Welcome back to the Tuesday edition of NHL Rumours. The regular season is winding down as there are only a few weeks left to go. Even with the Stanley Cup Playoffs on the horizon, that does not stop the rumours from happening. Last Word on Hockey will bring you the best news and analysis as we move from the regular season into the postseason. Today’s NHL Rumours feature the Montreal Canadiens, New York Islanders, and Vancouver Canucks.
NHL Rumours
Montreal Canadiens
Rumour: According to TSN’s Pierre LeBrun Montreal Canadiens general managers Marc Bergevin will begin to talk with Cole Caufield about his plans for the future now that the Wisconsin Badgers season is over.
Plan is for Habs GM Marc Bergevin to speak with Caufield over the next week or so to chat about future plans https://t.co/sES7Vo4b4g
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) March 9, 2020
Analysis: Caufield was a highly touted prospect coming out of the U.S. National Developmental Program. It was a real shock to everyone that Caufield fell to the Canadiens at 15 during the 2019 NHL Draft. Now all eyes are on him and Bergevin. Even before being drafted, Caufield committed to play college hockey for Wisconsin. He excelled with Wisconsin, scoring 36 points (19 goals and 17 assists) in 33 games this season. Imagine what another season will do for his development. If the Canadiens see Caufield as one of the cornerstone pieces of the future another year in college is the way to go.
He still has a couple of years left of eligibility left in college. But if Caufield has done all he can do with Wisconsin, the next step for Caufield in his development is the AHL. While the team has no plans on rushing Caufield along, Bergevin has shown lately that once a prospect shows readiness to play in the NHL he brings them up. If Caufield does sign his entry-level deal, it makes sense for him to play with Laval with a player like Ryan Poehling. He is an extremely gifted forward that needs to put on size and learn the NHL game. What better place to do than the AHL with the other top prospects the Canadiens selected.
New York Islanders
Rumour: Andrew Gross of Newsday came out with a report on Saturday that if the New York Islanders missing the playoffs will disastrous on multiple levels.
Analysis: As Gross points out in his article, if the Islanders miss the playoffs, not only did they let an opportunity slip away, but did not address the most glaring need coming into this season: goal scoring. Even though general manager Lou Lamoriello went hard after Artemi Panarin in the off-season, he did not sign with the Islanders. While the Islanders were still having a good season, they have been struggling as of late. The team acquired Jean-Gabriel Pageau at the trade deadline to help with scoring. However, their slide is continuing. If they do not make the playoffs, Lamoriello will have given up a lot for a player that was going to be a third-line centre at best on this team.
Not having goal scoring was the downfall for the Islanders last season. Considering head coach Barry Trotz addressed this in his final press conference of the season. With Taylor Hall an unrestricted free agent this season, the Islanders need to take a run at bringing him in. Given the team is moving to Belmont Park after next season, having a big name on their team will help them draw. Not only that the Islanders need to get younger. If the Islanders can get one of their first-round picks in Oliver Wahlstrom, Kieffer Bellows and Simon Holmstrom to develop into full-time NHLers that will help with the Islanders scoring problem.
Vancouver Canucks
Rumour: Ian MacIntyre of Sportsnet writes that while the trade that brought Tyler Toffoli to the Vancouver Canucks is paying off on the ice, it has not translated into more wins.
Analysis: Toffoli has been everything the Canucks have asked for and so much more. He has eight points in eight games since being traded to the Canucks from the Los Angeles Kings. However, having a record of 3-4-1, the Canucks feel they need to make the playoffs or at least re-sign Toffoli to make the trade worthwhile. Not to mention all they gave up to get him in a Canucks uniform. Vancouver is trying to make the playoffs without Brock Boeser in the lineup. Not to mention they are missing their starting goalie in Jacob Markstrom. The Canucks are barely holding on in a tough Western Conference.
Toffoli is talking like a man who has been there before. Having won a Stanley Cup in Los Angeles, he knows personal achievement does not mean anything if the team does not have success. He also is not focusing on his next contract. While the Canucks have priorities in Markstrom and Chris Tanev, Toffoli is out there showing he wants to stay with the Canucks. He will do everything in his power to do that and help his new team make the playoffs. It will make it easier on Toffoli and the team if the Canucks make the playoffs.
That does it for the Tuesday edition of NHL Rumours.
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