NHL Rumor Mill (Part 1) – February 23, 2023

by | Feb 23, 2023

NHL Rumor Mill (Part 1) – February 23, 2023

Check out the latest on Patrick Kane, Timo Meier, Jakob Chychrun, Vladislav Gavrikov, Colton Parayko, Torey Krug and more in Part 1 of today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

LATEST “32 THOUGHTS” TRADE RUMORS

SPORTSNET: With the March 3 trade deadline over a week away, Elliotte Friedman checked in on each NHL club. The following is a summary of the first 16 NHL teams that he looked at:

Boston Bruins: Everything points to the Bruins acquiring Blue Jackets defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov but they’re attempting to move a player (“Mike Reilly? Craig Smith”) to clear sufficient cap space first. While they’ve also been linked to other players such as San Jose’s Timo Meier but Friedman doubts they can squeeze him into their limited cap space.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: I can see the cap-strapped Bruins going after an affordable addition like Gavrikov. Meier and his $6 million AAV are a bridge too far.

Carolina Hurricanes: They could potentially get Timo Meier given their $10 million in projected trade deadline cap space. The Canes have also monitored Chicago’s Patrick Kane. Friedman believes they’ve spoken to the Bruins about Smith as Boston might incentivize Carolina to do it.

San Jose Sharks winger Timo Meier (NHL Images)

SPECTOR’S NOTE: NBC Sports Boston’s Nick Goss believes the Bruins could find another club to send Smith to rather than making what could be their prime playoff opponent even stronger.

New Jersey Devils: They could face competition from the St. Louis Blues in the bidding for Meier. The Devils want the Sharks winger with a contract extension or close to it. Friedman also pointed out their need for size and skill on their forward lines and wondered if Nashville Predators winger Nino Niederreiter makes any sense to them. He also dismissed speculation that they might trade defenseman Damon Severson.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Devils still appear to be the front-runners for Meier. GM Tom Fitzgerald has indicated his preference is to add a top-six winger with a contract that can be controlled beyond this season. There’s also been some suggestion the Montreal Canadiens’ Josh Anderson could be a fit if they miss out on Meier but the Habs aren’t actively shopping him.

Toronto Maple Leafs: They might not be done dealing though they don’t have much draft capital to use as trade bait. They could pursue a rental defenseman if the prices soften in the trade market.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Leafs have $4.4 million in projected deadline cap space but that will shrink when Matt Murray returns to action. They were linked to Chicago’s Jake McCabe and Columbus’ Vladislav Gavrikov. However, the acquisition of Ryan O’Reilly and Noel Acciari probably doesn’t leave them enough to get either guy without moving out a salaried player in the deal.

Tampa Bay Lightning: Their limited draft and prospects capital could see them pursue an affordable checking-line forward like Washington’s Garnet Hathaway or Chicago’s Sam Lafferty. They could also pursue a depth defenseman.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Lightning GM Julien BriseBois always manages to swing a deal leading up to the trade deadline to bolster his roster for the postseason. He won’t pursue a notable talent this year but should be able to find a way to add a cost-effective player.

New York Rangers: Friedman isn’t sure that Rangers GM Chris Drury is done dealing.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Athletic’s Scott Powers and Arthur Staple and the New York Post’s Larry Brooks haven’t ruled out the possibility of the Rangers adding Chicago’s Patrick Kane. It will require a three-team deal in order for the Rangers to take on just $2.625 million of Kane’s $10.5 million cap hit. Brooks writes Drury doesn’t want to part with his 2023 first-rounder but he wondered if the Rangers GM might pitch his 2024 or 2025 first-round pick.

Vegas Golden Knights: They’ve looked into Timo Meier and liked St. Louis forward Ivan Barbashev. Friedman wondered if they might look into acquiring Blues defenseman Torey Krug.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Friedman acknowledged the four years remaining on Krug’s contract plus his no-trade clause complicates things. While I admit that anything’s possible, I don’t expect to see Krug suiting up with the Golden Knights anytime soon.

Dallas Stars: They looked into Patrick Kane and considered Tyler Bertuzzi but he’s unavailable. Friedman wondered if they might consider Ivan Barbashev or Philadelphia’s James van Riemsdyk.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Stars are struggling a bit of late. GM Jim Nill could make a move for an affordable rental scorer.

Winnipeg Jets: If they could sign Timo Meier they’d be all over him. St. Louis defenseman Colton Parayko has come up and Friedman thinks he’d be a good fit if Parayko would waive his no-trade clause.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: GM Kevin Cheveldayoff is usually cautious but could make a significant move this season with Mark Scheifele, Connor Hellebuyck and Blake Wheeler having only a year left on their contracts and the uncertainty facing restricted free agent Pierre-Luc Dubois.

