NHL Rumor Mill – December 16, 2024
The NHL holiday trade freeze (Dec. 20-27) is fast approaching. Check out the latest on the Rangers and Predators plus updates on Taylor Hall and Cam Talbot in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
THE LATEST ON THE RANGERS
THE ATHLETIC: Peter Baugh believes the New York Rangers are getting desperate. Their 3-2 loss to the St. Louis Blues on Sunday was their 10th in their last 13 games, sending them tumbling out of a playoff berth in the Eastern Conference.
Baugh speculates more moves could be coming for the Rangers this week. Chris Kreider’s name has been floated in trade rumors by general manager Chris Drury. Baugh wondered if head coach Peter Laviolette might be fired or if Drury would try to move at least one of his struggling players.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: I noted in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines a report in the New York Post about Kaapo Kakko being the subject of trade speculation after he was a healthy scratch from Sunday’s game against the Blues. The report cited a league source saying there was no indication a trade was close.
The Post’s Larry Brooks claimed Sunday that the Rangers front office has no stomach to fire Laviolette after firing Gerard Gallant two years ago and David Quinn before him. However, that could change if there are no suitable trade offers for any of their struggling players.
TAYLOR HALL’S TRADE STOCK COULD RISE
NEW YORK POST: Larry Brooks believes Taylor Hall could become a popular trade target if his performance keeps improving. The 33-year-old Chicago Blackhawks winger looked like the Hart Trophy winner he was in 2018 during his club’s upset win over the Rangers last Monday.
Chicago Blackhawks winger Taylor Hall (NHL Images).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hall has improved since the Blackhawks coaching change on Dec. 5, netting two goals and four points in his last five games. He will draw plenty of attention if he maintains that pace leading up to the March 7 trade deadline.
COULD CAM TALBOT BECOME A TRADE CANDIDATE?
NEW YORK POST: Larry Brooks wonders if Cam Talbot might become a trade-deadline pickup for a Stanley Cup contender.
The 37-year-old goaltender has put up good numbers this season with the Detroit Red Wings. Brooks suggests the Colorado Avalanche or New Jersey Devils might come calling if their current starters aren’t working out as hoped.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Like Hall, Talbot will draw attention by the trade deadline if he keeps playing well. That’s assuming the Red Wings are out of playoff contention by that point.
The Avalanche acquired Mackenzie Blackwood from the San Jose Sharks last week. He looked good in his debut with the Avs, making 39 saves in a 5-2 victory over the Nashville Predators.
The Devils invested heavily in acquiring Jacob Markstrom from the Calgary Flames. He’s been solid if unspectacular with a 2.35 GAA and a .908 save percentage, tied for second among NHL goalies with 15 wins on the season.
COULD THE PREDATORS BLOW UP THEIR ROSTER?
DAILY FACEOFF: Matt Larkin pondered what moves the Nashville Predators might make if management decides they must blow up their roster and rebuild.
One move would be trading pending free-agent winger Gustav Nyquist. They could also peddle defenseman Alexandre Carrier, who has two seasons left on his contract with an average annual value of $3.75 million.
Plausible options include shopping Luke Schenn, Jeremy Lauzon and/or Colton Sissons.
Long-shot options are trading Ryan O’Reilly and/or Tommy Novak, while a Hail Mary attempt would be to move offseason acquisitions like Jonathan Marchessault or Steven Stamkos if he agreed to waive his no-movement clause. Their untouchables include goalie Juuse Saros and winger Filip Forsberg.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Predators GM Barry Trotz hasn’t yet indicated if he will become a seller. Nevertheless, it seems likely that he will be if his team hasn’t improved once the calendar flips to January.
Kakko as a healthy scratch shows you how lost this coach is right now. He has more points than Kreider with far less ice time, 1 less than Smith with far less ice time…..etc
ds. Absolutely made no sense unless he is a possible trade candidate. Otherwise, I don’t care what Brooksie says, I think Laviolette is a goner. Putting Kreider on 4th line and barely playing Zib (13 min toi)??? Crazy as it sounds, tomorrow is a must win in Nashville. After that there’s a stretch of 3 games in 4 nights vs Dallas, Carolina, and NJ.
Kreider and Zib sulking is not helping anyone. they seem to be playing this way to what get GM or coach fired?
with Igor all you have to do is sneak into the playoffs. Panarin and Fox on the PP is still good.
team needs a rinse asap
ds. I think Zib is a bit of a head case. Kreider not the kind of player to be affected by this sort of move. He’s moved to RW when needed and has played on other lines. Zib has been handled with kid gloves with a constant effort to get him going whenever he’s slumping. Still, you can’t trade all your veteran leaders. I’d expect coach to go 1st.
