NHL Rumor Mill – January 11, 2025
Could Evander Kane’s knee surgery turn the Oilers into a major buyer at the March 7 trade deadline? What’s the latest on the Islanders? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
OILERS COULD BE MAJOR BUYERS IF EVANDER KANE GOES ON LTIR
EDMONTON JOURNAL: David Staples wonders if Evander Kane’s knee surgery could signal a major move by the Edmonton Oilers before the March 7 trade deadline.
Kane’s recovery period is four to eight weeks, postponing his rehab for last fall’s abdominal surgery. PuckPedia noted if the 33-year-old winger is sidelined for the rest of the regular season, the Oilers can put him on long-term injury reserve, enabling them to exceed the salary cap by $5.1 million.
Edmonton Oilers winger Evander Kane (NHL Images).
Oilers general manager Stan Bowman said the club will wait and see how things go with Kane’s recovery and rehab. They’re not yet certain when he’ll be able to return.
The Oilers’ depleted prospect and draft pick pools leave them with limited trade capital. However, they do have second and third-round picks from the St. Louis Blues as compensation for signing Dylan Holloway and Philip Broberg to offer sheets last August.
Staples also examined where the Oilers should spend that windfall if Kane goes on LTIR to the end of the regular season. He believes they need a forward and a defenseman capable of making players and throwing hits. They could go after a second-pairing blueliner and a third-line winger.
Meanwhile, Jim Matheson reports the Oilers are among several teams interested in Pittsburgh Penguins rearguard Marcus Pettersson. He doesn’t see the Oilers parting with prospect forwards Matthew Savoie and Sam O’Reilly.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Oilers could attempt a big splash in the trade pool if Kane goes on LTIR. However, their lack of tradeable assets will make it difficult to use that cap flexibility to address those needs raised by Staple.
Waiting a month to determine Kane’s fate is for the best as that could also increase the number of suitable options in the trade market. That could improve the Oilers’ chances of finding a couple of decent targets despite their limited trade chips.
ISLANDERS ARE NOT SELLERS YET
NEW YORK POST: Ethan Sears reports Islanders GM Lou Lamoriello isn’t waving the white flag on the season yet.
Pending free agents like Brock Nelson and Kyle Palmieri would be logical trade candidates if the Isles become sellers. However, Lamoriello hasn’t reached that point yet with the deadline about two months away.
“Where we are in the season and where we are in the standings, where everything’s in reach, that’s the focus,” said Lamoriello. The Islanders are five points out of the final Eastern Conference wild-card berth. He refused to get into questions about hypothetical trade scenarios or the risk of Nelson and Palmieri departing as free agents in July.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Lamoriello sounds like he’ll only sell if the Isles drop far behind in the playoff race by March 7. It’ll be interesting to see what he does once the calendar flips to March.
Something to ponder, Toronto signs marner to $ 12.5-13 million, in July m David says he wants to go to toronto. Toronto trades marner for mcdavid.
I guess you use “crazy” in your name literally lol
Why would McDavid want to go to Toronto? And don’t say because it’s his hometown. He’s settled in Edmonton and wants to lead the Oilers to the Cup. And why would Marner agree to waive the no-movement clause that he will insist should be in his next contract to go to Edmonton? Sorry, too many flaws in your suggested trade.
Boy, now THERE’S a dream.
I agree that’s ridiculous. Leafs resign Marner. The following year McDavid sings with the Leafs. Big Mac’s for everyone. lol!
He may sing with them, but he’s not signing with them. 🙂
Besides I don`t think Draisaitl resigned in Edmonton without having a good idea what McDavid`s plans were and you still need a 3rd and 4th line to win a cup. Where`s the money?
Hard know, Crazy!
Re; Evander Kane’s knee surgery
He should be back the last week of Feb Or
1st week in March.🤔
I don’t see them trading for an othere forward.
I do see them going after a 2nd pairing R/D
to play with Nurse. ( In No order )
1-D.Savaed, RD
2-W. Borgen RD, if the Rangers continue to look like they are out the playoffs they will try him
3- Marcus Pettersson, LD/RD can play both positions
4- Connor Murphy, RD from the Hawks
LHD Lindgren if the Rangers fall out should garner attention IF he is 80% healthy. Guy will sacrifice himself for a play…..not sure how much longer his body can handle it
Willie, I’ve always thought of Murphy as a great idea. I know he’s got some sort of NTC so I just figure Canadian teams are on his list. Otherwise Savard or Provorov (as long as M Olivier is involved!!!!!).
Hi Williew
He won’t be back by then
The article says his re-hab re Spirts hernia Operation is paused until after the knee surgery recovery.
Then he can resume the sports hernia re-hab, thrn skating on own; then practice with the team with the “don’t hit me” jersey; then maybe s couple of games in Bakersfield to get into game shape; then be able to play
My guess is he won’t play until playoffs and Oilers can and will use his full Cap hit overage amount to strengthen/deepen their line up ready for the playoffs
Who knows, although I think if he’s ready and in shape and willing, he’ll go to his hometown; but maybe….Toews as a free (no acquisition cost) addition
Elias Pettersson,
Has come back from injury Friday
I think he is Traded out by Monday-Tuesday
they dont want to trade him to a team in the West…
That make Bufalo the Favorite landing spot in the East with what the Canucks want
Canucks want a Centre Similar age 1st
and 2nd A d/man in return.
