BLH provides you with the latest NHL news, rumors, and speculation featuring Rickard Rakell (ANA), Esa Lindell (DAL), Patrick Marleau (SJ), and more!
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NHL Rumors and Speculation
Darren Dreger (TSN) says that there are some teams that are interested in a “trade and sign” scenario with Buffalo Sabres forward Taylor Hall.
Elliotte Friedman (Sportsnet) believes the sense is that the Nashville Predators will not move defenseman Mattias Ekholm right now.
Pierre LeBrun (The Athletic) is saying that the Philadelphia Flyers are discussing internally if they need goaltending help. Jonathan Bernier (DET) is on their radar.
- The Seattle Kraken are demanding a 1st round pick and a prospect (possibly more in some cases) for them not to take a certain player at the expansion draft.
Luke Fox (Sportsnet) has named Linus Ullmark (BUF), Scott Wedgewood (NJ), James Reimer (TOR), Jonathan Bernier (DET), Ryan Miller (ANA), Devan Dubnyk (SJ), and David Rittich (CGY) as rental options for the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Kevin Kurz (The Athletic) has listed the Carolina Hurricanes, Edmonton Oilers, New York Islanders, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Vegas Golden Knights as fits for San Jose Sharks forward Patrick Marleau.
Saad Yousuf (The Athletic) believes that trading Finnish defenseman Esa Lindell keeps the Dallas Stars window open next year and also gives them future pieces.
Scott Burnside (The Athletic) lists the following players as skaters who should “keep their suitcases handy” just in case they are moved. Meaning they’ve been in the rumor mill for most of the season but depending things like their club’s status in their respective playoff races like Nashville or Boston, they might end up sticking around their current team.
- Mattias Ekholm (NSH) – Good Fits: Flyers, Bruins
- “Boston, maybe Toronto, Philadelphia and Winnipeg could all be in the hunt for the big man. And maybe it’s time to make that kind of move in Nashville anyway.”
- Mikael Granlund (NSH) – Good Fits: Maple Leafs, Islanders
- “It has taken longer than expected for Granlund to find a groove in Nashville since he arrived from Minnesota at the 2019 trade deadline. So there is an element of buyer beware. As long as you’re not expecting him to be “the guy” but rather a complementary player, Granlund would be worth a third-round pick, in our opinion.”
- Alex Goligoski (ARI) – Good Fits: Bruins, Jets
- “The Coyotes have a plethora of defensemen on expiring contracts, and Goligoski looks to be the most attractive of the lot. The big question, of course, is whether Armstrong makes a hard call and moves players, especially those who don’t really figure into the long-term plan in Arizona, even if the Coyotes stay close.”
- Rickard Rakell (ANA) – Good Fits: Islanders, Bruins, Maple Leafs, Hurricanes
- “Is Rakell the kind of guy who commands a first-round pick in return? After topping the 30-goal mark in 2017 and 2018, he has seen his totals fall off the map, so that would be a strong “no” on the first-round pick. But he’s an attractive possibility for a team thinking beyond this season and one that wouldn’t be hamstrung by acquiring him when it comes to the Seattle expansion draft.”
- Jake DeBrusk (BOS) – Good Fits: Kings, Sabres, Ducks
- “The Bruins might consider some sort of hockey deal, as they still have the players required to make another long playoff run, hence the discussion of the merits of a Rakell-DeBrusk deal. The problem is Boston would be selling low on DeBrusk. In the end, it might be too big a risk to move the 24-year-old.”
- Brandon Montour (BUF) – Good Fits: Jets
- “A pending UFA with a $3.85 million cap hit, Montour is a right-shot defender whose real value is difficult to determine given the situation in Buffalo. Of course, we said the same thing last season about Zach Bogosian and all he did was play meaningful minutes on the way to a Stanley Cup in Tampa.”
- Jason Demers (ARI) – Good Fits: Hurricanes
- “Demers is one of five veteran defensemen on the Coyotes roster who are pending UFAs, and he would come at a nominal cost given a role as a depth add for a contending team like Carolina.”
- Marcus Pettersson (PIT) – Good Fits: Sabres, Hurricanes
- “It’s not like Pittsburgh wants to deal Pettersson, who has evolved into a more-than-useful left-side defender. But the Penguins may be forced into making him available due to circumstances that include injuries…”
- David Savard (CBJ) – Good Fits: Oilers, Hurricanes
- “Savard would fit nicely with any team looking to shore up the blue line with a rugged performer who blocks shots, kills penalties and is on an expiring contract ($4.25 million cap hit).”
- Elvis Merzlikins (CBJ) – Good Fits: Sabres, Oilers
- “Eventually, Kekäläinen is going to have to move a goalie, and he’ll likely find a better market at the draft, where there will be more teams, such as Buffalo or Edmonton, looking to improve their goaltending depth.”
Larry Brooks reports, If the Columbus Blue Jackets cannot get pending free agent Nick Foligno to sign an extension before the April 12 NHL trade deadline, then, A) Doesn’t Columbus GM Jarmo Kekalainen owe it to the franchise’s future to move the team captain rather than keep him for a playoff drive; and, B) Doesn’t Foligno fit perfectly into the mold of a Lou Lamoriello-Barry Trotz player?
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