Seattle Kraken: They’re searching for a center to help them in the faceoff circle. They could also trade Carson Soucy rather than lose the defenseman for nothing to this summer’s free-agent market. However, they’d likely want some sort of replacement for him.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: I think Kraken GM Ron Francis could retain Soucy as an “own rental” if a replacement for him cannot be found. Trading him for a draft pick or prospect could hurt their blueline depth as they push for a playoff berth.

Los Angeles Kings: They want to add a left-side defenseman. The Kings made a pitch for Arizona’s Jakob Chychrun. Chicago’s Jake McCabe could make sense. Columbus’ Vladislav Gavrikov isn’t a fit for them as they want someone with term on their contract.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: A deal sending Chychrun to the Kings seemed imminent earlier this month but nothing’s come of it so far.

Colorado Avalanche: The Avalanche lack of second and third-rounders for 2023 and 2024 hurts their ability to address their need for a second-line center in the trade market. They won’t move someone like Alex Newhook for a rental player.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Avalanche have been linked to pretty much every available center in this year’s trade market. However, it could prove tricky attempting to address that need without giving up a first-rounder as part of the return.

Edmonton Oilers: The chances of landing San Jose defenseman Erik Karlsson appear “one in a million”. They’ve also looked into Chicago’s Patrick Kane.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Oilers might have to settle for more affordable options to improve their roster before the trade deadline. They’ve been linked to Columbus’ Vladislav Gavrikov for some time now.

Minnesota Wild: Adding someone signed beyond this season is unlikely unless it’s a game-changing player. Matt Dumba and Jordan Greenway are out there in the trade market. Friedman isn’t sure if GM Bill Guerin will go hard after the best offensive player he can find, suggesting instead someone like Washington’s Conor Sheary.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Athletic’s Michael Russo and Joe Smith report the agent for Vancouver Canucks winger Brock Boeser is working hard to work out a trade that sends the Minnesota native to the Wild. It won’t be easy given his $6.65 million AAV through 2024-25 but we can’t rule it out if the Canucks agree to retain some salary here.

Pittsburgh Penguins: Missing the playoffs isn’t an option but Friedman also thinks they shouldn’t mortgage their future. He wondered if they should try a cost-cutting move by shopping Brian Dumoulin or Tristan Jarry or Jason Zucker and see if that gives them the flexibility to add.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Penguins GM Ron Hextall has made additions in the last two trade deadlines (Jeff Carter, Rickard Rakell) when it appeared he had little room to do so because of his cap constraints. He could do it again this year.

Detroit Red Wings: Dylan Larkin and Tyler Bertuzzi aren’t being shopped as it appears they’re pushing to reach the playoffs for the first time since 2016.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: No selling this time by the Wings. Perhaps GM Steve Yzerman will consider a foray into the trade market to bring some help to his roster.










NHL Rumor Mill – February 22, 2023

by | Feb 22, 2023

NHL Rumor Mill – February 22, 2023

Are the Blues and Jets interested in Timo Meier? Is Erik Karlsson willing to accept a trade to the Oilers? Could the Predators’ Mattias Ekholm or the Penguins’ Jeff Petry be on the move soon? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

BLUES AND JETS INTERESTED IN TIMO MEIER

TSN: Pierre LeBrun reports the St. Louis Blues have inquired about San Jose Sharks winger Timo Meier. He pointed out that Blues general manager Doug Armstrong seeks a quick retool of his roster by targeting players who are 25 or 26 years old. It’s LeBrun’s understanding that the Blues, who carry three first-round picks in this year’s draft, are willing to part with two of them in a package offer for Meier.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli said Armstrong has done this sort of thing before. He pointed to when he traded Kevin Shattenkirk for a first-round pick and used it to acquire Brayden Schenn. He also moved Paul Stastny for a first-rounder and used that to bring in Ryan O’Reilly.

San Jose Hockey Now’s Sheng Peng believes the Blues won’t part with their own first-rounder as that’s likely lottery-bound. He also pointed out that the Blues have some promising prospects (Jimmy Snuggerud, Jake Neighbours, Zachary Bolduc) that could interest the Sharks.

LeBrun also said the Winnipeg Jets have also made inquiries about Meier. So have the Vegas Golden Knights, Carolina Hurricanes and New Jersey Devils.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: I still think the Devils are the favorites to land Meier but the Hurricanes and Blues could make some tempting offers to the Sharks. Much will depend on whether the Sharks allow interested clubs to negotiate a contract extension for Meier, who is slated to become a restricted free agent on July 1.

