NHL Rumor Mill – November 2, 2024

by | Nov 2, 2024

NHL Rumor Mill – November 2, 2024

Which Blues player is more likely to be moved by the March trade deadline? Should the Predators bring back Mikael Granlund? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

THE ATHLETIC: Jeremy Rutherford was recently asked if Brandon Saad, Jordan Binnington and Nick Leddy are the three St. Louis Blues players most likely to be moved by the March 7 trade deadline, assuming the club is out of playoff contention by then.

St. Louis Blues winger Brandon Saad (NHL Images).

Rutherford believes Saad would draw the most interest. The 32-year-old left winger has a year left on his contract with an average annual value of $4.5 million. With the salary cap projected to rise next season, he could have value for a contender.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: That’s assuming Saad will waive his full no-trade clause. The extra year on his contract would make him more valuable because a contender would have him for two playoff runs. He’s been a reliable 20-plus goal scorer through most of his previous 12 NHL seasons and won two Stanley Cups with Chicago in 2013 and 2015.

Rutherford doesn’t see Binnington being moved because goalies often don’t fetch good returns, especially at the trade deadline. He believes Leddy would be difficult to move because he’s got a year left on his deal unless the Blues retain part of his $4 million AAV.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Binnington’s contract likely keeps him in St. Louis. He carries an AAV of $6 million and an 18-team no-trade list. Leddy has a full no-trade clause for this season.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Rob Couch believes San Jose Sharks forward Mikael Granlund is the top trade target teams will be interested in, pointing to the 32-year-old’s point-per-game pace this season. Couch also noted his 60-point effort with the rebuilding Sharks last season.

Granlund is in the final season of his contract with a cap hit of $5 million. The Sharks can’t retain part of his salary because they’ve used up all three salary-retention spots for this season.

Couch makes the case for the Nashville Predators to reacquire Granlund, who played for them from 2018-19 to 2022-23. He could help the Preds address their need for a reliable second-line center.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Granlund’s playoff numbers aren’t great (32 points in 59 games) but he could become a player of interest for contending clubs seeking depth at center.

Sharks general manager Mike Grier will likely hang onto him until the trade deadline to maximize the potential return. Whether the Predators are among the suitors remains to be seen. That’ll depend on where they are in the standings by then.










NHL Rumor Mill – November 1, 2024

by | Nov 1, 2024

NHL Rumor Mill – November 1, 2024

Check out the latest on the Oilers, Leafs and Canadiens in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

OILERS

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Caleb Kerney cited Elliotte Friedman’s appearance earlier this week on “Oilers Now with Bob Stauffer” listing four potential blueline trade targets for the Oilers.

They include Cam Fowler of the Anaheim Ducks, Connor Murphy of the Chicago Blackhawks, Matt Benning of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Seth Jones of the Blackhawks.

Anaheim Ducks defenseman Cam Fowler (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This was broadcast before the Leafs acquired Benning from the San Jose Sharks. However, Kerney’s colleague Nick Barden cited TSN’s Darren Dreger suggesting the Leafs could flip Benning to bring in an additional asset if the club is still struggling with the salary cap.

Don’t hold your breath expecting Fowler, Jones or Murphy to don an Oilers jersey anytime soon. Fowler and Jones carry hefty cap hits with no-trade protection. The asking prices are likely too expensive for the cap-strapped Oilers unless they can swing a three-team deal.

Murphy is signed through next season with an AAV of $4.4 million and a 10-team no-trade list. The earliest he could be available is near the March 7 trade deadline.

EDMONTON JOURNAL’s Jim Matheson also mentioned Murphy and suggested Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Ivan Provorov as another trade option for the Oilers. He’s eligible for UFA status next July and the Jackets carry $4.7 million of his $6.75 million cap hit.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Provorov is more likely to be available than Fowler, Jones and Murphy. TSN’s Pierre LeBrun reported last week that the Utah Hockey Club contacted the Blue Jackets about Provorov but they’re not in a hurry to move him. They’ll likely wait until the trade deadline if they’re out of the playoff race by then to drive up his value.

