NHL Rumors Update

NHL Rumors Update for 01/22/2020

January 22, 2020

The latest NHL rumors from The Hockey Writers.

 

01/22/2020 edition:

By Jim Parsons on Jan 21, 2020 01:05 pm

In today’s NHL rumor rundown, there is news on who the Boston Bruins are targeting as their top target at the NHL Trade Deadline, plus who are the Toronto Maple Leafs and Calgary Flames targeting? Finally, how much of a role will player contracts play in trades made during this year’s trade deadline hysteria?

Bruins Targeting Kreider Over All Others

NBC Sports Boston’s Joe Haggerty mentions that New York Rangers winger Chris Kreider appears to be the primary target of the Boston Bruins between now and the Feb 24 deadline. How they plan to make a trade work should be the most intriguing part.

Kreider is a natural left winger where the Bruins have some depth. All of Brad Marchand, Jake DeBrusk, Anders Bjork, and Danton Heinen are left-wingers meaning Bjork and Heinen might be moved over to the right side.

The Bruins will also have issues affording Kreider’s salary considering CapFriendly projects the team will have $712 in cap room. Even if the Rangers retained the maximum 50% of his over $4.6 million salary in trade, Boston would need to make other moves. If you include bonuses earned by players on the team, (which carry over into the 2020-21 season) Kreider is an expensive luxury that the team possibly can’t justify.

This is all assuming Boston outbids any other interested teams.

Maple Leafs Have Eyes on a Few Players

Luke Fox of Sportsnet is suggesting the Maple Leafs pursue New York Rangers goaltender Alexandar Georgiev. This is not news as that rumor has been out there for some time. However, he also adds San Jose Sharks defenseman Brenden Dillon, or Calgary Flames blueliner Travis Hamonic to that list.

Fox believes in order to acquire Dillon, the Leafs would have to be willing to move either a prospect like Dmytro Timashov or Jeremy Bracco and possibly a later-round pick. To acquire Hamonic would cost a young forward like Kasperi Kapanen, Andreas Johnsson, or Alexander Kerfoot.

If Georgiev isn’t available, Fox suggests the Leafs might look at Pittsburgh’s Casey DeSmith, Anaheim’s Ryan Miller, or San Jose’s Aaron Dell as Plan B options.

Flames Main Trade Targets

Darren Haynes of The Athletic took a look at 10 possible trade targets for the Calgary Flames before the deadline. He notes that the Flames are the only NHL team without a right-shooting winger at the moment. They’ll likely want to address that.

In looking at players with terms, Haynes points out Kyle Palmieri from the New Jersey Devils, Josh Anderson from the Blue Jackets, Kasperi Kapanen from the Maple Leafs, among a couple of others.

In looking at pure rentals, he notes Tyler Toffoli, Wayne Simmonds, and Jean-Gabriel Pageau will be the top targets. Haynes writes:

If you’re wondering how successful the heavy-lefty blueprint has been, Detroit is last in the NHL, a whopping 13 points out of 30th.

All this to say when Pierre LeBrun, senior NHL columnist for The Athletic and NHL Insider for TSN, reported last Thursday that Brad Treliving is scouring the trade market for — specifically — a right-shot forward, no kidding!

source – ’10 players Flames GM Brad Treliving should consider as he hunts for a right-shot forward’ – Darren Haynes – The Athletic – 01/20/2020

Expect Contract Slot to Play Big Part in Trades

One of the things that may stop the action from getting hot and heavy in the NHL over the next few weeks are how many contracts slots teams do and don’t have available to add players. No team can go above the maximum of 50 on any given roster and many teams are at 48 or 49.

Some of the teams rumored to be buyers before Feb. 24 are teams like the Edmonton Oilers (48), Dallas Stars (48), New York Islanders (49), Pittsburgh Penguins (48), Tampa Bay Lightning (48) and that might hinder their ability to make moves if they first don’t do deals with teams who don’t have as many contracts and are sellers.

If a team like the New York Rangers — who only has 46 contracts decides to sell, they could get down to 43 or 42 and start taking other people’s contracts in exchange for picks. This would allow buyers to free up roster space.

Obviously, some teams can do things internally to help their own situations, but don’t be surprised if we start to hear about these kinds of deals so teams have the flexibility they need.

