NHL Rumors: Toronto Maple Leafs, Calgary Flames, Vancouver Canucks

 

Welcome to the Sunday edition of Full Press Hockey‘s NHL Rumors. This time we will cover the Toronto Maple Leafs, Calgary Flames, and Vancouver Canucks.

Toronto Maple Leafs – Calvin de Haan

Rumor: Per – thefourthperiod.com. It’s not secret that Toronto Maple Leafs GM Kyle Dubas is searching for a veteran defenseman to help strengthen their blueline. Dubas is attempting to move some salary cap space out by possibly dealing Nick Ritchie, and or Travis Dermott. Could Calvin de Haan be the answer?

Analysis: Calvin de Haan is a skilled shot-blocker with an average of 2.13 blocks per game. He also has 2.09 hits per game. With the Leafs’ potent offense, they need a blueliner who can move the puck to the skilled forwards and stay back to defend.

The preference here is to move Ritchie whose full cap hit is $2.5 million, but he’s on the taxi squad right now, deflating his salary to $1.375 million. It shouldn’t be too difficult to fit de Haan’s $4.55 million onto the Leafs balance sheet if the Chicago Blackhawks will retain some salary. He is a prospective unrestricted free agent and the ‘Hawks will need to move him for a draft pick. A second-round pick should do the trick.

Calgary Flames – Matthew Tkachuk

Rumor: Per – Steve Macfarlane – calgaryhockeynow.com. Macfarlane thinks that the Flames need to go “all in” this year and that includes figuring out how to keep both Matthew Tkachuk and Johnny Gaudreau on the roster.

Analysis: Matthew Tkachuk‘s next contract will start at a $9 million qualifying offer since he will still be a restricted free agent. That’s a lot of money, but Tkachuk’s production is difficult to ignore. His 20 goals and 24 assists in 40 games are easily surpassing last season’s output. He is averaging 1.10 points per game when last season he only had 0.77 per game playing in the 56-game shortened season.

The other factor is not keeping Tkachuk or Gaudreau will split up one of the top lines in the NHL. The trio of Elias Lindholm, Gaudreau, and Tkachuk are the top three scorers on the Flames. It goes without saying, keeping Tkachuk happy should be a top priority for the Flames to be successful. Tkachuk is shooting at a 14.6 percent success rate and is having an exceptional season. GM Brad Treliving has his work cut out for him.

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Vancouver Canucks – J.T. Miller

Rumor: Per – Pierre LeBrun – TSN. LeBrun thinks if you are seriously considering trading J.T. Miller you better make your best offer before the March 21st trade deadline. The main question for the Vancouver Canucks to consider is, will Miller be part of what management views this team to be moving forward?

Analysis: The Canucks need to replenish their prospects bank, and trading Miller could help in that respect. Conversely, how do you trade a guy with 15 goals, 29 assists in 42 games? The Canucks don’t NEED to trade him. In this situation, LeBrun thinks if a team offers three-to-four assets for Miller, they must consider trading him. The other question is, the timeline. Do you trade Miller before the deadline or wait until the offseason?

With almost a month to go before the trade deadline, it seems Miller will be part of NHL rumors for a bit longer.

That will do it for this version of NHL rumors. Be sure to catch our Wednesday edition.