NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – December 31, 2024

by | Dec 31, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – December 31, 2024

Recaps of Monday’s games, last week’s three stars are revealed, the 2025 Draft will be held in Los Angeles, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPPING MONDAY’S GAMES

NHL.COM: The Winnipeg Jets regained first place in the overall standings (55 points) by blanking the Nashville Predators 3-0. Connor Hellebuyck made 22 saves for his league-leading fifth shutout while Gabriel Vilardi tallied two goals to reach 17 on the season as the Jets picked up their fourth straight victory and their sixth in their last seven games. Predators goaltender Juuse Saros stopped 25 shots.

Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck. (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hellebuyck has been the league’s top goaltender during the first half of this season. He’s also the leader among starters with 24 wins, a 2.00 goals-against average and a .930 save percentage. The Jets goalie is on pace to win his second straight Vezina Trophy and his third since 2019-20, making him the dominant netminder of the decade thus far.

Jets center Mason Appleton missed this game with a lower-body injury. He has been placed on injured reserve.

Florida Panthers forward Jesper Boqvist scored twice in a 5-3 win over the New York Rangers. Sergei Bobrovsky made 33 saves as the Panthers snapped a two-game losing skid to take over first place in the Atlantic Division with 48 points. Filip Chytil, Ryan Lindgren and Chris Kreider replied for the free-falling Rangers as they’ve dropped four in a row and seven of their last eight, sliding to 14th in the Eastern Conference with 33 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Rangers’ mounting losses ensure they’ll remain the focus of media trade speculation entering the New Year. They’re moving closer to becoming sellers by the March 7 trade deadline.

The Seattle Kraken defeated the Utah Hockey Club 5-2. Jaden Schwartz led the way with a goal and two assists, Kaapo Kakko collected two assists, and Philipp Grubauer turned aside 28 shots. Logan Cooley and Alex Kerfoot scored for Utah, who’ve gone 0-3-1 in their last four games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Utah remains within striking distance of a Western Conference wild-card berth but their recent inconsistent play could send general manager Bill Armstrong into the trade market for help.

HEADLINES

NHL.COM: Jets center Mark Scheifele, Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin, and Columbus Blue Jackets blueliner Zach Werenski are the league’s three stars for the week ending Dec. 29.

ESPN.COM: Greg Wyshynski reports the 2025 NHL Draft will be held in Los Angeles from June 27-28, 2025 at the Peacock Theater.

It will also be the NHL’s first decentralized draft. The top prospects and league officials will be in attendance, but teams will make their selections from their home facilities.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The league is following the same format as the NBA, NFL, and MLB. It makes sense for the teams as they don’t have to travel to a different location each year. However, it might not be as enjoyable for the fans. It could also affect how general managers wheel and deal during the draft as they’ll no longer be able to discuss potential trades face-to-face.

THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS: The NHL fined the Stars $100,000 for violating the CBA’s rule against staging a practice during the NHL’s holiday break.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This was expected after reports emerged on Saturday that the league was investigating the Stars for holding an optional skate on Dec. 26.

THE PROVINCE: Vancouver Canucks captain Quinn Hughes is sidelined week-to-week with an injured hand while center Elias Pettersson will be out this week with an undisclosed injury.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Both players missed Saturday’s 5-4 loss to the Seattle Kraken. Losing two of their biggest stars is a major blow for the Canucks.

TORONTO SUN: Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews participated in practice yesterday but he won’t be in the lineup for Tuesday’s game against the New York Islanders. It’ll be the fifth straight game he’s missed with a nagging upper-body injury.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Some observers wonder if the Leafs might shut Matthews down for the regular season, put him on long-term injury reserve, use the $13.25 million in cap savings to acquire depth for the playoffs, and activate Matthews once the postseason begins when the salary cap is no longer in effect.

That scenario works if Matthews undergoes a procedure that sidelines him until the end of the regular season or receives a certified medical evaluation recommending complete rest and rehab until late April. They’re not even close to that plan yet as he continues to work his way back into the lineup.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: St. Louis Blues defenseman Cam Fowler will play his 1,000th NHL regular-season game during Tuesday’s Winter Classic matchup with the Chicago Blackhawks at Wrigley Field.

NHL.COM: Philadelphia Flyers winger Matvei Michkov was fined $2, 473.96 by the department of player safety for high-sticking Los Angeles Kings forward Quinton Byfield during Sunday’s game between the two clubs.

