{"id":113441,"date":"2021-07-05T08:30:43","date_gmt":"2021-07-05T12:30:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/?p=113441"},"modified":"2021-07-05T07:52:10","modified_gmt":"2021-07-05T11:52:10","slug":"nhl-rumours-canucks-blackhawks-predators","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2021\/07\/05\/nhl-rumours-canucks-blackhawks-predators\/","title":{"rendered":"NHL Rumours: Vancouver Canucks, Chicago Blackhawks, Nashville Predators"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The season could be over with sooner or later, but the NHL rumours are ready to go into overdrive. This is the time where hard choices need to be made and general managers are under pressure. We&#8217;re just weeks away from the Seattle Kraken expansion and NHL Drafts. Free agency is also right around the corner. Today&#8217;s NHL rumours focus on the Vancouver Canucks, Chicago Blackhawks and Nashville Predators.<\/p>\n<p>All NHL rumours are taken from the original source are subject to change.<\/p>\n<h2>NHL Rumours<\/h2>\n<h3>Vancouver Canucks<\/h3>\n<p><em>Rumour: The Fourth Period&#8217;s David Pagnotta said the Cancuks have made defenceman <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/s\/schmina01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Nate Schmidt<\/a> available.<\/em><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">One name you\u2019ll see on the list is Vancouver\u2019s Nate Schmidt. Doesn\u2019t sound like things have worked out and we\u2019re told he is on the block. He has 4-years left at $5.9M AAV and a 10-team no-trade list. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/FU8d4SZLXa\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">https:\/\/t.co\/FU8d4SZLXa<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; David Pagnotta (@TheFourthPeriod) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/TheFourthPeriod\/status\/1410645210267279361?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">July 1, 2021<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p><em>Analysis:<\/em> Things haven&#8217;t worked out between both parties, so it looks like general manager <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/b\/benniji01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Jim Benning<\/a> will shop the defender. It seems like the 29-year-old wants out of British Columbia.\u00a0 Schmidt has three years left with $5.9 million per season owed. The blueliner also has a 10-team no-trade list that can complicate things.<\/p>\n<p>The St. Cloud, Minn. native scored five goals and got 10 assists in 54 games. It was the worst goal output for the American defenceman since his first season with the<a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/category\/vegas-golden-knights\/\" target=\"_self\"> Vegas Golden Knights<\/a> in 2017-18. Schmidt&#8217;s offensive output was his worst since he was with the <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/category\/capitals\/\" target=\"_self\">Washington Capitals<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>However, he should be in demand because he can an asset at both ends of the ice. Clearing Schmidt&#8217;s salary will give the Canucks some room to re-sign <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/p\/petteel01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Elias Pettersson<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/e\/edleral01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Alexander Edler<\/a>. It seems like the best idea that both sides move on and make the best possible deal.<\/p>\n<h3>Chicago Blackhawks<\/h3>\n<p><em>Rumour: The Athletic&#8217;s Scott Powers said other decisions besides the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/k\/keithdu01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Duncan Keith<\/a> deal are on the team&#8217;s agenda.<\/em><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">A dozen things I\u2019m hearing about the Blackhawks\u2019 offseason  <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/W6w7ngLuJf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">https:\/\/t.co\/W6w7ngLuJf<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Scott Powers (@ByScottPowers) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ByScottPowers\/status\/1411455556196438026?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">July 3, 2021<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p><em>Analysis:<\/em> Powers probed into the expiring contract of defenceman <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/z\/zadorni01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Nikita Zadorov<\/a>, who had a solid season with the club. Zadarov is looking for a deal of five years and $5.85 million per season. Chicago is trying to keep the number around $4 million per season, but it seems that negotiations are progressing. Bringing back Zadarov would be key for a team trying to figure out its direction.<\/p>\n<p>Things aren&#8217;t going as smoothly in talks between <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/h\/hagelbr01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Brandon Hagel<\/a> and the club. It could be a long process as the two sides try to hammer out a deal. Hagel totaled nine goals and was a forward that did whatever the team needed. The Saskatoon native is looking for a well-deserved pay raise from the $880,833.