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Two weeks after the start of this
summer’s NHL free-agent market, most of the best remaining talent has
been signed. Nazem Kadri remains the notable exception, providing a
tempting target for clubs still in need of a physical scoring center.
The trade market, meanwhile, remains
busy. The Calgary Flames and Florida Panthers pulled off a
blockbuster trade on July 22 that saw Matthew Tkachuk shipped to the Panthers
for a return that included Jonathan Huberdeau and MacKenzie Weegar.
Kadri’s availability continues to stoke
speculation over where he’ll eventually land. Meanwhile, there are ongoing rumors linking Winnipeg Jets center Pierre-Luc Dubois to the
Montreal Canadiens and talk of the Edmonton Oilers making inquiries
about Chicago Blackhawks winger Patrick Kane.
Should we put any stock into these
rumors? That’s what we’ll try to determine as we examine whether to
buy or sell the latest NHL trade and free-agent buzz. You can weigh
in with your thoughts on this topic in the comments section below.
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Jonathan Kozub/NHLI via Getty Images
On June 22, Winnipeg Jets captain Blake
Wheeler debuted at No. 3 on Daily Faceoff’s list of offseason trade
targets. Frank Seravalli reported the Jets had spoken to other teams
regarding the 35-year-old winger. He has two years remaining on his
contract with an annual salary-cap hit of $8.3 million.
The following day, Sportsnet’s Ken
Wiebe suggested the stress of being the Jets captain affected Wheeler’s performance over the past two seasons. Given the club’s
struggles last season when it missed the playoffs, Wiebe felt a
change of scenery might do Wheeler some good.
Despite his age and hefty annual cap
hit, Seravalli thought Wheeler’s contract might not be difficult to
move given his physical style and point-per-game production. He also
observed that the no-movement clause in his contract reverted this
season to a five-team trade list.
A month later, Wheeler remains with the
Jets. On July 15, the Winnipeg Sun‘s Scott Billeck indicated the
club’s best opportunity to move its captain was before the
free-agent market opened on July 13. He felt the Jets’ stubbornness at
insisting on interested clubs picking up the entirety of his
remaining cap hit hurt efforts to move him.
Verdict: Sell
It doesn’t appear
that there were many teams interested in acquiring an aging winger
carrying an expensive cap hit for two more seasons. Unless the Jets
agree to retain some of Wheeler’s salary or take back an expensive
contract, their captain will be suiting up with them for 2022-23.
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It’s been a productive summer thus far
for Ottawa Senators general manager Pierre Dorion. Within a one-week
period from July 7 to 13, he bolstered his offense by acquiring
forwards Alex DeBrincat and Claude Giroux, shipped oft-injured
starting goaltender Matt Murray to the Toronto Maple Leafs and
acquired Cam Talbot as his replacement from the Minnesota Wild.
Dorion doesn’t seem to be finished
improving his roster. On July 18, the Ottawa Sun‘s Ken Warren
reported the Senators GM was continuing his search to add a top-four
defenseman, pointing out the Arizona Coyotes’ Jakob Chychrun remains
in play.
Chychrun, 24, has been the subject of
frequent trade speculation. It was believed Coyotes general manager
Bill Armstrong would attempt to try again to move the blueliner
during this offseason if he could find a club willing to meet his
asking price.
A skillful puck-moving defenseman who
tallied a career-best of 18 goals and 41 points during the
COVID-shortened 2020-21 season, Chychrun would be a perfect fit with
the Senators. His affordable $4.6 million annual salary-cap hit
through 2024-25 makes him more enticing.
Verdict: Sell
Dorion may have
inquired into Chychrun’s availability and found the Coyotes’ price
tag too expensive. On July 13, GOPHNX.com’s Craig Morgan dismissed
the trade speculation linking the blueliner to the Senators. He
anticipates Chychrun will be in the Coyotes lineup when the season
begins in October, speculating that he could get moved at next
year’s trade deadline.
