NHL Rumor Mill – February 24, 2024

by | Feb 24, 2024

NHL Rumor Mill – February 24, 2024

Could the Bruins trade a goalie to address other roster needs? Who could be possible trade targets for the Golden Knights? What’s going on with Marc-Andre Fleury, Casey Mittelstadt and Vladimir Tarasenko? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

THE LATEST BRUINS SPECULATION

BOSTON HOCKEY NOW: Jimmy Murphy cited TNT NHL analyst Paul Bissonnette suggesting the Bruins trade one of their goaltenders to address their need for a center. He believes they should move Linus Ullmark or Jeremy Swayman to bring in a top-two center and move Charlie Coyle back to third-line center duty.

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman also thinks the Bruins will have to move someone off their roster if they wish to add to their lineup. He thinks people are looking at Ullmark as a trade candidate. He doesn’t think moving the 2023 Vezina Trophy winner is impossible but wondered if it’s a good idea to sacrifice one of their greatest strengths. He felt the only reason to do it is if they can get something so good that they have to do so.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: A few things to remember here.

First, Bruins general manager Don Sweeney said earlier this season when Ullmark popped up in the rumor mill that it was necessary to keep his goalie tandem intact because they would help keep the Bruins competitive. I don’t doubt that teams might be calling Sweeney about Ullmark or Swayman but that doesn’t mean he’s peddling one of them.

Boston Bruins goaltender Linus Ullmark (NHL Images).

Second, Ullmark has a 16-team no-trade clause and loves playing in Boston. He also carries a $5 million cap hit through 2024-25 and that’s not easy to move in a season with so many teams carrying limited cap room.

Third, when was the last time you saw a goaltender (even a former Vezina winner) get traded for a first or second-line center in the salary cap era? Goalies rarely fetch big returns in trades.

And finally, which first or second-line center is currently available in the trade market? The depth of talent is so thin that third-liner Adam Henrique is considered by experts and insiders to be the best one on the market. No disrespect to Henrique, but he’s not worth Ullmark or Swayman.

I’ve been doing this long enough to know that sometimes a shocking move can take place that no one saw coming. Maybe the Bruins might be able to find that kind of deal leading up to the March 8 trade deadline. But if you recall what we’ve seen in previous trade deadlines over the years, something of that magnitude hasn’t happened in a long time.

THE ATHLETIC: Fluto Shinzawa is concerned about what the Bruins will do if it appears that defenseman Hampus Lindholm could be sidelined beyond the trade deadline. Replacing the minute-munching blueliner could prove a big challenge for Sweeney.

Shinzawa believes the Bruins would love to acquire local boy Noah Hanifin from the Calgary Flames. However, he doubts they have sufficient trade assets to tempt the Flames.

The Bruins lack picks in the first three rounds of this year’s draft while promising Matt Poitras is out for the season recovering from shoulder surgery. They also don’t have sufficient cap space to take on Hanifin’s $4.95 million cap hit.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’ll take some savvy horsetrading on Sweeney’s part to pull off a trade deadline deal for Hanifin. Maybe he can get a third team involved but his lack of tradeable assets makes that scenario seem unlikely.

A LOOK AT SOME POSSIBLE TRADE OPTIONS FOR THE GOLDEN KNIGHTS

LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL: With captain Mark Stone sidelined for perhaps the rest of the regular season, Ben Gotz looked at several possible trade options to replace the 31-year-old winger before the March 8 trade deadline if they place him on long-term injury reserve.

Among the most notable are St. Louis’ Pavel Buchnevich, Pittsburgh’s Jake Guentzel, and Seattle’s Jordan Eberle.

Others include former Golden Knight Reilly Smith (now with the Penguins), Arizona’s Jason Zucker, San Jose’s Anthony Duclair or Mikael Granlund, Washington’s Anthony Mantha, Ottawa’s Vladimir Tarasenko, and Anaheim’s Frank Vatrano.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Buchnevich or Guentzel are the best options talent-wise. With Stone on LTIR the Golden Knights could afford their cap hits but the asking prices for those guys are probably well out of their reach. They might have to consider more affordable options in terms of return.

FLEURY NOT ASKING FOR A TRADE

EDMONTON JOURNAL: Jim Matheson reports Minnesota Wild goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury is not looking for a trade. He would rather stick with the club while they’re battling for a wild-card spot in the Western Conference.

