NHL Rumors: Calgary Flames, Carolina Hurricanes, Arizona Coyotes

Welcome to another edition of Full Press Hockey’s NHL Rumors! The focus has shifted toward the new season. Teams are always looking to improve, and the excitement of a new NHL season is upon us.

In this Sunday edition of NHL Rumors, we’ll examine the Calgary Flames, Carolina Hurricanes, and the Arizona Coyotes.

NHL rumors in this edition include: 

Nikita Zadorov requests a trade. Who might the Hurricanes target as a goalie? Could Noah Hanifin be headed to the desert?

Calgary Flames – Nikita Zadorov

Rumor: Per – Kevin Weekes – nhl.com. According to Zadorov’s agent, Dan Milstein, he is requesting a trade from the Flames.

It appears that Zadorov would welcome a trade to the Toronto Maple Leafs. According to James Nichols of newjerseyhockeynow.com, Zadorov would also welcome a trade to the New Jersey Devils. What may inhibit both potential trade destinations would be Zadorov’s $3.75 million contract, which expires after this season.

**Breaking News ? ?**
Fresh off a goal and big hit tonight against the @MapleLeafs , I’m told that D Zadorov through his agent @GoldStarHockey Dan Milstein has requested a trade from the @NHLFlames . #HockeyTwitter pic.twitter.com/TRZqwcgyd5

— Kevin Weekes (@KevinWeekes) November 11, 2023

Nikita Zadorov trade request, the Oilers, and a Sam Montembeault extension.

📰 Saturday headlines with @FriedgeHNIC pic.twitter.com/oox703Rqb4

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) November 12, 2023

Undoubtedly, the huge 6-foot-6, 248-pound Russian blueliner will attract the interest of other NHL teams. The stats on Zadorov include 19 goals and  29 assists in 168 games in Calgary. He is one tough competitor with 169 penalty minutes and 379 hits to go along with 134 blocks. He can help any team he is traded to just by using his size alone. The salary cap may inhibit moving him, but if an NHL team sees him as a positive addition, they will determine how to move forward.

Carolina Hurricanes – Goalie needed

Rumor: Per – Dave Litman – nhltraderumors.me. With Frederik Andersen out for an unknown time period, the Canes are looking for a goalie.

Per Pierre LeBrun of TSN’s Insider Trading, “It could be six weeks, it could be three months, they really don’t know… (and) it’s not a guarantee that they’ll sign Halak to an NHL contract, that remains to be seen. (So) Carolina (is) keeping an eye on the three-goalie situations in Detroit, Montreal, among other places to see maybe that there’s a trade fit.”

The Canes could be checking in with either the Montreal Canadiens or the Detroit Red Wings to see if a deal can be made. The Habs have Sam Montembeault, Jake Allen, and Cayden Primeau on the roster, while the Wings currently have Ville Husso, James Reimer and Alex Lyon. Of course, the Canes have competition with the Edmonton Oilers, Columbus Blue Jackets, and San Jose Sharks all looking for a netminder. The Hurricanes are sporting a 9-6 record good for 18 points and a second-place standing in the Metro Division. They have aspirations of advancing past their Conference Final loss to the Florida Panthers last season.

Backup Antti Raanta has gone 2-1 since Andersen’s absence and has been a reliable goalie in Carolina. He has a 38-10-7 record with a .908 save percentage and a 2.41 goals-against average. He also has added seven shutouts. While there is no panic at this point, backup to the backup, Pyotr Kochetkov has only 30 career NHL on his resume. If Andersen is out long-term, how long can Raanta carry the team? You can expect GM Don Waddell who has about $2 million in cap space to work with, to find a replacement goaltender. Will it affect the Canes’ drive to the playoffs and beyond? Only time will tell.

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Arizona Coyotes – Noah Hanifin

Rumor: Per – Elliotte Friedman – sportsnet.ca. Could the Coyotes fortify the blueline with the addition of Hanifin?

Noah Hanifin’s name is back in Friedge’s 32 Thoughts column.

Reported that the Sharks may have called about the defenseman, but that wouldn’t be a good fit. However, an interesting player in the game could be the Coyotes. But an extension could still be on the table. #Flames pic.twitter.com/B35sSre9Nk

— Jeff Middleton (@jjmid04) November 9, 2023

Friedman added an interesting note: “As this situation plays out, I am curious to see if an extension becomes part of the conversation. It benefits Hanifin, and benefits the Flames in any return. We saw the Flames maximize their trade return with Matthew Tkachuk by helping facilitate an extension with the Florida Panthers during the 2022 off-season. If they can find a suitable landing spot for Hanifin, helping hammer out an extension for the blueliner would similarly help the Flames get the most they can out of Hanifin as a trade asset.”