Surveying the NHL Sellers – San Jose Sharks
Surveying the NHL Sellers – San Jose Sharks
End of the NHL Line for Thornton and Marleau?
End of the NHL Line for Thornton and Marleau?
NHL Rumor Mill – January 27, 2020
NHL Rumor Mill – January 27, 2020
Could Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau accept trades to a Cup contender? Will the Colorado Avalanche make a significant move at the trade deadline? Could the Blues pursue a top-six forward? Find out in today’s NHL rumor mill.
THORNTON AND MARLEAU AREN’T THINKING ABOUT TRADES
THE MERCURY NEWS: Curtis Pashelka reports San Jose Sharks veterans Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau haven’t given any thought about accepting a trade to a Stanley Cup contender. “I need to think about that,” said Thornton. “Obviously this homestand is going to be important for our team. But I haven’t thought about it at all. I’m just trying to win games here and see how it goes. I’m still optimistic we can take a run at it. I really am. We’ll have to see how these next couple of weeks play out and go from there.”
Could San Jose Shark center Joe Thornton accept a trade to a contender? (Photo via NHL Images)
Marleau echoed Thornton’s comments. “Not even thinking about that right now,” he said, adding his focus is trying to help the Sharks reach the playoffs.
NBC SPORTS BOSTON: Joe Haggerty observed Thornton didn’t issue a flat denial about accepting a trade as he’d done in the past. He wondered if it were possible for the 40-year-old center to return to the Boston Bruins via trade. Thornton began his NHL career with the Bruins from 1997-98 until November 30, 2005, when he was shipped to the Sharks. Haggerty feels there are better, younger options to help the Bruins at the trade deadline.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: With Thornton and Marleau in the twilight of their long careers, some observers feel the Sharks owe it to the duo to peddle them to a club where they’ll have one last shot at winning the Stanley Cup. Given their ages and declining production, however, there might not be much of a market for either guy at this stage in their respective careers.
Thornton and Marleau might not want to leave San Jose. Marleau tried it with the Toronto Maple Leafs and it didn’t work out. Thornton carries a full no-movement clause and has given no indication he wants to move on. Anything’s possible, of course, but I don’t think they want to leave.
LATEST AVALANCHE SPECULATION
THE DENVER POST: Mike Chambers believes the Colorado Avalanche must shore up their goaltending and team defense before the trade deadline.
“Two elite veteran goalies could become available in the Rangers’ Henrik Lundqvist and the Kings’ Jonathan Quick, both of whom have contracts the Avs could work with should they doubt their current duo. As for that depth forward, Colorado could entice a non-playoff team to trade a pending free agent to strengthen its bottom-six scoring.”
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Every report I’ve heard or seen out of New York regarding Lundqvist doesn’t envision any scenario where he’ll waive his no-movement clause. Quick is signed through 2022-23 with an annual average salary of $5.8 million and lacks no-trade protection. While the Avs have the salary-cap space to absorb that contract, the decline in Quick’s performance and his long injury history makes it unlikely he’ll land in Denver by the trade deadline.
BLUES COULD SEEK A TOP-SIX FORWARD
STLTODAY.COM: Jim Thomas reports Blues general manager Doug Armstrong isn’t ruling out the possibility of making a move at the Feb. 24 trade deadline for a top-six forward. “You’re always looking to see if you can improve your team, and if we can improve our team in our top six, I think we can take a look at that,” he said.
Armstrong added a lot would depend upon the status of winger Vladimir Tarasenko, who remains sidelined following shoulder surgery in October. “My first choice would be to have Vladi playing sooner than later,” Armstrong said. “But medically, those shoulders — the surgery he had — it’s a fixed timeline of approximately six months. It’s not something you can really change.”
SPECTOR’S NOTE: With the defending Stanley Cup champion Blues perched atop the Western Conference for most of this season, Armstrong isn’t under pressure to swing a major deal at the deadline. It makes sense for him to monitor the trade market in case a reasonable deal appears, but he can afford to be patient. Cap Friendly indicates the Blues carry over $5.8 million in trade-deadline cap space, but Armstrong must ensure he has sufficient cap room in case Tarasenko ($7.5 million) returns before the end of this season.
NHL Rumor Mill – January 13, 2020
NHL Rumor Mill – January 13, 2020
After firing GM Ray Shero, what’s next for the Devils? Which second-line wingers will the Bruins target? What moves might the Flames make? Check out the latest in today’s NHL rumor mill.
WHAT NEXT FOR THE DEVILS?
