THW Daily - Canucks Add Nikita Zadorov in Trade With Flames & Checking In on Calder Trophy Race
Also, teams that could make a trade for Blake Wheeler, the rebuilding process in Montreal continues & more
Welcome to The Hockey Writers Daily
In today’s edition, we have another trade involving the Vancouver Canucks, a check-in on the Calder Trophy race for rookie of the year, teams that could make a move for Rangers’ Blake Wheeler, and much more.
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Yesterday’s NHL Scores…
3 Rangers’ Trade Partners in a Potential Blake Wheeler Deal
December 1, 2023 by Jesse Courville-Lynch
The New York Rangers have been electrifying to watch to start out the 2023-24 season and continue to be one of the hottest teams in the NHL this season. For them, a Stanley Cup is not out of the realm of possibility as they have shown no signs of slowing down, even after having to deal with major injuries to Adam Fox and Igor Shesterkin.
Wheeler chose to sign with the Rangers this season after his departure from the Winnipeg Jets and while there weren’t high expectations for him, he has still been quite underwhelming, to say the least. Through 20 games this season, he has scored two goals and added four assists for six points and sits 11th in team scoring. If the Rangers move him to a team looking for veteran help in a rebuild, here are three potential in-season trade destinations.
Grading the Canucks’ Trade for Nikita Zadorov
December 1, 2023 by Michael DeRosa
At the beginning of last month, defenceman Nikita Zadorov requested a trade from the Calgary Flames. From there, he would be the talk of the town in the rumor mill, and teams like the Toronto Maple Leafs, New Jersey Devils, Dallas Stars, and New York Islanders all expressed interest in him. However, in the end, the Vancouver Canucks won the sweepstakes.
To land Zadorov, the Canucks sent their 2026 third-round pick and the Chicago Blackhawks’ 2024 fifth-round pick to the Flames. The Flames also did not retain any of Zadorov’s $3.75 million cap hit. Overall, this is a pretty notable move, and one of the NHL’s top trade targets is officially off the board because of it. Let’s now give out grades for each of the clubs involved in this transaction now.
Oilers Can Bolster Depth in Kostin Trade With Red Wings
December 1, 2023 by Jesse Courville-Lynch
The Edmonton Oilers started the 2023-24 campaign on the wrong foot and panic set in quickly. However, lately, the team has found their confidence and seems to be playing much more controlled hockey, while their leaders, Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, seem to have found their game and are starting to dominate offensively again.
The Oilers made a surprisingly-strong move in Oct. 2022 by trading prospect defenseman Dmitri Samorukov to the St. Louis Blues for Kostin in what was supposed to be a fresh start for two struggling players. Samorukov never panned out with the Blues and is now with the Pittsburgh Penguins, but Kostin made a huge difference on the Oilers and became a fan favourite.
Canadiens’ Rebuild Process Will Mean They’re Sellers
December 1, 2023 by Blain Potvin
The Montreal Canadiens have returned from their traditional late fall Western Conference road trip, and after 21 games, the picture of where the team stands in its rebuild has become clearer. They are a team with several pieces in place, the edges of the puzzle are set, and now the difficult job of assembling the rest of those pieces begins.
Where are the Canadiens in this process? What do they need? How are they going to address those needs? These are all questions fans have been asking, and general manager (GM) Kent Hughes will need to answer them by the 2024 NHL Entry Draft.
2023-24 Calder Trophy Race: Quarter-Mark Check-in
December 1, 2023 by Alex Chauvancy
The Calder race was expected to have a crowded field in 2023-24, and that’s turned out to be the case about a quarter of the way through the season. There are the obvious candidates, like Connor Bedard, who is the clear front-runner. But he’s far from the only talent in the Calder race. Let’s break down some standout players in the race for Rookie of the Year for the 2023-24 season.
Maple Leafs Need Chris Tanev, But He Won’t Be Cheap
December 1, 2023 by The Old Prof
I remember Chris Tanev‘s years with the Vancouver Canucks very well. He was the kind of player who, in the heat of a crucial game, would fearlessly step in front of a blistering slap shot, sacrificing his body to block the puck and prevent a scoring opportunity for the opposing team. These are the kinds of selfless acts that exemplify Tanev’s unwavering dedication to his team’s success and his willingness to go to any lengths to win a game for his team.
Since Tanev has been in the NHL, he’s been known for his commitment to the defensive aspect of the game. He’s the kind of player who embraces high-pressure situations, putting himself on the line to make pivotal shot blocks. In doing so, he’s earned the respect of his teammates, fans, and his defensive peers across the NHL. In these nightly actions of sacrifice, Tanev’s value as a player has been embodied.
More stuff from THW and around the NHL:
Edmonton Oilers - Edmonton Oilers’ Chances at Making the 2024 Playoffs
Vancouver Canucks - Canucks’ Zadorov Trade Addresses Defence for Minimal Cost
Chicago Blackhawks - Blackhawks News & Rumors: Perry, Kane, Beauvillier & More
NHL News & Rumors - Flames, Maple Leafs, Blackhawks, Flyers
From TSN - Devils' D Hamilton out indefinitely with torn pectoral muscle
From Sportsnet - Auston Matthews needs to get more involved to jump-start Leafs' offence
From ESPN - Canadiens sign goalie Sam Montembeault to 3-year extension
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