BS Meter on the Latest NHL Trade and Free-Agency Rumors
The 2024 NHL trade deadline is long past, but that hasn't stopped the rumor mill from churning about possible offseason deals.
Meanwhile, some pundits are already pondering where some of this summer's notable unrestricted free agents will end up when the market opens on July 1.
Some of the chatter focused on whether Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson might be on the move for the second straight summer.
Karlsson's former teammate, Jake Guentzel, has surfaced in recent conjecture just over two weeks after his trade to the Carolina Hurricanes.
It's time to dust off our trusty BS Meter and put it to work on some of the most noteworthy rumors of the past two weeks.
Feel free to express your thoughts on this topic in the app comments below.
Montreal Canadiens Will Shop For Scoring Forward This Summer
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The rebuilding Montreal Canadiens will miss the playoffs for the third straight season and the second under general manager Kent Hughes.
While Hughes has been stockpiling draft picks and prospects, he's also indicated he could be busy in this summer's trade market.
Following the March 8 trade deadline, he told reporters he'd been a seller at the trade deadline but a buyer at the draft.
In the 2022 draft, he acquired center Kirby Dach, and he added versatile forward Alex Newhook the following year. He indicated he'd be a buyer at this year's draft if the opportunity presents itself.
On March 19, Sportsnet's Eric Engels reported Hughes knew that his roster still needed work and he would like to improve the Canadiens' scoring depth. Engels believes the Habs GM would prefer the trade route rather than signing older veterans to long-term contracts in the free-agent market.
The Canadiens have plenty of trade bait to draw on. Engels pointed out that they have two first-round picks and three second-rounders in the next two drafts, an abundance of promising young defensemen and plenty of salary-cap space.
BS Meter: Not BS
Hughes acquired Dach and Newhook because he was banking on their potential as scoring forwards. This time, he could make a bigger splash. He'll likely be in the market for a more established scoring forward in his mid-to-late 20s who can accelerate the Canadiens' rebuilding process.
Vancouver Canucks Trying To Re-Sign Elias Lindholm
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The Vancouver Canucks made one of the biggest acquisitions before the trade deadline by acquiring Elias Lindholm from the Calgary Flames on Jan. 31.
The 29-year-old center is slated to become an unrestricted free agent this summer, which suggests he could be a playoff rental player.
On March 18, The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun reported Canucks general manager Patrik Allvin spoke to Lindholm's agents following the trade about signing a contract extension.
"But obviously it has to work for both sides. We'll see," Allvin said. He indicated those discussions will wait until the offseason.
Lindholm is completing a six-year contract with an average annual value of $4.9 million. He'll seek a long-term deal with a significant raise. A skilled two-way center, he'll draw plenty of attention if he decides to test the market on July 1.
The Canucks have projected cap space of $25.5 million for 2024-25 with 13 active roster players under contract. They have the room to re-sign Lindholm depending on his asking price. They must also re-sign defenseman Filip Hronek and sign or replace pending UFAs like Tyler Myers, Nikita Zadorov, Casey DeSmith and Dakota Joshua.
BS Meter: It's Not BS
Re-signing Lindholm would give the Canucks considerable depth at center behind Elias Pettersson and J.T. Miller. Whether he'd want a third-line role is another matter, though. He could prove too expensive to retain.
Could the Columbus Blue Jackets Trade Johnny Gaudreau?
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It's been another disappointing season for the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Mired at the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings, they're set to miss the playoffs for the fourth straight season. They also face a summer of potential changes when they hire a new general manager in the offseason to replace Jarmo Kekäläinen, who was fired on February 15.
On March 16, Kevin Paul Dupont of the Boston Globe speculated that Johnny Gaudreau might be part of those changes. He pointed out the sharp decline in the left winger's production since signing with the Jackets two years ago, from a career-best 115 points in 2021-22 with the Calgary Flames to 52 points in 71 games this season.
The 30-year-old hasn't been the franchise star Kekäläinen envisioned when he signed him. He has five more years remaining on his contract with an average annual value of $9.8 million. He also carries a full no-movement clause, though he could waive it if he wanted to move on to a playoff contender.
Dupont doesn't rule out the possibility of Kekäläinen's replacement attempting to move Gaudreau to a team of his choosing during the offseason. He believes the Blue Jackets would have to retain one-third of the winger's salary to make the deal work.
BS Meter: It's BS
We don't rule out the possibility of a Gaudreau trade, but we believe the chances are slim. His age, declining production, expensive cap hit and no-movement clause make it a daunting challenge to move him. The Jackets would probably have to retain 50 percent to make him more enticing in the trade market.
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Could Jake Guentzel Return To the Pittsburgh Penguins?
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The Pittsburgh Penguins shipped winger Jake Guentzel to the Carolina Hurricanes before the March 8 trade deadline, but there's already speculation whether he might return to the Penguins this summer.
The 29-year-old is slated to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. He's in the final season of a five-year contract with an average annual value of $6 million. A two-time 40-goal scorer who also netted 73 or more points three times, he will seek a substantial raise on a long-term contract.
On March 21, The Athletic's Josh Yohe was asked by a reader if he thought Guentzel might return to Pittsburgh as a free agent. He replied that he felt it would have been impossible a few weeks ago but he's not sure he feels that way now.
Yohe indicated that team sources told him not to be surprised if he signs with the Penguins. He thinks the winger could be in play if he's seeking an average annual value of $8 million rather than $10 million.
BS Meter: Not BS, But Unlikely To Happen
Never say never in this business. However, Yohe said he doesn't think it'll happen. This is Guentzel's best opportunity to land a lucrative long-term contract. He won't lack for suitors, including perhaps from playoff contenders who could view him as a key piece of the Stanley Cup puzzle.
Could Pittsburgh Penguins Trade Erik Karlsson To Ottawa Senators?
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During the March 11 episode of the 32 Thoughts podcast, Sporstnet's Elliotte Friedman considered the possibility of a reunion between Erik Karlsson and the Ottawa Senators.
The 33-year-old defenseman was acquired last August by the Pittsburgh Penguins from the San Jose Sharks.
Karlsson began his NHL career with the Senators in 2009-10 and played there for nine seasons before he was traded to the Sharks in 2018. He has three years remaining on his contract with an average annual value of $11.5 million, of which $10.5 million is carried by the Penguins and the remainder by the Sharks. He also has a full no-movement clause.
Friedman conceded it wouldn't be an easy move, but he felt the presence of assistant coach Daniel Alfredsson could make a difference. He was captain of the Senators when Karlsson first arrived in Ottawa and is now an assistant coach with the team.
The Senators intend to add a couple of veterans this summer to provide their young core players with experienced leadership. On March 18, The Athletic's Josh Yohe speculated Penguins management would like to move Karlsson, not because they're unhappy with his play but because they have too many older players with expensive contracts.
BS Meter: It's BS
Karlsson dismissed the idea while talking to reporters on March 11. "Yeah, that's Canada for you. I played there for a long time, so I kind of know how that game works," he said. "They got a lot of things to talk about everyday because they got a lot of air time. But very few things to actually discuss. They like to make up these what-if scenarios"
Salary info via Cap Friendly.
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