THE ATHLETIC: Corey Masisak and Scott Burnside weighed in with their thoughts on the New Jersey Devils firing general manager Ray Shero yesterday.
After firing their general manager, will the New Jersey Devils trade pending UFAs like Sami Vatanen before the Feb. 24 trade deadline? (Photo via NHL Images)
Masisak believes they need a replacement for the recently-traded Taylor Hall, an upgrade or two on defense, and a resolution to their goaltending predicament if they’re to contend next season. Burnside believes they have important decisions to make regarding pending UFAs Andy Greene, Sami Vatanen, and Wayne Simmonds before the Feb. 24 trade deadline.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Addressing the goaltending is the priority. The Devils have the second-worst goals-against per game (3.38) in the league. Long-time starter Cory Schneider hasn’t been the same since suffering hip, groin, and abdominal injuries over the previous two years. Mackenzie Blackwood has shown some potential but he’s struggled with his consistency. Louis Domingue is a decent backup but he’s never going to be a reliable starter.
Trading Greene, Vatanen, and Simmonds at the trade deadline won’t fetch immediate help to their woes between the pipes. However, one of them could bring in a promising prospect or a quality draft pick that could one day blossom into a goaltending star.
POSSIBLE BRUINS TRADE TARGETS
THE BOSTON GLOBE: Kevin Paul Dupont reported the Bruins still need a quality winger to skate alongside second-line center David Krejci. He believes GM Don Sweeney will be contemplating such potential options as the New York Rangers’ Chris Kreider, the LA Kings’ Tyler Toffoli, and New Jersey Devils winger Kyle Palmieri or perhaps his teammate Wayne Simmonds.
Dupont also suggested San Jose Sharks center (and former Bruin) Joe Thornton. While he has a no-movement clause, he’s 40 and won’t get a chance to win the Stanley Cup with the fading Sharks this season.
Thornton wouldn’t fix the Bruins’ second-line winger issue but could provide stability at center and give coach Bruce Cassidy the flexibility to move Charlie Coyle back to the second line. Dupont acknowledged the return of Thornton to Boston is unlikely, but reminded us Sweeney surprised us in the past with his acquisition of Rick Nash from the Rangers in 2018.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s more likely we’ll see Kreider, Toffoli, Palmieri or Simmonds in a Bruins jersey than Thornton. That ship sailed a long time ago and it ain’t comin’ back.
LATEST FLAMES SPECULATION
THE ATHLETIC: Eric Duhatschek recently pondered some possible moves by the Calgary Flames. They’re seeking a top-six winger to play alongside first-line stars Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan. He considered Sam Bennett an intriguing trade chip to address that need.
Duhatschek suggested Detroit Red Wings forward Andreas Athanasiou as an option, pointing out Wings GM Steve Yzerman was believed to have interest in Sam Bennett when he was GM of the Lightning. The Flames, however, could prefer a right-handed shot. He also wondered if Bennett might be a good fit with the Toronto Maple Leafs, proposing winger Kasperi Kapanen would be a good fit for the Flames in terms of age, skill, and salary.
Other options for the Flames could include Kings winger Tyler Toffoli and Devils winger Wayne Simmonds.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Bennett has frequently surfaced in trade rumors over the past three years. So far, however, Flames GM Brad Treliving has resisted the temptation to move him. That could change if a club comes calling with the right offer.
Athanasiou is a restricted free agent this summer with arbitration rights who could pursue a hefty raise after last season’s 30-goal performance. Kapanen is under contract through 2021-22 with an affordable $3.2 million cap hit. He’d be the better fit, but every indication I’ve seen or heard suggests the Leafs don’t want to part with him.
NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – January 3, 2020
NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – January 3, 2020
Three stars and top rookie of the month for December, Canadiens, Sabres, and Flames get busy in the trade market, milestones reached by Zdeno Chara, Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau, and more in today’s NHL morning coffee headlines.
GAME RECAPS
NHL.COM: Nathan MacKinnon’s four-point performance (one goal, three assists) led the Colorado Avalanche to a 7-3 thumping of the St. Louis Blues. Nazem Kadri scored twice and Samuel Girard collected four assists. Robert Thomas scored twice for the Blues.
Nathan MacKinnon’s four-point effort carried the Colorado Avalanche over the St. Louis Blues 7-3 (Photo via NHL Images).
The Vancouver Canucks picked up their sixth straight win by holding off the Chicago Blackhawks 7-5. J.T. Miller had a four-point effort while teammates Elias Pettersson, Bo Horvat, and Tanner Pearson each collected three points. Patrick Kane scored two goals for the Blackhawks while teammate Adam DeBrincat had three helpers.
