Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – January 2, 2022

by | Jan 2, 2022

Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – January 2, 2022

​In the first Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup of 2022: a prediction that Patrik Laine will be traded again, a potentially complicated trade deadline lies ahead, and the Panthers could covet Canadiens defenseman Ben Chiarot.

COULD LAINE BE ON THE MOVE AGAIN?

SPORTSNET: In his recent three bold NHL predictions for 2022, Luke Fox speculated the Columbus Blue Jackets could trade Patrik Laine at some point this year. The 23-year-old winger got off to a hot start to this season but was sidelined by an oblique muscle injury and the tragic death of his father

Columbus Blue Jackets winger Patrik Laine (NHL Images).

Laine will be completing his one-year, $7.5 million contract, becoming a restricted free agent with salary arbitration this summer. Fox doubted he’ll commit to a long-term deal with a club that’s been sheddings assets for draft picks and prospects and are still a long way from contention. He believes Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen won’t run the risk of Laine inking another one-year deal and departing in 2023 as an unrestricted free agent.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: If the Jackets decide to trade Laine that move likely happens in the offseason, probably around the NHL draft weekend. While the Finnish sniper has had a couple of difficult seasons largely due to injuries, he remains a legitimate scoring threat who should return to his high-scoring ways when healthy.

The cost of Laine’s next contract and his injury history will affect his trade value. Nevertheless, teams will still line up to make bids if the Jackets signal their intent to move him. They could still get a decent return for Laine.

THE ATHLETIC: Eric Duhatschek believes the number of teams with interim general managers or those still seeking GMs will have an effect upon this year’s trade deadline (March 21). The Anaheim Ducks, Chicago Blackhawks, Montreal Canadiens and Vancouver Canucks fall into that category. Meanwhile, San Jose Sharks GM Doug Wilson is on medical leave.

Interim general managers like those in Chicago and Anaheim don’t have established trading records. It’s difficult to know if they’ll be aggressive in the trade market or take a more conservative approach.

Other factors also come into play. The Ducks are playing better than expected and might not be sellers by the deadline. Jim Rutherford, the Canucks new president of hockey operations, isn’t afraid to make deals but he could wait to see if the club’s improvement under head coach Bruce Boudreau is for real.

Jeff Gorton, the Montreal Canadiens new executive VP of hockey operations, also has an established trade record. However, he’s still trying to figure out his team.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Duhatschek also observed none of the potential sellers appear to be in any rush to make deals right now. That will likely change as the deadline nears.

The Canucks and Ducks won’t be sellers if they’re in the thick of the playoff hunt by March 21. Indeed, they could become buyers to provide a little more depth to their lineups for the postseason.

The Blackhawks and Canadiens will attempt to shed the pending UFAs they can’t or won’t re-sign this summer. The latter should have a new GM in place by then but they’ll be working in tandem with Gorton.

As for the Sharks, Duhatschek observed they have a significant potential trade chip in Tomas Hertl. Should they decide to move him, assistant GM Joe Will will likely be in contact with Wilson before pulling the trigger on a deal.

THE PANTHERS MAY BE INTERESTED IN CHIAROT.

RDS: Pierre LeBrun reports the Florida Panthers have held internal discussions regarding the possibility of acquiring Ben Chiarot from the Montreal Canadiens. The 30-year-old defenseman is drawing plenty of interest among playoff contenders. LeBrun believes the Panthers will make a pitch but they won’t be the only ones.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Media consensus suggests Chiarot could fetch a first-round draft pick for the Canadiens. The Panthers, however, traded their 2022 first-round pick to the Buffalo Sabres as part of the Sam Reinhart deal.

The Panthers could offer up their 2023 pick or perhaps package a couple of prospects for Chiarot. Their limited cap space will also make it difficult to absorb his $3.5 million cap hit but they could add a sweetener to convince the Habs to pick up part of his salary or perhaps get creative with a three-team deal to spread his cap hit around.










NHL Rumor Mill – January 1, 2022

by | Jan 1, 2022

NHL Rumor Mill – January 1, 2022

​Some recent predictions for the Flames plus the latest on Jake DeBrusk in the first NHL rumor mill of 2022.

PREDICTIONS FOR THE FLAMES IN 2022

TSN: Salim Valji made six predictions for the Calgary Flames in 2022. Among them was his belief general manager Brad Treliving will be active at the March 21 trade deadline by bringing in at least one significant player.

This season could be the Flames’ best opportunity to stage a deep playoff run before having to deal with the effect upon the salary cap of re-signing free agents such as Johnny Gaudreau, Matthew Tkachuk, Andrew Mangiapane and Oliver Kylington.

