Canadiens Trade Domi to Blue Jackets for Anderson

by | Oct 6, 2020

Canadiens Trade Domi to Blue Jackets for Anderson

The Montreal Canadiens announced they traded center Max Domi and a 2020 third-round pick to the Columbus Blue Jackets for winger Josh Anderson.

Montreal Canadiens trade Max Domi to the Columbus Blue Jackets (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Domi and Anderson are restricted free agents with arbitration rights. Domi, 25, completed a two-year, $6.3 million contract while the 26-year-old Anderson is coming off a three-year, $5.5 million deal.

Domi and Anderson frequently surfaced in the rumor mill last season, often linked as a possible swap. While Domi had a 72-point performance in 2018-19, his stats tumbled to 44 points last season and he spent some time on the Habs fourth line during the playoffs.

Anderson tallied 27 goals and 47 points in ’18-’19. However, he was sidelined most of last season by a shoulder injury that required surgery to repair.

The Blue Jackets were in the market for a scoring center while the Canadiens were looking for a power forward. This move seems to address those needs, though time will tell which club benefits the most from this trade.










NHL Rumor Mill (Part 2) – October 6, 2020

by | Oct 6, 2020

NHL Rumor Mill (Part 2) – October 6, 2020

Check out the latest speculation on the notable unrestricted free agents in Part 2 of today’s NHL Rumor Mill. 

TSN: Darren Dreger reports it doesn’t sound as though there’s a lot of interest in Taylor Hall’s rights in the trade market. That doesn’t mean there won’t be plenty of interest in the 28-year-old left-winger when the free-agent market opens on Friday. Dreger indicates Hall intends to take his time with the free-agent process and may not make his decision on where he’ll sign until Saturday or even Sunday.

Taylor Hall will take his time deciding where his next NHL city will be (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: I don’t blame Hall for taking his time. I think he wants to play for a contender and will carefully weigh his potential destinations, even if it’s just on a one- or two-year deal.

Pierre LeBrun reports it appears Florida Panthers winger Mike Hoffman is heading to market on Friday. However, if the Panthers can free up some cap space before then, they would circle back and make another offer to Hoffman. LeBrun believes the 30-year-old winger could interest clubs that fail to sign Taylor Hall.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hoffman led all of this year’s UFA class with 29 goals and 59 points in 69 games. He’s averaged 20-or-more goals and 48-plus points in each of the last six seasons.

NESN.COM: Ricky Doyle reported Monday that Boston Bruins general manager Don Sweeney acknowledged he hasn’t had any progress in contract talks with Torey Krug. The 29-year-old defenseman is slated to become an unrestricted free agent on Friday.

Sweeney, however, hasn’t ruled out signing Krug if the blueliner doesn’t find any worthwhile offers on the open market. “Several free agents have gone and tested the market and come back to the same place that they were at, and it’s something we would also considered,” he said, adding there was no animosity with Krug.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Krug’s departure is being treated as a foregone conclusion. Given the flattened salary cap for next season, however, we can’t rule out the possibility that he might not find better offers than the six-years (at $6.5 million annually) by the Bruins.

THE PROVINCE: Patrick Johnston reports re-signing Jacob Markstrom remains high on Vancouver Canucks’ GM Jim Benning’s to-do list. “We’re going to keep working with his agent and see if we can find common ground,” said Benning. Markstrom, Chris Tanev and Tyler Toffoli are unrestricted free agents. The Canucks GM admitted it would be difficult to re-sign all three if he can’t reshape the club’s cap situation.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: In other words, if he can’t find someone to take Loui Eriksson ($6 million annual average value through 2021-22) or Brandon Sutter ($4.35 million for 2020-21) off his hands, one of those three UFA will be playing elsewhere next season.

NBC SPORTS CHICAGO: Charlie Roumeliotis lists the New York Islanders’ Thomas Greiss, Dallas’ Anton Khudobin, Arizona’s Darcy Kuemper, former Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist and Pittsburgh’s Matt Murray as possible replacements for Corey Crawford if the Blackhawks fail to re-sign him by Friday.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Greiss, Khudobin and Lundqvist would be free-agents signings and likely affordable short-term ones. Kuemper and Murray would have to be acquired via trade. Of this group, Kuemper would be the best target. The 30-year-old goalie had solid stats over the last two seasons and carries an affordable $4.5 million AAV for the next two seasons. Recent reports, however, suggest the Coyotes aren’t as keen to move him as originally believed.