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Pierre-Luc Dubois signed his one-year,
$6 million qualifying offer with the Winnipeg Jets on Friday. There’s been speculation, however, linking the 24-year-old center to the Montreal Canadiens.
Dubois’ agent, Pat Brisson, raised
eyebrows during a July 13 interview with TVA Sports when he said his
client had an interest in one day playing for the Canadiens. The
Athletic’s Murat Ates reported the Habs had pitched trade offers to
the Jets since the July 7-8 draft in Montreal but that their
proposals were “inadequate.”
Five days later, the Winnipeg Sun‘s
Paul Friesen reported Dubois wanted to test the unrestricted free agent market in
2024. He also noted Dubois attended the draft at the Bell Centre, anticipating a trade to the Canadiens.
Dubois addressed the speculation during
a news conference Monday, insisting he didn’t request a trade
and didn’t intend to do so. He said the reaction to Brisson’s
remarks was “overblown.” He also explained he was at the
Bell Centre at the invitation of his bank for a
reception.
Verdict: Buy
Dubois may not have asked for a trade, but that doesn’t mean it won’t happen. He’ll become a restricted free agent with arbitration rights next summer and will then be a year away from unrestricted free agency.
His reluctance to ink a long-term deal and Brisson’s comments suggest the rumors linking him to the Canadiens won’t go away
any time soon.
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Two weeks into the free-agent market, the pickings are slim for quality talent. However, a notable
exception is Nazem Kadri. The 31-year-old center is coming off a
career-best 87 points. His 15 points in 16 playoff games
contributed to the Colorado Avalanche’s Stanley Cup championship.
On July 16, The Athletic’s Peter Baugh reported that multiple teams were interested in Kadri and were
trying to clear salary-cap space to sign him. Three days later,
Colorado Hockey Now’s Adrian Dater reported Kadri had offers from
several teams but perhaps wasn’t interested in playing for them because of their
locations, non-contender statuses or both.
The New York Islanders could
be among Kadri’s suitors. On Saturday, The Athletic’s Kevin Kurz reported the Isles were pursuing the former
Avalanche center. They already have two top-six centers in Mathew
Barzal and Brock Nelson, but Kurz suggested one of them could be moved
to the wing to make room for Kadri.
Kurz also speculated Kadri could seek
around $8.5 million per season. The Islanders have $11.2 million in
cap space, but they have yet to re-sign restricted free agents Noah
Dobson and Alexander Romanov. Kurz noted Semyon Varlamov, Josh
Bailey and Anthony Beauvillier have been mentioned in trade rumors
during the offseason.
Verdict: Buy
Kurz reported July 13 that Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello was interested in Johnny Gaudreau. Having lost to the
Columbus Blue Jackets in the Gaudreau sweepstakes, Lamoriello could
have Kadri in his sights.
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The Edmonton Oilers made
several significant changes this month. They got some
much needed salary-cap flexibility with the retirement of defenseman
Duncan Keith and the news that goaltender Mike Smith is expected to spend next season on the long-term injured reserve.
General manager Ken Holland
used that wiggle room to bring back winger Evander Kane on a
four-year contract and sign free-agent goalie Jack Campbell to a
five-year deal. On July 13, Daily
Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli (h/t Oilersnation’s Cam Lewis) reported the Oilers had “checked
in” on Chicago Blackhawks winger Patrick Kane.
Kane, 33, remains among the
NHL’s elite scorers. He’s in the final season of his contract and carries a
$10.5 million salary-cap hit and no-movement clause.
Seravalli said Kane
wasn’t “ready to move” at that time. On Thursday, The Athletic’s Daniel
Nugent-Bowman cast doubt that Edmonton will land the Chicago star in
the short term, pointing to the winger’s contract and a
high asking price.
Verdict: Sell
The Blackhawks are
rebuilding, but Kane has given no indication he wants to be traded.
That could change at some point before
the trade deadline. For now, though, it appears he’ll stay with Chicago.