Laviolette is always great where ever he goes in year one and year two and then what happens to him…..he disintegrates.
Any more than Maurice, Tortorella and DeBoer?
Nor does the record substantiate your claim that his coaching disintegrates after year 2 wherever he goes
NYI – 2 years – his first head coach job in the NHL 2001-02 – 2002-03 – .546 total points %
Carolina – 5 years 2003-14 – 2008-09 – .570 points %
Philadelphia – 5 years 2009-10 – 2013-14 – .586 points %
Nashville – 6 years 2014-15 – 2019-20 – ,616 points %
Washington – 3 years 2020-21 – 2022-23 – .584 points %
NYR – 2 years (and counting) – 2023-24 to date – .647 points %
1542 games coached – won 522 – lost 540 OT/SO 25 – career points % .591
Never a losing points % – 5 times in 1st place, 5 times in 2nd place, 6 times in 3rd place, 4 times in 4th place, 2 times in 5th place – once in 6th place
Never out of head coaching position over 23 straight seasons.
https://www.hockey-reference.com/coaches/laviope01c.html
correction – won 822 – not 522
As CaptainObvious (who follows the Rangers closely) observed yesterday, it’s not the coach or the GM – it’s a roster problem. Why on Earth would Laviolette deliberately, consciously and openly seek to cut his own throat by sitting ostensibly “better” players like Kakko, and giving less ice time to “better” players like Zibanejad and Kreider? That makes absolutely NO sense.
When they fell behind 1-0 to St. Louis last night, the first thing that likely flashed through the coach’s head was the fact that, to that point, they were 1-8 when the other team scored first. Sure enough, the record fell to 1-9 when the game ended. Things like that clearly lead to desperate measures by just about ANY coach, and Laviolette is no exception. Singling out Kakko is likely and simply the easiest approach as opposed to the potential reaction from sitting high-cap veterans – warranted as it might seem.
Besides, it’s not as if Kakko is giving any concrete indication, when he is out there, that he’s getting the chances, playing a solid C, checking well and winning a high percentage of face-offs. By this stage of his career, his 6th season, and being an overall # 2 pick in the 2019 draft, they likely expected more consistent promise following the 2022-23 season when he potted 18g 22a 40 points in 82gp. But he stumbled last season when, in 61gp, the best he could do was 13g 6a 19 pts. That’s continuing this season with just 4 goals 14a in 29gp so far. In their first 17 games, with a 10 – 1 – 1 record against teams still struggling to get into a playoff race, he had 11 of his 14 against also-rans. In the past 13 he’s registered 3 points. Some have complained that sitting him is not the answer. Then, what is? Keep playing him at the expense of another good young prospect. with minimal results, in the hope that “the next game” will start the break out? That can get a coach canned.
As for Zibanejad and Kreider, the former’s dwindling ice time comes from not only low production but also the fact his faceoff % is also suffering. Not helping matters is his $8.5 mil cap hit which doesn’t end until 2029-30 compounded by a full NMC. Kreider has 10g 1a 11 points in 27gp at a cap hit of $6.5 mil per to the end of 2026-27, with a modified NTC, and together – so far this season – what they have given the Rangers 5-on-5 are a measly 12 points.
George O. As I said above, there’s no reason to acratch Kakko unless there’s a trade brewing. Laviolette said post game it was for fresh legs? Then sit an older player. Ironically, as soon as Rangers pulled within a goal, Kreider and Zib played most of last few minutes. Too little, too late. Kreider takes a lot of crap, but I have to say. I’ve never seen so much disrespect to a player who has spent his entire career with team that drafted him. Kreider is near top of career lists for most goal categories.
George O. I’ll also add. Before Trouba trade, the only real differences on this roster are: Zach Jones replacing Gustafson on 3rd pair. Chytil back after missing most of last season. Riley Smuth as latest failure at RW on Zib/Kreider line and Carrick at 4C in place of Goodrow. On paper, this should’ve been a better team than the presidents trophy winning EC finalists. Laviolette has lost the room. We’re still 3 months from trade deadline so not a lot of sellers yet. Honestly, other than firing coach, I’d bring Rempe up just to get a spark. He actually has had no part in this nosedive.
