NHL Rumor Mill – December 31, 2024
The latest on Canucks center Elias Pettersson, three Red Wings trade candidates, and proposed blueline trade targets for the Maple Leafs in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
IS A ELIAS PETTERSSON TRADE A POSSIBILITY?
SPORTSNET: Vancouver Canucks general manager Patrik Allvin told Iain MacIntyre that he believes Elias Pettersson has the talent to be the club’s top center. However, he said the 26-year-old must mature, expect things won’t get any easier, and be accountable when things don’t go well.
When MacIntyre asked Allvin about trading Pettersson the Canucks GM didn’t dismiss the notion. “I guess I would say anything is possible.”
Vancouver Canucks center Elias Pettersson (NHL Images).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Allvin’s comments could be considered a shot across the bow for Pettersson. He’ll remain the subject of media trade conjecture leading up to the March 7 trade deadline if he fails to improve or the Canucks keep struggling.
Pettersson has had difficulty meeting expectations after inking an eight-year, $92 million contract earlier this year. Recent reports claim he’s clashed with teammate J.T. Miller. Both players denied the rumors but some observers suggest one of them could be moved if they don’t resolve their differences and improve their respective performances.
This isn’t the first time Pettersson has come up in the rumor mill this year. On Feb. 29, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported the Canucks held trade discussions with the Carolina Hurricanes regarding Pettersson. The Canucks decided to take one last shot at signing the center, with the two sides agreeing to a contract extension on March 2.
Pettersson’s expensive contract won’t be easy to move during this season. However, his no-movement clause doesn’t go into effect until July 1. That could make him easier to peddle than Miller, who has a more affordable cap hit ($8 million) but also carries a full NMC.
THREE PROPOSED RED WINGS TRADE CANDIDATES
THE HOCKEY NEWS: Adam Proteau noted the Detroit Red Wings remain flawed despite replacing Derek Lalonde as head coach with Todd McLellan.
The Red Wings remain well out of playoff position with seven teams ahead of them in the standings. Proteau believes general manager Steve Yzerman should consider shopping veterans Patrick Kane, Vladimir Tarasenko and Cam Talbot at the March 7 trade deadline.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kane can become an unrestricted free agent in July. The 36-year-old winger has faded this season but a contender could be tempted by his Hall-of-Fame resume and considerable playoff experience.
Talbot is signed through next season with an affordable annual cap hit of $2.5 million. The 37-year-old goaltender has put up decent numbers this season, making him enticing for playoff-bound clubs seeking experienced depth between the pipes.
Tarasenko has a year remaining on his contract with an AAV of $4.75 million. The 33-year-old winger has a full no-trade clause but might be open to waiving it for a contender. He’s won two Stanley Cups but has only 13 points in 35 games this season. Teams could be interested but Yzerman might have to retain some salary in the deal
WHICH DEFENSEMEN COULD BECOME LEAFS TRADE TARGETS?
THE ATHLETIC: Jonas Siegel recently suggested the Toronto Maple Leafs shop for a defenseman who could play alongside Morgan Rielly.
Siegel proposed the Leafs consider calling the Nashville Predators about Luke Schenn, pointing out how well Schenn and Rielly played together during the 2023 playoffs. The 35-year-old is in the second season of a three-year contract with the Predators carrying an AAV of $2.75 million.
Other options include David Savard of the Montreal Canadiens or Cody Ceci of the San Jose Sharks.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Leafs GM Brad Treliving could be active in the trade market for a blueliner leading up to March 7. He could pursue one of those mentioned by Siegel or he might have another right-side rearguard on his radar.
The Leafs have been trying to find a suitable RHD to play with Rielly for years. Maybe they need to find a way to convince him to waive his NTC and move him?
Savard would be an interesting option. Schenn too. However, hard pass on Ceci.
Would Larsson be available from Seattle? He’s a solid, defence first RHD.
Calgary has two RHD (Weegar, Andersson) they should be interested in but they won’t deal with Treliving.
Not only would Calgary not be keen on dealing with Treleving, why would they deal one of their top 2 RD when there isn’t a whole lot behind them in their system who could step in and replace ether one?
All that would do was put them in a never-ending hunt for a top 4 RD.
Leafs need a shot from the point on the power play. Someone like Ian Turnbull, Al Iafrate or Bryan McCabe.
All three are available and would probably sign for league minimum! 🙂
Sorry, I couldn’t resist
George O
Calgary has traded a lot of players over the last year which signals a rebuild or re-tool at least. Toronto is trying to bolster their lineup for a chance at the Cup.
4 of 5 of Calgary’s top prospects are D-man…2 LH and 2 RH.
Perhaps Calgary would be interested in one of the Leafs prospects that are a bit farther in their development like Niemela
I suggested Andersson and Weegar as they provide a little more offensively than Savard or Schenn.
