NHL Rumor Mill – March 7, 2024
The trade deadline is March 8. Check out the latest on Jake Guentzel, Tyler Toffoli, Pavel Buchnevich, Jason Zucker, Anthony Duclair and Alexander Barabonov in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
SPORTSNET: Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli listed the Vancouver Canucks, Florida Panthers, Carolina Hurricanes and New York Rangers as being in the mix for Pittsburgh Penguins winger Jake Guentzel. He thinks the Panthers and Canucks don’t have enough they’re willing to part with to land the 29-year-old Penguins forward.
SPORTSNET 590: Appearing on the Jeff Marek Show, Elliotte Friedman speculated the Carolina Hurricanes could be interested in Guentzel. He noted they usually don’t pursue rental players but could be spurred by yesterday’s trade activity.
BOSTON HOCKEY NOW: Jimmy Murphy wondered if the Bruins could end up landing Elias Lindholm from the Canucks in a possible three-team deal that would send Guentzel to Vancouver. He cited ESPN’s Kevin Weekes reporting one scenario he’d heard had the Bruins shipping winger Jake DeBrusk to the Penguins as part of the deal.
THE PROVINCE: Patrick Johnston speculated the Canucks could target more affordable options such as the Arizona Coyotes’ Jason Zucker or the Buffalo Sabres’ Jordan Greenway if they fail to land Guentzel, Anaheim’s Frank Vatrano or New Jersey’s Tyler Toffoli.
Pittsburgh Penguins winger Jake Guentzel (NHL Images)
THE ATHLETIC’s Josh Yohe tweeted last night that the Canucks are keen to land Guentzel but the Penguins’ asking price is more than they’re willing to pay.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Rangers probably can’t afford Guentzel after acquiring Alex Wennberg from Seattle yesterday. The Panthers’ acquisition of Vladimir Tarasenko from Ottawa takes them out of the Guentzel sweepstakes.
The Canucks might be able to pull it off if the Penguins are willing to bend a bit, in which case that rumored three-team deal with the Bruins could take place. As for the Hurricanes, they could try to sign Guentzel to a contract extension. If that’s not possible, they’ll have to decide if they’ll make an exception from their usual aversion to adding big-ticket rentals.
THE HOCKEY NEWS: Julian Gaudio cited reports claiming multiple teams are interested in Tyler Toffoli. New Jersey Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald is having contract extension discussions with the winger’s representatives but he’s been linked to several teams.
TSN’s Darren Dreger reported Toffoli was in play with the Devils open to a return of multiple draft picks or a pick and a prospect. The Los Angeles Kings are reportedly interested in bringing back Toffoli, who spent nearly eight seasons with them.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Teams are calling but Fitzgerald seems intent on maintaining contract talks with the Toffoli. He indicated he’s willing to continue those discussions beyond the trade deadline. As The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun speculated, this could go down to the wire.
DAILY FACEOFF: Frank Seravalli reports the St. Louis Blues are willing to “get creative” and retain up to half of Pavel Buchnevich’s $5.8 million cap hit through next season to facilitate a trade. The asking price is said to be a first-round pick and a first-round equivalent while retaining salary could mean adding another premium asset. He speculates the New York Rangers, Carolina Hurricanes, Colorado Avalanche and Vegas Golden Knights could be in on Buchnevich.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Buchnevich would be more to the Hurricanes’ liking given that extra year on his contract but he’s not as much of an impact player as Guentzel. Still, he could be the second choice for teams that lose out in the bidding for Guentzel.
THE HOCKEY NEWS: Remy Mastey cited Sporstnet’s Jeff Marek recently reporting the Boston Bruins, Vancouver Canucks, Nashville Predators, Carolina Hurricanes, New Jersey Devils and Vegas Golden Knights expressed interest in Arizona Coyotes winger Jason Zucker.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Zucker’s fate could depend on what happens with Guentzel, Toffoli and Buchnevich.
ANTHONY DUCLAIR AND ALEXANDER BARABANOV
SAN JOSE HOCKEY NOW: Sheng Peng reports winger Anthony Duclair hired Paul Theofanous as his agent. There were some contract talks with the Sharks but the 28-year-old winger believes he’ll be traded.
Nikita Sokolov cited reports indicating the Sharks are also actively shopping forward Alexander Barabanov. Like Duclair, he’s slated to become an unrestricted free agent this summer. However, he’s indicated that he wants to play for a contender.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: It was reported there wasn’t much interest in the Sharks’ available assets but that was before yesterday’s frenzy of activity in the trade market. Duclair and Barabanov could become more enticing if the market becomes further depleted before tomorrow’s trade deadline.
