A four-game winless drought has seen the Detroit Red Wings fall into a wild-card position in the Eastern Conference, so head coach Jeff Blashill is shuffling his top six forwards in an attempt to spur the offense.
"So we want to see if there's other combinations where we can keep Pavel and Z at the level they're playing but get a little more from other people," Blashill said, according to the Detroit Free Press. "We're trying to get that little two percent better."
Blashill is hopeful the new lines will help Nyquist - goalless in 10 games - and Tatar - pointless in seven - break out of their respective slumps.
The Red Wings have just six goals in their past four games - the same amount they scored in their most recent victory, a 6-5 win over the Boston Bruins.
BROSSARD, Que. - Coach Michel Therrien expects to see a lot youngsters in action for the Montreal Canadiens over the final 22 games of a disappointing season.
With six players out with injuries — including star goaltender Carey Price since la...
The New Jersey Devils are fighting for their playoff lives, but that doesn't mean they'll hesitate to trade a couple of expiring contracts - at the right price.
Stempniak's been a revelation up front for New Jersey, with 15 goals and 25 assists in 60 games. The 33-year-old leads the Devils in scoring and is earning a paltry $850,000 on a one-year contract. And he's used to being on the move as New Jersey is his eighth team.
Schlemko, a defenseman, has six goals and 11 assists in 52 games, helping New Jersey to the NHL's lowest goals-against average. He's on a cheaper contract than Stempniak, earning only $625,000. He'll be 29 in May.
"I don't think the Devils want to move them for the sake of moving them," LeBrun writes, adding that Shero is still in asset-collecting mode, so he has to listen to anyone who calls.
With defenseman Dan Hamhuis widely expected to be dealt by the Vancouver Canucks before the trade deadline, it appears the team has yet to have any serious discussions on a deal.
Hamhuis said Tuesday the team hasn't asked him or his agent about waiving his no-trade clause, reports Jay Janower of Global BC. Regardless, the 33-year-old admits he and his family are discussing their options as they anticipate a potential move.
The pending free agent is making $4.5 million this season, his sixth with Canucks after six seasons with the Nashville Predators.
"There continues to be dialogue, which is the good news," LeBrun writes.
Eriksson is in the final season of a contract paying him $4.5 million, with a cap hit of $4.25 million. He's arguably the best player available on the rental market, with 23 goals and 25 assists in 60 games. He's lighting it up in February, with eight goals and one assist in 11 games this month.
The Bruins are in the thick of the Eastern Conference playoff race, so trading Eriksson by the Feb. 29 deadline is a tricky proposition. The sticking point right now between the two sides is term, in LeBrun's opinion.
Eriksson will turn 31 in July. His 48 points this season are better than the 47 (22 goals, 25 assists) he had in 81 games last season.
Latest on Andrew Ladd, Mikkel Boedker, Scott Hartnell, Nazem Kadri, Radim Vrbata and more in part three of your NHL rumor mill. HIGHLIGHTS FROM FRIEDMAN’S LATEST “30 THOUGHTS”. SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman reports the Los Angeles Kings were believed seeking a defenseman, but Marian Gaborik’s injury could have them in the market for a winger. So […]
Boedker, playing on a one-year, $3.75-million deal, will become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season. As the Coyotes continue to fall out of the playoff race following a 3-6-1 stretch, it's growing increasingly evident that the most likely course of action will be to sell and continue building toward the future.
With 38 points in 59 games this season, there will certainly be no shortage of suitors for the 26-year-old's services in the coming days.
Here are three teams that should pursue Boedker:
Florida Panthers
An injury to forward Jonathan Huberdeau has exposed the Panthers' weakness on the left side. Boedker would certainly change that as a significant improvement to their top six.
The Panthers have surprised many by putting themselves in the Stanley Cup conversation with an Atlantic Division-leading 75 points. However, general manager Dale Tallon has made it perfectly clear he doesn't intend on deviating from his long-term vision for short-term success - unless a deal makes sense.
Boedker would surely be an immediate fit in Florida, and wouldn't deviate from the team's plans for the future. Not only would he help them win now, but the possibility of inking a player of his caliber - entering the prime of his career - to a long-term deal should entice Florida even further.
Chicago Blackhawks
The Blackhawks are without a doubt a legitimate Stanley Cup threat once again, but they have one glaring hole on their roster: a left-winger to round out their top six on the second line next to Jonathan Toews and Marian Hossa.
As they did when they landed Antoine Vermette from the Coyotes at last year's deadline, general manager Stan Bowman has made it pretty clear he isn't afraid to think big and pull off bold moves. A difficult cap situation certainly won't hinder his ability to go over the top in the quest for a fourth Stanley Cup in seven years, which means Boedker should be a prime target.
Chicago could entice the Coyotes with a similar package to what landed them Vermette last season: a first-round pick and a prospect. However, it may be able to up the ante even further should the Coyotes take back Bryan Bickell and the $4 million remaining on his contract next season.
