In today’s NHL rumor roundup, Kyle Dubas spoke to the media about what the Toronto Maple Leafs plan to do before the NHL trade deadline. Meanwhile, two teams compete for the opportunity to trade for JT Miller. Will the Vancouver Canucks move the player? According to a report, the Montreal Canadiens are not going to tear down the entire team and another source notes that the Edmonton Oilers were close to letting head coach Dave Tippett go.
Dubas wants to see his team, acquire players eventually
Dubas said he would like to see what a full roster looks like before committing to a trade deadline game plan. Although he says it could be wishful thinking depending on how the season has gone for him and for each team, the club has never had a stretch where the roster as constructed has been able to play. together.
If he decides he wants to add more, Dubas said he would prefer to keep the Leafs’ three draft picks in 2022, but might not have the luxury. “We are now in a mode where we are trying to win. So if we have to deal with that pool to do something that we think can help us, great. He also noted“We probably don’t have a lot of balls in the room here…when you go out and buy someone, you’re probably done by then.”
As for what will come next, he noted “My preference is to acquire players over time and with as much time as possible.” He moved veterans Nick Ritchie and Kyle Clifford to the AHL’s Toronto Marlies team now that the taxi teams are gone and in an effort to free up space. When asked to give Josh Ho-Sang an NHL contract, he wouldn’t commit, saying the team only had two contracts left to use.
Two teams competing for JT Miller
According to Ben Kuzma of The Province, the Canucks have yet to decide if they will trade JT Miller, but if they do, there are two teams that seem to be vying for his services: the Boston Bruins and the Rangers. New York.
Related: Even Awful 2021-22 Canadians Season Got Silver Linings
If Miller moves, it will be because one of those teams made an offer that was compelling enough for the Canucks to have a hard time saying no. Kuzma writes:
Right now, he could rightfully ask for a first-round pick, lead prospect and center in return to help bump Miller to meet his age, pick and potential buy criteria.
source: The biggest question of the “Canucks”? To keep or exchange JT Miller’ – Ben Kuzma – La Province – 02/02/2022
Canadians don’t go with ‘scorched earth reconstruction’
According to Arpon Basu and Marc Antoine Godin of The Athletic, the Montreal Canadiens are not expected to find themselves on “scorched earth” with their rebuild. Jeff Gorton didn’t make it in New York with the Rangers and it doesn’t look like he will with the Canadiens.
That said, there will be trade-offs and regarding any changes new GM Kent Hughes might make, the two scribes write:
It’s not that difficult to determine who will be traded before March 21st. Ben Chiarot is practically gone, and as we mentioned in our notebook on Monday, it could happen sooner than you think. Brett Kulak is probably gone too. Maybe Chris Wideman too. If Mathieu Perreault can come back and play a few games before the deadline, maybe Hughes and Gorton can find him a new home as well.
source – “The way forward for the Canadiens: new general manager Kent Hughes explains how the next 8 months could unfold” – Arpon Basu and Marc Antoine Godin – The Athletic – 02/02/2022
Trade speculation for Brendan Gallagher and Jeff Petry will continue, but either is unlikely to be moved before the deadline. Something in the offseason makes more sense.
The Oilers almost changed coaches
According to Kurt Leavins of the Edmonton Journal, the Oilers were close to firing Dave Tippett, potentially one loss away from bringing in a new coach. Leavins writes, “The more I talk to people in Edmonton and beyond, the more I realize that the club has come much closer to a coaching change than Ken Holland is letting on or most of us realized at the time.
He adds that winning against the Calgary Flames to break a very stressful losing streak was the game that saved Tippett’s job. He explains:
In fact, if the Oilers had lost that game to Calgary, I suspect very strongly that there would have been a hastily scheduled press conference the next day. Discussions had taken place. The dissatisfactions in the state of the club at that time had been expressed in no uncertain terms.
source – ‘Edmonton Oilers need to get out of break, both on and off the ice: 9 things’ – Kurt Leavins – Edmonton Journal – 02/062022
What saved Tippett was Holland’s respect for the coach and his reluctance to blame the coach for issues that might not have been his fault. Leavins said, “He wasn’t ready to hang Dave Tippett up to dry.”
Jim Parsons is a THW senior freelance writer, part-time journalist, and audio/video host who lives, eats, sleeps, and breathes NHL news and gossip, while reporting on the Edmonton Oilers . He’s been a trusted source for more than five years at The Hockey Writers, but more than that, he’s on a mission to keep readers up to date on the latest NHL rumors and trade talks. Jim is a daily staple for readers who want to be “in the know”.
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