NHL Rumor Mill – March 4, 2024
The trade deadline is Friday at 3 pm ET. Check out the latest on the Bruins, Stars, Sabres, Predators, Leafs, Lightning, Avalanche and Canadiens in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
TRADE RUMORS FROM JEFF MAREK’S LATEST “RINK FRIES”.
SPORTSNET: Jeff Marek shared some interesting trade speculation in his latest “Rink Fries” column.
Marek pointed out that Boston Bruins goaltending prospect Brandon Bussi will require waivers next season. He speculates they could draw on their depth between the pipes to address other roster needs. That doesn’t mean they’ll trade Linus Ullmark at the trade deadline as they can wait until the summer or next season to move him. Getting Jeremy Swayman signed is also a consideration.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Boston Hockey Now’s Jimmy Murphy cited a source claiming a market exists for Ullmark, citing Western clubs such as the Edmonton Oilers, Colorado Avalanche and Los Angeles Kings that need help between the pipes.
Boston Bruins goaltender Linus Ullmark (NHL Images).
Ullmark and Swayman are among the reasons the Bruins exceeded expectations by jockeying for first place in the overall standings in what’s supposed to be a transition season.
Moving one of them could help them add a center or a defenseman but it’s rare nowadays for a goalie (even a former Vezina Trophy winner) to fetch a significant return in the trade market. Bussi’s inexperience at the NHL level could weaken them down the stretch and into the playoffs.
Ullmark’s $5 million cap hit through next season won’t be easy to move. Too many teams have limited cap space. His 16-team no-trade clause also complicates things.
The Dallas Stars could look to add to their blueline despite acquiring Chris Tanev last week from the Calgary Flames. He speculates they could target Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Nick Seeler.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Flyers head coach John Tortorella recently said his club isn’t shopping Seeler. Nevertheless, they could listen to offers if someone is willing to overpay by offering up a first-round pick. If not, they’ll be content to stick with Seeler as they attempt to secure a playoff spot.
Buffalo Sabres captain Kyle Okposo could be on the move by the deadline. Marek cited his colleague Elliotte Friedman suggesting the New York Rangers as a trade destination. He also indicated that defenseman Erik Johnson’s name is in the rumor mill.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Rangers seek a reliable right winger to skate alongside Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider on their second line. Okposo, 35, might be unable to address that need at this point in his career. The Blueshirts are linked to Anaheim Ducks winger Frank Vatrano.
Marek suggests keeping an eye on Nashville Predators defenseman Alexandre Carrier. He’s on an expiring contract “and most likely to be moved” to make room for promising Spencer Stastney.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Predators have surged up the standings over the last three weeks. They might not be as keen to move Carrier as they might’ve been a month ago. Still, Predators GM Barry Trotz could listen to offers if someone is willing to overpay for him.
THE LATEST ON THE LEAFS, LIGHTNING, AVALANCHE & CANADIENS
TORONTO SUN: Terry Koshan reports rumors link the Maple Leafs to right-shot defensemen such as Matt Dumba of the Arizona Coyotes, Sean Walker of the Philadelphia Flyers and Nashville’s Alexandre Carrier.
Koshan noted that Leafs GM Brad Treliving has two fewer assets to work with after trading a third-round pick and a sixth-rounder to acquire Ilya Lyubushkin from the Anaheim Ducks last week. Lyubushkin was injured in Saturday’s game against the New York Rangers and the Leafs are hoping he won’t be out of the lineup for long.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Coyotes beat writer Craig Morgan believes Dumba’s value might be a third-round pick. However, that could rise to a second-rounder if the Coyotes are willing to retain half of his $3.9 million cap hit.
Like Seeler, the Flyers aren’t shopping Walker but could listen to offers. They reportedly seek a first-round pick for the 29-year-old blueliner. They’re content to stick with him for the rest of the season if no one meets their asking price.
