The two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning were already expected to be major players on the NHL trade market as they try to become cap compliant again, but could they still acquire a high-end player?

The Montreal Canadiens aren’t the Tampa Bay Lightning, and that’s why the Shea Weber news is not a sign that they’re about to pull a 2021 Lightning coup with the NHL salary cap.

The NHL trade market is expected to ‘explode’ in 3-2-1…

Here’s the latest in ‘Off The Record’:

The post OTR: Trade Market Set To ‘Explode’; Seth Jones, Shea Weber | DHN+ appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

The expansion draft to stock the Seattle Kraken is still 11 days away. But the team’s potential roster is already starting to take shape.

It is believed the Kraken will select goalies Jake Allen from Montreal and Braden Holtby from Vancouver.  Speculation has Toronto losing Alexander Kerfoot. The Detroit Red Wings could lose Troy Stecher. The Islanders may lose Nick Leddy, unless they trade him beforehand. The Caps have to decide whether to protect Brenden Dillon or Michal Kempny

Colorado Hockey Now’s Adrian Dater writes now that the Avalanche are likely to lose defenseman Ryan Graves or of forward Tyson Jost.

Trade Rumor of the Day

The Philadelphia Flyers are still interested in acquiring Seth Jones from Columbus, but their interest is tempered by the reality that he doesn’t seem interested in signing a long-term deal in Philadelphia.

Around the NHL

San Jose: Here’s a good read on the NHL Draft. Erik Fowle uses Jake Guentzel as the prototype against Draftboard bias. 

Pittsburgh: If you believe that Ron Hextall’s methodical approach could yield a Stanley Cup next season, the oddsmakers are certainly giving you a good bet. The Penguins have fallen to 25-1 on several boards. 

Boston: Charlie Coyle had a sub-par season. Now we know why. Since the end of the season, he has undergone a pair of knee surgeries. 

Washington: Former Capitals player Bugsy Watson died at 78. He retired in 1979 as the all-time NHL leader in PIMs. His pizza place in Washington D.C. was fittingly called “The Penalty Box.” Later, his upstairs sports bar was just called “Bugsy’s.” He became part of the Capitals atmosphere, and they paid tribute. 

Vegas: The Vegas Golden Knights are exempt from the Seattle Kraken expansion draft. The exemption creates a significant opportunity for Vegas trades, including for one unhappy star center.

Detroit: And Detroit Hockey Now beat writer Bob Duff also pays tribute with a career retrospective on the former Penguin and Red Wing who earned the “super pest” moniker. 

The post Kevin’s Morning Hash: Kraken Expansion Projections, Seth Jones rumors, Vegas looking to trade? appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen says nearly every NHL GM has called about defenseman Seth Jones. Does that mean Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman called?

Don’t believe Yzerman is willing to give up assets needed to acquire him now. He might be interested next summer if Jones goes to free agency.

If Yzerman is of the belief that Seth Jones is a good fit for the rebuilding team, it would make more sense to wait until next summer and bid on him as a free agent. He might land him

Meanwhile, Philly Hockey Now believes the Philadelphia Flyers remain front runners. 

The Flyers want a premium defenseman to play with Ivan Provorov. A Jones-Provorov tandem would be formidable.

Trade Rumor of the Day

The Sharks want to add two goalies and center with about $10 million in cap space, according to San Jose Hockey Now’s Sheng Peng. He lays out their options 

Around the NHL

Vegas: Golden Knights need to sort their goaltending, add a center and stabilize their defense. Knights expect busy, busy summer. 

Detroit: While you were celebrating the Fourth of July, Detroit Hockey Now beat writer Bob Duff offered five facts you need to know about Gordie Howe.

Boston: Brandon Carlo could be an offer sheet candidate, according Boston Hockey Now. Have concussions saved the Bruins from that problem?

Washington: Caps’ 2018 first-rounder Alex Alexeyev is making big strides to be in the NHL soon. 

Pittsburgh: Fans in Pittsburgh are waiting for the Penguins to act. Here’s what is urgent for the Pittsburgh Penguins. 

