NHL Rumor Mill – November 9, 2024
The Sabres are getting calls about defenseman Bowen Byram and forward Dylan Cozens plus the latest on Bruins forward Trent Frederic in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
LATEST ON THE SABRES
SPORTSNET: During the Nov. 8 episode of “32 Thoughts: The Podcast”, Elliotte Friedman reported the Buffalo Sabres are looking around the trade market to see what’s available to help their team. That’s prompted rumors that defenseman Bowen Byram and forward Dylan Cozens might be available.
Friedman pointed out that Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams is trying to help his team. However, the rival GMs he’s spoken with want Byram or Cozens. Adams’ response is he’s trying to add to his club, not subtract.
Buffalo Sabres defenseman Bowen Byram (NHL Images).
Some teams hope to buy low on Cozens because he’s been struggling this season. According to Friedman, Adams is telling them he’s not interested.
DONNIE & DHALI: Byram was mentioned to Friedman earlier this week as there was “a lot of talk” in Vancouver about his availability. The Sabres rearguard played his junior hockey there.
Friedman’s reply was similar to what he said on Friday. He didn’t know if Byram was available, believing the Sabres wanted to add rather than subtract. He thinks they would consider it if Byram fetched a return that made them better.
They also discussed what the Canucks could be looking for in the trade market. Friedman believes they’re looking for defensemen and trying to determine what’s out there.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Don’t expect to see Byram or Cozens suiting up with another club anytime soon. Rival clubs hope they can fleece Adams if he gets desperate. Based on Friedman’s account, the Sabres GM wants no part of those deals.
Friedman’s remarks about what the Canucks might do in the trade market came before they shipped Daniel Sprong to the Seattle Kraken on Friday. He mentioned they might look at bringing up Jonathan Lekkerimaki at some point. The Sprong trade could set the stage for Lekkerimaki’s call-up.
BRUINS NOT SHOPPING FREDERIC
RG.ORG: James Murphy cited an “NHL executive source” claiming he hasn’t heard Trent Frederic’s name in the trade circuit. Earlier this week, ESPN’s Kevin Weekes reported some teams were interested in the pending free-agent forward.
Murphy’s source wouldn’t be surprised if teams called Boston about Frederic, but that doesn’t mean they want to move him. As far as he knows, the Bruins aren’t shopping him.
If Frederic does become available, Murphy’s source believes the Blues would be interested in the St. Louis native.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Blues wouldn’t be the only club. New Jersey Hockey Now’s James Nichols believes the Devils should monitor Frederic’s status.
The Bruins stumbled from the gate this season but GM Don Sweeney isn’t about to start trading away his pending UFA players. He needs them to help right the ship. The earliest Frederic might become available is leading up to the March 7 trade deadline, and only if the Bruins are out of playoff contention.
Speaking of a D who might be available – and a young RD at that – former Senator D and now commentator Mark Methot wasn’t at all pleased when, with Zub returning to the line-up, Bernard-Docker was a healthy scratch in favour of Travis Hamonic playing alongside Kleven on the 3rd pairing for the Islanders game (a 4-2 loss – at home). Nor, apparently, is he alone.
“Woke up this morning still baffled with the decision to scratch Jacob Bernard-Docker. My concern is the message that it sends to the group. ‘Hey man, you’ve been playing solid hockey, but I think we’re going to go with the aging vet who won’t be here next season.’ I don’t like it.”
Neither did a lot of the fans. If they’re not going to play the much younger D, then send him somewhere he will be used. And continue stumbling along as you have for the past 5 seasons. And maybe one or two of the so-called core along with him.
Patience has worn thin here.
Maybe they have to play Hamonic, he could be part of a trade package. I don’t see him fetching anything on his own.
They hardly have to “showcase” Hamonic. After 15 seasons and 4 teams – 2 each East and West – I think everyone knows what they’d be getting: a stay-at-home” RD who pretty much has to “stay at home” since his 3 speeds are slow, slower and stop.
George, similar situation is happening with the Blues where Zack Bolduc who blossomed last year and had a great pre season is playing on the 3rd or 4th line or watching from the press box so that aging vets like Kapanen, Saad, can play and muck up the ice. Could be Armstrong wants them to get hot so he can get something in a trade or could be bad coaching from a new coach finding his way. Either way it doesn’t make sense to bench young players that are playing well to put lesser players on the ice.
Snold 49 … history has shown … and will continue to show I’m sure … that, given the option, a LOT of coaches will instinctively lean towards icing veterans over rookies and sometimes even sophomores, especially if the team is struggling. Sort of a “preserve your job” reaction.
No doubt it has worked to the coaches’ advantage often enough – and with outside comment or opinion praising the decision – to make that option the most popular one … it’s when it doesn’t work that things tend to get out of hand. Fast.
Tonight, for example, the Senators go into Boston with Hamonic back beside Kleven on the 3rd pairing, and Bernard-Docker on his ass in the pressbox. We’ll see how that turns out.
Sens are frustrating.
Is this core really good enough. Is Stutzle that elite centre. Loses to Buffalo then Islanders hurt.
Boston then Toronto next this two game losing streak could easily be 3 than 4 and as per norm the Sens blue their playoff chances in November.
regarding Frederic:
Darn you, Lyle. You sure know how to “burst my bubble” (and the Blues too)
IP
Iowa prince you should be accustom to this by now, it seems every player or prospect with ties to St. Louis is linked to the Blues at one time or another from Brady to Matthew to Keller etc and none of it amounts to much.
As far as Frederic is concerned I would propose a trade package of him and the dman from Louisiana for Kyrou and a pick or prospect.
S nold 49 ,I like your idea but the money isn t close enough!Feel like a deal would not get done until Thomas is back!
Bruins fan here. I would just take Kyrou for Frederic even up. Frederic is a big strong forward who only occasionally realizes what he can do-very erratic player.
Crushing dreams is what I do…😉
Can’t see Bruins moving Frederic unless there’s some sort of disconnect between coach and player. I would trust Weekes more of an insider though than Murphy. Shouldn’t cost much more than he’s getting now to re sign.
As stated above I can’t see Adams parting for either Cozens or Byram. I can see them use Samuelsson, Rosen and maybe another prospect and draft picks as trade bait.
Lets face it, who is going to part with a like young RHD for Byram besides the fact Adams just traded for Byram and IMO would look stupid trading him as Byram is not the problem.
You also don’t trade Cozens without a backup plan at center (none of our center prospects are close to NHL ready) as that would just create a bigger hole on the team.
Myself,I’d like the Sabres to go after Frank Vatrano for a top 6 forward and Connor Murphy for a badly needed RHD. Both Ana and Chi could use young NHL players, prospects and/or draft picks.
I just can’t see Trots waiting any longer
I see this trade
To Nash Kadri
To Cal Novak, Jankowski, Kemmel and a 1 st rd pick
Nash + $7 million
Cal – $ 4.3 million
Both teams can swing the $
It’s good for both imo
Can`t see this trade ever happening. One, that`s too high a price for Kadri with 3 more years at 7 per and two Nashville has no cap space. They just put Fabro on waivers to stay under the cap.
lol are you delusional as Trotz would never ever make that one sided trade as you must be a Flames fan LOL
This would look like a panic move for Trotz! Especially after he went heavy on older,expensive free agents!