NHL Rumor Mill – December 16, 2024

by | Dec 16, 2024

NHL Rumor Mill – December 16, 2024

The NHL holiday trade freeze (Dec. 20-27) is fast approaching. Check out the latest on the Rangers and Predators plus updates on Taylor Hall and Cam Talbot in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

THE LATEST ON THE RANGERS

THE ATHLETIC: Peter Baugh believes the New York Rangers are getting desperate. Their 3-2 loss to the St. Louis Blues on Sunday was their 10th in their last 13 games, sending them tumbling out of a playoff berth in the Eastern Conference.

Baugh speculates more moves could be coming for the Rangers this week. Chris Kreider’s name has been floated in trade rumors by general manager Chris Drury. Baugh wondered if head coach Peter Laviolette might be fired or if Drury would try to move at least one of his struggling players.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: I noted in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines a report in the New York Post about Kaapo Kakko being the subject of trade speculation after he was a healthy scratch from Sunday’s game against the Blues. The report cited a league source saying there was no indication a trade was close.

The Post’s Larry Brooks claimed Sunday that the Rangers front office has no stomach to fire Laviolette after firing Gerard Gallant two years ago and David Quinn before him. However, that could change if there are no suitable trade offers for any of their struggling players.

TAYLOR HALL’S TRADE STOCK COULD RISE

NEW YORK POST: Larry Brooks believes Taylor Hall could become a popular trade target if his performance keeps improving. The 33-year-old Chicago Blackhawks winger looked like the Hart Trophy winner he was in 2018 during his club’s upset win over the Rangers last Monday.

Chicago Blackhawks winger Taylor Hall (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hall has improved since the Blackhawks coaching change on Dec. 5, netting two goals and four points in his last five games. He will draw plenty of attention if he maintains that pace leading up to the March 7 trade deadline.

COULD CAM TALBOT BECOME A TRADE CANDIDATE?

NEW YORK POST: Larry Brooks wonders if Cam Talbot might become a trade-deadline pickup for a Stanley Cup contender.

The 37-year-old goaltender has put up good numbers this season with the Detroit Red Wings. Brooks suggests the Colorado Avalanche or New Jersey Devils might come calling if their current starters aren’t working out as hoped.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Like Hall, Talbot will draw attention by the trade deadline if he keeps playing well. That’s assuming the Red Wings are out of playoff contention by that point.

The Avalanche acquired Mackenzie Blackwood from the San Jose Sharks last week. He looked good in his debut with the Avs, making 39 saves in a 5-2 victory over the Nashville Predators.

The Devils invested heavily in acquiring Jacob Markstrom from the Calgary Flames. He’s been solid if unspectacular with a 2.35 GAA and a .908 save percentage, tied for second among NHL goalies with 15 wins on the season.

COULD THE PREDATORS BLOW UP THEIR ROSTER?

DAILY FACEOFF: Matt Larkin pondered what moves the Nashville Predators might make if management decides they must blow up their roster and rebuild.

One move would be trading pending free-agent winger Gustav Nyquist. They could also peddle defenseman Alexandre Carrier, who has two seasons left on his contract with an average annual value of $3.75 million.

Plausible options include shopping Luke Schenn, Jeremy Lauzon and/or Colton Sissons.

Long-shot options are trading Ryan O’Reilly and/or Tommy Novak, while a Hail Mary attempt would be to move offseason acquisitions like Jonathan Marchessault or Steven Stamkos if he agreed to waive his no-movement clause. Their untouchables include goalie Juuse Saros and winger Filip Forsberg.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Predators GM Barry Trotz hasn’t yet indicated if he will become a seller. Nevertheless, it seems likely that he will be if his team hasn’t improved once the calendar flips to January.










Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – December 15, 2024

by | Dec 15, 2024

Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – December 15, 2024

In the Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup: the latest Rangers speculation, the Blues might not be done dealing, the Kings could be shopping before the upcoming holiday roster freeze, and updates on Bruins forward Trent Frederic and Canucks defenseman Vincent Desharnais.

THE LATEST RANGERS RUMORS

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman reports the New York Rangers are “open for business.” They’ve already traded Jacob Trouba and let it be known that winger Chris Kreider is available.