EDMONTON JOURNAL: Jim Matheson reports Oilers GM Ken Holland will seek a short-term replacement for sidelined defenseman Oscar Klefbom via the UFA market. Klefbom could require surgery on his injured left shoulder that could force him to miss most or all of 2020-21.










The Top NHL Early Offseason Trade Bait

by | Oct 6, 2020

The Top NHL Early Offseason Trade Bait

 










NHL Rumor Mill – October 6, 2020

by | Oct 6, 2020

NHL Rumor Mill – October 6, 2020

The first round of the 2020 NHL Draft begins at 7 pm ET. Check out all the latest trade speculation in today’s rumor mill.

LATEST ON THE LIGHTNING

TSN: Bob McKenzie reports the Tampa Bay Lightning aim to be aggressive in the trade market to offload some salary. He’s heard only four players – Andrei Vasilevskiy, Victor Hedman, Brayden Point and Nikita Kucherov – are considered unavailable/untouchable. He also assumes the same goes for restricted free agents Anthony Cirelli, Mikhail Sergachev and Erik Cernak.

Tampa Bay Lightning captain Steven Stamkos (NHL Images).

McKenzie noted the absence of Steven Stamkos from the untouchables list. It doesn’t guarantee the Lightning captain gets traded but it’s possible, though he feels Stamkos’ health could be a factor.

THE ATHLETIC: Pierre LeBrun reports the Lightning have approached Tyler Johnson’s representatives about a possible move. The 30-year-old forward has a full no-trade clause but LeBrun believes general manager Julien BriseBois and Johnson’s agent, J.P. Barry, want to work together to find an amicable solution.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Cap Friendly indicates Stamkos has a full no-movement clause and an $8.5 million annual cap hit through 2023-24. Throw in his injury history and I’ll be surprised if he’s traded.

Johnson could be agreeable to waiving his no-trade clause but his $5 million annual average value through 2023-24 could be hard to move. Nevertheless, I wouldn’t be surprised if BriseBois got some inquiries about Johnson from a couple of clubs, thus prompting his reaching out to the forward’s agent. Whether Johnson will agree to a trade is another matter.

LATEST COYOTES SPECULATION

McKenzie also cited colleague Darren Dreger reporting sources claiming the Arizona Coyotes are shopping Taylor Hall’s rights. The 28-year-old left winger is slated to become an unrestricted free agent on Oct. 9. McKenzie also wonders if the St. Louis Blues will make a final attempt to re-sign defenseman Alex Pietrangelo before Oct. 9.

SPORTSNET: Chris Johnston reports word out of Buffalo is the Sabres have interested in Nick Schmaltz. The Arizona Coyotes center has six years remaining on his contract with an annual salary-cap hit of $5.85 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Looks like Hall has played his final game with the Coyotes. That’s not surprising given their limited cap space and Hall’s likely desire to play for a contender. As for Schmaltz, I don’t think the Coyotes are keen to move him but that could depend on what a team like the Sabres could be offering.

LATEST LEAFS CHATTER

TORONTO SUN: Terry Koshan reports Maple Leafs GM Kyle Dubas doesn’t intend to trade goaltender Frederik Andersen. Recent speculation linked the Leafs to Pittsburgh Penguins netminder Matt Murray. Dubas spent the past several weeks assuring Andersen no deal was imminent. Meanwhile, Lance Hornby reports Dubas has made adding more grit to the Leafs lineup a priority.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Andersen wasn’t going anywhere unless Dubas could find a goalie of equal or greater value. It would be foolish to trade him if they can’t land someone who can carry them on a deep playoff run.

UPDATE ON JOSH ANDERSON

THE ATHLETIC: Pierre LeBrun wonders if the Columbus Blue Jackets will attempt to move Josh Anderson before the first round of the draft kicks off tonight. There’s been no progress in contract talks with the restricted free agent winger. It’s assumed Anderson might fetch a first-round pick in a trade, though the Jackets would prefer landing a top-two center. LeBrun wondered if Montreal’s Max Domi might interest them.

