SPORTSNET: In his latest “32 Thoughts” column, Elliotte Friedman reported the St. Louis Blues are expected to “try and extend” Pavel Buchnevich. The 29-year-old winger will be eligible to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, 2025.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Buchnevich was the subject of trade speculation leading up to the March deadline. Blues general manager Doug Armstrong wasn’t actively shopping the winger but set a high asking price for clubs that came calling about him.
St. Louis Blues winger Pavel Buchnevich (NHL Images)
Buchnevich carries an average annual value of $5.8 million with a 12-team no-trade list. He’s been a reliable scorer for the retooling Blues, netting over 25 goals and 60 points per season since his acquisition from the New York Rangers in 2021.
It could cost the Blues an AAV of $8 million on a long-term deal to keep Buchnevich in the fold. He’ll be 30 when that new contract begins.
THE HOCKEY NEWS: Lou Korac reported the solid goaltending of Jordan Binnington and Joel Hofer kept the Blues in the playoff race until the final week of the regular season.
They formed one of this season’s best goalie tandems. It’s the one area of the Blues roster that is the least of their worries going forward. The duo also have a good relationship and push each other in the right areas.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: I’m mentioning this because Binnington was the subject of some season-ending trade chatter because of his improved play and calmer demeanor. Based on Korac’s report, it’s unlikely the Blues intend to break up this tandem.
DUCKS FACING A DECISION ON ZEGRAS?
Friedman noted that Anaheim Ducks forward Trevor Zegras had eight points in his last 10 games. Sorting out his future could be “the most fascinating summer decision in the NHL”.
The Ducks challenged Zegras to show them something when he returned from injury and he did. However, Friedman believes there’s “a nagging sense not everyone’s comfortable with each other here”, referring to the relationship between the Zegras camp and general manager Pat Verbeek.
THE ATHLETIC: Eric Stephens reported Zegras has been linked to the Montreal Canadiens in speculation stretching back to midseason. The young forward said he’s seen it and it’s taken some of the fun out of social media for him. He also hasn’t spoken to Verbeek about it.
Stephens also noted that Zegras sees the composition of the Ducks and wonders where he fits into the picture and the club’s plans.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The rumors about Zegras will likely persist, especially after Verbeek said he’ll be shopping for a top-six right-shot forward and a top-four right-shot defenseman in the offseason. He could use the young winger as a trade chip to address one of those needs in the trade market.
UPDATE ON THE WILD
Friedman believes the Minnesota Wild will throw Jake Sanderson money at Brock Faber following the rookie defenseman’s stellar performance this season. He has one year remaining on his entry-level contract.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: That would be an eight-year, $64 million contract with an AAV of $8.05 million. Don’t be surprised if it ends up being close to $9 million annually.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Wild re-signing Marc-Andre Fleury to a one-year deal could set the stage for a Gustavsson trade if they believe Jesper Wallstedt is NHL-ready.
The Wild’s priority could be to find more scoring help for superstar winger Kirill Kaprizov. He’s two years away from UFA eligibility.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Wild currently have just $5.9 million in projected cap space with 19 active roster players under contract next season. Trading Gustavsson and his $3.75 million cap hit for next season could help provide some additional wiggle room to add another scoring forward.
LATEST ON THE BLUE JACKETS, CANADIENS AND KRAKEN
Friedman noted the Columbus Blue Jackets took a hard look at veteran centers earlier this season. He wondered if that might still be a priority.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: It should be, the Jackets have lacked skilled depth at center for a long time.
Turning to the Canadiens, Friedman anticipates they’ll attempt to sign winger Juraj Slafkovsky and defenseman Kaiden Guhle to contract extensions.
Friedman noted the recent speculation about Dave Hakstol’s future as the Seattle Kraken’s head coach. He’ll be shocked if Hakstol is fired. “That’s not (GM) Ron Francis’ way, and the coach was rewarded after last season’s playoff win with an extension.”
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Francis left open the possibility of some changes behind the bench in his recent remarks to the media about his offseason plans. He’s said he’s still examining what happened with his team this season.
A look at what could be in store for the Blues during the offseason plus speculation of a possible coaching change for the Red Wings in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
WHAT’S IN STORE FOR THE BLUES DURING THE OFFSEASON?
THE ATHLETIC: With the St. Louis Blues poised to miss the playoffs again, Jeremy Rutherford believes St. Louis Blues general manager Doug Armstrong will shake up his roster during the offseason.
