Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – August 4, 2024
The possible trade value of Islanders center Brock Nelson plus speculation over the futures of Predators winger Philip Tomasino and Sabres forward Peyton Krebs in the Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup.
WHAT WOULD BE BROCK NELSON’S TRADE VALUE?
THE ATHLETIC: Arthur Staple was asked by a reader if the New York Islanders would consider moving Brock Nelson if a contender offered a package like a first-rounder and two seconds or a first and a top prospect.
Staple believes Nelson would rise to the top of the list of Islanders who could fetch a sizeable return if general manager Lou Lamoriello becomes a seller. However, he doesn’t see a team pitching the type of offer proposed by the reader, pointing out the Carolina Hurricanes didn’t end up parting with a first-rounder or a B-plus prospect to get Jake Guentzel.

New York Islanders forward Brock Nelson (NHL Images).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Guentzel fetched a decent haul for the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Hurricanes gave up winger Michael Bunting, two prospects (Vasili Ponomarev and Ville Koivunen), the rights to college prospect Cruz Lucius, a conditional first-round pick in 2024 (that became a second-rounder when the Hurricanes failed to reach the 2024 Stanley Cup Final), a conditional 2024 fifth-rounder, and minor leaguer Ty Smith.
Nelson’s been the Islanders’ most consistent player over the past five years so Staple isn’t firmly in the trade camp. He believes a lot depends on this season unless Lamoriello extends Nelson before this season begins.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Nelson can become an unrestricted free agent next July. The 32-year-old center is in the final season of a six-year contract with an average annual value of $6 million and a 16-team no-trade list.
Lamoriello won’t trade Nelson if he’s still playing up to his usual standard and the Islanders are in playoff contention. However, he could become a prime trade candidate if they’re out of contention by the March trade deadline.
In that case, Nelson’s performance will determine his trade value. A first-rounder isn’t out of the question but his age likely means the highest pick the Isles could get is a second-rounder in a package deal. They won’t get any top prospects for him but they could get a decent NHL forward comparable to Bunting.
PHILIP TOMASINO HAS AN UNCERTAIN FUTURE WITH THE PREDATORS
THE TENNESSEAN: Alex Daugherty reports the Nashville Predators’ recent additions of veteran forwards Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault could squeeze out young winger Philip Tomasino.
Chosen 24th overall in the 2019 NHL Draft by Nashville, the 23-year-old Tomasino split the past two seasons with the Predators and their AHL affiliate in Milwaukee. The club’s apparent lack of confidence and the influx of new talent suggests change could be afoot, though they did qualify his rights. He’ll have to accept the qualifying offer or sign another contract to play this season.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Predators only have $595K in cap space for 2024-25 with 20 active roster players under contract. Tomasino could end up heading to Milwaukee for this season on his qualifying offer unless the Predators trade him.
COULD SABRES FORWARD PEYTON KREBS BECOME A TRADE CANDIDATE?
THE HOCKEY NEWS: Michael Augello observed that Buffalo Sabres forward Peyton Krebs remains without a contract. Chosen 17th overall by the Vegas Golden Knights in the 2019 NHL Draft, he was part of the trade that sent Jack Eichel to Vegas.
Krebs, 23, has struggled to establish his role in the NHL, spending most of last season in a fourth-line role. Augello noted rumors going back to the March trade deadline linked Krebs to the Philadelphia Flyers.
The Sabres still need a goal scorer to replace Jeff Skinner, who was bought out in June. Augello suggests Flyers forward Joel Farabee could be a fit as he came up in trade rumors earlier this year. He could become a cost-cutting candidate following the Flyers’ signing of Travis Konecny to a long-term extension.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Flyers are already sitting above the $88 million salary cap by over $829K. However, they’ll get relief by placing permanently sidelined defenseman Ryan Ellis and his $6.25 million cap hit on long-term injury reserve.
Farabee’s $5 million cap hit through 2027-28 is a concern for the Flyers if his consistency doesn’t improve. That will also make it difficult for the Flyers to shed his contract. Given his cap hit, Farabee must improve to be enticing for the Sabres at that price.
Not out of the question for the Isles to get a 1st for Nelson if he’s playing well by the deadline. We all know that contenders often give up first rounders for rentals.
Lou would wait until the last day of TDL before trading him. I could definitely see the Devils being interested. No first next year, but they hav 3 seconds.
There’s always the conditional 1st. It’s a second unless the team he goes to makes the conference finals or something. But some of the proposals I’ve seen the past couple days are wild. That Nelson proposal. I saw one that had Marner to pens for Eller yager and their next two firsts!! Holy moly! Eller and one of those other three assets is a lot to give up for the guy.
Hah-hah with rumor Penguins deal for Marner. Opinion Marner is overrated for his contract!! Also, Brayden Yager projected top two lines center.
Could MTL be interested in giving Tomasino or Krebs a change of scenery? They still have dmen and picks to spare.
Maybe Craig.
But the Habs have to move out at least one of their young d, and trading one for Tomasino doesn’t solve the Preds cap problem.
Besides, – ideally – the Habs need to trade for a forward with established scoring ability, not young prospects.
LJ,
I see what you’re saying. However, a couple of things to consider:
1. MTL could easily flip Harris for Krebs.
2. Krebs and Tomasino are in the hundreds range of games played, are they really prospects anymore?
3. To snatch an established player it’s going to cost them much more than they may be willing to give up.
I’m not opposed to MTL going big game hunting, I just don’t think they’re in a position to sell the farm to do so.
