In today’s NHL Rumor Mill: Sabres defenseman Bowen Byram has resurfaced in the trade market, the trade chatter about Leafs winger Matthew Knies doesn’t make sense, plus the latest on the Oilers and Canadiens.
TEAMS ARE CALLING ABOUT BOWEN BYRAM
TSN: Darren Dreger reported “multiple teams” are looking into acquiring Buffalo Sabres defenseman Bowen Byram.
The 25-year-old blueliner has a year remaining on his two-year contract with an average annual value of $6.25 million. He can sign a contract extension starting on July 1.
Buffalo Sabres defenseman Bowen Byram (NHL Images).
However, Dreger claimed that Byram’s agent, Darren Ferris, has a history of marching his clients to unrestricted free agency, which is why the Sabres are looking into trading him.
Byram posted a career-best 42 points in 82 games this season. He also had seven points in 13 playoff contests.
FRANKLY HOCKEY: Frank Seravalli reports this has nothing to do with money. He indicated that Byram likes Buffalo and the Sabres’ trajectory.
Seravalli claims Byram sees himself as a No. 1 defenseman in the NHL, and his performance in this postseason makes that case. However, he’s not going to get that opportunity with the Sabres.
BUFFALO HOCKEY BEAT: Bill Hoppe believes Sabres general manager Jarmo Kekalainen is listening to offers for Byram. However, he expects Kekalainen will set a high asking price for the puck-moving blueliner.
Hoppe believes Byram should fetch a top-six forward, especially if Alex Tuch departs as a free agent on July 1.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Byram can play left or right defense, but his strong side is on the left, and he’s not supplanting team captain (and Norris Trophy finalist) Rasmus Dahlin from that spot on the top pairing.
Kekalainen doesn’t have to rush into moving Byram, but it might be best to do so this summer while the rearguard has a year left on his contract. That’ll make him more valuable to rival clubs than he’d be as a rental player at the March trade deadline. It would also avoid questions about Byram’s future becoming an unwelcome distraction through next season.
Byram also lacks no-trade protection, giving Kekalainen plenty of potential trade options. Clearing his $6.25 million from the Sabres’ books could make it easier to re-sign or replace Tuch, and to re-sign restricted free agent winger Zach Benson.
THE LATEST OILERS SPECULATION
NEW YORK POST: Mollie Walker believes Rangers GM Chris Drury must ensure he has sufficient salary-cap space down the road to recruit Connor McDavid if the Edmonton Oilers superstar decides his path to the Stanley Cup lies elsewhere.
McDavid’s new two-year contract goes into effect on July 1. It’s believed he could move on as a free agent in 2028 if the Oilers haven’t improved their chances of winning hockey’s holy grail by then.
Walker also felt that Drury must do the best he can to build up the Rangers into the type of team that could convince McDavid that they could offer him his best chance of winning the Cup.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: From my end of the telescope, the Rangers won’t be in that position in two years.
They’ve got two aging forwards (Mika Zibanejad, JT Miller) on expensive contracts that would be difficult to move, let alone fetch a return that would immediately improve the Blueshirts. Top defenseman Adam Fox seems uncertain whether his long-term future remains in New York, while winger Alexis Lafreniere remains an enigma.
EDMONTON JOURNAL: Jim Matheson observed that there’s trade interest in Darnell Nurse, but “no perfect trade prescription”. The 31-year-old Oilers defenseman submitted his trade request to management last week.
Making a one-for-one swap with the Toronto Maple Leafs for Morgan Rielly would be the cleanest move. However, Rielly has a full no-movement clause, he’s never been a great defender, and his point production has declined.
SPORTSNET: Ryan Dixon listed the Pittsburgh Penguins, Boston Bruins, Winnipeg Jets, and San Jose Sharks as potential trade destinations for Nurse.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Penguins have plenty of salary-cap space now to take on Nurse, but doing so would run counter to their efforts to replace aging veterans with promising young players. The Bruins are likely to put more effort into shoring up their depth at center. I doubt the Jets are on Nurse’s list of preferred destinations.
That leaves the Sharks as the best option. They have the cap space and desperately need to add veteran depth to their defense corps. They recently added Michael Kesselring, but could use someone like Nurse on the left side. However, they could also be off his list of landing spots. If he’s willing to go to San Jose, the Sharks could prefer the Oilers retain some salary or include a sweetener to take on his full cap hit.
WHY WOULD THE MAPLE LEAFS TRADE MATTHEW KNIES?
TORONTO SUN: Terry Koshan believes the recent trade speculation dogging Maple Leafs winger Matthew Knies doesn’t make a lot of sense.
Knies, 23, is young and on his way to becoming a top NHL power forward. He’s also on a team-friendly contract for the next five years.
The Leafs hiring Jim Hiller is another indication that they’re in “win-now” mode. Getting a return of draft picks and prospects for Knies would indicate they’re rebuilding, not retooling. His departure would also leave a gaping hole on the left side of the Leafs’ top-six forwards. It would be better for the Leafs to have Knies and either Gavin McKenna or Ivar Stenberg instead of just one of those unproven youngsters.
Koshan doesn’t fault Leafs GM John Chayka for listening to offers for Knies. However, unless the return is something that makes the Maple Leafs demonstrably better, they would be wise to hang onto him.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Koshan makes a sensible argument for why the Maple Leafs should retain Knies, and why they probably will. However, that’s not going to stop some pundits from speculating about where he might go and what type of return he’d fetch.
MORE CANADIENS CONJECTURE
SPORTSNET: Eric Engels was asked what the cost would be for the Montreal Canadiens to acquire Anaheim Ducks center Mason McTavish and whether it would be worth it.
Engels believes it’ll cost “something significant” to land the 23-year-old McTavish, and his contract ($7 million AAV through 2030-31) would be exorbitant if he doesn’t blossom into a top-six center, which there are no guarantees that he will.
McTavish’s skating and defensive acumen are cause for concern, raising questions as to whether he can improve those deficiencies. Engels thinks that the Ducks forward isn’t a top priority for the Canadiens.
Asked about whether Arber Xhekaj or Jayden Struble could be moved, Engel isn’t convinced that they will. He thinks a prospect defenseman such as Adam Engstrom or David Reinbacher ends up on the move if Canadiens GM Kent Hughes is able to get what he’s after.
THE ATHLETIC: Arpon Basu noted the Canadiens’ rumored interest in Leafs winger Matthew Knies. He believes they could pursue a second-line left winger if they’re unable to find any suitable options for a second-line center.
Boston Bruins forward Pavel Zacha might be available. However, the 29-year-old is only a year away from UFA eligibility, and whatever terms he’d seek on his next contract could limit whatever the Canadiens were willing to offer for him. The same applies for 31-year-old winger Mason Marchment of the Columbus Blue Jackets, who is UFA-eligible on July 1.
Basu also indicated that the Canadiens could be open to bringing back Samuel Montembeault to play out the final season of his contract. That would enable Jacob Fowler to spend another season in the AHL to develop his game, while providing insurance in case Jakub Dobes struggles to build on his strong postseason performance.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s expected that Canadiens GM Kent Hughes will make a move or two this summer to improve his roster. However, he’s not going to just make deals for the sake of doing so, and it’s unrealistic to expect that he’ll address all his roster issues this summer.
McTavish seems the best option to address that pressing need for a second-line center. However, his struggles this season, combined with his skating and defensive skills, are a concern. They might be easier to handle if he were on a shorter, more affordable contract, but his current deal makes him a riskier trade target.