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Trade Rumors: Meier, Gavrikov, Demko

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The latest edition of TSN’s Insider Trading saw analysts such as Pierre LeBrun and Chris Johnston discuss some of the highest-profile names available on the market ahead of the trade deadline. One of those is San Jose Sharks forward Timo Meier, and LeBrun gave significant updates on the two apparent frontrunners for his services: the New Jersey Devils and Carolina Hurricanes.

On the New Jersey front, LeBrun says things are heating up, with talks accelerating between the two parties over the last 48 hours. Meier’s status as a pending restricted free agent is likely jamming up the works in getting a trade finalized, though, as LeBrun reports the Devils’ interest in Meier hinges on an extension as part of the trade. That’s a complicating factor, as LeBrun reported days ago that the Sharks have not yet permitted Meier’s agent, Claude Lemieux, to discuss potential extension terms with interested teams.

For the Hurricanes, it’s the opposite. LeBrun called them the more “open-minded” of the two front-runners, as they reportedly don’t need an extension worked out as part of the trade.

  • LeBrun also gave an update on Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov, who’s scratched tonight for asset protection. He named the Edmonton Oilers as a fit for Gavrikov, as while their interest in San Jose Sharks superstar Erik Karlsson is well-documented, the financial aspect of the trade is likely too tough to work out. A swap with Gavrikov and oft-maligned forward Jesse Puljujarvi would save Edmonton money, as Gavrikov’s $2.8MM cap hit comes in $200,000 under Puljujarvi’s $3MM hit. Johnston also added that there may be some “sticker shock” for teams calling on Gavrikov, as Columbus is holding firm to an ask of a first-round, third-round, and fourth-round draft pick.
  • Vancouver Canucks goalie Thatcher Demko told reporters including CHEK TV’s Rick Dhaliwal today that rumors of a trade request are unfounded. Dhaliwal added that Demko’s agent, Jordan Neumann, had reiterated to him that Demko didn’t want out of the Canucks organization. After a two-and-a-half month absence due to injury, Demko is close to returning to the Canucks lineup in the near future.

Snapshots: Boeser, Duclair, Senators Sale

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With Bo Horvat already out the door, Brock Boeser is one of the players remaining the Vancouver Canucks who has featured most prominently in trade rumors. The 25-year-old is a talented offensive player who is up to 35 points in 45 games this season. Canucks general manager Patrik Allvin was asked about Boeser in an interview with Sportsnet’s Iain MacIntyre, and said regarding any Boeser trade that he “[doesn’t] want to force anything.”

Allvin noted that he still believes Boeser is a good player, and that he doesn’t want to “give up on him,” but would also “definitely look at” a Boeser trade offer if it made sense for the organization. Despite a hefty $6.65MM cap hit, it’s easy to see Boeser drawing interest from teams looking to add scoring help at the trade deadline.

Some other notes from across the NHL:

  • Florida Panthers forward Anthony Duclair skated in a regular jersey during practice today, something Panthers coach Paul Maurice called a “big step” in his recovery from an Achilles injury. While Maurice did add that he doesn’t expect to see Duclair in action on the team’s current road trip, it does seem Duclair’s return from long-term injured reserve is nearing, which could present cap-related challenges for the Panthers and add an interesting wrinkle to the trade deadline.
  • Postmedia’s Bruce Garrioch has reported a potentially major development in the Ottawa Senators sale process, as star Hollywood actor Ryan Reynolds has reportedly joined the Remington Group’s bid to purchase the team. Per Garrioch, the Toronto-based real estate development corporation is “poised to make a bid” for the Senators and is also “determined to build a new rink at LeBreton Flats.” Since the NHL has publicly communicated a desire for Reynolds to be involved in any ownership solution for the Senators, it seems his addition to the Remington Group’s bid could be a major boon as they look to become the new owners of the franchise.

Latest On Jake McCabe

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Defensive defensemen with a top-four pedigree are always a hot commodity around the trade deadline. That hasn’t changed this year, as names like Columbus’ Vladislav Gavrikov expect to generate significant returns as March 3 approaches.

