THW Daily - Islanders and Kings Fit as Trade Partners & Thoughts on a Potential Konency Extension for Flyers
Also, the latest from New York, why Maple Leafs should avoid a Ristolainen trade & more
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In today’s edition, we have why the Islanders and Kings could fit as trade partners, thoughts on a possible Konecny extension for the Flyers, and much more.
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Colorado Avalanche: Avalanche Prospect Update: Calum Ritchie, Jeremy Hanzel & More by Stefano Rubino
New Jersey Devils: Devils' Prospect Update: Gritsyuk Shining in KHL by JP Gambatese
Nashville Predators: Grading the Nashville Predators After the All-Star Break by Emma Lingan
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Yesterday’s Scores…
Rangers News & Rumors: Vatrano, Henrique, Bonino
February 9, 2024 by Jesse Courville-Lynch
There is a month left until the NHL Trade Deadline, so the Rangers will be looking to get more active as they look to bolster their lineup. In this latest edition of New York Rangers News & Rumors, the Rangers have won their first two games after the All-Star Break, defeating the Colorado Avalanche and Tampa Bay Lightning.
There are some talks of the Rangers being interested in Frank Vatrano and Adam Henrique. Plus, there’s the contract termination of Nick Bonino.
Islanders and Kings May Be Perfect Trade Partners
February 9, 2024 by Michael Ostrower
The 2023-24 seasons for the Los Angeles Kings and New York Islanders are somehow eerily similar and different. For starters, both teams sit in a tight wild card race in their respective conferences, both have made major moves for a top center in the trade market in recent seasons, and both fired their head coaches mid-season.
Yet how the two teams got to where they are today could not be further from the same. With trade rumors ramping up between teams, an Islanders-Kings trade should be in the works.
Maple Leafs Would Be Smart to Avoid Rasmus Ristolainen Trade
February 9, 2024 by Jesse Courville-Lynch
The Toronto Maple Leafs are in a weird position coming out of the All-Star Break. They were considered favourites entering the 2023-24 season as one of the best teams on paper, but have been underwhelming so far. They lost their first game after All-Star weekend to the New York Islanders in a 3-2 defeat, bounced back with a massive 5-4 win over the Dallas Stars, but still find themselves fighting for their playoff lives.
The Philadelphia Flyers have been a solid team this season and have been surprisingly strong after an underwhelming 2022-23 campaign. Under head coach John Tortorella, they have cleaned up their game in a big way defensively and find themselves fighting for a playoff spot in the extremely tight Metropolitan Division. While the playoffs seem likely, there is a chance they could slip out and if that happens, they could look to sell off some assets. Scott Laughton, Rasmus Ristolainen, and Nick Seeler could all end up being traded and there will be plenty of teams interested in all of them. If the Flyers look to trade Ristolainen though, the Maple Leafs should avoid trying to acquire him.
Penguins’ Underrated MVPs
February 9, 2024 by Sylvie McCarthy
With a little more than half the season gone, the Pittsburgh Penguins are very much in control of their own playoff destiny and there are a few players who deserve some recognition for their performance up to this point.
There is no doubt that captain Sidney Crosby is the team’s most valuable player and should be in the Hart Trophy conversation this season. However, the Penguins have some underrated MVPs who also deserve to be highlighted.Â
Pros & Cons of Flyers Extending Travis Konecny
February 9, 2024 by Justin Giampietro
While forward Travis Konecny is not set to become an unrestricted free agent until after the 2024-25 season, it’s not too early for the Philadelphia Flyers to think about extending his deal. The soon-to-be 27-year-old has followed up his 31-goal and 30-assist campaign last season (in 60 contests) with 23 goals and 20 assists in 51 games in 2023-24, putting him on pace to lead the Flyers in points for the fourth time in the last five seasons.
With his team in a playoff spot despite being in a rebuild, would it make sense for management to give him a big extension? Based on market value for a player of his caliber — with the cap slated to rise to $87.7 million next season — he could be due for a raise to $9 million annually (depending on if he’s willing to take a discount for, likely, the maximum term of eight seasons if he’s not selling himself short). What are some of the pros and cons of a deal like this?
Revisiting the Blues’ Trade of Vladimir Tarasenko
February 9, 2024 by Mike Meyer
On Feb. 9, 2023, the St. Louis Blues agreed to a deal sending franchise icon Vladimir Tarasenko along with defenseman Niko Mikkola to the New York Rangers for a 2023 first-round draft pick (Theo Lindstein), a 2024 third-round pick, defenseman Hunter Skinner, and forward Sammy Blais. The deal sent shockwaves through the city of St. Louis as the long-time rumored trade finally became truth.
Here’s a look back at what led to the deal taking place and a review of the trade one year later.
More stuff from THW and around the NHL:
Tampa Bay Lightning - Sergachev’s Injury Changes Lightning’s Trade Deadline Targets
Vegas Golden Knights - Ranking the Golden Knights’ Best Assets for the Trade Deadline
Toronto Maple Leafs - Maple Leafs News & Rumors: Samsonov, Tavares, Benoit & Matthews
NHL News & Rumors - Oilers, Lightning, Flames, Canucks
From TSN - Canucks in no rush to sign Lindholm to extension
From Sportsnet - Sportsnet's 30 NHL trade candidates to watch one month from the deadline
From ESPN - Jack Hughes returns as Devils fall to Flames
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