The aforementioned deal could allow the Blackhawks to go for it at a reasonable cost once again this season, while enabling them to clear significant cap space to add when they face a similar situation next year.
Washington Capitals
The Capitals may be tight on cap space, but they're surely all in, sitting 11 points better than the Blackhawks for top spot in the NHL standings.
An early Stanley Cup favorite, Washington must do everything it can to ensure it capitalizes on the rare opportunity that's been presented this season. Boedker definitely fits the mold.
Boedker's $3.5-million cap hit is manageable, especially if the Capitals can find a way to entice the Coyotes to take on a contract - perhaps the $4.5 million remaining on veteran forward Brooks Laich's deal next season.
His addition definitely makes sense. A second-line position is up for grabs, or, considering the solid play of 21-year-old Andre Burakovsky, they could round out their forward group by fitting Boedker in on the third line next to Jason Chimera and Mike Richards.
Vancouver Canucks forward Radim Vrbata will be out "for a bit" with a lower-body injury, head coach Willie Desjardins said Tuesday, adding he'll likely miss a week.
Vrbata was hurt Sunday against the Colorado Avalanche. He scored his 12th goal of the season in a 5-1 Vancouver win.
On an expiring contract, earning $5 million, Vrbata's a potential trade piece for the Canucks, as the club faces an uphill climb in order to make the playoffs. Nine of his 24 points have come on the power play, and while this season's been a disappointment, the 34-year-old winger scored 31 goals in 2014-15.
NEWARK, N.J. - The New York Rangers have recalled defenceman Brady Skjei from Hartford of the American Hockey League.
General manager Jeff Gorton announced the move on Tuesday, hours before the Rangers played the Devils in Newark, New Jersey....
TORONTO - Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Lou Lamoriello has been busy executing a long-standing plan to ship out veteran pieces for future considerations.
Captain Dion Phaneuf was traded two weeks ago to Ottawa for some bad contracts, prospect Tobias Lindberg, and a second-round draft pick. Shawn Matthias departed Sunday, Toronto netting a fourth-round selection. Roman Polak and Nick Spaling were traded Monday for two San Jose second-round picks and Raffi Torres' contract.
With the NHL trade deadline days away, the veteran players that are left can’t help but think about their fate.
Waiting for the call
P.A. Parenteau is the most likely candidate to be traded. He scored his 15th goal last week - nearly doubling his total from last season, after which the Montreal Canadiens bought him out.
"I've been thinking about it a little bit obviously, I mean, I'd be lying if I said otherwise," Parenteau said. "It's part of the game. I've got a family and two kids and we love it in Toronto. Who knows what will happen? They haven't talked to me or said anything to me about what is going to happen. I'm taking it game by game."
Parenteau's preference would be to stay in Toronto. Recruited by head coach Mike Babcock after the two first met at Anaheim Ducks training camp, Parenteau has been buoyed by the confidence his coach has shown in him.
"When your coach leaves you out there, you want to be a difference-maker and that's what I'm trying to be," Parenteau said. "I've got the confidence of Babs. He wants me out there and it really helps my game. I (feel) as good as I have ever felt in this league."
Parenteau has a cap hit of $1.5 million and could likely net the Leafs another second-round draft pick, or even a late first-rounder.
Drowning in money
The Maple Leafs have a very important tool that allows them to be crafty when it comes to collecting assets - money.
In 2009, the Maple Leafs made the first-ever trade that involved taking on a contract in order to net a draft pick. Toronto acquired the contracts of goaltender Olaf Kolzig and defenseman Jamie Heward - who were both injured at the time - at the trade deadline in exchange for a fourth-round draft choice from Tampa Bay. The Maple Leafs had the resources to pay out the remainder of Kolzig and Heward's contracts, and they also had the cap space, allowing them to acquire the draft pick.
Toronto likely wouldn't have secured two second-round draft picks in Monday's trade with San Jose without taking on Torres' contract. The Maple Leafs, with ample cap space heading into the deadline, could use their seemingly endless resources to take on another bad contract as a means to accumulate more assets.
Players like Bryan Bickell come to mind. The forward, who will turn 30 in March, carries a cap hit of $4 million and is currently in the AHL. Chicago could trade him to Toronto - along with a draft pick - in order to alleviate its cap issues and make a big splash come Feb. 29.
Deadline veteran
Brad Boyes is no stranger to the NHL's trade deadline. From the time he was drafted by the Maple Leafs, he's been moved several times in February and March.
After struggling to consistently crack Babcock's lineup, Boyes has become an everyday forward given Toronto's current roster. To his credit, he's quietly riding a season-high five-game point streak, which could increase interest in his services.
"The other times, it's outside noise," Boyes said about trade speculation. "Now, with the amount of media that is here, you are kind of at the center of it. That part is different. Also the fact that this where I'm from and this is my home."
Boyes signed with Toronto after inking a tryout deal before training camp. He won a spot, and is on a movable one-year, $700,000 deal.
