NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 23, 2024

by | Mar 23, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 23, 2024

A high-scoring tilt between the Capitals and Hurricanes highlights Friday’s action, Tom Wilson is suspended again, and the latest on the Golden Knights’ Jonathan Marchessault in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines

NHL.COM: A shootout goal by Dylan Strome gave the Washington Capitals a 7-6 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes. Sonny Milano tallied his first NHL hat trick, Strome collected three assists and Alex Ovechkin had a goal and an assist for the 34-25-9 Capitals (77 points), who moved within one point of the Detroit Red Wings for the final Eastern Conference wild-card berth.

Washington Capitals forward Sonny Milano (NHL Images).

Sebastian Aho had a hat trick for the 44-20-7 Hurricanes (including his 30th goal of the season) and Jake Guentzel had three assists. With 95 points, the Hurricanes are one point behind the Metropolitan Division-leading New York Rangers and two back of the league-leading Boston Bruins.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Capitals played without winger Tom Wilson as he’s serving a six-game suspension for high-sticking Toronto Maple Leafs forward Noah Gregor. This is the sixth suspension in his 11-season NHL career. He’s also been fined three times.

During the first period, the Capitals honored Evgeny Kuznetsov with a video tribute as he received a standing ovation from the fans. He was shipped to the Hurricanes before the March trade deadline after 11 seasons with the Capitals.

Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon had a goal and an assist to help his club defeat the Columbus Blue Jackets 6-1. Mikko Rantanen scored twice and collected an assist for the Avalanche (45-20-5) as they picked up their eighth straight win and took over first place in the Central Division with 95 points. Elvis Merzlikins stopped 45 shots for the 23-35-12 Blue Jackets.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: MacKinnon extended his home points streak to 33 games and 17 games overall. He’s in second place in the scoring race with 119 points, three back of Tampa Bay Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov.

Dallas Stars captain Jamie Benn scored two goals in a 4-2 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins. Jason Robertson had two assists for the 43-19-9 Stars, who’ve won three straight and sit second in the Central with 95 points. Michael Bunting had a goal and an assist for the 30-30-9 Penguins.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ageless wonder Joe Pavelski tallied his 25th goal of the season for the Stars. The 39-year-old winger has reached that milestone 12 times, the third-most among American-born scorers. Keith Tkachuk and Mike Modano are the leaders with 13 seasons.

The Arizona Coyotes nipped the Seattle Kraken 2-1. Dylan Guenther scored in overtime after Clayton Keller tied the game late in the third for the 29-36-5 Coyotes. Ryker Evans scored his first NHL goal for the 28-28-13 Kraken.

ASSOCIATED PRESS: Jonathan Marchessault is enjoying a career-best season in his contract year. He’s in the final season of a six-year, $30-million contract and has a single-season high of 38 goals, just five short of the franchise record.

Marchessault’s agent, Pat Brisson, said he’s had several discussions with Golden Knights management during the season. However, he doesn’t expect anything to happen until after this season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Winner of the 2023 Conn Smythe Trophy, Marchessault is an original Golden Knights and their most reliable scorer throughout his tenure in Vegas. The 33-year-old will draw plenty of interest in the free-agent market, though his age could make suitors reluctant to sign him longer than four years.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: St. Louis Blues defenseman Nick Leddy will be suiting up for his 1,000th career NHL regular-season game on Saturday afternoon against the Minnesota Wild.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Leddy will be joining an exclusive club. Of the roughly 7,500 players to appear in at least one game in the NHL’s long history, he will become the 391st to have played 1,000 games.










NHL Rumor Mill – March 22, 2024

by | Mar 22, 2024

NHL Rumor Mill – March 22, 2024

Could Jake Guentzel return to the Penguins? Which notable players could become buyout candidates this summer? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

LATEST ON THE PENGUINS

THE ATHLETIC: In his recent mailbag segment, Josh Yohe was asked whether Jake Guentzel might return to the Pittsburgh Penguins as a free agent this summer. He initially felt that was next to impossible but he isn’t so sure now after talking with team sources. Yohe believes Guentzel could be in play if his asking price is within $8 million annually rather than $10 million.

