List of NHL Trades for April 10, 2021

by | Apr 10, 2021

List of NHL Trades for April 10, 2021

The Columbus Blue Jackets trade defenseman David Savard to the Tampa Bay Lightning in a three-team deal. TSN’s Pierre LeBrun reports the deal breaks down as follows:

– Savard is traded by the Jackets to the Red Wings for minor-leaguer Brian Lashoff with the Jackets retaining 50 percent of Savard’s salary,

– The Wings trade Savard to the Lightning for the Bolts fourth-round pick in the 2021 NHL Draft, with the Wings retaining 50 percent of Savard’s salary,

– The Jackets trade Lashoff to the Lightning for the Bolts first-round pick in 2021 and their third-round pick in 2022.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The most complicated deal of the day sees the Jackets eat half of Savard’s $4.25 million cap hit, meaning Detroit gets $2.125 million. The Wings absorb half of that, sending $1.065 million to the Lightning.

Another bold, creative move by Lightning general manager Julien BriseBois. He was able to find a way to land a solid top-four, shutdown defenseman in Savard despite having limited cap space. It comes at the cost of a first-rounder but this move signals the Lightning will mount a serious defense of their Stanley Cup title.

The San Jose Sharks traded goaltender Devan Dubnyk to the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for defenseman Greg Pateryn and a fifth-round pick in the 2021 NHL Draft.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Avalanche needed to shore up their goaltending depth behind starter Philipp Grubauer. Dubnyk should be a good fit there. A former starter with the Minnesota Wild, his postseason experience will be invaluable.

The Sharks, meanwhile, have around $11 million in trade deadline cap space following this move. GM Doug Wilson seems to be setting himself up as a third-party broker for cap-strapped clubs looking to make moves at the trade deadline.

The Buffalo Sabres traded defenseman Brandon Montour to the Florida Panthers in exchange for a third-round pick in the 2021 NHL Draft.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Montour will help to fill the void from Aaron Ekblad’s absence as he recovers from a fractured leg. He won’t fully replace Ekblad’s offensive skills but his puck-moving abilities should help their zone exits and provide some offense from the blue line.










NHL Rumor Mill – April 10, 2021

by | Apr 10, 2021

NHL Rumor Mill – April 10, 2021

​Could the Blues pursue Taylor Hall and trade Mike Hoffman? Could the Kings shop Alex Iafallo? Are teams calling about the Bruins’ Jake DeBrusk? Get the latest in today’s NHL rumor mill.

UPDATES ON HALL, HOFFMAN AND IAFALLO

TSN: Frank Seravalli wonders if St. Louis Blues general manager Doug Armstrong might be a buyer and a seller leading up to Monday’s trade deadline. Armstrong has a history of trading pending unrestricted free agents with his club on the playoff bubble.

Could the St. Louis Blues trade Mike Hoffman to make room for Buffalo’s Taylor Hall? (NHL Images)

Winger Mike Hoffman sits at No. 3 on the trade-bait list. Armstrong has also spoken to teams about center Tyler Bozak. There’s no indication if winger Jaden Schwartz is available.

The Blues are also believed among the teams with an interest in Buffalo Sabres winger Taylor Hall. Swapping out Hoffman for Hall might work if the Sabres retain half of Hall’s $8 million salary-cap hit.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Armstrong could be reluctant to part with Schwartz as he could still help the Blues clinch a playoff berth. As for Hall, Florida Hockey Now’s George Richards believes the Panthers could also be interested in the Sabres winger.

With over $16 million in trade deadline cap space, the Panthers are in a better position than the Blues to acquire Hall. He has a no-movement clause but might be more receptive about joining one of the top clubs in the league in the Panthers (yes, you read that right, check the standings) or a struggling one like the Blues (again, check the standings).

Speaking of Hoffman, Richards shot down the notion of a possible return to Florida. He also wouldn’t be surprised if Panthers GM Bill Zito pursues a defenseman like David Savard of the Columbus Blue Jackets, who remains atop Seravalli’s trade-bait list.