Blackhawks forward Pat Maroon was fined $3,385.42 for elbowing Stars forward Mavrik Bourque on Sunday.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere is expected to be sidelined longer than day-to-day with an upper-body injury. He left Saturday’s game against the New Jersey Devils during the third period and didn’t return.

THE DENVER POST: Colorado Avalanche winger Jonathan Drouin is expected to rejoin his teammates for Tuesday’s game against the Jets. Injuries have limited Drouin to five games this season.

PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: The Penguins placed winger Jesse Puljujarvi on waivers.

THE SCORE: Former Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews is contemplating a comeback. The 36-year-old center’s last NHL game was on Apr. 13, 2023. He’s been sidelined by chronic immune response syndrome and symptoms of long COVID.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – December 15, 2024

by | Dec 15, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – December 15, 2024

Nathan MacKinnon is the first to reach 50 points this season, Leon Draisaitl extends his multi-point streak, David Pastrnak reaches a scoring milestone, and more from a busy Saturday night of action in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon became the first player to reach 50 points this season in a 5-2 victory over the Nashville Predators. MacKinnon scored two goals and collected an assist, Artturi Lehkonen tallied twice and Mackenzie Blackwood made 37 saves in his debut with the Avalanche. Steven Stamkos and Luke Evangelista replied for the Predators, who’ve dropped nine of their last 10 games.

Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon (NHL Images).

The Edmonton Oilers picked up their fifth straight win by defeating the Vegas Golden Knights 6-3. Leon Draisaitl netted his league-leading 22nd goal and added two assists to extend his multipoint streak to five games and Stuart Skinner made 38 saves for the win. Golden Knights defenseman Noah Hanifin had two assists.

Boston Bruins winger David Pastrnak had a goal and three assists in a 5-1 drubbing of the Vancouver Canucks. Pavel Zacha had a goal and an assist for the Bruins. Max Sasson tallied for the Canucks, who’ve lost three of their last four contests.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Pastrnak reached the 400-assist milestone in this game. Earlier in the day, the Bruins claimed forward Oliver Wahlstrom off waivers from the New York Islanders.

Los Angeles Kings forwards Adrian Kempe, Quinton Byfield, Warren Foegele and Alex Turcotte each had a goal and an assist as they downed the New York Rangers 5-1. Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin got the hook in the second period after giving up five goals on 21 shots as the Kings picked up their seventh win in their last eight games. Filip Chytil scored for the Rangers, who’ve dropped nine of their last 12 games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Former Rangers coach Mike Keenan told RG.Org that he believes the Rangers are built for success with the right goalie in Shesterkin to lead them to the Stanley Cup. Their performance in recent weeks suggests otherwise, so I’ll have more about the Rangers in today’s Sunday Rumor Roundup.

Four goals in the third period powered the New Jersey Devils to a 4-1 win over the Chicago Blackhawks. Dawson Mercer and Timo Meier each had a goal and an assist for the Devils. Jason Dickinson had the Blackhawks’ only goal.

Minnesota Wild winger Kirill Kaprizov scored twice to reach the 20-goal plateau as his club rolled to a 4-1 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers. Mats Zuccarello and Jonas Brodin each collected an assist as they returned to the lineup. Travis Sanheim scored for the Flyers.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Wild called up goalie Jesper Wallstedt on an emergency basis and placed forward Jakub Lauko on injured reserve.

An overtime goal by Brady Tkachuk lifted the Ottawa Senators over the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-2. Thomas Chabot had a goal and an assist and Linus Ullmark got the win with a 25-save effort as a surprise starter after Anton Forsberg was injured in the warmup. Blake Lizotte and Kris Letang scored for the Penguins, who lost defenseman Marcus Pettersson in the first period to a lower-body injury. There was no postgame update about his condition.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The win vaulted the Senators over the Flyers into the final Eastern Conference wild-card spot. They’ve won seven of their last 10 games.

Detroit Red Wings defenseman Jeff Petry tallied twice as his club doubled up the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-2. Wings netminder Ville Husso stopped 23 shots for his first win of the season. Leafs winger Mitch Marner had two assists for the Leafs, who welcomed back winger Bobby McMann from his seven-game absence as he recovered from a lower-body injury.

