NHL Rumor Mill – December 12, 2023

by | Dec 12, 2023

NHL Rumor Mill – December 12, 2023

The latest on the Canucks, some possible Canadiens trade bait, and an update on Blues winger Jakub Vrana in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

LATEST ON THE CANUCKS

SPORTSNET: Iain MacIntyre reports Vancouver Canucks president Jim Rutherford said his club won’t lock itself into a long-term position on Andrei Kuzmenko as trade speculation swirls around the struggling winger.

MacIntyre’s colleague Elliotte Friedman reported on Saturday that clubs have inquired about Kuzmenko, whose 39-goal performance last season earned him a two-year, $11 million contract. He’s struggled this season, seeing his playing time reduced and was scratched from two games in late November.

Vancouver Canucks forward Andrei Kuzmenko (NHL Images).

Rutherford insists his club will keep an open mind about Kuzmenko in the hope that the coaching staff can improve his all-around play. Head coach Rick Tocchet recently indicated he wants the winger to forecheck more and compete for pucks rather than have his teammates get them for him.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canucks made that two-year commitment to Kuzmenko because of his scoring last season. However, as Friedman pointed out over the weekend, they’re also looking to free up salary-cap space. If Kuzmenko remains in Tocchet’s doghouse, they could pay more serious attention to those trade inquiries.

THE PROVINCE: Patrick Johnston believes the Canucks are out of the bidding for Ethan Bear. They’d hoped to bring back the free-agent defenseman but their salary-cap constraints could price them out of the market for his services. The Washington Capitals appear to be the front-runners.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: We could learn by some point this week where Bear will play the remainder of this season.

POSSIBLE CANADIENS TRADE BAIT

MONTREAL HOCKEY NOW: recently noted that Canadiens goaltenders Jake Allen and Cayden Primeau sat fourth and fifth respectively on TSN’s latest Trade Bait listing. Versatile center Sean Monahan is ninth and defenseman Mike Matheson is 20th.

Regarding Allen and Primeau, Marc Dumont listed the Carolina Hurricanes, New Jersey Devils, Edmonton Oilers and Los Angeles Kings as possible suitors for one or the other.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: All four clubs are believed to be monitoring the trade market for depth between the pipes. The Hurricanes and Devils may have the more pressing need as they’ve slipped out of playoff positions in the Eastern Conference.

The Oilers were very much shopping around for goaltending help in November. However, their recent seven-game win streak (in part due to improved play from their current goalie tandem of Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard) could reduce their level of urgency to address that issue.

The Kings, meanwhile, are rolling along well thus far with veteran Cam Talbot though backup Pheonix Copley has struggled at times this season. They could be content to stick with their current tandem for the time being.

Whether any of those teams make a pitch for Allen or Primeau remains to be seen.

WHAT NEXT FOR VRANA?

THE ATHLETIC: Jeremy Rutherford reports St. Louis Blues winger Jakub Vrana is in limbo after first being told he would be placed on waivers on Monday and then not having that come to pass.

Rutherford explains the Blues “are looking at every avenue in terms of how to part ways with Vrana, including the possibility of a trade.”

Acquired from the Detroit Red Wings before the March trade deadline, Vrana scored 10 goals in the final 20 games of the season. However, he’s been unable to replicate that performance this season. The 27-year-old winger has two goals and six points in 19 games and was a healthy scratch in eight contests.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It appears Vrana’s days with the Blues are numbered. While he has a $5.25 million cap hit for this season (the final one of his contract), the Red Wings retained half of it to facilitate his trade to the Blues last season.

At $2.625 million, perhaps a club seeking scoring might take a chance on Vrana. So far, however, there don’t seem to be any takers. As Rutherford observes, Vrana has terrific speed and a great shot but doesn’t use either asset that effectively plus he’s a defensive liability at even strength.










NHL Rumor Mill – October 20, 2023

by | Oct 20, 2023

NHL Rumor Mill – October 20, 2023

The latest on the Canadiens, Blackhawks and Jets plus an update on the Predators’ rumored interest in Conor Garland in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

LATEST ON THE CANADIENS, BLACKHAWKS AND JETS

FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW: Jimmy Murphy believes the Montreal Canadiens, Chicago Blackhawks and Winnipeg Jets could make some noticeable moves leading up to the American Thanksgiving on Nov. 23.

A source told Murphy there’s a market for Canadiens goaltender Cayden Primeau. The Canadiens are said to be listening to offers. The San Jose Sharks, Los Angeles Kings and Philadelphia Flyers have expressed more than a passing interest.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canadiens are carrying Primeau as their third goalie. They don’t want to risk losing him to waivers if they attempt to send him back to their AHL affiliate in Laval. I don’t think they want to move Primeau as they will need him if Sam Montembeault or Jake Allen become injured at some point.

