NHL Rumor Mill – March 2, 2024
The latest on Jacob Markstrom, Noah Hanifin, Vladimir Tarasenko and Reilly Smith plus the latest on the Flyers and Leafs in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
DEVILS STILL KEEN ON MARKSTROM
THE ATHLETIC: Pierre LeBrun reports the New Jersey Devils remain interested in acquiring Jacob Markstrom from the Calgary Flames. They attempted to acquire the 34-year-old goaltender last month but the sticking point was the Flames’ unwillingness to retain salary.
The Devils are now willing to acquire Markstrom without the Flames retaining any portion of his $6 million average annual value through 2025-26. It’s a difficult trade to contemplate for Flames general manager Craig Conroy. His club is still in playoff contention and trading their MVP would gut the dressing room.
SPORTSNET: Eric Francis reports Markstrom voiced his unhappiness over how Flames management handled this situation. It was seen as a message to Conroy following the very public speculation over that potential trade with the Devils last month.
One report claimed Markstrom was frustrated that the deal with the Devils fell through after being asked to waive his no-movement clause. Some suggest he was never officially asked to waive his NMC but was merely asked if he’d be willing to do so to go to New Jersey. Some think he never gave his blessing at all.
Calgary Flames goaltender Jacob Markstrom (NHL Images).
Francis pondered whether the relationship between Markstrom and Conroy is fractured beyond repair. If so, he wondered if a deal could be put together by the March 8 trade deadline or will it have to wait until the offseason.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Francis believes Markstrom’s comments have “muddied the waters” over his future in Calgary. The Devils’ supposed willingness to take on his full cap hit could be enticing for Conroy. Markstrom’s comments could also make it easier to move him out.
Whether a suitable deal can be had at this stage remains to be seen. It sets the stage for an intriguing week in Calgary.
ARE THE CAPITALS INTERESTED IN NOAH HANIFIN?
THE HOCKEY NEWS: Sammi Silber cited Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman expressing his belief that the Washington Capitals have “kicked tires” on Noah Hanifin.
The Capitals are hard-pressed to make the playoffs but perhaps they could land the 27-year-old Flames defenseman if he agrees to a long-term contract extension. The Florida Panthers, Boston Bruins and Tampa Bay Lightning are also among the clubs linked to Hanifin.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Capitals must shed salary if they hope to sign Hanifin to a long-term extension. They’ve got just $6.7 million in projected cap space for 2024-25 with 16 active roster players under contract.
COULD THE PANTHERS PURSUE VLADIMIR TARASENKO?
THE HOCKEY NEWS: David Dwork cites a rumor claiming Ottawa Senators winger Vladimir Tarasenko will waive his no-trade clause to join a Stanley Cup contender. The 32-year-old winger is said to be interested in the Florida Panthers. However, the concern would be how well he’d fit within their system, which relies on strong defensive play, elite awareness and communication.
Tarasenko’s $5 million cap hit could be a sticking point unless the Senators agree to retain a portion. It’s believed they seek a second-round pick in return.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Ottawa Sun recently reported it’s a second-round pick and a prospect for Tarasenko. Anyway, his style of play might not be best suited for the Panthers. Still, he won a Stanley Cup with the Blues so perhaps he could adjust to their system.
TEAMS GETTING INTERESTED IN REILLY SMITH
PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: cited Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli reporting Penguins winger Reilly Smith is drawing more interest in the trade market than teammate Jake Guentzel.
Dan Kingerski reports Smith was asked about the trade rumors and speculation that he’s unhappy in Pittsburgh. “Just baseless opinions of people,” he said.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Smith has struggled this season which is the basis for the speculation. With the Penguins expected to be sellers by the deadline, the 32-year-old wing is bound to draw some interest. Kingerski noted that interested clubs could ask the Penguins to retain part of his $5 million cap hit. He’s signed through 2024-25 and has a 10-team no-trade clause.
LATEST ON THE FLYERS
THE ATHLETIC: Kevin Kurz reports Philadelphia Flyers general manager Daniel Briere will keep an open mind as the trade deadline approaches.
The Calgary Flames trading defenseman Chris Tanev to the Dallas Stars for second and third-round picks hasn’t changed Briere’s asking price of a first-rounder for blueliner Sean Walker. He is willing to stick with Walker, Nick Seeler or anyone else if no one meets his price for those players. It’s possible Walker and Seeler could be re-signed.