By The Old Prof on Jan 20, 2020 05:30 pm

In a recent THW Rumors Report, Jim Parsons shared a report from hockey insider Bob McKenzie that former NHL defenseman and Toronto Maple Leafs captain Dion Phaneuf is shadowing Brendan Shanahan in the team’s front office and has been for the past week. McKenzie noted that Phaneuf has not retired from the NHL and would like to land a playing position with an NHL club, but for now he seems to be making plans for a future after hockey.

McKenzie said: “the reason he is in Toronto is simply to get a look atthe business of hockey and he reached out to Brendan Shanahan, asked if hecould come in, get a feel for what the whole Maple Leaf Sports andEntertainment operation off the ice is all about. That’s what he’s been doing.”Good for Phaneuf and for the Maple Leafs.

Is Phaneuf’s Organizational Education All That’s Happening Here?

I have absolutely no hockey insider’s speculations about this point at all; but, is there the smallest chance Phaneuf’s visit to the Maple Leafs might be more than it’s reported to be? When Phaneuf was bought out of the final two seasons of his contract with the Los Angeles Kings on June 15, 2019, and became an unrestricted free agent, he had made it clear that he believed he had hockey left in him and that he could help a team looking to win the Stanley Cup.

During the summer, there were rumors that teams had called and expressed interest. In fact, Phaneuf noted at the time, “A couple of teams have already reached out, which is nice. It’s not stressful. I’m excited about another opportunity.”

Phaneuf had a solid NHL career. Recently, he’s not been as strong, however. In 2016-17, Phaneuf had 30 points (9 goals and 21 assists) in 81 games with the Ottawa Senators. In 2017-18, he scored 26 points (6 goals and 20 assists) in 79 games split between the Senators and Kings. However, 2018-19 wasn’t as good. He had a single goal and five assists in 67 games. That obviously rankled him.

His experience, his size (6-foot-4 and 222 pounds), and his leadership are three reasons he might still be of interest. Indeed, an NHL team’s desperate need might be a fourth reason. It’s not like he’s over the hill. He’s all of 34 years old, which is the exact same age as the Montreal Canadiens’ Shea Weber.

If Ron Hainsey could play with theMaple Leafs last season at 38, it was because, as Babcock noted, “he knew whereto stand.” Perhaps Phaneuf’s experience and desire to play could be of value toa desperately needy team. And, doesn’t that sort of sound like the Maple Leafs?

But does Phaneuf have something left in his tank? He thinks so. In fact, he did some self-promotion during the offseason saying, “I’m a bigger defenseman and I still think you see value in that. Look at the team that won this year (St. Louis Blues). They had a lot of big guys back there.”

At the time, he also said he was also out to prove his NHL career low with the Kings last season was a fluke. “One bad year is not going to define me. I know I’ve got lots of hockey left.” That sounds like a guy who wants to retire after a good season rather than a bad season.

Is There Any Logic to the Maple Leafs Signing Phaneuf?

So here’s Phaneuf in Toronto shadowing Maple Leafs president Shanahan. It’s good that Phaneuf is wise enough to know he’s on his last glide or two as an NHL skater, regardless of whether he laces on the skates for another season or not. It’s also good that the team allows him to engage that opportunity.

That said, here are the three deductions that keeps popping into my mind.

Deduction A: Phaneuf is a former defenseman and Maple Leafs captain who believes he still can play hockey and, as he says, wants to. He’s also in Toronto hanging around leadership within the organization.

Deduction B: The Maple Leafs recent injuries to Jake Muzzin (short-term, it seems) and Morgan Rielly (two months) make them needy for a defenseman.

Deduction C:There’s a chance, considering A and B together that one might deduce that Cmight occur. That is, there might be a possibility Phaneuf could sign ashort-term contract with the team (obviously at league minimum).

What Are the Chances? Should the Maple Leafs Sign Phaneuf?

As I say, I have not a single source to support my logical argument except one: circumstance meeting need. Under normal circumstances, the Maple Leafs would probably not be interested in Phaneuf. However, this is far from a normal situation for two reasons. First, the team’s need for a defenseman is desperate. Second, the team doesn’t have much money to spend so a cheap fix seems the only option.

Granted, as I noted, Phaneuf is 34 years old, has played for 14 seasons, and his career is on the downhill slide. I won’t argue these points. His best seasons are behind him, and his play will continue to decline, especially on offense.

In the long-term, the Maple Leafs really need right-handed defensemen and Phaneuf is naturally left-handed. However, in the short-term, they need a left-side defenseman. Although Phaneuf has played either side and certainly has the experience to do so, he’s naturally left-handed and that’s his best side.

