Bo Horvat is a scorching commodity forward of the NHL commerce deadline. (Photo by Darcy Finley/NHLI through Getty Images)
The March 3 NHL commerce deadline is drawing ever nearer and a few massive names are already being floated as potential commerce chips as groups look to pave the best way to their rebuild or tweak their rosters with a Stanley Cup run in thoughts.
Here are the most recent rumors, rumblings and experiences from across the league.
Bruins honing in on Horvat
Vancouver Canucks captain Bo Horvat is a scorching commodity forward of the commerce deadline, and it is simple to grasp why. The 27-year-old has 30 targets and 48 factors by means of 43 video games this season and is on tempo to shatter his earlier profession highs in these departments.
Horvat is within the remaining season of a six-year contract that carries a $5.5 million AAV. With contract talks between him and the Canucks reportedly stalled, contending groups searching for a lift to their prime six are licking their chops.
The Boston Bruins are on the forefront of these commerce discussions, in line with Boston Hockey Now’s Jimmy Murphy, because the membership is “selecting up” talks with Vancouver. Murphy says the Colorado Avalanche, Detroit Red Wings, Carolina Hurricanes, and Seattle Kraken even have their eye on the Canucks ahead.
Boston would cement its standing as Stanley Cup favorites have been it so as to add Horvat, because the Bruins presently personal the NHL’s finest document and sit away from the second-place staff by 10 factors. David Pastrnak, Patrice Bergeron, and David Krejci are all pending unrestricted free brokers this summer season, so the time is now for the Bruins to go all in.
Oilers, Senators expressing curiosity in Matt Dumba
The Wild blueliner’s identify appears to floor in commerce rumors nearly yearly, and this one isn’t any completely different, with TSN hockey insider Darren Dreger reporting that each Edmonton and Ottawa, amongst others, have expressed curiosity in buying Matt Dumba from Minnesota.
“When I consider a staff which will have a defenseman accessible, I consider Matt Dumba and the Minnesota Wild. There’s no query that the Edmonton Oilers and Ottawa Senators have reached out and do have curiosity in Dumba,” Dreger stated on Tuesday’s version of “Insider Trading” on TSN.
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“Why would not you? He’s 28 years previous, he is a right-shot defenseman and he is a pending unrestricted free agent.”
Dumba, after all, is an integral a part of the Wild’s protection corps, taking part in heavy minutes on a nightly foundation alongside Jonas Brodin on Minnesota’s second pair. As Dreger famous, Minnesota’s latest surge may complicate issues a bit.
“The downside from the Wild’s standpoint is that they want him. They’re taking part in fairly effectively proper now. They’re undecided simply but they’re prepared to maneuver on from Matt Dumba, despite the fact that you look into the long run and also you see the cap difficulty of the Minnesota Wild … But the value could be excessive after which the Wild must hit the market probably to seek out somebody to switch Matt Dumba.”
In the ultimate season of a five-year deal value a cap hit of $6 million, Dumba has 4 targets and 11 factors in 40 video games this season after posting seven targets and 27 factors in 57 video games in 2021-22.
Teams calling on Erik Karlsson regardless of large cap hit
Currently sitting seventh within the NHL factors race with 55 (13 targets and 42 assists), Karlsson additionally sits 9 factors forward of Josh Morrissey for the lead amongst defensemen.
His out-of-nowhere resurgence as a top-flight offensive blueliner reportedly has some groups attempting to determine how they will swing a deal regardless of the 32-year-old boasting the fourth-highest cap hit within the NHL this season.
“Karlsson has continued to have a torrid season and what’s occurred subsequently – we are able to affirm that groups have engaged with the San Jose Sharks about what a commerce may seem like,” TSN’s Pierre LeBrun stated on Tuesday.
“I nonetheless assume it’s extra possible this waits till the offseason, if in any respect. Karlsson has a full no-move… however the noteworthy facet right here is that groups have known as and have talked to San Jose about Erik Karlsson.”
Karlsson carries a cap hit of $11.5 million by means of the 2026-27 season. The Sharks, in the meantime, are prone to miss the postseason for the fourth straight 12 months, sitting second-last within the Pacific Division with a document of 13-21-8 as of this writing.
Canucks will attempt to re-sign Andrei Kuzmenko as commerce curiosity grows
The Vancouver Canucks will try to re-sign surging ahead Andrei Kuzmenko earlier than buying and selling him amid curiosity from groups throughout the league, LeBrun reported on Tuesday.
The staff is “anticipated to open contract talks quickly with Kuzmenko,” in line with LeBrun, including the 26-year-old may very well be staring down a bridge contract value north of $6 million per season.
“There haven’t been any contract negotiations, though the expectation is that ought to occur throughout the month right here. But what’s fascinating, after all, is that groups are calling,” LeBrun stated Tuesday on TSN’s “Insider Trading.”
“Why wouldn’t they be? He’s obtained an inexpensive cap hit. Teams which might be going for it, which might be a contender, have nearly no cap room – he would match the invoice each by way of what he can do offensively and the very fact he doesn’t take up loads of room on the cap.
“But for now, the Canucks aren’t even positive they need to transfer him. They need to try to see if they will signal him. I believe the value begins at at the least $6 million per 12 months on a bridge deal for Kuzmenko to remain in Vancouver, the place, by all accounts, he’s fairly pleased.”
Kuzmenko, who joined the Canucks final summer season after eight campaigns within the KHL, boasts a cap hit of solely $950K for the rest of 2022-23 and sits tied for third on the staff in scoring this season with 17 targets and 35 factors in 39 video games.
The Canucks dropped to 17-20-3 on the season — eight factors again of a playoff spot — after Tuesday’s loss to the Penguins.
Jets may make a play for Flyers defenseman Ivan Provorov
On a latest episode of the “32 Thoughts” Podcast, Sportsnet insider Elliotte Friedman stated he believes Flyers defenseman Ivan Provorov might be moved forward of the deadline, including that he believes there’s been a dialog between participant and staff about each side transferring on.
Co-host Jeff Marek and Friedman floated the Vegas Golden Knights as a potential suitor for Provorov due to GM Kelly McCrimmon’s historical past with the Russian blueliner, however Vegas’s cap scenario would make {that a} robust match.
Marek and Friedman additionally threw the Winnipeg Jets’ identify into the ring, noting that head coach Rick Bowness performed a component in growing star defensemen Victor Hedman, Miro Heiskanen and Josh Morrissey.
Provorov is signed at $6.75 million per season by means of 2024-25.
Oilers GM Ken Holland feeling the warmth forward of deadline
With the Oilers trudging by means of a prolonged stretch of underwhelming play whereas barely hanging on to the ultimate wild-card spot within the West, the Oilers are liable to losing arguably the perfect season of Connor McDavid’s profession if issues do not flip round shortly.
Edmonton’s largest points (amongst many) have been on protection, so the Oilers are, unsurprisingly, making calls to see what might be carried out to shore up that blue line.
“I don’t assume Ken Holland is able to panic, however our understanding of the scenario is that Ken Holland has been on the cellphone a little bit extra of late than normal and he’s absolutely investigating what’s on the market on the defenseman commerce market,” LeBrun stated on Tuesday.
“I believe Ken Holland is keen to be affected person, doesn’t need to make a panic transfer. The different factor is that they aren’t one commerce away from fixing every part in Edmonton. I believe the message internally is: ‘We have to play higher.’ There’s no query that’s been heard,” LeBrun added
The Oilers are presently fifth within the Pacific with a 21-18-3 document as of this writing, whereas McDavid is the clear entrance runner for the Hart Trophy regardless of his staff’s struggles.
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