PHILLY HOCKEY NOW: Jonathan Bailey believes the Flyers need a reliable backup goaltender if they hope to remain in playoff contention. He suggested Jake Allen of the Montreal Canadiens as a suitable option. The 33-year-old netminder wouldn’t be a rental as he’s signed through next season with an AAV of $3.85 million.
Other possibilities include the San Jose Sharks’ Kaapo Kahkonen and the Nashville Predators’ Kevin Lankinen. Both are slated to become UFAs this summer.
ESPN: Emily Kaplan reports Briere is adamant that he’s not shopping center Scott Laughton. He’s willing to listen to trade offers but it doesn’t seem like any team will meet his steep price.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Briere might be a buyer rather than a seller by the deadline. They do need some help between the pipes now. Plenty of inexpensive backups could be found in the trade market.
THE LEAFS COULD PEDDLE THEIR FIRST-ROUND PICK
TORONTO SUN: Lance Hornby reports Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving isn’t averse to trading his 2024 first-round pick for the right return. He stressed that one has to be careful in peddling that pick for short-term help. However, if it makes sense, “if you think it’s going to have an impact, you have to look at every option.”
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Treliving was ragged in some corners of social media for not parting with that pick for Chris Tanev. He could be looking at better options than Tanev, perhaps a younger right-shot defenseman with term on his contract.
The Athletic’s Jonas Siegel suggested Adam Larsson as one example if the Seattle Kraken were open to moving him. There’s no indication they would be but that’s the kind of defenseman I could see Treliving pursuing in the trade market.
Would it make sense for Jim Nill to go back to Calgary and make a pitch for Hanifin too? The Stars still have their 1st, and could offer Lundquist also…so Calagary would get their first and a young puck moving D man. Dallas makes their blueline even better.
I would think it might take more than a very late 1st round pick and Lundquist, who has shown little progress since joining Dallas, to acquire a defenseman of the caliber of Hanifin.
Like to know the definition of “elite awareness” re; the Panthers.
Maybe this will help
https://blog.bridgedaleacademy.com/developing-hockey-sense-part-2
Look at the Panther’s player stats – any minus player (with one exception) is not not among the regulars.
Great link.
Puzzled and amused by that too, and I think all nhl teams play with communication as well, lol
It is simply awareness on the ice and what your responsibility is defensively.
Some teams dumb it down, or play man in their own end. Carolina is one. Oilers used to, but switched this off season to a box +1 where you are required to make reads and switch off when required. When to attack the puck, when to collapse. Mistakes can obviously lead to goals. Took the Oil a while to adjust which may have led to their slow start. BOS, VEG are teams that play this system.
Back check as well, if you’re first who do you take in this situation, and that situation. Then 2nd man, 3rd, etc.
Not every player is good at it or has the “elite awareness” to execute it over and over. Tarasenko seems to have the reputation that he can’t or won’t.
Penguins need to move out some players, Smith, Jake, Petterson, Ned, …
Time to restock the prospect pool, get some picks for the future.
Why though? It’s now or never, Sidney Crosby won’t play forever. Win now or there’s no point in wasting his final seasons.
How does this team win now? 5 straight years out in the first round. Followed by no playoffs last year, and looking like a miss again this year.
How do you fix this team without completely gutting it ?
This is a team that has continued to add at the deadline thinking they could still complete.
Reality needs to set in eventually no?
Pittsburg will not be winning anything for the next ten years unless Bettman gets them a few first rounders
Didn’t know pittsburg California was getting an expansion team. Pittsburgh on the other hand might be relevant in the next ten.
Then they should trade Crosby instead of wasting his final years.
Stuff gets thrown against wall but came across this in my travels…Sway would bring back a lot more than Ullmark would
New Jersey Devils
RECEIVE
Jeremy Swayman
Boston Bruins
RECEIVE
Dawson Mercer
Alex Holtz
Kevin Bahl
2024 1st-Round Pick (Conditional)
No disrespect on Swayman, but that is a massive price tag for any goaltender.
That boils down to 3-1st round draft picks (2 former , 1 future )
And a former 2nd round guy.
I just don’t see any goaltender fetching that type of return.
I would agree no tender would get that return but it would take something like it for Sweeney to move Swayman
Agree, need to take a couple of those assets off the board. The only way Sweeney trades Sway, is if he signs Ullmark to a reasonable extension, or has one in his back pocket prior to July 1.
