NHL Rumor Mill – November 15, 2024
Check out the latest on the Sabres, Predators and Penguins in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
TSN: Darren Dreger believes trade talk among NHL general managers is bound to heat up soon. Teams are reaching the 20-game mark in the schedule, American Thanksgiving is upcoming and the general managers recently concluded a meeting in Toronto.
Dreger is keeping an eye on three GMs who seem more eager to talk trade: Kevyn Adams of the Buffalo Sabres, Barry Trotz of the Nashville Predators, and Kyle Dubas of the Pittsburgh Penguins
Buffalo Sabres defenseman Bowen Byram (NHL Images).
According to Dreger, Adams is “willing to consider something bigger” but doesn’t want to trade away any of his top young talent.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Dreger also said he doesn’t think anything’s imminent for the Sabres. However, he pointed out that Adams has a good pool of prospects to draw on for trade bait. Dreger also mentioned that Bowen Byram has come up in the rumor mill but he doesn’t see Adams trading the defenseman unless it’s for a “can’t-miss” return.
Meanwhile, Jason Moser of Buffalo Hockey Now wondered if the St. Louis Blues might be a trade partner for the Sabres. He noted the Blues are struggling of late and GM Doug Armstrong isn’t afraid to make moves to shake things up. Moser suggested wingers Kasperi Kapanen and Brandon Saad as options who could help the Sabres.
Dreger noted the Predators have multiple first-round picks and a couple of second-rounders. Trotz wants to add long-term solutions in Nashville.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Trotz has three first-rounders in the 2025 NHL Draft. One is from the Vegas Golden Knights, the other from the Tampa Bay Lightning. Three guesses as to which pick rival GMs will be most interested in?
As for Dubas, Dreger said he wants young NHL players and draft picks to build for a better future.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman said almost the same thing but also included “already-drafted prospects”.
Penguins veteran center Evgeni Malkin recently told reporters he has no interest in getting traded amid rumors of a roster teardown. “It’s my second home here,” he said. “I’m glad to be here. It doesn’t matter if we win or we lost,” adding that he wants to be “always together” with long-time teammates Sidney Crosby and Kris Letang. The trio carry full no-movement clauses so don’t hold your breath expecting one of them to accept a trade.
Meanwhile, New Jersey Hockey Now’s James Nichols suggests the Devils keep an eye on Penguins wingers Drew O’Connor and Anthony Beauvillier in the trade market if Dubas becomes a seller.
The Athletic’s Thomas Drance and Harman Dayal recently wondered if Penguins defenseman Marcus Pettersson would be a fit with the Vancouver Canucks.
Re Habs d/men
Dont know if the Habs will trade RD,David Savard
while they are still looking for a RD for the top 4.? pairing out of the 7… currently on the roster…❓
Habs, have two many young kids on d All at Once,
They have
A 20 yr old, A 21 yr old, A 22 yr old, 2 @ 23 years
They need a 1st or 2nd paring RD, they need to keep Savard untill they can fix this… they have 5XLD out of the 7 and 4 are very young
They also need to address there poor goaltending, they dont have a quality back up and they dont have a consistant starter in net,
when Laine come back that will help up front and when that young Russin kid arives next season they will be fine,
untill they they need a good Goaltender starter in net, and a good top 4 d/man.. maybe they look to the UFA market for one,
is Hughes looking at a couple of Big Trade’s…..❓
for both these positions
Vancouver needs help on the right, doesn’t Pettersson play LD? So not going to happen
I hope Boston gets involved in the trade market!Almost 20 games in,and there are still to many question marks in the group!
Sr
There are rumours galore of Boston looking to make a deal but with little cap space and all players with salary to move out all carry no trade protection. I personally think no help on the way. Coach will get canned if pout of layoff picture by Dec IMHO
Saad showcased his skills with a 2-goal performance against the Sabres last night. Please tell Jason Moser that Armstrong will await a call from Adams.
Saad AND Kapanen for a 3rd AND Jokiharju
IP
With regard to the pick that teams will want from Trotz, I think I got it on the first guess. Now three guesses as to the pick he’ll be most reluctant to give up. Won’t make the trade too easy.
Howard,
If bye early January they are still bottom dwellers
Preds GM Tortz
Will start his Re-tool—Re-build
Looking for Top prospects First
And 1st picks top 10
in this 2025 and 2026 Drafts
1-Jonathan Marchessault
2–Steve Stamkos
3-Ryan O’Reilly
And
The goaltender JJuuse Saros
Hab’s
will be all over him, 1st pick and a Very good top young d/man 20 to 22 yrs old
They have 3-4 they could trade with ✅ to get Saros with and a $5.M salary like Josh Anderson type
WW
Bruins will take ORielly.
Re
“Meanwhile, New Jersey Hockey Now’s James Nichols suggests the Devils keep an eye on Penguins wingers Drew O’Connor and Anthony Beauvillier in the trade market if Dubas becomes a seller.”
Can’t they become interested Hayes OR Accari OR Nietto (said very sarcastically)!!
Re:
“The Athletic’s Thomas Drance and Harman Dayal recently wondered if Penguins defenseman Marcus Pettersson would be a fit with the Vancouver Canucks.”
Dubas, our team is already suffering huge defensively; trading our best defensive defenseman (and most consistent defensemsn) now is just nuts.
