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NHL Rumors Update
NHL Rumors Update for 01/27/2020
The latest NHL rumors from The Hockey Writers.
01/27/2020 edition:
By Jim Parsons on Jan 26, 2020 12:55 pm
In today’s NHL rumor rundown, there is buzz the New York Rangers might move quickly on one of their prospective trade options, the Toronto Maple Leafs won’t be without one of their best forwards for long, and the Philadelphia Flyers might move one of their big-name defenseman for help at the forward position. Finally, what are the Vancouver Canucks thinking when it comes to extending Quinn Hughes?
Rangers Won’t Wait on Georgiev
Larry Brooks of the New York Post writes that the New York Rangers might move Alexandar Georgiev sooner than later, not waiting all the way to the February 24 NHL Trade Deadline.
Brooks suggests that the longer the Rangers try to play with the three goalies both Henrik Lundqvist and Igor Shesterkin will be missing out on valuable playing time.
Brooks also cites Georgiev’s less-than-stellar numbers over the past few games. He’s got a 4-5 record with a 3.78 GAA and a .882 save percentage and Brooks feels that should he continue to have troubles, the Rangers don’t want to wait and get only second or third-rounder for him. Just a couple of weeks ago, there was buzz not even a player like Kasperi Kapanen was going to be enough to get that deal done. The Rangers don’t want to risk a decline in value.
Related: Top 3 All-Time Maple Leafs Goalies
Matthews Will Be Back Monday
Toronto Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews was the talk of the All-Star weekend with his Ron Burgundy outfit but now talk will turn to a more serious matter as the Maple Leafs will hope his wrist injury isn’t too serious.
The reports are that he’s expected to be back in the lineup on Monday for the team’s game against the Nashville Predators. Matthews didn’t miss any regular season games because of the wrist and since he went to the All-Star Game and was part of all the fun, he won’t have to sit out a game due to suspension.
Related: 3 Best Trades in Senators History
Flyers to Shop Gostisbehere For a Forward
According to Sam Carchidi of Philadelphia Inquirer, he believes the Philadelphia Flyers might have to trade Shayne Gostisbehere and/or a draft pick to land another offensive piece.
It appears Flyers coach Alain Vigneault is happy with his blue line pairings and it’s showing in the record as the Flyer have gone 5-2 since Gostisbehere was sidelined by knee surgery. Carchidi thinks Gostisbehere’s name will be tossed around before the Feb. 24 trade deadline.
Who would the Flyers go after? Carchidi writes:
The Rangers’ Chris Kreider, Minnesota’s Jason Zucker, Los Angeles’ Tyler Toffoli, Nashville’s Mikael Granlund, and Chicago’s Brandon Saad are among the forwards who could be available.
Hughes Sets Himself Up
According to a tweet from TSN’s Rick Dhaliwal, he notes that Vancouver’s Quinn Hughes finds himself in a good position for an extension on July 1.
Agent Pat Brisson said the Canucks plan to deal with it as they get closer to July 1 but Hughes has had an impressive rookie year and a strong showing at the All-Star game when he turned a lot of heads with his skills, Wayne Gretzky saying on the broadcast that Hughes has better hands than he did. The more people talk about Hughes, the more expensive he stands to get. “We can start talking with Canucks on July 1st,” said Brisson. “We will cross that bridge when we get there. He is sure building a case as a strong asset. We will see how it goes.”
The post NHL Rumors: Rangers, Maple Leafs, Flyers, More appeared first on The Hockey Writers.
By Jim Parsons on Jan 25, 2020 10:55 am
In today’s NHL rumor rundown, there are some updates on Chris Kreider’s negotiations with the New York Rangers, news about what type of deal the New York Islanders might be trying to sign Mathew Barzal to and what are the likeliest trade pieces coming out of the Edmonton Oilers organization? Finally, are there updates in Toronto where the Maple Leafs are still searching for a defenseman?
Still No Kreider Update Out of New York
Luke Fox of Sportsnet reports that Chris Kreider isn’t concerned about a lack of conversation between his people and the New York Rangers. They are not currently engaged in contract extension talks which lends speculation to the idea of him being traded at the NHL Trade Deadline.
The Rangers are struggling and sliding further and further out of the playoff picture and Kreider is among the most popular of rental pieces potentially available before the Feb. 24 deadline. Still, his mentality is, “I’m a Ranger until they tell me I’m not a Ranger.” Fox’s colleague Elliotte Friedman has named the Colorado Avalanche, Boston Bruins, St. Louis Blues and Pittsburgh Penguins as clubs interested in Kreider’s services.
What Will Happen With Barzal?
After winning the fastest skater competition at last night’s All-Star Skills Competition, it seems only fitting that Mathew Barzal is in the rumor mill.
Brett Cyrgalis of the New York Post reports the New York Islanders have are contemplating what kind of offer to make the first-line, speedy center as he’ll be completed his entry-level contract at the end of the season.
Cyrgalis believes general manager Lou Lamoriello is leaning towards re-signing Barzal to a two- or three-year bridge deal worth between $6 – $7 million per season. Meanwhile, there is some beliefe that Bazal’s camp is seeking a similar deal to what Mitch Marner signed when he inked his six-year, $65.3-million contract.
Who Might the Oilers Look to Move?
One of the teams looking to add over the next four weeks but with not a lot of room to do anything is the Edmonton Oilers. David Staples of the Edmonton Journal looked at a handful of names and noted that the search for a third line center might not be as big the focus since Riley Sheahan has emerged as an excellent player.
