NHL Rumors: Toronto Maple Leafs, Calgary Flames, Chicago Blackhawks

Welcome to the Sunday edition of Full Press Hockey’s NHL Rumors! The NHL Trade Deadline is in the books and several big names got moved before and after the deadline. However, the focus now turns towards the playoffs and the moves tabled for the off-season. In this post trade deadline edition of NHL Rumors we look at the Toronto Maple Leafs, Calgary Flames, and Chicago Blackhawks.

Toronto Maple Leafs – Petr Mrazek, Justin Holl

Rumor: Per – Shane Seney – nhltraderumors.me. Look for the wheeling and dealing to continue this summer as the Maple Leafs have some cash issues creeping up for next season. Let’s take a look at two Leafs who could be dealt in the offseason.

Toronto general manager Kyle Dubas got to work by acquiring Mark Giordano and Colin Blackwell from the Seattle Kraken. Now, he must concentrate on bettering his roster in the offseason. Two players who may become expendable in that effort are Petr Mrazek and Justin Holl.

Petr Mrazek was placed on waivers and cleared, but he must be hearing that if his performance doesn’t improve the rest of the season and in the playoffs, he could be dealt in the offseason. His .885 save percentage with a 3.39 goals-against-average, even though he has a decent 11-6 record, seems to concern Dubas about keeping him around.

Jack Campbell is set to return from injury soon and will be due a new contract at season’s end. His current cap hit of $1.65 million will increase if/when Dubas re-signs him. That means that Mrazek’s $3.8 million deal good through the 2023-24 season would be needing to be gone in order to keep Campbell around.

Then, there’s the good indication that Justin Holl may finally be dealt this summer. He has been rumored since the second month of the season to be heading out. Now that Dubas traded Travis Dermott, it seems that Holl’s $2 million contract good through next season is going to be the next target. There must be a cheaper option out there for a bottom-six defenseman, and Dubas will find it.

General managers’ lives must be a living hell.

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Calgary Flames – Sean Monahan, Juuso Valimaki

Rumor: Per – Shane Seney – nhltraderumors.me. While general manager Brad Treliving tried to pull off some more moves, his next deals will come at the draft. Let’s take a look at two Flames likely on their way out at season’s end.

.@frank_seravalli reiterates confidence that the #Flames can move Sean Monahan

Via the @DailyFaceoff Rundown pic.twitter.com/hnMGdFwxzf

— FlamesNation (@FlamesNation) March 18, 2022

Sean Monahan has been very inconsistent this season with only eight goals, 14 assists in 63 games. Needless to say, he’s not impressed head coach Darryl Sutter who expects more from the center’s play. His $6.375 million contract he signed in 2016 will expire after next season. He’s far from his best season in 2018-19 when he tallied 34 goals, 47 assists in 78 games. His production for the price of his contract must put Treliving in the market to move him.

The Chicago Blackhawks may be interested in acquiring him this off-season. Be sure to watch for future NHL rumors concerning Monahan.

Juuso Valimaki has been playing primarily in the AHL where he has had 15 points in 27 games. He has participated in eight NHL games with two points. The Flames could very well package him along with Monahan in a deal this summer. He has a $1.55 million cap hit through next season. If he doesn’t get to the Flames top-six by next season, he may ask to be traded.

He has found it tough to see any minutes with the Flames and it may be time for him to move on where he gets more playing time.

Chicago Blackhawks – Futures of Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, Dylan Strome

Rumor – Per Pierre LeBrun – theathletic.com. Pierre LeBrun recently reported agent Pat Brisson, who represents Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews and Seth Jones, would meet this week with Chicago Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson.

Brisson wants to pick Davidson’s brain as to the future of Kane and Toews in Chicago. It goes without saying that any number of teams would be tripping over themselves to get a shot at acquiring Kane. While Davidson is promising to keep both players apprised as to his rebuilding plans, there’s always those two $10.5 million contracts staring him in the face, especially during a rebuild. Both players also have no-movement clauses, so it could get interesting.

Scott Powers of theathletic.com wrote about the future of Dylan Strome in Chicago. Powers noted that Strome is not cheap enough ($3 million cap hit) or young enough (25) to automatically be kept around. He has been rumored to be traded for some time now and won’t be interested in a short-term deal. It’s unknown whether Strome shows he deserves a long-term contract, or if he will be in the lineup next season.

He told Powers: “We’ll see what happens. I think like I said, just put it in the back of your mind and go play some hockey and have fun these last 19 games and sit together as a team and see what happens.”

That wraps up another edition of NHL rumors. Be sure to look for our next article on Wednesday!