NHL Rumor Mill – February 3, 2024

by | Feb 3, 2024

NHL Rumor Mill – February 3, 2024

What’s next for the Canadiens after trading Sean Monahan to Winnipeg? What’s the latest on the Islanders and Senators? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

WHAT NEXT FOR THE CANADIENS FOLLOWING THE MONAHAN TRADE?

SPORTSNET: Eric Engels praised Montreal Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes for a master class in asset management by trading Sean Monahan on Friday to the Winnipeg Jets for a 2024 first-round pick and a conditional third-rounder in 2027. This after Hughes obtained a 2025 first-round pick from the Calgary Flames in 2022 to take on Monahan’s contract at a time when his trade value was at its lowest.

Montreal Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes (NHL Images).

The Canadiens now have two first-round picks in the 2024 draft and two in the 2025 draft. They also have four more picks in the second round and five more in the third through 2026.

Engels speculates that Hughes could use some of those first-round picks as trade bait. He traded first-round picks in each of the last two drafts to acquire Kirby Dach and Alex Newhook.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hughes recently spoke of his club’s need to bolster their scoring depth. He could draw upon his cache of high draft picks to bring in an established young scorer who could help accelerate the club’s rebuilding process. The Canadiens GM could do that before the March 8 trade deadline or during this year’s draft.

THE ATHLETIC’s Arpon Basu reported Hughes indicated yesterday that he’s not shopping defenseman David Savard.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Savard is under contract through next season but he had surfaced in the rumor mill as a possible trade candidate. It sounds like Hughes isn’t that keen to move him. Savard brings veteran experience and leadership to the Canadiens’ young defense corps.

LATEST ISLANDERS SPECULATION

NYI HOCKEY NOW: Andrew Fantucchio recently listed three possible trade candidates for the Islanders if they become sellers by the March 8 trade deadline.

Fantucchio listed goaltender Semyon Varlamov, winger Simon Holmstrom and center Brock Nelson as possible trade options, though he considered Nelson unlikely to be moved.

Varlamov, 35, is in the first year of a four-year deal along with a full no-trade clause in the first two years. The 22-year-old Holmstrom is enjoying his best season to date with 12 goals and 18 points.

Nelson, 32, has two years left on his contract and a 16-team no-trade clause but has averaged over 36 goals per season over the last two years and is once again on pace to finish the season as the Isles’ leading goal scorer.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Fantucchio goes into greater detail regarding the pros and cons of moving those three.

Of the three, Holmstrom would seem the easiest to move but he won’t fetch a big return. Varlamov’s age and NTC should ensure he remains with the Isles this season.

Nelson would draw plenty of attention and bring the best return but I doubt he’ll be traded unless Isles GM Lou Lamoriello decides it’s time to tear things down and rebuild. I don’t think Lamoriello is at that stage given his recent hiring of Patrick Roy as head coach.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Stefen Rosner listed five reasons why the Islanders have placed forward Julien Gauthier on waivers. One of them could be to clear additional salary-cap space for a trade. If Gauthier clears, he’ll be sent to their AHL affiliate and his $785,500 cap hit will be freed up, giving the Isles nearly $5 million in projected trade deadline cap space.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: If that’s the reason, it would mean Lamoriello intends to be a buyer before next month’s trade deadline.

SENATORS SHOPPING THOMSON?

OTTAWA SUN’s Bruce Garrioch reports a league executive told him that he wouldn’t be surprised if Senators defenseman Lassi Thomson is traded to another organization before the March trade deadline.

Full Press Hockey’s Murray Pam cited a report out of Sweden suggesting Thomson could be heading to Swedish club Malmo next season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: As we say on The Face Off Hockey Show, “All roads lead to Malmo”. (Inside joke. Those who regularly follow the show will get it).

Once a highly-touted prospect, the 23-year-old Thomson has struggled to crack the Senators lineup. He’s appeared in just 18 games with the Senators, spending most of his time since 2020-21 with their AHL affiliate in Belleville.










Sean Monahan To The Winnipeg Jets

by | Feb 2, 2024

Sean Monahan To The Winnipeg Jets

TSN’s Pierre LeBrun and Darren Dreger report the Montreal Canadiens are trading Sean Monahan to the Winnipeg Jets in exchange for a first-round pick and a conditional pick pending trade call. 

NHL.COM: Trade confirmed. Monahan to the Jets in exchange for the Jets’ 2024 first-round pick and a conditional third-round pick in 2027. 

