NHL Rumor Mill – January 2, 2025
Could the Canucks trade Elias Pettersson or J.T. Miller? What’s the latest Leafs speculation? Could the Penguins attempt to trade Jesse Puljujarvi? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
COULD THE CANUCKS FACE A CHOICE BETWEEN PETTERSSON AND MILLER?
THE PROVINCE: Patrick Johnston observed Vancouver Canucks general manager Patrik Allvin’s recent comments about Elias Pettersson during his year-end interview with Sportsnet.
Allvin said he believes Pettersson has the tools to become a No. 1 center but needs more maturity and accountability. He also didn’t dismiss the possibility of a trade.
Johnston suggests Allvin could be trying to encourage improvement from Pettersson, or perhaps signal to his team that everyone must be held accountable. Another option could be trying to re-set the trade market for Pettersson, whose hefty contract and recent struggles could be difficult to move.
“Will they trade (Pettersson)? Almost certainly not,” writes Johnston. “But that doesn’t mean they won’t”.
TORONTO STAR: Nick Kypreos believes Canucks management is leaning closer toward making a major roster change, citing the feud between Pettersson and J.T. Miller. “Don’t be surprised if we start hearing the Canucks are willing to take calls on Miller,” writes Kypreos.
Vancouver Canucks center J.T. Miller (NHL Images)
SPECTOR’S NOTE: In the middle of this speculation came recent remarks by former Canucks forward Brad Richardson regarding Miller’s interactions with Pettersson.
Richardson said he loves Miller but felt the veteran center was being too hard on Pettersson. “Listen, J.T., he’s the man. But there is a lot of tension. And something’s gonna give. I’m not saying you’re going to love every guy on your team – it helps – but something’s gonna give here. We’ll see.”
Johnston believes Richardson’s remarks jibe with what others have said about the relationship between Miller and Pettersson. He considers both players demanding and exacting but Miller’s brash, outspoken personality hasn’t sat well at times with the introverted Pettersson.
Both players recently denied a rumored rift. However, Allvin’s and Richardson’s remarks add fuel to the fire. It could come down to Allvin and president of hockey ops Jim Rutherford having to choose between them.
THE LATEST ON THE MAPLE LEAFS
TORONTO STAR: Nick Kypreos took note of Auston Matthews’ nagging upper-body injury and its potential effect on the remainder of the season for the Maple Leafs captain.
If the setbacks continue, Kypreos speculates the Leafs could place him on long-term injury reserve before the March 7 trade deadline to help him get healthy for the playoffs. They could use the salary-cap savings ($13.25 million) to trade for another top center and give them a healthy boost when Matthews returned for the postseason.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Putting Matthews on LTIR for the remainder of the regular season would enable Leafs management to add more than a center. They could also buttress their blueline, especially on the right side. Whether they go that route remains to be seen and requires sufficient medical evidence to pass muster with league HQ.
TORONTO SUN: Steve Simmons believes the Leafs should attempt to acquire Brock Nelson from the New York Islanders. He thinks they need a second or third-line center to provide additional depth at that position for the playoffs.
Nelson, 33, is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. With the Islanders struggling, he could be shopped by the trade deadline if he hasn’t signed a contract extension.
Simmons acknowledged the cost of acquiring Nelson won’t be cheap. A source suggested acquiring a player like him could cost a first-round pick plus other pieces. More affordable trade targets could include Yanni Gourde of the Seattle Kraken, Scott Laughton of the Philadelphia Flyers, Alexander Wennberg of the San Jose Sharks, or Ryan Strome of the Anaheim Ducks.
Nelson’s cap hit is $6 million but he also has a 16-team no-trade list that could affect where he ends up if the Isles attempt to move him before the deadline.
SPORTSNET 590 THE FAN: Elliotte Friedman recently said the Maple Leafs are trying to improve their roster. It’s been reported they’re trying to add a center, preferably one with term remaining on his contract.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Laughton, Wennberg and Strome would fit the bill. Laughton and Wennberg each have a year remaining on their contracts while Strome has two years.
THE HOCKEY NEWS: Adam Proteau believes the Leafs will have to clear some cap space to make additions before the March 7 trade deadline. He recommends forwards Pontus Holmberg, David Kampf, Ryan Reaves, Nick Robertson and defenseman Conor Timmins as trade candidates.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Robertson was a fixture in last summer’s rumor mill when he requested a trade rather than re-sign with the Leafs. His lack of leverage forced him to ink a one-year deal before training camp opened in September. The 23-year-old could have the most value of that bunch but that’s not saying much.
WHAT NEXT FOR JESSE PULJUJARVI?
PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE: Matt Vensel reports Jesse Puljujarvi may have asked Penguins GM Kyle Dubas to be moved to a place where he can play. He was placed on waivers Tuesday but went unclaimed.