Fleury has a full no-movement clause. Matheson wondered if Wild GM Bill Guerin would approach him about a trade if a Cup contender like the Colorado Avalanche came calling. However, Fleury already has three Cup rings and would have to discuss any move with his family.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The longer the Wild remain in the playoff chase the less likely Fleury will be traded. He could always change his mind but he seems set on finishing this season in Minnesota.

TEAMS STILL INTERESTED IN MITTELSTADT

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Michael Augello cites Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman and Jeff Marek discussing Buffalo Sabres center Casey Mittelstadt. They claimed that a lot of teams were watching the 25-year-old Mittelstadt.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Teams might be watching Mittelstadt but Sabres GM Kevyn Adams recently denied rumors that he was shopping his leading scorer. Adams also said he intended to get him signed to a new contract following this season. Unless someone makes the Sabres a mind-blowing offer, Mittelstadt will still be in Buffalo when the trade deadline is over.

UPDATE ON THE SENATORS

OTTAWA SUN: Bruce Garrioch recently reported the Senators remain interested in Flames defenseman Chris Tanev. However, the Flames need to trade Noah Hanifin before they deal with the 34-year-old Tanev. Garrioch believes if a deal with the Senators for Tanev was possible it would’ve happened by now. He mentions the possibility of signing him as a free agent in July.

Most of the Senators’ trade discussions involve pending free-agent Vladimir Tarasenko. He has a full no-movement clause but it’s thought that four or five teams have expressed interest in the 32-year-old winger. It’s believed the Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers could be among the suitors. The Senators could get a better return if they retain part of his $5 million cap hit.

Pending UFA winger Dominik Kubalik has also drawn some interest but he’s been in the market for a couple of months. The Sens might also have to retain some of his $2.5 million cap hit.

Jakob Chychrun’s name has also surfaced in the rumor mill but the asking price is believed to be high. Some wonder if they should move a core player like Josh Norris, who carries a $7.95 million cap hit but has struggled to score in recent games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Tarasenko and perhaps Kubalik will be playing elsewhere by March 8. Chychrun and Norris aren’t going anywhere unless someone makes a ridiculous offer for either guy.










NHL Rumor Mill – February 16, 2024

by | Feb 16, 2024

NHL Rumor Mill – February 16, 2024

The Devils are still shopping for a goalie such as Jacob Markstrom, Juuse Saros and Jake Allen, the Leafs remain in the market for a defenseman, plus the latest on Jake Guentzel and Marc-Andre Fleury in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

DEVILS STILL SHOPPING FOR A STARTING GOALTENDER

TSN: Pierre LeBrun reports the New Jersey Devils remain keen on trying to make a trade work with the Calgary Flames for goaltender Jacob Markstrom. Their previous talks broke down in part because the Devils want the Flames to retain part of Markstrom’s $6 million average annual value through 2025-26.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Flames general manager Craig Conroy reportedly wants a significant return for Markstrom. His asking price goes up if the Devils insist that his club retain part of Markstrom’s salary. That’s understandable as it would leave the Flames with over two years of up to $3 million annually in dead cap space.

Even with the cap projected to rise significantly over the next two seasons, that would still leave a big hole in the Flames’ payroll. The Devils will have to make it worth their while or look elsewhere. Speaking of which…

LeBrun reports the Devils are also kicking tires on the Anaheim Ducks’ John Gibson, the Montreal Canadiens’ Jake Allen, and the Nashville Predators’ Juuse Saros.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Allen was the subject of a recent rumor claiming he was going to be traded to the Colorado Avalanche. LeBrun’s colleague Darren Dreger shot that down but The Montreal Gazette’s Stu Cowan expects Allen could be moved by the March 8 trade deadline, possibly in a package deal with other players. Whether it’s to the Avalanche or another club remains to be seen.

As for Saros…

Nashville Predators goaltender Juuse Saros (NHL Images).

PREDATORS LISTENING ON SAROS’ OFFERS

NASHVILLE HOCKEY NOW: Michael Gallagher believes the possibility of the Predators trading goaltender Juuse Saros is greater than we think.

