NHL Rumors: New York Rangers, Arizona Coyotes, Pittsburgh Penguins

Welcome to another edition of Full Press Hockey’s NHL Rumors! The 2022-23 regular season is nearly halfway done and players will be evaluated. Now, with the trade deadline 47 days away, rumors are still around. The NHL holiday trade freeze ended at 12:01 am on December 28th. That could mean trade activity or NHL rumors could be picking up.

Clubs are always working to improve their rosters for next season. Some teams are having difficulty creating enough cap space to make moves. Others are experiencing severe injuries to star players. Trade rumors/signings are still possible. In this Sunday edition of NHL Rumors, we will take a look at the New York Rangers, Arizona Coyotes, and the Pittsburgh Penguins.

New York Rangers – Trade Targets

Rumor: Per – Frank Seravalli – dailyfaceoff.com. After a very successful run last season, the Rangers are hoping to add some pieces which will take them back there again.

The Rangers have the future assets, salary cap space and recent playoff success to go big-game hunting. So, who are they looking at to improve their roster? According to Seravalli:

• Patrick Kane – Re-connecting Kane with Artemi Panarin would definitely help as they search for a top-six winger. If Kane wants to leave (that may not be the case), the New York club could take on his salary with a 50 percent retention from Chicago. Kane has all the control with his full no-trade clause. We should know something this month on his decision.
• Brock Boeser – He wants a change of scenery, and heading to New York may just fit him fine. His $6.65 million contract good through 2024-25 is cheaper than Kane and he’s way younger at just 25. He could be acquired with a second-round pick and seeing that the Rangers have two first-rounders, it wouldn’t hurt them too much. He could be the young scorer they need since both Alexis Lafreniere and Kaapo Kakko have struggled in their development.

• James van Riemsdyk – He has a $7 million cap hit and is 33 years old. Still, he’s a proven scorer who has missed games due to a finger injury this season. He has only played in 22 games with six goals and 11 assists. He would be more of a rental if the Rangers feel they can take it all this season.

•  Vladislav Gavrikov – He could be just the ideal defender head coach Gerard Gallant would like on his blueline. He breaks up plays, averages over 22 minutes of ice time and withstands pressure from a forecheck. The catch is plenty of other teams will compete for his services as well.

Arizona Coyotes – Jakob Chychrun

Rumor: Per – Pierre LeBrun – theathletic.com. It seems the asking price for Chychrun’s services may have changed. Multiple teams have shown interest.

The Coyotes GM Bill Armstrong realizes that he doesn’t need to trade Chychrun before the trade deadline, as he is signed for two more years after this season. Two first-round picks plus a prospect for Chychrun was the price.  LeBrun was told the Coyotes are willing to be flexible depending on the quality of the prospect, for example. So as time progresses there appears to be another avenue to make a deal happen. As always, the assets offered would have to equal the original asking price in the eyes of Arizona.

It still remains that the Ottawa Senators seem to be the best fit for both parties, yet nothing has transpired just yet. That could change as the Sens are just seven points out of a wild-card spot. Would adding Chychrun be the factor that puts them over the top? The Toronto Maple Leafs could certainly use Chychrun’s booming shot from the point. The Los Angeles Kings have been interested but with Drew Doughty and Sean Durzi on the power play, does giving up prospects make sense for the Kings?

The Edmonton Oilers have some interest in Chychrun but could use more of a shut-down-type defenseman. They can score with the best of them, it’s defense that is their weakness. While the Florida Panthers may want to add Chychrun, they really don’t possess the assets to make it happen.

Garrioch adds there is talk that the Wild have shown some interest in Jakob Chychrun, so if they trade Dumba, they'd go out and try and acquire Chychrun.

— NHL Watcher (@NHL_Watcher) January 13, 2023

Finally, there are two additional teams now in the Chychrun sweepstakes. Frank Seravalli added the Vegas Golden Knights to the list. Bruce Garrish from the Ottawa Sun reported that the Minnesota Wild may have had talks with the Coyotes on Chychrun. That may only happen if the Wild trade Matt Dumba and need a replacement for him.

It seems that there is excessive interest in Chychrun, yet nothing serious has happened yet.

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Pittsburgh Penguins – Third Line Center

Rumor: Per – Dan Kingerski – pittsburghockeynow.com. Pens are looking for a third-line center, who’s out there?

Ron Hextall needs a third-line center as Jeff Carter is not getting it done. He is getting paid $3.125 million through the 2024-25 season. He’s also 38 years old. There are some possibilities to check on, but is it a good idea? Let’s see which players he may consider.

• Adam Henrique – The Ducks seem to want to move him and the Pens could use him. He has 13 goals and 10 assists while Carter has just seven goals and 12 assists. Henrique has much better puck-possession skills than Carter. His cap hit however is at $5.825 million through next season.
• Nick Bonino – The Sharks are another team in the depths of the standings, and Bonino is slightly better than Carter, and a bit younger at 34. He too has better puck possession numbers. Bonino earns $2.05 million through this season.
• Travis Boyd – The Coyotes are in a rebuild, so some players will be gone. Boyd is only 29 years old and has a cap hit of $1.75 million good through next season. He has four goals and 10 assists and has played on Arizona’s top line at times.
• Jason Dickinson – The Hawks are also in the Connor Bedard race, and will be sending away players. Dickinson is only 27 years old and has a $2.65 million cap hit through next season. He has tallied four goals, six assists in 36 games. He has some potential and would be cheaper than Jeff Carter.

Now, we can sit back and see if Hextall makes a move.

That concludes this edition of NHL rumors. Be sure to catch our next article and thanks for reading!