Could Jake Guentzel return to the Pittsburgh Penguins this summer? (NHL Images)

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Never say never but Yohe admits he thinks it’s unlikely. Guentzel might be open to an offer from the Penguins if he goes to market on July 1. However, he’ll likely receive more lucrative contract proposals from other clubs. His time with the Carolina Hurricanes could convince him that it’s time to close the Pittsburgh chapter of his career and carry on elsewhere.

Yohe was also asked what the first order of business should be this offseason for Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas. He believes Dubas should attempt to move veteran wingers Reilly Smith and Rickard Rakell to clear cap space to make room for younger, hungrier players.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Yohe noted that the salary cap is expected to rise significantly next season, making it easier to move those players. Smith and Rakell have eight-team no-trade lists for next season and $5 million cap hits. However, Smith might be the easiest to move. He has a year left on his contract and a Stanley Cup championship on his resume. Rakell, meanwhile, has four more seasons remaining on his deal.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Jacob Punturi believes the Penguins need to find a way to shed Ryan Graves’ contract. Signed last summer to a six-year, $27 million contract, the 28-year-old defenseman has struggled in his first season in Pittsburgh. He has a 12-team no-trade list.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Moving Graves won’t be easy despite the salary cap rising by a projected $4. 4 million. His $4.5 million cap hit isn’t the issue as the remaining five years of the deal. The Penguins could stick with Graves for next season and hope to improve his game.

BUYOUT CANDIDATES FOR THE COMING OFFSEASON

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Adam Proteau looked at five players who could be in consideration for contract buyouts during the two-week buyout window in late June.

San Jose Sharks defenseman Marc-Edouard Vlasic tops his list. The 36-year-old blueliner has two years remaining on his contract at an annual average value of $7 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Sharks could hang onto Vlasic for one more season before going the buyout route. That way, they’ll only have part of his cap hit on their books for two seasons rather than four.

Philadelphia Flyers center Ryan Johansen is next. He has one year left on his deal with an $8 million AAV.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: That will depend on Johansen’s health. He reportedly has a hip injury that has prevented the Flyers from sending him to their AHL affiliate. If Johansen is still recovering from that injury in June, the Flyers won’t be able to buy out his contract.

Justin Holl of the Detroit Red Wings, John Gibson of the Anaheim Ducks, and Jeff Skinner of the Buffalo Sabres are Proteau’s other three buyout candidates.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Holl has two years left on his contract. However, the $1.133 cap hit per season for four years might not be difficult for the Wings to carry with the projected increases in the cap for the next two seasons.

The Ducks will likely try again to see if they can trade Gibson. If they have to retain salary over the final three seasons of his contract, it’s better than carrying $2.133 million annually for six years.

Given Skinner’s $9 million AAV for the next three seasons, he seems the least likely to be bought out. Proteau pointed out the Sabres would get a $1.44 million cap hit for next season, rising to $4.44 million for 2025-26 and $6.44 million for 2026-27 before dropping to $2.44 million annually for the final three years.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 22, 2024

by | Mar 22, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 22, 2024

Four-assist performances from the Lightning’s Nikita Kucherov and the Oilers’ Connor McDavid, a hat trick for the Rangers’ Artemi Panarin, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines

NHL.COM: Tampa Bay Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov assisted on each of his club’s goals in a 4-1 victory over the San Jose Sharks. Brayden Point scored twice to reach the 40-goal mark as the Lightning extended their win streak to five games. With a record of 38-25-6, they hold the first Eastern Conference wildcard berth with 82 points. William Eklund replied for the 16-46-7 Sharks.

Tampa Bay Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kucherov leads the scoring race with 122 points, opening a five-point gap over Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon. Lightning winger Anthony Duclair scored against his former team, reaching the 20-goal plateau for the fourth time in his career. Since being acquired by the Lightning before the March 8 trade deadline, Duclair has four goals and seven points in five games.