Friedman said they have some untouchables like goaltender Igor Shesterkin and some players with no-movement clauses. However, they’re willing to consider all options and to entertain offers.

THE ATHLETIC: Arthur Staple wondered who’s next to walk the plank off the Rangers’ sinking ship following their 5-1 loss to the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday, dropping nine of their last 12 games.

New York Rangers winger Chris Kreider (NHL Images).

Staple believes head coach Peter Laviolette’s tenure could come to a premature end. General manager Chris Drury has already shaken up the roster by trading Trouba but the club’s reaction is indifference.

Defenseman Ryan Lindgren has been available for some time but no one’s buying high on an underperforming pending unrestricted free agent. There isn’t much interest in the 33-year-old Kreider, who has two years remaining on his contract. Teams are calling about young winger Kaapo Kakko but his play hasn’t been the main issue.

Staple also brought up K’Andre Miller as a trade candidate. However, he’s currently sidelined for an indefinite period which doesn’t help his trade value.

NEW YORK POST: Larry Brooks disagrees that Laviolette could pay the price for the Rangers’ stunning decline in recent weeks. “The hierarchy has no stomach to fire Laviolette after firing Gerard Gallant two years ago and David Quinn four years ago. There is no stomach to afix the blame on yet another coach instead of taking care of the coach-averse core.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Some observers believe the Rangers’ problems began with Drury’s heavy-handed efforts to free up cap space in the offseason, waiving popular forward Barclay Goodrow and attempting to trade Trouba to the Detroit Red Wings before free agency began on July 1.

Changing management might be necessary to help the players regain their spark. They’ve been playing like they don’t give a damn ever since word of Drury’s memo to his fellow GMs listing potential trade candidates was leaked to the press.

Whatever it is, the Rangers must do something quickly to address their issues or risk this season going completely off the rails, leaving questions about the current roster’s future to carry over into next summer.

MORE MOVES COULD BE COMING FOR THE BLUES

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman reported the St. Louis Blues might not be done in the trade market after acquiring defenseman Cam Fowler from the Anaheim Ducks on Saturday.

The Blues made Brandon Saad a healthy scratch during Saturday’s game against the Dallas Stars. The 32-year-old winger has a year remaining on his contract with a $4.5 million cap hit.

Friedman said the Blues would like to move Saad, who has a no-trade clause. However, he’s willing to consider other options.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Following the Fowler trade, Blues GM Doug Armstrong indicated he wanted to keep his club competitive while he retools the roster. He could try peddling Saad for a promising young NHL-ready player or attempt to clear the winger’s cap hit from his books by accepting draft picks in return.

Saad had been struggling to score this season. He went 13 games without a goal before being scratched from the lineup on Saturday. Nevertheless, he has Stanley Cup experience which could be of interest to contenders before the March trade deadline.

KINGS MIGHT MAKE A MOVE BEFORE THE HOLIDAY ROSTER FREEZE

DAILY FACEOFF: Frank Seravalli believes the Los Angeles Kings might be active in the trade market before the upcoming holiday roster freeze from Dec. 20-27. He thinks they’ve been talking to some teams as they attempt to gauge the market.

Seravalli wondered if they might attempt to land a good young player, perhaps from a struggling club like the Buffalo Sabres.

THE BRUINS ARE GETTING CALLS ABOUT TRENT FREDERIC

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman indicated that the Boston Bruins are getting a lot of calls about Trent Frederic. The versatile 27-year-old forward is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent in July. Teams are wondering if the Bruins intend to sign him or peddle him by the March 7 trade deadline.

THE CANUCKS ARE TRYING TO MOVE VINCENT DESHARNAIS

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman said the Vancouver Canucks are looking to move Vincent Desharnais. The 28-year-old defenseman signed a two-year contract with the Canucks in the offseason but it hasn’t worked out as hoped. It’s believed they’re willing to consider all options for returns but would prefer draft picks.










NHL Rumor Mill – December 11, 2024

by | Dec 11, 2024

NHL Rumor Mill – December 11, 2024

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

WHAT NEXT FOR THE RANGERS?

THE SCORE: John Matisz cited ESPN’s Emily Kaplan recently mentioned hearing four New York Rangers – forwards Kaapo Kakko, Chris Kreider and Reilly Smith, and defenseman Ryan Lindgren – could be trade chips. Her report came Friday after the Rangers shipped Jacob Trouba to the Anaheim Ducks.

