NHL Rumors: James van Riemsdyk, Ryan O’Reilly, Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews

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Today’s NHL Rumors looks at the Philadelphia Flyers forward James van Riemsdyk as a top trade deadline rental.

In addition, Ryan O’Reilly is still being talked about as a trade candidate. Plus an update on Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews.

Let’s dive in.

NHL Rumors: James van Riemsdyk

On the latest 32 Thoughts segment during Sportnet’s Hockey Night in Canada broadcast, Jeff Marek reported that James van Riemsdyk is available via trade.

“The Philadelphia Flyers have made him available,” Marek said. “The actual cash here is $5 million as $1 million has already been paid as a bonus last summer. The cap hit is $7M but Philadelphia could eat some of that to make it more palatable for a team looking at van Riemsdyk.”

This season, the 33 year-old forward has 11 points in 12 games. For his career, he’s amassed 573 points in 891 contests.

When the NHL Trade Deadline rolls around on March 3, teams that miss out on Patrick Kane and Bo Horvat will certainly consider the big winger.

NHL Rumors: Ryan O’Reilly

NHL Rumors Ryan O'Reilly
Dec 29, 2021; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; St. Louis Blues right wing Vladimir Tarasenko (91) is congratulated by center Ryan O’Reilly (90) after scoring against the Edmonton Oilers during the second period at Enterprise Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports

The St. Louis Blues are at .500 more than a quarter into the season at 15-15-1. They currently sit 5th in the Central Division and three points out of a wild card spot. If they are out of a playoff spot at the trade deadline captain Ryan O’Reilly could be on the move.

O’Reilly returning to the team that drafted him originally is just too juicy a storyline to completely ignore though lots would have to happen for that to go from idle speculation to genuine negotiations. Just because of salary-cap considerations, and even with teams willing to retain money in deals, it’s hard to see any of the pending big-name rentals moving early. Would love to be proven wrong on that. 

Eric Duhatschek, The Athletic (Subscription Required)

Colorado would do well adding O’Reilly for a title defense. He’s a perfect fit for that lineup.

O’Reilly, 31, is in his fifth season with the Blues. He’s also in the final year of a 7-year deal that was signed with the Buffalo Sabres back in 2016 which comes with an AAV of $7.5 million.

This season, he has 15 points in 31 games.

NHL Rumors: Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews

The Chicago Blackhawks will soon start to work with their two aging superstars on where they’d like to go at the trade deadline.

Both Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews are going to meet with the Hawks next month to plan out their futures.

During my regular Monday appearance on TSN690 in Montreal, I noted that both players, along with their agent Pat Brisson, will have a discussion with management once the calendar flips to 2023. That is likely to occur at some point in January, though a final decision may not come until later in the season. My guess would be after the All-Star break, which would give the Blackhawks a little over four weeks to work the lines before the March 3 trade deadline.

Kane and Toews want to know their options before deciding whether or not they want to pursue another Stanley Cup championship with a different organization.

David Pagnotta, TFP

According to Pagnotta, the New York Rangers, Dallas Stars, Colorado Avalanche, New York Islanders, Edmonton Oilers and Toronto Maple Leafs are believed to be in on Kane. Meanwhile the Avs and Boston Bruins have been connected to Toews.

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