Los Angeles Kings forward Alex Iafallo moved to No. 5 on the list. Seravalli reports Kings GM Rob Blake has taken calls about the pending UFA though the two sides continue to discuss a contract extension.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Blake’s ensuring he’s got some trade options in case an agreement on a new contract with Iafallo isn’t reached by Monday. As Seravalli said, this could go either way.

TEAMS CALLING ABOUT DEBRUSK

THE ATHLETIC: listed Boston Bruins winger Jake DeBrusk at No. 21 on the final update to their NHL Trade Deadline Big Board. Teams continue to call the Bruins to find out what it might take to acquire the 24-year-old winger. What makes him intriguing is his playoff production.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Everything I’ve read and heard in the Boston media suggests the Bruins are fearful of trading DeBrusk and watching him blossom as a scorer elsewhere. I don’t dismiss the notion of a DeBrusk trade but the Bruins would probably prefer a young winger of equal or greater value and potential in return.

LATEST ON THE OILERS

EDMONTON JOURNAL: Jim Matheson reports Oilers GM Ken Holland doesn’t intend to part with first-round picks for rental players. He didn’t rule out making that move if it was for a player with term remaining on his contract. Matheson believes that could also cost a top-prospect, which would probably be a non-starter. Given the Oilers limited salary-cap space, Holland would have to have a trade partner willing to absorb 50 percent of an acquired player’s salary.

OTHER NOTABLE UPDATES TO TSN’S TRADE-BAIT LIST

With their playoff math looking hazy, the Dallas Stars are starting to get calls about some of their pending UFAs. Big-bodied defenseman Jamie Oleksiak is drawing the most interest, moving up to No. 9 on the trade-bait list.

Seravalli also removed Tanner Pearson from the board following the winger signing a three-year contract extension this week with the Vancouver Canucks. Injuries to Detroit Red Wings forward Bobby Ryan and Anaheim Ducks winger Rickard Rakell takes both players off the list.










NHL Trade Deadline: Top Five East Division Targets

by | Apr 10, 2021

NHL Trade Deadline: Top Five East Division Targets

 










NHL Trade Deadline: Top 5 West Division Trade Targets

by | Apr 9, 2021

NHL Trade Deadline: Top 5 West Division Trade Targets

 










Rumor Mill Buzzing as 2021 NHL Trade Deadline Approaches

by | Apr 9, 2021

Rumor Mill Buzzing as 2021 NHL Trade Deadline Approaches

 










NHL Rumor Mill – April 9, 2021

by | Apr 9, 2021

NHL Rumor Mill – April 9, 2021

​The latest on Taylor Hall, Jaden Schwartz, and Alex Iafallo, the Panthers could be up to something following a cost-cutting trade, plus updates on the Coyotes, Blackhawks and Wings in today’s NHL rumor mill.

UPDATES ON TAYLOR HALL

TSN: Darren Dreger reports Buffalo Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams is having discussions with multiple teams regarding Taylor Hall. General managers are talking to the 29-year-old left winger’s agent wondering what a contract extension would look like.

Interest is growing in Buffalo Sabres winger Taylor Hall (NHL Images).

The New York Islanders had an interest in Hall prior to their recent acquisition of winger Kyle Palmieri. Some wonder if Isles GM Lou Lamoriello might circle back before the trade deadline.

Frank Seravalli reports the Toronto Maple Leafs aren’t in the mix for Hall, though they’ll continue to monitor what the price could be for the winger leading up to Monday’s deadline. They had an interest in Palmieri and in Nashville Predators winger Mikael Granlund but it could be a quiet trade deadline for the Leafs.

THE ATHLETIC: Pierre LeBrun believes it could take a three-team deal or the Sabres taking on a contract or two to make a Hall trade work. That’s because few buyers have sufficient cap space to take on the winger’s contract. A team executive speculates a team could get Hall for a second- or third-round pick plus send the Sabres a contract to make it work if the winger’s still on the market by Monday.

SPORTSNET: Chris Johnston reported Hall is willing to consider signing a contract extension with an acquiring club. The St. Louis Blues, Florida Panthers and Boston Bruins are said to be in the mix.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Just because Hall is willing to consider an extension doesn’t mean he’ll sign one. He was willing to consider an extension with the Coyotes and then signed a one-year deal with the Sabres. As for the Isles, they only have around $3 million in long-term injury reserve cap dollars available. Lamoriello would have to get creative to pull that off.

