NHL Rumor Mill – January 8, 2025
The latest on Elias Pettersson and J.T. Miller, proposed trade targets for the Leafs, updates on the Rangers, and more in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
UPDATES ON PETTERSSON AND MILLER
TSN: Chris Johnston reports sources claim the Vancouver Canucks remain active in trade discussions with rival clubs regarding center Elias Pettersson and J.T. Miller. Management is gauging the trade market on both players before determining a course of action.
Johnston believes the Canucks are giving serious consideration toward moving Pettersson. Multiple teams have shown interest in the 26-year-old center. The Canucks and Hurricanes had discussions about Pettersson last season.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Those talks between the Canucks and Hurricanes took place before Pettersson signed his eight-year contract extension.
SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman also reports the Canucks are gauging the market value of Pettersson and Miller, stressing there is no certain outcome.
New York Rangers center Mika Zibanejad (NHL Images).
Friedman cited The Athletic’s Josh Yohe reporting the Canucks turned down an offer of Zibanejad from the Rangers for Miller, but doesn’t know if Zibanejad was approached about waiving his no-movement clause. Friedman also believes the Canucks were interested in defenseman Braden Schneider but the Rangers don’t want to part with him.
RG.ORG: Marco D’Amico reports an NHL executive claims the Boston Bruins are talking to the Canucks about Pettersson and Miller. The source indicated the Bruins want to get younger, which suggested they’re more interested in Pettersson, but it’s not about who they want but which center the Canucks intend to move.
Another source told D’Amico that the Canucks would want a top-six center or a top-four defenseman and a top prospect or a first-round pick in return.
THE PROVINCE: Ben Kuzma weighed in on the recent trade speculation about Pettersson and Miller. General manager Patrik Allvin could trade one or the other or both, but either scenario would be a difficult sell to Canucks ownership. Miller would also have to waive his NMC.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Talking to other teams is one thing. Finding a suitable return is another. Pettersson’s expensive contract ($11.6 million annually for seven more seasons) and Miller’s no-movement protection could complicate things.
The Leafs and Bruins would love to have Pettersson or Miller. However, they lack the cap space and tradeable assets to pry either guy away from the Canucks. The Hurricanes have players that would entice the Canucks (hello there, Martin Necas and Seth Jarvis) but they’re also hampered by limited cap room this season.
The Zibanejad-for-Miller proposal works cap-wise because the former carries an average annual value of $8.5 million and the latter $8 million. However, their respective no-movement clauses are obstacles that could be too difficult to overcome.
PROPOSED CENTER TRADE TARGETS FOR THE LEAFS
TSN: Darren Dreger doesn’t believe the Toronto Maple Leafs are involved in the Pettersson trade talks. He considers Pettersson, Miller, Mika Zibanejad of the New York Rangers and Dylan Cozens of the Buffalo Sabres in the “high-rent district”. He also noted a lot of teams are interested in New York Islanders center Brock Nelson.
The Leafs are believed to have identified a more diverse group of centers to target in the trade market. Dreger suggested Ryan Strome of the Anaheim Ducks, Mikael Granlund of the San Jose Sharks, Yanni Gourde of the Seattle Kraken, and Nick Bjugstad of the Utah Hockey Club.
Dreger also wondered about bringing back Ryan O’Reilly of the Nashville Predators. He noted Scott Laughton is also out there but the Philadelphia Flyers seek a first-round pick in return.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Diverse is another way of saying “affordable”. The Leafs must go bargain-hunting to add a center unless they’re looking at a dollar-in, dollar-out scenario. That’s assuming they don’t put Auston Matthews on LTIR before the March 7 trade deadline if he becomes sidelined again by his nagging upper-body injury.
O’Reilly lacks no-trade protection, but the 33-year-old has two more years left on his contract, with an AAV of $4.5 million. He turns 34 in February, and his best seasons are behind him.
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman believes the Leafs want a center with term remaining on his contract. “Might not be what ends up happening, but it’s what they prefer,” he writes.
“32 THOUGHTS” RUMOR TIDBITS
SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman reported the following in his latest “32 Thoughts” column:
He believes the Detroit Red Wings were (are?) looking at Buffalo Sabres center Dylan Cozens.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Line forms to the left, Red Wings. Lots of teams have looked (or are looking) at Cozens. However, the Sabres are trying to add to their roster instead of subtracting. That doesn’t mean he won’t be traded but they’ll probably want a good player in return instead of draft picks and prospects. That offer has yet to emerge.
The New York Rangers gave unhappy defenseman Zac Jones permission to speak with other teams. There’s interest but teams with a smallish blueline are unlikely destinations.
Vincent Trocheck is the most coveted Ranger in the trade market but they’re not interested in moving him. Friedman believes he could become their next captain.
The Pittsburgh Penguins have indicated they have forwards, defensemen and goaltenders available. They’re willing to use their cap space to retain salary provided they get young players, prospects and draft picks in return.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Athletic’s Josh Yohe reports Penguins GM Kyle Dubas doesn’t feel any extreme desire to trade Rickard Rakell. They love how he and Bryan Rust are playing as they give the Penguins a couple of wingers worthy of playing alongside Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin.
