As the holiday trade freeze lifts the NHL rumour mill is ramping up. The league entered something of a frenzy heading into the break, a much more active stretch than usual. Without another deadline for another few months it may take some time before we see such a breakneck pace, but undeniably many teams are out of patience and ready to shuffle their rosters. Without further ado let’s dive into some of the rumblings around the league and what might be on the horizon.
An impending forward swap between the Rangers and Canucks
The biggest piece of news comes with Chris Kreider being scratched by the New York Rangers. Just as Kaapo Kakko was traded shortly after his scratch, many are expecting a similar script with Kreider. If he is traded it will mark a significant change for the Rangers, as Kreider has already survived a retool in the past.
Many have connected the dots, linking Kreider and the Rangers to another high profile name on the market, J.T. Miller of the Vancouver Canucks. The Canucks soap opera has not devolved to the point that the Rangers has, but there has already been tons of speculation about whether or not Miller and Elias Pettersson can coexist.
There is some logic behind the suggestion, as both the Canucks and Rangers will be trying to make the most of this season. If they decide to trade such important players, they will require impact players in return. Miller has been a Ranger before, giving the reunion some extra credence. Chances are the Rangers will have to add a bit extra to the deal rather than a one for one, as Miller is younger and more impactful. The Canucks are expected to try to upgrade their blueline, but clearly covet power wingers like Kreider.
Matthews’ injury issues set to impact the Toronto Maple Leafs and Team USA’s 4 Nation Face-off roster
The Toronto Maple Leafs captain has already twice missed time with a lingering back injury this season. It appears full health will remain elusive throughout the rest of the season no matter how long the superstar centre rests. For a Leafs team already looking to upgrade their centre depth this is a huge blow. Auston Matthews has expressed a desire to play as much as possible, while the team will have to navigate other avenues.
One option is load management, resting Matthews strategically throughout busy sections of the schedule to preserve him. Common in the NBA, the idea of load management is hardly a popular one. A more common route that might be available is the Leafs strategically placing Matthews on injury reserve until the playoffs, which would afford them a significant amount of cap space to add to their team.
Another wrinkle in it all are the implications for team USA in the upcoming 4 Nations Face-off. As much as the Leafs might want to preserve their captain for the NHL season, Matthews will be eager to represent his country for the first time at a best-on-best international competition. Matthews is supposed to be one of the Americans’ best players, and are considered by many to be the tournament favourites. Needless to say fans of the Leafs or team USA will be quite concerned about Matthews’ health going forward.
Either way, given that the Leafs clearly do not think that Fraser Minten is ready for a regular top-nine role, they will almost certainly be looking to add centre depth.
Gibson rumours continue to swirl, could the Oilers be in the mix?
For years now, while the Anaheim Ducks have been rebuilding, John Gibson has been rumoured to be available. Obviously a move has not happened yet, but once again speculation is brewing. As usual, the Oilers are among the foremost teams linked to Gibson as a destination. Chris Johnston suggests that Edmonton is a top fit for him and it could make sense, given the right trade conditions.
Pretty sure this is just speculation, but FWIW @reporterchris thinks the #LetsGoOilers May be interested in John Gibson and @PierreVLeBrun thinks they may be interested in David Savard pic.twitter.com/2DvQfihgQ6
— Adhi (@OilerAlert) December 27, 2024
Once one of the better young goaltenders in the league, Gibson’s play has taken a dive in recent years as the Ducks have struggled. Despite being outplayed by young crease mate Lukas Dostal, the Ducks have been treating Gibson as the starter since his return from an early season injury. The Ducks might be doing this in an effort to showcase Gibson. It is not a huge issue that Dostal is playing so well. Frankly, former tandem member Anthony Stolarz might have done the same while in Anaheim, and saw his results greatly improve on stronger teams in the seasons since. Gibson does seem to be more emotive for a goalie, and a change of pace might have a huge effect on his performance and reputation.
A trade might be facilitated by the Ducks retaining salary, as they have ample space. In fact, it might be the cap floor that is a greater concern to the Ducks than the cap ceiling. This will help maximize the return for the Ducks, an arms race that the Oilers are not that prepared for. Perhaps a return to glory for Gibson is seen as unlikely around the league, or as far as improbable altogether, which would keep the trade cost down. Chances are Ducks GM Pat Verbeek will continue to be true to his own path, quickly gaining a reputation for being bold one way or another. The Ducks are still at least a year or two away from breaking through, a timeline that aligns with the end of Gibson’s contract at $6.4M until the summer of 2027. He could end up being a steal for the next three years, but it will be a commitment.
Evans playing his way up the trade bait board
Some speculate that Montreal Canadiens forward Jake Evans might be involved in a deadline trade. A pending UFA, the centre has blossomed into a trendy fringe Selke Trophy candidate over the seasons, despite the strength of the team around him. There is no guarantee that Evans would command as much responsibility on a contending team, but he has consistently shown signs of improvement. A 28-year-old right shot centre, Evans has 21 points through 34 games this season.
Clearly there is a player here, but the Habs trading him away would be their bet that now is the time to cash in. The Habs are another season or two from playoff relevance, when Evans would be in his 30s. Evans might want a change of scenery in free agency as well, hoping for a chance to play in the playoffs. He will not be the biggest name on the market, but a team trading for Evans might look to extend him beyond this season as well. He will be an interesting name to watch, especially for teams looking for a stabilizing force at centre on their third line.