Washington Capitals forward Tom Wilson scored two goals in a 4-2 win over the Buffalo Sabres, handing the latter their ninth straight loss (0-6-3). Dylan Strome snapped a 2-2 tie and John Carlson collected three assists for the Capitals, who sit in first place in the Eastern Conference standings with 43 points.

The Anaheim Ducks got two goals and an assist from Alex Killorn (including the winning goal in overtime) to nip the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-3. John Gibson kicked out 39 shots and Jackson LaCombe had a goal and an assist for the Ducks. Kirill Marchenko, Cole Sillinger and James van Riemsdyk replied for the Blue Jackets, who’ve lost six of their last seven games (1-4-2).

An overtime goal by Matt Duchene lifted the Dallas Stars over the St. Louis Blues by a score of 2-1. Jason Robertson had a goal and an assist for the Stars while Jordan Kyrou scored for the Blues, who’ve lost three of their last four.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Cam Fowler wasted no time joining the Blues. Traded earlier in the day from the Ducks, the defenseman hopped a plane to Dallas and was in the lineup for this contest, averaging over 17 minutes of ice time. You can read my take on his trade by following this link.

Winnipeg Jets forwards Kyle Connor and Gabriel Vilardi each had a goal and an assist in a 4-2 win over the Montreal Canadiens. Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck stopped 26 shots for the victory as his club regained first place in the overall standings with 45 points. Canadiens rookie Lane Hutson scored his first NHL goal as his club lost for the third time in their last four outings.

Calgary Flames rookie goalie Dustin Wolf made 32 saves for his second shutout of the season to blank the Florida Panther 3-0. Mikael Backlund had a goal and an assist while Nazem Kadri and Blake Coleman also scored as the Flames picked up their third win in their last 10 games. Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov missed this game due to illness.

A power-play goal by Clayton Keller with 44 seconds remaining in the third period lifted his team to a 4-3 win over the San Jose Sharks. Keller, Nick Schmaltz, and Mikhail Sergachev each finished with two points for Utah HC (33 points), putting them within two points of the final Western Conference wild-card berth. Fabian Zetterlund had a goal and an assist and Vitek Vanecek stopped 36 shots for the Sharks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Sharks activated Will Smith off injured reserve for this game and placed forward Klim Kostin on IR.

Tampa Bay Lightning forward Brandon Hagel scored twice to down the Seattle Kraken 5-1. Jake Guentzel had a goal and an assist to extend his points streak to six games while Brayden Point and Nikita Kucherov each collected two points. Brandon Montour scored for the Kraken.










NHL Rumor Mill – December 14, 2024

by | Dec 14, 2024

NHL Rumor Mill – December 14, 2024

Check out the latest on the Rangers, Oilers and Penguins in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

LATEST RANGERS SPECULATION

THE ATHLETIC: Arthur Staple recently listed several players who could trade targets for the New York Rangers. He noted that general manager Chris Drury has some prospects, his 2025 and 2026 first-round picks, and some players on his current roster to use as trade bait.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Staple assured us tongue-in-cheek that no tampering went into the compilation of his list, a none-too-subtle dig at Ottawa Senators owner Michael Andlauer. In case you missed it, Andlauer made a recent insinuation about “soft tampering” involving the Rangers’ rumored interest in Senators captain Brady Tkachuk. The league is not investigating the allegation.

Ottawa Senators left wing Brady Tkachuk (NHL Images).

Speaking of Tkachuk, he appears on this list. Staple acknowledged the Senators’ vehement denials that their captain was available and acknowledged the asking price would be high, starting with winger Alexis Lafreniere. Staple also included Tkachuk’s teammate Thomas Chabot.

Other notable names on Staple’s wish list included Buffalo Sabres forwards Dylan Cozens and Alex Tuch, Minnesota Wild defenseman Jonas Brodin, and Vancouver Canucks center (and former Ranger) J.T. Miller.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Most of the players on this list (following the link if you have a subscription) are very unlikely to end up with the Rangers, including those mentioned above.

Drury could become a seller instead of a buyer if the Rangers’ fortunes don’t improve soon. Look for the lists of Blueshirts trade candidates to appear in February if they’re out of playoff contention by then.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Remy Mastey cited ESPN’s Emily Kaplan speculating Drury could attempt to sign a big-name unrestricted free agent this summer. She believes he could pursue Toronto Maple Leafs winger Mitch Marner or Colorado Avalanche forward Mikko Rantanen if they test the market next July.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: If the cap rises by $4.4 million as projected, the Rangers will have over $20 million in cap space for 2025-26 with 14 roster players under contract. Drury could afford a big-ticket signing but it will take up most of that cap space, leaving little to flesh out the roster unless he intends on shedding more salary first.