LEAFS

TORONTO SUN: Terry Koshan recently noted that Nick Robertson was a healthy scratch from the Maple Leafs game against the Winnipeg Jets earlier this week. The 23-year-old winger led the Leafs with five preseason goals but has only one in 10 regular-season contests thus far.

Robertson said he wasn’t taking the benching personally, saying he was focused on working hard.

COLORADO HOCKEY NOW: Aarif Deens cited Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reporting that the Avalanche were shopping around for a forward.

Deens suggested Robertson as a possible trade option for the Avs, pointing out that the winger can’t seem to find a permanent role with the Leafs. He thinks Robertson’s offensive game could take off with the right linemates.

Robertson is on a one-year, $875K contract. He’d be an affordable possibility for the cap-strapped Avalanche.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Robertson was the frequent topic of offseason speculation after requesting a trade on June 30 but re-signed before training camp. Leafs management saw him as a middle-six winger but they could entertain trade offers if he continues having difficulty filling that role.

CANADIENS

RG.ORG: Marco Dumont cites a source claiming Montreal Canadiens center Jake Evans is attracting some interest in the NHL trade market. Dumont cites the jump in the 28-year-old Evans’ production (five points in 11 games) and his mature defensive game.

Evans is UFA-eligible next summer and carries an affordable $1.7 million cap hit this season. Dumont’s source noted that the Canadiens are searching for a top-four defenseman, suggesting that it would make sense to use Evans as trade bait to address their blueline need.

The Canadiens have other assets such as draft picks and prospects to draw on. However, if they’re unwilling to sacrifice their future it would make sense to cash in on their pending UFAs.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canadiens aren’t likely to move Evans right now. It’s more likely a trade-deadline move if he proves too costly to re-sign.










NHL Rumor Mill – October 31, 2024

by | Oct 31, 2024

NHL Rumor Mill – October 31, 2024

Check out the latest on the Sabres, Avalanche, Canadiens, Utah HC, Jets and more in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

SPORTSNET: In his latest “32 Thoughts” column, Elliotte Friedman reports trade talks have increased as teams that have preached patience are starting to run out of it.

Buffalo Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams is trying to add to his roster.

Buffalo Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams (NHL.com).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s been rumored since the summer that Adams wants to add a top-six forward. Offseason acquisition Jason Zucker is among their leading scorers with seven points but forwards Dylan Cozens (three assists), Jack Quinn (two points) and Jiri Kulich (one goal) haven’t produced as expected. 

The Colorado Avalanche are looking for forwards. Friedman observes they must “get through a miserable stretch” with five of their top-nine forwards sidelined.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: That includes Ross Colton (broken foot, six to eight weeks) and Miles Wood (upper-body injury, seven to 10 days). However, help is coming in November.

Artturi Lehkonen is expected to make his season debut next Tuesday after recovering from offseason shoulder surgery. Meanwhile, Valeri Nichushkin will return in mid-to-late November following his mandatory six-month suspension as part of entering Phase 3 of the NHL-NHLPA player assistance program in May.

Friedman also repeated his Saturday report claiming the Montreal Canadiens seek a forward who plays with an edge but not at the expense of their future.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s believed they’re interested in adding a player on an expiring contract.

Utah Hockey Club forward Michael Carcone hasn’t played since Oct. 16. Friedman believes that situation is “growing some urgency to it.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Utah GM Bill Armstrong could be fielding calls for Carcone, who scored 21 goals last season but has dropped down their forward depth chart this season. He’s been a healthy scratch in all but three games.

The Winnipeg Jets are off to a blazing start but Friedman suggests they could use more size on their blueline.

THE ATHLETIC: Chris Johnston recently listed 10 early NHL trade candidates.

Among them were Canadiens center Christian Dvorak, San Jose Sharks defenseman Cody Ceci, and Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Most of the players on Johnston’s list, such as Anaheim’s John Gibson and Cam Fowler, frequently appeared in the rumor mill recently. Follow the link to see the full listing if you have a subscription to The Athletic.

It’s not surprising that Dvorak and Ceci are on this list. They play on rebuilding teams and are eligible to become unrestricted free agents in July.

Ristolainen, however, is signed through 2026-27 with an AAV of $5.1 million. Johnston considers him a third-pairing defenseman at this stage of his career. Good luck moving that contract without retaining salary or adding sweeteners.










