It’s that point of yr when commerce hypothesis runs rampant — though, in some instances, for no actual purpose.
This brings us to Rasmus Andersson. Groups have referred to as the Calgary Flames concerning the top-four defenseman, and the reply to every crew has been the identical: There’s little interest in buying and selling him.
Why would they? They’re legitimately in a playoff race within the Western Convention, and Andersson’s contract has one other yr on it after this season. The Flames plan to attempt to lengthen Andersson this summer season. There’s no assure they’ll get that performed, however in the intervening time, they’ve obtained time on their facet earlier than crossing that bridge.
Flames basic supervisor Craig Conroy has even talked to Andersson not too long ago to verify he is aware of the commerce hypothesis just isn’t actual. The Flames wish to hold some key veterans round as they proceed their retool. They don’t wish to tear it down. They see Andersson as a kind of key veterans. A minimum of for this season, that’s the plan.
Talking of the Flames, they proceed to scour the marketplace for a 25-and-under, right-shot middle, which is a troublesome proposition. They’re among the many very lengthy record of groups which have checked in with the Buffalo Sabres concerning 23-year-old Dylan Cozens.
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Don’t overlook Matt Duchene for Group Canada
There are such a lot of good forwards who didn’t make Canada’s 4 Nations roster, led by the likes of Mark Scheifele, John Tavares, Zach Hyman, Robert Thomas and Wyatt Johnston.
However don’t overlook about Matt Duchene. His title was extra strongly thought of by Group Canada earlier than the Dec. 4 roster reveal than maybe most individuals realized.
Duchene performed on Canada’s gold medal-winning crew in Sochi in 2014, and the veteran ahead has seen a resurgence in his recreation since signing with the Dallas Stars two years in the past.
And sure, he was conscious that he was on Group Canada’s radar and hoped to get that decision Dec. 4.
“I used to be clearly dissatisfied, however on the identical time, I used to be proud that I used to be proper there, and also you wish to hold enjoying in case one thing have been to occur (accidents),’’ Duchene instructed The Athletic on Tuesday whereas the Stars have been in Toronto. “I imply, the factor about being a Canadian ahead is that you could possibly in all probability make three groups and one among them might beat any of the opposite ones, you recognize? It’s so equal.
“There’s a number of nice gamers that aren’t on that crew as properly. You possibly can by no means take a look at it however really feel something however grateful that you simply had an opportunity. There’s a number of alternative ways to choose groups, and clearly I’ve been there earlier than and I used to be dissatisfied to not be there this yr. However going ahead, there’s one other likelihood subsequent yr. That’s how I’m taking a look at it. Taking part in for Group Canada has meant quite a bit to me in my profession. A few of my finest reminiscences have been doing that. I might like to have an opportunity to do it once more. So that you simply should hold working and attempt to earn it.’’
Matt Duchene has 103 factors in 122 video games with the Stars. (Michael Reaves / Getty Pictures)
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Stars may be big-time consumers however shall be affected person
The Stars nonetheless haven’t put Tyler Seguin on long-term injured reserve, wanting to attend so long as doable to accrue extra cap area. However once they do park his $9.85 million cap hit, they’ll be one of many extra harmful Cup contenders to watch forward of the March 7 commerce deadline.
They’re making their calls proper now, however the plan is to be affected person and wait till after the 4 Nations occasion to determine the place to behave. The thought is to see if extra accidents change their wants. Roope Hintz is the most recent Stars ahead to get dinged up, leaving Tuesday’s win with an upper-body damage. There was no replace on him after the sport. Mason Marchment can be out a couple of extra weeks, so Dallas is definitely banged up at ahead.
The Stars might add each a top-six ahead and a top-four defenseman, probably, with all that cap flexibility. Or maybe two forwards are what the physician ordered. There’s curiosity in Brock Nelson, but it surely’s not clear but if the New York Islanders will transfer him.