OILERS COULD TARGET A DEFENSEMAN AT THE TRADE DEADLINE

THE ATHLETIC: Pierre LeBrun reports Edmonton Oilers CEO and president of hockey operations Jeff Jackson likes how his club’s defense corps has played and has no issues with them this season.

LeBrun believes they could bolster their blueline by the March 7 trade deadline. Jackson maintained they’re happy with their defense but are open to opportunities.

EDMONTON JOURNAL: David Staples recently cited Oilers Now host Bob Stauffer suggesting the Oilers seek a right-side defenseman. Staples suggested Cam Fowler of the Anaheim Ducks, Rasmus Ristolainen of the Philadelphia Flyers, Ben Chiarot of the Detroit Red Wings or Nick Jensen of the Ottawa Senators as potential trade targets.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Cap space will determine if the Oilers pursue a defenseman and how big of a splash they might make in the trade pool by March 7. They have just under $3.5 million in projected trade-deadline cap room. The Oilers will have to shed salary or get one of those teams to agree to retain some salary to take on one of those defensemen.

ARE THE PENGUINS INTERESTED IN CANUCKS FORWARD NILS HOGLANDER?

THE ATHLETIC: Josh Yohe recently cited rumors linking the Pittsburgh Penguins to Nils Hoglander. The 23-year-old Vancouver Canucks winger has seen reduced playing time of late.

Yohe noted that Hoglander has fallen out of favor with Canucks coach Rick Tocchet, who was an assistant coach with the Penguins several years ago under Mike Sullivan. If Hoglander’s out of favor with Tocchet, Yohe doubted that Sullivan would want him in the Penguins lineup.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Hoglander trade rumors have cooled off lately. He could end up peddled before the trade deadline, perhaps for a right-side defenseman. Based on Yohe’s observation, the Penguins might not be a trade partner.










NHL Rumor Mill – December 10, 2024

by | Dec 10, 2024

NHL Rumor Mill – December 10, 2024

In today’s NHL Rumor Mill: more on the Senators’ claim about “soft tampering” on Brady Tkachuk, the latest on Ducks defenseman Cam Fowler, and the clock could be ticking for Sabres GM Kevyn Adams.

MORE ON THE SENATORS CLAIM OF “SOFT TAMPERING” REGARDING BRADY TKACHUK

TSN: Pierre LeBrun reported Ottawa Senators owner Michael Andlauer didn’t hold back his frustration and anger over a recent report claiming the New York Rangers made Senators captain Brady Tkachuk a trade target.

Ottawa Senators left wing Brady Tkachuk (NHL Images).

Andlauer claimed it’s the third separate occasion over the past year that he and the team had to “put out a fire” about trade rumors regarding Tkachuk. He made it clear to LeBrun that he and his club have never spoken to another team about Tkachuk at any time, adding that the winger will remain with the Senators for the long term.

Chris Johnston wonders if this will be discussed during the current NHL Board of Governors meeting. He pointed out the league wasn’t happy about how this summer’s free-agent period began, noting the league sent around a memo warning the teams of fines or forfeiture of draft picks in cases of tampering.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The league was reportedly displeased over how quickly some of the top unrestricted free agents were signed within the opening hours of the free-agent market. It’s not unusual for those types of players to be quickly snapped up but some of this year’s signings occurred within minutes of the market opening. 

Darren Dreger claims those warnings from the NHL are considered toothless by pretty much every owner around the league. He noted this seems to impact Canadian teams more, especially smaller markets, as there’s an opinion players in those markets would prefer going to greener pastures with lower taxation. Dreger thinks there’s little the league can do unless a team like the Senators files formal charges.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Some players in those markets prefer moving on but most tend to stay. The most notable recent examples are Leon Draisaitl re-signing with the Edmonton Oilers, and Connor Hellebuyck and Mark Scheifele re-upping with the Winnipeg Jets last year.

Accusations of tampering are easy to make but difficult to prove. Andlauer may be frustrated with dealing with these rumors but it comes with the territory. The best way to silence that speculation is to win. The Oilers dealt with rumors of Draisaitl and Connor McDavid moving on but that chatter faded once the club became a Stanley Cup contender.