Another name in that conversation is Chicago Blackhawks defender Jake McCabe. Last month, Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli reported that McCabe was drawing interest from the Toronto Maple Leafs. Today, Pierre LeBrun of TSN and The Athletic added to McCabe’s interest, noting that “multiple contenders” are interested and Chicago’s asking price revolves around a first-round pick, especially if they’re asked to retain salary.

Also driving McCabe’s value is his contract. He’s cost-controlled and signed for two more seasons at a cap hit of $4MM. Based on recent quotes from Maple Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas, that type of player is one for whom they’d be willing to part with a valuable asset. Dubas said earlier in the week that he’s hesitant to part with a first-round pick or a top prospect for a player on an expiring contract.

However, Toronto already has a group of six quality defensemen, and it’s unclear how McCabe would fit into the team’s roster. While Justin Holl is a pending unrestricted free agent, the team signed Conor Timmins to a contract extension earlier this week and has six NHL defensemen locked in for next season.

It shouldn’t diminish McCabe’s value, though. A first-round pick may be a steep asking price, but it could be worth it for a team on the precipice of winning a Stanley Cup. McCabe has continued to post strong advanced defensive metrics this season, even on a hapless Blackhawks team. He’s not a complete offensive liability either and has years of experience playing a top-four role.

McCabe has 15 points in 47 games this season, averaging 19:25 per game.

Morning Notes: Crouse, Bonino, Hughes

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New names will enter the rumor mill daily within three weeks of the 2023 NHL Trade Deadline. The jaw-dropping potential of holding a top-five pick in the 2023 NHL Draft should only exacerbate this, with Connor Bedard, Adam Fantilli, Matvei Michkov, Leo Carlsson, and others making up one of the most talented groups of top prospects in league history. While they won’t admit it, it’s a phenomenon that incentivizes flawed teams to get worse. It explains a surprising new name on Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli’s newest Trade Targets board, released Saturday morning.

Arizona Coyotes forward Lawson Crouse signed a five-year extension before this season, but Seravalli says that hasn’t stopped his name from popping up in trade conversations. He clarifies that Crouse isn’t someone Coyotes general manager Bill Armstrong is actively looking to offload but notes that given the team’s position, he isn’t putting the phone down on any interested trade party. The 2015 11th overall pick has come into his own over the past two seasons, recording 36 goals and 62 points in 112 games across the 2021-22 and 2022-23 campaigns while logging heavy minutes. Locked into an attractive $4.3MM cap hit for four more seasons, he’ll need to garner a strong return for Arizona to consider moving on.

More chatter from the post-All-Star break weekend:

  • Another new name on Seravalli’s trade board is San Jose Sharks shutdown center Nick Bonino. In the final year of a two-season, $2.05MM average annual value pact, the 34-year-old Bonino can still provide value in a bottom-six role. He’s played both center and wing for San Jose this year, but is capable in the faceoff dot and brings Stanley Cup-winning experience. With nine goals and 17 points in 50 games and decent defensive play, he’s an ideal target for teams looking to shore up their fourth line. He could make sense for a team like the New York Rangers, who can now focus on improving their depth forwards after acquiring their big fish, Vladimir Tarasenko, earlier this week.
  • In positive news for New Jersey Devils fans, team reporter Amanda Stein confirms that center Jack Hughes and defenseman Brendan Smith are with the team on their current road trip, taking them through the Midwest and northeast United States over the next week. It’s a somewhat expected tidbit about Hughes, who’s listed as week-to-week with an upper-body injury sustained in the past few days. While a return to action during their four-game road trip seems unlikely, it’s a good sign that he’s well enough to stay with the team. Smith is day-to-day with an undisclosed injury as of Thursday.

Boston Bruins Linked To Luke Schenn

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No matter the scale, the Boston Bruins intend to add to a formidable group of defensemen. The Fourth Period reported today that Boston has “explored the price tag” on Vancouver Canucks defenseman Luke Schenn, and The Nation Network’s Nick Alberga called them a “leading contender” to acquire Schenn if the Canucks decide to trade him, along with the Calgary Flames.

