hanifin agrees to a contract extension as part of the deal.
Boston Hockey Now’s Jimmy Murphy believes the Bruins and Florida Panthers could be among the suitors for Hanifin if he hits the trade block. I daresay we’ll learn about more as the trade deadline approaches.
RANGERS INTERESTED IN LAUGHTON
THE ATHLETIC: Arthur Staple and Kevin Kurz noted there are reports the New York Rangers are interested in Philadelphia Flyers center Scott Laughton. The 29-year-old has two seasons remaining on his contract with an affordable AAV of $3 million.
Staple and Kurz speculate it could cost the Rangers at least their first-round pick to acquire Laughton. With the Blueshirts being a division rival, perhaps the asking price might be higher than for other clubs.
If they prefer offering up a current player or prospect, the Flyers could prefer a young forward with scoring upside. Staple doesn’t see the Rangers sending someone like Kaapo Kakko to Philadelphia where he could haunt them for years.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Perhaps the Flyers asking price would be a first-rounder plus a prospect. I agree that it’s unlikely the Rangers would send Kakko to Philadelphia. They could ask for a prospect like Gabe Perreault or Brennan Othmann but both are probably off-limits.
OILERS WON’T PART WITH BROBERG FOR A RENTAL PLAYER
SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman believes the Edmonton Oilers intend to do something leading up to the trade deadline. Promising defenseman Philip Broberg has come up in trade rumors but they’re not going to part with him for a playoff rental player. He thinks teams have asked but they’ve made that point quite clear.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: It makes sense to try and add someone who can be part of the lineup beyond this season. This could also be the Oilers’ way of discouraging rival clubs from calling about Broberg. Unless someone is willing to overpay, they’re not going to part with a promising player.
Yup! Markstrom gets pulled after allowing 4 go in on a dozen shots against Detroit!!! NJ has withdrawn their offer!!! Elvis is coming!
Hannafin would be smart to wait for FA and sign that big contract with the team he was always a fan of. Noah’s ark will come home, and Boston will truly give him an ark-full of money!
Well I think its time Conroy gets on the phone to Florida. Lets do another sign & trade where I dont think Hanifin would have no issues to do & go play with his good buddy Tkachuk in a heart beat. Florida has diddly for draft picks but they do have something Flames would covet, Lundell who could potentially fill a top 6 Centre position. Maybe throw in Forsling, he’ll be a UFA as Flames will certainly need some defenders in the next few weeks. With Weegar & Huberdeau that may be a comfortable situation for Forsling. Maybe get Florida to throw in a 2030 conditional lottery protected 1st lol.
Re the Flames,
1/
I think as soon as they move Noah Hanifin and see what they get back a 1st pick and player & Prospect
2/
Then they move to goaltender Markstrom to see what they can get like a 1st pick and package
3/
Then they go to d/man Tanev, 2nd pick and prospect…??
The Flames two top Centres are OLD… Kadri is 33 yrs & Backlund is 34 yrs Old, young Zarry could move to centre in a few years but not ready now….
Then with there picks- prospects Graig Conroy has
Do the Flames take a swip at Ducks Centre
Trevor Zegras for a 1st and 2nd something…❓🤔
I’m not a big Markstrom fan, but the first 2 goals he gave up were deflected by Calgary players, and Larkins really wasn’t his fault. He might want back Perrons shot, but even that was from a wide open one timer from the slot. Detroit had some puck luck yesterday.
To TML: Markstrom & Rooney
To CGY: Samsonov, Kampf, Robertson and a 1st?
Think cap is close
Ihc I’ll give you credit for effort kind of sound like the one Frank Seriodiot came out with.
Serious question why would Calgary want any of them players? The 1st round pick yes. But the rest? I don’t think so
Samsonov – sieve
Kampf – 3rd liner with little value
Robertson – overhyped, over rated draft bust
1st round pick – only item of any value offered
Flames reject your offer, with malice. Tell Trev to lose their number.
Ron you`re the Tucker Carlson of this web site
Robertson has better stats than poitras and similar stats to frost with less ice time. Are they over rated draft busts? He would be on pace for almost 20 goals with the ice time of a 4th liner maybe third liner.
Chrism r u comparing Robertson to Matt Poitras?
Robertson was drafted in 2019; whereas Poitras was drafted in 2022, three years later.
If Poitras is at the same spot as Robertson after 3 seasons of development. Not a bust, just a dept player.
Yes any player on Toronto gets a lot of media attention, it generates the most clicks. Just what it is.
I would not want Nic Robertson on Boston; however if we could get his brother, that’s a different story.
@Caper Poitras is a younger version of Kerfoot. A 3rd line centre who`s more of a passer than a shooter. Robertson is more of a shooter, both kids are nothing more than depth players and both players have some value but not a lot right now. I don`t see either kid with a high ceiling regardless what year they were drafted
Caper. Maybe not the most solid comparison but the guy seems to be developing pretty well. Again… paced for close to 20 goals over an 82 game season with less than 12 minutes average ice time is pretty decent. I see his ceiling as a good third liner. Not a bad place for a second round pick. Certainly not a draft bust.
Ny was in the market for a RW a week ago, fast forward to today. With Wheelers injury , how does NY trade Kakko?
Are they now in the market for 3 Rw’ers? Wheeler replacement, Kakko replacement and the RW they were seeking originally?
Who fills the 2nd line and 3rd line RW’s?
I know they’ve moved Othmann full time to RW about a week ago in Hartford, but I doubt Drury intends on plugging in a rookie with literally 27 minutes of nhl time heading into the playoffs.
What does all this mean? Ny more than likely isn’t trading Kakko this year.
capt
i think Kakko has to be off limits and that 3rd line has been solid
The rangers have enough assets to bring in a right wing
Yesterday’s comment: Rumor – Jake Guentzel injury is dislocated or broken pinky finger. Today reading couple guys doubting that’s Guentzel’s injury. Well, hearing from a reliable source Guentzel’s injury is a fractured pinky finger. What’s the normal time to heel for fractured pinky finger? 3 to 4 weeks? How long is Guentzel expected time out? Maybe 4 weeks?
What’s the reliable source? Because there is absolutely nothing on the internet to back that up.
No offense, but it’s far to easy to put up a statement like “reliable source” but if you can’t authenticate, verify that source, what’s to say that reliable source exists?
Reliable Source.
Sounds like a Freidman or Luke Fox scribble, lol.
Foolish of the Rangers to trade for Laughton…not worth a first round pick, much less anything beyond that. Guy is 43% CF and doesn’t move any needle. Arthur Staple is no Carp…but I understand he needs to put out speculation to get clicks…that’s the new world we live in.
Laughton checks off 5 boxes on your team so yeah your value of him is bias.
Rather trade him to a team that can actually win the cup.
Maybe Av’s