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NHL Rumours: Montreal Canadiens, New York Rangers, Seattle Kraken

NHL Rumours

It’s time to start the work week with some NHL rumours. We’re exactly two weeks until the trade deadline on March 21. That means the NHL rumours are going to pick up plenty of steam. Teams are going to load up for a Stanley Cup charge or already planning for the future. Today’s NHL rumours focus on the Montreal Canadiens, New York Rangers and Seattle Kraken.

All rumours come from the original source and are subject to change.

NHL Rumours

Montreal Canadiens

Rumour: We go back to 32 Thoughts from Saturday and the Canadiens might deal Shea Weber‘s massive contract. This news comes from Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman on Hockey Night in Canada.

https://twitter.com/FriedgeHNIC/status/1500294930270408709

Analysis: There’s been plenty of chatter about defencemen like Ben Chiarot and Jeff Petry being on the move. However, Weber’s big-money deal may be out the door. The future Hall of Famer will likely not be able to play in the NHL again. His cap hit is $7.9 million per season, but the cash hit is $6 million.

Freidman states that a team that needs long-term injury room or help getting to the cap floor would be able to take on that contract. It would be a good move for a team that isn’t looking to spend a bunch of money in the next couple of years.

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The Arizona Coyotes have been known for taking on dead contracts like Chris Pronger, Pavel Datsyuk and others. Adding Weber to the collection would just be another favour to a team looking to jettison a contract. Arizona would also likely get some sort of sweetener in return.

New York Rangers

Rumour: TSN’s Darren Dreger on Insider Trading say the Rangers are targeting J.T. Miller and Rickard Rakell at the deadline.

Analysis: Dreger said that there have only been a few teams that have actually called on Miller. The Canucks also surging into a playoff fight may make them hesitant to make a deal. Miller has been a Ranger before, so it would be a homecoming for him. Vancouver also has another year on his contract, so it doesn’t have to decide on a trade right away.

Rakell is in the last year of nearly $3.8 million contract and could be a good rental. He’s a veteran winger that has post-season experience and could shore up the middle or bottom-six. The Ducks are still hanging in, but could be in a position to sell around the deadline.

General Manager Chris Drury also would like to add some defensive help. There’s some good young defensive talent on the Blueshirts, but it may not be ready for the wars of the playoffs. The Rangers are in the mix for Chiarot as well it seems. New York is in a good position to deal since it has some prospects that can be used as chips to deal.

Seattle Kraken

Rumour: ESPN’s Emily Kaplan said that it’s pretty certain Mark Giordano will be traded at the deadline.

Analysis: Girodano is the franchise’s first captain, but he’s a commodity at the deadline. He’s a former Norris Trophy winner and is a post-season veteran. Things haven’t gone according to plan for the Kraken, so they could be busy at the deadline.

The 38-year-old does technically have a 10-team no-trade list, but Girodano hasn’t submitted it. He feels that he’ll be sent to a contender as per his wishes to General Manager Ron Francis. Teams like the Rangers, Toronto Maple Leafs and others have expressed interest in the veteran according to Kaplan.

Seattle can retain up to 50-percent of his $6.75 million cap hit, which could entice more teams to take a run at the defender. The Kraken have plenty of salary cap flexibility and would stockpile more assets with some trades.

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