BS Meter on Latest NHL Trade Rumors
The NHL's annual holiday trade freeze begins at 11:59 p.m. ET on Dec. 19 and will end at 12:01 a.m. on Dec. 28. That gives general managers looking to bolster their rosters about two weeks to make some moves in the trade market.
That could account for the recent uptick in trade activity. With just four swaps taking place between Oct. 8 and Nov. 8, three deals occurred between Nov. 26 and 30, with the Vancouver Canucks involved in two of them.
On Nov. 28, the Canucks shipped winger Anthony Beauvillier to the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for a 2024 fifth-round draft pick. By shedding Beauviller's $4.2 million cap hit, the Canucks had room to acquire defenseman Nikita Zadorov and his $3.8 million cap hit from the Calgary Flames two days later in return for two draft picks.
The Flames dealing Zadorov prompted trade speculation about their pending free-agent defensemen such as Noah Hanifin and Chris Tanev. Speaking of defensemen, the Nashville Predators could be ready to part ways with Tyson Barrie.
How much stock should we put into all this conjecture? We'll put them to the test as we take our BS meter to the five most notable trade rumors of the past week.
You can let us know your thoughts about this topic in our app comments section.
San Jose Sharks Could Be Sellers Again
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The San Jose Sharks were among the busiest clubs in the trade market in 2023 with 17 trades. Those included two of the year's biggest deals, with Erik Karlsson shipped to the Pittsburgh Penguins and Timo Meier sent to the New Jersey Devils.
With the Sharks in last place in the overall standings, general manager Mike Grier could become a seller again this season. On Dec. 2, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman said the Sharks let it be known they're willing to listen to offers for their defensemen. He expects Mario Ferraro could draw plenty of interest given his age (25) and affordable contract.
The Sharks also have several notable players eligible to become unrestricted free agents next summer who they could also peddle before the March 8 trade deadline. They include forwards Anthony Duclair, Mike Hoffman, Kevin Labanc and Alexander Barabanov as well as goaltender Kaapo Kähkönen.
San Jose Hockey Now's Lizz Child observed that Duclair, Kähkönen and Barabonov appeared on The Athletic's recent ranking of their top-25 trade candidates. She also noted that Hoffman and Labanc were on Daily Faceoff's Top Trade Targets.
BS Meter: Not BS
Friedman doesn't think Ferraro is off the table. Still, it could take a significant offer to tempt the Sharks. As for the rest, Grier will be willing to listen to offers that fetch the best returns that help him build up the club's foundation.
Could the Montreal Canadiens Trade Sam Montembeault?
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The Montreal Canadiens have been carrying goaltenders Sam Montembeault, Jake Allen and Cayden Primeau since the start of the season. Primeau is no longer waiver-exempt and management doesn't want to risk losing him if it attempts to send him down to its AHL affiliate in Laval, Quebec.
How the Canadiens might handle their crowded crease generated enough trade speculation about Montembeault and Allen that they ended up on our December Trade Block Big Board. However, Montembeault's future in Montreal appeared assured when he signed a three-year extension on Dec. 1 worth an average annual value of $3.2 million.
Following the Montembeault signing, Montreal Hockey Now's Marc Dumont pondered how the Canadiens could resolve their goaltending situation. One option is putting Primeau on waivers and hoping no other clubs take him while another would be trading Allen.
Dumont also suggested trading Montembeault. The 27-year-old goalie could prove more enticing to rival clubs now that he's carrying an affordable contract extension.
BS Meter: It's BS
A team could make the Canadiens an irresistible trade offer for Montembeault. However, it appears they re-signed him because he emerged as a reliable starting goaltender. Locking him up to a cost-effective short-term deal ensures invaluable cost certainty as they continue to rebuild their roster as well as bring much-needed stability between the pipes.
Toronto Maple Leafs Could Pursue Chris Tanev
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With three regular defensemen sidelined, the Toronto Maple Leafs need help on their blue line. John Klingberg and Timothy Liljegren were recently placed on long-term injury reserve with no timetable for their return. On Nov. 30, Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe announced that Mark Giordano is week-to-week with a broken finger.
