NHL Rumor Mill – April 4, 2024

by | Apr 4, 2024 | Rumors | 17 comments

The latest on Sam Reinhart and some suggested offseason trade targets for the Canadiens in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

REINHART UNCONCERNS AS FREE AGENCY LOOMS

THE ATHLETIC: Pierre LeBrun reports Sam Reinhart isn’t concerned about his lack of a contract extension with the Florida Panthers

The 28-year-old winger is completing a three-year deal with an average annual value of $6.5 million. He’s enjoyed a career season in his contract year with 52 goals and a team-leading 87 points. 

Reinhart said the lack of a new contract isn’t an issue. He claimed he has a positive relationship with the club and general manager Bill Zito. Reinhart insisted he’s “very comfortable” with the ongoing situation as he’s focused on the end of this season and the upcoming playoffs. 

I’ve got all the confidence it’s going to work out,” said Reinhart. “I’m very comfortable with where it is.” 

Florida Panthers winger Sam Reinhart (NHL Images).

Zito told LeBrun that he believes the two sides will get a deal done and praised Reinhart’s performance this season. “Sometimes the contracts take time. That’s not necessarily a bad thing”, he said. “I believe we will find the right contract for Sam and the Panthers.” 

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Reinhart will be the top player in this summer’s unrestricted free-agent class. He will draw plenty of interest if he hits the open market on July 1. 

Reinhart and Zito seem keen to get a contract extension done. The more he scores the more expensive he’ll be to re-sign. Still, he’s in a good situation with the Panthers, a club that has gained respectability by becoming one of the top 10 teams in the league. 

The Panthers have a projected cap space of over $20 million for 2024-25 with 13 active roster players under contract. They must also re-sign restricted free agent Anton Lundell while key defenseman Brandon Montour is UFA-eligible on July 1. 

It’ll be interesting to see how this situation shakes out. There was speculation earlier this season of Reinhart getting $8.5 million per season on his next contract. His 52-goal season raises his asking price. He’ll get over $10 million annually on the free-agent market. With Florida lacking a state tax, he might accept just under $9.5 million per season to stay with the Panthers. 

SUGGESTED TRADE TARGETS FOR THE CANADIENS

MONTREAL HOCKEY NOW: Marco D’Amico proposed three trade options for the Canadiens in their offseason pursuit of a young scoring forward. He noted they have “an overabundance of defensemen, some cap space and a haul of draft picks over the next two drafts” to draw on for trade bait. 

Anaheim Ducks forward Trevor Zegras tops D’Amico’s list, believing the 23-year-old winger could be traded this summer. Following a difficult third season with the Ducks, a change in scenery might be in order for Zegras. 

SPECTOR’S NOTE: D’Amico observed that the Canadiens have been confirmed to be monitoring Zegras. He also noted that Ducks GM Pat Verbeek has refused to entertain a trade. Nevertheless, he believes that the winger could be in play this summer. 

Verbeek could listen to offers for Zegras this summer but he’ll be an expensive acquisition. The Ducks GM could insist on the Canadiens’ 2024 first-rounder and top prospect Lane Hutson being part of the deal. 

Zegras is signed for two more seasons. The Ducks aren’t facing any pressure to trade him. Verbeek can set a high asking price and wait to see if someone will meet it. He won’t have any problem with a healthy and motivated Zegras as part of his roster for next season. 

Carolina Hurricanes forward Martin Necas could become available this summer. The Hurricanes have several key players eligible for UFA and RFA status this summer with Necas in the latter category. They’re unlikely to sign them all. 

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Necas could become a trade candidate if the Hurricanes attempt to retain pending UFAs like Jake Guentzel, Brady Skjei and Brett Pesce. He won’t be as expensive to acquire as Zegras but it could cost the Habs a first-rounder or one of their promising defense prospects as part of the return. 

Necas is also close to UFA eligibility. The Canadiens will want to ensure they can sign him to an extension before making this deal. 

Columbus Blue Jackets forward Kent Johnson is the least proven on D’Amico’s list but has plenty of potential. The Jackets already have a plethora of young talent coming in and another top-five pick likely this season. 

D’Amico noted that an argument could be made to pursue Patrik Laine given his poor 2023-24 season. However, his $8.7 million cap hit and the baggage that has followed him would make him an expensive risk. 