Montreal Canadiens trade center Sean Monahan to the Winnipeg Jets. (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: TSN’s John Lu reports the Jets are shoring up their depth at center with Mark Scheifele currently sidelined by a lower-body injury. They went 2-3-1 during his absence before the All-Star Break. 

This is an affordable addition for the Jets, who were jockeying for first overall before Scheifele was injured. The 29-year-old Monahan carries a $1.95 million salary for this season. He is enjoying a bounce-back performance after missing most of last season due to lower-body injuries. He was third on the rebuilding Canadiens in scoring with 35 points in 49 games. He’ll slot into the second-line center position behind Scheifele. 

The Canadiens got a conditional 2025 first-round pick from the Calgary Flames in 2022 for taking on the remainder of Monahan’s former contract which carried a $6.35 million cap hit. This deal with the Jets means they now have two first-rounders in this year’s draft and two in 2025. That provides them the option of keeping those picks for themselves or using some of them as trade bait to bring in some established young talent. 

 










NHL Rumor Mill – February 2, 2024

by | Feb 2, 2024

NHL Rumor Mill – February 2, 2024

The ongoing fallout of the Elias Lindholm deal on the trade market, plus the latest on the Predators and Blackhawks in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

FALLOUT FROM THE LINDHOLM TRADE

THE ATHLETIC: Pierre LeBrun reports Sean Monahan of the Montreal Canadiens moves to the top of the list of available centers who are pending unrestricted free agents heading toward the March 8 trade deadline.

Montreal Canadiens center Sean Monahan (NHL Images).

He believes the Winnipeg Jets and Colorado Avalanche want to add a second-line center. The Boston Bruins and New York Rangers also make sense as destinations for Monahan.

The Anaheim Ducks’ Adam Henrique is probably next on that list. LeBrun also wondered if Scott Laughton could end up on this list if the Philadelphia Flyers fall out of the playoff race. He cited colleague Darren Dreger reporting the Flyers are getting calls about Laughton, who has two years left on his contract with an annual cap hit of $3 million. While general manager Daniel Briere isn’t keen to move the 29-year-old center he’s willing to listen to offers.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Monahan’s bounce-back performance this season and his affordable $1.9 million cap hit account for why he’s likely the top center in the trade market leading up to March 8. The Canadiens could even retain half of that cap hit but they’ll likely want a first-round pick and maybe a prospect or a promising young NHL player in return.

Laughton could be moved if someone pitches a significant offer to Briere, who isn’t deviating from his rebuilding plans despite his club sitting third in the Metropolitan Divison. As he said, however, he won’t make trades just for the sake of doing so. Briere indicated the trade market would determine what moves (if any) he’ll make.

LeBrun believes the Flames’ focus now shifts toward pending UFA defensemen Noah Hanifin and Chris Tanev. He thinks they’re still trying to re-sign Hanifin but will have to fish or cut bait by March 8.

It’s more likely that Tanev gets moved by deadline day. The Flames’ asking price is believed to be a second-round pick plus another asset but a club could have him right now if they’re willing to part with a first-rounder.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: LeBrun believes the Flames are rebuilding on the fly rather than engaging in a full roster teardown. They could seek a young roster player for Hanifin as he has more value than Tanev.

LeBrun also wondered what effect Lindholm’s trade might have on Flames goalie Jacob Markstrom as the two are good friends. Markstrom is signed through 2025-26 with an AAV of $6 million and a no-movement clause. If he wants out, moving him might have to wait until the offseason.

LATEST ON THE PREDATORS

THE TENNESSEAN: Paul Skrbina doesn’t see the Nashville Predators parting with starting goaltender Juuse Saros by deadline day. They’re jockeying for a wild-card berth in the Western Conference and promising Yaroslav Askarov isn’t NHL-ready yet. The only way he thinks that could happen is if a desperate general manager is willing to overpay to get him.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Somebody could pitch Preds GM Barry Trotz an offer too good to refuse but I don’t think anyone’s going to do that by the trade deadline. Maybe in the offseason if Saros’ contract extension talks get difficult.

Skrbina expects Tyson Barrie to be the more likely candidate following his recent public trade request. Pending free agents such as Tommy Novak, Yakov Trenin, Alexandre Carrier and Kevin Lankinen and pending restricted free agent Dante Fabbro could also become trade bait.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Not all of those pending free agents could hit the trade block. In Fabbro’s case, Trotz doesn’t have to move him by March 8 as he could wait for the offseason to gauge his market value if he doesn’t have a long-term future in Nashville.

