In today’s NHL Rumor Mill: The latest on Blue Jackets defenseman Ivan Provorov, Bruins blueliner Nikita Zadorov, Flyers center Morgan Frost, and more.
RUMOR TIDBITS FROM THE LATEST “INSIDER TRADING” AND “32 THOUGHTS”
TSN: Pierre LeBrun believes Ivan Provorov will be the top rental defenseman leading up to the March 7 trade deadline. The 27-year-old Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman is slated to become an unrestricted free agent next summer.
Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Ivan Provorov (NHL Images).
Teams are calling the Blue Jackets about Provorov but they’re not ready to move him yet. They want to give their club as much time as possible to be competitive this year. Nevertheless, LeBrun doesn’t see them as a playoff contender, suggesting it’s only a matter of time until they move Provorov.
LeBrun anticipates the asking price will be a first-round pick. He pointed out that blueliners Noah Hanifin and Sean Walker fetched first-rounders when they were traded before last season’s deadline.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Provorov never played up to expectations as a top-pairing left-shot defenseman. Nevertheless, he’s been a reliable 30-plus point producer who can log 20-25 minutes per game. He’ll be very enticing to playoff contenders looking for blueline depth by the deadline.
SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman wondered if the Vancouver Canucks might try to reacquire Nikita Zadorov. He signed with the Boston Bruins as a free agent in July. Friedman believes he was a good fit in Vancouver and the Canucks miss him.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Friedman is just musing out loud. He isn’t saying the Canucks want to bring back Zadorov or that the Bruins want to move him, though some of their fans have probably had second thoughts about signing him.
Contenders are scouting for forwards who play “with an edge”. That includes the Bruins’ Trent Frederic, who is slated to become a UFA next July. Friedman also said there was some talk about Morgan Geekie, but speculates that may have been when he was out of the lineup.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Geekie can become a restricted free agent with arbitration rights this summer. The Bruins will likely retain him, especially if Frederic departs next summer.
Friedman suggests Philadelphia Flyers center Morgan Frost might be a good fit with the Chicago Blackhawks, who need depth at the center position. The 25-year-old isn’t complaining but he’s been a healthy scratch in four of the Flyers’ last five games.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Athletic’s Kevin Kurz recently speculated whether Frost had a future with the Flyers, suggesting they seem headed for a breakup. However, Daily Faceoff’s Anthony Di Marco claims they’re not giving up on the center despite his early-season struggles.
The Blackhawks aren’t the only club looking for centers. The Nashville Predators are also in the market. Friedman anticipates the Toronto Maple Leafs will be among the clubs that eventually wade into the market.
Yanni Gourde’s production and ice time are down this season but the Seattle Kraken still love him. There is no indication they want to move the pending UFA forward.