On Dec. 2, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported the Leafs attempted to acquire defensemen Nikita Zadorov and Chris Tanev from the Calgary Flames. However, the deal fell through because the two clubs couldn't agree on how much of the players' salaries the Flames would retain. Zadorov was subsequently traded to the Vancouver Canucks.
Friedman still believes the Leafs could be interested in Tanev given their need for a right-shot defenseman. However, the 33-year-old rearguard carries a $4.5 million cap hit for this season and is slated to become an unrestricted free agent next July.
On Friday, Friedman wondered if the Leafs would pursue a playoff rental player. However, he felt they would be "pretty confident" about retaining the Toronto native, pointing out Leafs GM Brad Treliving signed Tanev to his current contract while GM of the Flames.
BS Meter: Not BS
There's no guarantee the Leafs will land Tanev. However, if Klingberg ends up having season-ending surgery for his current injury, it would ensure he stays on LTIR. That would mean they would have sufficient cap flexibility to take on most, if not all, of Tanev's cap hit.
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Nashville Predators Letting Tyson Barrie Talk to Other Clubs
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In the final season of his three-year contract with a $4.5 million average annual value, Tyson Barrie will be eligible to become an unrestricted free agent next July. However, the 32-year-old defenseman could be parting ways with the Nashville Predators sooner than that.
On Dec. 2, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported the Predators gave Barrie and his agent permission to speak with other teams about a possible trade. He was also a healthy scratch from the Predators game on Saturday against the New York Rangers.
In his 13 NHL seasons, Barrie has exceeded 40 points seven times, including reaching 55 points in 2022-23 split between Nashville and his former club, the Edmonton Oilers. This season, however, he's managed just nine points in 22 games with the retooling Predators.
The Athletic's Joe Rexrode believes Barrie has become expendable for the Predators with promising Spencer Stastney garnering more playing time on their blue line. Nashville Hockey Now's Michael Gallagher suggested the Oilers, Toronto Maple Leafs (another of Barrie's former clubs), New Jersey Devils and New York Islanders as trade destinations.
BS Meter: Not BS
The Predators are a team in transition having already jettisoned expensive veterans such as Mattias Ekholm, Ryan Johansen and Matt Duchene via trades and buyouts. Given Barrie's pending free-agent status, he doesn't appear to fit into their long-term plans. If he and his agent can find a suitable trade destination it could work out for all concerned.
Could the Boston Bruins Attempt to Acquire Noah Hanifin?
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The Calgary Flames trading Nikita Zadorov on Nov. 30 to the Vancouver Canucks has ramped up speculation over who else they might have on the trade block. The focus remains on their pending unrestricted free agents such as center Elias Lindholm and defensemen Chris Tanev and Noah Hanifin.
Hanifin has frequently surfaced in the rumor mill since the summer as a trade candidate. He topped our December NHL Trade Block Big Board as speculation continues to swirl about the 26-year-old blueliner, who carries a $4.9 million cap hit for this season as well as an eight-team no-trade list.
On Nov. 30, TSN's Pierre LeBrun said the Flames and Hanifin were close to an eight-year contract extension worth an average annual value of $7.5 million. However, they withdrew the offer when the blueliner indicated he wanted to see how well the club performed over the remainder of the season.
LeBrun believes a sign-and-trade scenario could be possible for Hanifin. On Dec. 1, Boston Hockey Now's Jimmy Murphy cited an NHL source speculating that the Boston Bruins could be willing to make that move if it came to pass. Murphy noted Bruins GM Don Sweeney may have attempted to acquire Zadorov and could shift his focus back to Hanifin.
BS Meter: It's BS, at least for this season.
The Bruins could afford a new contract for Hanifin that starts next season when they'll have a projected $26.8 million in salary-cap space. However, they're pressed against the $83.5 million cap for this season. Unless they can shed salary or convince the Flames to accept a comparable salary in return, they can't afford Hanifin's contract for this season.
Stats via NHL.com with salary info via Cap Friendly.
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