We're breaking down the latest NHL rumors, including Calgary going up in Flames, grading the latest NHL trade and signings and more.
We've reached the pinnacle of the NHL offseason with the draft and free agency upon us this week. But general managers have been ahead of the game. We've seen some stunning trades and some players have also been signed to long extensions. However, most of the trades have been for cap relief. It means there are more rumored transactions on the horizon.
Let's dive into this week's fresh batch of NHL rumors.
NHL rumors: PLD=LA?:
The star center will finally get his wish. Months after demanding a trade out of Winnipeg, Pierre-Luc Dubois will soon be on the move.
Dubois and the Kings could agree to an extension as part of the trade. But the price isn't cheap. The Kings are prepared to trade two star youngsters, Gabe Vilardi and Alex Iafallo.
Vilardi scored a career-high 23 goals and 41 points this past season. Iafallo, 29, has spent his six-year career with the Kings. He scored 14 goals and had 36 points in 59 games this season. Dubois, 25, played in 73 games this season in Winnipeg. He scored 27 goals and had a career-high 63 points.
The Kings are taking a big risk in pursuing a top-line center. Let's see if they finish the job.
NHL blocks Toney DeAngelo trade:
The Philadelphia Flyers have traded Tony DeAngelo to the Carolina Hurricanes. However, the NHL seems concerned about DeAngelo returning to Carolina within a year of his previous trade from the Hurricanes. According to the CBA, a player returning within 12 months, especially on a retained salary, may be considered circumvention.
Both teams are reportedly working to convince the NHL to approve the trade. They argue that DeAngelo signed his contract after the Hurricanes traded him to Philadelphia last year and Chuck Fletcher, the Flyers' general manager.
Now, it's Danny Briere. The two teams can wait until Jul. 9 to complete the deal, when the original trade meets its one-year requirement. If they don't, the transaction will fall through.
NHL rumors: Calgary's hockey team is up in Flames
According to Frank Seravalli, the team is currently facing the possibility of losing several key faces, such as Noah Hanifin, Mikael Backlund, Tyler Toffoli, and Elias Lindholm.
"The general speculation around the league is that Elias Lindholm is leaning towards not re-signing with the Flames, but to my knowledge, has not given them an official no. Noah Hanifin, on the other hand, has verbalized that he's likely not to re-sign and, obviously under contract for one more year, would prefer ultimately to play elsewhere.
"Here's the name that I learned yesterday that I was pretty surprised to hear. Another one of those guys entering the final year of his deal and has been a staple in Calgary forever is Mikael Backlund. At this exact moment in time, subject to change, is also leaning towards not re-signing with the Flames."
GM, Craig Conroy, is facing a challenging situation should he want to get something back in return. Their cap hits are expensive. It is hard to rebuild the team entirely, even if some players are willing to leave. The Flames may have to accept lower returns and retain salary to make these hefty contracts disappear.
Noah Hanifin, a 26-year-old skilled defenseman with an affordable $4.95 million cap hit, could bring significant value in a trade. Several teams have reportedly inquired, including the Buffalo Sabres, Dallas Stars, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Florida Panthers.
What do all those teams have in common? They're all in the United States, where Hanifin wants to go.
Meanwhile, Tyler Toffoli,31, worth $4.25 million over 2023-24, could be a valuable addition to a contending team like the Colorado Avalanche or New York Rangers.
Mikael Backlund, 34, is considered one of the top two-way centers in the NHL. He had an exceptional season and is showing no signs of decline. Every team must have a player like Backlund to succeed in the league.
His contract is affordable, with a cap hit of only $5.35M for one more season. Even if the Flames retain a portion of the contract, every team could easily accommodate him within their salary cap.
While he may bring less value than Hanifin or Toffoli, he could still be a valuable addition to a contending team as a depth center.
These desired departures may lead to a less competitive team in the short term; it presents an opportunity to add younger players and restock the prospect cupboard. It creates salary cap space. It will be up to Conroy to turn this negative situation into a positive for the Flames.
NHL rumors: Mitch Love to join Spencer Carberry's Caps behind the bench
The Capitals have hired Mitch Love to join new head coach Spencer Carbery behind the bench.
Last season, Love,39, was the head coach of the Calgary Wranglers (Flames affiliate) in the AHL. The team had the best record in the entire league, with a 51-17-3-1 record. Their penalty kill was the best in the league, while their power play was ranked 9th.
Love, who used to play professional hockey, got into coaching in 2012 and has had great success with the Flames' affiliate teams over the past two seasons. He was also the head coach of the Stockton Heat(Flames ECHL team) for the 2021-22 season. Love has been named the AHL's coach of the year for back-to-back seasons, with a combined record of 96-33-11.
Before becoming a coach, Love played five seasons in the WHL with Moose Jaw, Swift Current, and Everett, and he captained the latter in his final junior season.
He then played for six seasons in various professional leagues. Love has also received the Man of the Year award for his outstanding contributions to his local community and charitable organizations as a player.
