Pens winger Jake Guentzel sits atop TSN's Trade Bait board, so what kind of return is Pittsburgh expecting? Would a move in Ottawa start a domino effect in the nation's capital? What are the Oilers looking to add before Friday's deadline? TSN Hockey Insiders Darren Dreger, Pierre LeBrun and Chris Johnston discuss this and more.
What’s the latest on Jake Guentzel and the Vancouver Canucks?
One of the teams that has shown up with interest is the Vancouver Canucks. A lot of connections there between Patrik Allvin and Jim Rutherford. How could they make this work if they were the team to get Guentzel? What I’ve been able to uncover is that they have had discussions with the Boston Bruins about potentially flipping Elias Lindholm, who they just acquired from Calgary a little more than a month ago, to the Bruins as a way to maybe have all the machinations fall into place in terms of cap space, getting back some assets that could be used in this deal.
I wouldn’t necessarily put Vancouver at the front of the line. It sounds like there’s a little bit of sticker shock from the Canucks' end of things. But the mere fact that they’re out there potentially, or at least contemplating trading Lindholm so soon, tells us first of all how aggressive Vancouver is right now, and how thin the market is at centre. The Bruins don’t see a lot of options out there, and that’s what’s got them having these conversations.
Darren Dreger: It’s interesting that the Canucks would be spooked by the high price tag that the Penguins have established on Guentzel. The Canucks are part of why the ask is so high on Jake Guentzel because of the price they paid to acquire Elias Lindholm from the Flames.
When you look at what Kyle Dubas needs for Guentzel you’re talking about a first-round draft pick, you’re talking about a young NHL roster player, and a very good prospect or prospects. There could be some flexibility in all that. If the NHL roster player is a good player or the prospect is a top prospect, perhaps that lessens or sways the overall look. We’ll find out about that in the next 24 hours.
When the first domino falls, whether it be Guentzel or Noah Hanifin, does a team like the Ottawa Senators immediately become involved with all the players they have to deal?
But what about Vladimir Tarasenko? Tarasenko is a little more complicated because he has the full no-movement clause but he is a player of interest because he can flat out score. There are so many contending teams that like the idea of adding that finishing touch.
Could a team like Vegas step up? They want to add at least one forward, maybe a couple of forwards.
And what about Jacob Chychrun? When Noah Hanifin goes from the Flames, and that’s going to happen in the next couple of days, then I think that the action that’s been established over the last couple of days on Chychrun will move up another layer. All sorts of permutations as we look at the Ottawa Senators.
What forwards might be at the top of the Edmonton Oilers’ list?
Jason Zucker, on paper, seems like the kind of forward Edmonton might like but I’m told they’re not in on him. He is being held out of Arizona’s lineup on Tuesday for trade-related reasons because action has picked up around that forward.
Does a trade of Tyler Toffoli become a last-minute decision for the New Jersey Devils?
Let’s discuss a couple of the other main names, starting with Sean Walker in Philadelphia and Max Pacioretty in Washington.
The next player is Max Pacioretty, who has a full no-movement clause. He can afford to be picky but I also think he wants to go join a contender. If he can, he’d rather stay East. A team that I’m wondering about is the Florida Panthers, potentially, as a fit for him.