Joe is right, if you are going to move one of the tenders, you likely get more for Swayman. He may want more $$ and term as well than Ullmark as well. The longer you sign a tender, the greater the risk as it is a volatile position.
I think they will need to move one in the off season. Depends what either guy wants for $$ and term, and what kind of return can you get for either of them.
I would be open to moving either one, because both have been very good.
Lyle, when you say “However, the concern would be how well he’d (Tarasenko) fit within their system, which relies on strong defensive play, elite awareness and communication.” have you looked at his stats on a team that, generally speaking, can’t seem to get out of their way?
He is one of 4 Fs with a + record
Greig +18; Tarasenko (+12) Joseph (+6), Pinto (+7)
The rest of the “regulars” are in the minus category
Kubalik – 24; Kastelic -7; Batherson -6; Norris -6; Stutzle -5), Tkachuk -4; Kelly -4, Giroux -2
I realize +/- isn’t the be-all when analyzing a player’s performance – but it is, nevertheless, indicative of at least effort in a 2-way game.
Read the piece again, George. I’m not the one who wrote that sentence.
Oops. Sorry. But you did sort of agree when you wrote “Anyway, his style of play might not be best suited for the Panthers.”
He has decent offensive stats and is one of a few with an overall plus amongst a team of stumblebums. What is there in his style of play that would conflict with that of the Panthers?
Did you not read the last sentence in my note about Tarasenko, George?
Hey George when you think of Tarasenko, does panthers type of player come to mind? If not or not exactly, you too agree with that comment.
Lyle, yeah, I read that part too. But I don’t see that he needs any adjustment in his game. He has been pretty effective despite being surrounded by floaters for most of the season and I’m sure his approach would fit in well with Florida.
Well, Ron, his production – and size (6′ 1″ 220 lbs)- would be head and shoulders above the two guys playing RW on their 3rd and 4th lines – Rodrigues (5′ 9″ 184 lbs) and Lomberg (5′ 11″ 175 lbs)
Not to shabby at RW behind Tkachuk and Reinhart
Yes his size does fit the team mold but ate you saying you also see him as a similar player type/play style as Tkachuk and Reinhart? I think NYR fans can comment on his play style when he was their rental and his fit into a top team that plays a game that’s similar to the Cats.
Are you referring to his 8g 13a 21 pts in 31gp and +4 regular season before his 3g 1a 4 pts in 7 playoff games. Not much in the way of a defining test – but there were a lot worse on that NYR team.
Thank you for not getting Tanev, Brad. Now, let’s get Adam Larsson!!!!!
Yes if he actually a realistic option! Let’s all pull names outta thin air maybe, just maybe one will stick.
The question of what would a package to land him look like? Well if you’re asking, you don’t know and like the rest of us, don’t know how both GMs value their players…and guys commenting here, really don’t know. Most of you constantly ragged about trading away a player that has had now 3 consecutive +80pts seasons. How many other teams would think about trading away a guy like that if they had one?
Re; Edmonton Oilers
They are targeting a top-six RW forward. Here are the Top 4 for RW 🤔
1) Pittsburgh Penguins Richard Rakell RW
Could the Oilers take a Run at Rakell $5.M
he would fit in nice on the RW….
Cost A 1st Pick & Big 6ft 6 young d/man Markus Niemeläinen..❓
That would give the Pen’s $$ to Re-sign Jake Guentzel if they move these two out & save $10M.
would make Sid very happy….
if they the pens move out R.Smith $5.M sound like Vegas what him back ….❓
The other 3 top RW Oilers gould well be looking at are
2) Ottawa Senator’s UFA RW Vladimir Tarasenko
a 2nd pick & A ?
3) New Jersey Devils’ UFA RW Tyler Toffoli,
A 2nd pick ?
4) Seattle Kraken’s UFA RW Jordan Eberle.
A 2nd pick.
Not sure why you’re valuing Rackell higher than the rest of these players?
His term? I think that makes him less desirable than the 3 others. He’s behind all 3 in scoring. On pace for 36 points?
I think you’re both overvaluing Rackell and undervaluing the other 3 players.
Of that list. Tofolli would be my first pick, tarasenko number 2. The rest……no thx
So, go “get” their assistant captain, a solid D man costing $4 mil off the cap with 1 more year to go who has 3g 14a 17 pts in 59gp and is a +10 — and a full M-NTC clause.