Speaking of the Hurricanes, LeBrun believes they could shift toward Chicago’s Patrick Kane if they can land Meier. He also believes they could look at adding to their defense corps.

KARLSSON REPORTEDLY WILLING TO ACCEPT A TRADE TO THE OILERS

SAN JOSE HOCKEY NOW: Sheng Peng cited TSN’s Chris Johnston writing that Sharks defenseman Erik Karlsson is believed willing to waive his no-movement clause to join the Edmonton Oilers.

San Jose Sharks defenseman Erik Karlsson (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Reports emerged earlier this month claiming the Oilers and Sharks were discussing a potential trade involving Karlsson. However, his $11.5 million average annual value through 2026-27 remains a major obstacle.

Some observers believe the Sharks would have to retain at least 40 percent of that cap hit to make a deal happen. So far, there’s no indication the two sides are any closer to bridging that gap.

I’ve also seen a suggestion that the Sharks could move Karlsson to Edmonton without retaining any salary if the Oilers include Tyson Barrie, Cody Ceci, Kailer Yamamoto, Jesse Puljujarvi and Warren Foegele in the deal along with draft picks and prospects. However, we don’t know if the Sharks would accept that kind of return. Such a move would also cripple the Oilers’ depth so much that Karlsson’s presence wouldn’t help them.

PREDATORS’ MATTIAS EKHOLM DRAWS INTEREST IN THE TRADE MARKET.

TSN: Pierre LeBrun reports Nashville Predators GM David Poile hasn’t given up on this season but is also talking with other clubs about several of his players. Defenseman Mattias Ekholm is said to be drawing the most interest. The 32-year-old blueliner has two more years left on his contract with a cap hit ($6.25 million) that could scare off some clubs.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Let’s all welcome back Ekholm into the rumor mill, ladies and gentlemen! It was only two years ago that he was a hot topic of trade chatter leading up to the 2021 deadline.

The Predators ultimately retained Ekholm and re-signed him to a four-year contract that lacks “no-trade” protection. I doubt he gets moved before the March 3 deadline unless Poile is prepared to retain a significant chunk of Ekholm’s cap hit or take back a comparable contract.

PENGUINS MAKING JEFF PETRY AVAILABLE?

PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: Dan Kingerski reports a Western Conference executive claims the Penguins have made defenseman Jeff Petry available in the trade market. The Penguins acquired Petry last summer from the Montreal Canadiens.

Petry, 35, has two seasons remaining on his contract with an average annual value of $6.25 million. Kingerski pointed out there are few teams with the cap space to take on the blueliner’s contract without sending significant salary the other way.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: I don’t see Petry getting traded unless the Penguins want an impact player carrying a comparable contract from a team that needs a puck-moving defenseman. Unless, of course, the Penguins are waving the white flag of surrender on this season. In that case, trying to shed some high-salaried contracts is the first step toward a rebuild.

UPDATES ON THE CAPITALS, RED WINGS, CANADIENS AND LIGHTNING

TSN: Chris Johnston wondered if the Washington Capitals might part with Dmitry Orlov. Contract talks have stalled with the pending free-agent defenseman. He doesn’t think the Capitals are sellers right now but believes they’ll face a difficult decision with Orlov if he’s still unsigned by March 3.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: I think they’ll hang onto Orlov (even at the risk of losing him to free agency) and push for a playoff spot once Alex Ovechkin returns to the lineup.

Darren Dreger said the Detroit Red Wings want to give their current group of players an opportunity to push for a playoff berth. They’re willing to take their chances on a contract extension for Tyler Bertuzzi on July 1.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Red Wings are among several clubs jockeying for the final two Eastern Conference playoff berths. I don’t see GM Steve Yzerman being a seller if they’re still in the thick of the chase by March 3. Barring a major collapse between now and then, Bertuzzi and captain Dylan Larkin (also a pending UFA) aren’t going anywhere by deadline day.

COULD JOSH ANDERSON BE A GOOD FIT WITH THE DEVILS?

SPORTSNET: Eric Engels believes Montreal Canadiens winger Josh Anderson would be a good consolation prize for the New Jersey Devils if they lose out in the bidding for Sharks winger Timo Meier. Engels pointed out that the Canadiens aren’t actively shopping Anderson but didn’t rule out the possibility of them moving the 29-year-old power forward for the right offer.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: A first-round pick and a top prospect will have to be part of the package to draw the interest of Canadiens GM Kent Hughes.