While Schenn may not have the big-name aura of  Jakob Chychrun or even Vladislav Gavrikov, it would be a more pragmatic acquisition for Bruins general manager Don Sweeney. The Bruins are at the tail end of their contention window, and acquiring Schenn would come with a lower acquisition cost. It allows them to fortify an already strong defense while maintaining some core pieces for the team’s future, such as Fabian Lysell.

Schenn’s contract also makes it a more palatable trade for Boston. The team currently has $3.25MM in trade deadline cap space, per CapFriendly, but that’s with Jake DeBrusk and his $4MM cap hit on long-term injured reserve. He’s expected to return before the deadline, so the Bruins’ cap flexibility is much closer to $0. Schenn is a pending unrestricted free agent with an $850,000 cap hit, which Boston could swallow easily with some minor roster transactions, especially if Vancouver retains some salary for the short duration of the contract.

On the ice, though, Schenn doesn’t move the needle much for Boston. His +8 rating is second among Canucks defensemen, only behind Quinn Hughes, but more advanced metrics aren’t as kind to Schenn’s individual defensive impact this season at even strength. Schenn likely slots as an extra skater for Boston unless he can wrangle a lineup spot away from Connor Clifton, who’s played more minutes this season with better impacts defensively.

Acquiring depth is never a bad thing, though. Bringing Schenn into the fold also brings his 800-plus games of NHL experience, and he provides a more experienced option to step into the playoff lineup should injuries occur. The team still has Anton Stralman available under contract, but he’s played just 11 games this season, split between the NHL and AHL.

Trade Rumors: Kane, Chychrun, Oilers/Kings

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Teams around the league could soon get more clarity on the future of Chicago Blackhawks superstar Patrick Kane. On today’s edition of TSN’s Insider Trading, Pierre LeBrun relayed a quote from Kane’s agent, Pat Brisson, that a decision on whether he’ll waive his no-movement clause is coming “relatively soon.”

As LeBrun says, Kane completely controls his destiny, even if he waives his no-move clause, and he’ll be able to dictate the teams to which he’s willing to accept a trade. If Kane opts for a trade, Brisson says those teams will be notified at least “seven to 10 days” ahead of the March 3 deadline. There does exist a timeline in which Kane rejects a trade and opts to stay put, reconsidering his future in Chicago this summer. Despite just having nine goals in 45 games this season, Kane would still carry a great deal of value at the deadline, although it may not result in a first-round pick at this point.

  • The Boston Bruins could get even scarier. LeBrun also reported on Insider Trading that the team has recently inquired about Jakob Chychrun, which could give them easily the most formidable defense in the league. Even if the Bruins opt to part with Brandon Carlo in any potential Chychrun deal, as his name has begun to enter trade speculation, it would still leave Boston with a top-four defense group of Chychrun, Charlie McAvoy, Hampus Lindholm, and Matt Grzelcyk. With Chychrun locked into a dirt-cheap, sub-$5MM cap hit for multiple seasons, it could pay dividends for years to come if the Bruins can manage to stay competitive.
  • LeBrun also mentioned that the Edmonton Oilers and Los Angeles Kings seem to be competing for the same trade deadline additions, mainly left-shot defensemen. The two Pacific Division rivals have both been linked to Chychrun, Joel Edmundson, and Vladislav Gavrikov. A potential bidding war for those trade targets would certainly make fans of the Coyotes, Canadiens, and Blue Jackets smile, as the playoff rivals from last season aim to upgrade their group of defensemen.

East Notes: Leafs Deadline Plans, Hughes, Senators Sale

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The Toronto Maple Leafs have returned a more well-balanced team than in recent seasons, with goals scored and goals against both down. Improved team defense and capable goaltending from Ilya Samsonov and Matt Murray have spearheaded that trend, and with impressive performances from younger players such as Rasmus Sandin, Timothy Liljegren, and Conor Timmins, some have questioned Toronto’s need to add a defenseman at the trade deadline.

