Welcome back to Wednesday’s edition of NHL Rumours from Last Word on Sports. We’re a week away from opening night and teams are getting down to their final cuts before they solidify their opening night rosters. With that, we’re seeing a lot of players hit the waiver wire as well as some last-minute trades before the season opens on October 2. Today we have NHL rumours from the Montreal Canadiens, Vancouver Canucks and St. Louis Blues.
All NHL rumours come from their original source and are subject to change.
NHL Rumours
Montreal Canadiens
Rumour: In Elliott Friedman’s most recent edition of 31 Thoughts, he states that the Montreal Canadiens are looking to trade a forward due to the emergence of some of their young prospects.
Enjoy this week’s read — 31 Thoughts: How Brayden Point‘s contract impacts the RFA market – https://t.co/rnZdjmhpi9 https://t.co/8VCkjc7iM0
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) September 24, 2019
Analysis: Nick Suzuki has looked phenomenal in the pre-season and looks to be a lock to start the season with the Canadiens. Ryan Poehling has also looked impressive, however, is currently out with a concussion. This leaves the Canadiens with a surplus of forwards.
Friedman mentions Jonathan Drouin only logged 11:57 of ice time and thinks it is something to keep an eye on. However, that’s not really the way to showcase a player if you are in fact trying to make a trade.
The name that makes the most sense is Charles Hudon. Hudon had a rough second season in Montreal last year and voiced his frustrations after not seeing much action. Hudon wants to play in the NHL. Whether that’s in Montreal or elsewhere. He has to earn his place though. Julien has been giving him every possible chance this pre-season to earn his keep and despite working hard and getting a lot of scoring chances, he just can’t seem to capitalize. Hudon has not been able to finish off plays and just seems like he will be the odd man out when the Canadiens open their season against the Carolina Hurricanes.
Hudon is still a capable NHL’er and would certainly benefit from a change of scenery. With the rumours of the Canadiens offering a player to the Dallas Stars for Julius Honka, one would have to wonder if that player was, in fact, Hudon.
Vancouver Canucks
Rumour: Sportsnet’s Chris Johnston had a radio hit on Sportsnet 650 stating that the best solution for the Canucks and Jake Virtanen is a change of scenery. Johnston figures a Virtanen trade would make sense to a team who has a player who could also benefit from a change of scenery.
#NHL insider @reporterchris joined @DanRiccio650 and @RandipJanda and shared his thoughts on what the #Canucks should do with Jake Virtanen
LISTEN: https://t.co/rH6ZHf3X5s
— Sportsnet 650 (@Sportsnet650) September 23, 2019
Analysis: Virtanen is one of those players who just did not quite live up to the hype. Selected sixth overall in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft, Virtanen has played in 210 games for the Canucks and has only managed to muster 59 points. This is extremely underwhelming given the hype surrounding the player before entering the league.
In saying this, Johnston is right. A change of scenery could certainly be just what the Doctor ordered for Virtanen. Virtanen has a lot of tools in the box just can’t seem to put it together in Vancouver. Which, in turn, hurts the Canucks. So moving him out for another player who could benefit from a change, much like the player we just talked about in Charles Hudon in Montreal, it would benefit both teams. Not saying that there will be a Virtanen for Hudon trade, just two names who would certainly benefit from this type of trade.
Virtanen brings the sandpaper type of game that coaches love. He plays on the edge and brings a massive frame at 6-foot-1 and 226 pounds. He is someone who can slot in on a team’s third line and bring some physicality along with some offensive upside. Virtanen is not afraid to mix it up and do the dirty work for his linemates but you have to keep an eye on him as well as Virtanen can certainly put the puck in the net. Virtanen is certainly a name to keep an eye on in the first month or two in the season as there is a strong chance he gets moved.
St. Louis Blues
Rumour: The Athletic’s Jeremy Rutherford wonders what the future holds for defenceman Alex Pietrangelo after the Blues acquired Justin Faulk. Pietrangelo is set to become an unrestricted free agent at this season’s end.
Now with Faulk signed for the next eight years, and Parayko and Bortuzzo both in the fold for the next three, you have to wonder what this means for Pietrangelo’s situation – entering final year and due big raise. At the very least it gives the Blues a quality Plan B. #stlblues
— Jeremy Rutherford (@jprutherford) September 24, 2019
Analysis: It’s hard to imagine the Blues are already planning for the departure of their captain but why not have a plan B just in case that does, in fact, happen. Pietrangelo is one of the top defenders in today’s game. He will certainly require a nice raise from his annual cap hit of $6.5 million per year contract that he is on now. That’s the number that the club locked Faulk up at on the 24th so in terms of dollar value, there’s is no difference in Faulk or Pietrangelo if he leaves.
However, the club would certainly rather keep Pietrangelo. It’s also believed he would want to stay. The issue the Blues are facing is that he is not the only big name set to become a free agent next season. Brayden Schenn and Vince Dunn are also in need of new deals. With around $16 million in cap space according to capfriendly.com, it’s going to be hard to fit these three players under the league’s current cap. My guess would be that the club would sacrifice Schenn before letting Pietrangelo go. However, it might not be up to them. At least they have their back up plan already in place if Pietrangelo does, in fact, walk.
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