Yohe claims the Canucks and Edmonton Oilers are interested in Marcus Pettersson. The 28-year-old defenseman is UFA-eligible on July 1. Given his expiring contract, Yohe will be surprised if Pettersson isn’t moved by the March 7 trade deadline.
I wonder if an offer of Zinbanejad, Zac Jones, and a prospect from Hartford (not named Mancini, Othmann or Robertson) would be enough to get it done? That’s a replacement C, a good young D-man and another prospect for Vancouver. I was upset when they traded JT away and I think it would be great for him to return. He’s the type of player that everyone complains about when he’s on the other team but love having him as a teammate. (Not quite as bad as Wilson on the Caps but he’s that type) Thoughts?
Given the state of Mika’s play 5v5 the last 18 months , Vancouver says no. And the rest isn’t good enough either
Buffalo and Vancouver make the most sense as trade partners. It’s been stated the Sabres were/are interested in Pettersson so it makes sense Cozens would be the first piece going back. There will have to be other pieces involved from both sides to make the money work, especially for Vancouver.
Which LHD does Buffalo add, personally I’d prefer to see Power go and keep Byram. Buffalo then gives Byram the money Power was getting.
I like Byram more because I think he thinks the game better/faster than Power does and is a touch better skater…that is just my opinion. The other reason is Power shows no emotion, never seen him break a stick over the post because a goal was scored and it might have been his fault.
I also wouldn’t mind seeing Jokiharju going to Vancouver for DeSharnais. Sabres could hold some to even out the cap hit for Vancouver.
Why this trade doesn’t happen is Adams over values his players or he is afraid they will blossom elsewhere…he had all the chances in the world to resign Reinhart and he didn’t or maybe Reinhart was just fed up in the direction the Sabres were headed.
Poor management makes poor decisions and Adams has not moved the Sabres in the right direction since he has been the GM for almost 5 yrs.
Actually, Powers may just be a more mature person that does not break things in anger and waste his employers’ recourses. Byram might be a concussion away from the end of his career, whereas Powers seems much more durable. There is a reason why Byram is mentioned rather often in trade talk.
I’m a Canucks fan and don’t want Miller or Pettersson to be traded. I also think the dressing room rumours are overblown.
But Cozens + Power makes me stop and think about it, unlike the suggestions for washed-up veterans and teams’ 3rd to 6th best prospects that some posters keep tossing out.
Zib with $1.5M retained and Borgan for Miller and Desharnais
Miller is the best player in this deal and NYR may need to add a minor pick also to get the deal done.
NY is not salvaging the season. So why make this trade now? I’m certainly not trading Jones in that trade. They should just be looking to make nice with Jones, and worry about making trades in the offseason.
They should concentrate on Tanking and landing Hagens who looked terrific with Perreault.
Oddly teams that trade Miller tend to get skunked in the process.
Will Vancouver buck the trend and get something of value for him?
Does this guy just wear out his welcome and teams know what fans don’t?
Tampa Bay got a first round pick and traded him because they desperately needed the cap room. I don’t see how they got skunked in the trade. He elevated his play in Vancouver, but the Lightning couldn’t afford to keep him anyway.
Years ago Boston traded a stud first line center in Joe Thornton! We all know how that went! The most recent young first line center to get traded was Eichel!It will be interesting what Vanc. Gets if they trade either JT or EP! Wish Boston had the resources to get involved!
Great examples as to why you trade Miller and not Pettersson.
Rumor is bobby orr is offering some signed memorabilia to nuks as part of Sweeneys pkg to nuks. Don’t give up hope 😛
The Leafs need to stay away from all of those Centers except for the one that would be ideal, but won’t happen, Cozens. We need to stop trading assets for guys over the hill, deals about to expire, or both. We have done this soooo many times and it never pans out. It’s a young man’s game, so let’s try to target that. The Leafs are not exactly a team with alot of youth. Cozens would be great, but that’s a big pipe dream. The only exception would be for Laughton. He looked very good against the Leafs in the past 2 games. He brings alot of what they’re looking for, is cheap, and only has 1 more year. Philly just needs to finally understand that not every player is worth a first. He definitely is not. Robertson a 2nd and a mid prospectish guy like Steeves should be more than fine to get a deal done.
CB
I agree about the Leafs not selling the farm to get aging rental players
The Leafs can definitely use more depth at C. Specifically they need a right handed C
Both of the Leafs top two RW (Marner and Nylander) played C as junior aged players. Marner is strong enough defensively to play C full time.
O’Reilly chose not to sign in TOR as a UFA because he doesn’t like the attention. He’s also LH.
They also need to find a suitable RHD to play with Rielly. Savard from MTL or Larsson from SEA would fit nicely.
If Iwere Vancouver I would do that in a second! Knies is becoming a beast as a power forward and Tavares as usual has 20 goals already!
Has anybody considered the fact that JTM could be traded to Dallas while Seguin is on LTIR? Dallas can also afford to keep JT next year as Benn comes off the books (or signs for a significant pay cut). Maybe you send Stankoven to Vancouver along with a top D prospect like Bichsel? Maybe other pieces are added by both sides. Thoughts?!?
YC, Dallas makes good sense as a destination.
The D prospect better be a good one though if they want to get him. Likely need to add to the pkg.
I believe Tavares has made his intentions on waiving crystal clear.
JT is a UFA, I dont see the Canuks doing this unless its a sign and trade deal.