We are exactly a month away from the trade deadline as trade season is about to get silly. While Brian Burke was on Leafs Morning Take and thinks the trade deadline is overrated, just based off what acquisition prices are, I tend to disagree and feel it’s entertaining as hell and yes, most of the fun is had leading up to the big day.
Surprisingly enough two huge trades went down over All-Star weekend as Sean Monahan and Elias Lindholm were both dealt, so the question remains, who gets moved next? Here’s the very latest buzz from around the league:
Montreal Canadiens Rejecting Trade Offers
The Canadiens aren’t done making moves as GM Kent Hughes looks to continue the rebuild in Montreal. He’s already shipped out Monahan to the Jets in some very fine work, acquiring a first-round pick after landing a first-rounder from the Flames just to take on Monahan in the first place. We’ll leave out the part that was Treliving who sent Monahan along with a first to Montreal for basically nothing. But anyways, now Hughes is looking to continue dealing however, is standing firm on right-handed defenseman David Savard.
LeBrun on Insider Trading: “I don’t believe the Montreal Canadiens want to trade David Savard, I think they value him for all kinds of reasons within the organization… If someone sends them an offer that really makes them think, then yea, he could be dealt…”
— NHL Watcher (@NHL_Watcher) February 6, 2024
Savard is having a nice bounce-back season after dealing with injuries, recording 11 points in 28 games while playing a ton of minutes shorthanded. He’s a beast when it comes to blocking shots and sacrificing his body to win, collecting 87 blocked shots on the year, in yes, only 28 games. Impressive stuff to say the least.
He’d fit perfectly on the Maple Leafs, but it’s very unlikely the two rivals get down to business. Savard has next season left on his deal at $3.5 million and doesn’t hold any trade protection, besides an over-protecting GM. The 33-year-old Savard is battle-tested with 57 games of Stanley Cup Playoff experience so depending on how the Chris Tanev market shakes out, there could be a GM out there who decides to get off their wallet and pony up to the Canadiens’ demands.
New York Rangers Missed on Lindholm Deal
It wasn’t for a lack of trying. The Rangers were very interested in adding Lindholm from the Calgary Flames but weren’t willing to pony up to GM Craig Conroy’s price tag. While the two-way centre ended up being shipped to the Canucks for a first-round pick, a conditional fourth-rounder and two solid prospects, it sounds like the Rangers’ shot was an airball. Darren Dreger of TSN recently shed some light on the situation:
Darren Dreger saying on TSN Insider James Dolan wants to protect the 2024 1st Round pick so that the Rangers can be part of the spotlight at The Sphere that he owns part of. We also made an offer on Elias Lindholm #NYR pic.twitter.com/tXJKQxmRoJ
— David 🏒 (@DaveyUpper) February 6, 2024
So Dolan wouldn’t move the first-rounder because he owns the Sphere and the NHL is headed there for the draft this summer, meanwhile, it’s very likely the Rangers offer included young forward Kaapo Kakko in their package. Kakko has unperformed this season and is very frustrated with his lack of top-six minutes and power-play time. The former #2 overall pick has five goals and one assist in 30 games this season and the Rangers are going to have to settle for much less than face value if they want someone to bite ahead of the deadline.
As for the Maple Leafs and Lindholm, it doesn’t sound like that was ever a serious option, even though Brad Treliving was responsible for acquiring the Swedish centre back when he was leading Calgary. Toronto won’t be in the market of giving up their first-round pick for a rental this season.
Edmonton Oilers Actively Discussing Potential Upgrades
Speaking of the Tanev market, our very own Nick Alberga shed some light on the Maple Leafs being involved in the conversations, meanwhile, there’s a surprise entry from the Edmonton Oilers. Conroy isn’t shy to deal in the division, we’ve already seen how the Canucks landed Lindholm, and now it could be sending Tanev to the rival Oilers.
According to Dreger, the Oilers have jumped into the mix for the first time and are a team he’s hearing is now involved. Anytime you’re dealing with a rival, the price goes up at least a few notches, so if these two teams do end up doing business, expect more than just a second-round pick heading to Calgary. It would be quite the look for the Flames as Tanev is widely beloved and known as the one teammate everyone loves playing for just based on his willingness to win and do whatever it takes to do so. Then he gets moved to the Oilers? Could be a tough go for Flames fans over the next few weeks.
Quick Hits from Around the League:
- If the Oilers do end up making a deal for Tanev, there’s potential Cody Ceci could be moved as part of the deal or in a separate transaction, his name is starting to surface in the rumour mills.
- Ottawa Senators forward Vladimir Tarasenko has once again changed agents and is expected to be moved out of the Nation’s capital before the March 8 deadline. The Russian forward has recorded 13 goals and 33 points in 45 games this season, his first as a Sen and he’s owed $5 million against the cap. Tarasenko has a no-trade clause and it’s expected his new agency will be making some calls these next couple of weeks to contending teams looking for secondary scoring. The Maple Leafs could use some production from a left-winger who has a ton of playoff experience. 64 points in 97 career Stanley Cup Playoff games is impressive stuff.
- Flames defenseman Noah Hanifin has a contract offer on the table from the Flames, which has apparently been the case for a few weeks now and it was likely his reps notified Conroy of the player’s intentions over the all-star weekend. If there isn’t an extension announced over the next couple of weeks, look for Hanifin to be moved before the deadline and expect to see the Boston Bruins, Colorado Avalanche and LA Kings to be involved.
- The Pittsburgh Penguins and Jake Guentzel remain indecisive on their relationship moving forward and Kyle Dubas is going to have some major decisions to make leading up to his first deadline as Penguins GM. Pittsburgh is five points back of the Red Wings for the second wild card spot and does have three games in hand. If Dubas ends up selling, look for the Canucks and Oilers to circle in on Guentzel, and look for Dubas to also dangle Reilly Smith, Rickard Rakell and goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic in trade talks.
