NHL Rumor Mill – August 22, 2024
Could the Oilers go shopping for a defenseman? Should the Sharks or Avalanche pursue Predators goalie Yaroslav Askarov? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
THE SCORE: Josh Wegman believes the Edmonton Oilers must add a top-four defenseman by the 2025 NHL Trade Deadline after declining to match the St. Louis Blues’ offer sheet to Philip Broberg.
Montreal Canadiens defenseman David Savard (NHL Images).
Potential right-shot rentals include the Seattle Kraken’s Adam Larsson and Will Borgen, David Savard of the Montreal Canadiens, and Jeff Petry of the Detroit Red Wings. Larsson and Petry are former Oilers.
Left-shot options include Jakob Chychrun of the Washington Capitals, Marcus Pettersson of the Pittsburgh Penguins, and Ivan Provorov of the Columbus Blue Jackets.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Oilers must compete against other clubs seeking blueline help at the trade deadline. That will mean further depleting their prospect pipeline or sacrificing their second-round pick in 2025 or a first or second-rounder in 2026 or 2027. They’ll likely have no qualms doing so given their “win-now” mindset.
Wegman also suggested pursuing players with term on their contracts like Montreal’s Mike Matheson, Connor Murphy of the Chicago Blackhawks, Radko Gudas of the Anaheim Ducks, and Mario Ferraro of the San Jose Sharks.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Those players will be tougher to land and would drain their cap space for 2025-26 when they’ll need every available dollar to re-sign Leon Draisaitl and Evan Bouchard. If they pursue a defenseman it’ll be a rental player.
SAN JOSE HOCKEY NOW: Sheng Peng wondered if the Sharks would be interested in acquiring Yaroslav Askarov. Earlier this week, ESPN’s Kevin Weekes reported the 22-year-old Nashville Predators goaltender requested a trade.
Much would depend on what Sharks director of goaltending Evgeny Nabovkov thinks of Askarov. The youngster has puck-stopping talent but his maturity is in question.
Peng also wondered why the Predators signed starter Juuse Saros to an eight-year extension rather than anoint Askarov as Saros’ successor. He mused about whether Askarov would accept another season in the minors with the Sharks after being unwilling to do so with the Predators.
COLORADO HOCKEY NOW: Evan Rawal believes the Avalanche should consider acquiring Askarov. He’s concerned about the Avs’ goaltending depth and thinks the young Preds netminder has the potential to become a reliable NHL starter. Rawal thinks the Avs should at least look into it.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Predators received calls about Askarov heading into the NHL Draft in June. At the time, they were in a hurry to move him and reportedly set a high asking price.
Things have changed since then. Askarov doesn’t want to return to the minors but Saros and veteran backup Scott Wedgewood blocking his path to the NHL. He’s unhappy with that situation and wants out but most NHL clubs have already addressed their goaltending needs for the coming season.
Predators GM Barry Trotz said he expects Askarov to report to training camp and compete for a job. That’s probably his polite way of telling the youngster that he’s in no position to dictate where he plays this season.
When will these young aspiring players realize they will not dictate to any GM of what is what publicly. Frankly I think it only hurts their position . I guess it could be their agents but they should know better.
Chevy and Trotz will take their sweet time. They are driving the bus and even if they get a fair offer right away , I think they wait on Askarov and McGroarty
I agree that GMs have leverage, but they also need to weigh the risk of wasting the value of their prospects. The longer these situations drag on
without the prospects actually playing/developing, the more their value goes down.
There is opportunity for the GMs to maximize their value by moving these guys for different (better?) assets.
McGroarty getting dealt today to Pitt according to Friedman
For Hayes and Accairi I hope
Lyle listed his maturity being questioned… is that cause he wants a trade? Or other reasons? Cause being blocked from competing for a nhl job isn’t a maturity issue… it’s a practical one. He only has so many years and with suros getting 8 years he absolutely should be trying to get traded elsewhere.
McGroarty is already gone to Pittsburgh for Yeager who plays in the WHL for the Moosejaw warriors so I’m sure the Jets are very familiar with him.
@Allan
Good deal for both Pittsburgh and Winnipeg.
Mcgroarty 20 14th overall 2022 6ft 1 205 can get into bottom six in Pittsburgh this year
Yaeger 19 14th overl 2023 will play soon for Winnipeg.
Love to see a 4th line of lizotte 26
Glass 25
Mcgroarty 20
Younger fasiter and lizotte mcgroarty have toughness and snarl
I don’t see the Habs trading Matheson any time soon. And they won’t trade Savard right now. They first want to see how the young RDs develop this year. They’ll likely deal Savard before the deadline if they’re out of the race.
Rumor had it the Oilers are looking at signing Tyson Barrie to a PTO.
Howard,
My question is what does Edmonton have that the Habs would be interested in other than draft picks???
It would have to be at least a 2nd line or high end third line centerman in the 21 to 25 yr old range or a power forward winger in the same age range in return, IMHO.
Fair question, Uwey, but usually a trade deadline acquisition is done for a draft pick.
The Oil have few 2025 draft picks, but could offer a pick from 2026.
Holloway might have done the job, but …
Who’s going to trade away a top 4 DMan to the Oilers? The Oilers have nothing to trade if they want to have a team eat the contract. As it’s going to take more than a 1st round pick.
Barring Askarov being a locker room problem, could he be a fit for Vancouver given Demko is still out and seems injury prone. No idea how long he will last as he gets older being 28 going 29 in december with numerous injuries
If I were the Canucks, I would rather give Silovs more playing time than take on yet another young goalie.
