Welcome to a Thursday edition of NHL Rumours. Brock Boeser rumours have been heating up, now we have some concrete teams that could be in the mix. We may have a better idea of where Joonas Korpisalo may end up. We also investigate which defencemen could be a fit for the Calgary Flames. Let’s dive in!
NHL Rumours
Vancouver Canucks
Rumour: According to Sportsnet’s Jeff Marek, the Los Angeles Kings and Washington Capitals make sense for the Vancouver Canucks’ Brock Boeser.
Marek on SN says Brock Boeser will likely go to a team that does not only need goals, help on their PP but that can absorb a QO of $7.4M. Marek throws out the #ALLCAPS & #GoKingsGo as perhaps potential suitors. He wonders if there is a VAN/LA marriage on the horizon.
— NHL Watcher (@NHL_Watcher) March 10, 2022
Analysis: Brock Boeser trade speculation is increasing over the past few days. Frank Seravalli reported that it was 50/50 whether Boeser gets traded while Chris Johnston reported that he is the most likely Canuck to be moved. It is valuable to see where he can go with that in mind. Jeff Marek highlights the Los Angeles Kings and Washington Capitals as two teams in need of power-play goals and can take on his $7.4 million qualifying offer next season.
Los Angeles makes a lot of sense. They’re a team with excellent possession numbers but are 19th in goals for and 28th on the power play. Grabbing a goal scorer in Brock Boeser makes a lot of sense for them. They also have the money to squeeze him in. According to Elliotte Freidman and Jeff Marek on the latest 32 Thoughts the Podcast, Vancouver wants a young defenceman in return. Los Angeles has lots of options like Tobias Bjornfot, Sean Durzi, Helge Grans and Brock Faber.
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The Washington Capitals are ninth in goals, so scoring isn’t their problem. But they are 26th in power-play percentage, so they could use some help there. Washington doesn’t have the cap space or the young defenceman Vancouver is looking for, so that could hinder a deal.
Columbus Blue Jackets
Rumour: Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli writes about Joonas Korpisalo, saying “it wouldn’t be surprising to see a non-playoff team step up to get him prior to the deadline to get ahead of the market.”
Analysis: Seravalli’s comment about a non-playoff team going after Korpisalo narrows down the list of contenders to the Edmonton Oilers, New Jersey Devils, Seattle Kraken and Arizona Coyotes. The New Jersey Devils make the most sense. With Jonathan Bernier and Mackenzie Blackwood out, they need another goaltender to insulate Nico Daws. There may be a fit longer-term in New Jersey as someone to challenge Blackwood who has been struggling for the past two years. The Edmonton Oilers may also go after Korpisalo, but his 0.877 save percentage is not an upgrade to what the Oilers already have. But a fresh start can also work.
Calgary Flames
Rumour: On Boomer in the Morning on Spornetsnet 960 radio, Frank Seravalli said this about the Flames, “at the end of the day, they would like to get a defenceman they can use in case of an emergency.”
Analysis: Seravalli highlighted that the Flames don’t want to pay a big price or take in someone with a big cap hit so they don’t have to move anybody out. They’re looking for a defenceman they can use to play decent minutes if someone gets hurt. Players that fit that criteria include Jacob Middleton of the San Jose Sharks and Mark Pysyk of the Buffalo Sabres are two potential fits. They both play 18 minutes a night and are more defensive than offensive defencemen. They both have Corsi For percentages in the low 40s but that hasn’t scared the Flames finding success with defencemen with previously bad possession metrics like Erik Gudbranson. Middleton is a left-shot while Pysyk is a right-shot.
Thanks for reading NHL Rumours, please look tomorrow for another article.