\
What could the Leafs possibly offer that a) they’d be willing to relinquish, and b) would interest a team sitting just 7 points out of a WC slot? And please don’t include Robertson in the mix.
@George, I realize that Robertson could never make that all star cast in Ottawa and his paltry numbers playing part time in Toronto makes him worthless. If you can`t make the Leafs means you don`t belong in the NHL right George. I almost forgot Toronto`s trading for a superstar dman Larsson. The guy Edmonton got roasted because they traded Hall for him and Larsson played so good, Edmonton left him exposed in the expansion draft. All Larsson is, is a decent, reliable dman. He`s no all star by any means and Seattle`s no powerhouse with or without Larsson. You hate Toronto, I get it and you know nothing about their prospects so why comment or is it your version of trolling. The mess that`s in Ottawa should be more than enough for you. New owner, new management, lots for you to whine about there. The Who has a song that fits perfect for Ottawa “Won`t Get Fooled Again”. But George one question. WTF is a full M-NTC, is that like a definite maybe
WTF? It simply means h e can’t be moved – anywhere – without his OK.
Of course, everyone knows he’d waive in an instant to go to that perennial Cup-winning franchise in Toronto, eh Yogi? EVERYBODY wants to go there – so we’re constantly told anyway.
And who say s Robertson couldn’t make Ottawa’s roster? Did I ever say that. He could probably make Seattle’s roster. But not as part of any deal to get Larsson. In my opinion anyway.
And please, get some salve for that thin skin. If you’ve been here long enough you know I don’t “hate” Toronto (but I do hate the Toronto-centric media … that’s been established). I’m on record here for praising the development of Woll, thought they made a mistake in letting Hyman get away, and consistently said one of THE better Fs on the Leafs was Nylander – long before he earned that big contract.
As for the Senators – since you brought them up – now I know you’re very selective in your reading since I defy you to show anyone else more critical of their performance – this season or any of the previous 6.
YOU may think Larsson amounts to nothing more than fill on someone’s D – but there are many who disagree. C’est la vie, eh Yogi?
Oh, and before I forget, there were thousands of Leafs fans – like you -whose recognition of talent rose to the front when they booed – unmercifully – Larry Murphy out of town, only to see him become an all-star elsewhere and, eventually, a berth in the Hall Of Fame.
Oh, and one more thing – that “all-star cast” in Ottawa (hardly) still managed to win 3 of 4 against the Leafs, outscoring them 18-12.
Man, based on this comment alone, I now hate Toronto. Yogi is quite the ambassador of good will, eh?
And he had the gonads to call me a troll!
I think Briere is unrealistic to expect 1st rounder for Walker? Seeing Calgary parted with Tanev for 2nd rounder and got a good return. I don’t think Flyers will get a 1st rounder but hey who knows? I think they will sign him instead.
I think if a GM is asking for what seems to be a high price, it’s likely he’d rather not part with that player, unless…. Plus why not even if you do want to part ways? You can always lower your ask and that’s not uncommon either, right?
Rip the bandaid off with Markstrom and trade him. The Flames cannot be happy with his comments the day before Kipper’s night – who is a prime example for a low maintenance player and class act pro.
H, Markstrom also seemed like a prime example of a low maintenance player, until this situation.
Not sure what is true and what isn’t regarding him being asked to waive his NMC, pick up and move his family across the continent, and then not. Just kidding!
If accurate, WTF.
I dunno, I wouldn’t ask a guy to do that unless I was sure. But maybe that’s just me.
Ya I dunno if he was low maintenance last year through his struggles. I do know the flames stuck by him.
They can only take the discussion so far with NJ until seeing if it’s a possibility on Markstrom’s part to waive else it’s a moot point.
This is all part of the business, and it’s not Conny’s job to go bended to Markstrom when things don’t work out. He’s timing to vent is just weird since this has been going on for weeks.
Very much agree here. The only part of the original deal I didn’t like was the salary retention. If that is off the table, then pull the trigger. Who knows maybe Markstrom purposely lays an egg tonight forcing Conroys hand.
Agree on Markstrom “ on the bus or under the bus “
Bahl Holtz and Vanacek . Flame add 2025 mid round pick no money held .
Don’t let the door hit your ass on the way out .