NHL Rumors: Uncertain offseason for Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews, and Jeff Petry trade talk
Anthony Scultore
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Today’s NHL Rumors focuses on two Original Six teams in the Chicago Blackhawks and Montreal Canadiens.
With the passing of the NHL Trade Deadline on Monday, all attention now turns to the NHL Draft and Free Agent Frenzy.
When it comes to the offseason, these players will all play a big role in what could be a wild summer.
NHL Rumors: Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews
According to Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic (subscription required), super-agent Pat Brisson, who represents Blackhawks players Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, and Seth Jones, will meet with GM Kyle Davidson to get a feel for potential offseason plans.
Patrick Kane was the Blackhawks most speculated trade chip at the deadline, however Brisson shut down any chatter by coming out and saying that none of his players in Chicago were going to be moved on March 21.
Kane, 33, has 76 points in 61 games this season and if he were to hit the trade market would have no shortage of suitors. The Buffalo, NY native has called Chicago home for the last 15 years and said he could certainly see himself staying put. However, with the contenders like the Colorado Avalanche and New York Rangers having already placed phone calls, it would make his choice to waive his full no-trade protection interesting.
Toews, 33, has 26 points in 54 games this season. The longtime Hawks captain is now questioning his own future and for that matter anyone else’s in the Chicago dressing room.
“Yeah, if Hags is the guy to get traded, if he’s not a guy that’s a part of a rebuild, then I don’t know. I don’t know if anyone feels safe at this point,” Toews told The Athletic(subscription required). “Now all of a sudden you realize no one on our team is safe and we could all be going in different directions in the near future — it’s pretty discouraging. I’ll leave it at that for now.”
He also has full no-trade protection but if the right team comes calling would likely waive for a chance at another Cup.
Both players have one year remaining on a contract that comes with a $10.5M AAV cap hit. Chicago would have to undoubtedly retain 50% of their deals to make a trade work.
Jeff Petry trade
Petry, 34, has struggled this season with just 16 points in 57 games.
Montreal is in full rebuild mode but his $6.25 million AAV for three more seasons makes him a very difficult move. No one really wants to pay a defenseman that may be in decline that much until he’s 37. That’s why GM Kent Hughes didn’t expect to be able to workout a trade at the deadline, but he did try.
There were conversations held with teams, though, and an earnest attempt to move Petry was made.But Hughes stayed true to his pledge not to trade him unless it made sense for the Canadiens, and nothing materialized that made sense for the Canadiens.
Eric Engels, Sportsnet
This offseason will be Petry’s best bet for a trade. If it does not happen at the Draft, maybe after some teams miss on UFA defenseman. One thing is for sure, Hughes is not going to trade him for the sake of doing so.
The Dallas Stars were rumored to be interested at one point, and recent speculation also included the Philadelphia Flyers. Two other teams to watch in the summer are the New York Islanders and Carolina Hurricanes.