OTTAWA SUN: Bruce Garrioch reports Andlauer is expected to address this issue with NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman and NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly before the Board of Governors meetings end on Tuesday.

Garrioch indicated the issue is someone gave New York Post reporter Larry Brooks this information about the Rangers targeting Tkachuk. Brooks has covered the Rangers for three decades, cultivating numerous sources. Garrioch also indicated Andlauer and Senators GM Steve Staios assured Tkachuk that he wouldn’t be traded.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: LeBrun and Garrioch defended Brooks and I agree that he didn’t make up this story. A trusted source passed that info along to Brooks, who duly reported it.

NEW YORK POST: Mollie Walker noted Andlauer saying his club hasn’t spoken to another team about Tkachuk. She indicated that was not mentioned in the Post’s original report.

ESPN.COM: Kevin Weekes reports his sources told him the Rangers have had no internal or external discussions around Tkachuk.

THE LATEST ON CAM FOWLER

SPORTSNET: In the latest “32 Thoughts: The Podcast”, Elliotte Friedman reported hearing the Anaheim Ducks wanted to send defenseman Cam Fowler to the Rangers as part of the return for Jacob Trouba.

Friedman believes Fowler wanted to be included in the trade as he wants to play for a contender. However, the deal couldn’t be done because the Rangers wanted cap flexibility and couldn’t take on Fowler’s $6.5 million cap hit.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Fowler is signed through next season and carries a four-team trade list. However, he’s indicated he’s willing to expand that list for the right offer.

IS THE CLOCK TICKING FOR SABRES GM KEVYN ADAMS?

DAILY FACEOFF: Lance Lysowski of The Buffalo News believes Sabres GM Kevyn Adams is running out of time to turn his club into a contender. They’re mired again near the bottom of the standings and risk missing the postseason for the 14th straight season.

Lysowski noted Adams tried to make moves this summer to bolster his roster, including going after Carolina Hurricanes forward Martin Necas. However, most players he pursued had no move or no-trade protection and blocked a move to Buffalo.

SPORTSNET: During Monday’s “32 Thoughts: The Podcast”, Elliotte Friedman reported Sabres fans are “all over Dylan Cozens.” He thinks teams have inquired about the struggling forward, but if he were Adams, he’d be fearful of Cozens becoming the next player to go on and win elsewhere like Jack Eichel, Ryan O’Reilly and Sam Reinhart.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Lysowski pointed out Adams is the longest-serving Sabres GM since Darcy Regier. That tenure could end soon if this club fails to improve.

The Sabres put a lot of faith in their young players. Some, like Rasmus Dahlin, have blossomed into stars but others like Cozens are struggling. Something must happen soon if this club hopes to end its long playoff drought.










NHL Rumor Mill – November 1, 2024

by | Nov 1, 2024

NHL Rumor Mill – November 1, 2024

Check out the latest on the Oilers, Leafs and Canadiens in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

OILERS

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Caleb Kerney cited Elliotte Friedman’s appearance earlier this week on “Oilers Now with Bob Stauffer” listing four potential blueline trade targets for the Oilers.

They include Cam Fowler of the Anaheim Ducks, Connor Murphy of the Chicago Blackhawks, Matt Benning of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Seth Jones of the Blackhawks.

Anaheim Ducks defenseman Cam Fowler (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This was broadcast before the Leafs acquired Benning from the San Jose Sharks. However, Kerney’s colleague Nick Barden cited TSN’s Darren Dreger suggesting the Leafs could flip Benning to bring in an additional asset if the club is still struggling with the salary cap.

Don’t hold your breath expecting Fowler, Jones or Murphy to don an Oilers jersey anytime soon. Fowler and Jones carry hefty cap hits with no-trade protection. The asking prices are likely too expensive for the cap-strapped Oilers unless they can swing a three-team deal.

Murphy is signed through next season with an AAV of $4.4 million and a 10-team no-trade list. The earliest he could be available is near the March 7 trade deadline.

EDMONTON JOURNAL’s Jim Matheson also mentioned Murphy and suggested Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Ivan Provorov as another trade option for the Oilers. He’s eligible for UFA status next July and the Jackets carry $4.7 million of his $6.75 million cap hit.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Provorov is more likely to be available than Fowler, Jones and Murphy. TSN’s Pierre LeBrun reported last week that the Utah Hockey Club contacted the Blue Jackets about Provorov but they’re not in a hurry to move him. They’ll likely wait until the trade deadline if they’re out of the playoff race by then to drive up his value.