One possibility could be bringing back defenseman Mark Giordano, who was selected by the Seattle Kraken during last summer’s expansion draft. Treliving could attempt to acquire a forward with term on his contract such as Montreal Canadiens winger Tyler Toffoli.

Given the Flames’ limited salary-cap space, they’ll have to ship out a contract or two to make those additions. Defenseman Nikita Zadorov and winger Dillon Dube could be expendable.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Treliving made several significant trade acquisitions in the past, bringing in Dougie Hamilton, Noah Hanifin, Elias Lindholm and Milan Lucic. However, those moves took place in the offseason. He’s yet to make a major in-season addition via the trade market, preferring depth moves over bigger ones. It’ll be interesting to see if he’ll roll the dice this time around.

Calgary Flames center Sean Monahan (NHL Images).

Sportsnet’s Eric Francis believes the Flames will trade for a top defenseman like Giordano or someone else. He pointed out they’ll have to be prepared to pay a high price to bring back their former captain as a number of playoff contenders will also be interested.

Valji also believes the Flames will part ways with center Sean Monahan by buying him out or trading him. The 27-year-old center hasn’t been the same since undergoing hip surgery in the spring. He’s signed through 2022-23 with an annual average value of $6.375 million and a 10-team no-trade list. They’ll need the cap space to re-sign their key free agents.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Trading Monahan is more likely to occur in the offseason. Even then, it won’t be easy. The decline in his performance over the past couple of seasons hurts his trade value. It could mean retaining half of his cap hit, taking back a toxic contract in return, or attempting to broker a three-team trade to spread around his cap hit at the cost of a quality draft pick or prospect.

A buyout could be the way to go here. Cap Friendly indicates it would cost $2.375 million against the Flames cap in 2022-23 and $2 million the following season.

In other predictions, Valji believes Gaudreau will depart via free agency this summer, Tkachuk signs a three-year deal worth $9.5 million annually and they’ll make a strong pitch via free agency for Colorado Avalanche center Nazem Kadri.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: I can see those predictions for Gaudreau and Tkachuk taking place. However, I don’t think Treliving will convince Kadri to sign with the Flames. Valji observed the center invoked his no-movement clause to block a trade from Toronto to Calgary in 2019. I think Kadri sees his future elsewhere if he hits the open market this summer.

LATEST ON DEBRUSK

THE ATHLETIC: Fluto Shinzawa believes the return of the taxi squad until February gives the Boston Bruins a better opportunity to honor Jake DeBrusk’s trade request. GM Don Sweeney hasn’t found an offer to his liking, with the 24-year-old winger’s market value said to be a similarly dissatisfied player to a mid-round draft pick.

Shinzawa speculates the Bruins could be forced to accept that draft pick if they hope to move DeBrusk and clear sufficient salary-cap space for Tuukka Rask. It’s believed they intend to bring back the free-agent goaltender later this month as he progresses in his recovery from offseason hip surgery.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: That could depend on how much it’ll cost the Bruins to sign Rask to what’s expected to be a low-cost, prorated one-year contract. They currently have around $2 million in projected cap space.










NHL Rumor Mill – December 31, 2021

by | Dec 31, 2021

NHL Rumor Mill – December 31, 2021

How will the Golden Knights clear salary-cap space for Jack Eichel’s return in February? Could the Canadiens trade Brendan Gallagher or Tyler Toffoli before the March trade deadline? Check out the latest in today’s NHL rumor mill.

VEGAS HOCKEY NOW: Evgenii Dadonov and Reilly Smith top Owen Krepps’ list of potential cost-cutting Vegas Golden Knights trade candidates to clear salary-cap space for Jack Eichel’s return to action in February.

Vegas Golden Knights winger Reilly Smith (NHL Images).

The Golden Knights acquired Eichel in an early-season trade from the Buffalo Sabres. He’s been on long-term injury reserve after recovering from neck surgery last fall and is expected to make his Golden Knights’ debut in late February.

Eichel carries a $10 million annual salary-cap hit. His return would put the Golden Knights over the $81.5 million salary-cap ceiling by $4.6 million.

Krepps considered Dadonov the most likely trade candidate, pointing to his lack of consistency this season. He felt the winger could be of interest to rebuilding clubs like the Ottawa Senators or Detroit Red Wings. Dadonov’s annual cap hit is $5 million through 2022-23 and he carries a modified no-trade clause.