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Johnson had a 40-point rookie season in 2022-23 but struggled with consistency before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury in February. He could rebound well playing for Canadiens coach Martin St. Louis. However, Johnson seems the least likely target for the Habs. GM Kent Hughes will likely prefer an established scorer in their mid-twenties.







17 Comments

  1. Re; Sen’s d

    Reading an article this am about Sen’s Head Coach Jacques Martin and the Sens young d/man and how impressed the Coach Martin was with young 6ft 4 & 200lb 22yr old LD/man Tylen Kleven…

    He is Staking a Clam for the 3rd LD man spot on the Sen’s this coming season
    That exactly what the Sen’s need there Big & Physical stay at home d/man…🤔

    I think we could see 2 Or 3 New Faces in the Sen’s 6 d positions for the 2024/25 season..
    I think these 3 will be gone, or Not in the staring 6 line up.
    1/-Chabot Or * (Chychrun is my choice to stay)
    2/-Travis Hamonic, the 7th d/man call up
    3/-Erik Brännström LD/RD

    1st pair RD Artem Zub & Jake Sanderson
    2nd pair RD NEW** & Jakob Chychrun
    3rd pair RD Bernard-Docker & ** New Kleven
    7th d/man/first call up? Travis Hamonic $1.1M

    Ottawa could pick 6th, 7th, or 8th in the NHL draft in june, there are some Very Good Offencive RD/men avalable around there in the Top 5 to 10 range
    like Yakemchuk, Levshunov,Parekh,❓
    to fill that 2nd paring RD in a couple of years

    • williew, don’t forget about Maxence Guenette, a 6′ 1″ 185 lb RD who has played very well in Belleville with 7g 25a 32 pts in 54 gp and a + 3 – not bad for a 7th rd pick on a very average AHL team.

      He was called up for 7 games this season and held his own when in action. He’ll likely be called up again for a few more games before season’s end.

      • Hey George,
        Your right, Guenette did play well, they are both RD & about the same size/weight
        I think Guenette could do with a full year in Bellville to continue to develope

        But a LD/man like Tylen Kleven is what the doctor ordered whats at the 3rd paring d to play along with RD/man Bernard-Docker

        A New Top 4 RD/man…. let see what happen when the UFA perion opens
        Chris Tanev would be a great shut down guy and mentor to young Sanderson would be a good balance on there d…?

        Im hoping they bring up young Goaltender Mads Sogaard to play at least 50% of the games remaining and some young forwards and d so they can see what they need as far a trade go’s moving out A Chabot…..& bring in a 2nd par RD/man to balance it all out…❓

    • I can’t help but wonder if it makes sense to trade Chabot to Pittsburgh for Karlsson.
      Penguins could take back $1M to make the cap hits equal.
      Karlsson is older but has fewer years left on his contract while Pens get the younger Chabot.
      Karlsson is right handed, a position of need while Ottawa already has Sanderson and Chychrun as their top 2, LHD.
      Karlsson has a history with Ottawa and Daniel Alfredson.
      Karlsson has played well this season (9g, 38a, 46pts, +5) just not Norris Trophy level.
      Karlsson could bring some of the maturity and leadership the Sens are looking for this off-season.

  2. What happened to Laine? Remember how many were saying he was better than Matthews and would be a better goal scorer, etc? Boy were those folks wrong!

    • something changed after Nov 2018 – a month when Laine scored 18 goals. Since that time (a random reference) Andrew Copp has more goals than Laine. Maybe an injury but I fear it runs deeper than that.

      Laine’s one timer is (or was) the best in the league but that is really the only way he scored. not too many goals in tight to the net, no tips, breakaway speed etc. The defences figured him out and he failed to adapt. Tkatchuk turned out to be the best player of the draft year.

  3. The Habs have to move some D in the off season, so a trade for scoring help is, IMO, very likely.

    Young D and prospects who will not be moved: Guhle, Xjakai, Reinbacher, Maillioux, and Hudson. I’d be reluctant to move Struble.

    Verbeek will ask for a high price for Zegras, as he should. His team is going nowhere for the next several seasons and as noted the player is under contract for 2 more years.

    But the Habs are not going to throw in a blue chip prospect like Hudson for a player who has question marks around him. After all, they aren’t going anywhere next year either.

    • I got one for you to ponder LJ.
      Dylan Holloway for Logan Mailloux.

      Not the usual trade a more expensive veteran for a less expensive young guy/prospect we see these days due to the cap.