NHL Rumor Mill – October 30, 2024

by | Oct 30, 2024

NHL Rumor Mill – October 30, 2024

Could Connor Bedard’s frustration over the Blackhawks’ slow start force the club to seek help in the trade market? Are there some potential blueline trade options for the Oilers and Senators? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

SPORTSNET: During Monday’s “32 Thoughts: The Podcast” episode, Elliotte Friedman observed Chicago Blackhawks center Connor Bedard’s frustration over his club’s slow start to this season.

Chicago Blackhawks center Connor Bedard (NHL Images).

Friedman dismissed any suggestion that Bedard is unhappy in Chicago and wants to be traded. However, he thinks the rebuilding Blackhawks might want to consider short-term roster improvements to keep Bedard happy without derailing their long-term plan.

According to Friedman, the Blackhawks attempted to acquire Jake Guentzel in the offseason before he was traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning, who signed him to a long-term contract. That shows they’ve tried to land a high-caliber star to play with Bedard.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Chicago has added veterans to their young roster over the last two years, bringing in Taylor Hall, Nick Foligno, Tyler Bertuzzi, Teuvo Teravainen, TJ Brodie, Alec Martinez and Laurent Brossoit.

The Blackhawks have plenty of trade bait in prospects and draft picks to make a competitive bid for a star. They’ll also have plenty of salary cap space to pursue one in next summer’s free-agent market.

Finding a star in their playing prime, however, is a difficult task. Most don’t want to join a rebuilding team that could be years away from contender status.

It’s believed the Blackhawks would like to add a second-line center, with some observers wondering if Anaheim Ducks forward Trevor Zegras could be available. It will take time to address that issue and might not occur during this season.

THE ATHLETIC: Allan Mitchell recently looked at five righthanded defensemen who should be trade targets for the Edmonton Oilers. One of them is Rasmus Andersson of the Calgary Flames.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Mitchell acknowledged the notion of the Flames trading Andersson to Edmonton is slim at best but felt he’d be the ideal option for the Oilers. I wouldn’t hold my breath waiting for that trade to go down.

Meanwhile, Julien McKenzie examined some potential defensive trade targets for the Ottawa Senators. They included Timothy Liljegren of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Cam Fowler of the Anaheim Ducks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Liljegren’s reportedly been available for nearly a month but his $3 million cap hit and lack of playing time hurts his trade value. Fowler has a four-team trade list but he’s reportedly willing to expand it to double-digits. Whether the Senators would be among his preferred destinations is another matter.










NHL Rumor Mill – October 29, 2024

by | Oct 29, 2024

NHL Rumor Mill – October 29, 2024

Check out the latest on the Leafs and Canadiens in today’s NHL Rumor Mill

WHO SHOULD THE LEAFS SIGN NEXT?

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Adam Proteau looked at which players the Toronto Maple Leafs should sign next after inking Jack McCabe to a five-year extension.

Proteau believes Matthew Knies is part of the Leafs’ long-term future. The 22-year-old forward is off to a strong start this season. He carries an average annual value of $925K and will get a significant raise on his next contract.

Toronto Maple Leafs forward Matthew Knies (NHL Images).

Former captain John Tavares knows people expect him to accept a significant pay cut from his current $11 million AAV to stay in Toronto. Proteau believes the 34-year-old center still has value under the right circumstances, suggesting a $6 million AAV on a two or three-year deal.

Proteau suggests the Leafs should consider moving on from Mitch Marner if he wants more than $11 million annually, citing his lack of playoff success. He thinks Leafs general manager Brad Treliving could feel pressure to get something for Marner in the trade market if his contract price is too high.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Knies is in the final season of his entry-level contract so the Leafs hold all the leverage unless he signs an offer sheet with a rival club or stages a holdout. Treliving will likely want to avoid those scenarios, especially if Knies maintains his strong performance throughout this campaign. He could get a bridge deal as Proteau suggests to between $5 million and $6 million but Treliving could also attempt to lock him up on a longer term.

Tavares wants to finish his career with the Leafs. He could accept between $5 million and $6 million annually on a two or three-year deal.