Cousins & Power or…? total salary $15.45M
for E. Pettersson $11.8M
so they need to find need to find at least $3.M
to make it work…Or buffalo just suck it up
Or they add in $3.2M Dakota Joshua❓
Willie, Cozens & Power are going nowhere, especially for another “soft” player with an albatross of a contract. This is the kind of trade a desperate GM makes to save his job and I doubt Buffalo ownership would approve such a trade.
i agree. powers and cozens for a small forward who isn’t living up to his contract and disappears in the playoffs. maybe even just cozens and a pick
Buffalo is on the right track…why would they want a soft 11.5 m player…don’t give top assists for Petersson because the best player in a trade like that won’t be Petersson
Agreed – Especially since both Power and Cozens are signed to long term deals.
Why would the Oilers deal McDavid for Marner? A guy that literally cried on the bench in the middle of a game because MeLander hurt his feelings?
Pretty sure Edmonton passes on that one, lol.
Pettersson and Marchand or Brock Nelson to the Oil at half salary by the TDL if Kane is on LTIR. Book it Dano!
I would like to see Cozens in a Maple Leaf uniform
The problem is his 7.0 million cap hit for another 5 or 6 years .
Cozens numbers are not great and a -13 , therefore anything going back shouldn’t be significant …
Maybe a third team gets involved to absorb a partial cap hit .
Toronto needs a spark going into the playoffs …
Cozens might heighten his game with a change
The Swayman/Ullmark facsimile combination is “ missed” be happy to see Stolarz back ..
Leafs do have depth in goal , they are not rushing the Russians development from the Marlies
Hildeby could be more than fine, as well
Think you better aim for Laughton and his extra year and be satisfied with him centering the 3rd line.
I hope Marchand has a good 4 Nations tourney and he wants to chase a cup with Mcdavid, Mackinnon,or just play with his pal Crosby!
Pettersson is a thoroughbred, point a game player and blows Cozens away at
goal scoring.
Pettersson 442 game, 180 Goals,.40 rate
Cozens, 322 games 75 Goals, .23 rate
Vancouver doesn’t touch this
.
Agree.
petterson has proven he can be elite and ppg player
but i think Buffalo needs Jt Miller more for the makeup of the team
Cozens plus another asset.
i still think Buffalo needs to move Power or Byram. they have 3 potential top pair guys on the left side
Agree.
petterson has proven he can be elite and ppg player
but i think Buffalo needs Jt Miller more for the makeup of the team
Cozens plus another asset.
i still think Buffalo needs to move Power or Byram. they have 3 potential top pair guys on the left side
but miller probably veto buffalo
@ Habsfan
Pettersson – Too much $$$$
Not a heavy player
@ Johnny Z
I thought about Laughton , 4 sure
Also, a concern is Auston Matthews over all health …
Can someone like Cozens , up his his game and step in to a larger role if needed
Ken, their scouts and GM clearly thought so when they took him 7th overall in 2019 and eventually gave him that long-term $7.1 mil per cap hit.
I doubt they see the wisdom in trading him away now only to see him finally reach his potential elsewhere. They’ve been burned too often with that approach.
And as HabFan30 posts, until he shows that promise consistently, they really can’t expect anything significant in return – from anyone.
Better to hang onto him for at least one more season after this and if there is still no turnaround, then cut bait for whatever they can get.
If you`re into the advanced stats, what you see is probable what you`ll get from Cousin`s. He` a sub 10% shooter who scores from mid range areas. He`s not great at faceoffs and he`s just ok defensively. His production and +/- can be viewed as products of his present environment and would probably improve on a better team. But that doesn`t make him a better player. He`d still be a weak centre. Things like winning faceoffs and playing a 200 ft game are not products of his environment, but are 2 areas that Cousin`s needs to do to become a better player and he`s shown no signs of that improvement. He was the 7th overall pick in a year that`s turning out to be a poor draft year. Laughton is a way better choice at half the price
Interesting perception as per George and Yogi above
-1. Vincent Trochek
2. Yanni Gourde
Any thoughts –
1. New York is in reckless mode , open to anything
2. Ronnie Francise would probably hold out for 2 second round picks like he did last time , he picked the Leafs pocket , which is away too steep
I liked Gourde when he was in Tampa , he Jan edge to his game
Both players would fill a need in Toronto and in Gourde the cap hit wouldn`t be a big problem. Trochek term would make it tougher to fit in. NMC for Trochek, would he waive it, Gourde has already said that he would waive his to go to Toronto. I wouldn`t sell the farm for either player though
You’re comparing two very different players.
Trocheck plays 21 min, 60% face off and he’s a 1 or 2C
Gourde plays 17 min, 51% face off and is a depth centre.
NYR don’t even bother to give a counter offer