Gallagher cited Predators GM Barry Trotz telling Nashville’s 102.5 The Game on Tuesday that he would consider moving the 28-year-old Saros if he received an offer of an asset that he otherwise wouldn’t envision himself getting, adding he said the same thing to Saros.

Trotz could be thinking about the potentially high cost of re-signing Saros, who has a year left on his contract and is eligible in 2025 to become an unrestricted free agent. Gallagher cites speculation suggesting the Saros camp could seek something similar to the seven-year, $59.5 million contract ($8.5 million AAV) signed by Winnipeg’s Connor Hellebucyk last October.

The Hurricanes, Devils and Los Angeles Kings are among the clubs recently linked to Saros in the rumor mill. Gallagher claims Trotz will set an expensive asking price.

NJ.COM: Ryan Novozinsky reports Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald has contacted Trotz about Saros, which the Predators general manager confirmed during his appearance on 102.5 FM The Game. Trotz continues to insist that it would take a massive offer to tempt him into moving his starting goalie. Novozinsky speculated that the package might have to include Dawson Mercer or Alexander Holtz, prospect Seamus Casey and a first-round pick.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: TSN’s Pierre LeBrun considers Saros the No. 1 goalie on the market. While the Predators may be listening to offers, LeBrun claims they’re not committed to trading him. That’s why they’re setting a high asking price with a good young NHL player as the centerpiece of the return. He indicated that no one has made that offer yet, which is fine for the Preds because they’re happy to keep Saros.

In other words, you can ask Trotz about Saros but you won’t get him unless you make an offer too good to refuse. And right now, the Preds GM has been refusing whatever’s been proposed.

GUENTZEL’S INJURY COULD AFFECT HIS TRADE VALUE

TRIBLIVE.COM: Seth Rorabaugh reports the Pittsburgh Penguins face a major challenge attempting to remain in the playoff race with winger Jake Guentzel sidelined for three to four weeks with an upper-body injury.

The Penguins placed Guentzel on long-term injury reserve, meaning he’ll be sidelined for at least 10 games and 24 days on the calendar, stretching past the March 8 trade deadline. The 29-year-old winger is slated to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1 and there’s been frequent speculation over whether the Penguins will re-sign or trade him by the deadline.

Guentzel would fetch a significant return as a trade candidate if healthy. Putting him on LTIR could affect his value.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Teams will undoubtedly call the Penguins about Guentzel if they make him available in the trade market. However, they will want assurances that he’ll be at 100 percent once he’s ready to return to action by mid-March.

UPDATE ON FLEURY

TSN: Pierre LeBrun reports Minnesota Wild goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury recently met with his agent to discuss the March 8 trade deadline. The 39-year-old Fleury doesn’t want to go anywhere right now as he doesn’t want to bail on the Wild while they’re trying to chase down a playoff berth.

Fleury could consider going to two or three teams if the Wild are out of contention by the deadline. Among them could be the Carolina Hurricanes, Colorado Avalanche and Toronto Maple Leafs.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Fleury has a full no-movement clause so the final decision rests with him. Wild GM Bill Guerin is a former teammate of Fleury’s as well as a friend and will attempt to accommodate the veteran netminder if he decides to chase a Stanley Cup somewhere else.

LEAFS STILL SHOPPING FOR A DEFENSEMAN

TSN: Chris Johnston reports Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving is still shopping around for a defenseman. Calgary Flames blueliner Chris Tanev likely remains at the top of his list but he’s also been linked to the Philadelphia Flyers’ Sean Walker and the Nashville Predators’ Alexandre Carrier.

Johnston indicates the Leafs don’t want to part with their first-round pick and lack a second-rounder over the next three drafts. They’ve been offering up multiple lower-round picks but aren’t getting any interest.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Leafs will either have to give up their first for a rental defenseman or be prepared to accept lesser-talented blueliners than those noted above.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – February 10, 2024

by | Feb 10, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – February 10, 2024

Wild goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury defeats the Penguins on the night commemorating his two recent career milestones, the Rangers and Oilers pick up victories in Friday’s action, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: On the night the Minnesota Wild honored Marc-Andre Fleury for recently reaching the 1,000-game and 552nd career win milestones, he backstopped them to a 3-2 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins with a 34-save performance.

Minnesota Wild goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury (NHL Images).

