It’s time for another batch of NHL rumours. We’re nearing the end of the 2023-24 regular season, but general managers are already thinking about the summer. Executives have to figure out who stays and who goes in the offseason. The 2024 NHL Entry Draft and July 1st, the 2024 NHL Free Agency, are two big reference points where deals can and will be made. Today’s NHL rumours focus on the Montreal Canadiens and the Vegas Golden Knights.
All NHL rumours come from the original source and are subject to change.
NHL Rumours
Montreal Canadiens
Rumour: Arpon Basu of The Athletic said the Canadiens may have to move a defenceman due to the number of prospects in the system. A young defender could be on the way out due to the numbers game.
The Canadiens’ future strength will be on the blue line, but managing that strength will have to start soon, perhaps as early as this summer. Spoke to some of the young d-men currently on the team about the talent on the way and the competition it creates: https://t.co/uSWVADsQrb
— Arpon Basu (@ArponBasu) March 24, 2024
Analysis: Montreal has a number of talented young blueliners that are expected to be cornerstones for the franchise. Younger players like Lane Hutson, David Reinbacher, Logan Mailloux, Adam Engstrom and Justin Barron aren’t on the roster, but have plenty of talent. Montreal’s roster has four defencemen on its NHL roster that are 23 years old or younger.
This could cause a logjam at the top of the lineup and that means some moves may have to be made. General Manager Kent Hughes was asked about trading a young blueliner. However, Hughes said he wasn’t in a rush to make a trade at the past March 8th NHL trade deadline. Jordan Harris was rumoured to be part of some deals, but that didn’t happen. Players like Barron and Arber Xhekaj are restricted free agents at the end of the season. Both Barron and Xhekaj will need to go through waivers next season if they have to be sent to the AHL Laval Rocket.
The Habs could move David Savard over the summer to make room on the right side of the blueline. Savard was a name that was bandied about at the deadline. However, a trade couldn’t happen.
Vegas Golden Knights Front and Centre for NHL Rumours
Rumour: Sportsnet’s Luke Fox released the list of the Top 12 available unrestricted free agents heading into the offseason. Vegas leading-scorer Jonathan Marchessault shows up seventh on the list.
Analysis: Marchessault is the reigning Conn Smythe Trophy winner and is leading the Golden Knights in goals with 39. One would think Vegas would love to bring back the Cap-Rouge, Quebec native. In contrast, the veteran forward is 33 years old has a cap hit of $5 million. This is major for NHL rumours but will Marchessault want to score one last big contract before he calls it a career?
Golden Knights General Manager Kelly McCrimmon has plenty of hard choices to make this coming off-season. His team has plenty of players carrying big contracts. Long-term injured reserve has been helpful, but there will come a day when those players are officially healthy.
Who Else Could Vegas Move on From
Another name that is on the list is Noah Hanifin. (This is despite us thinking a contract was going to happen), Anthony Mantha, Chandler Stephenson, Alec Martinez and William Carrier are just among some of the other names that are UFAs in the offseason. McCrimmon is likely going to have to make some tough choices and let a few of the veteran players hit the open market.
Will someone like Marchessault have a future in Sin City? He is an older player and Vegas is going to try to get maximize the salary cap space as much as it can. It could be possible that Marchessault takes a discount for the team that he was a part of that won the Stanley Cup. However, the other school of thought is that he wants one last big contract at the tail-end of his career. There’s a lot of uncertainty with the winger’s future in Sin City.
Main photo by: David Kirouac-USA TODAY Sports
