Here you will find the very latest news from around the NHL:
St. Louis Blues open for business on the trade market
Head coach Jim Montgomery recently made a healthy scratch on Jordan Kyrou, turning heads around the league. Kyrou is signed for the 2030-31 season for $8.12 million AAV, and after sitting out one game, he scored in his return. The speedy winger has scored five goals and nine points in 15 games this season and is coming off a 36-goal, 70-point season. Kyrou was previously in the middle of trade talks and was rumored to be close to being dealt to the Seattle Kraken during the last NHL Draft.
Kyrou isn’t the only Blue who can be moved. Keep an eye on Brayden Schenn, Pavel Buchnevich, Justin Faulk and Jordan Binnington, who have all been linked to recent trade talks. Schenn was moved almost before last season’s trade deadline, and with the potential of a complete culture change in St. Louis, it’s highly likely he’ll be shipped out of town in what many believe would be a “hockey trade” and not one where Armstrong merely sells his players for future draft picks and mediocre prospects.
Binnington seems like someone who could be moved to the Edmonton Oilers, but those two teams aren’t necessarily best friends considering what happened with Dylan Holloway and Philip Broberg’s contracts. There are a few other teams likely keeping an eye on Binnington as well, as the former Stanley Cup and 4 Nations Faceoff champion will be one of the better goaltenders available this season. The Blues are 5-8-3 and don’t appear to be a playoff team this season, so Joel Hofer will likely take over as the team’s number one goaltender, with Armstrong able to acquire Binnington, who has one year left on his deal at $6 million AAV and a 14-team no-trade clause. If not the Oilers, keep an eye on the Carolina Hurricanes and Philadelphia Flyers.
Keep an eye on the Nashville Predators
Speaking of trash, the Nashville Predators have been making headlines for all the wrong reasons lately. Ryan O’Reilly recently called himself out after another disappointing match, and quite frankly threw himself under the bus in one of the rarest rants you’ll ever see.
Ryan O’Reilly set himself on fire in the locker room after the defeat. “I can’t make a six-foot pass to save my life…I’ve had a good year in my career.”
O’Reilly has recorded 12 points in 17 games this season, with the Predators entering the new week with a 5-8-4 record and once again struggling to score goals. General Manager Barry Trotz may have no alternative but to make some drastic changes in Nashville, and there will be a lot of contending teams circling their veterans.
Changes are afoot in Nashville as the Predators once again fail to meet expectations and Trotz won’t be able to sit on his hands for much longer.
Quick hits from around the NHL:
- Washington Capitals forward Pierre-Luc Dubois is expected to miss until the fourth month with a captor injury.
- Despite the issues, the Flames owners are in no rush to trade Nazem Kadri as they don’t want to ‘throw in the towel’ with their fan base.
- This season’s group of rookies is very strong, with Matthew Schaefer and Ivan Demidov leading the way. The Canadiens rookie has 13 points this season, good for two points ahead of the Islanders defenseman.
- Buffalo Sabers defenseman Rasmus Dahlin has taken a leave of absence from the team to be home with his wife, who underwent a heart transplant last summer.
- The Hockey Hall of Fame class of 2025 inductees was honored prior to Sunday night’s Maple Leafs-Hurricanes game, but that inductee was worthless, and former Maple Leafs Alex Mogilny was not in attendance.
- David Pagnotta sees the surging Anaheim Ducks making a big trade for an impact sometime this season. Led by Carlsson, the Ducks are 11-3-1 to start the year.
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