Staples writes:
The emergence of the unit of Riley Sheahan, Joakim Nygard and Josh Archibald as an effective checking line might well mean that the need to bring in a third-line centre isn’t quite so pressing.
That said, if Edmonton were to bring in a top forward as a rental, or even as a permanent fixture on the team, they’ve got any number of pieces they could move.
Staples lists Markus Granlund, Joel Persson, Jujhair Khaira, Kris Russell, Adam Larsson, Matt Benning, Sam Gagner, and William Lagesson as possible assets the Oilers could move.
More Term the Better for Maple Leafs
Friday, Bob McKenzie was on TSN radio added details to the talk surrounding the Maple Leafs’ search for help on their blue line. He confirmed previous reports that the Maple Leafs weren’t necessarily looking for rentals, but players with term.
When asked about who the Maple Leafs might target and rumors of a possible interest in a player like Matt Dumba, McKenize said:
I think it’s a very specific need. I think it’s a right-shot [defenseman] or a left-shot who has a lot of experience playing on the right side. It’s also somebody who has a significant amount of term on his contract, and by significant I would probably say the low end of the bar would be what they did with [Jake] Muzzin.
McKenzie did note that the salary cap would play into all of this and said the Leafs would like someone with two, three, four… years left on their on the deal. That said, other reports suggest the Maple Leafs aren’t closed to adding a rental.
The Maple Leafs have been connected to T.J. Brodie of the Calgary Flames and The Athletic’s James Mirtle tweeted Brodie may have taken the Leafs off his eight-team no-trade list after hearing the Maple Leafs were interested. The consensus is though, as confirmed on TSN’s Leafs Lunch that Kasperi Kapanen or Andreas Johnsson would not be in play for a rental defenseman.
The post NHL Rumors: Rangers, Islanders, Oilers, Maple Leafs, More appeared first on The Hockey Writers.
By Jim Parsons on Jan 24, 2020 01:40 pm
In today’s NHL rumor rundown, the Carolina Hurricanes are closely watching the Chicago Blackhawks, the Boston Bruins are rumored to be contemplating a big trade and there are updates from Pierre LeBrun on all 31 NHL teams heading into the deadline.
Hurricanes Watching and Waiting on the Blackhawks
According to Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic, the Hurricanes are still keeping their eye on the market, specifically the Blackhawks and what happens with their goaltending situation.
LeBrun writes that the Hurricanes are well aware that with one of Corey Crawford or Robin Lehner are likely leaving the Hawks, and that Chicago may move one before the two netminders can hit unrestricted free agency. It sounds like Lehner is the goalie Carolina hopes shakes loose.
LeBrun explains the Hurricanes tried to sign him as a free agent last summer and like him “a lot.” He writes:
The Canes have monitored closely what’s going on in Chicago with netminder Robin Lehner, whom they tried to sign last summer. If the Hawks make him available, which right now they haven’t, Carolina would probably inquire.
Related: Top 10 Best Ice Hockey Leagues
Other Notes from LeBrun’s Article
LeBrun took a look at all 31 teams in that same article and of note on a couple of teams worth watching:
Pittsburgh Penguins
LeBrun said the Pittsburgh Penguins might look to move Alex Galchenyuk for either a draft pick or a bottom-six forward, while maybe trying to land someone like Jason Zucker.
Boston Bruins
He also notes that the Boston Bruins are after a top-nine forward and one of Tyler Toffoli or Chris Kreider could make sense there. Much of what the Bruins will do depends on what David Backes decides to do after clearing waivers. If he retires, the Bruins will go shopping.
Toronto Maple Leafs
In Toronto, LeBrun believes the Maple Leafs will try to get out in front of their blue line issues and that while they don’t want to trade Kasperi Kapanen, that’s who teams will be asking for.
Montreal Canadiens
The Canadiens likely already know they can be sellers and move pending UFA players such as Marco Scandella, Nate Thompson, and Ilya Kovalchuk. According to LeBruin, “it makes no sense not to pick up draft picks for those players.”
Calgary Flames
There is a lot of talk in Calgary where the Flames are looking for a right-shot top-six forward and Toffoli or Jean-Gabriel Pageau and others might be a fit. Pieces going out could include Sam Bennett, Travis Hamonic or T.J. Brodie.
Marc Methot to Retire
Marc Methot said he doesn’t expect to play professional hockey ever again. He told TSN radio during an interview that he worked hard to try and get healthy after knee surgery, but it looks like it’s time to is step back from the game and focus on his family.
Buzz Surrounding Charlie McAvoy
It seems hard to imagine but there is reported buzz around defenseman Charlie McAvoy in Boston. After some recent struggles, McAvoy is taking heat for some defensive gaffes, a lack of on-ice communication and there are questions as to whether or not he’s the future of the Bruins blue line.
James Murphy of Boston Sports NOW took a look at the potential the Boston Bruins might actually consider trading McAvoy, saying he never would have thought so until a professional scout texted him and said, “Don’t be surprised if the Bruins move McAvoy.”
If Boston even considered such a move it would be, as Murphy says, “used to make that statement and address the Bruins most pressing need not just this season but for the foreseeable future”. That need is a top-six forward with term that would help deepen their offensive power.
All we can think when hearing this is that the Bruins would have to be offered something special to pull a trigger on this kind of deal.
The post NHL Rumors: Hurricanes, Blackhawks, Bruins, Maple Leafs, More appeared first on The Hockey Writers.
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