The post Kevin’s Morning Hash: Red Wings and Seth Jones, Sharks trade talk and Carlo Offer Sheet? appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

The Detroit Red Wings’ future isn’t now or tomorrow. It’s probably in 2022-23 or 2023-24. That’s why we aren’t likely to see Detroit general manager Steve Yzerman make a significant splash in the free agent marketplace this summer.

He is likely to enter the 2021-22 season with a significant amount of cap space.  As we have witnessed, Yzerman  does an excellent job of using cap space to accumulate assets. Think Marc Staal, David Savard and even the Richard Panik element of the Jakub Vrana-Anthony Mantha trade.

But it is possible that Yzerman could start looking at younger unrestricted free agents next summer. In theory, we will get a glimpse of what this team could be this season as we see the beginning of Moritz Seider’s development, plus probably Joe Veleno and maybe Lucas Raymond.  Maybe one of the younger free agents could envision the potential and want to be part of it.  Or maybe,  Yzerman’s aura will act like a tractor beam and pull in talent from all over the league.

Just in case Detroit’s free agent buying starts, here is a first look at some of the players who could be in the UFA market, according to CapFriendly:

Defenseman

Seth Jones, 26, Columbus Blue Jackets

He could be traded and then sign with his new team. But today everyone seems to expect that he will want see what kind of offers he will receive in the 2022 free agent marketplace. He is the kind of five tool defenseman that doesn’t usually end up in the free agent market.

Darnell Nurse, 26, Edmonton Oilers

The Oilers still have problems on defense, but Nurse is not one of them. He will have a long line of suitors if enters the marketplace.

Ryan Pulock, 26, New York Islanders

His laser beam shot from the point will make him attractive to many teams. Would expects the Islander to re-sign him, but you could have said that about Jones until recently.

Morgan Rielly,  27, Toronto Maple Leafs

Because the Maple Leafs have salary cap changes, it is plausible to believe he could be in the market. Already, you hear speculation about Rielly being traded to Detroit to allow Toronto to create cap space to acquire Seth Jones or sign Dougie Hamilton.  He’s still young enough to fit into that group.

Hampus Lindholm, 27, Anaheim Ducks

A two-way defenseman, Lindholm has played 527 regular-season games. Coaches appreciate his blend of experience and talent

Rasmus Ristolainen, 26, Buffalo Sabres

He’s 6-foot-4, 221 pounds, and has played 542 regular-season games. He’s a 40-50 point scorer on the blue line.

Colton Parayko,  28, St. Louis Blues,

He will be 29 when he becomes a free agent. But he has won a Cup, commands a big shot and he’s 6-foot-6, 230 pounds

Forwards

Aleksander Barkov,  25, Florida Panthers

Exceptional two-way star. The Panthers will work to re-sign him, but you never know what athletes are thinking.

Filip Forsberg Predators, 27, Nashville

Forsberg had 12 goals and 32 points in 39 games this season, but in the six previous seasons his goal scoring totals were 26, 33, 31, 26, 28 and 21

Vincent Trocheck, 27, Carolina Hurricanes

Hard-working, full-service center with scoring potential. What’s not to like. Had 43 points in 47 games last season.  Played for the Plymouth Whalers before turning pro.

Ondrej Palat, 31, Florida Panthers

Yzerman drafted him in Tampa and he’s been a highly dependable, solid, trustworthy performer.  Could see Yzerman being interested in him, despite his age.

Sean Couturier,  27, Philadelphia Flyers

Would expect the Flyers to get him re-signed. Started his career as a defensive center and then developed into a scoring center.

Evgeni Malkin, 34, Pittsburgh Penguins,

Too old, probably wouldn’t want to play with Detroit, but sometimes it make sense for a young team to bring aboard an older star who has Stanley Cup rings.

Johnny Gaudreau, 27, Calgary Flames

Can’t see Gaudreau fitting into a Steve Yzerman team, but just in case I’m wrong

Goalies

Cal Petersen,  26, Los Angeles Kings

He’s posted a .916 save percentage in his three seasons with a below average Kings team.