Marner currently carries an AAV of $10.9 million and probably won’t accept less than William Nylander’s $11.5 million. He also has a full no-movement clause and shows no intention of waiving it. As Sportsnet’s Nick Kypreos recently observed, the Leafs can either re-sign Marner or treat him as a playoff rental for this season and watch him depart in next summer’s unrestricted free-agent market.

LATEST ON THE CANADIENS

SPORTSNET: During the Oct. 28 edition of “32 Thoughts: The Podcast”, Elliotte Friedman mentioned the Montreal Canadiens are seeking a forward who plays with an edge and a right-shot defenseman.

Friedman mentioned San Jose Sharks defenseman Matt Benning. However, the Canadiens would prefer a player on an expiring contract.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canadiens are reportedly conducting due diligence to see which players are available in the trade market. It’s unknown if Benning is among them. There’s no trade activity right now and it’s believed the Canadiens have no deals in the works.

Benning, 30, is signed through 2025-26 with an AAV of $1.25 million. That affordable cap hit could make him a worthwhile trade target despite the extra year on his contract.










NHL Rumor Mill – October 28, 2024

by | Oct 28, 2024

NHL Rumor Mill – October 28, 2024

The Maple Leafs and Blackhawks need second-line centers plus the latest on the Wild in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

SHOULD THE MAPLE LEAFS TRADE FOR A CENTER?

THE ATHLETIC: Jonas Siegel observed the Toronto Maple Leafs lack depth at the center position. Head coach Craig Berube is reluctant to use the 34-year-old John Tavares as the second-line center but his fallback option (Max Domi) isn’t working.

Berube tried William Nylander at center during the preseason. Siegel doesn’t see 20-year-old Fraser Minten as part of the solution when he returns from a high-ankle sprain.

Siegel believes a trade is the only way to address that issue this season. However, a lot of teams need centers, there may be few available, and the Leafs have little trade ammunition.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Leafs could hold things together until the March 7 trade deadline approaches. There should be more trade options by that point. However, it could cost the Leafs a promising prospect or their 2026 first-rounder since they traded away their 2025 pick.

LATEST ON THE BLACKHAWKS

CHICAGO HOCKEY NOW: Brooke LoFurno recently cited The Fourth Period’s Dave Pagnotta and Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman saying the Blackhawks would love to add a second-line center.

Anaheim Ducks forward Trevor Zegras (NHL Images).

LoFurno indicated that Pagnotta mentioned Trevor Zegras of the Anaheim Ducks as a trade target, as he’s been mentioned in rumors since last season. Young centers are a luxury but the Blackhawks have plenty of draft capital to draw on for trade bait.

Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson mentioned many times he’d be willing to use draft capital in a trade to address a specific need. LoFurno believes a trade seems likely at some point.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: LoFurno noted the Blackhawks have 13 picks in the first three rounds of the next three drafts, including two first-rounders in 2025. She thinks Davidson might be willing to part with one of them for the right price.

Zegras was a promising foundation player for the Ducks but his stock has dropped since his injury-shortened 2023-24 campaign. He’s been relegated to the wing this season and has only two points in eight games. The 23-year-old Zegras carries an average annual value of $5.75 million through 2025-26.

Changing teams could help Zegras regain his once-promising offensive form. However, he could be unsuitable for the Blackhawks’ second-line center role.

The same goes for the Leafs.

DO THE WILD NEED A REPLACEMENT FOR SPURGEON?

THE ATHLETIC: A reader recently asked Michael Russo if the Minnesota Wild would place sidelined defenseman Jared Spurgeon on long-term injury reserve. The 34-year-old Wild captain hasn’t played since Oct. 12 because he’s still feeling the effects of last year’s season-ending back and hip surgeries.

Spurgeon doesn’t appear to have suffered a medical setback. The discomfort he felt is believed to be part of the recovery process. They’re allowing him time to let things calm down before he resumes skating.

Russo doesn’t believe the Wild are interested in Toronto’s Timothy Liljegren if they must find a replacement for Spurgeon. Who they pursue will depend on whether GM Bill Guerin believes they’re a right-shot defenseman away from being a legitimate contender.