NHL Rumor Mill – November 18, 2024
Check out the latest on the Leafs, Sabres, Flames and Canucks in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
COULD THE LEAFS PURSUE A CENTER THIS SEASON?
SPORTSNET: Luke Fox believes Auston Matthews’ recent injury highlights the Toronto Maple Leafs’ pressing need for depth at center.
The Leafs would have difficulty making headway in the playoffs with an injury to one of his centers. He pointed out their third line is a “hodgepodge of forwards who can’t score,” noting that Max Domi’s latest trial centering that line has been rough.
Fox speculates that general manager Brad Treliving must be starting to look at potential rental options. Brock Nelson of the New York Islanders would be the best of the bunch. Others could include Mikael Granlund of the San Jose Sharks, Frank Vatrano of the Anaheim Ducks, Nick Bjugstad of the Utah Hockey Club or Jake Evans of the Montreal Canadiens.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Nelson won’t be going anywhere if the Islanders remain in the playoff hunt by the March 7 trade deadline. The others are pending unrestricted free agents like Nelson but play on clubs considered to be non-contenders. They could all be available but the Leafs will face competition to land one of them.
THE LATEST SABRES SPECULATION
THE BUFFALO NEWS: Mike Harrington reports Sabres GM Kevyn Adams is considered among the busiest talkers thus far in the trade market. Harrington noted what he called “some absurd chatter” out of Vancouver about the Canucks trying to acquire Sabres defenseman Bowen Byram. However, Adams wants to add to his roster rather than subtract, and Byram was recently promoted to the Sabres’ top defense pairing alongside captain Rasmus Dahlin.
Buffalo Sabres defenseman Bowen Byram (NHL Images).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: In other words, don’t expect Byram to be donning a Canucks jersey anytime soon.
Harrington suggests Adams should consider Nashville Predators forward Gustav Nyquist. The four-time 20-goal scorer is on pace to reach that figure again. He’s in the final season of his contract with a cap hit of $3.2 million.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Predators aren’t sellers yet as GM Barry Trotz is shopping around to find a center. Nevertheless, Nyquist could become available if the Preds are out of playoff contention by the March 7 trade deadline.
FLAMES HOPING TO RETAIN ANDERSSON
RG.ORG: Jim Biringer recently reported Calgary Flames defenseman Rasmus Andersson is coming up in trade rumors despite being signed through 2025-26. However, he’s a player that Flames GM Craig Conroy sees as a long-term cornerstone for his blueline.
Conroy noted that Andersson is a homegrown talent who came up through the Flames system. He also pointed out that the blueliner loves being with the team and living in Calgary.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Conroy was busy last season shipping out players like Jacob Markstrom, Elias Lindholm, Noah Hanifin, Chris Tanev, Andrew Mangiapane and Nikita Zadorov. However, he did sign captain Mikael Backlund so we can’t assume he won’t have similar success with Andersson, especially if the Flames look like they’re going to return to playoff contention in the coming years.
SHOULD THE CANUCKS PURSUE MARCUS PETTERSSON?
THE PROVINCE: Patrick Johnston recently considered the possibility of the Vancouver Canucks acquiring Marcus Pettersson from the Pittsburgh Penguins.
The Penguins trade of Lars Eller to the Washington Capitals last week sparked speculation they could blow up their roster this season. Pettersson could be a good fit to the Canucks blueline but Johnston noted he’s only average on breakouts.
Johnston suggests the Canucks should aim higher in the trade market such as Calgary’s Rasmus Andersson or MacKenzie Weegar.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Considering the Flames hope to retain Andersson, and Weegar is under a long-term contract, the Canucks might have better luck acquiring a rental like Pettersson if he becomes available.
Everyone seems to be looking for a top 6 or second line center! That s the talk in Toronto,Nashville and Boston lately! Anyone have any perspective candidates?
I think the Habs will try to extend Evans rather than try to trade him. He’s a bottom 6 Center but quite good in that role.
Agree, and he still fits the age/speed mold their GM is apparently trying to build around. I think the only way Jake Evans gets moved is if they feel Owen Beck is ready for 4th line centre duty.
I think the same thing as you do Howard. He’d be a good veteran for the youngsters, shows up very night and he his probably the Hab’s best power play killer and can give a good hand when injuries occure. Pretty sure Hughes will offer him a new contract
What happen to Max Domi?
2018-2019 82gp 28g 44a 72pts +10 Montreal
2019-2020 71gp 17g 27a 44pts -3 Montreal
At that time there was no reason to think he wouldn’t an annual 20plus goal scorer.
Last season 9 goals in 80 games played. This season 0 goals in 19 games
Max had 118 penalty minutes last season 38 more then his highest mark of 80 in 2018-2019 season.
Maybe there needs to be a balance between scoring and being physical? Is Domi going out of his way to play a more physical game and not using the skill set when he first enter the league?
Caper they kept Domi overBertuzzi,although not as expensive .IIwonder if they regret that now?
I believe Domi thrives with more responsibility. He’s not getting that in Toronto, other than a stretch in the playoffs last season in which (surprise, surprise) he thrived.
Last year Domi took Marner`s spot when he was injured. This year he`s playing on the first line. How much more responsibility does he need. Plus Berbube has asked Domi to be more responsible, defensively. I think it might be time to rest Domi for a few games and let a couple of the kids playing with the Marlies have a shot. Maybe then Domi might wake up , smell the coffee before he becomes a buyout candidate this summer
Caper,Toronto went cheap and kept Domi over Bertuzzi! Wonder if they made a mistake!