New York Rangers winger Chris Kreider (NHL Images).

Matisz also cited Rangers general manager Chris Drury telling reporters his club wasn’t opposed to making other moves. However, he wanted to let the dust settle a bit after everything the struggling club has been through over the past couple of weeks.

THE ATHLETIC: Arthur Staple wondered what Drury’s next move would be after the Rangers lost to the Seattle Kraken and Chicago Blackhawks.

Staple wondered if the players had tuned out head coach Peter Laviolette. He claimed a league source told him Laviolette was safe. However, things can change quickly. Staple believes changing coaches would shift the blame for the club’s recent difficulties behind the bench rather than on it.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: A coaching change could be all Drury has left if the losses pile up and he can’t get decent returns for those rumored trade chips. No one’s going to throw him a lifeline in the trade market.

WILL THE STARS GO “BIG GAME HUNTING” TO REPLACE TYLER SEGUIN?

DAILY FACEOFF: Jeff Marek believes the Dallas Stars will go big game hunting to replace sidelined forward Tyler Seguin. He believes that GM Jim Nill will be aggressive with his salary-cap space as the club is in “win-now” mode.

Pursuing a big-ticket player means giving to get, and that could mean parting with a good young player like Logan Stankoven, Mavrik Bourque and Lian Bichsel.

Marek speculates Nill could wait until after the 4 Nations Face-Off in February in case Jake Oettinger gets injured in that tournament. The Stars goaltender has been selected to play for Team USA. Marek can also see Nill looking for toughness among his checking lines, suggesting Mathieu Olivier of the Columbus Blue Jackets as a trade target.

Marek’s colleague Colby Cohen suggests Nill pursue Calgary Flames center Nazem Kadri and defenseman Rasmus Andersson.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Stars could accrue over $6 million in cap space by the trade deadline without having to place Seguin and his $9.875 million cap hit on long-term injury reserve. Nevertheless, it’s expected Nill will put Seguin on LTIR and use those savings to bolster his roster for a Cup run next spring, most likely targeting pending free agents on non-contending clubs.

The Flames probably won’t part with Kadri and Andersson if they’re in playoff contention by the March 7 trade deadline. Of the two, Andersson could be the more likely to move. He’s signed through next season with an AAV of $4.55 million and a six-team no-trade list. That’s assuming Flames GM Craig Conroy believes Andersson could prove too expensive to retain or intends to test the market in 2026.

Meanwhile, Kadri’s contract is a potential stumbling block. He is signed through 2028-29 with an AAV of $7 million and a full no-movement clause. He told reporters during training camp to pump the brakes on the trade rumors that dogged him during the summer.

CANADIENS STILL SEEK RIGHT-SIDE BLUELINE DEPTH

RG.ORG: Marco D’Amico reports the Montreal Canadiens continue to seek an upgrade on the right side of their defense corps. David Savard is their only consistent right-shot rearguard but he’s UFA-eligible this summer and could be moved by the March trade deadline.

The Canadiens were linked to David Jiricek before the Columbus Blue Jackets traded the young blueliner to the Minnesota Wild. However, the Habs were concerned about his foot speed, hockey sense and defensive positioning. The Jackets also preferred sending Jiricek to a Western Conference team.

It’s believed that the Canadiens were among the clubs kicking tires on Jacob Trouba before the Rangers shipped him to the Ducks.

D’Amico pointed out the difficulty of finding a suitable defenseman in the trade market during the season. The Habs might have to look to this summer’s trade and free-agent markets to address that need.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Free agency won’t yield much. The most notable options are 39-year-old Brent Burns of the Carolina Hurricanes, long-time Florida Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad, and Neal Pionk of the Winnipeg Jets.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – December 7, 2024

by | Dec 7, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – December 7, 2024

The Wild’s Kirill Kaprizov regains the scoring lead, the Capitals reach a franchise record for road wins, reaction to the Rangers re-signing Igor Shesterkin and trading Jacob Trouba, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPS OF FRIDAY’S NHL GAMES

NHL.COM: Minnesota Wild winger Kirill Kaprizov had a goal and two assists to lead his club over the Anaheim Ducks 5-1, extending his points streak to five games and regaining the NHL scoring lead with 42 points. Matt Boldy also had a goal and two assists and Marco Rossi tallied twice and collected an assist as the Wild become the first team to reach 40 points this season. Brock McGinn replied for the Ducks.