Smith is also earning $5 million and is slated to become an unrestricted free agent in July. That could make him a trade candidate and he could fetch a good return. However, he’s producing at a better level than Dadonov and could be worthwhile retaining for the playoffs.

Other trade candidates include Brayden McNabb and Mattias Janmark. Krepps also suggests they could get some cap relief if defenseman Alec Martinez remains on LTIR recovering from a facial injury.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Krepps piece was published before Golden Knights winger Max Pacioretty was sidelined indefinitely by wrist surgery. As NBC Sports’ James O’Brien points out, Pacioretty’s $7 million cap hit won’t totally cancel out Eichel’s $10 million but it would alleviate much of that potential salary-cap strain if the veteran winger goes on LTIR for the remainder of the season.

The Golden Knights could still be forced to move Dadonov or Smith if Pacioretty and Martinez return before Eichel’s debut or soon afterward. While Krepps believes Dadonov is the more likely trade candidate, I think it’s Smith who ends up moving despite his value to the Golden Knights.

Dadonov’s inconsistency, the extra year on his contract and his 10-team no-trade list would make him harder to move than the productive Smith, who lacks no-trade protection. I doubt the Senators are interested in bringing Dadonov back. Meanwhile, the Red Wings are jockeying for a wild-card berth and could prefer Smith over Dadonov if they’re in the market for a scoring winger.

SPORTSNET: Eric Engels made three bold predictions for the Montreal Canadiens in 2022. He doesn’t believe they’ll trade winger Brendan Gallagher before the March 21 trade deadline but felt winger Tyler Toffoli could be on the move by then.

Engels points out Gallagher is in the first year of a six-year, $39 million contract with a no-movement clause and partial no-trade clause. He considers the idea of retaining some of his salary and recouping good value in a trade to be farfetched. Engels also believes Gallagher would be of more worth to the Canadiens as their captain leading a crop of new up-and-coming players.

Toffoli, on the other hand, has an affordable $4.25 million annual cap hit and lacks no-trade protection. Despite his recent hand injury, he’s the type of player postseason contenders could be interested in as the deadline approaches.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Bear in mind that Engels is merely making “bold predictions” here and isn’t citing sources indicating what the Canadiens intend to do with Gallagher and Toffoli. They still haven’t chosen a new general manager yet and we don’t know what they and Jeff Gorton (their new executive VP of hockey operations) intend to do at the trade deadline.

Nevertheless, I concur with Engels that Toffoli would be more likely to move before the trade deadline than Gallagher if the Canadiens intend to commence a full roster rebuild.










NHL Rumor Mill – December 30, 2021

by | Dec 30, 2021

NHL Rumor Mill – December 30, 2021

Evgeni Malkin talks about his next contract, suggested trade blueline trade targets for the Penguins, and the latest on the Rangers in today’s NHL rumor mill.

MALKIN TALKS CONTRACT, PENGUINS NEED A RIGHT-HANDED DEFENSEMAN

PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE: Matt Vensel reports Penguins center Evgeni Malkin isn’t sweating his next contract and still believes his club can be a Stanley Cup contender. Currently working his way back from offseason knee surgery, the 35-year-old superstar said he likes what he’s seen of the Penguins this season and hopes he can provide them with more power upon his return.

Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin (NHL Images).

Slated to become an unrestricted free agent in July, Malkin said the uncertainty of his contract status won’t affect his performance. “No, no, I’m not thinking about that, my contract,” he told the press yesterday. “I don’t think about money. I’m like pretty rich guy,” he said with a chuckle which drew laughter from the media. He added he’s not thinking about money, putting his focus on regaining his level of previous performance.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Malkin added he hopes to continue playing for another three or four years. Whether that’ll be with the Penguins or another club remains to be determined.

He’s completing an eight-year deal worth $9.5 million per season. Cap Friendly shows the Penguins with over $33 million in projected available cap space for 2022-23 though we can add $1 million to that to account for the rise of the salary cap to $82.5 million next season. However, they only have eight players under contract for ’22-’23 with such notables as Kris Letang, Kasperi Kapanen, Jeff Carter, and Bryan Rust also due for new deals.

Malkin will have to accept a significant pay cut to finish his playing career with the Penguins. It will be interesting to see if he and management can find an acceptable level to make the dollars work.

PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: Dan Kingerski recently observed the Penguins will have to shed some salary to make room for Malkin’s return. That could result in a cost-cutting deal involving a depth forward such as Zach Aston-Reese, Danton Heinen or even Brock McGinn.

