Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – November 24, 2024
Check out the latest on the Blue Jackets, Senators, Maple Leafs and Canucks in the Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup.
COULD THE BLUE JACKETS MOVE DAVID JIRICEK SOON?
RG.ORG: Jim Biringer reports a source close to the Columbus Blue Jackets believes David Jiricek will be traded soon. They demoted the 20-year-old defenseman to their AHL affiliate in Cleveland last week.
Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman David Jiricek (NHL Images).
Biringer indicated that Jiricek is the player popping up the most often in Blue Jackets’ trade discussions. He was sent to Cleveland midway through last season and publicly expressed his displeasure over that decision.
The reason behind Jiricek’s current demotion was to allow him to work on his defensive game and garner more playing time. Biringer points out that it’s also a great opportunity for interested teams to scout the 6’3” right-shot defenseman. His source claims the Edmonton Oilers and Nashville Predators are interested in Jiricek, especially the Oilers as they’re looking for a replacement for the departed Philip Broberg.
Biringer noted the Oilers don’t have much in draft capital to offer the Blue Jackets after trading away their 2025 first-rounder to the Philadelphia Flyers. The Predators, on the other hand, have three first-rounders in 2025 plus a plethora of prospects and young forwards to draw on for trade bait.
SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman believes teams are making legitimate offers for Jiricek. The Blue Jackets have to decide what they want to do here. He also doesn’t see a match with the Oilers because the Jackets seek a young player of similar potential in return.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: When Jiricek was sent down last week, I assumed that Waddell and head coach Dean Evason genuinely wanted him to improve and be part of the Jackets’ defense corps.
That might still be the case if they don’t get suitable offers from other clubs. Nevertheless, the rumblings that Jiricek might be traded are growing.
Waddell isn’t going to give away Jiricek for peanuts. It could take a first-rounder or a top prospect to tempt him.
WILL THE SENATORS SHAKE THINGS UP WITH A TRADE?
OTTAWA SUN: Bruce Garrioch reports the slumping Senators will have to do something to shake things up or risk another lost season. He claims league executives say general manager Steve Staios is making calls to see if he can find any upgrades to his roster.
Garrioch rules out team captain Brady Tkachuk or defenseman Thomas Chabot becoming trade candidates, especially the latter as the Senators would have to retain part of his $8 million average annual value.
One source suggested Josh Norris as a trade candidate. The oft-injured center is off to a good start this season and carries a $7.95 million AAV through 2026-27. An internal option could be using Ridly Greig as a third-line center with Norris as his winger.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Goaltending and the blueline remain problem areas for the Senators. The addition of Linus Ullmark was supposed to improve things between the pipes but he’s been having difficulties lately.
Another lost season will bring significant changes to the Senators roster. They can’t keep going as they have. Those changes could start by the March 7 trade deadline. I consider Tkachuk, Chabot, Tim Stutzle, and Jake Sanderson to be their only untouchables.
CENTER OPTIONS FOR THE MAPLE LEAFS
THE ATHLETIC: James Mirtle recently examined potential trade options for the Toronto Maple Leafs to boost their depth at center.
Two-way options could include Yanni Gourde of the Seattle Kraken, Trent Frederic of the Boston Bruins, and Radek Faksa of the St. Louis Blues. Higher-end targets could be Brock Nelson of the New York Islanders and Mikael Granlund of the San Jose Sharks.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Gourde, Frederic and Nelson won’t be going anywhere if their respective clubs remain in the playoff chase. The rest are on struggling teams that will likely be sellers by the trade deadline.
Mirtle also mused about bringing back a former Leaf like Ryan O’Reilly or Nazem Kadri. Their contracts, however, make such a move unlikely. They also seem to be happy with their current clubs.
LATEST ON THE CANUCKS
THE PROVINCE: Patrick Johnston recently suggested the Vancouver Canucks must improve their blueline, particularly their second defense pairing. He believes they need to add another defenseman who can move the puck.
Marcus Pettersson of the Pittsburgh Penguins is the main name being mentioned in the trade market and he could help the Canucks. Johnston thinks other players who could be a better fit could become available but it could take a while before that happens.
Berggern for Jirisek
Berggren*
That would be a great trade, much like the Drouin for Sergachev trade Yzerman made when he was in TB. But I don’t think the Blue Jackets go for that 1-for-1, the DRW would have to add to make it happen. If it was Berggren and a 2nd or later it would be good, but not for Berggren and a 1st.
