NHL Rumors: Coyotes fire sale, Jets want a center, big names like Patrik Laine on the block
Anthony Scultore
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The NHL rumors mill is cranking now. Yesterday, we saw another trade when Eric Staal was sent to Buffalo. The Canadiens also signed Joel Edmundson to a four year deal. Now we are getting more rumblings from Arizona that a fire sale may happen.
NHL Rumors – Coyotes GM given green light on big trades
The Arizona Coyotes, who have failed to get any traction with retaining Taylor Hall are said to be ready to move some big names. Goaltender, Darcy Kuemper and defenseman, Oliver Ekman-Larsson-Larsson are drawing serious interest and GM, Steve Sullivan has been given permission to make those deals.
Daren Dreger appeared on TSN1040 in Vancouver where he said, “I heard from a good source today that Arizona has basically said anyone 25 or older, make an offer and they’re willing to listen.” Keep your eye on the Coyotes.
NHL Rumors – Winnipeg Jets need a center, may really move Patrik Laine
The Winnipeg Jets have plenty of cap space and may be even willing to trade their first round pick in order to get a top center. According to the Winnipeg Sun, they may even consider an offer sheet for Anthony Cirelli in Tampa.
No doubt, Cheveldayoff is going to have to get creative and it’s been suggested by some that he could prepare an offer sheet, particularly for Tampa Bay Lightning centre Anthony Cirelli, who is a pending restricted free agent and ticks all the boxes for the Jets.
Winnipeg Sun
Additionally, the thought of trading Patrik Laine may not be so far fetched. Craig Custance noted in his latest that one executive said of Laine, “He seems disinterested at times.” If Laine is traded, I expect a monster offer from the Montreal Canadiens. Look for Max Domi and a top defenseman to be sent the other way.
Alex Galchenyuk going to free agency
Minnesota Wild center, Alex Galchenyuk will likely be a UFA this summer. GM, Bill Guerin said so in his post Staal trade presser. The lefty center will be of interest for many teams looking for center depth. One team could be the New York Rangers, however it will depend on how big of an increase Alex wants from his previous deal of $4.9 million.
NHL Rumors have many big names on the market
As I mentioned before, Craig Custance latest piece looks at some big names that could be traded this offseason. We talked about Laine before, here’s a few more tidbits.
Max Domi: Domi really likes playing in Montreal and wants to stay. According to an NHL source, contract talks are ongoing. Maybe the better question is just how much do the Canadiens see Domi in their long-term plans? “They want to see more consistency from him,” said one NHL source. Another player to watch is Phillip Danault. If contract talks with him stall, he would draw trade interest.
Brady Skjei: Carolina acquired Skjei at the deadline and are getting numerous calls from teams looking to see if they’d be willing to spin him again. The Hurricanes aren’t against it, but it would have to take a no-brainer to make it happen.
Noah Hanifin: “I just think that Calgary’s results might be putting a bit of urgency there in some fashion,” said one team executive. The Calgary defense is loaded with potential unrestricted free agents so it’s certainly a fluid situation. But if the Flames can re-sign TJ Brodie, with Juuso Valimaki coming back, there’s flexibility to use Hanifin as a chip to get better. “Hanifin is at $5 million. This is one area where they can potentially go to a cheaper guy and spend money elsewhere,” suggested one NHL source.
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