Check out the latest on J.T. Miller, Brad Marchand, Jonathan Toews, Logan Thompson and Kevin Lankinen in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
LATEST J.T. MILLER SPECULATION
RG.ORG: Jim Biringer reports a source claims there’s a belief the Vancouver Canucks could trade J.T. Miller before next month’s 4 Nations Face-Off.
The New York Rangers and Carolina Hurricanes are considered the front-runners for the 31-year-old Canucks center. Some reports linked the Devils to Miller but Biringer claims those discussions haven’t taken place.
If the Devils did pursue and acquire Miller, he could become their third-line center behind Nico Hischier and Jack Hughes. He can play on the wing but prefers playing at center.
Vancouver Canucks center J.T. Miller (NHL Images)
The Hurricanes appear to have the inside track. They had previous trade discussions last season with the Canucks.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Those discussions were about Elias Pettersson before he signed his contract extension with the Canucks.
THE PROVINCE: Patrick Johnston believes it’s the Rangers or bust for Miller. He cites a source claiming the Hurricanes’ interest is minimal.
Johnston thinks the focus should remain on the Rangers as that deal seems the closest to reality. The holdup appears to be how it’s structured.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Most reports indicate the original offer included Filip Chytil and a first-round pick. Depending on the source, the other parts of the package were defenseman Ryan Lindgren and a couple of minor-leaguers.
The Rangers, Hurricanes, Devils, and Dallas Stars have been mentioned as destinations. Some observers suggested the Boston Bruins, Utah Hockey Club, and Columbus Blue Jackets as trade options but there’s no indication they’re seriously pursuing a deal.
The Rangers’ lowball offer suggests they’re the only club in the bidding for Miller. That could explain why they proposed a middle-six center with a concussion history (Chytil), a shutdown defenseman who is UFA-eligible in July (Lindgren), and some minor-leaguers who aren’t among the Rangers’ blue-chip prospects.
This could become comparable to the Chicago Blackhawks trading Patrick Kane to the Rangers two years ago. Most observers thought Kane would fetch the Blackhawks at least a first-round pick, a top prospect, and a good young prospect. They never got anything close to that because the Rangers were Kane’s only trade destination.
COULD THE BRUINS MOVE BRAD MARCHAND BY THE TRADE DEADLINE?
THE ATHLETIC: Fluto Shinzawa cited a hockey operations executive suggesting Boston Bruins captain Brad Marchand could become a trade candidate by the March 7 trade deadline. “If they think it’ll help the team, all bets are off,” he said.
Marchand is UFA-eligible on July 1 and won’t publicly discuss his contract situation. Shinzawa believes trading the 36-year-old winger would be waving the white flag on this season. On the other hand, he could bring in a return that would help the Bruins’ long-term future.
The Bruins captain has a 10-team no-trade list. However, Shinzawa speculates he might jump at the opportunity to join good friend and fellow Nova Scotian Nathan MacKinnon with the Colorado Avalanche.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Shinzawa is merely musing out loud about Marchand joining MacKinnon in Colorado. Besides, everyone knows that’s the dream of Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby despite his signing a two-year contract extension last summer. That was merely a ruse to throw us off the scent…
I’m joking about the Crosby thing, and I doubt the Avalanche have the cap space or the tradeable assets to land Marchand.
Nevertheless, we can’t dismiss the possibility of Marchand going to a playoff contender if the offer entices Bruins management to approach him about accepting the trade.
UPDATE ON JONATHAN TOEWS
TSN: Pierre LeBrun reports the Winnipeg Jets are among several teams to contact Jonathan Toews’ representatives after the former Chicago Blackhawks captain expressed an interest in returning to the NHL.
Toews career was derailed in 2023 by the effects of COVID-19 and chronic immune response syndrome. LeBrun said the plan is for the 36-year-old center will try to come back for next season.
LATEST ON LOGAN THOMPSON AND KEVIN LANKINEN
TSN: Pierre LeBrun reports Washington Capitals goaltender Logan Thompson is putting himself in line for a substantial raise on his next contract. He’s in the final year of a three-year deal earning just under $800K per season and is eligible for UFA status on July 1
Complicating matters is fellow Capitals goalie Charlie Lindgren and defenseman Jakob Chychrun are also slated to become UFAs this summer.
LeBrun noted the Colorado Avalanche recently signed Mackenzie Blackwood to a five-year deal worth an AAV of $5.25 million. Joey Daccord signed a five-year deal worth $5 million annually with the Seattle Kraken.
Meanwhile, there’s mutual interest between the Vancouver Canucks and goalie Kevin Lankinen in signing a contract extension. However, there haven’t been any serious talks yet. Given Lankinen’s solid play this season, LeBrun doubts he can be retained for less than $4 million annually.
