NHL Rumor Mill – October 24, 2024

by | Oct 24, 2024 | Rumors | 27 comments

In today’s NHL Rumor Mill, three teams seek a center, contract speculation about Alexis Lafreniere and Wyatt Johnston, and the latest on Utah HC and the Leafs.

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman reports Nashville Predators general manager Barry Trotz said that not much is happening in the NHL trade market right now.

No one is trading anyone right now. I would like to get a center, but no one is giving their centermen away,” said Trotz during a recent interview with The Game in Nashville.

The Calgary Flames are in the market for a right-shot center. GM Craig Conroy said he’s not parting with a first-round pick for a player who would only be with his team for a year. “But if it was a first-round pick for a guy who would be here long term, we would be open to that,” said Conroy.

Friedman indicated the Florida Panthers are also looking for a center.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Since the implementation of the salary cap in 2005, October tends to be a dead month in the trade market once the regular season begins. The few deals that occur usually involve low-cost depth players. The Predators, Flames, and Panthers could be waiting until the calendar flips to 2025 to find those centers. 

New York Rangers winger Alexis Lafreniere (NHL Images).

The New York Rangers prefer to sign Alexis Lafreniere to a maximum-term eight-year contract. However, Friedman isn’t convinced the 23-year-old winger wants that as it would take him up to age 31 before he’s eligible for unrestricted free-agent status.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s rumored the Rangers and Lafreniere discussed eight years with an average annual value of $8 million. The length of that deal could be the sticking point in their negotiations.

Friedman speculates the Dallas Stars could offer forward Wyatt Johnston over $8 million annually on his next contract. They signed goaltender Joel Oettinger to an $8.25 million AAV while defenseman Miro Heiskanen and Roope Hintz each received $8.45 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Johnston is in the final season of his three-year entry-level contract. He lacks arbitration rights, which gives Stars management leverage in their negotiations.

The Utah Hockey Club is determined not to overpay finding replacements for sidelined right-shot defensemen Sean Durzi (four to six months) and John Marino (three to four months). “No panic, short-term moves,” writes Friedman, noting the emergence of Michael Kesselring has helped.

Friedman also noted that Utah is deep with forwards and 21-goal scorer Michael Carcone is off to a slow start this season. He believes someone will give Carcone a spot if he can’t find one in Utah.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Carcone was a healthy scratch in four of Utah’s seven games leading into Thursday’s game against the Colorado Avalanche. He could become a trade chip for a defenseman.

TORONTO SUN: Terry Koshan noted Utah HC’s blueline dilemma, suggesting that club could be a good trade destination for Maple Leafs defenseman Timothy Liljegren.

Liljegren, 25, has been the subject of frequent trade speculation this month. With an AAV of $3 million, he’s been an expensive healthy scratch for the Leafs. He could benefit from a change of scenery.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Utah currently has over $8.2 million in cap space so they can easily afford Liljegren’s cap hit. He’s the right age and under contract through 2025-26. The question is, do they see him as a suitable addition to their blueline? Stay tuned…

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Adam Proteau wondered if the Leafs will eventually attempt to move forwards Ryan Reaves and David Kampf. He believes roster changes are coming once their sidelined players return from injury.

Reaves hasn’t done much in his four games thus far, averaging a team-low 8:15 of ice time. Meanwhile, Kampf has played five games and his ice time has decreased since last season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It won’t be easy moving either guy. Reaves carries an affordable $1.35 million cap hit through next season but at 37 he’s past his prime as an agitating forward. Kampf, 29, carries an AAV of $2.4 million through 2026-27 and a 10-team no-trade list.







27 Comments

  1. Florida is looking for a center? Barkov, Bennet, and Lundell aren’t good enough?

    • The only thing that makes sense with that Friedman rumour is that there may be some concern about Barkov’s injury. The latest has him returning to the line-up by November 1 and, so far anyway, nothing else.

      • Fine Nashville.

        Shane Pinto for Dante Fabro and a 2nd round.

        Ottawa needs right D now (like everyone else) and not in 3 years when WhateverChuk finally gets done slow baking.

      • As I’ve said already, I’d be hesitant to trade Pinto. He’s already really good, but he could be really good. Yakemchuk I highly doubt is three years away. He’s got the size and skill to make camp as early as next year. Let’s be real here. He had the best camp of all the non-roster players, but Staois made the right call to move him back down to develop. As of right now, Sens are doing great. No need to shake things up.