Craig, it is too early in the Habs development for them to go big game hunting.
Tomasino and Krebs may turn out to be good players but they are not established. Krebs has a career high 9 goals and Tomasino has a high 11 goals three seasons ago.
The Habs will be better off giving ice time to their own young prospects like Roy and Beck.
In between big game and prospects are those who score 20+ goals, and that is where the Habs need to be focusing in a trade.
As you point out it won’t be easy but the Habs have serviceable young D, picks, and the ability to provide a receiving team some cap retention.
The Sabres have a higher priority for a top scoring winger. Defensemen and picks should not be considered at this point.
Krebs will never get better playing on the 4th line with a couple of pipe fitters.
I think the Flyers should trade Farabee to Buffalo for Helenius and a first rounder. We dump a 5 million contract for a ELC. Plus we get a center. You know something we need! Not to mention a draft pick to wheel and deal with or move up in the draft. It makes cents to me!!!!
Pageau would be my choice to move . Nelson is their top centre. Unless they want that to be Horvat . Not a bad 1-2 up the middle. I guess Barzal can move to centre. I would find the money somehow to keep that all in tact. There are other choices to consider- Varlamov Palmeiri Pageau
didnt Barzal and Bo have some chemistry?
The trade I’d like to see Mtl make with Nashville is:
Glass + Askarov
for
picks and/or prospects (Mesar, Farrell, etc.)
Nashville needs to clear out cap space and Glass is the clear #1 option to do that at $2.5M. Askarov is the price to pay for the salary dump. It is a bit of overpayment so that’s why Mtl would need to balance it out by sending back pick/prospect (or both) but it would not be a 1st round pick. Askarov for a 1st is fair value so if you’re taking Glass it has to be less than that.
Not even close to the current market for a salary dump. Use the Hayes trade as an example
I don’t want to seem like I disagree with every suggestion about who Montreal should acquire.
But I don’t see why Montreal needs Askarov when they have Montembeault and Primeau, with Fowler in the wings. Particularly as the Preds see Aksarov as their # 4 goalie – he’s not listed on their current roster. And you would give up a first for him?
I also don’t see Glass as being the 20+ goal scorer the Habs need, and who will take time away from Beck, also a center, and Roy, who can play both center and wing.
What am I missing?
I’m not saying give up a 1st for Askarov, I’m saying that he was a 1st rounder and since he is regarded as the best goalie not in the NHL then his value is still a 1st.
I don’t think Nashville would do Glass (salary dump) + Askarov for Future Considerations (like the Hayes deal mentioned above by Chrisms where it was $3.5M salary of Hayes plus a 2nd for futures). If this were of interest to Nashville then Mtl would need to add something in return to balance it out. A pick (at most a 2nd) or a prospect or maybe both.
As a Habs fan I’d like to see them pick up Askakov. With both him and Fowler the chances of developing a bona fide star #1 is much better. I don’t want Mtl to put all their eggs in the Fowler basket. I like Fowler just have to hedge your bets.
Ultimately I’d be happy with a deal like:
Glass + Askarov for 2nd (Pit’s not their own) and Farrell/or Mesar/ or Kidney/etc.
Then Mtl can give Glass a shot but if he doesn’t work out they can either trade him at the deadline (if possible) or not qualify his RFA rights and let him walk.
Askarov if moved is gonna get a better return than a salary dump and a second and a ok prospect. As you said he is considered a top notch goalie prospect. Given where Montreal could end up in standings I don’t think their first is smart for them. But the preds will find better offers.
It goes like this. If you covet a prime asset that would hurt another team to lose… you probably are gonna feel it yourself to gain that asset. The hurt is all on the preds in that deal.
Except that Cody Glass has little to no real value and Preds should be paying to dump his $2.5M dollar salary.
Askarov is easily worth a 1st and a young prospect as he is arguably the best goaltender not yet playing in the NHL.
Tomasino or Krebs are exactly what the Habs could use in exchange for a young D.
It isn’t as if the Habs have a surplus pf forwards who are more than prospects.
Having a surplus of young F to go along with a surplus of young D is the perfect step in rebuilding.
Not according to Kent Hughes. His stated objective is to add a forward who can boost the Habs chances of making the playoffs, without compromising their rebuild (ie no high priced forwards approaching 30).
Neither Tomasino or Krebs meet that description, and neither have established themselves as every day players.
Here is one Predators hockey site had to say about Tomasino and Glass, who was suggested in a post above.
“By all accounts, both of them had strong finishes to the 2022-23 season, so expectations were high for them coming into 2023-24.
It is safe to say that neither lived up to the bill in the slightest.
Tomasino once again struggled to make his mark, as he was scratched for many games, and eventually reassigned to Milwaukee in February.
The only reason Glass was not sent back is because he cannot go to the AHL without hitting waivers first, but he had it no better, as he was also healthy-scratched a lot and played just five games after March 7.
Not only did neither one of them show improvement, they took steps back, and you never want to see that for young and developing players.”
Meanwhile Joshua Roy had 4 goals in 23 games last year, while Krebs had 4 in 80.
Beat writers such as Eric Engels have reported that some in the Habs management team think Beck could win a roster spot.
I could see the Jets interested in a Nelson for Ehlers deal. That would be the basis of the deal with maybe a defence prospect to Winnipeg and a draft pick to NYI.