Kingerski also believes the Penguins could use another right-handed defenseman. He suggested Philadelphia Flyers blueliner Justin Braun ($1.8 million) or the Buffalo Sabres’ Colin Miller if the Sabres would agree to take some salary back in return.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kingerski also suggested struggling winger Jason Zucker would be the most desirable to move but that could be difficult given his declining performance and $5.5 million cap hit.

Zucker has since been listed as week-to-week with a nagging lower-body injury. If he should end up on long-term injury reserve for the rest of the season it would help the Penguins’ efforts to clear cap space for Malkin’s return.

LATEST RANGERS SPECULATION

THE ATHLETIC: In a recent mailbag segment, Arthur Staple was asked if the New York Rangers could pursue a big fish like San Jose Sharks center Tomas Hertl at the trade deadline given their high placement in the Metropolitan Division standings.

Staple indicated the Rangers are among a handful of playoff clubs with sufficient salary-cap space to make additions at the trade deadline. He suggested they should go all-in this season, proposing they make inquiries about Philadelphia Flyers forward Claude Giroux, Los Angeles Kings winger Dustin Brown or Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Calvin de Haan.

Hertl’s three-team trade clause could make him difficult to acquire. Staple said he’d pass on Arizona Coyotes winger Phil Kessel. He also noted the possibility Reilly Smith ($5.5 million, UFA in July 2022) could be available as the Vegas Golden Knights will have to shed salary when Jack Eichel returns in February.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Rangers are projected to have $28.8 million in projected salary-cap space by deadline day. General manager Chris Drury showed his willingness to make deals in the offseason by acquiring Barclay Goodrow and Ryan Reaves. I wouldn’t rule out the possibility of him shopping for a winger and/or a veteran defenseman leading up to the March 21 trade deadline.

Giroux and Brown probably won’t be available as long as their clubs remain in playoff contention. There’s also no certainty either guy will agree to waive their no-movement/no-trade clauses if asked to do so. Smith could be the best option if the Golden Knights are looking for a cost-cutting deal.










NHL Rumor Mill – December 29, 2021

by | Dec 29, 2021

NHL Rumor Mill – December 29, 2021

​A look at several proposed Bruins trade targets plus some Red Wings speculation in today’s NHL rumor mill.

BOSTON HOCKEY NOW: Jimmy Murphy recently looked at some possible trade targets for the Bruins. He suggested Arizona Coyotes winger (and former Bruin) Phil Kessel as an option to replace Jake DeBrusk if they can trade the latter. The 34-year-old Kessel’s put up decent stats on a horrible Coyotes club and could provide the Bruins with middle-six scoring they need.

Arizona Coyotes winger Phil Kessel (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kessel for DeBrusk: who says no? Probably Coyotes general manager Bill Armstrong. He’ll likely want a draft pick and prospect for Kessel, and that pick could be a second-rounder if you want him to absorb a healthy chunk of the Coyotes’ share ($6.8 million) of Kessel’s $8 million cap hit. That’s assuming the Bruins are on the winger’s eight-team trade list or that he’s willing to add them to that list.

Other options included pending other pending unrestricted free agents such as the Pittsburgh Penguins’ Bryan Rust, Seattle Kraken’s Mark Giordano, San Jose Sharks Tomas Hertl and Dallas Stars’ Joe Pavelski.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: I don’t see the Penguins parting with Rust as long as they remain in playoff contention. They’ll likely keep him as an “own rental” if unable to reach an agreement on a contract extension before the March 21 trade deadline.

Giordano’s situation is an interesting one. The Kraken named him their first captain in franchise history and undoubtedly hope to re-sign him, but the 37-year-old defenseman isn’t getting any younger and his opportunities to play for a Stanley Cup contender are dwindling. He has a list of 19 preferred trade destinations.

The Sharks and Stars are just a handful of points outside of a Western Conference wild-card berth. They’ll retain Hertl and Pavelski if they should vault back into postseason berths.

Moving either guy won’t be easy as they each have three-team trade lists. Perhaps they could be convinced to widen those lists if their respective teams asked them to do so.

THE ATHLETIC: In a recent mailbag segment, Max Bultman was asked about possible moves by the Detroit Red Wings before this year’s trade deadline.

He doesn’t see the Wings parting with Tyler Bertuzzi even though he’s a year away from UFA status and missed several games because of his vaccination status. He doesn’t see any team parting with draft picks and prospects for a player like Bertuzzi who would miss a bunch of games in Canada this season.