However, Chris Johnston of NorthStar Bets today relayed a report from a league source that the Leafs’ “main focus” is on fortifying its defensive depth, citing the Jake Muzzin injury as a notable absence. While the team does have seven NHL defensemen that can play solid games on any given night, you can never have too many capable options come playoff time when injuries can end a season quickly. Still, Johnston says the Leafs are still searching for roster upgrades all over to escape an Atlantic Division ring of fire alongside Boston and Tampa Bay.

  • Due to what the New Jersey Devils have called “upper-body soreness,” superstar center Jack Hughes did not participate in practice today, taking a maintenance day. Already soaring past his career highs with 35 goals and 67 points in just 50 games, Hughes’ point production, even-strength goal-scoring, and excellent defensive metrics have helped propel the Devils into contender status. Having lost just twice in regulation since the New Year, New Jersey is in a comfortable standings position.
  • After NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said over the All-Star weekend that more than 15 parties have demonstrated interest in purchasing the Ottawa Senators, Chris Johnston said today on TSN’s Insider Trading that the final evaluation of the team at sale could be upwards of $800MM. As Johnston notes, it’s an incredible return on investment for the Melnyk family, as Eugene Melnyk purchased the team at a $92MM valuation two decades ago.

Arizona Coyotes Reportedly Open To Trading Karel Vejmelka

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The Arizona Coyotes haven’t been a good team this year, and they’re currently sitting close to the basement of the NHL standings. That poor performance has come despite the best efforts of netminder Karel Vejmelka, though, who has greatly impressed this season.

While Vejmelka’s box score numbers don’t jump off the page, (he has a .902 save percentage, 3.38 goals-against-average, and 11-15-4 record) looking a bit deeper into how the Czech goalie has performed reveals just how well he’s played in Arizona.

MoneyPuck’s goals saved above expected metric, which tracks how well a goalie has performed relative to how an average goalie would be expected to perform, ranks Vejmelka ninth in the entire NHL. He’s nipping at the heels of some of the NHL’s best netminders such as Igor Shesterkin and Andrei Vasilevskiy in that metric, which speaks volumes to the level he’s played at this year.

Vejmelka has frequently kept the Coyotes afloat in games despite being at a major talent disadvantage, and has stolen games that the team, on paper, had no right winning.

He’s still just 26 years old, and costs just $2.725MM against the cap for the next two seasons. While his track record is admittedly thin (he is untested in the playoffs and has just 83 NHL games on his resume) his play this year has left quite the impression.

Given all that information, recent reporting from Sportsnet’s Jeff Marek might come as a surprise. On last night’s Hockey Night in Canada broadcast, Marek reported that the Coyotes “would part with” Vejmelka “if the deal is right.”

Since Vejmelka has been so valuable for the Coyotes this year, the fact that the team would consider dealing him seems, on paper, to be a highly questionable decision.

But the unique state of the Coyotes adds some justification to the team’s thinking. Arizona is pursuing a long-term rebuilding plan, and the organization’s main goal has been building a stockpile of young players and prospects in order to fuel sustainable contention in the long-term.

The Coyotes may believe that Vejmelka may hold more value to their long-term plan for contention as a means of deepening that stockpile of picks and prospects, rather than as the goalie in their crease. If the team can net a player they believe can be a future top-six forward or top-four defenseman in exchange for Vejmelka, it’s easy to understand that rationale.

But even if one understands why the team might choose to cash in on Vejmelka, the prospect of trading such a talented starting netminder remains a difficult sell.

The Coyotes’ season has been all about player development, with the organization selling its fanbase on the idea that even though wins will be hard to come by, fans will be able to enjoy watching the development of players who will become foundational pillars of the next contending Coyotes team.

So if the Coyotes were to trade a player who is still relatively young and is among the best talents they have, that would come as quite the blow and would fly against the message of their season. The Coyotes seemingly found a potential core piece out of nowhere, signing Vejmelka as a relatively unheralded goalie out of the Czech league only for him to turn into an NHL starter. If they traded that goalie before he even reached 100 NHL games played, it would beg the question of what the Coyotes are even trying to accomplish as a franchise.

But still, the rationale of selling high on a player who still has a relatively thin NHL resume is certainly reasonable. So it’s undoubtedly a difficult situation and one where it’s easy to hear the arguments for each side. In the end, though, this report from Marek indicates that despite the development of players such as Clayton Keller into legitimate NHL stars, the Coyotes are still very much in the dog days of their rebuilding plan.