SHOULD THE BLACKHAWKS LOOK INTO ACQUIRING KAKKO?

CHICAGO HOCKEY NOW: Nate Brown noted a recent report indicating the New York Rangers are taking calls on winger Kaapo Kakko and wondered if the Blackhawks should look into it if they haven’t already done so.

Kaapo, 22, could be an affordable acquisition and he still has time to reach his potential. However, Brown noted that the young Rangers winger has had ample opportunity to do so and hasn’t reached it yet. He also noted the Blackhawks are dealing with a struggling young winger of their own in Lukas Reichel.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Blackhawks already have enough promising youngsters on their club and within their system. They need more established young talent to help their rebuild and provide some much-needed depth around budding superstar Connor Bedard.










NHL Rumor Mill – February 1, 2024

by | Feb 1, 2024

NHL Rumor Mill – February 1, 2024

With Elias Lindholm off the trade market, check out the latest on Jake Guentzel and Sean Monahan plus updates on the Bruins and Sabres in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

THE LATEST PENGUINS’ SPECULATION

THE ATHLETIC: Josh Yohe believes Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas would like to re-sign Jake Guentzel. The 29-year-old winger is slated to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. It could depend on Guentzel’s willingness to sign what Yohe called a “somewhat team-friendly deal.”

Yohe believes Dubas isn’t afraid to trade Guentzel if a new deal isn’t possible. He won’t let the winger walk away for nothing this summer. Nevertheless, the Penguins GM would love to sign him for the right price.

Pittsburgh Penguins winger Jake Guentzel (NHL Images)

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Guentzel’s cap hit on his current contract is $6 million. With the salary cap projected to jump by $4.2 million for 2024-25, he could get between $9 million and $10 million annually on the open market.

My guess is Dubas’ number is between $7.5 million and $8 million per season. It would then come down to how much Guentzel wants to stay and remain Sidney Crosby’s wingman.

PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: Dan Kingerski noted the Penguins have a couple of holes to fix among their middle-six forwards. He wondered if Dubas would attempt to move struggling winger Reilly Smith and his $5.5 million annual cap hit through next season to make room for another solution in a similar role.

Kingerski’s suggested trade targets include Ottawa Senators right wing Vladimir Tarasenko, Buffalo Sabres winger Victor Olofsson, and former Penguins winger Jason Zucker of the Arizona Coyotes.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The 32-year-old Smith’s production is well down this season with just eight goals and 20 points in 40 games. He has a 10-team no-trade list for this season which becomes an eight-team list next season.

Smith might not be willing to move to a rebuilding team, though the Coyotes are showing signs of a potential breakthrough as a playoff contender this season. Whether the Coyotes would want him, however, is another matter.

UPDATE ON THE CANADIENS

SPORTSNET: In his Jan. 30 mailbag, Eric Engels was asked if the Montreal Canadiens will trade Sean Monahan and if so what type of return he might fetch.

Engels believes it would take a first-round pick for Canadiens GM Kent Hughes to part with Monahan. As for when Hughes can expect to receive serious offers for the 29-year-old center. Engels expects talks in the trade market will pick up following the All-Star break.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Those discussions could start now after the Lindholm trade yesterday. That was the first domino to drop. Trade activity won’t take place during the All-Star break because the league doesn’t want anything to overshadow that.

I wouldn’t be surprised if the next big move takes place soon after the end of the All-Star weekend. Teams that were interested in Lindholm could shift their focus toward Monahan and that could drive up his trade value.

WILL THE SABRES BECOME SELLERS?

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Michael Augello noted that the Buffalo Sabres have six pending unrestricted free agents (Victor Olofsson, Kyle Okposo, Zemgus Girgensons, Eric Robinson, Eric Comrie and Erik Johnson) who could become trade bait leading up to the March 8 deadline. However, he doesn’t expect they’ll fetch big rewards for the Sabres.

Augello also noted some recent speculation suggesting the Sabres could trade forward Casey Mittelstadt. He carries an affordable $2.5 million cap hit and is eligible for restricted free-agent status this summer. However, that might be a move that Sabres management can hold off on until this summer.

BUFFALO HOCKEY NOW: Jason Moser recently noted the speculation about David Jiricek’s future with the Columbus Blue Jackets after the rookie defenseman expressed frustration over being demoted to their AHL affiliate.

