Surveying the NHL Buyers – Atlantic Division
Surveying the NHL Buyers – Atlantic Division
Toffoli to the Canucks
Toffoli to the Canucks
The Vancouver Canucks have acquired winger Tyler Toffoli from the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for forward Tim Schaller, a second-round pick and forward prospect Tyler Madden. If Toffoli re-signs with the Canucks, the Kings will receive a conditional fourth-round draft pick in 2022.
The Vancouver Canucks acquire Tyler Toffoli from the LA Kings (Photo via NHL Images).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Quite the coup by Vancouver general manager Jim Benning. Toffoli was among the notable names believed available heading toward the Feb. 24 trade deadline. Recent rumors linked the 27-year-old winger to the Boston Bruins, Calgary Flames, Dallas Stars, New York Islanders and St. Louis Blues. TSN’s Pierre LeBrun reports the Kings didn’t retain salary in this deal because having Schaller in the deal balanced out the salaries.
A versatile two-way forward, Toffoli can skate at center or on the wing. With 18 goals and 34 points, he’s on pace to reach 20 goals and 40 points for the fourth time in his eight-year NHL career. He also has good speed and is an effective penalty killer.
Toffoli helped the Kings win the Stanley Cup in 2014. His skills and playoff experience should provide a welcome boost to the Canucks’ forward lines down the stretch as they jockey for playoff position.
There was some talk of the Canucks bringing in New Jersey Devils winger Wayne Simmonds to replace sidelined power forward Micheal Ferland. Having acquired Toffoli, it remains to be seen if they’ll bring in additional grit to their forward lines. This move leaves the Canucks without a pick in the first and second rounds of this year’s draft.
Kings GM Rob Blake remains busy with his rebuild, having shipped goalie Jack Campbell and winger Kyle Clifford earlier this month to the Toronto Maple Leafs. Schaller, a checking-line winger, is a UFA this summer. It remains to be seen if he’ll have a future with the Kings after this season.
Madden, 20, is the son of former NHL forward John Madden. He’s in his second season at Northeastern University and is projected as a hard-working sniper. It could be a couple of years yet before he joins the Kings. This deal gives the Kings two second-round picks in this year’s draft.
Five Players Who Won’t Be Moved At The 2020 NHL Trade Deadline
Five Players Who Won’t Be Moved At The 2020 NHL Trade Deadline
NHL Rumor Mill – February 17, 2020
NHL Rumor Mill – February 17, 2020
Should the Rangers ship Chris Kreider to the Blue Jackets? Will the Sharks weaponize their salary-cap space to restock their prospect pipeline? What moves could the Coyotes make at the trade deadline? Check out the latest in today’s NHL rumor mill.
KREIDER TO THE BLUE JACKETS?
NEW YORK POST: Larry Brooks suggests the Rangers should ship Chris Kreider to the Columbus Blue Jackets if unable to re-sign him before the Feb. 24 trade deadline. He feels the low-scoring Jackets could use the 28-year-old winger on their top line.
Should the NY Rangers attempt to ship Chris Kreider to the Columbus Blue Jackets? (Photo via NHL Images).
Brooks proposed swapping Kreider for Jackets winger Josh Anderson. The 25-year-old power winger’s been sidelined by a shoulder injury this season and is a year away from UFA status. Brooks thinks he’d be a reasonable replacement for Kreider. He also observed Jackets special assistant (and former Rangers winger) Rick Nash scouted yesterday’s game against the Boston Bruins.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Bear in mind that Brooks is only proposing a Kreider-for-Anderson swap. He’s not saying that’s what’s being discussed between the two clubs. For that matter, we don’t know if those two teams are having any type of trade talks.
Nevertheless, the Jackets need scoring. Only Detroit, Los Angeles, Anaheim, and San Jose have scored fewer goals. They also have plenty of deadline cap space to take on a scoring forward. Kreider could certainlty help them.
The only sticking point for the Rangers is Anderson’s RFA status with arbitration rights next summer. They’ve got several others in that boat, though it could be easier to re-sign them if Kreider’s not coming back.
WILL THE SHARKS TARGET CLUBS IN NEED OF SALARY-CAP SPACE?
NBC SPORTS BAY AREA: Marcus White explores the possibility of the San Jose Sharks using their salary-cap space to target clubs in need of cap room. With Erik Karlsson and Tomas Hertl suffering season-ending injuries, the Sharks would have over $17 million in cap room to take on expiring contracts from other clubs as long as additional assets are part of the return.
White points out the Sharks lack a first-round pick in this year’s draft and their prospect pool is among the league’s weakest. Playoff contenders like the Arizona Coyotes, Vancouver Canucks, Edmonton Oilers, Vegas Golden Knights, and Calgary Flames could use cap room, but trading with a Pacific Division rival could prove difficult. Instead, they might target the cap-strapped Florida Panthers, Philadelphia Flyers, Washington Capitals, Dallas Stars, Boston Bruins, and Pittsburgh Penguins.