Kirill Kaprizov broke a 2-2 tie in the third period and also collected an assist while Matt Boldy and Jonas Brodin each had a goal and an assist for the 23-23-1 Wild (51 points) as they moved within three points of the final Western Conference wild-card berth. Reilly Smith and Sidney Crosby scored against their former teammate as the 23-18-7 Penguins (53 points) remain five points out of the final Eastern Conference wild-card spot.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This game could also be Fleury’s last against the Penguins, with whom he played 13 of his 20 NHL seasons. The 39-year-old goalie is in the final year of his contract amid speculation he could retire at the end of this season.

Wild defenseman Brock Faber set franchise records for single-season assists (27) and points (31) by a rookie defenseman. This game also had a bit of controversy as Kaprizov scored after the puck seemed to rebound off the netting above the glass behind the Penguins’ goal. The on-ice officials didn’t see it and a video review following a coach’s challenge proved inconclusive.

Edmonton Oilers winger Evander Kane tallied a hat trick in a 5-3 victory over the Anaheim Ducks. Connor McDavid collected three assists for the Oilers (30-16-1) as they sit third in the Pacific Division with 61 points. Ryan Strome tallied twice and Adam Henrique had two assists for the 18-31-2 Ducks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ducks goaltender John Gibson left this game following the second period with a lower-body injury. The Ducks also played without center Mason McTavish as he missed this contest with an upper-body injury.

The New York Rangers blew a 3-1 lead to the Chicago Blackhawks before winning the game 4-3 on an overtime goal by Mika Zibanejad. Chris Kreider and Adam Fox each had two points while Igor Shesterkin stopped 28 shots in his first start since Jan. 26 for the Metropolitan Division-leading Rangers (33-16-3) as they moved into second place in the Eastern Conference with 69 points. Alex Vlasic, Nick Foligno and Jason Dickinson scored for the 14-35-3 Blackhawks.

MONTREAL GAZETTE: Canadiens center Alex Newhook will return to the lineup for Saturday’s game against the Dallas Stars after being sidelined since Nov. 30 with a high ankle sprain.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Newhook’s return is timely considering the Canadiens traded center Sean Monahan last Friday to Winnipeg. He had seven goals and 13 points in 23 games but had points in four of his previous seven contests at the time of his injury.

CBS SPORTS: St. Louis Blues winger Kasperi Kapanen returns to action on Saturday against the Buffalo Sabres. He’d missed the last seven games with a lower-body issue.

DAILY FACEOFF: The Calgary Flames placed goaltender Dan Vladar on injured reserve with a lower-body injury and recalled netminder Dustin Wolf from their AHL affiliate.










NHL Rumor Mill – February 8, 2024

by | Feb 8, 2024

NHL Rumor Mill – February 8, 2024

Updates on Chris Tanev, Jake Guentzel, the goalie market, the Flyers, the Blue Jackets, the Rangers’ first-round pick and much more in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

LATEST “32 THOUGHTS” SPECULATION

SPORTSNET: In his latest “32 Thought” column, Elliotte Friedman reported a lot of teams are interested in Calgary Flames defenseman Chris Tanev. However, some are non-contenders this season looking to become contenders next season (Ottawa), some have limited cap space or tradeable assets (Boston, Tampa Bay, Toronto, Vancouver), and some (like New Jersey) aren’t sure yet if rental players make sense for them this season. Dallas could also be lurking.

Calgary Flames defenseman Chris Tanev (NHL Images).

The Maple Leafs want Tanev but the Flames are asking for a first-round pick. The Senators are very interested in the 34-year-old defenseman and could pursue him as a free agent this summer if they don’t land him before the trade deadline.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Ottawa Sun’s Bruce Garrioch believes the Senators will try to sign Tanev to a contract extension if they acquire him before the March 8 trade deadline. He thinks the Los Angeles Kings could also be a suitor.

It seems like Tanev is certain to be moved by trade deadline day. However, it could still take some time for that to happen. Many teams have limited cap space and could wait until deadline day to accrue sufficient space to make some moves.

Garrioch also cited a league executive claiming teams looking at Tanev are also looking at Carolina’s Brett Pesce and Arizona’s Matt Dumba. I don’t think Pesce’s available as the Hurricanes are in the thick of the playoff chase. Dumba’s been sidelined for a couple of weeks now with a lower-body injury but could become available if the Coyotes become buyers leading up to the trade deadline.

