NHL Rumor Mill – November 26, 2024
Are roster shake-ups coming for the Rangers and Senators? What’s the latest Oilers speculation? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
COULD THE RANGERS TRADE TROUBA OR KREIDER?
SPORTSNET’s Elliotte Friedman took to “X” yesterday reporting the New York Rangers have made it clear they’re interested in “making moves and shaking up their roster.” This decision came following their 6-2 loss to the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday.
New York Rangers captain Jacob Trouba (NHL Images).
Friedman indicated that team captain Jacob Trouba and veteran winger Chris Kreider are among the names being floated as available, “although other options will be considered.”
ESPN’s Emily Kaplan replied to Friedman’s report, indicating she followed up with calls to people associated with the Rangers. Despite their .658 win percentage, the names being mentioned lead everyone to believe that none of the Rangers should feel complacent right now.
Friedman discussed the situation during an appearance on The FAN Hockey Show on Monday afternoon. He observed that Kreider lacks full no-move protection and suggested he would draw interest in the trade market.
However, Friedman said he and others are trying to determine whether the Rangers are serious about moving Kreider or just trying to shake up the room by threatening to trade the long-time Blueshirt.
Kreider, 33, is signed through 2026-27 with an average annual value of $6.5 million and a 15-team no-trade list.
NEW YORK POST: Mollie Walker reports Rangers president and general manager Chris Drury sent a memo to all 31 of his NHL counterparts announcing his club was open for business, “specifically citing multiple players as available, not merely their longest-tenured player, Chris Kreider, and captain, Jacob Trouba.”
Larry Brooks believes it’s time to blow up this version of the Rangers, dismissing the idea of another coaching change. “This core does not get to fire another coach. They have not earned that right,” he wrote.
Brooks noted that Trouba can be traded, suggesting he be suspended and removed from the Rangers’ salary cap if he refuses to go. The 30-year-old captain is signed through next season with an AAV of $8 million. He has a 15-team no-trade list for this season. During the offseason, Trouba spiked a deal that would’ve sent him to the Detroit Red Wings.
Moving Kreider would be a shockwave through the organization. However, he might yield a bounty in return.
THE ATHLETIC: Arthur Staple reports Rangers management is pleased with the performance of young players like Alexis Lafreniere, Will Cuylle, Braden Schneider and Zac Jones. He also noted that Kaapo Kakko and Filip Chytil are playing well this season, though Chytil missed his fifth straight game on Monday with an upper-body injury.
The veteran core (except for goalies Igor Shesterkin and Jonathan Quick and leading scorer Artemi Panarin) aren’t performing to expectations. However, there’s little Drury can do about them because most have long-term deals, no-trade clauses, or no-movement clauses.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Moving Kreider or Trouba right now could be difficult. Their cap hits are difficult for interested parties to absorb, especially with a lot of teams carrying limited cap room at this point in the season. Their 15-team no-trade lists are an additional complication.
That’s not to say it’s impossible. Perhaps a deal could be worked out involving one or both, or whoever else Rangers management might consider peddling. It just won’t be easy to find suitable trade partners with the cap room and the wealth of tradeable assets.
COULD THE SENATORS SHAKE THINGS UP?
RG.ORG: James Murphy cited a source suggesting the Ottawa Senators could consider a shake-up trade. The club remains mired in mediocrity despite management and coaching changes since last year.
Murphy believes the Senators are running out of options without making a franchise-altering move. Goaltending was assumed to be the issue they believed was rectified by acquiring Linus Ullmark.
Former Senators defenseman turned podcast host Marc Methot hinted at this last week, suggesting a core player could be moved if things don’t improve soon. Murphy claimed there were rumors captain Brady Tkachuk could be a trade candidate but his source said he hadn’t heard specific names, just that anything is in play.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Ottawa Sun’s Bruce Garrioch reported last week that the Senators had to do something or risk another lost season, citing sources claiming GM Steve Staios was shopping around to find upgrades for his roster.
Garrioch dismissed the notion of Tkachuk or long-time defenseman Thomas Chabot hitting the trade block. It’s unlikely that scoring leader Tim Stutzle or top defenseman Jake Sanderson will be moved. Garrioch cited a source suggesting Josh Norris as a trade candidate.
One move the Senators could make is for a defenseman. Garrioch reported they’re aggressively looking to add to their blueline after Artem Zub broke his foot blocking a shot during Saturday’s game against the Vancouver Canucks. Zub is expected to be sidelined for a while.
LATEST OILERS SPECULATION
EDMONTON JOURNAL: Kurt Leavins noted Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic reported last week that Anaheim Ducks goaltender John Gibson could waive his no-trade clause for the Oilers. However, Leavins is skeptical that Gibson would be an improvement over Oilers starter Stuart Skinner and not at his $6.4 million cap hit. Even if the Ducks agreed to retain half, Gibson would still be difficult to fit within the Oilers’ limited cap space.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Agreed.