SPORTSNET: Chris Johnston reports the Canadiens and Calgary Flames are among the clubs interested in Anderson. He also said the Jackets are considering offers for defenseman David Savard.

NEW YORK POST: Larry Brooks reports Anderson could be a trade target for the Rangers.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Interested parties could ask the Blue Jackets to speak to Anderson’s agent about a new contract. They probably don’t want to have the hassle of a possible salary arbitration with a player they just acquired.

Domi-for-Anderson? Maybe a move that makes sense for two players that could benefit from a change of scenery but that doesn’t necessarily mean there’s a fit there for either club.

IN OTHER RUMORS…

Pierre LeBrun reports talks between the Philadelphia Flyers and Winnipeg Jets regarding Jets winger Patrik Laine seemed to cool over the weekend. The Carolina Hurricanes and Columbus Blue Jackets could also be interested.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Jets are reportedly seeking a second-line center and a top-two defenseman. GM Kevin Cheveldayoff said he’s considering all his options. That doesn’t mean Laine’s going to be traded. Yes, it could happen, but the asking price will be significant, perhaps too expensive for most clubs to bear.

Defenseman Alec Martinez and center Paul Stastny could become trade options for the Vegas Golden Knights. Wingers Jonathan Marchessault and Max Pacioretty have been mentioned to LeBrun but he said there’s no clear indication from his Vegas source that the Golden Knights would move either guy.

Bob McKenzie reports Henrik Lundqvist cannot formalize a new contract until Oct. 9, when he’ll officially become an unrestricted free agent. The New York Rangers last week bought out the final season of the 38-year-old goaltender’s contract. The Washington Capitals are said to be the front-runners for Lundqvist’s services.

OTTAWA SUN: Bruce Garrioch reports Senators GM Pierre Dorion hasn’t received an offer yet that would convince him to part with the fifth-overall pick in tonight’s draft.

Garrioch also listed Pittsburgh’s Matt Murray, Vegas’ Marc-Andre Fleury and Columbus’ Elvis Merzlikins or Joonas Korpisalo as possible goaltending trade targets for the Senators. Free-agent options could include Vancouver’s Jacob Markstrom, Washington’s Braden Holtby, Chicago Corey Crawford, Dallas’ Anton Khudobin, Detroit’s Jimmy Howard and Edmonton’s Mike Smith.

COLORADO HOCKEY NOW: Adrian Dater reports Avalanche trade talks are heating up, though it could take until the end of the week before a deal gets done. He’s hearing Nikita Zadorov’s name coming up in trade rumors. The 25-year-old defenseman is a restricted free agent. Dater claims there have been no contract discussions with the Avs. Center Tyson Jost and winger Valeri Nichushkin have also surfaced recently in the rumor mill.










Jets’ Laine tops latest NHL Rumor Roundup

by | Oct 5, 2020

Jets’ Laine tops latest NHL Rumor Roundup

 










NHL Rumor Mill – October 5, 2020

by | Oct 5, 2020

NHL Rumor Mill – October 5, 2020

The latest on Patrik Laine, Tyler Johnson and Matt Murray plus updates on the Leafs and Flames in today’s NHL rumor mill.

THE LATEST ON LAINE

OTTAWA SUN: Bruce Garrioch reports there’s talk the Philadelphia Flyers are making “an aggressive push” to acquire Patrik Laine. He believes they have the ability to make a deal for the left-winger if the right fit can be found with the Winnipeg Jets.

Winnipeg Jets winger Patrik Laine (NHL Images).

A league executive speculated the Flyers could see if the Jets have an interest in Shayne Gostisbehere. The defenseman has three years remaining on his contract with an annual cap hit of $4.5 million. The Jets could also want a second-line center as part of the return.

Garrioch said the Columbus Blue Jackets and Montreal Canadiens are believed to have made pitches for Laine. He thinks the Jets would want center Phillip Danault in return. He also claims the Buffalo Sabres, Detroit Red Wings, New York Rangers, Minnesota Wild and Florida Panthers all have interest in the winger.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: I don’t think the Jets would be interested in Gostisbehere given the decline in his stock over the last two years. Ivan Provorov or Travis Sanheim would be more to their liking and I don’t see the Flyers parting with either guy in a package deal for Laine.