Regarding the Philadelphia Flyers, Friedman reports they’re trying to lay the groundwork to sign Travis Konecny to a contract extension. It’s believed defenseman Nick Seeler will be re-signed but the recent addition of Jamie Drysdale makes Sean Walker a trade candidate. The Edmonton Oilers and Tampa Bay Lightning are possible destinations. “Rasmus Ristolainen’s stock is up, but the contract is tricky.” Friedman also noted that Scott Laughton’s ice time is down this season, suggesting a move might be better for everyone.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Unsurprisingly, the Flyers want to keep Konecny. He’s thrived under head coach John Tortorella…Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli reports the Flyers seek a first-round pick for Walker…Ristolainen is signed through 2026-27 with an average annual value of $5.1 million. Tricky, indeed…Laughton carries an affordable $3 million AAV through 2025-26. He’s also well-liked by his teammates and coaches. They’re in no rush to move him and it could take a significant offer to tempt Flyers management.

Friedman expects teams to call the Columbus Blue Jackets about captain Boone Jenner. However, he’s got a partial no-trade clause and they probably won’t move him unless they get a massive return. Elvis Merzlikins’ availability was well-known before his blow-up last month.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Athletic’s Aaron Portzline shares Friedman’s opinion about Jenner. He speculates defenseman Ivan Provorov could be on the move to free up room on their crowded blueline. Provorov has 23 points in 50 games this season and lacks no-trade protection. He carries an annual salary-cap hit of $6.75 million through 2024-25 but the Los Angeles Kings carry $2.025 million annually as part of the three-team trade that sent him to Columbus from Philadelphia.

The Washington Capitals could hold onto checking-line forward Nic Dowd. They’re looking at moving defenseman Joel Edmundson.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: I saw some skepticism on social media regarding the possibility of moving Edmundson but I wouldn’t be so dismissive. A general manager desperate to bolster their blueline could take the gamble, recalling his performance with the St. Louis Blues during their 2019 Stanley Cup run and the Montreal Canadiens during the 2021 playoffs.

Friedman believes the Boston Bruins attempted to acquire Elias Lindholm from the Flames before he was traded to the Canucks. He thinks they’ll pursue the 29-year-old center in this summer’s free-agent market.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Bruins lack the tradeable capital necessary to acquire Lindholm. They’ll have the cap space (a projected $27.7 million) this summer to take a run at signing him.

The Carolina Hurricanes, Colorado Avalanche or Edmonton Oilers could be good trade destinations for Marc-Andre Fleury. However, the 39-year-old goaltender has a full no-movement clause. Nothing happens without his say-so.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Fleury reportedly would want “a prominent role” if he were traded. He doesn’t want to be in a position where he’s seeing little action as a backup. We’ll see what happens.

Speaking of goalies, Friedman also mentioned the Flames’ Jacob Markstrom and Dan Vladar, Montreal’s Jake Allen and Anaheim’s John Gibson. Nothing new that hasn’t already been previously reported.

Friedman also indicated there’s nothing new to report on the status of Pittsburgh Penguins winger Jake Guentzel, “just that there’s no panic.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Edmonton Journal’s David Staples cited a Pennsylvania online betting site listing the Oilers as the team most likely to acquire Guentzel. The Oilers have just $2.3 million in projected salary-cap space. Good luck with that. It’s also doubtful they could meet what would be a high asking price from the Penguins for Guentzel.

RANGERS FIRST-ROUND PICK IN PLAY

NEW YORK POST: Larry Brooks dismissed a recent report from TSN claiming Rangers owner James Dolan forbid Rangers management from trading their first-rounder. Dolan is the owner of Sphere in Las Vegas where the 2024 NHL Draft will be held. The TSN report said that the Rangers owner wants his team to be part of the excitement of the opening round.

“The concept is ludicrous,” wrote Brooks “More to the point, it has zero validity.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Brooks would know. Like him or not, he’s well-connected with the Rangers.










Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – February 4, 2024

by | Feb 4, 2024

Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – February 4, 2024

Check out the latest on Jake Guentzel plus updates on the Bruins and Wild in the Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup.