Minnesota Wild winger Kirill Kaprizov (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Ducks played without Jacob Trouba, who was acquired from the New York Rangers on Friday. He’s expected to be in the lineup for the Ducks’ game against the Montreal Canadiens on Dec. 9.

The Washington Capitals extended their road winning streak to a franchise-record eight games with a 3-1 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs. Connor McMichael snapped a 1-1 tie in the third period and Nic Dowd had a goal and an assist as the Capitals (18-6-2, 38 points) move into first place in the Metropolitan Division. John Tavares scored for the Leafs (16-8-2) as they remain in first place in the Atlantic Division with 34 points.

New York Rangers forwards Artemi Panarin and Vincent Trocheck each had three points to double up the Pittsburgh Penguins 4-2, snapping the latter’s four-game win streak. Panarin scored two goals, Trocheck had two assists and Igor Shesterkin stopped 20 shots for the win. Penguins forward Philip Tomasino scored to extend his points streak to four games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The win came after a hectic day for the Rangers as they traded Trouba to the Ducks and re-signed Shesterkin. More about those moves following the game recaps.

The Vancouver Canucks overcame a 2-0 deficit to defeat the Columbus Blue Jackets 5-2. Pius Suter tallied twice in the third period and Brock Boeser had a goal and an assist for the Canucks, extending their points streak to four games (3-0-1). Mathieu Olivier and Damon Severson scored for the Blue Jackets, who dropped their third straight game.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It was a milestone game for Boeser as he collected his 400th career regular-season point. Goaltender Thatcher Demko returned to the lineup in a backup role after missing the start of the season with a knee injury.

The Blue Jackets also lost defenseman Ivan Provorov to a broken thumb during this game.

Vegas Golden Knights captain Mark Stone had an assist in his return to the lineup during a 3-2 win over the Dallas Stars. Stone has missed 14 games with a lower-body injury. Tomas Hertl, Jack Eichel and Nicolas Roy scored for the Golden Knights. They’ve won seven of their last nine games and sit atop the Pacific Division with 39 points. Mavrik Bourque and Mason Marchment scored for the Stars.

The New Jersey Devils nipped the Seattle Kraken 3-2. Jesper Bratt had a goal and an assist and Luke Hughes netted his first of the season as the Devils have won six of their last eight games. Andre Burakovsky and Shane Wright replied for the Kraken.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Devils had the same number of points as the Capitals (38) but the latter holds the lead in the Metro Division with three games in hand and a .731 win percentage.

HEADLINES

NEW YORK POST: The Rangers signed goaltender Igor Shesterkin to an eight-year, $92 million contract extension beginning in 2025-26. Shesterkin, 28, becomes the NHL’s highest-paid goalie with an average annual value of $11.5 million. The deal is expected to be officially announced on Saturday.

Shesterkin is in the final year of a four-year contract with an AAV of $5.666 million. He was eligible to become an unrestricted free agent next July.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: No one is surprised Shesterkin became the league’s highest-paid goalie. It was reported in June that was what he sought. There was an assumption he would hold out for over $12 million. However, this deal comes in closer to the eight-year, $88-million offer by the Rangers as reported by ESPN’s Kevin Weekes earlier this season.

Shesterkin wanted to remain with the Rangers and they were determined to keep him. They still see themselves as Stanley Cup contenders with Shesterkin playing a crucial role. Losing the 2022 Vezina Trophy winner to free agency would’ve been a significant setback to those plans.

Trading away Trouba and his $8 million cap hit for 2025-26 makes it easier for the Rangers to absorb Shesterkin’s hefty raise. If the cap rises as projected to $92.5 million, they’ll have over $21 million in cap space next season, enough to re-sign some key players and replace others.

NEW YORK POST/SPORTSNET: Speaking of Jacob Trouba, he was “not overly thrilled” with how things went down which led to his trade on Friday to the Ducks. “It’s a rite of passage to get fired at MSG,” he said, adding that he’s quite happy to be heading to Anaheim.