LEAFS

TORONTO SUN: Terry Koshan recently noted that Nick Robertson was a healthy scratch from the Maple Leafs game against the Winnipeg Jets earlier this week. The 23-year-old winger led the Leafs with five preseason goals but has only one in 10 regular-season contests thus far.

Robertson said he wasn’t taking the benching personally, saying he was focused on working hard.

COLORADO HOCKEY NOW: Aarif Deens cited Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reporting that the Avalanche were shopping around for a forward.

Deens suggested Robertson as a possible trade option for the Avs, pointing out that the winger can’t seem to find a permanent role with the Leafs. He thinks Robertson’s offensive game could take off with the right linemates.

Robertson is on a one-year, $875K contract. He’d be an affordable possibility for the cap-strapped Avalanche.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Robertson was the frequent topic of offseason speculation after requesting a trade on June 30 but re-signed before training camp. Leafs management saw him as a middle-six winger but they could entertain trade offers if he continues having difficulty filling that role.

CANADIENS

RG.ORG: Marco Dumont cites a source claiming Montreal Canadiens center Jake Evans is attracting some interest in the NHL trade market. Dumont cites the jump in the 28-year-old Evans’ production (five points in 11 games) and his mature defensive game.

Evans is UFA-eligible next summer and carries an affordable $1.7 million cap hit this season. Dumont’s source noted that the Canadiens are searching for a top-four defenseman, suggesting that it would make sense to use Evans as trade bait to address their blueline need.

The Canadiens have other assets such as draft picks and prospects to draw on. However, if they’re unwilling to sacrifice their future it would make sense to cash in on their pending UFAs.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canadiens aren’t likely to move Evans right now. It’s more likely a trade-deadline move if he proves too costly to re-sign.










NHL Rumor Mill – October 30, 2024

by | Oct 30, 2024

NHL Rumor Mill – October 30, 2024

Could Connor Bedard’s frustration over the Blackhawks’ slow start force the club to seek help in the trade market? Are there some potential blueline trade options for the Oilers and Senators? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

SPORTSNET: During Monday’s “32 Thoughts: The Podcast” episode, Elliotte Friedman observed Chicago Blackhawks center Connor Bedard’s frustration over his club’s slow start to this season.

Chicago Blackhawks center Connor Bedard (NHL Images).

Friedman dismissed any suggestion that Bedard is unhappy in Chicago and wants to be traded. However, he thinks the rebuilding Blackhawks might want to consider short-term roster improvements to keep Bedard happy without derailing their long-term plan.

According to Friedman, the Blackhawks attempted to acquire Jake Guentzel in the offseason before he was traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning, who signed him to a long-term contract. That shows they’ve tried to land a high-caliber star to play with Bedard.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Chicago has added veterans to their young roster over the last two years, bringing in Taylor Hall, Nick Foligno, Tyler Bertuzzi, Teuvo Teravainen, TJ Brodie, Alec Martinez and Laurent Brossoit.

The Blackhawks have plenty of trade bait in prospects and draft picks to make a competitive bid for a star. They’ll also have plenty of salary cap space to pursue one in next summer’s free-agent market.

Finding a star in their playing prime, however, is a difficult task. Most don’t want to join a rebuilding team that could be years away from contender status.

It’s believed the Blackhawks would like to add a second-line center, with some observers wondering if Anaheim Ducks forward Trevor Zegras could be available. It will take time to address that issue and might not occur during this season.

THE ATHLETIC: Allan Mitchell recently looked at five righthanded defensemen who should be trade targets for the Edmonton Oilers. One of them is Rasmus Andersson of the Calgary Flames.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Mitchell acknowledged the notion of the Flames trading Andersson to Edmonton is slim at best but felt he’d be the ideal option for the Oilers. I wouldn’t hold my breath waiting for that trade to go down.

Meanwhile, Julien McKenzie examined some potential defensive trade targets for the Ottawa Senators. They included Timothy Liljegren of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Cam Fowler of the Anaheim Ducks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Liljegren’s reportedly been available for nearly a month but his $3 million cap hit and lack of playing time hurts his trade value. Fowler has a four-team trade list but he’s reportedly willing to expand it to double-digits. Whether the Senators would be among his preferred destinations is another matter.