LATEST GUENTZEL SPECULATION

PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: Dan Kingerski cited Sportsnet’s Nick Kypreos making an off-hand comment during his Friday show that he’d heard the Penguins offered Jake Guentzel a six-year, $50 million contract, but it had not yet been signed.

Kingerski would be surprised if Guentzel rejected such an offer from the Penguins. He might get a little more than that on the open market, but his stats are a little inflated from skating on Sidney Crosby’s wing for most of his career.

Pittsburgh Penguins winger Jake Guentzel (NHL Images)

SPECTOR’S NOTE: That rumored offer cited by Kypreos breaks down to an average annual value of $8.33 million. I agree with Kingerski that it’s unlikely Guentzel would reject that deal unless it comes without some no-trade protection. That could be a sticking point as a lot of high-end pending unrestricted free agents prefer to have no-trade or no-movement clauses to give them a measure of control over the life of their contracts.

The Montreal Canadiens trading Sean Monahan on Friday to the Winnipeg Jets has prompted some to ponder how much the Penguins might get for Guentzel in the trade market. Kingerski looks at what the Canadiens got for Monahan and the Calgary Flames for sending Elias Lindholm to the Vancouver Canucks and doubts the Penguins would get significantly more for Guentzel.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kingerski noted that any first-round pick the Penguins might get as part of the return for Guentzel would likely be somewhere between 20th and 32nd overall. Recent draft analysis indicates a 35 percent probability that a player selected in that range will even play 200 career NHL games.

It’ll be interesting to see what Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas does with Guentzel leading up to the March 8 trade deadline. He could put the winger on the trade block if the club remains out of playoff contention or if there’s no progress in contract talks.

What he could fetch in the trade market should be better than what the Flames got for Lindholm and the Canadiens got for Monahan. Kingerski pointed out that there are more buyers than sellers in this year’s trade market but little money to spend. As a result, he believes the return for Guentzel might not be the manna from heaven that some Penguins fans believe it could be.

CAN THE BRUINS AFFORD CHRIS TANEV OR NOAH HANIFIN?

NBC SPORTS BOSTON: Nick Goss pointed out the Bruins still need to add another veteran defenseman to their blueline before the trade deadline. He suggested the Calgary Flames’ Chris Tanev as he would fit the role of physical d-man who can log big minutes, kill penalties, block shots and clear the front of the net.

Goss cited TSN’s Pierre LeBrun indicating the general price tag for Tanev is believed to be a second-round pick plus another asset. A team could probably get him now if they offered up a first-round pick. The Bruins, however, don’t have a second-rounder until 2026 and don’t own a first-rounder in this year’s draft. Giving up their 2025 first-round pick would be too much for a 34-year-old defenseman.

Tanev’s teammate Noah Hanifin would be a better long-term fit. He’s 27 and possesses a very good two-way skill set. However, it would cost the Bruins a lot to acquire him, assuming he’s willing to sign a contract extension.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s rumored Bruins GM Don Sweeney would love to land Hanifin. That seems something more likely to occur in the offseason when he becomes a UFA and the Bruins have the cap space to pursue him.

Given the Bruins’ lack of tradeable assets and limited salary cap space, I don’t see them landing Tanev or Hanifin by the trade deadline. They’ll have to pursue more affordable options on the blueline.

Boston could make it work if they were to shop Jake DeBrusk. Like Tanev and Hanfin, the 27-year-old winger is slated to become a UFA on July 1.

The Boston Herald’s Steve Conroy suggested the Bruins should attempt to move him in a blockbuster deal if they’re unable to sign him to a contract extension before March 8. However, the Flames might not be interested unless he’s willing to sign a new contract with them. He might not even suit their needs if they’re attempting to rebuild.

POTENTIAL WILD TRADE BAIT.

THE ATHLETIC: Michael Russo and Joe Smith recently looked at the Minnesota Wild’s potential trade candidate if they become a seller by the March 8 trade deadline.

Their pending UFAs include Pat Maroon, Marc-Andre Fleury, Brandon Duhaime, Zach Bogosian and Alex Goligoski. Connor Dewar is due to become a restricted free agent who could be available if the Wild don’t like what it could cost if he takes them to arbitration.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Fleury has come up recently in the rumor mill but it seems unlikely he’ll agree to a trade unless he gets a significant role with a new club. At age 39 and with his career winding down, he’ll be at best a backup with a contender and that might not hold much interest for him.

