NHL Rumor Mill – February 3, 2023
NHL Rumor Mill – February 3, 2023
Could the Canadiens trade Josh Anderson? What’s the latest on the Red Wings and Golden Knights? Could the injured Gustav Nyquist still be a trade candidate? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
CANADIENS TAKE CALLS ON ANDERSON BUT WILL THEY TRADE HIM?
TSN: During Thursday’s “Insider Trading” segment, Gino Reda noted the Montreal Canadiens are getting calls from other clubs about Josh Anderson. However, Darren Dreger replied Anderson isn’t in play despite the interest that other clubs are expressing in the 28-year-old winger.

Montreal Canadiens winger Josh Anderson (NHL Images).
Dreger said the Canadiens like his game and he has a good long-term contract. He felt the only way Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes trades him is if he gets an offer too good to refuse. Dreger noted that Calgary Flames GM Brad Treliving has previously spoken to Hughes about Anderson.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Anderson’s come up a lot in the rumor mill this season and there are some Montreal pundits and fans who believe they should shop him for the best possible return. Dreger isn’t ruling out the possibility but he doesn’t sound like he’s expecting it to happen.
It will take a hefty offer to pry Anderson away from the Canadiens. My guess is it would have to be at least an unprotected first-round pick, a high-end prospect and a good young NHL player.
THE LATEST RED WINGS SPECULATION
TSN: Pierre LeBrun reports Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin will meet with his agent during the NHL All-Star weekend in Florida to discuss his future plans. The 26-year-old center is slated to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.
LeBrun said contract negotiations have gone on for months without a deal though the two sides have made progress and talks are ongoing. Larkin’s agent wants to meet with his client because the March 3 trade deadline is approaching and the Red Wings could get trade offers for their captain.
Larkin has a full no-movement clause but LeBrun wonders how he’d react to a trade offer.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: In an interview with ESPN.com’s Greg Wyshynski, Larkin said he sees himself as a Red Wing. He acknowledged contract negotiations never go smoothly until they’re done but dismissed speculation that he rejected an eight-year, $8 million offer from the Wings.
The Wings could put Larkin on the trade block if the two sides fail to hammer out an agreement before March 3. However, there’s still plenty of time for the two sides to sort this out.
DETROIT HOCKEY NOW: Kevin Allen reports several teams are interested in Red Wings forward Tyler Bertuzzi. Like Larkin, the 27-year-old winger is slated to become a UFA on July 1.
Allen thinks the Wings could shop Bertuzzi if they don’t reach an agreement on a contract extension before March 3. He speculates the Toronto Maple Leafs, Edmonton Oilers, Tampa Bay Lightning, Florida Panthers and Dallas Stars could come calling.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: I think Bertuzzi’s more likely to be traded than Larkin given the latter has a larger role with the Wings. The Oilers, Lightning and Panthers seem more in the market for defensemen than forwards.
The Leafs and Stars could be possibilities as there’s been talk they’d like to add another top-six forward. I’d include the New Jersey Devils in that list though they’d probably prefer someone with term remaining on their contract.
UPDATES ON THE GOLDEN KNIGHTS
TSN: Darren Dreger said the Vegas Golden Knights are considering every option after learning team captain Mark Stone will undergo back surgery. What’s uncertain is if he’s done for the season or could possibly return toward the end of the season or in the playoffs.
Given the Golden Knights’ history, Dreger expects they’ll do everything they can to fill the void left by Stone’s absence. He knows they’re looking for a forward so this situation should up the ante.
VEGAS HOCKEY NOW: Listed several star players that he believes the Golden Knights could attempt to acquire with Stone on the sidelines. They include the Chicago Blackhawks’ winger Patrick Kane, center Jonathan Toews or forward Max Domi, St. Louis Blues winger Vladimir Tarasenko or center Ryan O’Reilly, Philadelphia Flyers winger James van Riemsdyk, San Jose Sharks winger Timo Meier and Detroit Red Wings forward Tyler Bertuzzi.
DAILY FACEOFF: Frank Seravalli thinks Patrick Kane would be a good fit alongside Jack Eichel for the Golden Knights as a playoff rental player if they can get the Blackhawks to retain half of Kane’s $10.5 million cap hit.
THE ATHLETIC: Jesse Granger believes the Golden Knights must find a suitable player to complement Jack Eichel’s game. One option could be San Jose’s Timo Meier but he’d be costly to acquire. More affordable ones could include the Red Wings’ Pius Suter, the Blues’ Noel Acciari or the Blackhawks’ Andreas Athanasiou.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: I expect the Golden Knights will do something before the trade deadline. How big they go could depend on what they’re willing to part with.
Stone’s future could also be a determining factor. If they know for certain over the next three or four weeks that he’s out for at least the remainder of the regular season they could be more inclined to pursue a big-ticket player rather than a cost-effective one.
LATEST ON NYQUIST
TSN: Chris Johnston reports Gustav Nyquist could remain a trade chip for the Columbus Blue Jackets despite suffering a shoulder injury that could sideline him for the remainder of the regular season.
Johnston suggests that a team already using long-term injury reserve has the ability to acquire Nyquist and stash him on LTIR until the playoffs when he could be activated into the lineup.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The salary cap doesn’t count in the playoffs. That’s why a team could acquire Nyquist at the trade deadline despite his shoulder injury. If there’s a chance he could return to action for the opening round of the playoffs he could become an affordable gamble for a cap-strapped playoff contender.