  2. Marner for petterson

    • does seem EP needs a change of scenery but not sure the spotlight of Toronto works for that guy.
      If anyone else watched the amazon Faceoff show he does seem not pleased with Quinn being the captain. and Quinn doesnt seem that happy to be the captain

    • Pettersson is a C and Marner is a RW. Nobody trades a #2 centre for a RW.

      • Rantanen for Pettersson, yep nobody would ever make that trade

      • LOL. Any GM who rejected that would be searching for a new job in a hurry.

  3. does seem EP needs a change of scenery but not sure the spotlight of Toronto works for that guy.
    If anyone else watched the amazon Faceoff show he does seem not pleased with Quinn being the captain. and Quinn doesnt seem that happy to be the captain

  4. Everyone in the NHL is looking for centers and RHD,and to a lesser extent goalies!It seems like guys get stuck in the AHL and they can t get a chance in the NHL! Your either a top 6 guy,or bottom 6 guy!

  5. BT first summer in Toronto wasnt very good, but this summer was much better, will be interesting moving forward

  6. What is going on with Ovi scoring an empty net goal to make a game 6-3. Once an empty net goal is scored for a two goal lead late in a regular season games you should put your keeper back in. Leaving the keeper out only to allow yet a second empty net goal is making a mockery of the sport. Is a goal scored into an empty net when a team has likely quit worthy to be included in the stats. No. It is clearly the ultimate garbage goal. This is particularly wrong when it is Ovi scoring the 2nd empty netter so late in the game. With Ovi going after the all time record a goal like that just seems wrong. I wonder if Gretz had any goals like that? Either way teams are making a mockery of one of hockeys greatest records by allowing multiple empty netters, particularly when scored by a player chasing such an important record.

    • Gretzky had 56 empty netters. Ovechkin has 58.

      • Bazinga!

    • There does seem to be a trend the last few seasons to pull keeper after an en goal. It’s a risk you take. Losing by 3 instead of 2 doesn’t make a difference in standings.

  7. Toronto activated Woll off the IR and he could face his home-town Blues in his first start of the season .

    • George I could be wrong but think Woll will be the backup. With Stolarz hot start not only does he deserve the game have to think Berube will want to win against the Blues.

      • You’re probably bang on Swany. I only mentioned the possibility since Woll is from the area (actually, Darden Prairie, a small town about half an hour from St. Louis) and will like;y have family in attendance.

      • Besides, he has to get into action somewhere and their next 6 games after this one are far from easy – Bruins, Jets, Seattle, Blues again back-to-back with Minnesota, then Bruins again

      • Errr ,,, maybe the next game his family can take the 30 minute drive to St. Louis — this game is in Toronto … duh … why did I think this was a road game?

  8. Leafs need to start to amass some draft picks . Move Liljegren to the highest bidder . Being a former first and defence he should get a couple of thirds or third and fourth or thereabouts ?

  9. Drury must be confident he can trade Trouba next summer if he spends 20 mil combined for Laf and Shesterkin. Would probably mean Lindgren will be gone unless he signs for less than what he’s getting now. Would be risky for Laf to take shorter term.

  10. Slick62, let’s not forget he also has to re-up Kakko, not to mention 5 other RFAs (Miller, Jones, Rempe, Cuylle and Endstrom) and 5 UFAs to either re-up or replace (Lindgren, Ruhwedel, Vesey, Smith and Quick).

    Kakko, coming of a $2.4 mil, deal, has a career record not that far off the stats of Lafreniere

    Kakko – 306gp 58g 64a 122 pts and a cumulative +11

    Laf – 304gp 78g 76a 154 pts and a cumulative +7

    And Lafreniere has likely enjoyed significantly more ice time over those almost identical games played. So, what is Kakko looking at in comparison to Lafreniere?

  11. The leads penchant for puck watching and leaving the front of their net unprotected is once again there for everyone to see.

    • A bad habit the Lightning have also picked up in the last year or so. Maybe looking for the breakout instead of looking to stop the opposition first?

      Also of note: teams that play defense first and play it consistently seem to be called for fewer penalties that teams that puck watch and go for the hard check only once in a while…if it looks ‘different’ it’s more likely to be a penalty. Very frustrating to see teams that have a tiny bit of interference on every play never get called (Like you Minnesota) while others seem to be called for a lot of touch fouls.