Can't get enough NHL rumors? Lyle Richardson's Rumor Roundup column serves as a one-stop guide to the latest rumblings around the league.
Artemi Panarin's ongoing reluctance to re-sign with the Blue Jackets gave rise to growing speculation over his departure via this summer's unrestricted free-agent market.
Last week, the 26-year-old left wing removed any doubt over his intentions. After revealing he switched agents from Dan Milstein to Paul Theofanus, Panarin told reporters he plans to test the market. While not ruling out the possibility of signing with the Jackets, he remained non-committal to the idea. He also said he's prepared to be traded if that's what general manager Jarmo Kekalainen decides to do.
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Panarin's hiring was also significant as Theofanus represents Jackets goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky. Like Panarin, Bobrovsky is expected to hit the open market this summer.
While Kekalainen said this news won't affect how the Jackets conduct business, it increases the possibility of Panarin and/or Bobrovsky being shopped before the deadline. With both sharing the same agent, perhaps they'll both end up with the same club by the trade deadline or as free agents on July 1.
For some time, there's been speculation suggesting one or both could land with the Panthers. A recent report in the New York Post claimed they were interested in acquiring Bobrovsky in hopes of re-signing him, with Derick Brassard headed to Columbus as part of a package offer. A Jackets representative denied having spoken to the Panthers about Bobrovsky.
If Panthers GM Dale Tallon wants them, he could be forced to part with one of his good young forwards. TSN's Frank Seravalli suggests Jonathan Huberdeau as one possibility. He points out the 25-year-old left wing is averaging nearly a point-per-game this season (52 in 54 contests) and is signed through 2022-23 with a reasonable salary cap hit of $5.9 million and a no-movement clause that doesn't kick in until July 1.
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TVA Sports' Renaud Lavoie looked into Huberdeau's status, claiming he was told he wasn't available. Still, if Tallon is keen on landing Panarin and/or Bobrovsky, Huberdeau is the type of player Kekalainen would want as the centerpiece of a package offer.
The Panthers won't be the only club with interest in Panarin. Seravalli's colleague Pierre LeBrun believes the Bruins and Predators asked about the Jackets winger but were put off by the high asking price.
The Athletic's Fluto Shinzawa speculates it could cost the Bruins their first round pick, Ryan Donato or Urho Vaakainen and Trent Frederic. As for the Predators, Kekalainen could ask for their first-round pick along with promising winger Eeli Tolvanen and a young roster player like Kevin Fiala.
Trades coming for the Ducks?
Having tumbled to the bottom of the Western Conference standings, the Ducks fired head coach Randy Carlyle on Sunday. GM Bob Murray has taken over as interim coach until he can find a suitable replacement in the off-season.
The Ducks' free-fall was already generating some media trade chatter prior to Carlyle's firing. The Athletic's Sean Gordon last week observed Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin had scouted a couple of recent Ducks games and wondered if he might be looking at Cam Fowler. TSN's Darren Dreger, however, pointed out the 26-year-old defenseman had a four-team trade list and was probably unavailable.
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Dreger's colleague Frank Seravalli reported Adam Henrique had surfaced in recent trade rumors. The 29-year-old signed a five-year, $29.125 million contract extension last summer that goes into effect on July 1 with a modified no-trade clause, giving Murray an opportunity to ship him anywhere before that date.
The Orange County Register's Mark Whicker, however, feels a full roster reconstruction cannot begin until the Ducks find a way to shed the contracts of aging veteran forwards Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry and Ryan Kesler. Doing so via trade won't be easy, as Whicker noted all three carry expensive contracts with full no-movement clauses. He doubts they'll waive them anytime soon.
Whicker also suggest going the buyout route, though that would be a costly option. Nevertheless, Murray has permission from ownership to do whatever it takes to help the club regain its winning ways.
Ilya Kovalchuk on the block?
Less than a year after returning to the NHL with the Kings, there's talk Ilya Kovalchuk could be on the move again. With the Kings near the bottom of the standings and starting to rebuild, the 35-year-old winger may have to look elsewhere to continue his pursuit of the Stanley Cup.
TSN's Pierre LeBrun last Thursday reported Kovalchuk might be open to waiving his no-movement clause for the right fit. On Saturday, Sportsnet's Nick Kypreos suggested the Bruins as a possible suitor, noting they were the runner-up for Kovalchuk's services last summer.
Kovalchuk hasn't put up big numbers this season (11 goals and 26 points in 44 games) but perhaps those stats could improve on a deeper club. His $6.25 million annual cap hit, however, could make him a tough sell. Kypreos suggests the Kings might have to pick up 25 percent of it to make him tempting to possible suitors.