As I mentioned, Carrier surfaced in the rumor mill several weeks ago when the Predators faced falling out of the Western Conference playoff race. Their recent surge into the first wild-card position could make them less interested in moving him.
TAMPA BAY TIMES: Eduardo A. Encina believes Lightning GM Julien BriseBois will be in the market for players with term remaining on their contracts or those they believe they can keep beyond this season.
He noted that rumors have linked the Lightning to Calgary Flames defenseman Noah Hanifin. They need a replacement for blueliner Mikhail Sergachev as the latter is out for the season recovering from leg surgery. Placing him on long-term injury reserve frees up nearly $7.4 million in salary-cap flexibility.
Encina noted that the Lightning doesn’t have much draft capital to draw on for trade bait. They might have to use prospects such as Isaac Howard and Ethan Gauthier as trade bait.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Lightning hold the final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference. BriseBois could swing a deal to shore up his defense corps and perhaps add a gritty checking forward. Given his recent trade history and the reports of Tampa Bay being Hanifin’s preferred destination, we can’t rule out the Lightning making another big splash.
THE DENVER POST: Corey Masisak noted the Colorado Avalanche garnered more salary-cap flexibility by trading Kurtis MacDermid to the New Jersey Devils. That’s prompted speculation they’re preparing to be buyers at the upcoming trade deadline.
Trying to outbid other teams will be challenging for the Avalanche. They lack a second and a third-round pick in this year’s draft and could end up dangling prospects such as Calum Ritchie, Mikhail Gulyayev and Sean Behrens as trade bait. Future salary-cap complications could result in a defenseman like Bowen Byram or Samuel Girard becoming a trade candidate if the Avs hope to land an impact player.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Peddling Byram or Girard should only be for a player they can retain beyond this season. It would be a waste of a quality asset to ship out one of them for a rental player.
THE ATHLETIC: Arpon Basu noted there’s no certainty the Montreal Canadiens will trade defenseman David Savard by the deadline. He has a year remaining on his contract with a cap hit of $3.5 million. The Canadiens aren’t eager to move him because he mentors their young blueliners. What is clear is the asking price starts with a first-round pick if a team wants the Canadiens to retain half of that cap hit.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Basu noted that Toronto Maple Leafs assistant GM Ryan Hardy has attended a few Canadiens games lately. He could be scouting Savard or conducting due diligence as the two clubs face each other on March 9 following the trade deadline.
I’m struggling with the idea of teams with no real prospect of winning the Cup trading picks and or prospects to bolster their line up.
The Leafs are an easy target, but still. They currently have no draft picks in 2025 until the 5th round, and have no second pick in 2024 or 2026. They perpetually develop forwards only to see them walk (hello Zach Hyman) because of the way they manage their cap.
The Bolts are not much better. No first, second or 4th pick in 20024, no first rounder in 2025. They get no scoring from their bottom 6 and no trade is going to replace Sergachev for the playoffs or juice their forwards to the point of a material improvement to their prospect of winning it all.
Pittsburg is another team that made poor roster decisions in the illusory hope they could be a playoff team. No first, third or fifth pick this year, no second pick next year, and a GM that recently said they had a good stable of picks. Only now has the penny dropped about their playoff chances.
Sure, gate receipts and retaining fans are important. But being in a “win now’ mode with no realistic prospect of winning will set teams back years.
LJ not to pick on your post: 2 teams you used are combine for 6 cups since 2004
The other is trying to win the cup. This year might be there best opportunity.
I’m not sold on their defense or goaltending but Toronto has one of the best forward groups in the NHL.
This is the year Toronto should empty the cupboard. Maybe Joseph Woll can hold down the fort. He not experience and not the way you want to enter the playoffs.
Toronto could use another solid dman and pay the price to get him.
1967 is a long time ago. This is the year, the door is open. Don’t stand pact, empty the cupboards, bring home the cup and no one will give a rats *ss about the near future.
HI Caper, I don’t feel picked on. I put the comment out as I’m interested in debate. But KevJam, below, has captured my thoughts very well.