They didn`t keep Domi over Bertuzzi, they play 2 different positions. Bertuzzi is a LW and Domi is a RW/C. Toronto decided to keep Knies and McMann for LW rather than Bertuzzi. Both younger, cheaper, faster and get this better than Bertuzzi. Did they make a mistake letting Bertuzzi go, NOPE. Did they make a mistake keeping Domi, jury`s still out on that one
Succinctly done, Yogi. With Domi it could be a combination of a style of play change implemented by the new coach and reduced responsibility as suggested by WestBrantKid.
One thing for sure – he isn’t alone with regard to a slow start – their teams likely expected more to date from guys like Hyman, Marchand, Elia Pettersson and Heiskanen. I’m sure there are more.
GeorgeO Domi only scored 9 goals last season in 80 games played. Coming off a season when he scored 20 goals
It would appear his slow start, started October 2023
OK, fair point, but really, over his career of 680 gp to date his 82-game aver ages are 16g 35a 51 pts.
Last season, with his 38a, he was just 4 pts below his career average, and his 9 goals were down 7 from his career average. Hardly a shocking decrease in goal production, and with Dallas and Chicago he was skating with different line-mates and probably in different situations. It’s also interesting to note that he had 118 pim last season whereas his 82-game average to that point was 73 pm.
Despite his potting of 28 in 2018-19 in Montreal I doubt anyone has ever been looking at Domi as a prolific goal-scorer. He is, in essence, a plugger who can hurt you if you’re not paying attention out there.
To look at it another way over his lengthy career, if you remove that one 28-goal season from his stats, which was clearly an aberration, his 82-game averages of 598 gp are 14g 34a 48 pts,
That’s probably much closer as to what can be expected from him offensively.
GeorgeO Domi broke in the league with Arizona scoring 18 goals and 34a in his rookie season 2015-2016
2016-2017 he scored 9 goals in 59gp
2017-2018 9goals in 82gp
2018-2019 28 goals in 82gp
2019-2020 17 goals in 71gp 20g over 82 gp
2022-2023 20 goals in 80 gp
Yes i would expect a lot more then 9 goals from Domi, he has shown the skill set to do so.
If you look at a picture of Domi when he entered the league and a picture today, you’ll notice a very BIG difference.
Sorry George, I forgot to add Domi has 130 goals in 680 games played which translate to 15.67 per season. I think he’s capable.
You hold onto that. Meanwhile, I’m betting the best anyone will ever get from him again is maybe 12-14 g and 30-34a.
GeorgeO, you missed the point. Domi showed he is capable because he’s done it more then once. However he’s changed his game to be more physical. He’s put on a lot of muscle since joining the league.
RD men for the Oilers,
28 yr old Calgarys RD defenseman Rasmus Andersson
&
31 yr old Connor Murphy RD Chicago
are the 2 main names we are hearing in Edmonton…
Murphy would be the lease Expencive of the 2…
Anderson would cost a lot, 1st pick and a 3rd.. and
A top prospect….❓
We will never trade Ras to Edmonton. You might as well through in 50% retained salary to make this more absurd.
I’m very very curious to know who the “we are hearing” would be? Is it Edmonton fans are hearing? If so who are the Edmonton fans hearing those names from? Spector put together a pretty good disposition on why Rasmus wasn’t going to be traded at all, so it is surprising your sources have heard that he may head to Edmonton. I have no stake in this (I’m a very very sad Detroit fan right now), but as I understand it there is a “Battle of Alberta” that means a lot in that region, so much so that a lonely Detroit fan wants to go catch that weekend but the cost to fly out of DTW into either Edmonton or Calgary then train/bus/rental between the cities then fly back to DTW is insane! But I really want to see the rivalry! Anyway, that was a long walk around the pond to get a drink of water. It just seems that the facts point your sources to be idle speculation rather than actual sources.
Matthews gets injured tons.
How bout this ballsy crazy deal to gain centers and not lose out on Matthews points.
Matthews
Minten
Robertson
for :
Crosby and Malkin
Yes I know (why would you trade young guys for old players?)
IMO- Crosby can still lead and Malkin can still put up points, so even though the window would narrow, it supplies a better overall depthy team right now.
Knies- Crosby – Marner
Domi – Tavares- Nylander
McMann – Malkin – Lorenz
Dewar – Kampf – Reeves
How about a 7th rd pick for Sid only if Pittsburgh eats half of Sids contract. That`s a win win deal
Zero chance Crosby would ever agree to go to the Leafs
If he does agree to move, I’d think his top choice would be to play with MacKinnon. Outside chance of Panthers or Oilers.
That’s of course, pending space availability in trade
I think Crosby despises Leafs as much as I do.
I`ve never heard Sid say any against the Leafs or anybody else for that fact. The guy simply has too much class to do that. So you`re another clairvoyant and knows what Sid`s thinking. Like Shaun yesterday, you must know what I`m thinking right now
DJ since we are talking drastic moves ,how about Crosby to Boston for Frederic,Lohrei,Poitras,Geekie! All 4 Boston players are in their 20 s!
I got a rolling stones song for you SR.
“Hey – You – Get off of my cloud” 😉
A solid NO on Poitras and Lohrei.
Turk,let s hope Poitras doesn t become the next Jack Studnicka!