Monty was favored to take over. The Blues even waited to see the outcome of the Bruins first round of the playoffs before offering Drew Bannister an extension. He’s a former coach of the St. Louis blues. He has all kinds of ties with the organization oh, and his wife is from St. Louis.
I read somewhere a potential trade between the Leafs and Penguins for Kevin Hayes as an option for their 3C.
I believe the rumour was Hayes already had salary retention so if PIT retained another 50% the Leafs would have him for two seasons at $1.75M
Going the other way would be Kampf, Robertson or Holmberg and a pick or B prospect.
Not sure Dubas is looking to do the Leafs any favours but PIT needs picks and prospects badly.
Only problem here is pens only have one salary retention spot left. They have to be choosy about who they use it on.
Chrisms
Ahh…I did not know that. That makes it tricky considering the players the Pens may make available.
Perhaps a third team gets involved that retains salary and the retention cost is split by the Pens and Leafs. Thé Leafs provide the better asset to the team retaining the salary and PIT is just happy to be rid of the contract.
With the way Vincent and Jarmo played mind games with Jiricek, last year, I can see a possible change of scenery trade happening. But I don’t know how likely that is considering that Waddell and Evason straight shooters. If Jiricek is available, he won’t be cheap, considering that he was a 6th overall pick and has a tremendous upside.
Paul Bowles
I think you are correct that Jiricek will not come cheaply
Two of the hardest things to get as an NHL team is a #1C and a #1D…especially a RHD.
I am not sure why Columbus is even entertaining the idea of trading him…
Jiricek has been up and has been underwhelming to say the least and needs more playing time. If a trade comes about it’s possible but it will be on Jacket terms. And the Jackets also have Denton Mateychuk in Cleveland and he’s looking pretty good.
Who will Ottawa trade other than Pinto? Teams are afraid of Norris shoulder!Batherson could bring you something! Call Boston and ask about Tkachuks buddy Trent Frederic!
I’m no Ottawa fan but the Sens look like they need more than just a player here and there. They currently are capable of playing really good hockey and capable of real bad.
What exactly is this team is a real tough one to peg.
Kevin Bieska described them perfectly last night between periods, placing one hand about level with his head, saying this is where they are when playing to their full capability/effort, and the other hand somewhere near waist level, saying this is where they are when playing bad.
He then placed his hands about a foot apart up near his head, saying this is where the good teams are when playing good and having a bad stretch.
Sort of put it in perspective. Their last two games (both regular time losses) are perfect examples of that, out-shooting the opposition – in the previous game by a wide margin – but stretches in both games where they can’t get out of each other’s way and/or the goalie lets in a team-deflating balloon.
It seems to be a permanent malady that they haven’t been able to resolve despite changing the owner, general manager, coaching staff and about a third of their roster since the ownership change.
PLUS ÇA CHANGE, PLUS C’EST LA MÊME CHOSE. ENCORE
or
‘TWAS EVER THUS
Take your pick. Either way, it describes the mounting fan frustration.
Re; CBJ and David Jiricek
he is big at 6.ft3 & 209lb,
But
This is his 3rd year trying to crack getting into the jackets lineup….❓
He more than likely needs a change of team and some one to work with him to get his game up to where he need to be at in the AHL/NHL
The Oil need a 2nd pairing RD…. But i think thats Way to much presure for the young kid right now…..
But if some one could turn him around it would be
Paul Coffey….
what he worth a 2nd pick….? Or a prospect d & a 3rd or 4th pick….❓
The oil need a good seasoned nRD to play with Nurse,,
I’m a Sens fan. I watch the Sens religiously. I also watch alot of other hockey so I feel I have a sound understanding on why teams struggle.
It’s time for Ottawa to stop blaming the defense and goal tending.
How many goalies does it take in order to finally realise it wasn’t the goal tending?
The issue with this team is simple. Despite all the TV experts and pundits putting their faith behind this talented group and that they are better than their record. In truth. This core isn’t good enough to win at the NHL level.
There is a gapping whole in the top 6.
Stutzel a top line centre can not win faceoffs. He is like 30%. The guy is good but is not the centre that carries winning teams.
Giroux is not getting younger and should not be relied upon as a top line forward.
Pinto will always at best be a good second line centre, the same goes for Norris who unlike Pinto can fill in as a top line centre short term if needed. Think RNH in Edmonton.
Batherson is a solid winger with a great contract but he is no Ovechkin.