PANTHERS PLANNING ANOTHER TRADE?

TSN: Pierre LeBrun believes the Florida Panthers could make another deal or two after shedding salary yesterday in a five-time trade that sent veteran winger Brett Connolly to the Chicago Blackhawks. He feels GM Bill Zito is keeping an eye on the future but also wants to reward his club for the way they’re playing.

Zito could set his sights on potentially a top-four defenseman and a top-six winger. It’s believed he “kicked the tires” on Kyle Palmieri before he was shipped to the Islanders. Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman David Savard could be a target given Zito’s previous job as the Jacket’s assistant GM.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Matt Larkin also thinks Zito could be active in the trade market before Monday. He could pursue a forward like Hall or a defenseman like Savard or Josh Manson of the Anaheim Ducks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Zito’s been busy as he also recently shipping Vinnie Hinostroza to Chicago in another cost-cutting deal with the Blackhawks. I’ll be surprised if the deadline passes and he hasn’t made a significant acquisition.

COULD SCHWARTZ OR IAFALLO BECOME AVAILABLE?

THE ATHLETIC: Pierre LeBrun reports St. Louis Blues winger Jaden Schwartz has popped up on his radar over the past day or so. Blues GM Doug Armstrong might be willing to move him but only for a significant return. Schwartz has a 15-team no-trade list. Pending UFAs Mike Hoffman and Tyler Bozak are believed to be available.

TSN: Frank Seravalli reports Los Angeles Kings GM Rob Blake is starting to take calls on winger Alex Iafallo. Blake and Iafallo’s representatives are still attempting to negotiate a contract extension but this could go down to the wire. Seravalli speculates the 27-year-old winger could be moved if he’s not signed before Monday.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hoffman or Bozak are more likely to be moved by the Blues than Schwartz unless somebody’s willing to overpay for the latter. As for Iafallo, it sounds like things could go either way. His situation will be worth monitoring over the next couple of days.

LATEST ON THE COYOTES

THE ATHLETIC: Pierre LeBrun speculates this could be a quiet trade deadline for the Arizona Coyotes. They’re carrying nine pending UFAs, including such notables as Alex Goligoski, Jason Demers, Niklas Hjalmarsson, Derick Brassard and Antti Raanta. With the Coyotes in playoff contention, however, it seems unlikely they’ll move them unless someone comes up with a meaningful offer for one of them.

AZ COYOTES INSIDER: In a recent interview with Craig Morgan, Coyotes GM Bill Armstrong said the trade rumors regarding winger Conor Garland were the result of another club calling about him. Armstrong said it leaked out but didn’t come from him. He spoke with Garland about the other club’s interest in the winger. He praised Garland as one of his core players, saying he was impressed with his play.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Coyotes’ recent surge into the fourth and final playoff spot in the Honda West probably takes them off the trade-deadline sellers’ list. I don’t see Armstrong shopping Garland. The 25-year-old winger is his club’s leading scorer and a restricted free agent this summer so there’s no pressure to move him at the trade deadline.

UPDATES ON THE BLACKHAWKS, DEVILS AND WINGS

TSN: Pierre LeBrun reports Chicago Blackhawks GM Stan Bowman remains willing to leverage his salary cap space if cap-strapped teams need help making a trade. He’s spoken to the Leafs about that several times in recent weeks as they could use a third-party broker to get a trade done. The San Jose Sharks and Detroit Red Wings are willing to do the same.

NJ.COM: Chris Ryan reports the New Jersey Devils might not be done dealing after shipping Kyle Palmieri and Travis Zajac to the Islanders on Wednesday. They could also shop pending UFAs Ryan Murray, Dmitry Kulikov, Sami Vatanen and Nikita Gusev.

MLIVE.COM: Ansar Khan thinks there could be a market for lower-salaried, pending UFAs such as Bobby Ryan, Sam Gagner and Jon Merrill while higher-salaried free agents such as Marc Staal, Darren Helm, Patrik Nemeth and Jonathan Bernier could be more difficult to move. Injuries to Ryan, Bernier, Nemeth and Gagner will also be a factor.