Finding a suitable contract could be a problem. The Bruins, for example, would love to move David Backes, but he’s signed through 2021-22. White suggests retaining salary might be a better option. Defenseman Brenden Dillion could be a more attractive trade chip if the Sharks absorb part of his $3.275-million salary-cap hit.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Sharks GM Doug Wilson has a unique opportunity to start rebuilding his prospect pipeline. He has a well-earned reputation as a skilled wheeler-dealer, especially around the trade deadline. It’ll be interesting to see how he plays this.
WHAT SHOULD THE COYOTES DO AT THE TRADE DEADLINE?
THE ATHLETIC: In a recent mailbag segment, Craig Morgan was asked if the Arizona Coyotes might add some muscle at their defense and forward positions before the trade deadline. He felt that adding a “thumper with mobility for the third pair and a net-front guy for the power play would be nice additions.”
Asked which players the Coyotes could move, Morgan cited Michael Grabner as a trade candidate. The winger hasn’t played much and is signed through 2020-21 with an affordable $3.35-million AAV. Vinnie Hinostroza could be another.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: With the Coyotes very much in the thick of the Western Conference playoff race, I expect they’ll be buyers at the trade deadline. They also made the biggest splash of the regular season by acquiring Taylor Hall, but still need more offensive punch.
Finding some will mean a dollar-for-dollar deal, as they have just over $300K in deadline cap space. Given those limitations, they could be forced to bargain hunt.
NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – February 17, 2020
NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – February 17, 2020
The Oilers take over the top spot in the Pacific Division, the Stars caught up with the Blues for first place in the Central Division, the Sabres upset the Leafs, and more in today’s NHL morning coffee headlines.
NHL.COM: Josh Archibald scored twice, including the game-winner in overtime, as the Edmonton Oilers edged the Carolina Hurricanes 4-3. Leon Draisaitl has a goal and two assists for the Oilers, while Carolina’s Sebastian Aho tallied two goals and collected an assist. Draisaitl (95 points) holds a 12-point lead in the NHL scoring race. With the win, the Oilers (70 points) vaulted into first place in the Pacific Division, one point ahead of the Vancouver Canucks. The Hurricanes (70 points) sit one point behind the Philadelphia Flyers for the final Eastern Conference wild-card berth.
Edmonton Oilers star Leon Draisaitl holds a 12-point lead in the NHL scoring race (Photo via NHL Images).
The Canucks, meanwhile, fell 5-1 to the Anaheim Ducks. Adam Henrique scored two goals as the Ducks handed the Canucks their seventh defeat in their last nine contests.
The Dallas Stars (74 points) dropped a 4-3 overtime decision to the Ottawa Senators but picked up a point to move into a tie with the St. Louis Blues for first place in the Central Division. Artem Anisimov scored in overtime while Brady Tkachuk had a three-point performance.
Kyle Turris’ late third-period goal enabled the Nashville Predators to nip the St. Louis Blues 2-1. Pekka Rinne made 38 saves for the Predators (69 points), moving them within a point of the Arizona Coyotes for the second wild-card spot in the Western Conference. The Blues have lost five straight. Earlier in the day, they activated Oskar Sundqvist off injured reserve and sent Troy Brouwer to the minors.
Patric Hornqvist scored twice and set up another as the Pittsburgh Penguins dropped the Detroit Red Wings 5-1. Sidney Crosby had a goal and an assist for the Penguins (78 points), who moved within a point of the Washington Capitals for the top spot in the Metropolitan Division. Red Wings defenseman Filip Hronek left the game in the second period after being struck in the head by a shot from the point. An update on his condition could be released today.
The Boston Bruins picked up their ninth win in their last 10 games with a 3-1 victory over the New York Rangers. Patrice Bergeron, Charlie Coyle, and Charlie McAvoy scored for the Bruins (86 points), widening their lead in the overall standings over the Tampa Bay Lightning by three points.
New Jersey Devils goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood kicked out 52 shots backstopping his club to a 4-3 shootout victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets. Before the game, the Devils traded defenseman Andy Greene to the New York Islanders and winger Blake Coleman to the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Jackets (72 points) are winless in their last five games. They hold the first wild-card spot in the East.
A three-goal outburst within a minute and a half in the third period powered the Buffalo Sabres over the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-2. Jack Eichel, Kyle Okposo, and Jimmy Vesey snapped a 2-2 tie to give their club their third straight win, leaving them eight points behind the Leafs (70 points) for third in the Atlantic Division.
Nathan Beaulieu’s first goal of the season was also the game-winner as the Winnipeg Jets downed the Chicago Blackhawks 3-2. With 65 points, the Jets are one point out of a Western Conference wild-card spot. The Blackhawks, meanwhile, are six points back.
The recently postponed game between the St. Louis Blues and Anaheim Ducks has been rescheduled for March 11. The game was put off after Blues defenseman Jay Bouwmeester suffered a cardiac incident on the bench.
Would The Real Boston Bruins Please Step Forward?
Would The Real Boston Bruins Please Step Forward?