      But the Oil could use a young cost controlled RD after next season when Ceci is done, the Habs sound like they need some help up front and is ready for a shot now. Holloway can fly, hits and has scored at every level except the NHL. Also playing C in Bakersfield and thriving. Oil have plenty of C’s.

      Both unproven, both high ceiling.

      Holland might not do it as he wants players who can play in the NHL now, not down the road.

      • Ray, you know more about Holloway than I do. But you are definitely on the scent when you recognize that the Habs are desperate for scoring and need at least one more center.

        Chatter in Habsland is that Mailloux has a shot at the NHL next year. Clearing a few D from the line up now would be necessary but if he is seen as NHL ready Holland would know that.

      • Sounds like a deal LJ! Email Hughes.

        Oil would hate to part with Holloway, and Habs likely feel the same about Mailloux, but seems to fill a need for both teams.

        Holland would likely want to see Mailloux season for another year in AHL. He likes to do that with all young players.

      • That’s a trade that looks interesting at first glance, Holloway has speed, some size, grit, things that the Habs like but….he doesn’t put the puck in the net.
        6 G in 83 games. .0722 gpg

        Jesse Ylonen, has speed, same size, grit and doesn’t fit for the same reason.
        12 G in 108 games., .1111 gpg.

    • Hey Lyle,

      Hab’s need help up front Scoring, Zegras is young and talented could be a win win for both teams…

      Ducks look like they will Pick in the #3 spot and if they got a 5th pick Also from the Habs…❓
      Or
      maybe its a 1st pick in next years draft from the hab’s or Flames……
      the Jets 1st pick the Hab’s have a a young d/man as the Hab’s have to many young d men 2X22 yrs old and 2X23 years on on the Habs roster…
      in the AHL They also have 3-4 more good ones, they cant all play for the habs at that young age…👀

      19 yr old David Reinbacher
      *20 yr old Logan Mailloux ( my choice )
      22 yr old Justin Barron
      They also have 4-5 Really good young forwards…❓
      and
      4 X 1st round picks in the next 2 years

  4. Agreed, LJ, re: Habs not trading Hutson.

    I know every fan overvalues his/her team’s prospects, but the Habs need a future PP QB exactly as badly as they need another top-6 scorer. Without a different one after Hutson in the pipeline, I don’t see them trading him for a top-6 scorer, when they could find other replacements via trade or UFA without giving Hutson up.

  5. Re; Ducks & Hab’s

    Both the Hab’s & Ducks are Very Similar Stages of the re-builds
    -Both have Young goaltender’s up & coming

    -Both have a Good young d core & Good young prospects coming up almost to many for the Hab’s?

    -Both have a Good group of young forwards, both need to add hear

    Ducks have 2X1st picks, 2X 2nd picks & 3X 3rd pick in the 2024 draft.
    Hab’s have 2X1st picks, 1 2nd pick, & 2X3rd pick in the 2024 draft
    Both teams have lots to wheele & deal at the draft as far as a trade’s go to make there teams better……..🤔

    • I’d love for the Habs to pick up Necas. If the Canes decide to sign Guentzel, they may have to trade him for cap reasons. I’d be hesitant to trade their top 8 pick this year. Wouldn’t trade Hutson, likely not Guhle either.

  6. Why is there absolutely no talk about extending RFA offer sheets for players coming off of an ELC but in a bottom six role? I could list at least 6 such players who have scored at least 4 goals 13 points and have a +- higher than the average forward on their team (not being a defensive liability) who would be bargain signings at 1.425 mill, the maximum that a signed offer sheet wouldn’t command compensation of any kind whatsoever.

    Realizing that bridge deals are rarely much higher than this and often can be lower, I would think a player in a bottom six role who believes he could prove more of a middle six forward if he could earn more playing time but is on a deep roster would probably be willing to sign such a deal. They likely would get matched, but the reason I was thinking this tier of rfa should be seriously more popular among rebuilding or retooling teams…especially if you could land upwards of 6-8 in 1-2 offseasons, you would have the bottom 6 set with quality, hungry, and proven players in just about no time.

    • Three reasons: One, offer sheets are as rare as hens teeth because general managers as a rule don’t like to go that route. Two, nobody’s making an offer sheet for those type of players because they’re easily matched. Three, nobody’s plunking down big money for an unmatchable offer sheet for such players.