TAMPA BAY TIMES: Eduardo A. Encina reports if the Lightning are looking to upgrade before the trade deadline it’ll be getting more forward depth. Given their limited cap space, he believes they’ll have to move a player to get a player.

 

 

 

 










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – February 22, 2023

by | Feb 22, 2023

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – February 22, 2023

Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl reach point milestones while Ryan O’Reilly and Mitch Marner play big roles in Leafs win over the Sabres. Get the details on these and other stories in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

GAME RECAPS

NHL.COM: Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid reached his 800th career point while teammate Leon Draisaitl netted his 700th in a 4-2 win over the Philadelphia Flyers. McDavid and Draisaitl each collected three points as the Oilers (31-19-8) snapped a four-game winless skid and hold the first Western Conference wild-card berth with 70 points. The Flyers slipped to 23-26-10 (56 points) and remain eight points out of the final Eastern Conference wild-card spot. They played without Travis Konecny as he missed this game with an upper-body injury.

Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: McDavid is the league leader in goals with 44 and points with 105. He’s also the fifth-fastest player in NHL history to reach 800 career points, doing so in 545 games.

The Toronto Maple Leafs got a hat trick from Ryan O’Reilly and a five-assist performance by Mitch Marner to beat the Buffalo Sabres 6-3. O’Reilly finished with four points while John Tavares had a goal and three assists as the Leafs improved to 35-15-8 to maintain their three-point lead over the Tampa Bay Lightning for second place in the Atlantic Division with 78 points. Alex Tuch had two points as the Sabres fall to 28-23-4 (60 points) to remain four points behind the Florida Panthers for the final Eastern wild-card spot.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The line of O’Reilly, Marner and Tavares is showing impressive chemistry thus far for the Leafs.

Speaking of the Lightning, they thumped the Anaheim Ducks by a score of 6-1 to remain unbeaten in regular (14-0-1) over their last 15 games. Brayden Point tallied his 200th career goal while Nick Perbix recorded three assists. The Lightning (36-17-3) have 76 points and sit third in the Atlantic Division. The Ducks sank to 17-34-7 on the season and played without John Klingberg as he’s day-to-day with a lower-body injury.

The Carolina Hurricanes defeated the St. Louis Blues 4-1 thanks to three-point performances by Andrei Svechnikov and Seth Jarvis. Frederik Andersen stopped 35 shots as the Hurricanes (38-10-8) have won 13 of their last 15 games and sit in second place in the overall standings with 84 points. Justin Faulk scored for the Blues as they dropped to 26-28-3. They also lost defenseman Torey Krug as he left this game with an undisclosed injury.

Minnesota Wild forward Ryan Hartman scored twice in a 2-1 victory over the Los Angeles Kings to snap the latter’s four-game win streak. Filip Gustavsson made 33 saves as the Wild improved to 31-21-5 (67 points), opening a four-point lead over the Calgary Flames for the final Western wild-card berth. Anze Kopitar replied for the Kings (32-19-7) as they remain one point up on the Seattle Kraken for second place in the Pacific Division with 71 points.

The Detroit Red Wings defeated the Washington Capitals 3-1 to extend the latter’s losing skid to five games. Pius Suter tallied two goals and Ville Husso kicked out 26 shots for the 27-21-8 Red Wings (62 points). They moved to within two points of the final Eastern wild-card spot and sit ahead of the Capitals (28-25-6) with three games in hand.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin was ejected from this game in the second period for cross-checking Washington forward T.J. Oshie in the face. Capitals forward Anthony Mantha left the game in the second period with an upper-body injury following a hit by Wings defenseman Moritz Seider.

A shootout goal by Tyler Johnson lifted the Chicago Blackhawks over the Vegas Golden Knights 3-2, ending the latter’s five-game win streak. Johnson also scored the tying goal in the third period and finished with two points as the Blackhawks improved to 19-32-5. The Golden Knights (34-18-5) opened a two-point lead over the Kings for first place in the Pacific Division with 73 points.

Montreal Canadiens goaltender Sam Montembeault made 38 saves in a 5-2 upset of the New Jersey Devils to end the latter’s six-game home win streak. Nick Suzuki and Mike Matheson each had a goal and an assist as the Canadiens improved to 24-29-4. Jesper Bratt and Dawson Mercer replied for the 37-15-5 Devils as they sit second in the Metropolitan Division with 79 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Devils goalie Mackenzie Blackwood missed this game with a lower-body injury and is listed as day-to-day. Canadiens forward Joel Armia left this game following the first period with a non-COVID-related illness.

