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 Chicago Blackhawks, New Jersey Devils, and the Arizona Coyotes.
NHL rumors in this edition include:
What’s going on with Corey Perry? Three trade targets for the New Jersey Devils. Are the Arizona Coyotes actively looking to trade away prospects and draft picks for lineup upgrades?
Chicago Blackhawks – Corey Perry
Rumor: Per – Rob Ellis – nhltraderumor.com. With Perry being absent from team activities and “will remain so for the foreseeable future,” as stated by general manager Kyle Davidson, what’s next?
It seems that, for whatever reason, Perry isn’t looking to be in the plans going forward for the Windy City club. He signed a one-year deal for a hefty $4 million, and now, with Taylor Hall‘s serious injury, the team will be down two forwards. So, where might Davidson trade Perry if it comes down to that?
- Edmonton Oilers – He would certainly bring some physicality to the Oilers, who could use some of that. Perry has the experience of 1,273 NHL games with 421 goals and 471 assists to his credit. He has handed out 1,133 hits and has 447 blocks. That’s just what the Oilers may need to shake them out of their doldrums.
- Colorado Avalanche – The Avs are hurting and could use some depth scoring that Perry could provide. He would be a valuable addition, especially in the playoffs, as proven by his 164 playoff games with 106 points.
- Florida Panthers – A lineup of Matthew Tkachuk and Perry would send opposing teams into retreat mode. They are both the toughest competitors on the ice. Perry would fit the mold in Florida, and he could excel there.
Whatever is going on with Perry, he may need a fresh start elsewhere, which could be good for all parties concerned.
New Jersey Devils – Trade targets
Rumor: Per – Tristin McKinstry – clutchpoints. com. Three trade targets for the struggling New Jersey Devils.
After losing three straight, the Devils had a romp against the Buffalo Sabres, winning 7-2. There hasn’t been much of that kind of result this season, and the team may be looking to improve with some trades. They reside in seventh place in the Metro Division, so let’s see who they can target in a trade to right the ship.
- Anaheim Ducks – John Gibson – The Devils have the fourth-worst goals-against-average, and that needs to change. While Vitek Vanecek had an excellent 2022-23 season with a 33-11-4 record with a sparking 2.45 GAA and a .911 SV%, this season has not been memorable so far. He has a 7-5 record with a .886 SV% and a 3.43 GAA. Gibson could certainly help if acquired. Some financial creativity would be needed to have the Devils afford Gibson’s $6.4 million cap hit through the 2026-27 season.
- Calgary Flames – Nikita Zadorov – The other issue the Devils possess is on defense. The loss of Damon Severson and Ryan Graves has really struck them hard. Adding a bulk of a D-man like Zadorov, who is 6-foot-6 and 248 pounds, could make an impact, so to speak.
- Calgary Flames – Another Calgary defenseman who could be on the Devils’ radar is Noah Hanifin. At first, it appeared that Hanifin would re-sign with the Flames, but then he decided to wait. If a contract can’t be worked out, the Devils may step in to grab him.
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Arizona Coyotes – Stepping up the rebuild
Rumor: Per – Gabriel Foley – prohockeyrumors.com. Coyotes are actively looking to trade away prospects and draft picks for lineup upgrades.
GM Bill Armstrong has built a treasure chest of draft picks and prospects with which to improve his team. He is set to make additional deals like the one he pulled off acquiring Sean Durzi from the Los Angeles Kings for a 2024 second-round draft pick.
With Armstrong armed with a first-rounder, three second-rounders, and three third-round selections in 2024, teams will come calling. With nine defensemen alone listed as free agents after this season, one thing is certain… this team will look much different next season. If Armstrong plays his cards right (and he has been known to do so), he can accelerate the rebuild by leaps and bounds. He’s following a blueprint that he helped create in St. Louis, a logical plan that he learned to construct under the tutelage of Blues GM Doug Armstrong. And as the Coyotes GM noted this summer, the franchise has entered the next stage of the rebuild.
This can be an exciting time for the Arizona Coyotes franchise. They haven’t had much success in their entire existence, and with Armstrong’s skills, they just might get there.
That concludes this edition of NHL rumors. Be sure to catch our next article, and thanks for reading!