BLH provides you with the latest NHL news, rumors, and speculation featuring Brandon Sutter (VAN), Carey Price (MTL), Jake Virtanen (VAN), Danton Heinen (ANA), and more!
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NHL Rumors and Speculation
Rob Ellis of NHLtraderumor.com recently posted that it’s his belief that the Montreal Canadiens could entertain parting ways with franchise netminder Carey Price.
- “Before the bubble playoffs last year, it was thought the Habs were in rebuild mode, but with the playoff win over Pittsburgh it has changed things. With the recent firing of Claude Julien, it shows, the Canadiens are in it to win now and if they can improve their team by trading Price, GM Marc Bergevin will do it.”
BLH’s Thoughts: I can’t see any team taking on that contract unless the cap hit has been significantly reduced with the Habs eating at least 20-30% of it per year. Would the Molsons do that? One thing that is in the realm of possibility is the Canadiens asking Price to waive his NMC in order to protect Jake Allen OR finding a way to move Price to Seattle in a trade. Stranger things have happened…
Pierre LeBrun says that the Vancouver Canucks and the Anaheim Ducks have been talking trade and more specifically he is reporting the following,
- “Heinen and Virtanen have been discussed but if both teams decide to move forward in talks, probably not a 1 for 1 deal… would be another component to make the money work I think. And that’s if they decide to keep talking. Not sure.”
BLH’s Thoughts: Virtanen desperately needs out of Vancouver. He was right on the verge of really breaking out last season and it’s come crashing down again not only for him but his club. Danton Heinen is an interesting fella. He’s been scratched a bit this season but his fancies have been quite good when he has played. Every 5v5 possession metric is above 50% but his goal share is closer to 40% than 50%… His PDO is 0.975 and that tells me the puck luck is simply not going his way. Surely, with the news that Rickard Rakell is on the block, Jim Benning would try to make that deal, no? Or at least try to bolster his defense by making a trade for Hampus Lindholm…
There are some whispers that the Nashville Predators might be looking for a new general manager according to David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period.
- “Whispers are slowly getting louder that Poile will seek a new General Manager to run the ship while he remains with the club in his President of Hockey Operations role.”
BLH’s Thoughts: Poile has been in charge of the Preds from the get-go. In 1997, he was hired… That’s nuts. 24 years he’s been the man there and for 15 years before that he was the GM or AGM in Washington. To say he knows how to stick around is an understatement. He should write a book on how he figured out the trick to becoming this close to being invincible.
Harman Dayal and Thomas Drance of The Athletic: Say that Canucks forward Brandon Sutter carries a $4.3 million salary cap, and even though his deal will be up after the season doesn’t have much trade value. At 50 percent retained he might have some value.
- “Consider Sutter. Sutter at the full cap hit freight of his $4.3 million deal has next to no trade value, even on an expiring deal. Sutter at $2.15 million might have some. Sutter at $1 million, if they could find a team to launder his contract through, well, now you’re talking about a real return.”
BLH’s Thoughts: I’ve reported over the years that Edmonton has had an interest in Sutter and just this past week I wrote about it. Bob Stauffer and Reid Wilkins (630CHED) spoke about it recently as has Kurt Leavins (Cult of Hockey). It helps that Sutter’s uncle Duane is a pro scout with the Oilers too, right? I’ve wondered if Edmonton might send a package that includes Kyle Turris to Vancouver to bring Sutter over.
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