Maroon and Bogosian have Stanley Cup experience which could make them enticing for contenders seeking affordable playoff depth.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – January 20, 2024

by | Jan 20, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – January 20, 2024

Recaps of Friday’s games, the Canucks sign hockey ops president Jim Rutherford to a contract extension, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

GAME RECAPS

NHL.COM: The Minnesota Wild tallied five power-play goals to upset the Florida Panthers 6-4. Kirill Kaprizov (two goals and an assist) and Brock Faber (one goal, two assists) each had three points while Ryan Hartman tallied twice for the 19-21-5 Wild. Aaron Ekblad had a goal and three assists for the Panthers (27-14-4) as they remain in second place in the Atlantic Division with 58 points.

Minnesota Wild winger Kirill Kaprizov (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It was a costly win for the Wild as goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury suffered an upper-body injury and center Connor Dewar a lower-body injury. Both will be reevaluated today. Meanwhile, the Panthers sat out captain Aleksander Barkov for the second straight game as he continues to deal with a lower-body injury.

Carolina Hurricanes forwards Sebastian Aho and Andrei Svechnikov each had a goal and an assist in a 4-2 victory over the Detroit Red Wings. Martin Necas and Michael Bunting each had two points for the 25-14-3 Hurricanes (55 points), who sit one point behind the second-place Philadelphia Flyers in the Metropolitan Division. Alex Lyon made 26 saves for the Red Wings (23-17-5) as they slipped into the final Eastern Conference wild-card spot with 51 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Earlier in the day, the Hurricanes placed goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov (concussion) on injured reserve and claimed netminder Spencer Martin off waivers from the Columbus Blue Jackets.

A four-goal second period powered the New Jersey Devils to a 4-1 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets. Nico Hischier and Alexander Holtz each tallied their 12th goal of the season while Vitek Vanecek stopped 29 shots for the 23-17-3 Devils (49 points) as they sit two points behind the Red Wings. Cole Sillinger replied for the 14-22-9 Blues Jackets.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before this game, the Devils placed defenseman Brendan Smith on injured reserve with a sprained knee.

The Chicago Blackhawks upset the New York Islanders 4-3 on an overtime goal by Seth Jones. Joey Anderson, Jason Dickinson and Boris Katchouk each had a goal and an assist for the 14-30-2 Blackhawks. Kyle Palmieri and Noah Dobson each had two points for the Islanders (19-15-11) as they sit behind the Devils with 49 points with the latter holding two games in hand.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Isles are winless in their last four games (0-3-1) and have just two wins in their last 10 games.

HEADLINES

SPORTSNET: The Vancouver Canucks signed Jim Rutherford to a three-year contract extension as their president of hockey operations.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Rutherford was hired in December 2021 by a club in turmoil as it had struggled through a period of front office in-fighting, questionable decisions by management, and inconsistent performances by their players.

Over two years later, Rutherford has stabilized management and the coaching staff, leading to considerable on-ice improvement. They’re currently sitting in first place in the overall standings with stars such as Elias Pettersson, Quinn Hughes, Thatcher Demko, J.T. Miller and Brock Boeser on pace for career-best seasons.

The next challenge for Rutherford and his general manager Patrik Allvin is re-signing Pettersson, who intends to wait until the end of this season to open contract negotiations. Sitting among the NHL’s top-10 scorers, he’ll command a significant raise on his next deal that could make him one of the league’s highest-paid players.

DAILY FACEOFF: The Washington Capitals signed forward Aliaksei Protas to a five-year contract extension with an average annual value of $3.375 million. In his third season with the Capitals, the 23-year-old Protas has 10 goals and 42 points in 133 games.

OTTAWA SUN: The Senators signed center Shane Pinto to a one-year, $775K contract on the eve of his return from a 41-game suspension for violating the league’s sports wagering rules.

THE SEATTLE TIMES: Kraken forward Yanni Gourde received a two-game suspension by the league’s department of player safety for charging Edmonton Oilers defenseman Mattias Ekholm.

NHL.COM: Arizona Coyotes forward Liam O’Brien was fined $2,018.23 for roughing Canucks forward Sam Lafferty.

CBS SPORTS: Buffalo Sabres defenseman Erik Johnson is listed as day-to-day with an upper-body injury.