The Nashville Predators defeated the Vancouver Canucks 5-4 on a shootout goal by Matt Duchene. The win kept the Predators’ fading playoff hopes alive as they rose to 27-22-6 and sit seven points out of the final Western wild-card spot with 60 points. Andrei Kuzmenko tallied twice for the 22-30-5 Canucks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Predators forward Ryan Johansen left this game in the second period after suffering a cut. Following the game, head coach John Hynes said he was uncertain about Johansen’s condition but felt it was possible it might be serious. Meanwhile, the Canucks are sitting defenseman Luke Schenn for trade-related reasons with the March 3 trade deadline on the horizon.

IN OTHER NEWS…

COLORADO HOCKEY NOW: Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar is in concussion protocol and will miss at least two games. He had missed four games earlier this month with a head injury and reinjured himself on Saturday after initiating contact with Alexei Toropchenko of the St. Louis Blues.

DAILY FACEOFF: The Winnipeg Jets placed forward Cole Perfetti (upper body) on injured reserve. He last played on Feb. 19.

BOSTON HOCKEY NOW: Plans for the Bruins to play a two-game set against the Los Angeles Kings next September in Melbourne, Australia have been put on hold due to travel concerns.










NHL Rumor Mill – February 20, 2023

by | Feb 20, 2023

NHL Rumor Mill – February 20, 2023

Will Patrick Kane soon reach a decision regarding a trade? Should the Oilers pursue a trade of Erik Karlsson from the Sharks? What’s the latest on Vladislav Gavrikov? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

PATRICK KANE TRADE DECISION COMING SOON

DAILY FACEOFF: Naftali Clinton cited Chicago Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson said he expects a decision from Patrick Kane whether he’ll waive his no-movement clause before the March 3 trade deadline. Davidson also said captain Jonathan Toews won’t be traded as he takes time away from the team to deal with health issues.

NBC SPORTS CHICAGO: Charlie Roumeliotis reports Kane respectfully denied there was any mutual interest with the Toronto Maple Leafs regarding a trade. The Leafs acquired Ryan O’Reilly from the St. Louis Blues on Friday.

SPORTSNET: Luke Fox wondered which teams Kane might consider being traded to. He listed the Dallas Stars, Winnipeg Jets, Edmonton Oilers, Carolina Hurricanes and Vegas Golden Knights as possible destinations.

Chicago Blackhawks winger Patrick Kane (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kane carries an average annual value of $10.5 million but an actual base salary this season of $2.9 million. As per Cap Friendly, his remaining cap hit (as of Feb. 20) is $2.95 million.

Nevertheless, the Blackhawks still must retain half of his full cap hit to facilitate a trade. Depending on the teams interested in acquiring him, a third team might have to be brought in to broker the deal and divide the remaining $5.25 million to make him more affordable for the acquiring team.

In other words, they’ll have to follow the same template the St. Louis Blues and Toronto Maple Leafs used in Friday’s Ryan O’Reilly trade that also involved the Minnesota Wild. O’Reilly’s full cap hit is $7.5 million. The Blues retained 50 percent ($3.75 million) while the Wild and Leafs split the remainder 50-50 ($1.875 million each).

SHOULD THE OILERS ACQUIRE ERIK KARLSSON?

EDMONTON JOURNAL/THE ATHLETIC: Jim Matheson and Daniel Nugent-Bowman believed the Oilers have to find a way to acquire San Jose Sharks defenseman Erik Karlsson.

They acknowledged the difficulty of freeing up sufficient cap space to do so and of coming up with a suitable return to tempt the Sharks into moving the 32-year-old blueliner. Nevertheless, they believe the reward is worth the risk.

Matheson and Nugent-Bowman believe getting the Sharks to agree to retain at least 40 percent of Karlsson’s $11.5 million AAV (through 2026-27) would be the necessary starting point. They also felt Oilers rearguard Tyson Barrie ($4.5 million AAV through 2023-24) would have to be shipped to the Sharks. Kailer Yamamoto, Warren Foegele or Jesse Puljujarvi would also have to be part of the deal.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s possible the Oilers and Sharks pull off a deal before the March 3 trade deadline that brings Karlsson to Edmonton. However, as Matheson’s colleague Kurt Leavins pointed out, it takes two to tango.

Leavins believes the Sharks will seek three first-round picks (or equivalent) and retain no more than 20 percent of Karlsson’s cap hit. If they’re unwilling to move off that, Karlsson won’t be going to Edmonton or anywhere else. That’s assuming he’s also willing to waive his no-movement clause to join the Oilers.