The Edmonton Oilers erupted for five unanswered third-period goals to crush the Buffalo Sabres 8-3. Connor McDavid collected four assists while Zach Hyman and Mattias Ekholm scored two goals each for the 42-21-4 Oilers, who sit second in the Pacific Division with 88 points. JJ Peterka tallied two goals for the 33-33-5 Sabres.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hyman is just two goals away from reaching the vaunted 50-goal plateau for the first time in his career. Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews (Hyman’s former teammate) leads the league this season with 57 goals.

New York Rangers winger Artemi Panarin collected the third hat trick of his NHL career in a 5-2 win over the Boston Bruins. Jonathan Quick made 24 saves as the Rangers (46-20-4) moved within one point of the league-leading Bruins with 96 points. Justin Brazeau had a goal and an assist for the 41-15-15 Bruins.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Quick picked up his 391st career win to tie Ryan Miller for the most NHL victories by an American-born goaltender.

Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin scored twice in his triumphant return to the lineup to beat the New York Islanders 6-3, leaving the latter winless in their last six games (0-5-1). Andrew Copp also had two goals and Christian Fischer had a goal and two assists for the Red Wings (36-28-6) as they opened a three-point lead over the Washington Capitals for the final Eastern Conference wildcard spot with 78 points. Mathew Barzal netted his 21st goal for the 29-25-15 Islanders as they slipped five points behind the Wings.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Larkin missed the last eight games with a lower-body injury. During his absence, the Wings went into a tailspin that threatened to derail their playoff hopes. They’re a different team when their captain is in the lineup.

The Vancouver Canucks gained ground on the Bruins in the overall standings with a 4-1 win over the Montreal Canadiens. Nikita Zadorov scored two goals for the Canucks (44-18-8) as they sit one point behind the league-leading Bruins. Juraj Slafkovsky scored to extend his points streak to six games for the Canadiens (25-32-12), who are winless in their last four games (0-2-2).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Slafkovsky remains a bright spot for the Canadiens this season. He had just eight points in his first 31 games but now has 30 points in his last 38 contests. Speaking of the Canadiens, they announced that Joshua Roy will be sidelined for four to six weeks with an upper-body injury.

Speaking of gaining ground in the overall standings, the Carolina Hurricanes moved to within three points of the Bruins by defeating the Philadelphia Flyers 3-2 on an overtime goal by Seth Jarvis. Frederik Andersen stopped 30 shots for the 44-20-6 Hurricanes (94 points) as they’ve won five straight games. Travis Konecny netted his 28th goal of the season for the Flyers (35-26-9), who remain in third place in the Metropolitan Division with 79 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Flyers captain Sean Couturier was a healthy scratch for the second straight game. Flyers head coach John Tortorella declined to discuss Couturier during a pregame interview. However, benching his captain has drawn plenty of media attention as rumors grow of a possible rift between the two.

The Nashville Predators continue to tighten their grip on the first Western Conference wildcard berth as they blanked the Florida Panthers 3-0. Kevin Lankinen kicked out 33 shots for the shutout and Filip Forsberg tallied twice for the 41-25-4 Predators (86 points) as they extended their points streak to 16 games with their fourth straight win. Sergei Bobrovsky turned aside 34 shots for the 45-20-4 Panthers (94 points) as they’ve lost three straight and sit three points behind the Bruins in the overall standings.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Panthers were without team captain Aleksander Barkov as he’s day-to-day with a lower-body injury.

Speaking of the Western Conference wildcard spots, the Vegas Golden Knights cling to the final berth following a 3-1 victory over the Seattle Kraken. Keegan Kolesar snapped a 1-1 tie and Chandler Stephenson netted the insurance goal for the 37-25-7 Golden Knights (81 points). Jaden Schwartz replied for the 28-28-12 Kraken.

The New Jersey Devils got two power-play goals from Jack Hughes to defeat the Winnipeg Jets 3-1. Nico Hischier and Timo Meier each had a goal and two assists for the 34-32-4 Devils. Nikolaj Ehlers replied for the Jets (44-20-5) as they remain in first place in the Central Division with 93 points.

