Check out the latest on the Oilers, Leafs and Canadiens in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
OILERS
THE HOCKEY NEWS: Caleb Kerney cited Elliotte Friedman’s appearance earlier this week on “Oilers Now with Bob Stauffer” listing four potential blueline trade targets for the Oilers.
They include Cam Fowler of the Anaheim Ducks, Connor Murphy of the Chicago Blackhawks, Matt Benning of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Seth Jones of the Blackhawks.
Anaheim Ducks defenseman Cam Fowler (NHL Images).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: This was broadcast before the Leafs acquired Benning from the San Jose Sharks. However, Kerney’s colleague Nick Barden cited TSN’s Darren Dreger suggesting the Leafs could flip Benning to bring in an additional asset if the club is still struggling with the salary cap.
Don’t hold your breath expecting Fowler, Jones or Murphy to don an Oilers jersey anytime soon. Fowler and Jones carry hefty cap hits with no-trade protection. The asking prices are likely too expensive for the cap-strapped Oilers unless they can swing a three-team deal.
Murphy is signed through next season with an AAV of $4.4 million and a 10-team no-trade list. The earliest he could be available is near the March 7 trade deadline.
EDMONTON JOURNAL’s Jim Matheson also mentioned Murphy and suggested Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Ivan Provorov as another trade option for the Oilers. He’s eligible for UFA status next July and the Jackets carry $4.7 million of his $6.75 million cap hit.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Provorov is more likely to be available than Fowler, Jones and Murphy. TSN’s Pierre LeBrun reported last week that the Utah Hockey Club contacted the Blue Jackets about Provorov but they’re not in a hurry to move him. They’ll likely wait until the trade deadline if they’re out of the playoff race by then to drive up his value.
LEAFS
TORONTO SUN: Terry Koshan recently noted that Nick Robertson was a healthy scratch from the Maple Leafs game against the Winnipeg Jets earlier this week. The 23-year-old winger led the Leafs with five preseason goals but has only one in 10 regular-season contests thus far.
Robertson said he wasn’t taking the benching personally, saying he was focused on working hard.
COLORADO HOCKEY NOW: Aarif Deens cited Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reporting that the Avalanche were shopping around for a forward.
Deens suggested Robertson as a possible trade option for the Avs, pointing out that the winger can’t seem to find a permanent role with the Leafs. He thinks Robertson’s offensive game could take off with the right linemates.
Robertson is on a one-year, $875K contract. He’d be an affordable possibility for the cap-strapped Avalanche.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Robertson was the frequent topic of offseason speculation after requesting a trade on June 30 but re-signed before training camp. Leafs management saw him as a middle-six winger but they could entertain trade offers if he continues having difficulty filling that role.
CANADIENS
RG.ORG: Marco Dumont cites a source claiming Montreal Canadiens center Jake Evans is attracting some interest in the NHL trade market. Dumont cites the jump in the 28-year-old Evans’ production (five points in 11 games) and his mature defensive game.
Evans is UFA-eligible next summer and carries an affordable $1.7 million cap hit this season. Dumont’s source noted that the Canadiens are searching for a top-four defenseman, suggesting that it would make sense to use Evans as trade bait to address their blueline need.
The Canadiens have other assets such as draft picks and prospects to draw on. However, if they’re unwilling to sacrifice their future it would make sense to cash in on their pending UFAs.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canadiens aren’t likely to move Evans right now. It’s more likely a trade-deadline move if he proves too costly to re-sign.