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NHL Rumor Buzz
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NHL Rumor Buzz is Hockeybuzz’s version of an aggregator blog, similar to Spectorshockey.net or MyNHLTradeRumors. It is the home for the latest NHL trade rumors from other mainstream sources and websites other than Hockeybuzz. It will include our thoughts on the rumor in question and will be updated each day as new rumors surface.
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TSN’s
Frank Seravelli with a roundup of what the seven Canadian teams are looking for prior to the trade deadline:
The Canadiens are one of the speediest teams in the NHL, but they aren’t big. Arizona’s 6-foot-6 centre Martin Hanzal would be an ideal rental option. Plus, it’s hard to imagine general manager Marc Bergevin not at least inquiring about the availability of Colorado’s Matt Duchene, though a deal of that magnitude would be unlikely in-season.
THE BUZZ – The targets make sense for the Habs, who are looking for strength up the middle with the decline of Tomas Plekanec, but both the Coyotes and Avs are looking for young help on the blueline, which means the first names they will ask for are Nathan Beaulieu, Noah Juulsen or Mikhail Sergachev. If Bergevin balks, then you will see the Canadiens look for a less expensive option.
is shopping veteran winger Benoit Pouliot.
THE BUZZ - A big winger with playoff experience should be attractive, but the 30-year-old Pouliot has just five goals in 39 games and has two more years at $4 Million per season. Unless GM Peter Chiarelli is prepared to take back an equally pricey contract or eat a chunk of his salary, good luck finding a taker.
With one more year left on his contract, (James van Riemsdyk) will generate a lot of buzz leading up to the trade deadline, but the Leafs are in no rush to deal him. In fact, a trade in-season is unlikely — and it remains entirely possible van Riemsdyk remains in Toronto for the longer term, depending on his production and price.
Kasperi Kapanen, who has 32 points in 31 AHL games, could be a starting point in a return package — the one young player left out of the NHL fun in the Leafs’ organization so far this season.
THE BUZZ – Dealing van Riemsdyk will all depend on what kind of interest and return GM Lou Lamoriello can generate. The only way that the veteran winger stays in Toronto past the summer is if he agrees to an extension with a hometown discount similar to those signed by Morgan Rielly and Nazem Kadri last April.
JVR will be 29 in July 2018 when he hits free agency, which means his next deal will be his last chance to hit the financial jackpot. As much as Toronto likes him and he likes Toronto, the odds are in favor of the Leafs trading van Riemsdyk to acquire blueline help.
Kapanen is an AHL All-Star at 20 years old and will be an NHLer, but the Leafs ideally are looking to add a defenseman who can play on their top pairing with Rielly. The cost for that type of player will likely run higher than Kapanen, it may take moving William Nylander to get him.
The Canucks aren’t expected to be terribly active on the trade market, as their most likely path is the fade from the playoff race. There are no short-term, easy fixes for the Canucks.
One option may be to acquire a player or two to audition in the final 20-25 games to judge a fit for next season, like the Oilers did last year with Pat Maroon. (Alex)Burrows and (Jannik)Hansen, two players who have spent their entire careers with the Canucks, could be rental options on the move, but they both hold no-trade trump cards and the Canucks will do right by them. Meanwhile, Benning would like to improve his draft position: Vancouver has just five picks in the 2017 Entry Draft.
THE BUZZ – The dilemma for Jim Benning is whether to be a buyer or a seller at the deadline. The Canucks GM said this week that he will not trade draft picks to make short-term upgrades, but their recent upswing in the standings have clouded the issue and may draw pressure from ownership to take steps to get into the post-season.
Perhaps 2014 top pick Jake Virtanen would be a piece that Benning would move.
If they drop out of the race closer to March 1, you will see Burrows, Hansen and perhaps even pending UFA Ryan Miller shopped to replenish Vancouver’s coffers.
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