Bultman suggested seeing what they could get for pending UFAs like Nick Leddy, Vladislav Namestnikov or Thomas Greiss if the Wings become sellers. If they’re buyers, he proposed a “fairly-young, change-of-scenery candidate like Boston’s Jake DeBrusk.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Bear in mind that Bultman is merely speculating here and isn’t saying the Wings will consider trading Bertuzzi, Leddy, Namestnikov or Greiss or pursuing DeBrusk. Still, it’ll be interesting to see what GM Steve Yzerman has up his sleeve at this season’s deadline after swinging the biggest trade of the day at last season’s deadline.

Where the Wings sit in the standings as the deadline approaches could determine what moves he makes. They’re currently holding the last wild-card berth in the Eastern Conference. I doubt he’ll be a seller if they’re still in the position or higher in the standings by deadline day.










NHL Rumor Mill – December 28, 2021

by | Dec 28, 2021

NHL Rumor Mill – December 28, 2021

​The NHL’s holiday roster freeze has been lifted. Here’s a look at some bold trade predictions for the Canucks, Leafs, Oilers and in today’s rumor mill.

SPORTSNET: Iain MacIntyre suggested Brock Boeser could be the Vancouver Canucks’ most vulnerable core player as part of his three bold 2022 predictions. The 24-year-old winger is a restricted free agent status next summer and his struggles earlier this season before Bruce Boudreau took over as head coach.

Vancouver Canucks winger Brock Boeser (NHL Images).

It will take $7.5 million to qualify Boeser’s rights. While that doesn’t mean he’ll be traded, MacIntyre points out they can’t afford that figure as a launch point on a new contract if they also hope to re-sign Bo Horvat and J.T. Miller in 2023 and Elias Pettersson in 2024. “Something has to give. Or someone has to go”.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Boeser also has arbitration rights which could also complicate negotiations next summer. Cap Friendly indicates they have over $71 million committed to 16 players in 2022-23. They’ll also get $3.5 million in cap relief with Micheal Ferland on permanent long-term injury reserve. That’s enough to re-sign Boeser but won’t leave sufficient room to fill out the rest of the roster.

This will be an interesting test for whoever takes over as their new general manager. I doubt the Canucks will move Boeser but MacIntyre’s right when he said someone will have to go. Shedding a high-salaried veteran like Oliver Ekman-Larsson or Tyler Myers would be ideal but it will be very difficult to find any takers even under normal circumstances.

Luke Fox believes the Toronto Maple Leafs will find a way to re-sign goaltender Jack Campbell as one of his three bold predictions for the club in 2022. Doing so, however, could mean attempting to trade or buy out Petr Mrazek or moving someone like Jake Muzzin or Alex Kerfoot.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Leafs have over $76 million invested in 13 players for 2022-23. Even with the cap rising to $82.5 million next season, that won’t leave enough to re-sign Campbell and fill out the rest of the roster. Someone’s gotta go and it could be one or two of those mentioned by Fox.

Then again, if the Leafs crap the bed in the postseason again, perhaps a core player carrying a heftier contract gets moved, which could make it easier to re-sign Campbell. That’s assuming he doesn’t decide to test the market next summer where there will be teams willing to pay him big bucks if he and the Leafs fail to reach an agreement.

EDMONTON JOURNAL: Jim Matheson recently speculated the Oilers could make a strong play for winger Phil Kessel if the Arizona Coyotes would retain half of his salary. He cited Kessel’s two Stanley Cups playing with stars in Pittsburgh.

SPORTSNET: Mark Spector suggested the Oilers could attempt to trade goaltender Mikko Koskinen by the trade deadline if Mike Smith returns to action and plays well in the New Year. If not, they could put Smith on LTIR and ride it out with Koskinen and Stuart Skinner.

Spector also predicted winger Kailer Yamamoto could end up moved by the trade deadline if his production doesn’t improve. He suggested the Seattle Kraken as a trade destination, perhaps for Mason Appleton or Carson Soucy.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kessel’s cap hit is $8 million but the Coyotes carry $6.8 million when the Leafs retain $1.2 million. It could get expensive to convince the Coyotes to retain half of their share. They’re loading up with draft picks for 2022 and could seek a second-round pick in addition to whatever else their asking price could be.

It could be asking too much for Smith to still be healthy and playing well given his age and injury history. It will be worthwhile keeping an eye on the Oilers’ goaltending in the New Year.

Yamamoto really struggled since his promising 2019-20 debut when he netted 26 points in 27 games. Maybe the Kraken becomes his next home or perhaps he ends up with another NHL club by the March 21 trade deadline.