NHL Rumor Mill – January 16, 2024
NHL Rumor Mill – January 16, 2024
Check out the latest on Jacob Markstrom as well as updates on the Canadiens and Capitals in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
LATEST ON MARKSTROM
SPORTSNET: Eric Francis isn’t putting much stock into recent trade speculation regarding Calgary Flames goaltender Jacob Markstrom.
Francis noted the 33-year-old Markstrom’s no-movement clause gives the netminder complete control over this situation. He also felt that teams in the market for an upgrade between the pipes could be leery about pursuing established, highly-paid goalies, pointing out that the Vegas Golden Knights carried four unproven ones on their Stanley Cup roster last season.
Cap-strapped clubs could prefer employing cheaper options, such as the New Jersey Devils with Nico Daws and the Toronto Maple Leafs with Martin Jones.
Francis believes the Flames aren’t about to tear down their roster after moving back into playoff contention. He also thinks it would take an overwhelming offer for management to approach Markstrom about waiving his NMC. Such an offer, if it comes at all, might not occur until the offseason.
CALGARY HOCKEY NOW: Trevor Neufeld pointed out that Markstrom hasn’t requested a trade while his outstanding play of late is a crucial factor in the Flames’ surge in the standings.
Nevertheless, Neufeld believes Markstrom faces a “Catch-22” backlash from a contingent of Flames fans upset that the netminder wants to stay in Calgary. If he’s playing poorly, it generates talk that they need to find a new starter. If he plays well, fans and media start examining how much he might fetch in the trade market.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Flames general manager Craig Conroy has indicated he’s willing to listen to offers on pretty much everyone on his roster. However, he’s not about to start trading away assets while his team is battling for a playoff spot.
That could change if the Flames fall out of contention in the coming weeks. If so, Conroy will look at the market for pending free agents such as Elias Lindholm, Noah Hanifin and Chris Tanev. Someone like Markstrom (assuming he’ll waive his NMC) usually isn’t traded until the offseason when interested clubs have more cap space to work with.
WHAT WILL THE CANADIENS DO AT THE TRADE DEADLINE?
SPORTSNET: Eric Engels expects the Montreal Canadiens to be sellers at the March 8 trade deadline. As many as five players could be shipped out in the coming weeks.
Sean Monahan is expected to be the most likely to move should Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes receive the right offer. Defenseman David Savard could be another trade candidate as well as winger Tanner Pearson. It’s also possible Hughes could shop one or two of his young defensemen.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Don’t expect first-pairing defenseman Kaiden Guhle to be moved. It’s also unlikely that Jayden Struble will be peddled given that he’s been a pleasant surprise for the Habs this season. Justin Barron, Jordan Harris and fan favorite Arber Xhekaj have occasionally surfaced in the rumor mill.
Engels also reported on the Canadiens’ need for a scoring star. However, he noted that Hughes, head coach Martin St. Louis and team captain Nick Suzuki bristle at the notion that the club is devoid of elite forward talent. “It’s there, but in development,” wrote Engels.
Nevertheless, Hughes admitted that he’d like to add forwards who can help the Canadiens. They possess a stockpile of 22 picks in the next two drafts, a loaded prospect pool and plenty of promising young defensemen. As a result, Engels noted the Habs GM seemed confident that trade was one of three ways he could address that need in the next year or two.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: TVA Sports’ Renaud Lavoie believes Hughes is working on adding a scoring forward to support Suzuki, Cole Caufield, Kirby Dach and Alex Newhook. However, Lavoie is uncertain if it’ll come through the draft or via trade for someone like the Anaheim Ducks’ Trevor Zegras.
THE SCORE: Kayla Douglas cited Montreal Hockey Now’s Marc Dumont indicating Hughes isn’t guaranteeing he’ll move one of his three goaltenders by the March trade deadline.
Hughes acknowledged the plan at the start of the season was to carry the trio of Sam Montembeault, Cayden Primeau and Jake Allen and evaluate potential trades. It’s still not the plan to carry all three for the rest of the year but he admits there’s no certainty he’ll move one of them by deadline day.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Montembeault isn’t going anywhere as he’s emerged as their clear-cut starter, earning a three-year contract extension as a result. It’s down to Primeau and Allen and I think the latter is the most likely candidate as the former has improved throughout this season.
UPDATES ON THE CAPITALS
THE HOCKEY NEWS: In a recent mailbag segment, Sammi Silber was asked which members of the Washington Capitals could be moved by the March trade deadline.
Silber believed it’ll depend on where the club sits in the standings leading up to deadline day. She suspected winger Anthony Mantha and defenseman Joel Edmundson could become trade chips given their eligibility for unrestricted free-agent status this summer.
Evgeny Kuznetsov has frequently surfaced in the rumor mill. However, Silber doesn’t see him getting moved at the deadline given his $7.8 million cap hit through next season and his declining performance. She considers him more of an offseason trade candidate.
Nic Dowd, Sonny Milano and Nick Jensen could also become trade candidates if the Capitals become sellers.
Silber was also asked if the Capitals would trade goaltender Darcy Kuemper and take a flyer on Columbus Blue Jackets netminder Elvis Merzlikins. She doesn’t see either scenario taking place, especially for Merzlikins after he was involved last month in an on-ice altercation with Capitals winger Tom Wilson.