Which notable stars could still get traded this summer? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
NHL NETWORK: Jamie Hersch and Stu Grimson recently looked at several notable NHL stars who could still be traded this summer.
Starting with Mitch Marner, the 27-year-old winger is slated to become an unrestricted free agent next summer unless he and the Toronto Maple Leafs negotiate a contract extension. Grimson believes the Leafs need more grit among their top-six forwards to compete for the Stanley Cup.
Toronto Maple Leafs winger Mitch Marner (NHL Images).
Grimson doesn’t blame Marner for the Leafs’ ongoing Cup drought but he believes management covets forwards who play a gritty style like Florida’s Matthew Tkachuk and Sam Bennett. Marner could fetch the type of return that helps them get over the hump.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Marner’s no-movement clause gives him complete control over this situation. If he were to agree to be moved (and that’s a big “if”), it won’t happen until close to the March trade deadline when most of his $10.9 million cap hit for this season has been paid by the Leafs. It also depends on where they are in the standings by then.
Turning to Leon Draisaitl, the Edmonton Oilers center will also become a UFA next July unless he signs an extension before then.
Grimson doesn’t see the Oilers trading Draisaitl, pointing out that the Oilers have an open window for winning the Stanley Cup. He points out the 28-year-old center is a robust complement to team captain Connor McDavid who can also carry the offensive load on the rare occasions when McDavid isn’t scoring.
It’ll take some salary-cap creativity to keep Draisaitl and McDavid together in Edmonton. Nevertheless, Grimson doesn’t expect Draisaitl will be traded.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Oilers have made re-signing Draisaitl the priority and could pay top dollar to keep him in Edmonton. The only question is how long his next deal will be. Some observers believe he’ll want the maximum eight-year contract while others think he could opt for a shorter deal to give him another shot at the UFA market while he’s still in his prime.
Grimson believes there’s a really solid possibility that the Anaheim Ducks could trade Trevor Zegras. He praised the 23-year-old forward’s offensive upside but felt he must improve his defensive play. Grimson also pointed out that Ducks GM Pat Verbeek inherited Zegras when he took over the job. He felt the youngster could be traded for a robust return.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Zegras surfaced in the rumor mill in January after the Ducks shipped defenseman Jamie Drysdale to the Philadelphia Flyers for promising winger Cutter Gauthier. His name was frequently mentioned in media trade chatter though Verbeek denied having trade talks involving Zegras following the March trade deadline.
We can’t rule anything out but if Zegras was going to be traded it would’ve happened weeks ago, possibly during the draft week. Teams may have expressed interest but Verbeek isn’t going to give him away.
Zegras’ future in Anaheim will depend on his performance this season. Verbeek will hang onto him if he breaks out as a franchise player. If he plays well offensively but his defense game is poor, the Ducks GM could consider moving him before the March trade deadline or next summer.
Turning to New York Rangers captain Jacob Trouba, Grimson is a fan of the 30-year-old defenseman, praising his physical style and leadership. He doesn’t see the blueliner moving given his value to the identity of the club. Hersch and Grimson cited how close the Rangers came to reaching the Stanley Cup Final last season and doubt they want to mess with their chemistry.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Rangers tried to move Trouba before July 1 to the Detroit Red Wings. to free up his $8 million cap hit and put the savings toward adding depth via free agency. His no-movement clause became a 15-team no-trade list on July 1. Management asked for his list several days ahead of time but Trouba handed it in on July 1.
Any benefit gained in the free-agent market by trading Trouba has passed with all the top UFAs signed away a month ago. They’ve reportedly decided not to move him this season. Management could revisit their attempt to peddle him to Detroit or elsewhere next summer.
WINNIPEG SUN’s Scott Billeck took to social media on Friday reporting there is no truth to an ongoing rumor claiming the Jets offered Cole Perfetti to the Carolina Hurricanes for Martin Necas.
Billeck writes Carolina wanted Perfetti in a possible trade but the Jets didn’t want to move the young forward. Any deal involving Necas wasn’t going to happen because he wouldn’t sign a long-term contract with the Jets.