Moser thinks it could be worthwhile for the Sabres to look into acquiring Jiricek if he’s available. He thinks offering up a top prospect forward such as Matthew Savoie, Noah Ostlund, Jiri Kulich or Isak Rosen would make sense.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Sabres playoff hopes appear dashed for another season. It wouldn’t be surprising if the Sabres peddled some of those pending UFAs for middle or low-range draft picks and prospects that could be used as trade bait in the offseason.

They could move Mittelstadt but that could depend on how his contract talks go. If it appears he could be headed to arbitration they might shop him during the draft in June for a skilled defenseman or an established starting goalie.

As for Jiricek, he hasn’t asked to be traded and I doubt that the Blue Jackets want to move him given his potential as a top-pairing blueliner. If he did become available, however, the Sabres possess the depth in promising young assets to make a competitive offer.

WHAT MUST THE BRUINS ADDRESS BEFORE THE TRADE DEADLINE?

NBC SPORTS BOSTON: Nick Goss ranked the Bruins biggest needs to address as the trade deadline approaches.

Acquiring a physical veteran defenseman who can clear the front of the net, kill penalties and play tough minutes against quality opponents. is the top priority. Adding a middle-six forward with a decent scoring touch could also help.










Vancouver Canucks Acquire Elias Lindholm From The Calgary Flames

by | Feb 1, 2024

Vancouver Canucks Acquire Elias Lindholm From The Calgary Flames

The Vancouver Canucks traded winger Andrei Kuzmenko, prospect defensemen Hunter Brzustewicz and Joni Jurmo, their 2024 first-round pick and a conditional 2024 fourth-rounder to the Calgary Flames for center Elias Lindholm.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canucks were rumored for weeks to be interested in landing Lindholm. It’s a clear sign that they’re all-in for the Stanley Cup by adding the 29-year-old two-way center.

Calgary Flames trade center Elias Lindholm to the Vancouver Canucks (NHL Images).

Lindholm is slated to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1 unless he and the Canucks agree to a contract extension. That could depend on how well he fits in and whether they have sufficient cap space to sign him with Elias Pettersson due for a major raise this summer as a restricted free agent with arbitration rights.

For now, however, this move should significantly improve the Canucks second line and bolster their chances for a Cup run this spring. Lindholm tallied 82 points in 2022-23 but his production dropped after the Flames lost Johnny Gaudreau to free agency and traded away Matthew Tkachuk. He should regain his scoring touch with the Canucks’ potent offense.

Kuzmenko carries a $5.5 million average annual value through next season. He also has a 12-team no-trade clause but reportedly agreed to be shipped to the Flames. The 27-year-old winger tallied 39 goals and 74 points in 2022-23 but struggled to replicate those numbers this season. His one-dimensional play frustrated the Canucks’ coaching staff as they tried to improve his all-around game. Perhaps a shift to the Flames will help him return to form.

The deal also brings in two blueline prospects as well as an additional first and fourth-round picks to the Flames as it appears they’re about to engage in a roster retool. This could also signal that defensemen Chris Tanev and Noah Hanifin could be next to go. Like Lindholm, they’re both pending UFAs who’ve been the subject of frequent trade speculation this season.

This is the second trade between these two clubs this season. On Nov. 30, the Flames traded defenseman Nikita Zadorov to the Canucks for two draft picks. This deal should silence recent speculation suggesting Zadorov could be moved in a cost-cutting trade.










NHL Rumor Mill – January 31, 2024

by | Jan 31, 2024

NHL Rumor Mill – January 31, 2024

The Rangers could pursue Elias Lindholm while Kaapo Kakko could become trade bait, plus an update on Chris Tanev and the latest on the Canucks and Capitals in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

LATEST RANGERS SPECULATION

NEW YORK POST: Larry Brooks reports sources tell him the Rangers have Elias Lindholm at the top of their wish list and had done so before Filip Chytil was ruled out for the rest of the season with a suspected concussion.

Lindholm, 29, is a skilled two-way center slated to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. Brooks noted that he’s not a bruising checking-line forward that would make the Rangers a tougher playoff opponent. However, he would improve the Rangers at five-on-five.

While the Flames could still attempt to re-sign him he could become what Brooks calls the “prize deadline rental property.” The asking price could be a first-round pick along with “at least one legitimate prospect and perhaps a young, NHL-ready player.

Calgary Flames center Elias Lindholm (NHL Images).

