The latest on Elias Pettersson and J.T. Miller, proposed trade targets for the Leafs, updates on the Rangers, and more in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
UPDATES ON PETTERSSON AND MILLER
TSN: Chris Johnston reports sources claim the Vancouver Canucks remain active in trade discussions with rival clubs regarding center Elias Pettersson and J.T. Miller. Management is gauging the trade market on both players before determining a course of action.
Johnston believes the Canucks are giving serious consideration toward moving Pettersson. Multiple teams have shown interest in the 26-year-old center. The Canucks and Hurricanes had discussions about Pettersson last season.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Those talks between the Canucks and Hurricanes took place before Pettersson signed his eight-year contract extension.
SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman also reports the Canucks are gauging the market value of Pettersson and Miller, stressing there is no certain outcome.
New York Rangers center Mika Zibanejad (NHL Images).
Friedman cited The Athletic’s Josh Yohe reporting the Canucks turned down an offer of Zibanejad from the Rangers for Miller, but doesn’t know if Zibanejad was approached about waiving his no-movement clause. Friedman also believes the Canucks were interested in defenseman Braden Schneider but the Rangers don’t want to part with him.
RG.ORG: Marco D’Amico reports an NHL executive claims the Boston Bruins are talking to the Canucks about Pettersson and Miller. The source indicated the Bruins want to get younger, which suggested they’re more interested in Pettersson, but it’s not about who they want but which center the Canucks intend to move.
Another source told D’Amico that the Canucks would want a top-six center or a top-four defenseman and a top prospect or a first-round pick in return.
THE PROVINCE: Ben Kuzma weighed in on the recent trade speculation about Pettersson and Miller. General manager Patrik Allvin could trade one or the other or both, but either scenario would be a difficult sell to Canucks ownership. Miller would also have to waive his NMC.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Talking to other teams is one thing. Finding a suitable return is another. Pettersson’s expensive contract ($11.6 million annually for seven more seasons) and Miller’s no-movement protection could complicate things.
The Leafs and Bruins would love to have Pettersson or Miller. However, they lack the cap space and tradeable assets to pry either guy away from the Canucks. The Hurricanes have players that would entice the Canucks (hello there, Martin Necas and Seth Jarvis) but they’re also hampered by limited cap room this season.
The Zibanejad-for-Miller proposal works cap-wise because the former carries an average annual value of $8.5 million and the latter $8 million. However, their respective no-movement clauses are obstacles that could be too difficult to overcome.
PROPOSED CENTER TRADE TARGETS FOR THE LEAFS
TSN: Darren Dreger doesn’t believe the Toronto Maple Leafs are involved in the Pettersson trade talks. He considers Pettersson, Miller, Mika Zibanejad of the New York Rangers and Dylan Cozens of the Buffalo Sabres in the “high-rent district”. He also noted a lot of teams are interested in New York Islanders center Brock Nelson.
The Leafs are believed to have identified a more diverse group of centers to target in the trade market. Dreger suggested Ryan Strome of the Anaheim Ducks, Mikael Granlund of the San Jose Sharks, Yanni Gourde of the Seattle Kraken, and Nick Bjugstad of the Utah Hockey Club.
Dreger also wondered about bringing back Ryan O’Reilly of the Nashville Predators. He noted Scott Laughton is also out there but the Philadelphia Flyers seek a first-round pick in return.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Diverse is another way of saying “affordable”. The Leafs must go bargain-hunting to add a center unless they’re looking at a dollar-in, dollar-out scenario. That’s assuming they don’t put Auston Matthews on LTIR before the March 7 trade deadline if he becomes sidelined again by his nagging upper-body injury.
O’Reilly lacks no-trade protection, but the 33-year-old has two more years left on his contract, with an AAV of $4.5 million. He turns 34 in February, and his best seasons are behind him.
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman believes the Leafs want a center with term remaining on his contract. “Might not be what ends up happening, but it’s what they prefer,” he writes.
“32 THOUGHTS” RUMOR TIDBITS
SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman reported the following in his latest “32 Thoughts” column:
He believes the Detroit Red Wings were (are?) looking at Buffalo Sabres center Dylan Cozens.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Line forms to the left, Red Wings. Lots of teams have looked (or are looking) at Cozens. However, the Sabres are trying to add to their roster instead of subtracting. That doesn’t mean he won’t be traded but they’ll probably want a good player in return instead of draft picks and prospects. That offer has yet to emerge.
The New York Rangers gave unhappy defenseman Zac Jones permission to speak with other teams. There’s interest but teams with a smallish blueline are unlikely destinations.
Vincent Trocheck is the most coveted Ranger in the trade market but they’re not interested in moving him. Friedman believes he could become their next captain.
The Pittsburgh Penguins have indicated they have forwards, defensemen and goaltenders available. They’re willing to use their cap space to retain salary provided they get young players, prospects and draft picks in return.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Athletic’s Josh Yohe reports Penguins GM Kyle Dubas doesn’t feel any extreme desire to trade Rickard Rakell. They love how he and Bryan Rust are playing as they give the Penguins a couple of wingers worthy of playing alongside Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin.
Yohe claims the Canucks and Edmonton Oilers are interested in Marcus Pettersson. The 28-year-old defenseman is UFA-eligible on July 1. Given his expiring contract, Yohe will be surprised if Pettersson isn’t moved by the March 7 trade deadline.