If Pettersson goes, then *Gryzlyk absolutely MUST also go over in the trade
*Despite his costly play of late( basically on for 40% of GAs over hhe last several weeks, and on for 3 in the Dallas game); Sully thinks lighting and Frosted Lucky Charms fly out of his Arse
Instead of benching him (or heaven forbid putting him in the press box ) after the Dallas game as was truly warranted and blatantly logical; Sully instead INCREASES (not a typo) his ice time AND allowed him to play in OT (where he should never see the light of day).
The end result v Wings is all on Sully.
All other coaches sit poor performers. Monty even sits his best player. Our coach rewards awful performances.
Pengs8787, you made me check, because I remember Grz being a solid NHL dman in Boston, but undersized.
Here is what I found out for the actual results.
Goals against per 60 for their D, at 5 on 5 as PK you obviously give up more. From worst to best:
Pettersson – 4.5
Karlsson – 4.3
Letang – 4.2
Shea – 4.1
Grz – 3.8
Graves – 3.5
Some other guys I never heard of.
To be fair, I thought I better check to see who they line up against. Is Grz getting protected with soft assignments?
Nope!
Turns out he plays the highest % of his minutes against elite competition at 35.3%.
But that job does get spread out between key guys. Letang is next at 34.8%. Then a drop to Pettersson at 31.7%, Karlsson at 30.7%.
Graves 22% and the other guys get the sheltered minutes.
That is why Sully keeps playing him, he delivers results against good competition compared to the rest of them.
I would do the same thing.
Good trade chip, you should be happy the Pens signed him. Won’t get a 1st, but an OK return.
How dare you use logic, stats, and reasoning, Ray Bark?
Not sure where you are getting that info
Gryzlyk has been on for 39% of the goals against over the last few weeks
He was on for 3 in the Stars game; directly causing two of those
Gryzlyk is a -9
For the D that have played at least 15 games for Pens; Graves is the “least worst” at -4; Pettersson at -5
Gryzlyk is -9
And again, not Pengy
Per Quanthockey Gryzlyk has played 297 minutes (call that five 60 minute games)at even strength
He’s a -9
That’s -1.8 per 60 mins at even strength
Petterson from the same sight has played 303 (again equivalent to five 60 minute games) minutes at even strength
He’s -5
That’s -1.0 per 60 at even strength
Gryzlyk is not good defensively
87Pengs, hockey reference for the GA/60 at 5 on 5.
Scroll down to time on ice stats.
https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/PIT/2025.html
Level of competition, sorted for D is puck IQ.
https://puckiq.com/woodmoney?team=pit
Thanks Ray for the link
Those numbers are completely different from Quant Hockey
It’s straight math
Both Petterson and Gryzlyk have played in/around 300 minutes (at even strength); which is 5 * 60
-9 (Gryzlyk per NHL.com) /5 is the -1.8 per 60 minutes at even strength
-5 (Petterson per NHL.com) /5 = -1.0
Setting aside the numbers; just watch s Pens game and see who is out of place more than the other
The size issue does come into place when trying to move people out; but it is more WHERE he positions himself
Pettersson for sure is much more reliable defensively
Pettersson also has more points (8 vs 7) and Gryzlyk has 2 of his 7 on the PP
I don’t challenge your viewpoints re Gryzlyk as a Bruin
I haven’t missed any Pens games… Gryzlyk is not a good defensive defenseman
The media’s fixation on the Pens is pointless. Everyone knew they’d be bad. Once Crosby signed his extension, it became the 1000 day farewell tour. Malkin and Letang would likely both just retire if traded at this point. Time to just watch these legends fade, they won their cups, there won’t be another one.
Agree Brock that everyone knew the roster as is would be bad
Crosby held off signing
Finally Dubas promised he would make the team better
Sid signed
Dubas has not done anything to make team better
Nothing
ESPN won’t allow it. Pens are ESPN’s darlings and
Cindy is the crown prince of the netw0rk.
That “Cindy” schtick is old. Grow up.
87 the diff might be EN goals, or 4 on 4, or 3 on 3, when looking at +/-. Those are considered even strength. At least I know EN goals are for +/-, and would think the other situations would as well.
More goals get scored in all those situations.
Grz is what he is, good wheels, can handle the puck, smart with it. Gets knocked around by the big guys and can lose battles to the same guys. But he can skate and move the puck and is a smart player defensively. In Boston he played well overall. He is a solid 3rd pairing guy IMO. Can move up if you need him too.
Solid NHL D-man. No offense to your Pens, but playing 20 minutes a night for that team, very likely does not lead to a positive +/-. Especially when 35% of your ice time is against top competition. Tough assignment.
Bottom line – he has fewer GA/60 than a bunch of higher priced guys while playing tougher minutes.
Fire Sullivan
Fire Dubas
Everyone available, except Sid
Everyone available… except the one guy who would bring back three 1st round picks, 2 roster players and a AA prospect… Ok :/
Tom Fitzgerald needs to round out his Devils roster with another center, team has no depth in the minors if another center gets hurt (like Lazar). Lazar can play the wing so Fitz needs to get a 3rd/4th line center that would allow Haula to move up if Hughes or Hischier get hurt. They don’t need another winger, especially the ones mentioned in the article