Aside from coaching in the AHL, Love has also been a part of the coaching staff for Canada's U17, U18, and U20 programs since 2015. He helped lead the team to a gold medal at the 2020 World Junior Championships and a silver medal at the 2021 tournament.
However, the Flames weren't the only ones making news over the weekend. Other teams around the league linked together for our first trades of the Summer.
NHL rumors: Blackhawks acquire Taylor Hall from Bruins
Despite not being in his prime, 2016 Hart-Trophy winner Taylor Hall is still a useful forward. The Blackhawks will be a bad team next season, but they hope to put Hall on Connor Bedard's wing to help with the offense.
Meanwhile, Boston clears $6 million in cap space with this move. Boston has $11 million to spend. The Bruins are likely looking to re-sign Tyler Bertuzzi with the cap space they've gained from moving Hall. They may also consider reuniting with Torey Krug in a trade with St. Louis. Overall, this trade benefits both sides.
Grade: Blackhawks A-, Bruins: C
Coyotes acquire Sean Durzi from Kings for 2024 3rd round pick (MTL)
The Arizona Coyotes are moving to rebuild their team, and their recent acquisition of defenseman Sean Durzi is just part of a larger plan. With 12 picks in the upcoming NHL draft, including seven in the first three rounds, the Coyotes have plenty of draft capital to use on young players.
Durzi, 24, has a cap hit of $1.7 million. He's a skilled puck mover who can help the power play and kill penalties.
With many picks, the Coyotes can take chances on skill and adapt to any scenario. The team's scouts are prepared for every possibility and will meet before the draft to discuss their strategy. While there are no guarantees in the draft, the Coyotes are poised to take a big step forward in rebuilding.
Meanwhile, the Kings get a 2024 second-round pick and free up cap space for highly touted prospect Brandt Clarke. The 20-year-old made his NHL debut last season.
The team may also be positioning themselves to make a move for center Pierre-Luc Dubois, who reportedly wants a big contract and would require shedding more salary. The Kings may consider trading restricted free agent Gabriel Vilardi and some other players and draft picks to acquire Dubois.
Grades: Coyotes A, Kings C
Avalanche acquire Ryan Johansen from Predators
The Avalanche acquired Ryan Johansen (50 percent salary retained) as a replacement for Nazem Kadri. He brings size, play-driving ability, and goal-scoring, but his inconsistent performance and injury history pose a risk. The Predators traded Johansen, 30, for cap space and received Alex Galchenyuk's negotiation rights. However, they won't retain them and will let him hit the AHL free-agency market.
The trade seems good for the Avalanche, but it remains to be seen if Johansen is worth the reduced cost.
Barry Trotz, the new GM of Nashville, decided to part ways with Johansen. He had a leg injury that limited him to only 55 games last season. Johansen was expected to become the team's top center when he was traded for Seth Jones in 2016, but he didn't perform up to expectations. He starred in his first two seasons after signing an 8x$8 million deal. But he later settled in as a productive second-line center.
Due to his $8 million cap hit for the next two seasons, Johansen seemed untradeable in the flat-cap NHL. However, he now has a chance to outplay his contract. If he can stay healthy and in the lineup, he'll only be making $4 million.
Grades: Avalanche A, Predators C
Trades are fun, but signings are too. As these transactions transpired, we were also blessed with some to players to ink long-term deals with their clubs.
Devils sign Haula to a three-year, $9.45 million deal
Haula, 32, had a breakout season with 14 goals and 41 points. His contributions helped the Devils make their first playoff appearance in five years. He'll make $3.9 million in 2023-24, $3.15 million in 2024-25, and $2.4 million in 2025-26. Haula has played for seven teams (Minnesota Wild, Vegas Golden Knights, Carolina Hurricanes, Florida Panthers, Nashville Predators, Boston Bruins, and Devils). He has also accumulated 281 points in 614 career games. The Wild selected him in the seventh round of the 2009 NHL draft.
Jordan Stall stays in Carolina:
The Carolina Hurricanes have secured the services of their captain, Jordan Staal, for the next four years. Staal, 35, who could have become an unrestricted free agent, has signed a $11.6 million deal to remain with the team. He is committed to helping the Hurricanes win their first Stanley Cup since 2006. Staal's annual salary cap hit $2.9 million until the 2026-27 season. Staal's new contract includes a full no-movement clause for the first three years and a full no-trade clause for the final season, giving him total control over where he plays. As a result, Staal may spend the rest of his career in Raleigh, where he has been a key player for the past decade. Staal, coach Rod Brind'Amour, and the team's young core have helped the Hurricanes make the playoffs for the past five seasons. Although they've been swept in the Eastern Conference final in 2019 and 2021, they have won division titles in the past three seasons.
Coyotes re-sign Conor Ingram for three-years, $1.95 million AAV
Last season, the 26-year-old Ingram led the Coyotes with a goals-against average of 3.37 and a save percentage of .907. He played in 27 games and had a record of 6-13-8. Ingram made NHL history by making 47 saves in a shutout of Tampa Bay on Feb. 15, which was his first career shutout. He was drafted by Tampa Bay in the third round in 2016 and was claimed off waivers by the Coyotes last year.
