it’s time for another round of NHL rumours. We’re past the All-Star Break and getting near the trade deadline on March 8. General managers have already made some deals, but there’s still plenty to talk about. Some teams are going to try add some pieces while others might have to re-tool. Today’s NHL rumours is a Central Division-specific edition. We focus on the Winnipeg Jets and Minnesota Wild in this one.
All NHL rumours come from the original source and are subject to change.
NHL Rumours
Winnipeg Jets
Rumour: Winnipeg Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff was asked about a long-term contract extension for newly acquired forward Sean Monahan.
Analysis: The Jets had to pay a hefty price in a first-rounder and a conditional pick for Monahan. However, the move gets the Jets a strong trio of centres down the middle. Monahan, Mark Scheifele and team captain Adam Lowry. Winnipeg knows its going to need depth in order to make a sustained Stanley Cup Playoff charge.
Monahan has done a good job rebounding with the Montreal Canadiens and is likely to get a nice payday. He currently makes an affordable $1.985 million this season. However, he’s probably going to get a nice bump in pay if he continues to play well. Extensions for Connor Hellebuyck and Scheifele kick in next year and the team will want to sign deals for restricted free agent Cole Perfetti and unrestricted free agents Dylan DeMelo and Brenden Dillon.
Winnipeg seems to be going for it this season, but there’s going to be a morning after when the season ends. Cheveldayoff said that he hasn’t had an extension discussion with Monahan. However, that could happen at any time. The Jets have success could lead both sides to discuss a long-term extension down the road. Monahan has yet to play a game with Winnipeg. However, there’s hope Monahan will ink a deal with term to secure the team’s strong play down the middle.
Minnesota Wild
Rumour: The Athletic’s Michael Russo and Joe Smith discussed possible trade candidates for the team.
#mnwild trade tracker: Top candidates to move if they’re selling, and where things stand at break
This will be often update, but first iteration includes Chisholm addition; Fleury, Maroon, Duhaime trade deadline spec; updates on Shaw, Khusnutdinov, Yurov https://t.co/b3pcpySGNu
— Michael Russo (@RussoHockey) February 2, 2024
Analysis: Minnesota is not completely out of the race, but the team is behind the St Louis Blues for the last Stanley Cup Playoff spot in the Western Conference. General manager Bill Guerin might have to make some moves to clear out some salary cap space. Having to deal off some veterans could the team a chance at a reset.
Let’s also remember that the Wild will have to endure another season of over $14.7 million in dead cap space due to the buyouts of Zach Parise and Ryan Suter. Guerin stated that he wanted to add a defenceman in the wake of Jared Spurgeon getting hurt. However, Minnesota did claim Declan Chisholm off waivers. May that have been the move that Guerin wanted to make?
Minnesota does have some unrestricted free agents that could a rental. Pat Maroon, Brandon Duhaime, Zach Bogosian, Marc-Andre Fleury, Dakota Mermis and Alex Goligoski could be on the block. Duhaime might be one of the more attractive pieces that could get the Wild a decent return. He’s only 27 and is willing to throw his weight around of needed. Fleury could get some looks from teams that need to shore up goaltending depth.
A restricted free agent like Connor Dewar could also fetch a nice return if the two sides can’t reach an agreement. Dewar only makes $800,000, but would likely get himself a raise from his play this season.
The trade deadline could have been more exciting. However, the Wild did give extensions to Mats Zuccarello, Marcus Foligno and Ryan Hartman. It would be very unlikely that Guerin would ship any of these players after inking them to extensions.
Main photo by: David Kirouac-USA TODAY Sports