Leavins also noted recent speculation linking the Oilers to Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman David Jiricek. He noted Jiricek projects as a better, more physical defender than the departed Philip Broberg, possessing a better shot and with plenty of room for development. However, he also pointed out that Jiricek wasn’t as good a skater as Broberg.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Some observers don’t see Jiricek as a fit with the Oilers because they lack the depth in tradeable assets to tempt the Blue Jackets.
Ottawa should get a good not great D that can clear the rebounds in front of the goalies, which seems to be a problem with the attackers getting first to the rebounds. A 2nd and a 4th to Pittsburgh + B prospect for Pettersson at half price and get someone else to take 50% for a 3rd?
The problem, Kent, is that Pettersson is a LD and not their area of immediate need. Right now their 3 top LD are
Jake Sanderson 6′ 2″ 204
Thomas Chabot 6′ 1″ 203
Tyler Kleven 6′ 5″ 221
With Zub out long-term, their pressing need is – I totally agree – “a good not great RD that can clear the rebounds in front of the goalies …”
Sign and trade!
Petterson signed to a $6.25M x 6 and Drew O’Connor to the Sens for Chabot
Re; Sen’s on the Trade block
i said a couple of days ago, I Really think it would be ether one of these two…and or Both this season,
Centre Josh Noriss, who they should Trade for a RD man similar in age 24 to 26 to cover the often injured Zub who is out again for a few months
After that in January, February trade
defenseman Thomas Chabot for a Good RW or a good 2nd Centre…❓
100%❗️ it WONT be the Captain
Tkachuk or top d-man Jake Sanderson
What’s making me nervous with all the talk out of the Ottawa and Rangers camps, is that they strike a deal that sees either Norris or Pinto going there for whoever, and that it turns out to be Zibanejad Part Two.
Trading Chabot would be a really dumb move for Ottawa. He’s easily been their best defenseman this year and it’s not even close. He has good chemistry with Jensen and it is noticeable to anyone watching the games that he is playing well overall.
I didn’t even realize how well Chabot was playing until I read Travis Yost’s post on TSN this week.
https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/travis-yost-thomas-chabot-cementing-himself-as-a-top-nhl-defenceman-1.2209528
Sanderson, on the other hand, has been terrible defensively and needs to be better.
Hi Van
Saw that Article and shared with Pens fans this morning on Lyle’s “Morning Coffee Headlines”
Johnny Z re
“Sign and trade!
Petterson signed to a $6.25M x 6 and Drew O’Connor to the Sens for Chabot”
If Sens also agree to take Gryzelzyk ; then it’s a deal
I’ve offered up (on Morning Coffee) another deal with Sens for Karllsson ($5 M cap hit retained; O’Connor; but Sens must also take Gryzelzyk ; for 3 specified prospects
Johnny z there is no way Sens trade Chabot. He has been by far their best d this year and paired with Jensen seems to be going nowhere. If I’m the sens, I hold pat. They’ve had some great play but have been unlucky with goals and goaltending. I believe this team has the talent to turn it around. They do need a RD, but who in this league doesn’t.
@ Owen:
Glad to hear that! I just knew that last season was when many called for him to be traded and some are still echoing those sentiments.
@Van Who`s Yost, never heard of him before and since when did he start deciding who the Norris winner would be. It`s about equal to another writer saying Reilly, who`s having a decent year, was a Norris candidate. It`s like a guy, who calls himself the Old Prof (Hockey Writers), writes numerous articles about how stupid the Leafs are for over paying the core 4. Today he writes an article saying over paying Marner is a necessary evil. To say Chabot or Reilly were Norris candidates, is saying he could be a #1 dman on all 32 teams and it just ain`t so
Caveat. Could be wishful thinking. But seeing what other top 4 rental d have gone for recently I’d expect a first for him from a contender. Especially since Dubas is seemingly open to taking picks in 26 and 27.
Personally, I like Norris. I don’t think they should trade him unless they find a better centre.
Pinto and Creig are not it….yet.
I would like a shake up in the forward core but that ain’t easy.
So instead regarding the D
Maybe Creig and a pick from r Jericek (I believe he is right handed)
Jeff, I think you’re referring to Greig. If I were GM of sens, I’d be looking for an experienced D, not a 20 year old playing in the AHL. Greig has been a roster player for 2 years. Not having a great year in points, but was injured and brings other things to the team.
I wouldn’t be opposed to trading him, but he’s a natural center so would want a better return.
Your right, I made a mistake all while ago spelling it with a C and I just can’t let it go hahaha. I keep doing it even knowing better, not intentionally. I guess sit just doesn’t matter very much to me.
Watching Greig this year. He isn’t worth that much. Here is hoping he proves me wrong. Perhaps I just had too high expectations of him and the poor guy can’t reach them.
I feel the the Rangers could sweeten any pot with one of their prospects to be included in a trade involving one or both of those guys. Someone like Othemann, for example, would move teams to figure a way to open up their cap space somehow.
Someone suggested the same thing yesterday. Zero chance NY is including Othmann / Perrault in any deal to dump salary.