Latest On The Edmonton Oilers

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The Edmonton Oilers have been one of the most-watched stories in the league this season. Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl continue to put up generational scoring numbers. Still, old issues have reared their ugly heads, and the team remains on the fringes of the playoffs as the calendar turns to 2023.

Edmonton has two big dates circled on their calendar over the next weeks: the return of elite power forward Evander Kane to the lineup and the NHL Trade Deadline on March 3.

In terms of making trades, the Oilers are “working the phones” well before the deadline, writes Pierre LeBrun in a piece for The Athletic. LeBrun says Edmonton has been connected to Arizona’s Jakob Chychrun, as well as Montreal’s Joel Edmundson, and about “every selling team you can think of with a defenseman potentially up for grabs.”

With the team’s swath of promising young defensemen, it does seem that adding just one bigger name into the mix could offer Edmonton the ability to optimize their pairings and solidify defensive issues that have plagued them for years.

However, they can’t expect to keep pucks out of the net without goaltending, which is still somewhat of a concern. Jack Campbell still hasn’t been able to figure things out in Edmonton, now completely losing the starting job to Stuart Skinner just months after signing a five-year, $25MM contract. Skinner himself has been passable at worst and lifesaving at best, maintaining a .914 save percentage through 25 starts.

Kane’s return from a horrifying wrist injury could shore up another issue – depth scoring. Edmonton’s fourth-ranked offense in the NHL comes courtesy of McDavid, Draisaitl, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, and Zach Hyman, who have scored 95 of their 147 goals (a staggering 65%). No other Oilers forward has more than five goals – which is Kane, who’s played in just 14 games.

His return is likely coming this month, meaning his activation (and salary cap implications) remains untouched by any potential deadline trade.

PuckPedia outlined potential scenarios for the cap-strapped Oilers today, which would allow Kane to come off long-term injured reserve. It would be a tricky scenario, requiring them to place defenseman Ryan Murray on LTIR, assigning Devin Shore and Vincent Desharnais to the minors, and sending one more player down who makes more than $1.125MM against the cap. This would likely be Mattias Janmark, who has nine points in 28 games and failed to make the team out of training camp.

Latest On Shane Wright

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After the Seattle Kraken assigned 2022 fourth-overall pick Shane Wright back to the OHL this morning, it quickly became apparent that he would not remain a member of his current team, the Kingston Frontenacs. They are fifth in the Eastern Conference, but at just two games over .500, OHL championship and Memorial Cup aspirations aren’t in their future this season.

Obviously, both for Wright personally and his development, it makes sense for him to be in a more competitive situation as he finishes out his junior career. The Athletic’s Scott Wheeler today named the Ottawa 67’s, Barrie Colts, Peterborough Petes, and London Knights as “expected players” in a Wright trade, which would need to occur within the next four days. The OHL’s trade deadline is on Tuesday, January 10.

Sportsnet’s Jeff Marek added on, saying he didn’t think a Wright trade was necessarily imminent but that Kingston general manager Kory Cooper would meet with Wright, his family, his agent, and Kraken representatives to discuss trade options. Wright has a no-trade clause in his agreement with Kingston.

Ottawa may make the most sense for Wright, given their situation. The 67’s are first in the OHL, maintaining a spectacular 26-6-1-1 record through 34 games. Their strong suit is defense, surrendering only a league-best 87 goals. Scoring is a needed area of improvement, though. The 2023 draft-eligible Luca Pinelli is tied with the overage Cameron Tolnai for the team lead in scoring, although they both have just 39 points in 34 games. They’re solid totals but not staggering for the junior level.

Wright, who scored four goals in five games with the AHL’s Coachella Valley Firebirds and had seven points in seven games at the World Juniors, should clear the point-per-game mark by a mile. He still managed 94 points in 63 games with Kingston in 2021-22 despite not playing at all the season prior.

He also fits into Ottawa’s game plan as a defensively responsible center and could take some of the load from players like Pinelli to open up their offensive games.

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