<\/p>\n<p>General manager Stan Bowman said that the team is still trying to figure out what they want to do with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/h\/hinosvi01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Vinnie Hinostroza<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/g\/gaudead01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Adam Gaudette<\/a> and Max Shalunov. It seems like there could be plenty of changes and Powers alluded that only <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/d\/dachki01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Kirby Dach<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/d\/debrial01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Alex DeBrincat<\/a> are untouchable. He also added that the team doesn&#8217;t seem to be part of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/e\/eicheja01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Jack Eichel<\/a> sweepstakes due the large contracts they already have.<\/p>\n<h3>Nashville Predators<\/h3>\n<p><em>Rumour: General manager David Poile was on ESPN 102.5 The Game and talked how the team may make a side deal with the Kraken.<\/em><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Poile says the upcoming expansion draft played into this trade: &quot;I&#39;ve had a couple conversations with [Seattle]. Ideally, if we could strike a deal to determine a certain player who we would lose, I&#39;d like to do that.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>&mdash; 102.5 &amp; 106.3 The Game (@1025TheGame) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/1025TheGame\/status\/1410645856617967619?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">July 1, 2021<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p><em>Analysis<\/em>: Poile added that the expansion draft was a factor in dealing forward <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/a\/arvidvi01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Viktor Arvidsson<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2021\/07\/04\/viktor-arvidsson-trade-kings\/\" target=\"_self\">to the Los Angeles Kings<\/a>. The only GM in Predators team history was convinced that the Swede was going to be the player that Seattle took in the upcoming expansion draft. Nashville didn&#8217;t want to lose a 30-goal scorer for nothing and managed a couple of draft picks from Los Angeles. Arvidsson can be a solid scorer, but he&#8217;s been injury-prone the last couple of seasons.<\/p>\n<p>There are some contracts like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/d\/duchema01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Matt Duchene<\/a> and others that Poile would love to get off the books to give the team some cap space. The Predators would love to take care of goalie <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/s\/sarosju01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Juuse Saros<\/a> and get him locked down long-term. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/g\/granlmi01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Mikael Granlund<\/a> may also want to return after his revival under new coach John Hynes.<\/p>\n<p>Seattle should benefit from teams looking to offload some salary, but it can be selective on what they do take on. Kraken general manager <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/f\/francro01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Ron Francis<\/a> certainly has the hammer right now.<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"9zyDexxWRORUCeDufVeKgA\" class=\"gie-single\" style=\"color: #a7a7a7; text-decoration: none; font-weight: normal !important; border: none; display: inline-block;\" href=\"http:\/\/www.gettyimages.com\/detail\/1232677127\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Embed from Getty Images<\/a><script>window.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'9zyDexxWRORUCeDufVeKgA',sig:'r6h4Us5W9RBtF8-9TccPhd4Y1G7i-TFmWqRI8xkpX6w=',w:'594px',h:'396px',items:'1232677127',caption: true ,tld:'com',is360: false })});<\/script><script src='\/\/embed-cdn.gettyimages.com\/widgets.js' charset='utf-8' async><\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The season could be over with sooner or later, but the NHL rumours are ready to go into overdrive. This is the time where hard choices need to be made and general managers are under pressure. We&#8217;re just weeks away from the Seattle Kraken expansion and NHL Drafts. Free agency is also right around the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2352,"featured_media":113444,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[27,4547,31,4548,4321,5369,26],"tags":[6544,6565,245,534,302,6687,1143],"class_list":["post-113441","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blackhawks","category-hockey","category-predators","category-nhl","category-rumours","category-seattle-kraken","category-canucks","tag-blackhawks-featured","tag-canucks-featured","tag-david-poile","tag-nate-schmidt","tag-nikita-zadorov","tag-predators-featured","tag-viktor-arvidsson"],"modified_by":"Dan Mount, Editor","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/113441","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2352"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=113441"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/113441\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/113444"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=113441"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=113441"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=113441"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}