NHL Free Agents & Trade Candidates – Calgary Flames
NHL Free Agents & Trade Candidates – Calgary Flames
NHL Rumor Mill – February 7, 2020
NHL Rumor Mill – February 7, 2020
The latest on the Rangers, the Leafs might not be done dealing, plus updates on the Flames, Kings, Canucks, and Sabres in today’s NHL rumor mill.
LATEST RANGERS SPECULATION
NEW YORK POST: Larry Brooks doubts Henrik Lundqvist will be moved by the Feb. 24 trade deadline, but he can’t imagine the long-time Rangers goaltender will return with the Blueshirts next season. Buying out the final season of Lundqvist’s contract in June will allow the netminder and the club to “move independently into the future.” It would free up $3 million from their salary-cap payroll next season.
Jacob Trouba‘s no-move clause kicks in on July 1. Brooks thinks Rangers management would be foolish not to listen to offers for the 25-year-old defenseman before then. He feels promising Adam Fox will soon become their No.1 right-side defenseman. Fox is on an entry-level contract through 2021-22 and would be more affordable than Trouba’s $8 million annual average value. Brooks feels the Rangers need more from Trouba, who’s struggled to adjust in his first season in New York.
TSN: Pierre Lebrun reports contract talks have finally begun between the New York Rangers and the agent for winger Chris Kreider. He feels it’ll be difficult for the Rangers to re-sign Kreider, but there will be an effort made.
Should the New York Rangers entertain trade offers for Jacob Trouba? (Photo via NHL images)
SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’ll be interesting to see what happens with Lundqvist during the off-season. He’s coming to the end of his illustrious career, but might not be keen being relegated to a backup role with a rebuilding club next season. A trade is possible, but only if he waives his no-movement clause and if the Rangers absorb part of his $8.5 million AAV.
Seems a bit premature to give up on Trouba after only a year. I’ll be surprised if they consider moving him this summer. If there are clubs interested in him, the Rangers could be forced to pick up part of that expensive cap hit or take back another expensive contract in return.
LEAFS IN THE MARKET FOR A TOP-FOUR DEFENSEMAN
TSN: Darren Dreger believes injuries to Morgan Rielly and Cody Ceci puts the Toronto Maple Leafs in the market for a top-four defenseman. With the Los Angeles Kings retaining half of the recently-acquired winger Kyle Clifford’s salary, Dreger believes the Leafs are in a good position with Kasperi Kapanen, Andreas Johnsson, or Alexander Kerfoot if the right deal can be found.
NHL.COM: Dave McCarthy reports Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas said Rielly’s status will determine what they’ll do leading up to the trade deadline. Rielly is expected to be re-evaluated at the end of this week. “We would want someone to move the needle for us in the long run, not in the short run unless it was the perfect deal,” said Dubas.
TORONTO SUN: Terry Koshan suggests Anaheim’s Josh Manson or Minnesota’s Matt Dumba could fit the bill if the Leafs go shopping for a blueliner.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Once again, the Leafs’ limited salary-cap space means Dubas must get creative to add a top-four defenseman under contract beyond this season. If he does acquire one, he must ensure he can free up sufficient room for when Rielly comes off long-term injured reserve.
If Manson’s available (and I don’t think he is), the Ducks won’t just give him away. The same goes for Dumba. Manson also carries a $4.1 million AAV through 2021-22 with a 12-team no-trade list. Dumba’s AAV is $6 million through 2022-23.
LATEST ON THE FLAMES
TSN: Pierre LeBrun reports the recent injury to Mark Giordano could affect the Calgary Flames’ trade plans. There was talk blueliner T.J. Brodie could be available and they could pursue a top-six, right-shot winger. With Giordano sidelined, a source tells LeBrun they might instead pursue a depth defenseman. He’s not saying Brodie won’t be traded, but Giordano’s absence makes that more difficult.
Darren Dreger reports some wonder if Flames forward Sam Bennett is ready for a change. The Flames don’t want to move Bennett and they’re not actively shopping the versatile forward. Nevertheless, his name has been in the rumor mill for some time. Dreger believes Bennett would like to prove he’s a top-six forward.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: After trading Michael Frolik to Buffalo last month, it was assumed the Flames would pursue a top-six forward. Giordano’s hamstring injury complicates things. Their recent slump will only ratchet up the pressure on GM Brad Treliving.
UPDATE ON MARTINEZ
TSN: Darren Dreger reports Los Angeles Kings defenseman Alec Martinez remains available. The Florida Panthers and Winnipeg Jets have shown various degrees of interest, but the Toronto Maple Leafs aren’t among them. The asking price is believed to be a second-round pick and either another pick or a prospect.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Interesting that the Leafs weren’t interested in Martinez. He’d fit their wish to bring in a defenseman with term on his contract. It could be because they’re awaiting word on Morgan Reilly’s condition.
COULD THE CANUCKS PURSUE SIMMONDS?
