Are the Canadiens fielding calls on Sean Monahan, specifically from Colorado? What is the latest on Max Pacioretty's torn Achilles injury? Are the Devils kicking tires on Sharks' winger Timo Meier? TSN Hockey Insiders Chris Johnston, Pierre LeBrun and Darren Dreger discuss this and more.
We know the Montreal Canadiens are sellers and Sean Monahan is returning from injury. The Habs have said they are not actively shopping him, but are they getting calls on the veteran forward?
Captain Gabriel Landeskog has not played a game this year and there are people around the league who are starting to wonder, “Do we have another Kucherov [situation] on our hands?” Where maybe he doesn’t come back until the playoffs and the Avs have way more cap room to play with than we realize.
The answer is no, as I found out today. The Avalanche expect Landeskog to be playing way before the end of the regular season, they hope by early March. So his $7 million cap hit will be on the books so they don’t have that much cap room to play with. So when it comes to Ryan O’Reilly or Bo Horvat, yes I think the Avs are going to keep tabs on those situations. However, they don’t have a lot of future assets, they’ve spent a lot over the past couple of years to get too serious with [those players]. That’s why I think a guy like Monahan makes sense and that’s why it’s a name I know the Avs have talked about.
What is the latest on Max Pacioretty after the 34-year-old suffered another torn Achilles tendon?
We’ll see how his development recovers but he is due to become an unrestricted free agent this summer. If he can hit that timeline, he should be getting healthy again at least in time for summer and the beginning of next year.
How are the Calgary Flames working their cap space around Oliver Kylington?
He remains on Calgary’s cap but he does not take up a roster spot. If he doesn’t return, an option the Flames could consider is placing him on long-term injured reserve and getting the cap relief. Obviously, Brad Treliving, the general manager of the Flames, would shop, use, and add something at the trade deadline.
Is there any news on the interest level in San Jose Sharks forward Timo Meier?
Obviously, he wouldn’t say names. You can’t do that, that would be tampering. But let me be the person that reads between the lines and says that Timo Meier would fit exactly what the Devils are looking for. Why? Because Tom Fitzgerald also said that, ideally, if he adds a top-six winger, a player of that calibre, he wants a player that’s with the Devils past this year. Not a rental player. Someone he can sign, someone he can keep. I think Meier fits that description and the Devils will certainly investigate that possibility.
The St. Louis Blues are receiving trade interest for Ryan O’Reilly. Who else are they receiving calls on?
He’s a name to keep tabs on. It certainly doesn’t hurt that he’s on an expiring contract, making just $2.25 million against the cap. I don’t have any reason to believe that St. Louis, at this point, is totally ready to wave the white flag on this season. But if and when they do it could get pretty interesting there.