The Blues will still be retooling their roster. Rutherford doesn’t see Armstrong making significant, expensive upgrades. Any big moves could involve money going out rather than coming in. He also doesn’t see the Blues GM spending to the salary cap next season.
Rutherford doesn’t expect pending unrestricted free agents Sammy Blais and Kasperi Kapanen will be back. Marco Scandella could also be allowed to walk depending on what plans Armstrong has for his top-four defense and for Scott Perunovich.
He also doesn’t believe the Blues will buy out a high-salaried defenseman’s contract. Armstrong hasn’t gone the buyout route since becoming the general manager in 2010. He could instead attempt to package one of them with a draft pick or prospect in a trade.
St. Louis Blues winger Pavel Buchnevich (NHL Images)
Rutherford doesn’t see the Blues shying away from signing winger Pavel Buchnevich to a long-term extension. He thinks it could come down to where they see Buchnevich’s arc, how much he wants and if they think they’re going to compete in the next few years.
DAILY FACEOFF: Frank Seravalli recently examined the Blues’ options if they attempt to move a high-salaried defenseman like Colton Parayko, Torey Krug, Justin Faulk and Nick Leddy. All are signed for at least two more seasons after 2023-24 and have no-trade clauses.
Parayko would have the most value but he’s also the defenseman the Blues probably don’t want to move. They tried to trade Krug last summer and a lot of teams view the undersized defenseman differently in the playoffs. There are also some diminishing returns on Faulk.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: If the goal is to shed salary the Blues have to move one of those four defensemen. They had a deal in place last June to send Krug to the Philadelphia Flyers but he used his no-trade clause to reject the trade as is his right.
Armstrong could approach one of those blueliners and ask them for a list of preferred destinations if he hasn’t already done so. Parayko is probably the only one he could move without having to include sweeteners in the deal. The rest could cost some combination of draft picks, prospects and a good young NHL player to make it happen.
Buchnevich surfaced in the rumor mill leading up to last month’s trade deadline. Some teams reportedly contacted Armstrong asking if he was available. The Blues GM wasn’t shopping the 28-year-old winger but was willing to set a high asking price to see if anyone would meet it.
Armstrong could follow the same plan this summer if teams come calling about Buchnevich. However, it wouldn’t surprise me if the Blues signed him to a contract extension.
COULD THE RED WINGS HIRE BERUBE AS THEIR NEW HEAD COACH?
DETROIT HOCKEY NOW: Bob Duff reported a source told him that Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman is mulling the possibility of a coaching change in the offseason.
The source claimed Yzerman could replace Derek Lalonde as head coach if the Wings fail to reach the playoffs this season. Lalonde is currently in the second year of a three-year contract.
Former St. Louis Blues coach Craig Berube is said to be at the top of Yzerman’s wish list.
Another source told Duff that Yzerman read the riot act to his coaching staff and players on Friday regarding their recent lackluster performance. They’re 0-2-2 on their current five-game road trip that ends on Monday in Tampa Bay.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Wings were in freefall throughout March, winning just three of 14 games. They tumbled out of a wildcard berth and sit two points out of a playoff spot with eight games to play.
Duff noted that the Wings’ slow start to games, their puck management and defensive structure have been issues this season. Part of that is how the team is constructed, which is Yzerman’s department. However, the coaching staff also deserves its share of the blame.
It wouldn’t be shocking if Yzerman shook up his coaching staff by hiring a more experienced bench boss with Stanley Cup experience.
The 2024 trade deadline has passed but questions remain about the trade candidates who didn’t move. Check out the latest on Jacob Markstrom, Linus Ullmark, Pavel Buchnevich and Jakob Chychrun, plus an update on the Devils in the NHL Rumor Mill.
WHAT NEXT FOR MARKSTROM AND THE FLAMES?
CALGARY SUN: Wes Gilbertson wonders what happens next for the Flames and Jacob Markstrom. After weeks of trade speculation, the 34-year-old goaltender remains with the Flames, but there are questions about his future in Calgary.
Gilbertson wondered if the two sides could patch up their relationship if they hadn’t already. Markstrom has two years left on his contract with an average annual value of $6 million. However, does he want to stick around through a retooling process?
Calgary Flames goaltender Jacob Markstrom (NHL Images).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Flames general manager Craig Conroy yesterday claimed there weren’t any issues in his relationship with Markstrom. Nevertheless, the former Vezina Trophy finalist’s future in Calgary will remain the subject of speculation in the offseason, even if a deal with the Devils is no longer possible.
BIG OFFSEASON MOVES COULD BE COMING FOR THE DEVILS
THE ATHLETIC: Despite the Devils’ acquisitions of Allen and Kahkonen, Peter Baugh reports Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald is expecting to go “big-game hunting” for a goaltender in the offseason.
The acquisition of Kahkonen was more about removing Vanecek’s $3.4 million AAV through next season from the Devils’ books. With Allen signed through next season and the Canadiens retaining half of his $3.85 million cap hit, Fitzgerald had the cap flexibility to bring in a bigger-name starter.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Fitzgerald elaborated on why he couldn’t land someone like Markstrom before the deadline, claiming that the asking prices were too high. That market might change during the offseason. Whether he’ll revisit efforts to land Markstrom remains to be seen.
Allen will return with the Devils next season as their backup. Kahkonen won’t be re-signed, but a solid performance in New Jersey should help him land with another NHL club this summer as a free agent.
Fitzgerald also said he remains interested in signing Tyler Toffoli when he becomes an unrestricted free agent on July 1. He traded the 31-year-old winger to the Winnipeg Jets after efforts to re-sign him before the trade deadline failed.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: I don’t doubt Fitzgerald’s sincerity. Toffoli played very well during his short tenure with the Devils. However, he’ll likely be among this summer’s top free agents and could prove too expensive to bring back to New Jersey.
DID ULLMARK REJECT A TRADE TO A WESTERN TEAM?
THE SCORE: Kayla Douglas cited reports from Boston that the Bruins didn’t aggressively shop goaltender Linus Ullmark leading up to the trade deadline. GM Don Sweeney said he was happy he stood pat with his goaltenders, adding he was pleased with the tandem of Ullmark and Jeremy Swayman.
Douglas noted that ESPN’s Kevin Weekes reported the Bruins had a trade in place to move Ullmark to an unnamed team, but Ullmark invoked his no-trade clause “based on geography”. Daily Faceoff’s Frank Servalli claimed the deal was with the Los Angeles Kings.
BOSTON HOCKEY NOW: Jimmy Murphy cited a source indicating that the deal was not with the Kings. He cited another NHL source claiming 14 of the teams on Ullmark’s 16-team no-trade list are all in the Western Conference.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: If that’s the case, moving Ullmark in the offseason could get complicated if that’s the Bruins’ intent following this season.
BLUES RETAIN PAVEL BUCHNEVICH
THE HOCKEY NEWS: Lou Korac reports St. Louis Blues GM Doug Armstrong declined to say if there was any interest in Pavel Buchnevich leading up to the trade deadline. However, he said he was very pleased with the 28-year-old winger’s performance and hoped to sign him to a contract extension this summer. Buchnevich is signed through 2024-25 with an AAV of $5.8 million.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: I don’t know how many teams called about Buchnevich. The media rumor mill had him high on the list of top trade candidates leading up to the deadline. Armstrong probably got a lot of calls about him, but it’s believed his high asking price discouraged potential suitors.
SENATORS HANG ONTO JAKOB CHYCHRUN
OTTAWA SUN: Bruce Garrioch reports Senators GM Steve Staios insisted for the last two months that his club wasn’t trying to trade Jakob Chychrun. Nevertheless, the 25-year-old defenseman was the subject of rumors leading up to Friday’s trade deadline.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Chychrun has a year remaining on his contract. Staios has said he’d like to sign him to a contract extension this summer. Perhaps he’ll gauge Chychrun’s value in the trade market if the two sides fail to agree to a new deal.
NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: The Devils scratched winger Tyler Toffoli from last night’s game against the St. Louis Blues for trade-related reasons. No indication as to which teams are calling about him or potential destinations.
TSN: Pierre LeBrun said it’s not 100 percent that Toffoli gets traded as they still believe they can get back into the playoff race. However, the teams that were in on Jake Guentzel before he was traded to the Carolina Hurricanes also kept tabs on the Devils winger.
New Jersey Devils winger Tyler Toffoli (NHL Images).
Johnston thinks the Canucks could try to add one more piece before the deadline. They were believed to have an interest in Arizona Coyotes winger Jason Zucker. Speaking of Zucker, Johnston tweeted the Coyotes held the veteran winger and defenseman Matt Dumba out of last night’s game against the Minnesota Wild for trade-related reasons.
Darren Dreger reports Calgary Flames goaltender Jacob Markstrom remains in the rumor mill. He believes the New Jersey Devils want to make one more attempt to acquire the 32-year-old Markstrom, who has a full no-movement clause. A rumored trade that would’ve sent him to the Devils last month reportedly fell through over salary retention amid speculation that Flames ownership nixed the deal.
Johansen cleared waivers on Thursday and was reassigned to the Flyers AHL affiliate. However, general manager Daniel Briere said he informed the center to stand pat for a day or two as they attempt to see if another team could use him.
NEW YORK POST: Mollie Walker reports the Rangers are eyeing a reunion with Anaheim Ducks winger Frank Vatrano, who is signed through next season with $3.65 million cap hit. They’ve also been linked to St. Louis Blues winger Pavel Buchnevich but the Blues would have to retain part of his $5.8 million cap hit.
DETROIT HOCKEY NOW: Kevin Allen reports rumors of the Red Wings acquiring Pittsburgh Penguins winger Bryan Rust are running hot. However, he believes it’s unlikely to happen as the Penguins haven’t asked Rust to waive his no-movement clause.
THE SEATTLE TIMES: Geoff Baker reports the Kraken’s improving odds of qualifying for the playoffs could complicate a possible trade of winger Jordan Eberle. Contract discussions were underway but reportedly stalled on Wednesday. Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli believes Eberle will be traded by today’s deadline.
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH: Brian Hedger considers Jack Roslovic to be the Blue Jackets’ most likely trade candidate. The 27-year-old forward is slated to become an unrestricted free agent this summer.
MONTREAL HOCKEY NOW: Marc Dumont reports The Toronto Maple Leafs were among the clubs that inquired about Canadiens defenseman David Savard. However, those teams have balked at the Canadiens’ high asking price.
SPORTSNET 590: Appearing on the Jeff Marek Show, Elliotte Friedman speculated the Carolina Hurricanes could be interested in Guentzel. He noted they usually don’t pursue rental players but could be spurred by yesterday’s trade activity.
BOSTON HOCKEY NOW: Jimmy Murphy wondered if the Bruins could end up landing Elias Lindholm from the Canucks in a possible three-team deal that would send Guentzel to Vancouver. He cited ESPN’s Kevin Weekes reporting one scenario he’d heard had the Bruins shipping winger Jake DeBrusk to the Penguins as part of the deal.
THE PROVINCE: Patrick Johnston speculated the Canucks could target more affordable options such as the Arizona Coyotes’ Jason Zucker or the Buffalo Sabres’ Jordan Greenway if they fail to land Guentzel, Anaheim’s Frank Vatrano or New Jersey’s Tyler Toffoli.
THE ATHLETIC’s Josh Yohe tweeted last night that the Canucks are keen to land Guentzel but the Penguins’ asking price is more than they’re willing to pay.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Rangers probably can’t afford Guentzel after acquiring Alex Wennberg from Seattle yesterday. The Panthers’ acquisition of Vladimir Tarasenko from Ottawa takes them out of the Guentzel sweepstakes.
The Canucks might be able to pull it off if the Penguins are willing to bend a bit, in which case that rumored three-team deal with the Bruins could take place. As for the Hurricanes, they could try to sign Guentzel to a contract extension. If that’s not possible, they’ll have to decide if they’ll make an exception from their usual aversion to adding big-ticket rentals.
THE HOCKEY NEWS: Julian Gaudio cited reports claiming multiple teams are interested in Tyler Toffoli. New Jersey Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald is having contract extension discussions with the winger’s representatives but he’s been linked to several teams.
TSN’s Darren Dreger reported Toffoli was in play with the Devils open to a return of multiple draft picks or a pick and a prospect. The Los Angeles Kings are reportedly interested in bringing back Toffoli, who spent nearly eight seasons with them.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Teams are calling but Fitzgerald seems intent on maintaining contract talks with the Toffoli. He indicated he’s willing to continue those discussions beyond the trade deadline. As The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun speculated, this could go down to the wire.
DAILY FACEOFF: Frank Seravalli reports the St. Louis Blues are willing to “get creative” and retain up to half of Pavel Buchnevich’s $5.8 million cap hit through next season to facilitate a trade. The asking price is said to be a first-round pick and a first-round equivalent while retaining salary could mean adding another premium asset. He speculates the New York Rangers, Carolina Hurricanes, Colorado Avalanche and Vegas Golden Knights could be in on Buchnevich.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Buchnevich would be more to the Hurricanes’ liking given that extra year on his contract but he’s not as much of an impact player as Guentzel. Still, he could be the second choice for teams that lose out in the bidding for Guentzel.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Zucker’s fate could depend on what happens with Guentzel, Toffoli and Buchnevich.
ANTHONY DUCLAIR AND ALEXANDER BARABANOV
SAN JOSE HOCKEY NOW: Sheng Peng reports winger Anthony Duclair hired Paul Theofanous as his agent. There were some contract talks with the Sharks but the 28-year-old winger believes he’ll be traded.
Nikita Sokolov cited reports indicating the Sharks are also actively shopping forward Alexander Barabanov. Like Duclair, he’s slated to become an unrestricted free agent this summer. However, he’s indicated that he wants to play for a contender.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: It was reported there wasn’t much interest in the Sharks’ available assets but that was before yesterday’s frenzy of activity in the trade market. Duclair and Barabanov could become more enticing if the market becomes further depleted before tomorrow’s trade deadline.
SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman did a quick summary on Monday of where each club stands leading up to Friday’s trade deadline. Here are the more notable tidbits:
Friedman’s big question regarding Jake Guentzel is whether the Pittsburgh Penguins will grant permission for interested clubs to discuss a contract extension with the 29-year-old winger. They also prefer to receive prospects rather than draft picks as part of the return for Guentzel.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: TSN’s Pierre LeBrun included the Canucks and Oilers among six-plus suitors for Guentzel.
Turning to the Calgary Flames, Friedman believes defenseman Noah Hanifin remains locked in on joining the Tampa Bay Lightning. He thinks the Lightning are interested in Hanifin but if was that easy it would’ve been done by now.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Lightning’s lack of a first-rounder in the 2024 and 2025 drafts is likely a complicating factor, especially if they’re trying to outbid other teams.
Friedman noted the Boston Bruins are believed to have contacted the Flames about Hanifin. Their limited cap space means they’d have to move a roster player. That’s why goaltender Linus Ullmark has been mentioned in the rumor mill. Ullmark’s 16-team no-trade gives him some control plus the tandem of Ullmark and Jeremy Swayman gives the Bruins their best chance to win the Cup this season.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun reports the New Jersey Devils have looked into Ullmark’s availability if they can’t swing a deal with the Flames for Jacob Markstrom.
Speaking of Jacob Markstrom, his disappointment over how management handled a potential trade to New Jersey hasn’t affected his performance.
The Devils haven’t given up on acquiring Calgary Flames goaltender Jacob Markstrom. They could revisit that attempt in the offseason if a deal isn’t reached by the trade deadline. Friedman isn’t convinced that the Devils could trade winger Tyler Toffoli.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Calgary Hockey Now’s Trevor Neufeld cited Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli claiming Flames ownership spiked the deal that would’ve sent Markstrom to the Devils. If so, we can forget about the 34-year-old goaltender going anywhere at the trade deadline. It would also cast doubt over any potential offseason deals unless Markstrom asks to be moved.
St. Louis Blues general manager Doug Armstrong has set a very high asking price for winger Pavel Buchnevich. There’s been what Friedman calls “non-stop noise” over winger Jordan Kyrou.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Speaking of Kyrou, The Athletic’s Jeremy Rutherford recently suggested the odds are 50-50 that the Blues trade him before his no-trade clause begins in July 2025. If that move takes place my bet is it’s more likely an offseason trade.
Speaking of the Senators, The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun reports there is growing interest in defenseman Jakob Chychrun from clubs seeking more than a playoff rental. However, the Senators remain in listening mode and haven’t set an asking price for him yet.
Friedman believes the Florida Panthers could pursue a winger such as Guentzel or Tarasenko. He said he’s heard mixed responses that they might have an interest in Hanifin.
With the Vegas Golden Knights placing Mark Stone on LTIR, they will be buyers. Friedman thinks they could pursue one or two wingers, including one of those near the top of the market like Buchnevich and Guentzel.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Golden Knights always try to make a big splash near the NHL trade deadline. With over $7.3 million in cap flexibility, they will try and land a big fish by the deadline.
Jake Guentzel, Vladimir Tarasenko or Tyler Toffoli (if available) would be perfect fits for the Carolina Hurricanes. They have the prospect depth to make competitive bids. Meanwhile, Friedman believes the Martin Necas situation is coming to a head.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Necas has been floated recently as a trade candidate if the Hurricanes decide to pursue a big-ticket scorer.
It’s believed the Colorado Avalanche remains in the market for a second-line center. They’re looking at short-term options like Adam Henrique and medium-term ones like Arizona’s Nick Bjugstad and Alex Kerfoot.
Defensemen remain a priority for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Friedman believes they’ve been linked to most of the notable trade candidates. He also thinks they’ve looked at adding another forward.