If you look at past salary dumps. The cost has never been that high, nor will it ever be that high.
Marleau cost a 1st and 7th and returned a 6th. For a guy that was instantly bought out. That’s about as high as you’re going to get.
Possibly a guy like Sykora, + picks.
Othmann? Not a chance.
Trading Tkachuk…that’s funny. Make it up murphy is at it again!
Yeah a Tkachuk move is extremely low probability
I’m sure Panthers would love the bros together though
So for the longshot move:
Tkachuk and Jensen for Ekblad, Rodrigues, 1st, prospect?
No No and No…Brady gets you Matthew, Barkov and Reinhart in other words untouchable if we are plying quantity for quality
Except Ekblad has a 12-team no trade list and you can bet Ottawa is on that
chucky is going nowhere. He’s under contract for years to come, is the captain, and looks like he wants to make it work. That type of player just does not come around often. Not even sure who I’d even contemplate trading him for. On panthers, probably only his brother or barkov.
hey George,
A big RD….Ekblad is from Windsor Ontario… wonder if he wants to sign closer home…..🤔
Ottawa…
However he has been with the Panthers now for 11 years im thinking he wants to stay there
whats $9M in an other place …
same as Florida making $7.5M his wife is from there dont see him moving far…
$8.5MX8 to stay❓
Brooks thinks Trouba should be “suspended and removed from the Rangers’ salary cap if he refuses to go.”
Really?
He was allowed to block any trade in the offseason because he had a full no-trade clause. Now that this season has started, its reduced to 15 teams. If they Rangers now trade him to a team NOT on his list, he’s gone and he can’t block anything. If the Rangers want to trade him to a team still on his list of 15, well then they still need his approval. That’s the contract they gave out.
I hate all the NTC / NMC clauses and the limit on buyout options, but that’s what the GMs and owners agreed to.
Trouba’s list went into effect in July. Rumor was Detroit had interest. Trouba must’ve had an inkling and added them to his no trade, His wife is finishing her residency so he pretty much said he would sit out if he was traded anywhere he didn’t want to go. Maybe a different story when they get to deadline.
Good row then trouba? Cutthroat drury could pay for that style down the road.
The Trouba saga with his wife’s residency hasn’t changed. Moving him wouldn’t hurt team. Trading Kreider doesn’t make a whole lot of sense. 39 goals last year and he’s 2nd on team this year behind Panarin. The problem is his center man, Zibanejad.
Kreider is 33 but, physically I’d put him up against anyone in league. Still one of the fastest and nobody better in front of net. I’m not totally against trading him, but the return better be worth it. Shaking things up just for the sake of it is not a good reason. Before last nights game NY had the 3rd best winning pct in EC
Re the rumors of the past few weeks of Habs looking for a player with an edge, it would be ironic if Kreider became a Hab.
His contract is low for his production and given the Kreider/Price debacle seeing him in the playoffs with the Habs would make Bell Centre heads spin.
Funny. Would fans still boo him? Not sure Habs aren’t on his nt list. Horton was GM when Kreider signed his current deal.
*** Gorton
If he’s got a 15 team no trade clause I’d guarantee Montreal is on it.
Wasn’t Gorton the one who drafted Lafrenière and Sheshterkin and that acquired Panarin and Fox ?
No, Sather drafted Shesterkin.
Laffrienere fell in his lap.
And both Fox and Panarin wanted nowhere but NY.
He did however trade Mcdonagh and JT Miller for a bag of pucks.
I feel like all the GMs that handed out these max term/money contracts with NTC/NMC are really finding out how STUPID that is…
RE: Sens… I feel like Chabot has gotten better because he has better partnering and lower play time but as George said, the opposite has been afforded to Sanderson… something needs to be done to give him a steady presence.
I feel like Pinto may be struggling a little bit… but trading him would end up being like when Vancouver traded Mike Peca…
Hi the Saint
I agree with you for players over 26-28 that are signed for 6 to 8 years.
But I think it is a great move if you do it with your best young assets in their early 20s (20-22),even if they dont pan out as stars after five years their contracts might reflect the average ones in the league but if they do become very good or stars, then their contracts will become very very good deals
I agree with that for the most part… but some of those contracts really seem to still be biting GMs in the butt for one reason or another.
Not a bad contract for Kreider. A deal actually
39 goals last year 50 not that long ago and near the league leaders in PP goals annually
With the pending Igor contract this off season someone has to go. Likely Trouba.
The Sens need something to change and it ain’t Brady.
Rob Rossi reports in The Athletic that Dubas “simply loves” the Columbus Blue Jackets newest trade candidate David Jiricek, and that he has offered McGroarty as trade bait in his attempt to try to land the 6’4″, 200-pound defenseman.
So another player that disappoints and Dubas thinks someone else will take it on?
Jiricek is worth more than McGroarty.
A potential top 4 d man vs a potential top 6 winger usually is. But they are equally damaged goods at this point in their career.