Welcome back to LastWordOnHockey where every day we look at NHL Rumours from around the league. There are teams dealing with injuries, looking to improve on slow starts, and more. Today, we look at NHL Rumours from the Toronto Maple Leafs, Detroit Red Wings, and St. Louis Blues.
NHL Rumours
Toronto Maple Leafs
Rumour: Toronto Sun’s Micheal Traikos said that the Winnipeg Jets assistant GM was scouting the Leafs game the other night. He mentions that with Travis Dermott coming back soon the Leafs may look to trade someone like Cody Ceci to get some cap room.
Analysis: We know that the Jets need defence. Their season has gotten off to a rough start and it hasn’t gotten better off-ice wise. However, the Leafs may or may not be interested in moving Ceci. He is a polarizing figure with some fans already starting to sour on him in Toronto. However, Dermott needs to get healthy and even then the Leafs have Cup aspirations. In their eyes, they may see having Cody Ceci as more important than the cap space.
Ceci is off of the books regardless come this offseason so it won’t affect anything past this year. However, the Leafs don’t have much room to make a big move at the deadline if they so desire. It seems unlikely that would be the case anyway as they have acquired Jake Muzzin and Tyson Barrie in the past year. You never know, though. If the Leafs feel the right move is out there they would make it. For now, it is something to just watch closely. Expect Ceci to be in the lineup for the foreseeable future. If his name keeps popping up, we will have it in NHL Rumours.
Detroit Red Wings
Rumour: According to Elliotte Friedman in 31 Thoughts, the Red Wings have a trio of UFA defencemen that could be targeted for trade if wanted. Those names were Trevor Daley, Jonathan Ericsson, and Mike Green.
31 Thoughts: https://t.co/zJdrbJV6zO
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) October 8, 2019
Analysis: The Wings have some talent on their roster but may be in for a rebuilding year. However, part of rebuilding is turning the page over to the younger players. With the emergence of a player like Filip Hronek, it may make an older UFA expendable.
None of these guys would fetch a massive return but when you are rebuilding or retooling every pick matters. Daley would provide any team with some solid playoff depth and experience. He has done it before and been to the Cup Finals twice. He won in both 2016 and 2017. That kind of experience entices teams, especially ones with younger overall cores who could use some leadership. Daley is currently on the injured reserve so getting him healthy will be a priority for Detroit.
As for Green, injuries have really hurt him. A former power play quarterback, he just isn’t what he used to be. However, he still had 26 points in 43 games last season. Health is the biggest issue. If he can stay healthy there will likely be some kind of market for a defenceman who puts up points.
For Ericsson, he also joins Daley on the IR. Ericsson makes $4.25 million so it may be that the Wings will have to retain salary if he is traded. For just one year that is very possible for a team like Detroit and may be able to actually bring up the value of the asset. For now, look for Ericsson and Daley to get healthy before any massive NHL Rumours about them peak.
St. Louis Blues
Rumour: TSN’s Pierre LeBrun mentioned on insider trading that when he talked to Blues GM Doug Armstrong, he mentioned that the Blues look to build their roster like the Boston Bruins. This meaning everyone gets paid, but not what they would on the open market. LeBrun said, “I think what he’s saying is there is a very nice contract there waiting for Alex Pietrangelo at some point, but I don’t think it’s with the same amount he can make on the open market.”
Analysis: The Blues have taken this approach with both Justin Faulk and Brayden Schenn. Both of their contracts are long in the term but also carry a lower cap hit then what they could have got on the open market. The Blues have made it clear one Stanley Cup is not good enough and that they want more. Keeping their captain in Pietrangelo would be a massive part of this.
One thing seems clear, this Blues roster is the same as last season so even if a deal isn’t worked out through the year the captain will likely be here come playoff time. You never want to lose a player with such value for nothing but sometimes you just need to go for it. That’s what the Blues did last season, despite being in dead last halfway through the year and it paid off in spades. As the season progresses we will keep an eye on the contract talks.
That’s all for NHL Rumours! Tune in again tomorrow for more.
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