LATEST ON VLADISLAV GAVRIKOV

THE ATHLETIC: Aaron Portzline reports Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov remains out of the lineup for “trade-related reasons.” It’s believed the Blue Jackets have a trade in place but it requires another transaction first.

Portzline’s colleague Jonas Siegel believes Gavrikov would fit the bill for the Toronto Maple Leafs to replace the sidelined Jake Muzzin on the blueline. However, he suspects the Leafs may be reluctant to cash in more trade chips for another pending free agent after acquiring Ryan O’Reilly. Siegel also mentioned Nashville’s Mattias Ekholm or Washington’s Dmitry Orlov as possible options.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Perhaps that other transaction goes down this week enabling the Jackets to move Gavrikov. The Boston Bruins and Edmonton Oilers have also been linked to Gavrikov.










NHL Rumor Mill – February 16, 2023

by | Feb 16, 2023

NHL Rumor Mill – February 16, 2023

Check out the latest on Patrick Kane, Jakob Chychrun, Timo Meier, Vladislav Gavrikov, Jonathan Toews, James van Riemsdyk and more in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

PATRICK KANE

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman believes Chicago Blackhawks winger Patrick Kane must let teams know where he’s willing to go (if anywhere) and allay concerns over his nagging hip injury.

Chicago Blackhawks winger Patrick Kane (NHL Images).

Friedman thinks the Edmonton Oilers have reached out and the Dallas Stars have considered it. He also wondered about the Vegas Golden Knights while the Toronto Maple Leafs want to know if they’re in the mix.

TSN 1050: Carlo Colaiacovo recently said the people he’s spoken to regarding Patrick Kane claim the two teams on his trade list are the Rangers and Maple Leafs.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kane has been playing of late like he’s still in a daze over the Rangers opting to acquire Vladimir Tarasenko instead of him. He seems to have acknowledged that his future isn’t in Chicago. The Rangers may have been his preferred choice, perhaps even his only one.

The Toronto Star’s Nick Kypreos believes Kane could shut it down this season for health reasons and focus on getting ready for next season. With the trade deadline just two weeks away, we’ll soon find out what his intentions are.

JAKOB CHYCHRUN

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman looks at why Jakob Chychrun hasn’t been moved yet despite being held out of the lineup by the Arizona Coyotes since Saturday for trade-related reasons.

Rumors have tied Chychrun to the Los Angeles Kings but nothing’s happened yet.

One theory has the Kings made a standing offer that the Coyotes deem insufficient, while another has some contracts needed to be moved and the two clubs couldn’t make it work. The Kings have also made clear that they’re not moving top prospect Brandt Clarke or promising center Quinton Byfield.

Friedman looked at other possible trade partners for Chychrun. He said the Boston Bruins have considered the idea but he doesn’t know how likely that is. The Winnipeg Jets and Columbus Blue Jackets could be destinations but Chychrun probably wouldn’t be happy with going to a non-contender in Columbus. Meanwhile, the Oilers, Florida Panthers and Maple Leafs appear to be out of the running.

There was speculation that Karel Vejmelka would’ve been included in the trade. However, it’s believed adding him to the deal made it too complex.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Chychrun would be a great fit for the Kings. Coyotes management knows this, however, and seems to be trying to squeeze the Kings for a bigger return. Sufficient time remains before the March 3 trade deadline for the two sides to work something out or for another club to swoop in and meet the Coyotes’ asking price. For now, the waiting continues.

TIMO MEIER

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman believes the Carolina Hurricanes and New Jersey Devils are pursuing San Jose Sharks winger Timo Meier. The Maple Leafs have checked in and Friedman wonders about the Vegas Golden Knights and Bruins. The Dallas Stars have been mentioned but Friedman isn’t sure they can do it.

TORONTO STAR: Nick Kypreos also mentioned the Devils and Hurricanes but also wondered about the Winnipeg Jets. He points out they could have the fund to sign Meier to a contract extension with Pierre-Luc Dubois wanting out while Mark Scheifele and Blake Wheeler are on contracts that expire in 2024.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Jets coach Rick Bowness has praised Dubois’ performance and been quite vocal about his hope of convincing the center to re-sign. Maybe adding Meier and putting him on Dubois’ wing could convince the latter to stick around.

VLADISLAV GAVRIKOV

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman reports Vladislav Gavrikov doesn’t make sense for the Kings unless he signs a contract extension. The Blue Jackets defenseman has drawn interest from the Bruins, Oilers and Leafs to some degree.

