Posted in

Flames have 4 untouchables in offseason trade talks, Frederik Andersen leading Hurricanes on historic run

by sports••0
Flames have 4 untouchables in offseason trade talks, Frederik Andersen leading Hurricanes on historic run

Around the NHL: Flames have 4 untouchables in offseason trade talks, Frederik Andersen leading Hurricanes on historic run

We’re back for another Stanley Cup Playoff edition of around the NHL, and there’s a couple of non-playoff teams making some serious noise lately.

On the ice, the Carolina Hurricanes are awaiting the winner of Game 7 between the pesky Buffalo Sabres, and the flash-and-dash Montreal Canadiens. Former Maple Leaf Mitch Marner is leading the charge for Vegas, sitting atop the league playoff scoring, while doing a little bit of everything for the Golden Knights. They’re set to play the Colorado Avalanche in the Western Conference Final, which means either Marner makes the Cup final in his first season outside of Toronto, or Nicolas Roy and Nazem Kadri get another crack at hoisting Lord Stanley.

Off the ice, trade chatter is picking up in a big way leading up to next month’s NHL Draft, and there’s been plenty to follow at the World Championships. Here’s the very latest from around the NHL:

Calgary Flames reportedly are open for business on trade market

Calgary Flames general manager Craig Conroy is ready and willing to make major changes to his roster. Conroy has a big offseason ahead of him, and he’s open to moving just about anyone off the roster.

Daily Faceoff’s Anthony Di Marco reports that Conroy has just four players who are untouchable in trade talks. Which is quite surprising considering how many Flames were already shipped out of town last season.

“Speaking with team sources earlier in the week, DFO was told that the Flames will be entertaining a similar thought process this summer and are willing to trade just about anyone on their roster”, reported Di Marco. “According to sources, the Flames are ‘open to (move) any guys other than (goaltender) Dustin Wolf, (forwards) Matvei Gridin and Matt Coronato and defenseman Zayne Parekh.’”

Of course, not everyone on the Flames is going to interest other teams, however, Blake Coleman, Zach Whitecloud, Yegor Sharangovich, Morgan Frost, Joel Farabee, and even Jonathan Huberdeau at 50% retained will certainly get the attention of onlooking general managers.

From a Maple Leafs’ perspective, Frost, Coleman, Whitecloud, and Huberdeau at 50% retained could potentially interest new GM John Chayka.

Frederik Andersen leading Hurricanes on historic run

Former Maple Leafs netminder Frederik Andersen is having a playoff run for the ages. The 36-year-old is a perfect 8-0-0 in the playoffs to this point, leading the league with both a 1.12 goals against average, and an .950 save percentage. While Andersen’s been making all the saves needed to help the very structured Hurricanes succeed so far throughout the playoffs with ease, Andersen’s puck-handling abilities are also making headlines this spring.

“Nowadays everybody forechecks,” Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour said. “Everybody is putting pucks in deep way more than they have ever. So, that’s a big part of it. If you can get good puck touches all over, it’s important. That’s one of his skill sets, so that certainly helps.”

Andersen attests his puck-handling abilities to watching Marty Turco as a kid and seeing clips of him over the years has inspired the Danish netminder to be more savvy with the puck, and try to influence the game from every possible angle as a goaltender.

“When we play teams that have good puck-handling goaltenders, it’s tough for us to get our forecheck going, too,” Hurricanes defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere said. “Freddie is very underrated at it. The quicker we can get pucks out of our end and put in their end, the stress is on them. So, it just goes along with what we’re trying to do.”

It’s great to see Andersen succeeding as he’s battled a long list of health issues over the years, but one’s thing very clear, if he’s healthy and at the top of his game, there’s not many better in all of hockey.

Quick hits from around the NHL

  • Macklin Celebrini tried to give up his ‘C’ at the World Championships once Sidney Crosby joined the team, but Crosby wanted no part of taking the letter off Celebrini’s jersey, and told him he’s going to lead Canada.
  • Multiple reports surfaced that the Minnesota Wild offered goaltender Jesper Wallstedt as part of a package for St. Louis Blues forward Robert Thomas ahead of the trade deadline. Don’t be surprised to see the Wild circle back on Thomas, and also Vincent Trocheck of the New York Rangers.
  • Speaking of the Blues, they could very well move Thomas, Jordan Kyrou and Jordan Binnington this offseason. Thomas has been linked to just about anyone, while Kyrou is high on Seattle Kraken’s priority list, and Binnington’s been linked to the Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers.
  • John Carlson will receive a contract extension offer from the Anaheim Ducks, but there’s a very good chance it’s lower AAV, and less term than he’s looking for. It’s not expected that Carlson is open to returning to the Washington Capitals
  • Evgeni Malkin and the Pittsburgh Penguins are discussing a new contract. Malkin wants a two-year deal, while Kyle Dubas is only interested in a one-year extension.
  • The Ottawa Senators are an interesting team to follow this offseason as they’ve been rumored to have interest in goaltender Stuart Skinner, while some are starting to question the futures of both Linus Ullmark and Brady Tkachuk.
  • Leading up to next month’s NHL Draft in Buffalo, don’t be surprised to see the San Jose Sharks and Chicago Blackhawks offering their top-four picks for proven NHL talent.

Sponsored by bet365

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *