Dillon to the Capitals, DeMelo to the Jets, Scandella to the Blues

by | Feb 18, 2020

Dillon to the Capitals, DeMelo to the Jets, Scandella to the Blues

The Washington Capitals acquired defenseman Brenden Dillon from the San Jose Sharks in exchange for a second-round pick in the 2020 draft (originally belonging to Colorado) and a conditional third-rounder in 2021. The Sharks retain half of Dillon’s $3.27 million annual average salary. If the Capitals win the 2020 Stanley Cup, the 2021 third-rounder becomes the 2020 third-rounder that originally belonged to Arizona.

The Washington Capitals acquire defenseman Brenden Dillon from the San Jose Sharks (Photo via NHL.com).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Dillon, 29, is slated to become an unrestricted free agent this summer. He’s a big, physical rearguard logging over 19 minutes of ice time per game. He’ll bring some welcome grit to the Capitals’ blueline down the stretch and into the postseason.

The Sharks appear to be getting started on selling off their UFAs to restock their prospect pipeline. With Dillon gone, perhaps forward Melker Karlsson and goaltender Aaron Dell could be next. This move could also stoke speculation over the fates of Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau.

The Winnipeg Jets acquired defenseman Dylan DeMelo from the Ottawa Senators in exchange for a third-round pick in 2020.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Jets were in the market for some experienced blueline help. DeMelo is a reliable depth rearguard carrying an affordable $900K AAV. He’s also due to become a UFA this summer. TSN’s Darren Dreger speculates Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff might not be done adding to his defense corps before deadline day.

DeMelo could be the start of another UFA selloff by the Senators. Expect the conjecture about center Jean-Gabriel Pageau’s trade status to ramp up in the coming days.

The St. Louis Blues acquired defenseman Marco Scandella from the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for a second-round pick in 2020 and a conditional fourth-rounder in 2021.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Speaking of teams selling off UFAs, this could be just the start for the Canadiens. Ilya Kovalchuk and Nate Thompson could be next out of Montreal before the deadline. This deal means the Habs have three second-rounders and 12 picks overall in this year’s draft.

Scandella appears to be a replacement for Jay Bouwmeester, who’s on long-term injured reserve recovering from a cardiac incident last week.

 










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – February 18, 2020

by | Feb 18, 2020

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – February 18, 2020

Avalanche lose Mikko Rantanen to injury, Canadiens’ Shea Weber close to returning to action, the three stars of the week, and more in today’s NHL morning coffee headlines.

GAME RECAPS

NHL.COM: The Tampa Bay Lightning won a franchise-record 11th straight game with a 4-3 victory over the Colorado Avalanche. Nikita Kucherov tallied the winner in overtime as the Bolts (85 points) sit one back of the Boston Bruins for first overall in the league standings. It was a costly defeat for the Avs, as winger Mikko Rantanen suffered an upper-body injury (shoulder) that could sideline him for weeks. Earlier in the day, the Avs revealed goaltender Philipp Grubauer remains sidelined indefinitely with a lower-body injury.

Colorado Avalanche winger Mikko Rantanen could miss weeks with a shoulder injury (Photo via NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: There’s growing sparking speculation over what moves the Avs will make to bolster their injury-depleted roster. I’ll have more details this morning in the Rumors section.

Calgary Flames winger Andrew Mangiapane tallied his first career NHL hat trick to down the Anaheim Ducks 6-4. With the win, the Flames (68 points) hold the first wild-card berth in the Pacific Division. Jakob Silfverberg had a goal and an assist for the Ducks.

The Arizona Coyotes (68 points) hold the second Western Conference wild-card spot after edging the New York Islanders 2-1. Conor Garland tallied his 20th goal of the season for the Coyotes. Andy Greene collected an assist in his first game with the Isles since being acquired from the New Jersey Devils on Sunday. The Islanders have dropped three straight games.

Vegas Golden Knights goalie Marc-Andre Fleury kicked out 25 shots in a 3-2 win over the Washington Capitals. The Golden Knights (70 points) move into a tie with the Edmonton Oilers for first place in the Pacific Division, but the Oilers hold two games in hand. The Capitals (79 points) cling to a one-point lead over the Pittsburgh Penguins for the top spot in the Metropolitan Division. Washington captain Alex Ovechkin was held scoreless for the fifth straight game and remains stuck at 698 career goals.

Sergei Bobrovsky made 29 saves and Aaron Ekblad collected two assists to give the Florida Panthers a 5-3 victory over the San Jose Sharks. The Panthers (68 points) move within two points of the Toronto Maple Leafs for third place in the Atlantic Division. Following the game, Sharks defenseman Brenden Dillon got emotional when asked if he thought that was his last home game with the Sharks. Dillon is a free agent this summer and considered a trade candidate.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Fans and pundits love to bandy about the names of possible trade candidates. We shouldn’t forget that these are human beings. While the players acknowledge getting traded is part of the business of hockey, it can still be difficult facing the prospect of leaving a team.

HEADLINES

Edmonton Oilers center Leon Draisaitl, Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy, and former LA Kings winger Tyler Toffoli (now with the Vancouver Canucks) are the NHL’s three stars for the week ending Feb. 16.

THE SCORE: Canucks winger Brock Boeser will be sidelined three weeks with a rib injury, while winger Micheal Ferland (concussion) is done for the season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This news explains why the Canucks acquired Toffoli from the Kings last night.

MONTREAL GAZETTE: Canadiens captain Shea Weber has returned to practice with his teammates and could play tonight against the Detroit Red Wings. Weber had suffered an ankle injury that supposedly had him sidelined for six weeks amid speculation it was career-threatening.

THE BUFFALO NEWS: The Sabres have suspended defenseman Zach Bogosian for failing to report to their AHL affiliate after he recently cleared waivers. The suspension removes Bogosian’s $5.14 million salary-cap hit from the Sabres’ books, providing them flexibility as the Feb. 24 trade deadline approaches. The club could negotiate a mutual contract termination with Bogosian.

 

 










Surveying the NHL Sellers – San Jose Sharks

by | Feb 5, 2020

Surveying the NHL Sellers – San Jose Sharks










NHL Sense or Nonsense: Buying, Selling, Signing or Trading

by | Jan 31, 2020

NHL Sense or Nonsense: Buying, Selling, Signing or Trading

 










NHL Rumor Mill – January 29, 2020

by | Jan 29, 2020

NHL Rumor Mill – January 29, 2020

Should the Canadiens ship Max Domi to Toronto for Kasperi Kapanen? Are the Bruins eyeing a Ducks winger? Is interest growing in Brenden Dillon? Check out the latest in today’s NHL rumor mill.

DOMI FOR KAPANEN?

TVA SPORTS: Jean-Charles Lajoie believes the decline in Max Domi’s production in his contract year should concern Montreal Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin. Taking note of the 24-year-old winger’s streaky scoring, he thinks they can’t build a champion team with Domi.

Nevertheless, Lajoie believes Domi is among several Canadiens who would be attractive to other clubs before the Feb. 24 trade deadline. He suggests shipping Domi to the Toronto Maple Leafs for Kaspari Kapanen, who could have great chemistry with fellow Finns Jesperi Kotkaniemi and Joel Armia, while Domi would return to the city where his father was a star.

Should the Montreal Canadiens offer Max Domi to Toronto for Kasperi Kapanen (Photo via NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Could Bergevin listen to trade offers for Domi? I wouldn’t rule it out. Will he get one that entices him to trade Domi before the deadline? Probably not. Will the Leafs swap Kapanen for Domi? No. They need to bolster their blueline depth. Trading Kapanen for Domi won’t address that issue.

BRUINS PURSUING KASE?

BOSTON HOCKEY NOW: Jimmy Murphy cites an NHL source suggesting the Bruins could be looking at Anaheim Ducks winger Ondrej Kase. The Ducks are open for business and let it be known the 24-year-old Kase could be available for the right price.

Sweeney’s source claims Bruins general manager Don Sweeney and Ducks GM Bob Murray have discussed what that price could be. No word on what Murray could seek, but with his club set to rebuild, the asking price could be draft picks and/or prospects.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: I don’t think it’s a certainty the Ducks move Kase, but I don’t rule it out. Several pundits reported Murray wasn’t going to engage in a total roster teardown, but he’s willing to listen on certain players. Kase could be among them. Given his injury history, however, I don’t think he’s the winger to bolster the Bruins’ second-line scoring punch.

HIGHLIGHTS FROM TSN’S LATEST “INSIDER TRADING” SEGMENT

TSN: Darren Dreger reports the Winnipeg Jets are in the market for a specific top-four defenseman. It could be a rental player or one with term on his contract. Complicating things is Dustin Byfuglien’s situation hasn’t been resolved plus injuries to Adam Lowry and Bryan Little. If the latter comes back into the mix, Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff might have to move a current roster player to add that top-four blueliner.

Pierre LeBrun believes San Jose Sharks rearguard Brenden Dillon could be among the Jets’ trade targets. He said half-a-dozen teams have expressed interest in Dillon, including the Bruins and the Carolina Hurricanes. He suspects the asking price will be a second-round pick and perhaps a prospect.

LeBrun also reported there haven’t been any contract discussions between the Ottawa Senators and pending UFA Jean-Gabriel Pageau. He doubts the Senators can get a first-round pick for Pageau if he’s put on the trade block, but suggested perhaps a conditional second-rounder that becomes a first if Pageau re-signs with the acquiring club.

The Edmonton Oilers, New York Islanders, Philadelphia Flyers and maybe the Calgary Flames could pursue Pageau. None of those clubs are guaranteed to make the playoffs, so they’ll be leery about overpaying for a rental player. 

LATEST ON THE DEVILS

THE ATHLETIC: Corey Masisak reports Travis Zajac and Andy Greene recently met with New Jersey Devils interim GM Tom Fitzgerald to discuss their respective futures. Zajac has a year remaining on his contract while Green is an unrestricted free agent. Both have no-trade clauses. Zajac confirmed he rejected a recent trade opportunity, adding he wants to remain with the Devils.

Masisak also explored the trade market for pending UFA defenseman Sami Vatanen. The Devils could get a second-round pick and perhaps another asset in return. He speculates the Vegas Golden Knights and Nashville Predators could be suitors.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Vatanen lacks no-trade protection and will be the easiest of the three to move if he’s not re-signed before the trade deadline. If Zajac and Greene don’t want to leave, there’s nothing Fitzgerald can do unless he tells them they won’t be re-signed. Even that might not sway them.

SABRES STILL SHOPPING

THE BUFFALO NEWS: Lance Lysowski reports Buffalo Sabres GM Jason Botterill will push to add to his roster ahead of the trade deadline if his club gains ground in the standings over the next three weeks. He said he’s still trying to add to his roster, hoping to add a forward with speed.

Doing so won’t be easy, as the Sabres have limited salary-cap space. They also haven’t found any takers for defenseman Zach Bogosian and forward Evan Rodrigues, who’ve both requested a trade.










Can the Maple Leafs Address Their Weaknesses Before the NHL Trade Deadline

by | Jan 28, 2020

Can the Maple Leafs Address Their Weaknesses Before the NHL Trade Deadline