The Edmonton Oilers have been looking at adding a defenseman. They have also been linked to Adam Henrique and his teammate Sam Carrick in a rumored “double deal.”
There was some social media speculation suggesting the New York Islanders might move Brock Nelson. Friedman dismissed it, pointing out among other things that the Isles aren’t giving up on the playoff race.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: No one knows what secretive Islanders GM Lou Lamoriello has in store for his team. Nevertheless, I agree with Friedman’s dismissal of the Nelson trade rumors.
The asking price for Philadelphia Flyers center Scott Laughton is high, creating doubt that they want to move him. Contract talks continue with defensemen Sean Walker and Nick Seeler.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: With the Flyers still in the thick of the playoff race, I don’t see them moving those guys unless someone is willing to overpay for them.
Teams are assessing whether Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins could benefit from a change of scenery. Meanwhile, Ivan Provorov could become available as the Jackets deal with a blueline backlog.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Merzlikin’s $5.4 million AAV through 2026-27 and inconsistent play will likely keep him in Columbus for the rest of this season. As for Provorov, he has a year left on his contract. The Jackets can wait until the summer to shop him if they don’t get any suitable offers now.
Buffalo Sabres GM Kevyn Adams has rebuffed requests from other clubs to discuss winger Alex Tuch. He’s prepared to move pending UFAs such as Erik Johnson. Friedman wondered if team captain Kyle Okposo would be a fit with the New York Rangers.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Rangers need a top-six right wing but they’re probably eyeing other options. Meanwhile, The Buffalo News’ Lance Lysowski reports Adams is open to trading notable young players but only if it’s a move that helps the Sabres now. In other words, he’s not interested in a return of draft picks and prospects.
Seattle Kraken defenseman Adam Larsson is coveted in the trade market but Friedman would be shocked if he got traded. There’s been contract extension talk with winger Jordan Eberle. Forward Brandon Tanev could be a trade deadline wild card.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Friedman published this column hours before the Kraken scratched center Alex Wennberg from their game last night against the New York Rangers for trade-related reasons. The 29-year-old Wennberg seems the most likely to be moved out of Seattle.
Speaking of the Rangers, Friedman noted they’ve asked about Anaheim’s Frank Vatrano and Buffalo’s Alex Tuch. He thinks they could also look at Pittsburgh’s Reilly Smith or St. Louis’ Pavel Buchnevich.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Again, this was published before the report about Wennberg becoming a healthy scratch for trade-related reasons amid speculation the Rangers were pursuing him.
Speaking of Mantha, Friedman thinks he’d be a good fit with the Winnipeg Jets if Gabriel Vilardi should be sidelined longer than expected.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Winnipeg Sun’s Paul Friesen anticipates the Jets will make another move before the deadline. He believes GM Kevin Cheveldayoff would like to add a puck-moving defenseman.
There’s nothing on the front burner for the Montreal Canadiens. Defenseman David Savard wants to stay and they can sit back and say, “Make us consider it.”
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun said there are some teams interested in acquiring goalie Jake Allen after this season when he’ll have just one year left on his contract with a $3.85 million cap hit. Teams could have the same approach toward Savard. Either way, the Canadiens seem fine with both players remaining on their roster beyond the trade deadline.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: TSN’s Chris Johnston believes the Maple Leafs could be interested in Bogosian if he and the Wild fail to agree to an extension by March 8.
The San Jose Sharks have been open for business for a while but it’s been quiet. They’re trying to move as many of their pending UFAs as possible. Friedman noted there’s been talk about players with term left on their contracts like Mario Ferraro and Mikael Granlund but they’re more costly to acquire.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: It was recently reported the Sharks aren’t shopping Ferraro but could be willing to listen to offers. At this point, I’ll be surprised if he or Granlund are moved.
The Nashville Predators surge up the standings since mid-February has turned them into buyers rather than sellers.
Friedman sees the Detroit Red Wings doing something to secure a playoff berth. He wondered if they’d pursue Jake Guentzel but GM Steve Yzerman isn’t much for signing 30-year-old player to term.
The Los Angeles Kings aren’t expected to do anything major. Forward Arthur Kaliyev has been in and out of the lineup and isn’t guaranteed to move.
After acquiring Chris Tanev from Calgary last week, the Dallas Stars could make one more depth move before the deadline.
The Vancouver Canucks must soon decide if they’ll sign free agent Phil Kessel if they hope to have him for the playoffs.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The deadline for signing free agents to be eligible for the postseason is the same as the trade deadline.
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