It’s true: Phaneuf no longer either drives the play or produces offense. For Maple Leafs fans who recall his seasons with the team and are used to seeing him average 30 points per season, he isn’t that player any longer.

But the Maple Leafs don’t need offense. They need a cheap defenseman who knows where to stand. Phaneuf might provide just that, and at a discounted rate general manager Kyle Dubas might take a chance. Phaneuf might be the kind of guy a coach could trust while the young Marlies’ defensemen grow into the job.

I’m not certain signing Phaneuf would happen, but I would neither be surprised nor bothered if it did. It would be an interesting story. It isn’t a perfect solution, but it might be an option.

By Jim Parsons on Jan 20, 2020 01:06 pm

In today’s NHL rumor rundown, there is news out of Montreal in respect to the team’s plans for Ilya Kovalchuk, the New York Islanders have a surprised goaltender in their system and will David Backes retire instead of accept his assignment to the AHL? Finally, what will the Detroit Red Wings do at the deadline?

Re-Sign or Trade Ilya Kovalchuk?

Eight points in eight games has gotten a lot of people in Montreal talking when it comes to what the Canadiens should do with Ilya Kovalchuk. Most insiders believed that when Montreal acquired him, they’d either get some temporary much-needed scoring or, if he produced, they could flip him at the deadline for assets.

When asked about the prospect of Ilya Kovalchuk re-signing in Montreal, agent Pat Brisson told TVA Sports that it is too early to talk extension. He admits Kovalchuk is really enjoying this experience but he wants to think about the playoffs first, then maybe extension conversations can come later.

This is probably a smart play by Kovalchuk who, if he continues to play well, will only see his stock around the NHL rise and his value increase. Another agent said this is also a strong indication that he’ll test free agency if those things happen. The one reason Kovalchuk might look forward to a trade is if Montreal is not a playoff team and Kovalchuk is moved to a contender. His playoff numbers would then add to his value in free agency.

None of this probably equates to him getting another long-term deal with an NHL club but he will get signed and at a higher rate than the $700k he took from Montreal to stay in the NHL.

Plans for Ilya Sorokin of the Islanders?

Ilya Sorokin is a New York Islanders goaltending prospect who has yet to play for the Islanders and has done extremely well in the KHL. Many believe he’s not joined New York because he’s not a fan of their continual desire to sign other netminders, thus limiting his chances at making the team.

Speculation has been that the Islanders might try to trade his rights before the NHL Trade Deadline however that’s a report that is apparently news to Sorokin. KHL insider Igor Eronko approached Sorokin about the rumors and Sorokin said he’d heard nothing about it. In fact, he was surprised to read that the impression was he’d been a difficult prospect to please or that he had made trade demands.

Sorokin doubts the two sides are on the same page but his understanding is that he’d not being shopped and will remain Islanders’ property through the trade deadline.

Will David Backes Choose to Retire?

The Athletic’s Fluto Shinzawa writes that David Backes may elect not to accept his assignment in the AHL and instead choose to retire from the NHL. Shinzawa reports that Backes seriously considered retirement after his concussion earlier this season. Maybe he’ll rethink sticking it out.

Shinzawa writes:

The Minnesota native, however, has a wife and two young children to support. He lives in Minnesota during the offseason and owns his in-season home in suburban Boston. It would be a lot of dough to leave on the table, especially considering his next profession is unlikely to be as lucrative.

source -‘What will David Backes do next? Here are his options’ – Fluto Shinzawa – The Athletic – 01/20/2020

$6 million is a lot of money to leave on the table. It make more sense for Backes to willingly accept his assignment to AHL Providence and request a trade if he feels he’s being slighted.

Red Wings Looking for More Picks

Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press writes that Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman wants to add more picks to the eight he already holds in the 2020 NHL Draft. That might not be easy considering the trade assets he has to move aren’t highly valued right now.

Struggling pending UFAs such as Mike Green, Trevor Daley, and Jimmy Howard will have limited value in the trade market. Perhaps the highest-valued asset, Andreas Athanasiou, might fetch Yzerman something but even that is questionable. Athansiou’s numbers are low compared to expectations and St. James feels it’s pointless to move him unless the 25-year-old unless the return boosts the rebuild.

The Pittsburgh Penguins and Edmonton Oilers have both been rumored as interested.

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