NHL Rumor Mill – January 9, 2025
Check out the latest on the Flyers, Blackhawks and Jets in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
THE ATHLETIC: With the March 7 trade deadline two months away, Kevin Kurz, Scott Powers and Murat Ates recently reported the latest speculation about the Philadelphia Flyers, Chicago Blackhawks and Winnipeg Jets.
Kurz looked at trade options for the Flyers to bolster their goaltending. If they go the trade route he suspects they’d pursue a veteran with past NHL success. Elvis Merzlikins of the Columbus Blue Jackets, James Reimer of the Buffalo Sabres, and Louis Domingue of the New York Rangers are among those who might be available.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Merzlikins carries an average annual value of $5.4 million through 2026-27. Kurz suggested he might be more enticing if the Blue Jackets retained some salary. However, the Jackets are also thin between the pipes and are jockeying with the Flyers in the race for an Eastern Conference wild-card spot.
Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen (NHL Images).
Kurz considers defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen the most likely to be traded, suggesting the Detroit Red Wings as a destination. Center Scott Laughton has popped up on some trade boards but Kurz cites a team source saying management doesn’t have much interest in moving him.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ristolainen’s performance has improved but his contract remains an obstacle. He has a $5.1 million AAV through 2026-27. The 30-year-old could become a summer trade candidate if the Flyers aren’t willing to retain part of his salary.
Powers believes Taylor Hall is the Blackhawk most likely to move by the trade deadline. He’s producing at the same rate he was with a strong Boston Bruins club two years ago. Powers cites sources suggesting Hall could fetch a third-round pick.
Ryan Donato’s been one of the Blackhawks’ better players but Powers believes he’d be a checking-line forward on a better club. His sources suggest he could fetch a third or fourth-round pick. The Blackhawks could also get some calls about defenseman Alec Martinez.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Blackhawks don’t have much to offer up for rental players this season. Pat Maroon and Craig Smith are their other pending UFAs.
Ates suggests the Jets should add a big, mobile right-shot defenseman as an upgrade to Dylan DeMelo on their top defense pairing.
The Jets liked Rasmus Ristolainen before he resuscitated his career in Philadelphia. He believes they could revisit that interest.
Other options include Marcus Pettersson of the Pittsburgh Penguins, David Savard of the Montreal Canadiens and Cody Ceci of the San Jose Sharks. Ates acknowledged that most of these options aren’t ideal but they wouldn’t cost a first-round pick to acquire.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ceci expressed an interest in re-signing with the Sharks. They’ll have plenty of cap space to keep him but that depends on whether they see him as a long-term fit with their rebuilding roster.
While I heartily believe that the Jackets will not become a Cup challenger until they replace Elvis with a real goalie, he will not be traded this year. To do so would leave the Jackets with Daniel Tarasov, who isn’t even a decent backup when he isn’t on the IR list, and Jet Greaves, who isn’t quite ready to be a full time NHL goalie. Should the Jackets fall out of the playoff race, they might make Elvis available, but I wouldn’t count on it.
At least no mention was made of Ottawa in the Merzlikins, Reimer, Domingue speculation, despite the fact Staios, too, is probably scouring the market for help both in goaltending and on D. No doubt because none of them three present any significant improvement over either Forsberg or Merlinainen.
Now watch … tonight Reimer will start for Buffalo and get a SO! LOL
I could see the Jackets sending Provorov to Ottawa depending on what Staios offers in return. The Jackets biggest need, besides a good goalie, is secondary scoring from the 3rd and 4th lines. If memory serves, Ottawa has some decent secondary scorers.
not reimer but luhknonen, George! Sens have been in a horrible funk. Not just goaltending but the 5 on 5 goals has dried up. Ullmark’s injury and that long road trip did a number on the lads. hope they can find a way through before it’s too late. With all the injuries the sens depth was tested and it wasn’t pretty.