Mark Spector suggested Gavrikov and Montreal Canadiens defenseman Joel Edmundson among his list of affordable trade options for the Oilers. They carry more affordable contracts than Chychrun or the San Jose Sharks’ Erik Karlsson. However, the asking price is said to be a first- and a third-rounder for both.

THE ATHLETIC: Aaron Portzline believes the Blue Jackets set a first-round pick as part of their asking price for Gavrikov as a starting point but it could prove difficult to land one. They could also be in the market for a prospect or prospects, particularly at center. They could also retain part of Gavrikov’s $2.8 million cap hit or take back an unfavorable contract in return.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This could provide the Oilers with an opportunity to move Jesse Puljujarvi and get something in return. The Jackets will likely want a first-rounder or a high-quality prospect to take that contract off the cap-strapped Oilers’ hands. The same goes for the Bruins and Leafs if they want the Jackets to take on a contract in return.

MORE “32 THOUGHTS” TRADE RUMORS

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman reports all remains quiet on the Jonathan Toews trade front until he returns to the roster. He’s currently sidelined by an illness.

There are lots of discussions about the Blackhawks’ defensemen but it’s quieter about the forwards. They haven’t found a club willing to meet their high asking price for Sam Lafferty. Meanwhile, there’s definitely a belief that Max Domi wants to stay in Chicago.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Jake McCabe is the Blackhawks defenseman garnering the most interest. He carries a seven-team no-trade list that includes every Canadian team except the Maple Leafs.

Potential suitors for Philadelphia Flyers winger James van Riemsdyk include Dallas, Minnesota, Vegas and Winnipeg. Friedman doesn’t believe they want to move Travis Konecny unless they get a significant offer. Defenseman Nick Seeler has come up in rumors but the Flyers might not be in a hurry to move him.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Athletic’s Charlie O’Connor believes the Flyers could get a conditional second/third-round pick for van Riemsdyk.

Arizona Coyotes defenseman Shayne Gotisbehere is among several options that could interest the Oilers. GM Ken Holland has said he’s wary of players with health issues, which is why Friedman thinks he’ll hesitate on Joel Edmundson or Detroit Red Wings forward Tyler Bertuzzi, who’s drawn interest from Dallas and the Tampa Bay Lightning.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: For all the chatter about the Oilers looking into acquiring Sharks defenseman Erik Karlsson, that’s a move I don’t see happening until the offseason. His $11.5 million cap hit is simply too difficult to move right now plus we don’t know if he’s willing to waive his no-movement clause to go to Edmonton. That’s why I see Holland considering more affordable options like Gostisbehere.

The Calgary Flames are looking for a winger who can create space for playmaking winger Jonathan Huberdeau as Anthony Duclair did in Florida. Friedman doesn’t see the Flames shopping MacKenzie Weegar but he wants to see how they feel about it later on.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: I assume he’s referring to how they finish the season. He’s in the final season of his current contract with a $3.25 million annual cap hit and lacks no-trade protection. However, his eight-year, $50 million extension (with full no-trade protection) kicks in on July 1.

Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas is believed looking for a forward. He could also attempt to add a defenseman but his roster is deeper on the blueline.

It’s believed the New York Rangers are seeking as high a draft pick as possible for winger Vitaly Kravtsov.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: ESPN’s Kevin Weekes believes they could get a third-round pick or a prospect in exchange for Kravtsov.

The Wild could gauge the trade value of winger Jordan Greenway leading up to the March 3 trade deadline or at the June draft.










NHL Rumor Mill – February 15, 2023

by | Feb 15, 2023

NHL Rumor Mill – February 15, 2023

Which teams are interested in Sharks winger Timo Meier? What’s the latest on Erik Karlsson, Vladislav Gavrikov and Luke Schenn? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

DEVILS, HURRICANES, LEAFS AND GOLDEN KNIGHTS INTERESTED IN TIMO MEIER

TSN: Pierre LeBrun reports the San Jose Sharks still haven’t yet granted permission to Timo Meier’s agent (Claude Lemieux) to speak directly to teams involved in trade talks with the Sharks. It sounds like it could depend on which team becomes the front-runner to acquire the 26-year-old Sharks winger, who is slated to become a restricted free agent on July 1.

San Jose Sharks winger Timo Meier (NHL Images)

LeBrun said there have been more discussions recently between the Sharks and New Jersey Devils, who’d love to sign Meier to a contract extension as part of a potential trade. The Carolina Hurricanes have also spoken with the Sharks and could be more willing to acquire Meier without worrying about a contract extension at this point. The Toronto Maple Leafs also remain interested in the Sharks winger.