Puljujarvi is in the final season of a two-year contract. He’s been a healthy scratch since Dec. 7, during which the Penguins went 5-4-1. Having cleared waivers, he can be sent to their AHL affiliate but the Penguins are keeping him on their roster as injury insurance as they prepare to face the Florida Panthers on Friday.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: A team could attempt to acquire Puljujarvi via trade since he cleared waivers and wouldn’t have to go on them again to be sent to the minors. That seems unlikely given his struggles throughout his NHL career.
I’m surprised the Canadiens didn’t claim Puljujarvi. Maybe reuniting him with Laine would rejuvenate his career?
Leafs need a C that shoots right. Zibanejad would be nice but if he doesn’t like the pressure in NY he probably would like the Toronto fishbowl either. NYR are not going to retain for 5 years either.
Seattle’s Adam Larsson would be a nice fit on the back end to play with Rielly.
Would VAN entertain a Rielly for Miller trade? Before Nylander signed I thought a Nylander for Miller swap was intriguing. Would Miller’s in your face personality fit in Toronto?
Daryl, if reuniting Puljujarvi with Laine would rejuvenate the former’s career, the Blue Jackets likely would’ve done so when they had the opportunity. The fact they didn’t speaks volumes about the opinion of Puljujarvi among NHL GMs.
Lyle, I’m unsure of the timeline but was Puljujarvi ever available for free when Laine was a member of the Blue Jackets?
I certainly wouldn’t give up an asset to trade for him but for free off waivers…you never know
Why on earth would Riley waive his NMC to go to a struggling Canuck team????
The best thing for Zibanejad would be getting off center and on LW. It seems this is where he’s most effective. He’s a perimeter guy with a great one timer from the left circle. ANY team possibly looking at Zibanejad should toss out the idea of him at center.
Too bad Ottawa still doesn’t have Derek Brassard … both players could be dealt back to their original teams 🙂
Hey George, there has been a lot of chatter that Zibanejad agreed to waive his NMC over the last 48 hours. Since Brassard is no longer around, we’ll settle for Pinto? Lmao
LOL. I figured you’d come back with something like that
Good idea Pinto for Fox, Zibanajad and Lafrenière sound good and Rangers hold back 50% of their salaries
That sounds about right for a guy with 10 points in 29 games!
With all the recent speculation on potential Leaf moves, from credible sources no less, it seems the inevitable Marner signing maybe isn’t a slam dunk? They are talking about bringing in a centre with term.. Not sure how that, along with re-signing Marner and Tavares and locking up Knies is financially possible? Most think that Marner will be signed between 11.5 and 13 -I’m just not so sure anymore. Yes, you can sign Knies to a bridge deal but not sure that saves themselves much and you run the risk of really having to pay him in two years? Maybe it isn’t Marner’s camp saying they aren’t interested in talking deal right now? Maybe Treliving is really willing to walk away if they don’t go deep into the playoffs and Marner’s camp is just saving face. Wouldn’t that be refreshing for a change!
You aren’t taking on any centre of substance (Cozens, Kadri, Ziba) with much if any salary being retaining I would think. I think the type of player they acquire will tell us a lot. Moreover, if this team was truly hellbent on signing Marner, how can they possibly talk of acquiring anyone significant without knowing what those guys will cost?
Best thing the Leafs could do is shut Matthews down before the TDL and activate him come playoffs and take a page from the Blackhawks, TB, Vegas playbooks before the loophole is no more. I could think of a couple of rental players that can fit in an $13M hole.
I’m not going to pull a Pengy but man I’d love to see them do something like that…almost just to enjoy the fury it would cause amongst the other fanbases.
Ron – I agree but he is playing the four nations for sure- he isnt going to miss it, so maybe its all just posturing until after that tournament is over . Also just dont know what they have to move for rentals…they dont have a 1st and would be looking at Granlund, Vatrano, Brock Nelson, Morgan Frost.. Not going to entertain moving Minten or Cowan for those guys I dont think
The kind of help they would go after, the prices will most likely include either one of those prospects as well as someone like knies…😵
But keep in mind is at least one guy you get is just years down the road from what either would hopefully be and need to be in the win now window.
The Leafs biggest challenge now that they held on to the core of players that they never had in its history, is to insure they challenge for the cup now that the core players are in their peak years which will end in about 5 yrs max.
Mortgaging the future for a chance of success is the next stage/challenge for this team. And they need to get on it.