The San Jose Sharks defeat the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-2 on an overtime tally by Brent Burns. Joe Thornton picked up his 1,080th career NHL assist to move into seventh on the all-time assists leader list. Patric Hornqvist scored both Penguins goals.
The Toronto Maple Leafs are unbeaten in their last nine games (8-0-1) after downing the Winnipeg Jets 6-3. William Nylander scored two goals and set up another while teammate Frederik Andersen kicked out 45 shots. Earlier in the day, the Jets announced defenseman Nathan Beaulieu will miss at least a month with a lower-body injury.
Sean Monahan’s third-period goal gave the Calgary Flames a 4-3 win over the New York Rangers. Johnny Gaudreau had a goal and an assist for the Flames while Rangers defenseman Adam Fox collected three assists.
The Vegas Golden Knights scored four first-period goals and hung on to beat the Philadelphia Flyers 5-4. Max Pacioretty scored twice for the Golden Knights, who killed off a 6-on-3 Flyers power-play in the final 90 seconds of the third period. Vegas winger Jonathan Marchessault missed the game with a lower-body injury.
A four-goal second period carried the Florida Panthers to a 6-3 victory over the Ottawa Senators. Evgenii Dadonov tallied twice and added an assist for the Panthers.
The Columbus Blue Jackets edged the Boston Bruins 2-1 on an overtime goal by Pierre-Luc Dubois. The Jackets’ point streak has reached 12 games (8-0-4). Bruins winger David Pastrnak tallied his league-leading 30th goal of the season.
Jack Eichel’s penalty-shot goal in overtime completed a 3-2 comeback by the Buffalo Sabres over the Edmonton Oilers. The Sabres overcame a 2-0 deficit on regulation goals by Curtis Lazar and Sam Reinhart. Sabres rookie winger Victor Olofsson left the game in the third period with a lower-body injury.
Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy’s 38-save performance carried his club over the Montreal Canadiens 2-1. The Habs played without winger Brendan Gallagher, who’s out indefinitely with a concussion.
Nico Hischier tallied the game-winner as the New Jersey Devils nipped the New York Islanders 2-1. The Devils are 4-0-1 in their last five games. New Jersey center Jack Hughes missed the game with an upper-body injury and is listed as day-to-day. Islanders defenseman Adam Pelech (lower-body injury) also missed this contest.
The Arizona Coyotes doubled up the Anaheim Ducks 4-2 following a three-goal third period. Goaltender Antti Raanta made 26 saves for the win.
HEADLINES
Florida Panthers winger Jonathan Huberdeau, Pittsburgh Penguins goatender Tristan Jarry, and New York Rangers winger Artemi Panarin are the NHL’s three stars for December 2019. Buffalo Sabres winger Victor Olofsson is rookie of the month for December.
Boston Bruins defenseman Zdeno Chara and San Jose Sharks forwards Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau are the 12th, 13th, and 14th players in NHL history to play at least one game in four or more different decades.
TSN: The Montreal Canadiens yesterday traded defenseman Mike Reilly to the Ottawa Senators for a fifth-round pick in 2021 and minor-leaguer Andrew Sturtz. They also acquired defenseman Marco Scandella from the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for a fourth-round pick in 2020.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: With these moves, the Canadiens add some much-needed veteran experience to their blueline in Scandella while shedding a $1.5-million salary-cap hit for 2020-21 by moving out the frequently-scratched Reilly. Eligible for UFA status this summer, Scandella can be considered a rental to keep the Habs’ flickering playoff hopes alive. The Senators, meanwhile, needed defensive depth with Dylan DeMelo, Nikita Zaitsev and Ron Hainsey sidelined by injuries.
The Sabres, meanwhile, flipped that draft pick they received from the Canadiens to the Calgary Flames for winger Michael Frolik.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Sabres needed help up front. That they only had to part with a fourth-rounder speaks to the decline in Frolik’s stock. The Flames were reportedly close to moving Frolik at last year’s trade deadline to the Minnesota Wild in a deal for winger Jason Zucker but it fell through at the last minutes. Frolik might not be the only move the Sabres have in store, while the Flames could also be active in the trade market leading up to this year’s deadline. I’ll have more later this morning in my daily Rumors update.
THE ATHLETIC: Los Angeles Kings captain Dustin Brown returned to practice yesterday following a stint in hospital recovering from pneumonia.
USA TODAY: Carolina Hurricanes center Erik Haula and his wife, Kristen, released a statement yesterday mourning the passing of their unborn daughter.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: My sincere condolences to the Haulas.