Fitz has lost a lot of respect in the fan community. Holding on to Ruff too long; Greene just rolling out the same lines same miserable PP; publicly belittling of Holtz, a player he drafted 7th overall while he gets no ice time and buried on fourth line, yet he leads the team on 5×5 goals. Signing Toffoli? He is having a great year, but he cannot keep up with either Hughes or Hischier, it is that obvious, and that will not improve with age. Its a lost season, get every asset you can to trade for a goalie, Any other actions would be negligent.
Caps likely to trade J Edmundson he would be a nice add for Bruins who also need a center and a tough winger say a Ross The Boss Johnson ….Use any of Ullmark..Forbort..Grez..
DeBrusk to get it done
Maybe Cap pick up RyJo, sell Kuzy (retain half).
The problem with Ross the Boss Johnston is he can’t play hockey at the NHL level.
He is not a deterrent as he won’t see the ice for a playoff team. He gets 7 minutes on one of the worst teams in the NHL.
If you want a guy in the off season who will not back down, go where you will get hit, and keep going, can skate and produce. And a C to boot.
Go get Chandler Stevenson this off season if he hits the market because Vegas is up against the cap.
His dad and a good buddy of mine are pals/neighbors in Sask. So met him a couple times. Good family, good player.
Edmunsen gone, how about Hague from Vegas or Olesisk from Seattle
Sr.. If Jake Guentzel goes to Vegas he may be part of the return to Pittsburgh..
Vegas made the 2024 1st to Calgary conditional!
*Conditions: If traded by March 10, 2024 OR if the pick is top 10, Calgary will instead receive 2026 1st round ‘VGK’
This is because Vegas may use this pick to try to acquire Guentzel!!!!!!! (or maybe Buchnevich) Ain’t the LTIR loophole grand!!!!!!
Vegas is not done by a long shot!!
The conditional 1st is ‘25
Vegas still owns their ‘24 1st for sure
Per The Hockey New; EsPN, SN, TSN, The Hockey Writers , and many more; Vegas still this morning has Guentzel as a target
With Vegas loaded at LD, snd likely extending Hanafin, Hague becomes overkill
Roy, Hague , 1st for Guentzel (25%); Smith
Guentzel 25% retained by anither team
Penguins pick up Johanson off waivers
If Guentzel can bring back Vega’s pick, that 30th overall pick will help Crosby’s window how?
It’s the 2025 1st round pick, not 2024.
The pick with conditions belongs to Calgary. How does that help Vegas? Unless Calgary flips that pick in the next 29 hours, it stays Calgary’s pick?
What am I missing here?
Let’s see a Timo Myer for Guentzel trade! Let’s keep the Pens aging core’s hopes alive !!
Timo Meier? Why would NJ who by all appearances are waving the white flag on the season trade Meier who’s under contract for 7 years after this season trade for a rental?
If Guentzel gets traded, it won’t be to a team outside of the playoffs.
Scratch all that? I could see Dubas making this trade.
8.8 per for 7.3 years owed to Meier who’s grossly underperforming 27 years old ? Yep. That sounds like a solid Dubas plan!
Then NJ flips Guentzel right away and sheds 8.8 off the books and gets picks and prospects back.
I like it!
I hate to see Hanifin traded to Vegas. I do like that this was a trade not on anyones radar though.
Months and months of speculation of Tampa , Boston and Florida and poof, gone.
I don’t think I’ve seen Hanifin / Vegas mentioned anywhere leading up to the deadline.
well Vegas had to wait to put Stone on LTIR again this year in order to make their big moves.
One team that is considered a Stanley cup contender and could use and upgrade in goaltending is the Colorado Avalanche.
Chris McFarland should be reaching out to Sweeney to see what the asking price?
If Sweeney could get Colorado 1st round pick, then Sweeney could flip it to address a need.
Caper, I think you are just looking at it through Boston’s perspective? Because you want Boston to do something, right? The Avalanche are possibly going to go for an Allen/ or maybe Pitssburgh and San Jose, can’t spell their names, lol. The Avalanche more importantly need to be better defensively and are often asleep at the wheel giving guys all day to stand to the side or in front of the net! Yet Georgiev gets all the blame. His confidence is probably rattled because they hang him out to dry. So, I wouldn’t necessarily give up the 1st rounder for goaltending. Perhaps you are right but I think they will use that for either another big move: forward or defense. Maybe if it’s for a goalie a combination of a goaltender and added depth?
I am more interested in seeing what the Devils do for their goaltending. Can they get Markstrom from Calgary?, Their fall back is Ullmark from the Bruins. Or does it wind up being someone else? They really need to make their goaltending better if they want to have a chance at the playoffs.