TSN: Pierre LeBrun reports uncertainty over the health of sidelined winger Micheal Ferland could push them into the trade market. He said New Jersey Devils winger Wayne Simmonds has come up in their internal discussions. They had an interest in Simmonds last summer before he signed with the Devils.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Simmonds is on a one-year contract worth $5 million and lacks no-trade protection. However, he reportedly prefers staying with the Devils. The Canucks only have just over $1 million in deadline cap space.
MORE SABRES SPECULATION
TSN: Darren Dreger reports the Buffalo Sabres will continue their search for a forward. Defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen’s name has been in the rumor mill for a while. Dreger also suggested blueliner Brandon Montour, though he’s not saying he’s being shopped. The only way he sees either rearguard getting traded is for a top-six forward.
#Habs Kovalchuk said he’d like to wait a couple of weeks before asking his agent to open talks about a potential contract extension in Montreal. Kovalchuk said he wants to concentrate on picking up ground on the teams they’re chasing before addressing his personal situation.
— John Lu (@JohnLuTSNMtl) February 6, 2020
NHL Rumor Mill – January 13, 2020
NHL Rumor Mill – January 13, 2020
After firing GM Ray Shero, what’s next for the Devils? Which second-line wingers will the Bruins target? What moves might the Flames make? Check out the latest in today’s NHL rumor mill.
WHAT NEXT FOR THE DEVILS?
THE ATHLETIC: Corey Masisak and Scott Burnside weighed in with their thoughts on the New Jersey Devils firing general manager Ray Shero yesterday.
After firing their general manager, will the New Jersey Devils trade pending UFAs like Sami Vatanen before the Feb. 24 trade deadline? (Photo via NHL Images)
Masisak believes they need a replacement for the recently-traded Taylor Hall, an upgrade or two on defense, and a resolution to their goaltending predicament if they’re to contend next season. Burnside believes they have important decisions to make regarding pending UFAs Andy Greene, Sami Vatanen, and Wayne Simmonds before the Feb. 24 trade deadline.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Addressing the goaltending is the priority. The Devils have the second-worst goals-against per game (3.38) in the league. Long-time starter Cory Schneider hasn’t been the same since suffering hip, groin, and abdominal injuries over the previous two years. Mackenzie Blackwood has shown some potential but he’s struggled with his consistency. Louis Domingue is a decent backup but he’s never going to be a reliable starter.
Trading Greene, Vatanen, and Simmonds at the trade deadline won’t fetch immediate help to their woes between the pipes. However, one of them could bring in a promising prospect or a quality draft pick that could one day blossom into a goaltending star.
POSSIBLE BRUINS TRADE TARGETS
THE BOSTON GLOBE: Kevin Paul Dupont reported the Bruins still need a quality winger to skate alongside second-line center David Krejci. He believes GM Don Sweeney will be contemplating such potential options as the New York Rangers’ Chris Kreider, the LA Kings’ Tyler Toffoli, and New Jersey Devils winger Kyle Palmieri or perhaps his teammate Wayne Simmonds.
Dupont also suggested San Jose Sharks center (and former Bruin) Joe Thornton. While he has a no-movement clause, he’s 40 and won’t get a chance to win the Stanley Cup with the fading Sharks this season.
Thornton wouldn’t fix the Bruins’ second-line winger issue but could provide stability at center and give coach Bruce Cassidy the flexibility to move Charlie Coyle back to the second line. Dupont acknowledged the return of Thornton to Boston is unlikely, but reminded us Sweeney surprised us in the past with his acquisition of Rick Nash from the Rangers in 2018.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s more likely we’ll see Kreider, Toffoli, Palmieri or Simmonds in a Bruins jersey than Thornton. That ship sailed a long time ago and it ain’t comin’ back.
LATEST FLAMES SPECULATION
THE ATHLETIC: Eric Duhatschek recently pondered some possible moves by the Calgary Flames. They’re seeking a top-six winger to play alongside first-line stars Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan. He considered Sam Bennett an intriguing trade chip to address that need.
Duhatschek suggested Detroit Red Wings forward Andreas Athanasiou as an option, pointing out Wings GM Steve Yzerman was believed to have interest in Sam Bennett when he was GM of the Lightning. The Flames, however, could prefer a right-handed shot. He also wondered if Bennett might be a good fit with the Toronto Maple Leafs, proposing winger Kasperi Kapanen would be a good fit for the Flames in terms of age, skill, and salary.
Other options for the Flames could include Kings winger Tyler Toffoli and Devils winger Wayne Simmonds.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Bennett has frequently surfaced in trade rumors over the past three years. So far, however, Flames GM Brad Treliving has resisted the temptation to move him. That could change if a club comes calling with the right offer.
Athanasiou is a restricted free agent this summer with arbitration rights who could pursue a hefty raise after last season’s 30-goal performance. Kapanen is under contract through 2021-22 with an affordable $3.2 million cap hit. He’d be the better fit, but every indication I’ve seen or heard suggests the Leafs don’t want to part with him.