@Sam I think you`re right about Marner`s signing a deal, but I think it`s Treliving that`s got everything on hold. 2 reasons, 1 he wants to see how the playoffs go. If he gives Marner a new deal now and they bomb again in the playoffs, YIKES. 2 Treliving isn`t sure how Matthews injury is going to play out and it will affect everything if Matthews goes on the shelf for a long period of time. One factor you left out for what Toronto can afford to acquire is how much will the cap go up next year. Now if the rumour that Marner wants as much as he can get in his next contract is true, then going to free agency isn`t his best option, 7 years vs 8. As far as trades goes, Treliving`s no. 1 target is Sam Bennett. Whether it`s a trade now or July 1st. Kadri would be #2 but his age and contract would be a little hard to take on. Miller would be scary because of the chemistry factor. If Matthews comes back then gets hurt again, then I can see him getting shut down for the rest of the year. That would affect Toronto`s plans a lot for who they go after. You`re not going to give up much for any player that`s not going to alter your playoff chances
Puljujarvi is done. If the Habs, Blackhawks and Sharks all pass, you’re not an NHL regular.
Sure seems like the end (in the NHL anyway) for him. Not only do the NHL GMs appear to think that way, but Finland passed on him for their 4 Nations Cup roster.
He’ll likely wind up with some team in the Finnish Leagues.
Even with the cap going up they do still seem to be hard pressed to fit all these guys onto the roster.
I lije Knies but signing him to more than a bridge deal is very risky. Look at some of the signings that haven’t worked out around the league when signing a guy with potential…
Marner will get PAID! Either with TOR or somewhere else. With a full NMC he’s not going anywhere unless he wants to. Could they use Marner as their 2C and move Tavares down to 3C?
i think we can all agree Marner will get paid – BUT it wont be from a top contender. Most top contenders dont have 12-13 mill in cap space and I doubt very many top contenders feel that allotting that kind of money to a player that hasn’t shown elite level play in the playoffs helps them I do think he gets that kind of money from an Anaheim, San Jose, Chicago, Buffalo etc…
So hypothetically if he took 11.5 from TO which is 92 mill total, he would need to get 13 over 7 from someone else? Is it worth it to go to a team that won’t contend for a cup any time soon. (Go ahead and insert “leafs dont contend” either jokes here lol)
With Hampus Lindholm coming back soon,that is not a crazy idea! Boston has to do something to shake up their anemic scoring and power play!
Sr.
Would still have to convince both players to return to the nuks. If not bruins take miller. Forbert For Zadorov and Frederick. Merculov
Like the idea,but Vancouver would need to get a center back in return to make it work! Maybe Zacha ?
I think the problem is two fold.
Miller isnt that bad when he plays good, remember when he did all those things like the Delia incident he didnt play well and got it in with Schenn etc
And Pettersson probably could stand it better if he was playing well. But if you arent playing well, and players know when they dont, having a ahole being on your case who doesnt play well either can be just to much
how about coyle frederick and Zadorov Miller Heinen. it would reunite Debrusk with familiar linemates and reunite Zadorov with hughes.
Ray Bark
No doubt the pp is killing them big time as the ok is only avg. so they both need to get back closer to regular % s the bruins usually have as it would equal a bunch more wins I still haven’t figured out what is wrong with Pasta. He missing the net a lot Maybe gripping stick too hard trying to get goals
lol, you guys are funny.
Lindholm was past his best before date when he left Calgary, and Vancouver was lucky to have Sweeney chase him.
Zadorov is a big pylon with attitude, passable for a third pairing……..at maybe 40% of his contract, again Vancouver can be thankful for Sweeney.
Frederic is a marginal player who’s worth his contract as a fourth liner.
Petersson is a thoroughbred , it’s just a matter of time.
Only Boston fanboys can make this up.
I think they joking around…I agree with you but GMs are dumb though…not that dumb but Pettersson gets moved if the general consensus is he’s a problem in the room but so far, doesn’t sound like he is.
Habfan30, you have been tryingto trade Armia,Savard,Dvorak,Gallagher,Evans and even Matheson to few takers! You just released one of your goalies of the future in Primeau! And you are evaluating other teams!
lol. Nailed it.
Sr,
You’re dead wrong the only guy I have suggested trading in your list was Matheson one time.
I never suggested trading any of the others you mentioned.
I said last year, over here , that Primeau should be waived and if somebody is foolish enough to take him, happy trails.
I have said that our “goalie of the future. Fowler” is far from a sure thing as top goalie in NCAA and AHL doesn’t usually translate to the NHL.
The fact that you Bruin fanboys don’t have a critical eye shouldn’t be projected on others.
The trades you guys are suggesting really do seem like satire from the Onion.
Re Canucks,..
one of them need to Go…❓ there is a obvious
problem in Vancouver, they are 3-4-3 in the last 10…
Pettersson who just turned 26yrs old in Nov, @11.6.M for 6.5 more years
Or
Millar who will be 32 in March @ $8.M for 6 more years
I think its Millar………❓
Miller is a warrior if either gets traded it will change the teams in the trade. Maybe easiest to work the nyr Miller trade angle IMHO