NHL Rumor Mill – July 8, 2024
Will the Canadiens pursue a scoring forward? Will the Blue Jackets try to acquire Predators goalie Yaroslav Askarov? Check out the latest in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
THE MONTREAL GAZETTE: Stu Cowan was asked by a reader how many seasons he thinks it’ll take for the Canadiens to make the playoffs and win a round or two.
He replied that the current roster will have a difficult time making the playoffs in 2024-25. He believes they lack sufficient offense from their forwards. Promising prospect winger Ivan Demidov is at least a year away from joining the Canadiens as he completes his KHL contract.

Montreal Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes (NHL.com).
Cowan believes Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes will make a trade to bring in a top-six forward before the start of the regular season. He noted Hughes’ discussions with unrestricted free agent winger Jonathan Marchessault but he was unwilling to give the veteran forward a long-term contract.
Hughes could make a trade for a younger top-six forward or one with the potential to become one, or a veteran forward with two or three years remaining on his contract.
Cowan believes adding a scoring forward could help the Canadiens make the playoffs next season. However, he thinks management’s long-term goal is more focused on that happening in the following season (2025-26).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canadiens have been linked to Carolina’s Martin Necas, Anaheim’s Trevor Zegras, and Columbus’ Patrik Laine in the rumor mill. Whether Hughes attempted to acquire one of them is anyone’s guess.
The Canadiens have depth in draft picks and promising young defensemen to draw on for trade bait. Whoever Hughes pursues, he won’t overpay to get them if his previous acquisitions are anything to go by.
THE HOCKEY NEWS: Jason Newland observed that Nashville Predators goaltender Yaroslav Askarov might be available. Questions arose about the 22-year-old’s future after the Predators signed Juuse Saros to an eight-year contract extension and signed free-agent backup Scott Wedgewood.
It’s rumored Askarov might be available. During the draft, a trade for a top-five pick couldn’t be worked out. It’s believed the asking price was an “established NHL player, or a prospect with a high ceiling.”
Newland wondered if Predators GM Barry Trotz would entertain an offer from the Columbus Blue Jackets of winger Kent Johnston and goalie Daniil Tarasov.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: There’s no indication from the Askarov camp that the promising netminder wants a trade. As things stand, he could start the season with the Predators’ AHL affiliate in Milwaukee, though the argument can be made that he’s got nothing further to gain from playing there.
We don’t know if Blue Jackets GM Don Waddell would pursue Askarov. Nevertheless, it wouldn’t hurt to explore the possibility. Other clubs will certainly be interested.
Hughes of course will try to pick up a top 6 forward but it’s far from certain that he’ll be able to do so.
My guess is that at this point, he’ll want a young forward who’s already somewhat established himself to a greater extent than Dach and Newhook had before he picked them up. Forget about Zegras or Necas. The price for them was obviously too high and I don’t see them being traded right now. Laine might be a possibility. Signing Sprong not out of the question. Maybe a player that hasn’t been talked about yet.
I like the way Hughes is going about re-building the Habs.
The Marchesseault issue is a prime example. Yeah, the 5’9″ 180 lb F could help Nashville early on, but even with their other moves – while becoming a competitive team for sure – aren’t enough to make them a cup favourite.
And he turns 34 in December and when his deal expires 5 years from now he’ll turn 38 that season. That contract won’t age well.
Howard, as for Hughes being able to pick up a good F at some point – be patient.
Right now, CapFriendly’s still existing tables show these 8 teams as being varying amounts over their projected caps – Washington, Vegas, Colorado, Philadelphia, Edmonton, Florida, Toronto, Nashville … and 4 with less than $2 mil – Vancouver, NYI, Minnesota, Ottawa
The odds are at least one will try and alleviate the situation with a pure cap dump and if the player to be moved out is a decent F with term, Hughes is in the perfect position to jump in – and he has the cap reserves to do so
https://puckpedia.com/teams
Thanks for the puckpedia link, George. Now I have some place to go when cap friendly goes dark.
Great thought, George. I can totally see Hughes intentionally waiting on the market so he can weaponize his cap space.
Canucks have over $2.7 mil in Cap space with Poolman’s LTIR.
Hughes might contue in the same vein as Dach and Newhook and go for Kent Johnson or Marco Rossi.
Rossi would work. Why Johnson?
Columbus signed Monahan at center and Johnson ha a disappointing last year after a rookie season of 16G.