Trouba indicated management pressured him to accept a trade or be scratched. He also said he was told he would be placed on waivers, removing his ability to decide where he landed next.

The 31-year-old defenseman defended his rejection of an offseason trade for family reasons but he wasn’t happy that it became public knowledge. He admitted it affected his play this season.

Trouba reflected on his five seasons with the Rangers, saying he loved his time in New York. He pointed to the club’s two trips to the Eastern Conference Final and winning the Presidents’ Trophy during his tenure.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: You can read my reaction to the Trouba trade by following this link.

Rangers winger Chris Kreider declined to comment about the trade. “Yeah, but not today,” he said when asked if he had any thoughts about the move. Kreider and Trouba were the prominent names mentioned in recent trade rumors regarding the Rangers.

Mika Zibanejad won’t be following Kreider out the door this season. The Post’s Mollie Walker reports he has not waived his no-move clause, meaning he won’t be going anywhere for the time being.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Trade chatter about Kreider and Zibanejad will continue to swirl if the Rangers don’t improve following the Trouba move.

Like Trouba, Kreider has a 15-team no-trade list this season. He’s signed through 2026-27 with an AAV of $6.5 million.

Zibanejad would be more difficult to move given his NMC and his $8.5 million AAV through 2029-30. Nevertheless, Drury could find a creative way around that but it might have to be an offseason move when teams have more cap space to work with.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Ducks GM Pat Verbeek said the Trouba trade went down quickly. He indicated he was seeking a right-side defenseman with a right-hand shot. Verbeek believes this move also brings a more physical edge and leadership to his blueline, adding that they’re excited about Trouba joining them.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’ll be interesting to see if Trouba regains the intensity he lost during his final weeks with the Rangers.

TSN: Buffalo Sabres GM Kevyn Adams explained his team is not a destination for unrestricted free agents. He cited the higher taxes in Buffalo and the lack of a warm-weather climate. Adams believes there are better ways of building a sustainable winner than adding UFAs who are key players.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Adams’ remarks didn’t sit well with some members of the Buffalo media.

The Buffalo News’ Mike Harrington agrees with Adams about signing UFAs but believes the Sabres GM should do more in the trade market to help his struggling team. He points out that Adams’ core of young players is failing and he overpaid Mattias Samuelsson, Dylan Cozens and Owen Power.

Harrington points out Adams is now in his fifth season as Sabres GM but the club remains far from ending its long playoff drought. “His clock is ticking and everyone’s patience here is just about gone.”

THE HOCKEY NEWS: The Carolina Hurricanes put forward Brendan Lemieux on unconditional waivers for the purpose of contract termination. GM Eric Tulsky said the move was made at Lemieux’s request.










NHL Rumor Mill – December 4, 2024

by | Dec 4, 2024

NHL Rumor Mill – December 4, 2024

Is a coaching change coming for the Rangers? Are the Avalanche done dealing? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

LATEST ON THE RANGERS

NEW YORK POST: Larry Brooks reports there is no credibility to a rumor that appeared on social media over the weekend linking the Rangers to former NHL coach Joel Quenneville. “There has been no contact between the parties and there will be no contact between the parties.”

Brooks adds the Rangers aren’t going to fire head coach Peter Laviolette. He claims they’re “committed” to Laviolette and won’t bum-rush him out of New York.

New York Rangers head coach Peter Laviolette (NHL.com).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Rangers may be committed to Laviolette now but that could change if they don’t snap out of their funk soon. Nevertheless, Brooks’ sources within the organization seem adamant that Quenneville won’t be his successor.

Brooks also spoke with Chris Kreider, who was one of two Rangers (Jacob Trouba being the other) mentioned in the infamous “memo” circulated around the league by general manager Chris Drury. The 33-year-old winger dismissed the notion that the trade rumors and outside noise have affected the club’s performance, saying he and his teammates put plenty of pressure on themselves to play better.

Kreider insisted he and his teammates must work through their current slump and come out better on the other side.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Few observers believe the Rangers can move Kreider or Trouba at this stage in the season, and certainly not for a return that immediately improves their roster.

Kreider may believe Drury’s “memo” hasn’t put extra pressure on the Rangers. As Brooks points out, it hasn’t sat well with the players.

COULD THE AVALANCHE HAVE MORE MOVES IN STORE?

