NHL Rumors: Detroit Red Wings, Arizona Coyotes, Anaheim Ducks

Welcome to another edition of Full Press Hockey’s NHL Rumors! The 2022-23 season is over, and players and front offices will be evaluated. Now, the focus shifts toward the new season.

In this Wednesday’s edition of NHL Rumors, we’ll examine the Detroit Red Wings, Arizona Coyotes, and the Anaheim Ducks.

NHL rumors in this edition include:

Patrick Kane’s recovery from his hip surgery is ahead of schedule… now he is interested in joining Alex DeBrincat in Detroit. The Coyotes may have several players on short-term deals be trade deadline candidates. Has John Gibson changed his mind about wanting to be traded?

Detroit Red Wings – Patrick Kane

Rumor: Per – John Dietz – dailyherald.com. Could Patrick Kane be eyeing a reunion with Alex DeBrincat in Detroit? He is ahead of schedule on his hip surgery recovery. 

Watch for Patrick Kane to sign with the Detroit Red Wings. Someone who knows Kane very well said Kane told him he wanted to follow Alex DeBrincat if/when he was able. Of course there has to be mutual interest, so we'll see if Detroit extends an olive branch … https://t.co/4qk4lEASPM

— John Dietz (@JDietzSports) September 3, 2023

The Red Wings have made some significant upgrades to their roster. GM Steve Yzerman is going for it. He knows his contract will be up soon. So, he added J.T. Compher, Christian Fischer, Shayne Gostisbehere, Justin Holl, James Reimer, and Daniel Sprong. Could he be on the verge of signing one of the premier players in the NHL? Of course, Kane needs to be healed and from all indications, his recovery is way ahead of schedule. When he is ready to get back into the action, he may be better physically than he has been for years. That is good news for the Red Wings if he is acquired and bad news for their opponents on the ice.

Kane, while playing injured last season, still managed to collect 21 goals and 36 assists in 73 games with his former team, the Chicago Blackhawks and the team he was traded to, the New York Rangers. It becomes intriguing to see if Yzerman will pull the trigger and sign Kane. While there are no guarantees in the NHL, adding a player like Kane can certainly give you a good shot at making the playoffs. And that’s something the fans of Motor City haven’t seen since the 2015-16 season.

Arizona Coyotes – Three players who could be trade deadline candidates

Rumor: Per – Rob Couch – nhltraderumors.me. The Coyotes are attempting to be more competitive, but if they are out of the playoffs by the trade deadline, they may consider trading off players.

According to Couch, these three players could be traded:

• Jason Zucker – The former Pittsburgh Penguins forward signed a one-year contract to play in the desert. His $5.3 million contract may be a bit steep, but teams vying for a Cup may find room in their budget for him. He tallied 27 goals, 21 assists in 78 games last season and could be an excellent addition to a Cup-contending team.
• Matt Dumba – Dumba has had his issues, with injuries and a decreased playing level, but is still a solid defender. He will be a leader on the Yotes roster due to his age (29) and his 10 years of NHL experience, all with the Minnesota Wild. If he can bounce back in Arizona, he could be headed to a contender at the deadline if the Coyotes fail to improve in the standings.
• Karel Vejmelka – “Veggie” is signed for two more seasons at a reasonable $2.725 million. He has been included in NHL rumors for teams needing a reliable netminder. His stats aren’t overwhelming, but neither was the Coyotes’ level of play. He maintained a 3.43 GAA, with a .900 save percentage. With Connor Ingram playing well, it could be a battle in net for the starter job. If Ingram wins, and with Ivan Prosvetov coming along in the AHL, Vejmelka could be dealt at the deadline.

According to Greg Wyshynski of espn.com, forward Alexander Kerfoot (two years, $3.5 million average annual value) could also interest playoff contenders later this season. Then again, the Coyotes could surprise the “experts” and play really well enough not to lose these players.

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Anaheim Ducks – John Gibson

Rumor: Per – James Wilson – nhltraderumors.me. John Gibson Rumored To Have Changed His Mind About Wanting Out Of Anaheim.

His role as a reliable goaltender is pivotal in the team’s transition phase, and the recent acquisitions might have prompted him to reassess his desire to leave. Last season, the 30-year-old netminder posted a 3.99 GAA with a poor .899 save percentage across 53 games played. He posted one shutout and a 14-31-8 record. It could be that Gibson now sees a ray of light in Duckland where hope is still alive and they can actually progress.

Plus, while one player cannot carry a team, don’t forget that they drafted Leo Carlsson second overall this year. Add in the young talents of Troy Terry, Mason McTavish, Trevor Zegras, and Jamie Drysdale and you can see why Gibson reconsidered his trade request. The upcoming season may tell us if Gibson desires to stay in Anaheim. If the team shows signs of improvement, he may not want to leave. He may become part of a resurgence and that can be pretty exciting.

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