Zadorov could be available 🥸
Re; tonight Oil & Pens game &D/men…
Re; Big Z is getting payed quite a bit $$ .. if Vanouver wanted to keep him the would have signed him….❓
The Oilers are intrested in UFA 28 yr old
Marcus Pettersson of the Pittsburgh Penguins,
so we will all be watching the Oil & Pen’s
game tonight to see #28….
he is on the top 5 list for the Oilers…🤔
The Jets could be interested in Ristolainen as he comes with two additional years on his contract. Salary retention may not be necessary.
Any body know how long Elias Pettersson is out injured for…..
Hearing Buffalo are a front runner,
C, Couzins and top 4 d/man Power or Byron…
How do the Bruins make this happen?
Kreider Zacha Pasta
Marchand Miller Coyle
Wahlstrom Geekie Brazeau
Beecher Kastelic Koepke
The thing with Zadorov is that his return was 3rd round pick, then a 3rd and 5th round pick and then he was outright released.
He’s a 3rd pairing D who needs tops 15 sheltered minutes where his size and physicality can be used and his lack of footspeed and low hockey IQ hidden.
Used that way he has value, unfortunately at $5 million long term he has to play more with his weakness glaringly exposed.
He happens to be well spoken, affable and stands up for teammates and that has value like Vincent Desharnais.
Habfan.
Ask any gm. A lot more value than Vincent Desharnais. This year he is simply trying to be more than what he does best
In playoff hockey is a difference maker he has settled down somewhat since 1st part of year
I have watched Desharnais plenty on TV and live a few times. Zadorov less often live, but obviously watch him plenty on TV.
Plus well aware of both of their strengths and weaknesses.
Here is what I know:
Zadorov is a way better skater then Vinnie. Not close. That is why it took Deshanais so long to get to the NHL, and why Edmonton sat him for much of the playoffs because he couldn’t deal with the speed, especially on the rush. Zadorov was 16th overall because he could skate very well for a large man.
Zodorov’s ice time in the playoffs last year was over 20 minutes per 60, 3rd on the team for D. It went up when the competition got better.
Zadorov is a better passer and has better hockey IQ, the low IQ comment is simply not true. Vinnie was glass and out, but started to get better the more comfortable he got in Edmonton. Not in the same class as Zadorov.
Both make some bad reads in the o zone and neutral zone at times. Like plenty of D. Neither light up the scoresheet, but Zadorov better there too.
Zadorov plays the 3rd most minutes/gm in Boston too, and that is counting Lindholm when he was healthy. And is plus 7 on a team that is a combined minus 59. He leads the D in hits.
Both guys defend their team mates, but Zadorov can be downright scary and intimidating.
Zadorov all day, every day, and I am including the cap hits. He is an effective and valuable player.
He got shipped out of Calgary because he was outspoken to the media about how the team was playing. Vancouver took advantage.
Desharnais is a good guy and a good story about a guy who kept trying when he was not predicted to make it, he is a borderline NHL D-man. Good inside his own blueline when he doesn’t have to skate, and on the PK.
Hab fan 30 , since you are comparing players let me draw one up for you,please excuse the spelling,your boy Slavosky who will be making 7.6 million next year has 4 goals this year playing with your best forwards! Compare him to the player who left your organization in Kotkiemi who has 6 goals as a fourth line player in Carolina!
RB
Desharnais is $2million 2 yr contract.
Zadorov is a $5 million 6 yr contract
1 yr into signing you guys are looking to trade him, probably for the reasons I mentioned previously and nobody will take on that contract.
Valuing him at Desharnais may be going too far but it was to accentuate the error in the Zadorov signing and contract which was foreseen by many.
Sr,
Typical fanboy whataboutism.
I was responding to comments about Zadorov and you scurry to the Habs.
KK was a good player who was used by Carolina, given a big contract , disappointed them and got a cut in pay. He has 18 pts.
Slafkovsky is a good player who continues to improve, as the Habs adjust systems to be stronger defensively, he has 22 points. on the same pace as last year’s 50 pts.
Qne is a 24y/o 5th yr pro Centre, the other is a 20y/o 3rd yr pro RW.
2 different players with different roles in different positions on different trajectories.