DAILY FACEOFF: Tyler Yaremchuk and Colby Cohen believe the Colorado Avalanche might not be done dealing after shipping goaltender Justus Annunen to the Nashville Predators for backup Scott Wedgewood on Saturday.

Cohen pointed out that the Avalanche are a “win now” team. He thinks they could be in the market for a centerman and doubts they’ll continue with Ivan Ivan and Parker Kelly as their third and fourth-line centers.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Avalanche won’t be the only club in the market for a center. The Calgary Flames and Nashville Predators have made no secret that they’re looking for one while the rebuilding Chicago Blackhawks need help at that position. The Toronto Maple Leafs could end up in the market for a third-line center before the March 7 trade deadline.










Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – December 1, 2024

by | Dec 1, 2024

Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – December 1, 2024

What’s the latest on Rangers stars Jacob Trouba and Chris Kreider? Could the Rangers or Red Wings have former coach Joel Quenneville in their sights? Are changes in store for the Islanders? Find out in the Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup.

THE LATEST ON THE RANGERS

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman reports teams are trying to figure out what the New York Rangers are trying to do after they sent around a note last week indicating Jacob Trouba and Chris Kreider were available.

Friedman noted that Trouba had been in the rumor mill before but not Kreider. “Are there other players available? And since Trouba and Kreider have partial no-trade clauses, where would they be willing to go?”

New York Rangers winger Chris Kreider (NHL Images).

Things may have calmed down a bit on Saturday after the Rangers beat the Montreal Canadiens 4-3 to snap a five-game losing skid. Friedman thinks they want to tone down the heat and pause before doing anything too intense or something they might regret later.

Friedman indicated the Rangers haven’t permitted rival clubs to speak with Trouba or Kreider. They want to keep control of the process, which is critical as no one wants to run afoul of the NHL’s tampering rules.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The salaries of Trouba and Kreider are also obstacles that could be insurmountable. Trouba is signed through 2025-26 with an average annual value of $8 million while Kreider’s is $6.5 million through 2026-27. Those sound like deals that get done in the offseason when teams have more cap space and willingness to swing major deals.

Trouba and Kreider each have 15-team no-trade lists. Clubs with depth in tradeable assets are likely rebuilding and would probably be on those no-trade lists.

Drury bungled this situation. His actions could jeopardize the rest of the Rangers’ season, leading to Igor Shesterkin’s departure next summer as a free agent, jeopardizing Drury’s tenure as general manager.

RG.ORG: Marco D’Amico cites a source suggesting a coaching change could be coming for the Rangers. The source claims their current bench boss, Peter Laviolette, doesn’t have long in New York, adding Joel Quenneville could be the guy if general manager Chris Drury wants to go that route.

D’Amico cites another NHL insider suggesting that Quenneville could also be on the radar of Detroit Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman if he changes things behind the bench.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Drury is unlikely to find a suitable trade for Trouba or Kreider. A coaching change might be his only option to get his club back on track. The Red Wings, meanwhile, rarely replace coaches during the season and could stick with current bench boss Derek Lalonde until the end of this campaign.

ARE CHANGES COMING FOR THE ISLANDERS?

RG.ORG: Jim Biringer reports a source claims the New York Islanders were considering a management change before last season began. However, general manager Lou Lamoriello saved his job when the club squeaked into the 2024 playoffs.

Lamoriello has shunned rebuilding because his teams are never out of the playoff mix. However, the Islanders could become sellers this season if they don’t soon turn things around. They’re dealing with injuries to key players like Mathew Barzal, Anthony Duclair, Adam Pelech and Mike Reilly, but they weren’t winning when they were in the lineup.

Brock Nelson is the most likely trade candidate if the Isles become sellers. The 33-year-old center is slated to become an unrestricted free agent next summer.

Biringer’s source claims Nelson was in play last season and could’ve been moved if the team wasn’t in the wild-card mix. He said the Vancouver Canucks were interested in him and could have their eye on the center again this year.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It will be interesting to see what unfolds if they fail to gain ground in the standings. I’ve mentioned before that the Islanders won’t move Nelson if they’re still in the playoff chase by the March trade deadline but he will draw interest just the same.

The Canucks could be a suitor for Nelson. However, most of the chatter out of Vancouver indicates their focus is on shoring up their defense corps.