THW Daily - Chatting With ESPN’s Sean McDonough & Canucks Trade for Elias Lindholm From Flames
Also, a few trade destinations for Maple Leafs goaltender Ilya Samsonov & more
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In today’s edition, we have our very own Mark Scheig chatting with ESPN broadcaster Sean McDonough on the NHL All-Star coverage, a big trade as Elias Lindholm heads to Vancouver, and much more.
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Yesterday’s Scores…
3 Trade Destinations for Maple Leafs’ Ilya Samsonov
January 31, 2024 by Spencer Lazary
The Toronto Maple Leafs are going to be buyers of some sort during the 2024 NHL Trade Deadline. The question is, though: how aggressive will they be? Well, when it comes to their goalie situation, things do get interesting. Joseph Woll will return sometime in the next three to six weeks, and if Martin Jones and Ilya Samsonov continue to play well, the club will have three capable goalies.
The truth is, they aren’t going to move Woll since he is the future of the crease. While they could part ways with Jones, I feel that the organization will give him the chance to stay with the team because he helped save their season. This leaves Samsonov, and if he keeps playing this well, the Maple Leafs could fetch a decent haul for him. However, that doesn’t mean the Maple Leafs will trade him; they could use his full cap hit of $3.55 million and allocate it elsewhere. If they do, here are three potential trade destinations for Samsonov.
Inside Scoop: Sean McDonough on ESPN’s NHL All-Star Coverage
January 31, 2024 by Mark Scheig
The NHL All-Star Weekend is just about upon us. This season in Toronto, it comes with some major changes that everyone involved hopes will be sustainable for future seasons. That is especially true for the folks at ESPN. They are in their third season since their return to the NHL. Viewership has been good. But now they hope that these changes to the All-Star Format will bring more interest and eyeballs to the Draft, the Skills Competition and the game itself.
ESPN’s lead play-by-play voice Sean McDonough will be calling the All-Star Game on Saturday at 3 P.M. eastern. The game will be shown on ABC in the United States. He was gracious enough to spend some time with us this week to look ahead to the excitement of the All-Star Game and the festivities. Among the topics, we discussed the excitement of the weekend and the changes to the format, why they’re hopeful about viewership and how they’ll balance storytelling with so many players from different teams involved. McDonough also opened up about the one idea he gave to decision makers that became a reality, his thoughts on the overall quality of talent and then we end with why he thinks the changes to the format will be sustainable in future years.
Insider Suggests Flames as Potential Destination for Sharks’ Hertl
January 31, 2024 by Rupert McDonald
The Calgary Flames have entered the All-Star Break five points shy of a wild-card spot in the Western Conference, prompting most to believe they will be sellers at or ahead of the March 8 trade deadline. Plenty in the fanbase have been adamant that it is time for a rebuild given how mediocre the team has been for a long stretch of time. Management, however, seems to think differently.
It seemed as though management was gearing towards more of a retooling rather than a full-fledged rebuild, though at least one insider in Jeff Marek doesn’t seem to think they’ll go that route. Speaking on The Jeff Marek Show Tuesday morning (Jan. 30), he suggested that he views the Flames as a potential landing spot for disgruntled San Jose Sharks forward Tomas Hertl.
Rising Cost Means Oilers Should Avoid Sean Monahan Trade
January 31, 2024 by Jim Parsons
The Edmonton Oilers find themselves at a crucial juncture as the NHL trade deadline approaches. They like their roster and the team is open to upgrading, but they need to be careful what they give up in any trade and where they spend their limited cap space dollars. As such, speculation that the team might be interested in Sean Monahan from the Montreal Canadiens should come with a cautious approach.
Recent discussions have centered around the availability of the Canadiens center, raising questions about whether the Oilers can strike a deal without compromising their budget and high-value assets.
Canucks Acquire Elias Lindholm From Flames
January 31, 2024 by Matthew Zator
The Vancouver Canucks have made another big trade during All-Star Break. Last year on Jan. 30, they sent Bo Horvat to the New York Islanders. A year and a day after that trade, they are busy again making waves in the hockey world.
They have acquired Elias Lindholm from the Calgary Flames for Andrei Kuzmenko, Hunter Brzustewicz, Joni Jurmo, a 2024 first-round pick and a conditional 2024 fourth-round pick. Kuzmenko had to approve the trade since the Flames were one of the teams on his no-trade list. According to his agent, Dan Milstein, they had been working with the Flames since Sunday (Jan. 28) and Kuzmenko has already talked to general manager Craig Conroy and head coach Ryan Huska about joining the team.
Flyers’ New-Style Rebuild Just Might Work
January 31, 2024 by Justin Giampietro
The rebuild approach that the Philadelphia Flyers have had has been rather unique. While they did trade some veterans last offseason, it was not to the extent that many true rebuilders do. They hung onto some pieces and, thus, are riding a 25-19-6 record, which is good enough for third in the Metropolitan Division. Their style won’t land them a first-overall draft pick like most teams trying to build themselves up typically do, but it allows them to build on the fly.
While general manager (GM) Daniel Briere’s hand was forced when he traded highly-touted prospect Cutter Gauthier to the Anaheim Ducks for a young and promising roster player, Jamie Drysdale, on Jan. 8, it shows that the Flyers are doing anything but being ordinary. They’ve thrown everything we know about a rebuild out the window, and it just might work.
More stuff from THW and around the NHL:
Toronto Maple Leafs - Maple Leafs’ Simon Benoit Worth Long-Term Contract Risk
New York Rangers - Erik Gustafsson’s Future With the New York Rangers
Buffalo Sabres - Sabres’ Plans Following Jack Quinn’s Injury
NHL News & Rumors - Rangers, Maple Leafs, Senators, Canucks
From TSN - Canucks acquire Lindholm from Flames
From Sportsnet - NHL announces event participation list for 2024 All-Star Skills
From ESPN - Blue Jackets rookie Adam Fantilli out 8 weeks with lacerated calf
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