THW Daily - NHLers Who Could Be Popular Trade Deadline Targets & Predators' Forsberg Climbing Record Books
Also, a look at Canadiens' trade deadline potential, Jets who must step up in absence of Kyle Connor & more
Welcome to The Hockey Writers Daily
In today’s edition, we have NHLers who could be popular trade deadline targets, Filip Forsberg’s climb up the record books, the trade deadline that could transpire in Montreal, and much more.
Also, don’t forget to check out all of our FREE team Substacks, and sign up for your favorite…or all of them if you want.
Now, here’s the good stuff…
Yesterday’s NHL Scores…
Canadiens Likely to Be Big Movers at the 2024 Trade Deadline
December 15, 2023 by Trege Wilson
The Montreal Canadiens are headed for another season of losing players at the trade deadline (TDL). Last season, they could have sold a few, but due to injuries and poor play, the returns were not worth the effort to trade the available players. This season, the team is better positioned to move players for high-quality assets in return, as long as they stay healthy. The Sports Network (TSN) has four Habs players on their trade bait top 20: Sean Monahan, Mike Matheson, Jake Allen and Cayden Primeau.
The Canadiens could be big players at the TDL; with many prospects close to making the jump to the NHL as early as next season, it would be the perfect time to move players and create roster space while also giving the team high-end assets to use at the draft or trade for a much-needed highly skilled forward. In fact, Montreal could have more than four players made available before the deadline.
9 NHLers Who Could Be Popular Trade-Deadline Targets
December 15, 2023 by Alex Chauvancy
The NHL holiday roster freeze is around the corner. But once teams return from the NHL Christmas break and the freeze lifts, trade rumors and transactions will start ramping up as the countdown to the trade deadline will be around two months to go.
To coincide with the release of the THW trade board early next week, let’s look at some players who could be popular trade targets ahead of the trade deadline on March 8, 2024.
Bruins’ Benefitting From Bargain Free Agent Contracts
December 15, 2023 by Scott Roche
There was a big roster turnover for the Boston Bruins last summer, headlined by the departures of centers Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci. General manager (GM) Don Sweeney never really filled their shoes in free agency or in a trade instead going with internal options Pavel Zacha and Charlie Coyle.
That move has worked out well and youngsters Matthew Poitras and John Beecher have filled the remaining two slots up the middle for second-year head coach Jim Montgomery. Sweeney added some forward-depth pieces and so far just over a quarter of the way through the 2023-24 regular season, the Black and Gold are seeing that they are so far getting some bang for their buck. Here are three free agents forwards that are playing a big role so far in Boston.
3 Jets Who Need to Step Up in Kyle Connor’s Injury Absence
December 15, 2023 by Connor Hrabchak
It has been confirmed by the Winnipeg Jets that Kyle Connor is set to miss 6-8 weeks with a right knee injury. Connor was in the middle of a career year, as he had 17 goals and 11 assists through the first 26 games of the 2023-24.
It won’t be possible to replace Connor’s finishing talent on the top line, and the power play may struggle in his absence. The 6-8 week timeline would bring him back right after the NHL’s All-Star Break in late January, or early February. The Jets will have to avoid going through an offensive drought without their top goal scorer. Here are three players who will need to step up in Connor’s absence.
Forsberg Climbs in Record Books as Predators Climb in Standings
December 15, 2023 by Emma Lingan
On Tuesday night (Dec. 12), it took Filip Forsberg just 18 seconds to secure a win for the Nashville Predators and another spot for himself in the franchise record books. With his OT winner against the Philadelphia Flyers, Forsberg passed David Legwand for sole possession of the franchise’s all-time overtime goals record (10).
Forsberg also added an assist on Gustav Nyquist’s opening tally against the Flyers, giving him 14 points (eight goals, six assists) in his last 12 outings. Just over one-third of the way into the 2023-24 season, Forsberg leads the Predators in points (33), goals (15), assists (18), power-play assists (10) and shots on goal (113). Now in his 10th full NHL season, Forsberg is playing some of the most impactful hockey of his career – but how exactly is he doing it? Let’s dive in…
Canucks’ 5 Early Christmas Gifts For 2023-24 Season
December 15, 2023 by Matthew Zator
The Vancouver Canucks are off to a historic start this season with a remarkable 20-9-1 record – the fastest they have ever hit 20 wins in a campaign. They sit second in the league behind the Vegas Golden Knights with 41 points and are on pace to eclipse the century mark for the first time since 2014-15, the last time playoff hockey was seen at Rogers Arena.
I think it’s safe to say Christmas has come early for Canucks fans as they see their team among the NHL’s elite, not their usual place in the basement with an early look toward the NHL Draft. All in all, Santa has been generous with a bunch of early toys under the tree. Let’s take a look at what the Canucks have unwrapped so far.
More stuff from THW and around the NHL:
Toronto Maple Leafs - Maple Leafs Stats: Nylander, Matthews, Bertuzzi & Robertson
San Jose Sharks - San Jose Sharks Being Rewarded for Patience with David Quinn
Montreal Canadiens - Canadiens Have Prime Trade Target in Red Wings’ Berggren
NHL News & Rumors - Islanders, Blue Jackets, Sharks, Wild, Blues
From TSN - Avs trade F Tatar to Kraken for fifth-round pick in 2024
From Sportsnet - How Erik Karlsson factors into the Penguins' disappointing start
From ESPN - Canucks send Jack Studnicka to Sharks for Nick Cicek, '24 pick
We hope you enjoyed today’s THW Daily, and we hope to expand our daily offerings as we develop and experiment with this new platform. Cheers!