SPORTSNET: Luke Fox cited ESPN’s Kevin Weekes reporting the Vegas Golden Knights have joined the Devils, Hurricanes and Leafs in pursuit of a trade for Meier.

Fox believes the Leafs feel like the biggest long shot here. While they could fit Meier within this season’s salary-cap limitations if the Sharks retain half of his current $6 million cap hit, sorting out his future beyond this season is a problem for a team with considerable payroll already invested in their top-four forwards.

THE ATHLETIC: Jesse Granger is skeptical of the Golden Knights’ chances of landing one of this year’s top trade candidates such as Meier before the March 3 deadline. Apart from the salary cap ramifications, the Golden Knights’ limited prospect pool and available future trade capital make them unlikely to outbid other clubs for a big-ticket player.

Granger believes the Golden Knights will pursue more affordable options to bolster their forward depth. The Detroit Red Wings’ Tyler Bertuzzi, St. Louis Blues winger Ivan Barbashev and the Edmonton Oilers’ Jesse Puljujarvi were among his suggested targets.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Leafs and Golden Knights both appear to be long shots in the Meier sweepstakes. It could come down to the Devils or Hurricanes, though we can’t rule out another club not mentioned above jumping in with a surprise offer.

LATEST ON ERIK KARLSSON

THE ATHLETIC: Pierre LeBrun believes the Edmonton Oilers are keeping tabs on San Jose Sharks defenseman Erik Karlsson. However, he considers the financial hurdles too overwhelming to clear. Karlsson carries an $11.5 million annual cap hit through 2026-27 meaning the Sharks would have to retain a sizeable chunk to make him more palatable for the Oilers.

LeBrun acknowledged the possibility of a three-team deal to spread Karlsson’s cap hit around and make him more affordable for the Oilers. However, he doubted the third party brokering the deal would want to have any portion of Karlsson’s cap hit on their books as dead cap space through 2026-27.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Like LeBrun, I think it would be really exciting if the Oilers could pull this off given the jolt it would send through the trade market leading up to the March 3 deadline. However, I share his opinion that a Karlsson trade is more likely to occur in the offseason when teams have more cap space and a willingness to spend. Even then, the Oilers will still face long odds to get him.

UPDATE ON GAVRIKOV

THE ATHLETIC: Aaron Portzline listed the Buffalo Sabres, Dallas Stars, Edmonton Oilers, Los Angeles Kings, Toronto Maple Leafs and Washington Capitals as contenders in search of help on defense. He didn’t directly link them to VladislavGavrikov but feels the 27-year-old defenseman has played his last game for the Columbus Blue Jackets, who yesterday announced he was being held out of the lineup for trade-related reasons.

Portzline’s colleague Pierre LeBrun reports hearing the Edmonton Oilers have spoken to the Columbus Blue Jackets about Vladislav Gavrikov more than once. The Oilers are a “dollar-in, dollar-out” club and Gavrikov carries an affordable $2.8 million cap hit this season. LeBrun believes the math works if they can move winger Jesse Puljujarvi and his $3 million cap hit in a direct deal for Gavrikov or to another club in a separate move.

SPORTSNET: Luke Fox believes the Maple Leafs have some level of interest in Gavrikov. However, Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas has said he won’t part with a first-round pick for a rental player. Gavrikov is slated to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.

BOSTON HOCKEY NOW: Jimmy Murphy cited Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman speculating the Bruins could also be among several clubs looking at acquiring Gavrikov. Friedman also mentioned the Leafs, Oilers and the Los Angeles Kings if they don’t acquire Arizona Coyotes blueliner Jakob Chychrun.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: There’s no shortage of interest in Gavirkov among playoff contenders seeking an affordable top-four left-side defenseman. However, TSN’s Chris Johnston pointed out that the Blue Jackets’ asking price is a sticking point.

The Jackets reportedly seek three draft picks: a first-rounder, a third and a fourth-rounder. I daresay those interested clubs will try to wait until the March 3 trade deadline gets close in the hope that the Jackets lower their price.

THREE TEAMS INTERESTED IN LUKE SCHENN

THE PROVINCE: Ben Kuzma reported Monday that there are at least three teams interested in acquiring Vancouver Canucks defenseman Luke Schenn before the March 3 deadline. The Boston Bruins, Calgary Flames and Toronto Maple Leafs are among those reportedly in the mix.

Schenn is on an expiring contract with an $850K cap hit. His physical style of play and Stanley Cup experience makes him an attractive target for contenders in need of affordable blueline depth.