Slick62, do you think any among the Wolf Pack will get a long look – some are having very good seasons there – at least on paper – Kerins, a C, Frank a RW and Del Be Belluz – a RW
George. Not sure if you have right team. Don’t know what players those are. Othmann probably still a top prospect but has been in a cast most of the season. Berard, Mancini, Mackey and Edstrom have been given time on big club as fill ins. Drurys mo has been stay the course and be a playoff team when deadline rolls around. I know he hasn’t always had help, but Shesterkin needs to start stealing some games.
LOL – Slick62, I googled Hartford Wolf Pack player stats and for some reason what popped up was te Calgary Wranglers roster.
Sorry about that. But thanks for the player clarification.
It takes time for new goalies to learn his D, at least 20 games and Markström has been fine and is getting better. Can’t see Talbot being an upgrade and NJ has been really good lately and as a goalie it’s hard when you only face maybe 15-20 shots in a game
Not sure why Talbot seems to come up every year as an upgrade in net for various teams… he has had some solid showings now and then, but has also shown how soft and inconsistent he can be.
But I suppose as a decent backup, maybe…
Lyon and his expiring contract is the real trade bait. Wings need Cam for another year to tandem with Cossa
That would make much more sense to me.
Cam Talbot is pretty much done, and very inconsistant now,
Larkin from the Caucks given the chance to start, has played Great in Vancouver & he is a ufa in july
lots of team,s will be looking at him for sure…?
I think Nashville are done… they are in last place and playing Brutal‼️…….. no playoffs this year
I wonder who they trade out….❓
Stamkos, or more likely Jonathan Marchessault
Or
A right d/man… are in BIG Demand
Luke Sheen Or Brady Skjei
Cam is fine, it is the team in front of him that fits your description. He has a .916 SV% and a 2.69 GAA!!!! Which is better than Shesty!!!! and many others including BOTH Oiler goalies!!
Oiler goaltending has been excellent of late after a slow start that included the entire team again.
The Oil are 8th in the league in goals against per game, and again that is after a poor defensive start that included tending.
I don’t think the Oil are looking at tenders, that can obviously change if they start to slide, but I wouldn’t bet on that happening.
Talbot is no more inconsistent than Forsberg! In fact, he’s been consistently better behind a porous Red Wing D.
yes, I foresee Forsie being traded at the deadline IF they find someone who is a decent backup… which Mads is STILL not…
JZ,
When Cam Talbot was hear in Edmonton,
His play went down hill Jan-Feb…. same the last 4-6 years he gosdown hillm and cant be na starter,and an old back up now….
Willie, That was than and this is now. Big difference.
Besides, he was meant to be a tandem with about 42 starts, not the 60+ he had for the Oil.
anyone else hearing Kakko to chicago??
Only the ongoing speculation that, IF Kakko were to be dealt, Chicago might be a good fit … among a couple of others. Other than that — no.
Even at this still early stage, I can see some significant alterations brewing with regard to the same-old same-old playoff teams – both East and West
Last Season Atlantic: Florida, Boston, Toronto
This season Atlantic: Toronto, Florida, Tampa
Last Season Metro: NYR, Carolina, NYI
This Season Metro: Carolina, Washington, Philly
Wild Card East Last Season: Tampa, Washington
Wild Card East This Season: Ottawa, NYR
Last Season Central: Dallas, Winnipeg, Colorado
This Season Central: Winnipeg, Minnesota, Dallas
Last Season Pacific: Vancouver, Edmonton, L.A.
This Season Pacific: Vegas, Edmonton, L.A.
Wild Card West Last Season: Nashville, Vegas
Wild Card West This Season: Vancouver, Colorado
But I reserve the right to make alterations when all teams reach the 41-game half-way mark – LOL 🙂
Where do you have the Devils ending up?
Holy crap – THANK you redmonsters! After I posted I didn’t really re-read what I typed .. and then I saw your question.
Why in Hell I put Philadelphia there I have no idea. I may have been thinking about them in terms of a WC slot but that’s about it. This season in Metro should have read: Carolina, Washington, New Jersey
George O., cool. I thought that was the case, but you never know!
Laviolette will be fired unless the Rangers go on a winning streak right away. There’s only so many options and firing the coach is usually one of the “easiest”.
‘Twas ever thus!
I think for sure if they lose to Nashville tomorrow. Otherwise, during break.
George, I appreciate your optimism for NYR. As a lifelong fan, current team has me doubting as much as any. I noticed you left out NJ. With their team currently healthy and having a legit goalie, I think they’ll be in playoffs for sure this year. I don’t think Flyers are there yet.
See above, Slick62 – brain fart on my part.