Welcome to the Tuesday edition of NHL Rumours! The action continues off the ice with the rumour mill heating it. The top teams are starting to settle into playoff positions and looking to add pieces when the trade deadline comes around. The trade deadline is not for a while, but that does not mean teams are not calling to get players at a cheaper price. But some players will command more than others. In today’s edition of NHL Rumours, we look at the Toronto Maple Leafs, Washington Capitals, and Colorado Avalanche.
NHL Rumours
Toronto Maple Leafs
Rumour: Luke Fox of Sportsnet in his latest mailbag, writes about the possibility of Scott Mayfield being acquired by the Toronto Maple Leafs
Analysis: We know the Maple Leafs are looking to upgrade their defence come the NHL Trade Deadline. Outside of the Islanders game on Saturday night, the Maple Leafs have blown leads in four of their past five games. And with Jake Muzzin out of the lineup, and the Maple Leafs looking to move on from Travis Dermott, there are holes to fill on the backend. Enter Scott Mayfield of the New York Islanders. He is exactly what the Maple Leafs need come the playoffs.
Just look what he has done for the Islanders in recent years. The 29-year-old defenceman is 6-foot-5, 220 pounds that not only play with an edge, physicality-wise but also blocks a ton of shots. He is also in the penalty box a lot, but that is what happens when you play with an edge. And in the playoffs, the whistles go away. In addition, Mayfield in the postseason has posted 13 points, 120 blocked shots, and 118 hits in 51 playoff games. This is a player the Maple Leafs would definitely want on their team.
Mayfield also has a reasonable cap hit at $1.45 million this season and next. That means not only is Dermott expendable, but so is Justin Holl, who the Maple Leafs are looking to trade as well. The question will be can Dubas pry him away from Lou Lamoriello. An interesting situation to watch going forward.
Washington Capitals
Rumour: Elliotte Friedman on 32 Thoughts during Hockey Night in Canada said the Washington Capitals are considering bringing in Evander Kane.
Friedman at the intermission reports #ALLCAPS are considering Evander Kane, nothing done yet, no contract offered, but they are considering it.
— NHL Watcher (@NHL_Watcher) January 23, 2022
Analysis: Evander Kane has been the talk of the NHL good or bad for a while now. This is the second team linked to the former San Jose Sharks winger in the past couple of weeks. The first team was the Edmonton Oilers. Now, it is being reported the Capitals have an interest in Kane. For a team, that is struggling with their offence as of late, adding Kane would be an upgrade and give them more depth up front. Especially with T.J. Oshie sidelined with an injury. Washington does not have issues scoring goals, but it is always better to have more weapons than fewer. Every team knows it is the Alex Ovechkin show right now in Washington. So if you can stop him, there is a chance of winning the game.
If Capitals add Kane, he would bring another weapon to an already dangerous power play. But not only that, it gives the Capitals even more balance inside their top six. Again, the locker room, the team, and the league would have to approve everything, but Kane would be a good fit for the Capitals. Ovechkin knows what it takes to win a Stanley Cup. Not only that Peter Laviolette would not put up with Kane’s nonsense. Washington has about $2 million in cap space, so they could add him on the league minimum bonus-driven contract. You know a team will eventually sign Kane to a contract.
Colorado Avalanche
Rumour: Jeff Marek on the 32 Thoughts Podcast says the Colorado Avalanche is looking to add a right-shot winger and wonders if the Avalanche takes a run at Joe Pavelski.
Marek throws out Joe Pavelski‘s name as well as a possible fit with the Avs.
— NHL Watcher (@NHL_Watcher) January 24, 2022
Analysis: The Colorado Avalanche are one of the best teams in the NHL right now. But every year they seem to fizzle come the playoffs. Teams are always looking to add depth to their roster and while Claude Giroux‘s name has been mentioned as a fit, Joe Pavelski’s name is starting to come up more in trade talks. And Pavelski would be a perfect fit for the Avalanche. He brings everything you want in a player. Not only that Pavelski steps up in the playoffs. Just look what he did with the Dallas Stars in their bubble run to the final. He led all offensive players with 19 including 13 goals. And since joining the Stars, he has been their best forward.
Pavelski is showing age is just a number as he puts together one of the best seasons of his career. Pavelski leads the team in points with 43 and is tied with Jason Robertson with 16 goals just one behind Roope Hintz. We have seen the Avalanche offence dry up in the playoffs. Pavelski knows what it takes to get to a Stanley Cup Final. He has been there twice. Plus Pavelski brings the Avalanche a net-front presence they are missing. Pavelski would be a pure rental for the Avalanche as he is an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season. But what an add he would be if they could land him. Again this all depends if the Dallas Stars fall out of the playoff race.
Main Photo:
Embed from Getty Images
