The NHL is entering its busiest part of the off-season. The NHL Draft and free agent frenzy are right around the corner and it keeps the rumour mill churning. The expansion draft has added a new layer to the normal NHL off-season craziness, with the Vegas Golden Knights wheeling and dealing. The following are some of the rumours and transactions circulating throughout the league, including the Jordan Eberle trade, the latest on Alex Galchenyuk, Alexander Radulov and more.
NHL Rumours: Alex Galchenyuk, Jordan Eberle, Alexander Radulov and more
The Vegas Golden Knights announced their expansion roster last night at the NHL awards show. They made several deals with teams to either select or pass on unprotected players. For a complete rundown of the Golden Knights selected roster and moves, click here.
With the expansion draft over, the trade freeze is now lifted and teams can begin to announce trades heading to the NHL draft on June 23rd. Teams are already getting busy!
Alex Galchenyuk
According to L.A. Lariviere, the Montreal Canadiens and Alex Galchenyuk are in contract negotiations. Galchenyuk’s agent, Pat Brison confirmed that he and the team are having discussions.
Je peux confirmer que les #Habs et Galchenyuk se parlent en vue d’un nouveau contrat. «Nous sommes en discussion», dit son agent P. Brisson.
— L.A. Lariviere (@L_A_theRiver) June 21, 2017
Bob McKenzie is reporting that Alex Galchenyuk is likely on the move however.
MTL obviously has to get busy. Need D or two, C or two, and it sure sounds like Galchenyuk is likely to be on the move at some point.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) June 22, 2017
The Islanders and Wild have been the teams most linked with Alex Galchenyuk, but now Pierre LeBrun reports the New Jersey Devils are also interested in the young forward.
Hearing that the Devils are among the teams that have inquired with Montreal about Alex Galchenyuk…
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) June 22, 2017
Jordan Eberle Traded to Islanders
The Edmonton Oilers have traded forward Jordan Eberle to the New York Islanders for forward Ryan Strome. The Islanders had been looking to add an offensive weapon before the roster freeze on June 19.
Petr Mrazek
The Detroit Red Wings decision to leave Petr Mrazek unprotected in the expansion draft indicates the team is ready to move on from the goalie. Ansar Khan of mlive.com reports the Wings are looking to move Mrazek. The Philadelphia Flyers and Arizona Coyotes are options according to Khan.
Alexander Radulov
TSN’s Darren Dreger reported on TSN 690 that the Canadiens and UFA Alexander Radulov are still far apart on signing a new deal. Dreger reports that Radulov’s asking price, in terms of salary and length, has not dropped.
My sense is the asking price and the term that’s expected from Radulov and his representation haven’t really changed a whole heck of a lot, it would make sense to me, on the outside anyway, that the Montreal Canadiens would have interest in a three or maybe a four year deal at maybe $5.5-6 million per year, but I’m told as of last night he wants more than that in both term and in money. I don’t see the fit at five or six years. I really don’t. And I don’t think that Marc Bergevin and the Montreal Canadiens do either.
Vegas still Dealing
Trevor van Riemsdyk
Bob McKenzie reported via twitter that the Vegas Golden Knights have deals in place and are ready to move on them now that the trade freeze is lifted. Defensemen Trevor van Riemsdyk is rumoured to be traded to the Carolina Hurricanes.
As of last night, tho, it sounded like VGK had at least a couple of deals in place and ready to go. Lots of talk of TVR to CAR. We shall see
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) June 22, 2017
The trade has been confirmed by tsn.ca
Colin Miller
McKenzie tweeted that Colin Miller to the Toronto Maple Leafs would make a lot of sense, but Miller does not seem to be on the teams radar, yet.
Miller to TOR may make all kinds of sense, and who knows, maybe it happens, but my understanding is it’s not been on their radar recently.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) June 22, 2017
Marcus Kruger
According to Bob McKenzie, the Marcus Kruger to Vegas trade scenario is still alive.
I keep hearing the Marcus Kruger from CHI to VGK scenario is alive and well, but some question on timing. So stay tuned on that one.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) June 22, 2017
Flipping Defence
Pierre LeBrun and Bob McKenzie both reported via twitter that the Golden Knights are exploring trade options for veteran defensemen Marc Methot, Alexei Emelin and David Schlemko.
