NHL Rumors: Trading Carey Price, Rangers blue-line rentals, and Oilers’ Dave Tippet on hot seat
Anthony Scultore
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Could the Montreal Canadiens trade Carey Price? Sacré bleu!
Under normal conditions the mere uttering of that question would be met with scorn. However, there is nothing normal about the current situation in Montreal that appears to be heading for a full rebuild.
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NHL Rumors: Trading Carey Price?
The Habs are fighting for something this season, and that’s for dead last with the Arizona Coyotes. As Montreal tries to position themselves to win the Draft Lottery, they will also need to decide what direction the franchise is heading.
Jeff Gorton’s selection of the next GM will likely give some indication of that. A young unknown lends more credence to a rebuild than a veteran executive. Which brings us back to the possibility of trading Price.
“Would that ever happen with Price?” Elliotte Friedman mused recently. “Would the Canadiens and Price say well maybe another team might want you, but the only way that could work is if you get healthy and play some games this year so other teams can see that you’re alright. I think at some point that conversation is going to have to happen.”
Price, 34, is former Hart and Vezina Trophy recipient owning a 360-257-79 record with 49 shutouts, a .917 save percentage and a 2.50 goals-against average in 707 games (695 starts) since Montreal drafted him No. 5 overall in 2005.
He has four more years on his deal that comes with an AAV of $10.5M. Even if the Habs and Price agree to move on, it will take a serious retention of salary for a deal to happen.
New York Rangers rumors
The Rangers have been rumored this season to be in the market for a veteran left handed defenseman. That may not be as urgent with the play of young prospect blue-liner Zac Jones. However, there are plenty of potential candidates out there.
According to Arthur Staple of The Athletic, one potential rental could be Ben Chiarot of the Montreal Canadiens. Although he isn’t sure that Jeff Gorton would be so willing to help his former organization after his abrupt dismissal last season.
Other potential candidates include Carson Soucy in Minnesota, Calvin De Haan in Chicago, and my pick Mark Giordano in Seattle.
Dave Tippet on Oilers’ hot seat
Yesterday, the Oilers lost their 10th game over the last 12 games (2-8-2). During the broadcast, it was relayed that the frustration on the bench was loud and visible. It boiled over in head coach Dave Tippet’s postgame interview where he ran a truck over his goaltender Mikko Koskinen.
“Our goaltender wasn’t very good, and we didn’t find enough pucks at the net to get us back in the game,” Tippet said. “It’s a brutal mistake. What are you going to do? Call it what it is. We’re playing well. It’s a brutal mistake.”
When asked about his team’s lack of scoring he simply added, “trying to (generate chances, but obviously not.”
This has many believing that a change behind the bench is coming. There’s been some growing rumbles that GM Ken Holland may even consider his old coach in Detroit, Mike Babcock.
Even if it isn’t Babcock, how long can Holland let this go on without doing anything about it? A trade may be the first thing to try, but something has to give.