St. Louis Blues forward Jordan Kyrou had a goal and two assists to keep their playoff hopes alive in a 5-2 victory over the Ottawa Senators. Jake Neighbours scored twice and Joel Hofer made 37 saves for the 37-30-3 Blues (77 points) as they sit four points behind the Golden Knights for that final Western wild-card berth. Mark Kastelic and Dominik Kubalik scored for the 28-36-4 Senators.

The Anaheim Ducks snapped a seven-game losing skid by blanking the Chicago Blackhawks 4-0. Lukas Dostal stopped 29 shots for his first NHL shutout while Alex Killorn scored two goals for the 24-43-3 Ducks. Arvid Soderblom made 21 saves for the 19-46-5 Blackhawks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ducks center Leo Carlsson left this game in the second period following a knee-on-knee collision with the Blackhawks Alex Vlasic. There was no postgame update on his condition.

IN OTHER NEWS…

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Washington Capitals winger Tom Wilson was offered an in-person hearing by the NHL department of player safety for high-sticking Toronto Maple Leafs forward Noah Gregor on Thursday. Wilson faces the possibility of a suspension beyond five games.

CALGARY SUN: Flames goaltender Dan Vladar will undergo season-ending hip surgery next week. He’s expected to be ready for the start of next season.










NHL Rumor Mill – March 21, 2024

by | Mar 21, 2024

NHL Rumor Mill – March 21, 2024

The latest on Erik Karlsson, Johnny Gaudreau and the Senators’ goaltending situation in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

LATEST ON ERIK KARLSSON

THE ATHLETIC: Josh Yohe and Ian Mendes examined whether a trade involving Erik Karlsson would make sense for the Pittsburgh Penguins and Ottawa Senators.

Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman recently mused about whether the Senators might contemplate a reunion with Karlsson, who spent his first nine NHL seasons in Ottawa. The 33-year-old Penguins defenseman dismissed the idea when asked about it last week.

Yohe believes the Penguins would consider moving Karlsson as they’ve got too many players over 30 with expensive contracts. Mendes cites Karlsson’s ongoing ties to Ottawa and the Senators need for a right shot among their top-four defensemen. Acquiring the three-time Norris Trophy winner would mean trading Thomas Chabot or Jakob Chychrun.

Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson (NHL Images).

The Penguins would want a return that helps them get younger quickly. However, the Senators would want them to retain part of Karlsson’s contract, which would raise the Penguins’ asking price.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: I’ve summarized a detailed examination of a Karlsson-to-Ottawa trade scenario by Yohe and Mendes. Both agree it would be a complicated affair requiring flexibility to ensure a fair deal for both clubs.

I don’t see Karlsson getting traded to the Senators. They’re a different club than the one he was traded from seven years ago. His contract is far too expensive and the Senators likely want a more affordable, defensive-minded blueliner.

COULD THE BLUE JACKETS ATTEMPT TO TRADE JOHNNY GAUDREAU?

BOSTON GLOBE: Kevin Paul Dupont recently noted the ongoing decline in the offensive production of Columbus Blue Jackets winger Johnny Gaudreau.

Heading into last weekend, the 30-year-old Gaudreau had just 10 goals and 47 points. He has five seasons remaining on his contract with an average annual value of $9.75 million.

Dupont doesn’t rule out the next Blue Jackets general manager trying to move Gaudreau to a team of the winger’s liking, “albeit with the Jackets retaining, say, one-third of his salary.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: I’ve learned never to say never when moving high-salaried, under-performing players. The projected $4.4 million increase in the salary cap for 2024-25 could increase the odds of the Jackets finding a suitable trade partner for Gaudreau if they made him available in this summer’s trade market.

However, trading Gaudreau would still be a daunting challenge. His declining production hurts his trade value, he carries a full no-movement clause, and an interested club would likely want the Jackets to retain more than one-third of his annual cap hit or include a couple of sweeteners like a draft pick and a quality prospect.

WILL THE SENATORS PURSUE A GOALTENDER?

OTTAWA SUN: Bruce Garrioch believes the Senators’ goaltending must improve next season or nothing will. As of March 18, they had the worst combined save percentage (.887) and sat 28th with an average goals-against per game of 3.53.