Both approach, we are able to anticipate the Stars to probably be concerned in multiple transaction earlier than the deadline. GM Jim Nill isn’t shy to be aggressive on the deadline, and now he’s going to have ample cap cash to play with. That ought to be a priority to each Western Convention contender.
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Oilers forged huge web on D commerce market
The Edmonton Oilers’ protection has been higher than marketed this season contemplating the summer season losses and modifications, but it surely has additionally been comparatively wholesome. With that in thoughts, upgrading the blue line is a precedence forward of the deadline. Whether or not that improve is to their prime 4 or just depth, Edmonton needs so as to add a minimum of a defenseman.
Edmonton had professional scouting conferences final week to begin trade-deadline preparations, placing names on a want record, and so forth. And what got here out of it was the thought of casting as huge a web as doable to begin. The preliminary search doesn’t essentially zero in on one particular kind of defender, because the entrance workplace feels it has flexibility in its present group. There are shutdown defensemen on the record and in addition puck-movers. Righties and lefties.
So, for instance, a right-handed defenseman who kills penalties like David Savard would match, however so would a puck-moving left-handed defenseman. It’s going to actually rely on how the market shakes out over the approaching eight weeks.
TSN colleague Darren Dreger reported Tuesday that the Oilers are among the many groups with curiosity in free agent John Klingberg as he continues to get better from a hip-resurfacing surgical procedure as properly.
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Caps and their pending UFA goalies
The primary-place Washington Capitals have a novel scenario on their fingers: Each of their goalies, Logan Thompson and Charlie Lindgren, are pending unrestricted free brokers.
The latter was the big story last year as Lindgren had a profession season that helped pave the way in which for Darcy Kuemper to get dealt within the offseason.
The commerce for Thompson on the draft on June 29 has become a stroke of genius by the Caps. He’s additionally having a profession season. However he wants a brand new contract and a sizeable increase from the $766,667 he’s incomes within the final yr of the three-year deal he signed with Vegas.
Whereas there have been very preliminary discussions with each Thompson and Lindgren, the sense I get is that the Capitals are treading fastidiously. They like each goalies and the way in which they’ve labored as a tandem this season however haven’t satisfied themselves of the necessity to re-sign each instantly, particularly with different pending UFAs on the roster corresponding to Jakob Chychrun, Andrew Mangiapane and Nic Dowd.
And I believe there’s additionally some concern from Caps administration that in the event that they lengthen one goalie now and never the opposite, it might have a unfavourable impression on the dressing room.
The Caps will proceed to speak to the respective brokers for each goalies, and I assume they’ll find yourself signing a minimum of one among them, however they’re going about it very fastidiously in the intervening time.
Logan Thompson is 19-2-3 with a 2.23 goals-against common and .921 save share this season. (Patrick Smith / Getty Pictures)
Habs don’t wish to commerce Evans, however …
The Montreal Canadiens have let Jake Evans know they’re concerned with maintaining him round however that it could possibly’t be a home-run deal. And that’s the rub so far as how this may occasionally play out.
As of late final week, there had solely been preliminary discussions with the pending UFA ahead. He’s enjoying a number of the finest hockey of his profession, and at 28, that is his finest shot to money in. Time period is probably going going to be the hurdle on this negotiation, I’m not satisfied the Canadiens are snug going 5 or 6 years, and once more, Evans is at an age the place that safety is perhaps vital.
Either side will take a crack at it, however there’s no assure it will get performed, and regardless of the place the crew is at within the standings, relying on commerce affords they could should hear onerous if he’s not prolonged by March 7. He’s making solely $1.7 million this season, and cap-challenged contenders discover that very interesting. The New Jersey Devils are among the many groups which have already kicked tires.
Can he be prolonged and keep put? Sure. However it’d in all probability take each side getting a little bit uncomfortable with the deal.
(Prime photograph of Rasmus Andersson: Christian Petersen / Getty Pictures)