So now we see who VGK flip over the next few days. TVR, Schlemko, Methot, Emelin, among those who could go.
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) June 22, 2017
Well the domino’s are starting of fall, as Vegas has traded David Schlemko to the Montreal Canadiens for a fifth round pick in the 2019 draft.
Canadiens in the Market for Defence
According to Pat Hickey of the Montreal Gazette, the Habs are actively shopping for a top four defensemen. The Habs were unsuccessful in acquiring Marco Scandella from the Wild before the trade freeze. The Habs may look to re-start these negotiations with the Wild now that the trade freeze has been lifted.
Bob McKenzie adds to this by saying the trade talks the Habs were having with Minnesota prior to the trade freeze led to the Jonathan Drouin trade with Tampa Bay. He feels the Wild are not too high on Alex Galchenyuk.
MTL had/has interest in Scandella, but when MIN/MTL/TB were talking last week that led to Drouin deal, didn’t sense MIN high on Galchenyuk.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) June 22, 2017
The Habs have already started making moves to upgrade their defence, acquiring David Schlemko from the Golden Knights today. Schlemko is not the top tier defender the Canadiens covet, but their blueline had become extremely thin. The team had traded away Nathan Beaulieu and Mikhail Sergachev leading up the expansion draft and then shaw Alexei Emelin was selected by Vegas.
Minnesota Wild to Move Defence
Michael Russo reports the Wild GM Chuck Fletcher is willing to move a defensemen before free agency opens up July 1st. Fletcher said he is willing to part with a defensemen to acquire immediate help to his roster or for picks and prospects that allow him flexibility to pursue free agents. Tampa Bay, Montreal, Toronto, Buffalo. Calgary and Dallas are all teams that have expressed interest in acquiring a top-four defensemen. Bob McKenzie tweets that Marco Scandella is the most likely to be dealt by the Wild. He says the team is not comfortable moving Mathew Dumba.
I also believe MIN is leery of moving Dumba this soon into his career, so perhaps Marco Scandella is most likely candidate to move.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) June 22, 2017
Dallas Stars
Bob McKenzie is reporting that the Dallas Stars are interested in moving their first round pick, third overall, to help with immediate needs.
DAL continues to be more focused on here and now, so there’s bound to be more talk of perhaps moving No. 3 overall pick in Friday’s draft.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) June 22, 2017
Arizona Coyotes
The Coyotes are another team believed to be very active leading up to the NHL draft and free agency, according to Bob McKenzie. Its believed that they were talking with the New York Rangers before the freeze. Derek Stepan continues to be a name the Coyotes are connected to.
ARI seems to be active on a number of fronts. Believed to be talking to NYR pre freeze, interested to see if that (Stepan?) picks up again.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) June 22, 2017
New York Islanders
The Islanders have already made a deal to acquire Jordan Eberle from Edmonton, but they might not be finished adding players. Bob McKenzie is reporting the Islanders are interested in Matt Duchene to help the offence. Alex Galchenyuk is another player that has been linked with the Islanders in recent weeks. TSN’s Darren Dreger reports that Travis Hamonic may still be dangled by the Islanders to acquire another offensive piece.
Would have to think NYI, invested as they are after expansion draft, also highly motivated to deal. Will be lots of Eberle/Duchene rumors.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) June 22, 2017
Calgary Flames
Pierre LeBrun is reporting that the Calgary Flames are in the market for a top-four defenceman. LeBrun believes the Flames are interested in the Islanders Travis Hamonic and the Golden Knights Marc Methot among others. The Flames are also looking into re-signing Michael Stone.
Flames on lookout for top-4 D… believe they’ve looked into Hamonic, Methot, among others; also still trying to re-sign M. Stone…
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) June 22, 2017
Boston Bruins
Jimmy Murphy reported on twitter the Boston Bruins are in the market for defence. Murphy thinks the Bruins will land a high end defenceman in the coming weeks.
Based on chatter I’m hearing, I think #NHLBruins land a high end d-man via trade. Question is, for what? Their 1st rd pk & ?? #NHLDraft
— Jimmy Murphy (@MurphysLaw74) June 22, 2017
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