NHL Rumors Update

NHL Rumors Update for 01/31/2020

January 31, 2020

The latest NHL rumors from The Hockey Writers.

 

01/31/2020 edition:

By Jim Parsons on Jan 30, 2020 12:55 pm

In today’s NHL rumors, there is more news on a potential Matt Dumba trade, there are questions about how busy the Montreal Canadiens will be at the deadline, and what was Zack Kassian’s mentality headed into the game against the Calgary Flames on Wednesday? Finally, David Backes has made a decision regarding his accepting assignment to the Bruins’ AHL team after clearing waivers.

Maple Leafs in Control of Their Own Fortunes 

It goes without saying that the players on the team determine the fortunes of a team. If you play well, you win. If you play lousy, you don’t. On Wednesday, Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet reported the Toronto Maple Leafs have have taken that one step further when general manager Kyle Dubas said the Maple Leafs roster will determine if he pulls the trigger on a trade.

Should the Maple Leafs continue to win, he’ll do everything in his power to pursue a right-handed blueliner and Friedman cites one league executive saying the Leafs are investigating every good defenseman on the market in preparation of that happening. Matt Dumba is a player the Leafs have called about already. If the Leafs struggle, Dubas may focus solely on what his team looks like next season.

Expect Montreal to Stay Quiet

Friedman also adds that the feeling around the Montreal Canadiens is that they might not do much at this year’s deadline. Montreal’s mentioned that they aren’t interested in rentals and they want to be in the race for the 2021 playoffs. That means, rumors they might trade Jeff Petry or Tomas Tatar would only be accurate if the Canadiens got an offer they absolutely can’t turn down.

They could still trade Ilya Kovalchuk if he makes it known he’s not intending to return to the team. Any rentals would also be in play so the Canadiens might make small moves.

Kassian Gives Props to Tkachuk

You get the sense watching the Edmonton Oilers versus Calgary Flames on Wednesday that Zack Kassian wouldn’t have fought Matthew Tkachuk unless Tkachuk stepped up and asked for it.

Early in the first period Tkachuk wanted to get it over with and Kassian declined. It was in the final minutes of the first period after Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Sean Monahan fought that Kassian finally said ok.

The belief is that Kassian, fresh off his new four-year contract extension, was trying to ensure he didn’t do anything that would put the Oilers down in an important game where two points were critical. You could see Kassian nod to Tkachuk after the fight was over as if to say, ‘Yeah, you’re good. You did what you had to.’

The game had an intense feeling to it and it’s hard to imagine the rough stuff is over. The two teams play again on Saturday and Connor McDavid might have been the player who left the most unhappy. He took what was a greasy hit to the same knee he’d injured by the same player who injured him the first time [Mark Giordano] and was incensed the referees never called a penalty. Then he hit the post during the shootout. He might come back Saturday with something to prove.

David Backes Refuses AHL Assignment

After being waived by the Boston Bruins, veteran forward David Backes has taken time to consider his future and whether he would report to the Providence Bruins of the AHL. He has decided not to.

Boston GM Don Sweeney released a short statement:

After speaking with David, we have agreed that it is in the best interest of David and the Bruins for him not to play in Providence at this time. David is fit and able to play, but in order to preserve all potential options for both David and the Bruins moving forward, we have decided this is the best course of action.

By Jim Parsons on Jan 29, 2020 03:40 pm

In today’s NHL rumor rundown, there is news on the Winnipeg Jets looking to add before the trade deadline, buzz surrounding Ottawa Senators center Jean-Gabriel Pageau and is there a possible deal available between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens brewing? Finally, what did Travis Zajac say when asked if he would waive his no-trade clause?

Winnipeg Jets Priority Is Defense

Tessa Bonhomme mentioned during Tuesday’s “TSN Insider Trading” segment that the Winnipeg Jets are looking for help at center and on defense. The center search is a result of injuries but the search for defensive help has been something the Jets have been on the lookout for since the start of the season.

Darren Dreger says that addressing the blue line remains Winnipeg’s priority with the departures of Jacob Trouba, Tyler Myers, and Ben Chiarot this off-season. Then, when Dustin Byfuglien was not available, that really altered Winnipeg’s plans. Dreger confirms that the Jets are specifically looking for a top-four defenseman and that the team will consider both rentals and term players while keeping an eye on the team’s salary cap situation.

Jets and Brenden Dillion?

Pierre LeBrun notes that one of the players to watch in connection to the Jets is San Jose Sharks defenseman Brenden Dillon. That said, the Jets will have competition as LeBrun believes that at least six NHL teams are firmly in on Dillon, and more could be added. LeBrun speculates the ask for Dillon could get as high as a second-round pick and prospect.

Latest on Jean-Gabriel Pageau

Speculation continues to surround Ottawa Senators center Jean-Gabriel Pageau. The Senators are going to try and re-sign him but Pageau is enjoying a breakout year and he’s bound to get rewarded handsomely for it. With a marketplace that doesn’t have a lot of centers available, he’ll also fetch a healthy return at the deadline and the Senators could get a first-round pick for him.

The teams specifically named by LeBrun include the Calgary Flames, Edmonton Oilers, New York Islanders, and Philadelphia Flyers and the Winnipeg Jets.

Potential Canadiens and Maple Leafs Deal Out There?

TVA Sports Jean-Charles Lajoie (translation required) writes that the Montreal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs could build a trade with Max Domi and Kasperi Kapanen as the centerpieces. Lajoie believes the decline in Max Domi’s production in his contract year could get the winger shipped out of town while other teams still feel he’s got something to offer.

The Maple Leafs, meanwhile, are looking for some team toughness to go with skill and Domi could be a nice compliment to some of their already skilled forwards. Lajoie also believes Kapanen could flourish in Montreal building chemistry with fellow Finns Jesperi Kotkaniemi and Joel Armia.

The downside of this is that it doesn’t address Toronto’s need for defense and backup goaltending and Kapanen might be used to fill those holes. Montreal could move Domi but to Toronto for Kapanen is a long shot at best.

Zajac Declines Trade From Devils

Corey Masisak of The Athletic reports that Travis Zajac met with interim GM Tom Fitzgerald to discuss his respective future and whether or not he’d consider waiving his no-trade clause to facilitate a deal. Zajac declined.

He’s got one year remaining on his contract and would like to stay in New Jersey. Zajac said of the reports:

“I know there’s obviously teams calling. For me, it’s just … I want to be here. I want to be in Jersey. I think we’ve got a good young group. Like I’ve said from the beginning, we’re going to mature and we’re going to be a really good team.

source -‘ ‘I want to be in Jersey’: Travis Zajac and Andy Greene have unfinished business with the Devils’ – Corey Masisak – The Athletic – 01/27/2020

Andy Greene said he met with Fitzgerald but was not asked to waive his no-trade.

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