He’s fallen out of favor but as a 5OA in 2021 , he’s worth a prospect from the Habs pool.
A guy you mentioned the other day – Daniel Sprong – would be a great depth addition by the Senators at RW.
Over the course of his career, while playing for 5 different teams, and mostly bottom 6 minutes, he still boasts 82-game averages of 20g 20a 40 pts.
I’d much rather see him at the 4th line RW position than Zack MacEwen! Especially if that RW has to move up a notch due to injuries.
I was thinking a trade between the Flyers & Habs could work centered around TK for 1st & prospect.
I don’t see Montreal giving a 1st for 1 year of TK unless there is a sign and trade deal.
Be careful of TK in Philly! Reminds me of Gallagher! Small players life expectantly on the whole is not so good,unless you are Marchand!
Probably a better chance of Farabee coming to Habs than TK
I don’t see any trade between Habs and Flyers, Hughes isn’t looking for $5 million players.
Briere doesn’t give guys away for a song and neither does Hughes.
Necas. If the Canes move on from him and they are in Win Now mode….. Necas+Jesperi for Kadri+1st rounder
Canes could run Aho-Kadri-Staal-Kuz down the middle.
That actually might work ds. Except I’m not sure Calgary would give up a first in their current state. Would have to be a 2026 first as the Habs have their first for 2025.
Looks like Calgary is going full rebuild. Yes necas is young but not sure if the timing is right. Calgary’s first rounder in the next several years will probably be in the top 5. If you are in a rebuild phase you don’t trade your first rounders. However I do like Kadri to Caralina though.
Calgary is unlikely to want KK, DS. Sad to say, but for whatever reason he has had 6 seasons now to improve and become an impact player. He’s not.
That leaves Necas for Khadri, which looks to me like a sideways move for both teams. Calgary has tons of cap space so they don’t need to shed Khadri’s cap hit.
I think the Flames are better off holding onto Khadri and hope he becomes more consistent.
Then why not Kadri (retain $2M) and a 2nd for Necas.
Seems like the Canes MO to save money and cap space, and this would satisfy that.
Kadri had a great year last year once he got on with Zary & Pospisil. Was one of our better forwards. It would have to be good value for Conroy to give him up. But giving up 1st’s for Necas in the return is definitely a no go for us.
That works for the Canes, JZ. Why does it work for the Flames? It’s still a sideways move that costs them $2 million.
Kadri imho is wasted in Calgary for this rebuild and he is still effective. at his age he might have 2 very good seasons left
but…if he is actually happy in the situation he gives you 100% and not everyone wants to play there
i still see Dundon not liking what Necas is awarded….
LJ, do you not see the 8 years in age difference?????????
Will LA have enough to sign both Byfield and Kaliyev? If
not… Habs?
You guys can comment all you want about the shanaplan, you’ll never get right. The shanaplan was actually perfect, almost too perfect. It was supposed to be 5 years of pain rebuilding and then a couple of years getting playoff experience. Lou was hired to do the rebuild. In the 3rd year, not only did they unexpectly make the playoffs, they almost beat the Caps. This success not only ended the shanaplan, it changed all their plans. Shanny decided the rebuild was over and Lou was no longer needed. So out goes level headed Lou and the rebuild. In comes Shanny’s fatal mistake Dubas, who had some the dumbest ideas going. Dubas wants to put his stamp on the team runs out an signs Tavares and the circus begins. Dubas had the idea that a team with 4 scoring lines would overwhelm other teams defences and small skilled players he could find on the cheap. There was little need to worry about defence or goaltending because a Dubas team would always have the puck. Dubas never played any higher level hockey, the closest he came was that he was the stick boy in the sue. Covid, nor Tavares were the problem, Dubas was the big problem with his inexperience and his ideas. Strange that Dubas never learned a thing under Lou. Rather he was the exactly the opposite of Lou. Under Lou they buildt a solid foundation, unfortunately Dubas really had all the wrong ideas on how to build on it. Dubas was lucky he had Pridham to juggle the cap for him or the situation would be even worse.
Speaking of promising young goalies. Spencer Knight comes to mind. Levi was the saving grace in Buffalo last year. Nashville will likely be disappointed on the return for Askarov
Certainly not a 5 th. overall .
Kent Johnson had the proverbial sophomore jinx. They’ll give him another year (at least )