Elvis Merzlikins, 27, Columbus Blue Jackets

It seems like the NHL is still intrigued about Merzlikins’ potential. Feels like he has a chance to become a top level goalie. Can look invincible when he is in a hot streakl

Joonas Korpisalo, 27, Columbus Blue Jackets

Owns a 69-56-21 record and a .906 career save percentage. Would be my second choice of Columbus goalies.

Jack Campbell,  29, Toronto Maple Leafs,

Campbell is a Michigan native who didn’t develop as quickly as expected, but is now considered a dependable netminder. He had a .924 save percentage in the regular season and .931 in the postseason.

Darcy Kuemper,  31, Arizona Coyotes

He  is a big goalie with a .917 career save percentage. He would be older than the Red Wings’ core group, but you don’t mind that with a goaltender. Kuemper has played well for Coyotes. Could be a high value pick-up

The post The YzerPlan: Free Agents Who Could Interest the Red Wings in 2022 appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

NHL trade chatter has picked up significantly over the last two weeks. That chatter will only grow louder as we approach July 17, the deadline for NHL teams to submit their NHL Expansion Draft protection lists for the draft four days later.

“Once teams see the list of who Seattle can select from, I think that that’s when you start to see the trade market really open up, and I’m sure they will be involved,” a prominent NHL scout told “Off The Record” on Sunday. “There is plenty of chatter right now, though. Obviously, Jack [Eichel] is the big name, but I think Seth Jones is just as big. That’s a cornerstone defenseman on the market, and that hardly ever happens.”

There’s a long list of suitors for Jones on the NHL trade market, and this week we’ll look into the ones that may be pushing hardest to acquire the Columbus Blue Jackets rearguard.

Speaking of defensemen on the NHL Trade market, could two Chicago Blackhawks defensemen be on the move this summer?

Ever since the Arizona Coyotes and Rick Tocchet mutually parted ways, Coyotes forward Phil Kessel has been a constant name on the NHL trade rumor circuit. His $6.8 million cap hit for the 2021-22 season (Toronto is still on the hook for 15% via the Penguins trade) is hefty, but teams are interested., including one surprise.

Find out that and more in the latest ‘Off The Record.’

The post OTR: NHL Trade Chatter, Stevie Y ‘Up To Something’ Phil Kessel | DHN + appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

There is yet no word on the scheduled meeting between Buffalo Sabres captain Jack Eichel and Sabres management, or if the meeting has yet taken place. Based on all indicators, the two sides have some serious issues to figure out to keep Eichel, one of the premier centers in the league, off the NHL trade market.

There is rampant speculation the Sabres will select their new coach with Eichel in mind. We have one name to watch on that front, and he’s very familiar to the Metro Division and Boston fans.

However, Off The Record has been reporting for a few months the two sides are headed for divorce, but the coach could be the Hail Mary to keep the former second-overall pick.

The Colorado Avalanche could begin their offseason as early as late Thursday night. The offseason focus in Denver will immediately switch to budding superstar defenseman Cale Makar and his second NHL contract. How much bank can Makar get?

And NHL owners have held power since they instituted the salary cap in 2005, but could the current NHL player empowerment create player-coordinated movement, so the NHL resembles the NBA?

The post OTR: Quinn To Sabres? Eichel, Makar, Jones, NHL Trade Market | DHN+ appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

As soon as news leaked out that Columbus Blue Jackets No. 1 defenseman Seth Jones is likely to be traded, teams started lining up as if Jones had become the hottest ticket in town.

The Hockey News, which has been around since Harry Truman was president, listed the top contenders and called the Detroit Red Wings  a “sleeper.”

Is it realistic to believe general manager Steve Yzerman would swing a deal to land a 6-foot-3 two-way defenseman? Jones is 26 and becomes an unrestricted free agent after next season.

The post Could the Red Wings be a sleeper in the Seth Jones sweepstakes? | DHN+ appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.