Rumors, we all love to read about them. There is truly very little that is more exciting in the world of sports then speculating trades, free agent destinations, and possible coach firings. In this segment, we will look at the hottest NHL rumors made by the most reputable people in the business. This week’s rumors include names such as Jack Johnson, Pierre-Luc Dubois, and Paul Martin.
NHL Rumors: Jack Johnson, Pierre-Luc Dubois, & Paul Martin
Jack Johnson Requests Trade
In an article for The Athletic, Aaron Portzline reported that Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman, Jack Johnson, has requested a trade. Portzline claimed that the request was made “weeks ago”, with the hope of something before the trade deadline. In addition, he cited that a diminished role in Columbus and pending free agency were key factors in the decision to make the request.
Portzline mentioned that Johnson’s trade request puts the Blue Jackets in a bizarre scenario. Columbus currently sits in a playoff position and is all-in to contend for the Stanley Cup. Teams in this position are usually “buyers” this time of year. However, looking to deal Johnson is much more of a “sellers” move.
Analyses
Initially, the trade request may come off as a bit shocking. Johnson has been committed to the growth of this Blue Jackets franchise. He has been through some tough seasons and now gets to be a part of a good Columbus team. However, if you look a little deeper, the trade request makes sense from a personal standpoint.
Johnson is averaging less than 20 minutes of ice-time for the first time in his career. Being given fewer responsibilities could not come at a worse time for Johnson. He is set to become an unrestricted on July 1st and wants to showcase abilities with the hopes of getting a multi-year contract somewhere. His issues with bankruptcy four years ago make his next contract even more important than usual. When you take a second to think about his reasons for making the trade request, it becomes more understandable.
Johnson is going to want to be dealt to an organization that will offer him an extension. That may prove to be difficult as teams might be uncertain of what Jackson can give their team moving forward. It will be interesting to see how this all pans out over the next few weeks.
Montreal Canadiens Interested in Pierre-Luc Dubois
During this week’s Saturday Headlines on Hockey Night in Canada, Nick Kypreos mentioned that the Montreal Canadiens continue to show interest in Pierre-Luc Dubois from Columbus. Kypreos explained that Montreal’s interest dates back to 2016 NHL Entry Draft where they attempted to trade up to get him.
Although the Canadiens have made it clear that they would like to obtain Dubois’s services, Kypreos went on to say that Columbus would not even consider dealing him until they know more about the team’s status, in regards to health. In the same segment, Elliotte Friedman added that Columbus may entertain a deal with the Canadiens if Alex Galchenyuk was in the package.
Analyses
Just because a team shows interest in a player does not mean that there is a deal to be made. The Canadiens can hope to acquire Dubois all they want. However, Columbus is not going to play ball with the Habs unless they are wowed by a deal.
The Blue Jackets clearly have a lot of faith in this kid, surprising everyone when they selected him third-overall in 2016. The 19-year-old’s stock has only risen since then, recording 22 points in 46 games this season. Of course, no player is untradable. However, the Canadiens acquiring Dubois at this point and time seems a bit unrealistic.
San Jose Sharks Shopping Paul Martin
In the same Hockey Night in Canada segment, Friedman mentioned that the San Jose Sharks were looking to find a new home for Paul Martin. Friedman talked about Martin’s struggles to stay healthy this season. He stated that now that Martin is healthy the Sharks have eight defensemen on the roster, making the 36-year-old expendable.
Analyses
Martin’s best days are behind him and San Jose would like to eliminate his $4.85 million cap hit from their books. He is under contract for one more season, making obtaining him a little less appealing. However, if a team can afford him, Martin can still provide some value on the blueline. The biggest question will be whether any franchise out there thinks the Minnesota native is worth the cap hit that comes with him.
New York Rangers Ready to Listen
Finally, Friedman spent a little time discussing the New York Rangers. He stated that although the team currently sits in a playoff spot, they are starting to question whether it is time to start making moves. Friedman mentioned names such as upcoming free agents Rick Nash, Michael Grabner, and David Desharnais. As well as Mats Zuccarello and Ryan McDonagh. He made it clear that there is no guarantee any moves get made. However, he does believe New York is willing to at least listen.
Analyses
The Rangers continue to be one of those teams that continue to find success, even when the masses believe they are on the decline. A lot of the success, if not all, can be credited to Henrik Lundqvist. However, at 35-years-old, Lundqvist’s days of being a dominant goaltender are numbered. New York needs to seriously evaluate the quality of this team and whether they are capable of making a serious run at a Stanley Cup this year. If not, it could be in the Rangers best interest to start retooling for the future.