The only thing I might add is that while the Leafs core 4 are excellent, the team as a whole surely cannot be seen as having a realistic hope of winning the Cup.
If that is so, why spend your future today on an improbable quest?
Empty the cupboards and win nothing and catch the first train out of town as you are railroaded out quickly along with a couple of the amazing forwards who brought 1 first round win
Thank you!
Two of the biggest NHL phrases I hate are “All in” and “Win now mode.”
Just because your team’s window is open isn’t an excuse to overpay for a rental player.
I truly believe if your team has to add a top 6 forward or top 3 d-man rental player to get them into the “contender” category then your team isn’t ready to be a contender. This is one thing why I like what Holland is doing in Edmonton. He hasn’t used a first-round pick or a top prospect to acquire a rental player in his time with Edmonton.
I read an article a few weeks ago. Teams that spent a lot on high-priced acquisitions (top 6 forward or a top 3 d-men) didn’t go very far in the playoffs.
KevJam: Here is Holland, as quoted on TSN today, saying essentially what you (and me, I guess) are saying:
“The cap’s a factor. The assets are a factor. We’ve been spending lots and lots of draft picks since I’ve been here, trying to take a run every year. I got it from my time in Detroit. We did that for 14-15 years. You just can’t blow all your draft picks out in one year because the next year these same questions come, and you’ve got to have some draft capital to be able to do something.”
LJ, the last 6 cup winners have made deals at the tdl or leading up to the tdl.
Deals are generally not for a #1 center or #1 goalie or #1 dman, if they’re the needs generally not a cup contender.
Most teams try not to trade off the 1st round pick, this is why a second round pick has become the best commodity to have.
Using Boston who sung for the fences last year, adding Orlov, Hathaway and Bertuzzi, it didn’t work out. However it wasn’t because of the play of them players. More simply put it was bad coaching.
With that said, still doesn’t mean the bruins would win the cup it they got pass the first round. On paper that was an excellent team that could’ve won the cup.
GM if being honest with themselves know what they have in front of them and what their realistic chances are.
The players on the team want to see the GM add and think they have an opportunity win.
It isn’t the #1 C,D or G it’s adding complementary pieces.
He did to get Ekholm which was a great move
Caper,
From what I have seen in the past, teams that are using their 1st round picks and top prospects are overpaying for what they are getting in a rental player. Where do you think the Leafs would be today didn’t overpay for O’Reilly with a 2023 1st? A 2025 1st for Jake McCabe (currently on the Leafs 3rd pairing)? A 1st for Nick Foligno? And a 1st plus prospects Durzi and Grundstrom for Jake Muzzin?
You also mentioned the Lightening and Penguins. The years they were winning and were actual contenders they weren’t spending 1st round picks on rentals.
True contenders use 2nd round picks and less at the trade deadline to make tweaks to the bottom half of their lineup. If a team is using more then they aren’t a true contender.
Ekholm was a great addition. He also wasn’t a rental as he has term on his contract at a reasonable cap hit of $6 million until the end of the 2025/26 season.
Kevjam, trading picks as you know don’t guarantee success.
I used Boston traded a 1st 2 2nd, a prospect and player for Hampus Lindholm. It’s a trade they would make again in again.
Trading away assets for the purpose of winning the cup is not the issue. Maintaining status quo is.
Using Toronto again. If they could pull off a trade for Markstrom, do you think that helps their chances at a cup. If they win the cup no one cares about the price. When you don’t win, then you revisit.
Incredibly well put.
any team with Andrei Andreyevich Vasilevskiy in net and a half dozen proven cup veterans including at least three HOF players has a puncher’s chance in the tournament
In a tournament (ie single knock out), yes; in 4 best of 7 series playoffs, not so much Richard.
Caper, again, I concede that there will be some examples of a deadline acquisition that helped. But as you say, that is when there is a realistic shot at the Cup.
