B.S. Meter on the Latest Rumors 19 Days from the NHL Trade Deadline
The NHL's March 8 trade deadline is fewer than three weeks away and the rumor mill is abuzz with media chatter regarding trade candidates and possible destinations. Many of them you can read about in our latest Trade Block Big Board.
A pair of notable centers have already been moved. On Jan. 31, the Vancouver Canucks acquired Elias Lindholm from the Calgary Flames. Two days later, the Winnipeg Jets brought in Sean Monahan from the Montreal Canadiens.
Those moves were expected to initiate several weeks of increased trade activity leading up to the deadline. Instead, things have gone quiet. Sellers have set high asking prices for their available talent, while buyers are trying to talk them down or accrue sufficient salary-cap space to take on additional depth.
It's also generated growing speculation among the punditry and insiders regarding the more notable players. Some of those being discussed include Pittsburgh Penguins winger Jake Guentzel and Nashville Predators goaltender Juuse Saros.
With all the trade conjecture, it can be difficult to determine which rumors are on the level. That's why we're breaking out our trusty "B.S. Meter" to sort things out as we examine the most noteworthy speculation of the past week.
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Jake Allen to the Colorado Avalanche?
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The Montreal Canadiens have had three goalies (Sam Montembeault, Cayden Primeau and Jake Allen) on their roster throughout this season. Allen has been the frequent subject of trade rumors. He's signed through next season with an average annual value of $3.9 million plus a seven-team no-trade list.
Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes has been very patient in waiting for the right offer for Allen. Sportnet's Elliotte Friedman believes Hughes has set a price for the veteran netminder and will stick with it until a rival club is willing to pay it.
On Feb. 8, TSN's Martin Biron speculated the Colorado Avalanche could consider the 34-year-old Allen as a potential backup. He pointed out that they needed someone to help reduce the workload of starter Alexandar Georgiev.
There was a rumor flying around social media suggesting the Canadiens were close to moving Allen to the Avs. However, Biron's colleague Darren Dreger reported that the two teams had spoken in the past but not in recent days, adding that there was nothing imminent.
BS Meter: It's BS...for now
The fact the two teams have talked lends some credence to the possibility of Allen heading to Colorado by deadline day. If so, the Avalanche could request the Canadiens retain part of his cap hit, though that could raise the latter's asking price.
Are The New Jersey Devils Interested In Elvis Merzlikins?
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The New Jersey Devils have been actively searching for a goaltender in recent weeks. As we noted in our latest NHL Trade Block Big Board, they made an offer for the Calgary Flames' Jacob Markström.
According to ESPN's Kevin Weekes, Markström isn't the only goaltender the Devils are looking at. On Feb. 13, he reported they also had an interest in Elvis Merzļikins of the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Merzļikins, 29, is signed through 2026-27 with an average annual value of $5.4 million and also carries a 10-team no-trade list. Nevertheless, he indicated he was open to being traded after being benched during the first half of January. That earned him a spot on our Feb. 1 Trade Block Big Board, though at the time it was believed there was no market for him.
The Devils' efforts to acquire Markström got hung up on the Flames' unwillingness to retain part of his salary. They could face a similar issue with the Blue Jackets and Merzļikins.
BS Meter: Not BS
Given the Devils' attempts to add a starting goalie plus the Blues Jackets' position at the bottom of the Eastern Conference, we cannot dismiss the possibility of the two clubs discussing Merzļikins. However, his contract and inconsistent play could have the Devils considering other options.
Are The Buffalo Sabres Shopping Casey Mittelstadt?
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The Buffalo Sabres are once again sitting well outside the Eastern Conference playoff picture. Poised to miss the postseason for the 12th straight season, they're expected to become sellers at the trade deadline.
Casey Mittelstadt has surfaced in the rumor mill in recent weeks. On Jan. 19, ESPN's Kevin Weekes speculated the 25-year-old center might become a trade candidate, noting that many of his teammates had lucrative long-term contracts but he did not.
Mittelstadt is completing a three-year contract with an average annual value of $2.5 million. He's slated to become a restricted free agent with arbitration rights this summer. Leading the Sabres with 43 points in 53 games, he's in line for a substantial raise and has the leverage to get it.
On the Feb. 9 episode of the After The Whistle podcast, Andrew Peters cited a "very reliable source" claiming Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams was "shopping Mittelstadt hard" for a goaltender. The next day, The Buffalo News' Lance Lysowski reported the Sabres were listening when teams called but weren't actively shopping their leading scorer.
BS Meter: It's BS
Sabres general manager Kevin Adams denied shopping Mittelstadt during an interview with WGR 550's "Schopp and the Bulldog" on Feb. 13. Adams is also hopeful of getting the versatile forward re-signed this summer.
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Are the Nashville Predators Listening to Offers For Juuse Saros?
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Nashville Predators goaltender Juuse Saros has frequently surfaced in trade rumors during this season, even earning a spot on our Feb. 1 NHL Trade Block Big Board. The 28-year-old goaltender is signed through 2024-25 with an average annual value of $5 million. Nevertheless, he's been mentioned by some pundits as a trade candidate.
On Feb. 14, Nashville Hockey Now's Michael Gallagher cited Predators general manager Barry Trotz telling Nashville's 102.5 The Game that he could consider moving Saros for the right offer. He also confirmed that he'd informed Saros of that as well. Gallagher speculated the Carolina Hurricanes, Los Angeles Kings and New Jersey Devils could be interested.
NJ.com's Ryan Novozinsky reported Trotz confirmed he'd been contacted by Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald. However, he noted that the Predators GM set a high asking price for Saros. He speculated it could cost the Devils a young player such as Dawson Mercer or Alexander Holtz, top prospect Seamus Casey and a first-round pick.
On Feb. 15, TSN's Pierre LeBrun reported the Predators may be listening to offers, but they're not committed to moving him. LeBrun believes that's why Trotz set such a high asking price, as he'd be happy to keep the netminder.
BS Meter: Not BS
Trotz will listen if a rival GM comes calling about Saros. Unless they're willing to meet his asking price, however, he's not moving his starting goaltender. Because Saros is signed through next season, Trotz is under no pressure to move him at the trade deadline. He can wait until the offseason for better offers or open contract extension talks in July.
Jake Guentzel to the Edmonton Oilers?
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The Pittsburgh Penguins' playoff hopes took a hit on Feb. 14 when Jake Guentzel suffered an upper-body injury during a 5-2 loss to the Florida Panthers. He's expected to the sidelined for four weeks, meaning he won't return to action until after the March 8 trade deadline.
Before his injury, Guentzel was the subject of growing trade conjecture because of his eligibility for unrestricted free-agent status on July 1. Some pundits believed the Penguins might trade him if they failed to gain ground in the playoff race.
On Feb. 14, the Edmonton Journal's David Staples cited Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman suggesting the Oilers could be interested in Guentzel. Friedman believes they intend to "hit at least one home run" in the trade market by March 8.
Friedman speculated that Guentzel was high on the Oilers' wish list. However, he felt it could cost them some of their best tradeable assets. Given their limited cap space and Guentzel's $6-million cap hit, it would also have to be a dollar-in, dollar-out deal.
BS Meter: It's BS
Even if the Oilers were prepared to pursue Guentzel, it's unlikely they can afford to part with what Friedman expects to be a high asking price to get him. He anticipated it would be a first-round pick, a third-rounder and a good young player. Fitting him in within their limited salary cap space could also prove difficult to pull off.
Stats and standings (as of Feb. 17, 2024) via NHL.com. Salary info via Cap Friendly.
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