Are roster shake-ups coming for the Rangers and Senators? What’s the latest Oilers speculation? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
COULD THE RANGERS TRADE TROUBA OR KREIDER?
SPORTSNET’s Elliotte Friedman took to “X” yesterday reporting the New York Rangers have made it clear they’re interested in “making moves and shaking up their roster.” This decision came following their 6-2 loss to the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday.
New York Rangers captain Jacob Trouba (NHL Images).
Friedman indicated that team captain Jacob Trouba and veteran winger Chris Kreider are among the names being floated as available, “although other options will be considered.”
ESPN’s Emily Kaplan replied to Friedman’s report, indicating she followed up with calls to people associated with the Rangers. Despite their .658 win percentage, the names being mentioned lead everyone to believe that none of the Rangers should feel complacent right now.
Friedman discussed the situation during an appearance on The FAN Hockey Show on Monday afternoon. He observed that Kreider lacks full no-move protection and suggested he would draw interest in the trade market.
However, Friedman said he and others are trying to determine whether the Rangers are serious about moving Kreider or just trying to shake up the room by threatening to trade the long-time Blueshirt.
Kreider, 33, is signed through 2026-27 with an average annual value of $6.5 million and a 15-team no-trade list.
NEW YORK POST: Mollie Walker reports Rangers president and general manager Chris Drury sent a memo to all 31 of his NHL counterparts announcing his club was open for business, “specifically citing multiple players as available, not merely their longest-tenured player, Chris Kreider, and captain, Jacob Trouba.”
Larry Brooks believes it’s time to blow up this version of the Rangers, dismissing the idea of another coaching change. “This core does not get to fire another coach. They have not earned that right,” he wrote.
Brooks noted that Trouba can be traded, suggesting he be suspended and removed from the Rangers’ salary cap if he refuses to go. The 30-year-old captain is signed through next season with an AAV of $8 million. He has a 15-team no-trade list for this season. During the offseason, Trouba spiked a deal that would’ve sent him to the Detroit Red Wings.
Moving Kreider would be a shockwave through the organization. However, he might yield a bounty in return.
THE ATHLETIC: Arthur Staple reports Rangers management is pleased with the performance of young players like Alexis Lafreniere, Will Cuylle, Braden Schneider and Zac Jones. He also noted that Kaapo Kakko and Filip Chytil are playing well this season, though Chytil missed his fifth straight game on Monday with an upper-body injury.
The veteran core (except for goalies Igor Shesterkin and Jonathan Quick and leading scorer Artemi Panarin) aren’t performing to expectations. However, there’s little Drury can do about them because most have long-term deals, no-trade clauses, or no-movement clauses.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Moving Kreider or Trouba right now could be difficult. Their cap hits are difficult for interested parties to absorb, especially with a lot of teams carrying limited cap room at this point in the season. Their 15-team no-trade lists are an additional complication.
That’s not to say it’s impossible. Perhaps a deal could be worked out involving one or both, or whoever else Rangers management might consider peddling. It just won’t be easy to find suitable trade partners with the cap room and the wealth of tradeable assets.
COULD THE SENATORS SHAKE THINGS UP?
RG.ORG: James Murphy cited a source suggesting the Ottawa Senators could consider a shake-up trade. The club remains mired in mediocrity despite management and coaching changes since last year.
Murphy believes the Senators are running out of options without making a franchise-altering move. Goaltending was assumed to be the issue they believed was rectified by acquiring Linus Ullmark.
Former Senators defenseman turned podcast host Marc Methot hinted at this last week, suggesting a core player could be moved if things don’t improve soon. Murphy claimed there were rumors captain Brady Tkachuk could be a trade candidate but his source said he hadn’t heard specific names, just that anything is in play.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Ottawa Sun’s Bruce Garrioch reported last week that the Senators had to do something or risk another lost season, citing sources claiming GM Steve Staios was shopping around to find upgrades for his roster.
Garrioch dismissed the notion of Tkachuk or long-time defenseman Thomas Chabot hitting the trade block. It’s unlikely that scoring leader Tim Stutzle or top defenseman Jake Sanderson will be moved. Garrioch cited a source suggesting Josh Norris as a trade candidate.
One move the Senators could make is for a defenseman. Garrioch reported they’re aggressively looking to add to their blueline after Artem Zub broke his foot blocking a shot during Saturday’s game against the Vancouver Canucks. Zub is expected to be sidelined for a while.
LATEST OILERS SPECULATION
EDMONTON JOURNAL: Kurt Leavins noted Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic reported last week that Anaheim Ducks goaltender John Gibson could waive his no-trade clause for the Oilers. However, Leavins is skeptical that Gibson would be an improvement over Oilers starter Stuart Skinner and not at his $6.4 million cap hit. Even if the Ducks agreed to retain half, Gibson would still be difficult to fit within the Oilers’ limited cap space.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Agreed.
Leavins also noted recent speculation linking the Oilers to Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman David Jiricek. He noted Jiricek projects as a better, more physical defender than the departed Philip Broberg, possessing a better shot and with plenty of room for development. However, he also pointed out that Jiricek wasn’t as good a skater as Broberg.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Some observers don’t see Jiricek as a fit with the Oilers because they lack the depth in tradeable assets to tempt the Blue Jackets.