Garrioch believes Senators general manager Steve Staios may have “kicked some tires” on goaltenders before the March 8 trade deadline. He indicated there was speculation one of them was Boston’s Linus Ullmark. The Bruins have to decide on whether to trade Ullmark this summer.

The Senators have starting goalie Joonas Korpisalo under contract for four more years. Garrioch dismissed the notion of a contract buyout. “The hope is that he can come back next season better prepared to play with more consistency.” The Senators could attempt instead to move Anton Forsberg and replace him with a more reliable backup.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ullmark, 30, also carries an average annual value of $5 million next season and is a year away from unrestricted free-agent eligibility. He also carries a 16-team no-trade clause that becomes a 15-team NTC on July 1.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 21, 2024

by | Mar 21, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 21, 2024

A five-point performance by the Leafs’ Auston Matthews, Kings captain Anze Kopitar reaches a points milestone, Hall-of-Famer Lanny McDonald talks about his near-death experience, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

GAME RECAPS

NHL.COM: Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews scored twice and collected three assists in a 7-3 victory over the Washington Capitals. Max Domi had four assists while William Nylander and John Tavares had a goal and two assists each for the 39-20-9 Maple Leafs, who sit third in the Atlantic Division with 87 points. Alex Ovechkin scored twice for the 33-26-9 Capitals (75 points), who remain one point behind the Detroit Red Wings for the final Eastern Conference wildcard berth.

Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Matthews has a league-leading 57 goals, nine up on Florida Panthers forward Sam Reinhart. Some pundits are suggesting he could reach 70. He still has some distance to cover to reach that milestone but he’s within reach of 65, which was Ovechkin’s career high and the most scored by an NHL player in the salary-cap era.

Leafs defenseman T.J. Brodie was a healthy scratch from this game while teammate Ryan Reaves missed this contest with an eye injury. Capitals forwards T.J. Oshie (upper body) and Aliaksei Protas (lower body) missed this game and are listed as day-to-day.

Los Angeles Kings captain Anze Kopitar had a goal and an assist to reach 1,200 regular-season points as his club blanked the Minnesota Wild 6-0. Kevin Fiala, Phillip Danault and Viktor Arvidsson also had a goal and an assist each while David Rittich turned in a 31-save shutout for the 36-22-11 Kings, who sit third in the Pacific Division with 83 points. The 34-28-8 Wild (73 points) are three points behind the Vegas Golden Knights for the final Western Conference wildcard spot.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The third period got rough with 12 players (six from each team) receiving misconduct penalties.

Arvidsson returned to action for the Kings after being sidelined since Feb. 20. Meanwhile, Wild defenseman Jonas Brodin missed this game with a lower-body injury.

The Dallas Stars rolled to a 5-2 win over the Arizona Coyotes. Jason Robertson had a goal and an assist and Tyler Seguin scored in his return to the Stars lineup after missing 11 games with a lower-body injury. With a record of 42-19-9, the Stars sit third in the Central Division with 93 points. Clayton Keller tallied his 28th goal of the season for the 28-36-5 Coyotes.

HEADLINES

SPORTSNET: Hall-of-Famer Lanny McDonald revealed he was near death after suffering a heart attack at the Calgary airport six weeks ago. Doctors told the 71-year-old that he would’ve died if the episode had taken place minutes earlier on the plane or minutes later in the parking lot.

The quick response from two passing nurses and a policeman saved McDonald’s life. The policeman worked so hard administering CPR that he fractured McDonald’s sternum and several of his ribs.

McDonald underwent quadruple bypass surgery four days later and had a pacemaker installed eight days later.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Best wishes to McDonald and his family in his recovery.

DAILY FACEOFF: NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly insists the science is still lacking regarding the link to CTE and repeated blows to the head.

The question was raised following the suicide of Chris Simon earlier this week. Simon’s family issued a statement expressing their strong belief that the former NHL enforcer suffered from CTE attributed to his playing career.

CTE can only be diagnosed posthumously. In a document submitted to an Ottawa court in 2017, Simon claimed he suffered from symptoms including depression, anxiety and PTSD.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Mayo Clinic, Columbia University, the US National Institutes of Health, the Centers for Disease Control, the NHS in the United Kingdom, Boston University and the Alzheimer’s Association are among those that would disagree with Daly.