Maybe the Avalanche should look into it like he suggests but @ the same time, would Nashville trade him to a rival within their own division? And another point would be despite georgiev struggles in net, what about the Avalanche defensive commitment? Anyone who seriously watches the Avalanche games would have to acknowledge that often the Avalanche are their own worst enemy at giving the puck away as well as their defensive zone coverage? Then, everyone likes to blame the goaltender ; whereas, the team is very lackadaisical giving up easy opportunities!!! And I am talking especially about the superstars, it has to drive bednar crazy because he is a stickler for details!!!
I Don t understand unless there are some underlying circumstances why Trotz doesn t package Askarov with Saro s for at least a year,give him 20-25 starts at the NHL and then shop him after he has proven himself at the NHL level!He will be playing behind a pretty good group in Nashville this year!
McGroaty going to Pittsburgh!
Sid’s new linemate!
For Brayden Yager
I’m ok with this.
Switching 14th overalls in consecutive years
Yaeger likely better down the road (speedier, better hands) but we gain size in the trade
A little worried re McGroarty attitude
Hopefully Crosby can set him on the right path
Dubas should have insisted that Jets take Accairi in the trade
And if he did, Cheveldayof should have hung up the phone.
Neither one of these players has seen an NHL game. Both are unproven, yet comparables today.
Why on earth would Winnipeg even entertain taking Accari back in that deal?
Because it really really helps Pittsburgh?
Well. Duh. Thanks capt obvious. 🙄
Jets certainly shouldn’t want Accairi
No one does; no one
especially no one here
It was hyperbole re Accairi and Yaeger for McGroarty
Jets were the motivated ones in the trade; they got the younger, faster , better playmaker snd hands (as at now) and most likely higher upside player in the deal
We got a player (if we can get his attitude honed) likely sooner into the NHL; and bigger in size
Time will tell; but as at now; trade close but Jets slightly won
Since it was the motivated (to sell) Chevy with a disgruntled prospect ; that reached out to Dubas for the younger, speedier and (as at now) expected slightly higher long term outlook; then Jets should have kicked a little more in the deal (6th in ‘26 even)
What I would have liked to seen happen:
Chevy : “Kyle, it’s Chevy; what about Mcgroarty for Yaeger”
D: “Kid’s got attitude that we don’t need; is older; and our scouts have him with not as good a future as Yaeger”
C: “Noted. What extra do you want to close the deal”
D: “take on Accairi”
C:”are you nuts, no one wants that POS”
D: “up your offer”
C: McG and a 7th (‘28)
D: you take Accairi and we’ll give YOU a 7th (‘28)
Several rounds later:
Deal ens up
Yaeger. Accairi, 4th (‘26)
for McGroarty
That’s s fait deal
McGroarty (fingers crossed on Crosby getting his attitude settled) then takes Accairi’s spot on roster
In a nutshell, the motivated (and one making the trade call) seller (Chevy) should not have been able to swap 1 for 1 for the younger player, with no attitude; and better expected NHL
career
All Dubas has recently done is future oriented. Flipping consecutive draft (same draft position ) forwards and getting the older of the 2 (and with attitude) does not fit with the future build platform
That said; if somehow Crosby can tame him and he makes team this year and performs well on 3rd line; then that’s ok
Too many ifs
More (even a token late rounder) in the deal should have come our way
Time will tell; fingers crossed
Either way; we’re still not s playoff team
☹️
Hey Pengy, you need to work on keeping your posts pithy.
I honestly do t think anyone won or lost this trade. It will take a few years minimum to figure that out. Very real possibility they both don’t translate to NHL players. Look at the history of 14th overalls.
Not pretty.
But somehow that’s not enough, you still have this lopsided idea that Accari should be Winnipegs punishment? Lol.
Winnipeg didn’t need to trade Mcgroaty , they could have let him sit or got a comparable offer they received in the Pittsburgh deal.
Yeager could turn out to be a good player in a couple years. Just hate that a spoiled kid can tie a GMs hands before ever playing a game. Welcome to the Peg Brayden!
You mean like Lindros did?
or Lebron…… see where that leads for the rest of the league. Nothing bit trouble. “Fans” and media like those circus shows…. not one owner or GM does
Good trade
1 for 1 , both top picks. I like the center position addressed for the Jets. Both national team players.
Surprising Chevy usually waits and waits and waits. Yeager must have fit the billl exactly.
@8787…i told you Penguins continue to get younger and better..
Mcgroarty 20 33rd rank prospect for BrNdon Yaeger 19 58 th ranked prospect.
Mc groarty
Lizzotte
Glass
Beauviller
Ponomarev
Koivunen
Also look for the Penguins to go after Nic Robertson 22 Toronto Maple Leafs
Maybe Lars Eller back to Toronto…he is a nice two way player fit for Toronto for the playoffs….he had 15 -goals with Pittsburgh cod get 20 in Toronto..
We shall see
Mcgroarty great i the locker room character guy good for Michigan and the Olympics..
Wouls have rather seen Pickering go.butstill nice deals
Nick Robertson for Lars Eller?
22 years old with his career in front of him for a 35 years old with his career behind him??
Surely you’re joking.
The suggestion makes no sense whatsoever!
Allan..what does Toronto need s third line center who is steady, can win face offs good 200 ft game can chip in offensively he had 15 goals could get 20 in Toronto and has Stanley cup pedigree..Toronto needs to win now.
Salary same actually Toronto saves $100,000 a d maybe we add a pick.
They arent resig ing Robertson Eller is solid something they need low risk 1 year..
Jeff Petry?
David Savard?
Top 4 defensemen????
Really?
Petry is barely a #7 and will be out of the NHL when his contract expires.
Savard is still a useful 3rd pairing mentor but that’s about all.
If Seattle is in the playoff race at the deadline neither Larsson not Borgen will be available as rentals.