The Blue Jackets need more offense but I believe they’re more interested in landing a scoring center. I suspect the Jets could ask for Zach Werenski as part of the return. Recent reports out of Montreal suggest Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin isn’t pursuing Laine because of the high asking price. Of course, he could always change his mind.

LIGHTNING DISCUSSING TRADE WITH JOHNSON

TSN: Pierre LeBrun reports hearing the Tampa Bay Lightning have talked to Tyler Johnson’s representatives about working together on a possible trade. The 30-year-old forward has a full no-trade clause and four years remaining on his contract worth an annual average value of $5 million. “Let’s see where this goes,” said LeBrun.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Ottawa Sun’s Bruce Garrioch reports there’s talk Johnson has no interest in waiving his clause. If not, other trade options could include Ondrej Palat, Yanni Gourde and Alex Killorn. CapFriendly indicates Palat and Gourde also have full no-trade clauses while Killorn has a 16-team no-trade list.

UPDATE ON MURRAY

OTTAWA SUN: Bruce Garrioch reports there’s a chance the Pittsburgh Penguins will trade Matt Murray before the draft ends on Wednesday. If not, he’ll receive a qualifying offer from the Penguins. Garrioch believes Murray will get $5 million to $6 million via arbitration. The Chicago Blackhawks, Calgary Flames, Edmonton Oilers and Ottawa Senators have kicked tires on Murray. It’s believed the Penguins would prefer shipping him to a Western Conference club.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It was rumored the Penguins sought a first-round pick from the Oilers for Murray. That asking price could explain why he hasn’t been traded yet. The deadline for qualifying offers is Oct. 7 at 5 pm ET.

THE LATEST ON THE LEAFS

TORONTO SUN: Lance Hornby reports of ongoing speculation of a Matt Murray/Jack Campbell reunion with the Maple Leafs. Leafs GM Kyle Dubas had Murray and Campbell as his goalie tandem when he was general manager of the OHL’s Soo Greyhounds in 2011-12.

Hornby feels Dubas can’t afford to lose current Leafs goalie Frederik Andersen to free agency next summer. Signing Murray, 26, for the long-term would be preferable to doing the same for the 31-year-old Andersen. However, Hornby wonders if Dubas envisions Campbell becoming the Leafs’ No. 1 goalie, which would put less pressure on him to find a replacement for Andersen.

Regarding rumors linking the Leafs to Alex Pietrangelo, Hornby doubts they can free up sufficient cap space to sign the St. Louis Blues defenseman if he hits the open market on Friday. He points out Morgan Rielly is slated for a new contract in 2022, making him difficult to re-sign if they invest heavily in Pietrangelo.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Dubas reportedly told Andersen that he’s received calls from other clubs expressing interest in the Leafs starter but he’s not shopping the netminder. I don’t believe Dubas will trade him unless he can get a suitable replacement. That might not be Murray, who’s struggled with injuries and consistency over the last two seasons.

Unless Pietrangelo’s willing to accept a one- or two-year deal, I don’t see him coming to Toronto. Even then, it wouldn’t make sense for the Leafs to shed a lot of cap space to invest in him on a short-term basis.

IS A BIG MOVE COMING FOR THE FLAMES?

CALGARY SUN: Wes Gilbertson thinks Flames GM Brad Treliving will make a splash this week. It could be a blockbuster trade, a marquee free-agent signing, or both. Treliving has $17 million in cap space and some top-end talents rumored to be trade bait.

Gilbertson believes the Flames GM has an interest in Jacob Markstrom. The Vancouver Canucks goalie is slated to become a UFA on Friday and could see a deal equivalent to the five-year, $25-million contract that Robin Lehner inked Saturday with the Vegas Golden Knights. The Flames have also been linked to Alex Pietrangelo, but Gilbertson suggests Vancouver blueliner Chris Tanev would be a more affordable option.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Flames will be worth watching this week. There was considerable disappointment in their performance this season and in the playoffs. There was talk of shopping a top-line forward like Johnny Gaudreau or Sean Monahan but Treliving could be unwilling to go that route right now.

They definitely need to improve their goaltending if Cam Talbot isn’t re-signed. Markstrom or Braden Holtby could be on their radar. I also don’t see them landing Pietrangelo but I don’t think Tanev is the right fit. Treliving could go the trade route to address his blueline needs.