THE SCORE: Speaking of Daly, he said the league probably wouldn’t have enough time to relocate the Arizona Coyotes if their owner fails to win June’s land auction. The Coyotes have been playing in Arizona State University’s 5,000-seat Mullett Arena while their ownership attempts to find a location to build a new arena.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s been reported that relocation would be “on the table” if the Coyotes owner doesn’t win that land auction.

MONTREAL GAZETTE: Canadiens forward Joshua Roy has been sidelined indefinitely with an injured right hand. He suffered the injury blocking a shot during Tuesday’s game against the Edmonton Oilers.

TSN: Boston University center Macklin Celebrini was named the NCAA’s Hockey East Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year. The 17-year-old Celebrini is projected as the top prospect in this year’s draft.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The San Jose Sharks could land Celebrini. They’re currently last in the overall standings and would have the best odds of winning the draft lottery.










NHL Rumor Mill – March 20, 2024

by | Mar 20, 2024

NHL Rumor Mill – March 20, 2024

Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins expects big changes for the club this summer, plus a look at possible offseason moves by the Bruins in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

MERZLIKINS FACING UNCERTAIN FUTURE IN COLUMBUS

THE ATHLETIC: Aaron Portzline recently reported Elvis Merzlikins expects big changes for his club when a new general manager takes over during the offseason. The 30-year-old Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender raised eyebrows in January when he told the media he requested a trade, only to have his agent follow up by claiming his client had misspoken.

Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins (NHL Images).

Portzline noted the difficulty the next Jackets GM will face attempting to move Merzlikins. He has three years left on his contract with an average annual value of $5.4 million and a 10-team no-trade clause.

A contract buyout would mean the Jackets would carry $1.75 million in dead cap space each season through 2029-30. Trying to trade him could mean retaining up to half of his AAV. They could try to move him to a team with plentiful cap space by bundling him with a draft pick or prospect.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Retaining half of Merzlikin’s AAV in a trade seems the best option. Even that might not be enough to tempt a club given his inconsistent play in recent years. It wouldn’t be surprising if he’s still with the Jackets at the start of next season.

SPECULATION ON THE BRUINS’ OFFSEASON PLANS

THE ATHLETIC: Fluto Shinzawa recently looked ahead at what might be in store for the Boston Bruins during the offseason. With a projected $21.5 million in cap space this summer, they’re expected to be buyers.

Shinzawa believes the Bruins could kick the tires on Elias Lindholm if the Vancouver Canucks center hits the open market on July 1.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Lindholm was regularly linked to the Bruins in the rumor mill before his trade to the Canucks on Jan. 31. There was also talk in the days leading up to the trade deadline of a three-way deal involving the Pittsburgh Penguins that would’ve sent Lindholm to Boston, winger Jake DeBrusk to the Penguins and winger Jake Guentzel to Vancouver. That deal, of course, never materialized but it raised questions over Lindholm’s future with the Canucks.

The Bruins could turn to free agency to replace pending UFA defensemen Kevin Shattenkirk, Matt Grzelcyk and Derek Forbort.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Speaking of former Calgary Flames, the Bruins were rumored to be interested in Noah Hanifin before the 27-year-old defenseman was shipped to the Vegas Golden Knights on March 6. They could look into signing Hanifin if he and the Golden Knights part ways on July 1.

Shinzawa expects the Bruins will attempt to trade goaltender Linus Ullmark. He turns 31 on July 31 and carries a $5 million cap hit and a modified no-trade clause for next season. They’d love to get a first-round pick for Ullmark but that could be too high a return. Shinzawa speculates they could get a second or third-round pick, plus moving him would clear his cap hit from their books.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The potential availability of Flames goalie Jacob Markstrom and Nashville Predators netminder Juuse Saros could affect Ullmark’s value in this summer’s trade market. If they’re not on the trade block it would make it possible for the Bruins to set a higher price for Ullmark that includes a first-rounder.