Welcome to a double dose of NHL Rumours here on Monday. The NHL Trade Deadline is here and to no one’s surprise teams have already made moves ahead of the deadline. Everyone has been waiting for this day since the season began. Which contending teams will look to add a player or two to get them over the hump. And which teams near the bottom of the standings will sell off their assets to help them down the road. The NHL Trade Deadline never disappoints so keep it tuned to the Last Word on Hockey for all the latest breaking trades. In this edition of NHL Rumours, we look at the Detroit Red Wings, Carolina Hurricanes, and St. Louis Blues.
NHL Rumours
Detroit Red Wings
Rumour: Scott Burnside of the Athletic has a recent mailbag where he took a question on Detroit Red Wings forward Luke Glendening and believes a contending team won’t have to pay much to get his services
Analysis: Luke Glendening is one of the more coveted players at this year’s trade deadline. He carries a modest cap hit of $1.8 million and is such a versatile player that he would be a great addition to any contending team. Burnside believes a contending team may only have to give up a third or fourth-round pick to get him. Glendening is not only good at faceoffs but is a great penalty killer as well. He is the kind of player you need come playoff time. He is a similar player to what Tampa Bay added last year in Barclay Goodrow and Blake Coleman.
The question becomes who will go after a player like this. With Toronto making moves adding Riley Nash and Nick Foligno, he is certainly off their radar. But what about a team like the Pittsburgh Penguins. They have a history of adding players like this at the deadline. In fact, they had a player in Matt Cullen, who was crucial to their back-to-back Stanley Cup runs. Don’t sleep on them adding a player like Glendening. You know that Detroit’s general manager Steve Yzerman will be listening to offers on Glendening from a lot of the contending teams. He is a player to keep on on deadline day.
Carolina Hurricanes
Rumour: Sara Civian of The Athletic writes the Carolina Hurricanes are looking to upgrade their defensive position at the deadline.
Analysis: It is no secret that the Hurricanes are looking to make moves come the deadline on Monday. A position they would like to address is defence. Last year, they went after Sami Vatanen. However, things did not work out with him. However, they could circle back on him again this season, as he is on waivers. However, a name that continues to be linked to the Hurricanes is Josh Manson of the Anaheim Ducks. A right-handed, defensive defender, Manson is the perfect fit for the Hurricanes. The Hurricanes have a special team, but Manson could push them over the top in a tough Central Division. He could be the piece they need to get them past a team like the Tampa Bay Lightning. However, Manson will not come cheap.
As it stands now, the asking price from Anaheim is a first-round pick and prospect. That might be too high for the Hurricanes to pay. However, as the team has stated if the deal is right to be made, they will make it. But as Civian points out the Hurricanes already have a special team and may not want to rock the boat. And to bring in a player like Manson has to be worth it in the long run. We know how well the Hurricanes have performed in playoffs past, and adding a guy like Manson would certainly help their chances this season. If they don’t get Manson maybe Erik Gudbranson is a player they go after, although he is not near as good as Manson.
St. Louis Blues
Rumour: Craig Custance and Eric Duhatschek of The Athletic have listed St. Louis Blues forward Mike Hoffman number three on their trade bait board and they would not be surprised if he is moved at the deadline.
Analysis: You can never put it past Blues general manager Doug Armstrong from making a move on deadline day. Things have just not worked out for Hoffman in St. Louis this season after signing a one-year deal in the off-season. He has seemingly fallen out of favour with head coach Craig Berube. Hoffman had a nice bounce-back game for the Blues scoring two goals, but that is what he does. He is a goal scorer and goal scorers are streaky. With that performance Hoffman no doubt raised his trade stock especially if contending teams were calling for him.
And Hoffman is an ideal fit for a contending team looking to bolster their offence once the playoffs start. A team like the Boston Bruins could use his services for sure. As we know the Bruins are looking to add a forward to help bolster their offence. They need secondary scoring outside of the “Perfection Line”. They also need someone to play with David Krejci. Hoffman is a good fit for them as the Bruins fight for their playoff lives. But are they willing to pay the price. Hoffman is a great fit for any team out there, but will the Blues want to part with him now they are back in the fourth spot in the West Division.
That does for the second edition of NHL Rumours here on NHL Trade Deadline Monday. Stay tuned for another edition on Tuesday.
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