Part of the reason Toronto isn’t successful in the playoffs. They don’t get much scoring from the back end. Rielly is not a threat to shoot from the point on the power-play which decreases its effectiveness.
If they were badly out of contention I’d agree Daryl. But right now they sit 1 point out a WC spot and just 4 back of Edmonton for 3rd in the Pacific.
And if you look at the overall standings they’re also just 5 back of Toronto with a game in hand, and have given up just 5 more goals than the Leafs to this point.
Their obvious weakness is offense, being one of 5 teams that have scored less than 100 goals as of today – the others being Anaheim, Detroit, Nashville and Chicago – all currently cellar-dwellers.
So I don’t think they’d weaken themselves at one end to solve a problem at the other. Kind of like robbing Peter to pay Paul.
Yes, they have made several big trades in the past year in Mangiapane, Markstrom and Hanifin, but they have built up a cache of high picks in addition to useful LD Kevin Bahl, including two 1st round picks and two 2nd round picks in 2025, some of which they could use now to bring in offensive help.
Daryl any dman or forward can shoot the puck from the point, the problem is Toronto`s PP isn`t set up for that. The point men are used to set up plays, that`s the reason Marner plays the point. Toronto is constantly looking for seams for cross ice passes to set up their scoring chances. Everybody thinks they need a cannon from the point, but what they need is some one with an accurate shot that can be deflected or produces rebounds. You might of noticed that Toronto`s PP was more effective with Matthews out of the lineup, simply because they started getting the greasy goals from rebounds off of shots from the points. They need a shoot from the point mentality
Ya we’re going to trade one of our very good dmen – one plays on team Sweden and the other almost or should play on team Canada for a Leafs prospect. That makes a lot of sense.
The Leafs have much more go wrong in the playoffs than that, starting with their small forwards not going near any corners for games at a time…
Hey Daryl I’m with you on maybe the Leafs would be better off trading Rielly since it’s like every year we find ourselves looking at who the Leafs can get to play with Rielly. They tried internal solutions and used valuable assets acquiring a partner for him who bolts at seasons end instead of using those assets to solidify other weak areas.
The problem with trading Rielly is that he’s quite affective (a better playoff performer than other big time players) postseason player. Mid season Rielly is the worse version of him. If the Leafs can, moving off Rielly to help boaster the middle of the line up might be a positive move more so than a bandaid fix or a sideways move.
You have to wonder if Rielly is having a harder time adjusting to the new north-south style of play since he’s always been a rover style puck carrier. Either way, I wouldn’t be surprised if 5hey moved him, though I doubt they ever will.
Yogi
Having a “cannon from the point” is an option or luxury the Leafs have not had in recent memory.
Rielly (or Marner) is not a threat to shoot from the point. They’re pass first players.
H
I didn’t say Calgary would trade either of them…I said the Leafs should explore what the acquisition cost would be
Re; Hab’s Trades
D-man Savard,
What would the Cost be to trade for RD/man Savard from the hab’s, ? he is more of a Stay at home type d/man
34.yrs old
RD,
6.ft1
$3.5M for next 5 months then he is a UFA..❓
Or,
Hab’s Mike Matheson
What would the Cost be to trade for him
31 years old next month with 1.5 yrs left at $4.875.M
way more offence than Savard
Vancouver Ellias isn’t the only “Superstar ” that has a good season, than signs a ridiculous contract and than doesn’t play up to the value of said contract.
My opinion… contracts need to be changed, you get paid based on how you perform.
So much $$ for X amount of goals or points/ wins and GAA, for example….that’s how it works in my job.
So a fighter or a pk specialist gets paid based on number of fights and pk gets paid based on pk% ? Unfortunately in sports. There is always an owner who will pay top $$ for stars in every sport There is no way to quantify how the pay scale is. A 30 goal scorer has different value to different markets that not going to change either if you think Ellis is over paid. Bruins will Samar you Lindholm and Zadorov for him and Forbert
No so fast Nrbruin4 . Forbort has hardly played!I think they would get more if they were moved separately!
It s not the amount of the contract it’s the length that is the killer! 8 year contracts should be a thing of the past! Minnesota is almost out from under the mammoth contracts that they gave to Parise and Suter,both 13 years in length I believe!
Yes with good management, teams could get out from under from previous regime’s mistakes. Nothing beats a management with a good head on its shoulders and a set of big o’ brass ones.
If there is truth to the rift between Miller and Pettersson, and there is at least smoke, that could mean not a happy player, equals worse player. If they end up moving Pettersson they will regret it, mark my word
Wouldn’t that depend on who or what the Canucks got in return, Kent? And how Pettersson did with his new teams?
anyone think rumblings of the Leafs interest in Mika Zibanejad is of any value?
Mika Zibanejad as 3C would be an upgrade even with how bad he looks. and add Borgen as a RHD
The Leafs just do not have many assets they can let go