The rebuilding Chicago Blackhawks are still in sell-and-stock mode. A pro scout told Murphy he keeps hearing that Tyler Johnson, Nikita Zaitsev and Jarred Tinordi are out there in the trade market.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: I don’t doubt that all three could be shopped at some point this season. However, those moves seem more likely to happen near the March 8 trade deadline.

Winnipeg Jets defenseman Nate Schmidt (NHL Images).

The Jets, meanwhile, could try to clear some cap space in the trade market. Murphy wondered if defenseman Nate Schmidt might help a depleted Florida Panthers blueline.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Schmidt carries a cap hit of $5.95 million. The Panthers are pressed for cap space. I don’t think there’s a fit there even if the Jets retained some salary.

UPDATE ON GARLAND

THE FOURTH PERIOD: Dave Pagnotta recently noted that the Nashville Predators were among the teams interested in Vancouver Canucks winger Conor Garland. He also claimed the Predators would be willing to part with defenseman Dante Fabbro as part of a move.

SPORTSNET: In his latest “32 Thoughts” column, Elliotte Friedman believes Luke Schenn’s injury decreased the possibility of the Predators acquiring Garland. “If Dante Fabbro was the desired return, the Predators need him now,” wrote Friedman, who’s not as certain that they were as interested in Garland as originally believed.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Schenn is for four to six weeks with a lower-body injury. Maybe the Predators will be more willing to move Fabbro after his return. By that point, however, the Canucks may have shipped Garland to another club. Then again, perhaps the Preds weren’t as keen to move Fabbro as some suggest.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – November 22, 2021

by | Nov 22, 2021

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – November 22, 2021

​The Flames collect their league-leading seventh shutout of the season, Marc-Andre Fleury blanks the Canucks with a 40-save effort, Leafs rookie Joseph Woll gets his first shutout, and more in today’s NHL morning coffee headlines.

NHL.COM: The Calgary Flames picked up their league-leading seventh shutout of the season by blanking the Boston Bruins 4-0. Dan Vladar made 27 saves for his second shutout, Johnny Gaudreau tallied the game-winner and Andrew Mangiapane scored his 15th goal of the season. With 27 points, the Flames (11-3-5) move a point ahead of the Edmonton Oilers into first place in the Western Conference.

Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury (NHL Images).

Chicago Blackhawks goalie Marc-Andre Fleury made 40 stops to backstop his club to a 1-0 win over the Vancouver Canucks. Brandon Hagel scored the only goal as the Blackhawks (6-10-2) have won five of their last six games. The free-falling Canucks (6-11-2) have won just three of their last 10 contests.

Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Joseph Woll kicked out 20 shots for his first career NHL shutout to beat the New York Islanders 3-0. Mitch Marner scored twice for the Leafs. The COVID-ravaged Islanders got Anthony Beauvillier back following a false positive on Saturday but Kieffer Bellows sat out following a positive test. Center Brock Nelson left the game in the second period with a lower-body injury.

Steven Stamkos’ shootout goal gave the Tampa Bay Lightning a 5-4 victory over the Minnesota Wild. The Lightning blew a 4-2 lead as the Wild rallied back late in the third period on goals by Kevin Fiala and Joel Eriksson Ek. Anthony Cirelli netted two goals for the Lightning. Earlier in the day, the Lightning revealed center Brayden Point will be sidelined indefinitely by an upper-body injury.

The New York Rangers nipped the Buffalo Sabres 5-4 on Ryan Lindgren’s goal with 0.7 seconds remaining in regulation. Artemi Panarin collected three assists for the Rangers (11-4-3), who’ve won five of their last six contests.

Seattle Kraken netminder Philipp Grubauer turned aside 37 shots as his club snapped a six-game losing skid by downing the Washington Capitals 5-2. Jaden Schwartz scored a goal and collected three assists for the Kraken while Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin potted his 745th career goal.

The Arizona Coyotes picked up their fourth win of the season and their second in a row by beating the Los Angeles Kings 2-1. Kyle Capobianco scored in overtime while Karel Vejmelka made 37 saves for his first NHL victory. The Kings have lost four straight.

MONTREAL GAZETTE: The Canadiens have sent goaltender Cayden Primeau back to their AHL affiliate in Laval.










Will the Montreal Canadiens’ Current NHL Prospects Crop Pan Out?

by | Jan 27, 2020

Will the Montreal Canadiens’ Current NHL Prospects Crop Pan Out?