It could take Kaapo Kakko and a first-rounder for the Rangers to land Lindholm. “Or maybe the Flames would prefer Will Cuylle or Brennan Othmann”. The Blueshirts have the cap room to absorb Lindholm’s $4.85 million cap hit but it would leave them little room to address other issues. Brooks believes the Flames’ asking price could increase if the Rangers asked them to retain 40 or 50 percent of Lindholm’s cap hit.

TSN: Darren Dreger reported Kakko is an asset that Rangers general manager Chris Drury could use as trade bait. He said multiple sources claim Drury is taking calls about the 22-year-old winger, who was chosen second overall in the 2019 draft. Dreger speculates Kakko could be used to acquire “a significant piece” leading up to the March 8 trade deadline.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Rangers ownership and management consider themselves to be Stanley Cup contenders since reaching the 2022 Eastern Conference Final. They went big in last year’s trade deadline by acquiring Patrick Kane and Vladimir Tarasenko but were eliminated from the opening round of the 2023 playoffs by their arch-rival, the New Jersey Devils.

It shouldn’t come as a surprise that the Rangers will swing for the fences again this year. They must address their depth at center and have the cap space to do so with Chytil on long-term injury reserve for the rest of the season.

Dangling Kakko as the centerpiece of an offer for Lindholm could give the Rangers the edge in a bidding war. He’s struggled with injuries and consistency in his five NHL seasons but still has the potential to become a reliable top-six forward, especially after last season’s promising 40-point performance. A change of scenery could be just what he needs to reach his potential.

TEAMS LINING UP FOR CHRIS TANEV

TSN: Darren Dreger reports multiple teams are in the mix for Calgary Flames defenseman Chris Tanev. Among them are the Ottawa Senators and Toronto Maple Leafs.

The Senators would see Tanev as a foundational fit as they would be interested in signing him to a contract extension. Dreger also indicated some of the teams looking at Tanev are non-contenders like the Senators.

Dreger believes it comes down to whether Tanev is chasing the Stanley Cup this year. If he is, it will factor significantly into his decision as to where he wants to go.

OTTAWA SUN: Bruce Garrioch cites league sources claiming as many as 10 teams have reached out to the Flames about Tanev, including the Senators, Maple Leafs, Los Angeles Kings and Vancouver Canucks. It’s thought that Leafs general manager (and former Flames GM) Brad Treliving has made acquiring the blueliner a priority.

There aren’t many right-shot defensemen in this year’s trade market which is why Tanev is so coveted this season. Carolina Hurricanes blueliner Brett Pesce is the only other top-end right-shot blueliner available.

It’s believed the Flames asking price for Tanev is at least a first-round pick plus a prospect.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: A first-rounder plus a prospect seems like a lot to pay for a 34-year-old pending UFA defenseman. However, it wouldn’t be the first time a team has overpaid for such talent leading up to deadline day.

As for Pesce, his name was out there in the rumor mill earlier this season. With the Hurricanes rising in the Eastern Conference standings, I doubt that he’s available now. Like Tanev, he’s slated to become a UFA in July but the Hurricanes could be willing to hang onto him for the rest of the season and deal with his contract situation once the playoffs are over.

COULD THE CANUCKS TRADE ZADOROV?

CHEK-TV’S Rick Dhaliwal reports agent Dan Milstein doesn’t believe rumors that the Vancouver Canucks could trade client Nikita Zadorov at the trade deadline.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The basis of that speculation had the Canucks moving Zadorov as a cost-cutting measure to free up cap room to acquire someone like Calgary’s Elias Lindholm or Pittsburgh’s Jake Guentzel.

Zadorov has struggled at times since joining the Canucks but he plays with a physical style that could prove invaluable in the heat of playoff competition. A more likely trade candidate would be Andrei Kuzmenko, who carries a $5.5 million AAV through next season. However, his declining performance this season could make him tougher to trade.

UPDATE ON THE CAPITALS

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Sammy Silber cited Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli including Washington Capitals forward Nic Dowd on his list of trade targets. He’s among the league’s best defensive forwards and has a year left on his contract with a cap hit of $1.3 million.

Silber expects Dowd will be a trade candidate if the Capitals become sellers at the March 8 trade deadline. So will pending UFA winger Anthony Mantha. Max Pacioretty, Joel Edmundson and Nicolas Aube-Kubel could also draw some interest as could defensemen Nick Jensen and Trevor van Riemsdyk.