Same goes for Tkachuk. And of the forwards these two would be my untouchables if this thing can be retooled. Though a complete tear down and rebuild as this one is failing may be required due to the market’s inability to attract top talent.
Top line 1a, 1b. There is no true top so enterchange them as you will.
Stutzel, Giroux, who????
Batherson , Norris, Tkachuk
So the who?
Pinto ? He hasn’t shown himself this year to be much more than a third line centre. So how do you work the centre position putting him as number two?
Norris
Pinto
Giroux.
I don’t think stutzel pairs well with Norris but I guess. Tkachuk or batherson play wing.
Then Pinto gets either Batherson Tkachuk and who?
Giroux will need to go to the third line as he is best at centre or you play him along with others on off wings.
Creig isn’t ready for the NHL and should not still be up with the team
Others like
Amadio
Gaudette
Cousins
Should not be used on the top line but often are.
All this to say there is a gapping hole in the top forward lines. Which is exposed by other teams as a results in defensive break downs as the D and tending can not over come the high calibre changes transitioned back against them.
Ottawa has long been one of those teams who could score but needed D, check the stats this month. They struggle to score now.
Dorion had talent added to the core at forward. Tarasenko and Debrincat. Staois added stability.
What remains is a struggling forward group unable to play the defensive side of the game.
Changes will need to be made massive changes and looking at the D or tending is not the solution. Looking at the forward group and understanding augmenting them won’t help. There not good enough. Shake it up by trading one and bringing in better is the way. Or quality.
A Dubois trade for iafallo and vilardi for example
Agree Jeff … in fact I posted similar comments about the core possibly being where the inconsistency may well lurk, although I still think part of the problem with this fragile group is the soft goal allowed by their goalies in tight games, often putting them 2 back at the time, and the “sag” on the bench painfully obvious (including the coach – it’s in his expression).
For me, watching some of the Ottawa games, is Green isn`t the coach you want.
That’s beginning to occur to me as well Yogi. I wasn’t exactly thrilled when he was hired … but at that stage it was a question of just get rid of Smith. In the end it seems we got more of the same, confused approach.
Too bad they didn’t hang onto Smith, though, until Montgomery got the axe.
Timing, as they say, is everything.
Green wasn`t a good coach in Vancouver, it seems to be the same way now
I don’t know about Faksa to the Leafs, but I do know that Berube would LOVE to get Sundqvist in fold—one of his favorites while is St. Lou, He offers alot of versatility–PK, net front, two-way…Probably a 3rd round pick to the Blues.
IP
Toronto needs a right handed centre that can win faceoffs, block shots, forecheck and chip in a few goals. Sundqvist really doesn`t check off any of those boxes, but he is right handed. Faska a really hard pass, Sundqvist a polite no thanks, especially for a 3rd
Jeff the problem with Ottawa is that they identified young core players and gave them long term contracts at big money!Now you will have trouble trading them!Addin Norris injury history also!
Off topic
It didn’t take coach Montgomery to land back on his feet
Armstrong is a bold ? an interesting GM , offer sheet , picking up a recently terminated coach …
It will be interesting to view St. Louis new developments under Montgomery and future Armstrong manoeuvres in St.Louis
Sure, Ullmark has had his ups and downs but from what I see the D has to be better in front of him. Often he makes the first save and then the other team gets to the rebound before the Ottawa D does. How about getting a big D to clear the front of the goalies, Pettersson comes to mind, a 2nd and a 3rd would probably get it done and he is UFA this season
Certainly wouldn’t hurt to get a big body in there. Why in Hell they hung onto Hamonic is beyond me. Being a “great guy in the dressing room” does squat for on-ice needs.
But let me hasten to add that I am NOT suggesting Hamonic is the root cause of what’s ailing them. Just seems like a waste of $1 mil off the cap.
Someone mentions Stutzle somewhere in here, pointing out his less-than-stellar face-off stats. I know I’ve posted opinions that he should have been switched back to where he played when he first came into the league (with pretty decent offensive contributions), ad that’s LW.
Tkachuk – Norris – Giroux as the 1st line, with Stutzle – Pinto – Batherson as the 2nd unit and
Perron – Greig and Amadio at # 3 would be the result – for now – and while I’m also NOT saying that would create a consistent turnaround for the best, why not give it a shot? He did do well at LW.
I also would not be adverse to dealing Batherson, but the problem there is their lack of depth at RW.