My issue is when teams trade picks when they don’t have a realistic chance. Again, not to single out the Leafs, but they get so much publicity it’s hard to ignore them:
Last year, O’Reilly cost them their first round pick. Result, one playoff round win.
2021, Leafs acquire Folino for their first round pick: result, first round knock out.
Ok, last words to anyone else. Thanks for engaging.
Kinda with ya on this LJ, with the key word in your post being “reasonable”.
The B’s last year it was obviously reasonable to to think they had as good a chance as anybody else to hoist the cup. This year, I don’t think it is reasonable risk for them to trade away young, quality, affordable assets to try and win this year. Quality meaning A/B prospects, and 1st Rd picks. Some prospects are off the table for a rental for obvious reasons. IE As Holland has said about Broberg.
Edm, Dal, Vcr, Wpg, NYR, & Fla, I see as true contenders, and if an impact player is there, go for it. Outside chance, Col & Car.
Probably tempted to make a bold move, but pretenders; Bos, Tor, Det, TB, LA. Part of me thinks LA can still get it going and move up the ladder. Need a tendy.
Don t forget the Fla. Panthers with 11 UFA S that could be gone by June!
TO should not be mentioned in the same sentence w Pitt n Tampa.
I guess we will see if the Devils are serious about their twine
Same for LA
If a Boston goalie moves it will be to a team without a number one
Not Edmonton not Colorado
I would listen with Hanifin on
a deal involving Issac Howard AND Ethan Gauthier plus earliest highest pick they have left. Flames will have to hold money. Boston can offer better.
That would be a second in 2025 for Tampa
A smart GM would try to pluck the Pens 2026 and 2027 1st rounders away…… those will be lottery picks most likely
Exactly what would said GM be offering to the Penguins for those picks? The Penguins, clearly sellers this Trade Deadline, are not auctioning off picks, they are looking to accumulate them as well as prospects.
Lyle, I totally agree that it would be extremely wasteful and poor asset management to trade Girard or Byram for anything less than someone that fills a need moving forward at an affordable rate. It’s also highly unlikely they move any significant roster player in-season. They also don’t like to trade 1sts outside of absolute emergencies so I wouldn’t expect that. They’ll do something “safe” like trade Behrens and 3rd for someone like Wennberg then reassess their needs in the offseason. The final lesson, though, is that nobody should listen to anyone in the Denver media; they don’t cover the Avs with any depth and like to just propose click-bait nonsense.
505, I agree. These folks do not cover the Avalanche consistently! Adrian Dater is the guy who is plugged in still on the team and he generally has his finger on the pulse of what the team is up to! If the Avalanche were to move either Girard or Byram it would have to be for a significant need at present in addition to the prospect of that individual resigning with the club, not a rental. MacFarland is doing a great job and will make a move if it is beneficial for the Avalanche to maximize their chance at competing for another cup!
Trading picks isn’t such a big deal if you feel you’re a contender.
A late 1st round pick has little chance of being an impact player, 2nd, 3rd, 4th rounders have little chance of making it to the NHL.
An actual NHL player, regardless of place in the lineup is more than 75% of the draft picks.
A contending team doesn’t need a core player on F, D or goalie. They need character muckers on the bottom who are better than the opposition.
Tampa Bay did that very successfully.
Your “window of opportunity” is when you draft on top of the order for a few years, whether by trade or being low in the standings and establish a culture while building your core.
It depends of how many other valuable assets you’ve got, how big you think the window is (how many more bites at the apple you think you’ll get before a rebuild), what your prospect pool looks like, what your cap situation is and what you believe your real odds at the Cup are. A lot of GMs are careless with their assets so they fail to put their team in a real position to win.
Seattle is holding Alex Wennberg out of tonight lineup due to trade protection.
Watch the lineup flow next 3 nights 4th..5th & 6th …will get a decent idea of who might be getting traded.…
Lindy Ruff 💩 canned.
Devils need a goalie
Bruins .. at least do this
Nick Seeler