Today’s NHL Rumors is a continuation of two recent storylines that have developed over the last few days.
There’s been a lot of buzz surrounding the Colorado Avalanche’s defenseman Samuel Girard. His name grew legs when Mike Chambers of the Denver Post said he was likely the centerpiece of a Jack Eichel trade.
That prompted folks in Montreal to start speculating that GM Marc Bergevin should be doing whatever he can to bring him in.
NHL Rumors: Samuel Girard not available
Girard, 23, has registered 9 points in 10 games for the Avalanche this season He is a cost controlled rearguard who can play both sides. Something that certainly has value on the market, but is hard to replace.
“We can end the Girard talk now,” Pierre LeBrun wrote in The Athletic. “Listen, as I always say, things can change, a team could call Colorado with an offer they can’t refuse down the road. But all things being equal, we can end the Girard talk. The Avs have no intention on moving him.”
The young defender is in the second season of a 7 year deal with an inexpensive cap hit of $5M AAV.
Rangers and Kings prospect swap?
New York Rangers 1st round pick Vitali Kravtsov is in self exile in the KHL. The 21 year-old is playing for Traktor and awaiting a trade.
The Los Angeles Kings 1st round selection, Gabriel Vilardi has struggled to make the team. The 22 year-old is in the AHL and has the NY Post’s Larry Brooks speculating a potential trade.
“The Kings have assigned 22-year-old center Gabriel Vilardi to the AHL. The 11th-overall selection of 2017 would merit interest, perhaps even in a swap for Vitali Kravtsov’s rights,” he writes.
Vilardi is a big center, and it is a position of weakness in the Rangers organization prospect pipeline. If the Kings would be willing to make the swap, it could be beneficial for both players and franchises.
Canucks opt to hold off on changes
Yesterday, a meeting took place between Vancouver Canucks owner Francesco Aquilini and GM Jim Benning to discuss the team’s slow start.
It was noted by Elliotte Friedman that the discussion would not be about replacing the Benning, but that raised the question to other changes.
“Vancouver fans are seething, there’s no question about that. Benning did meet with Francesco Aquilini. I think all involved with the Vancouver Canucks organization, ownership, management, certainly coaching know that their play on the ice has been unacceptable,” Daren Dreger said on TSN’s Insider Trading. “But change isn’t coming, at least not quite yet. The belief is that ownership is willing to continue to be patient but the expectation is that the results on the ice have to change.”
Canucks fans hoping for a shakeup will have to wait a little longer.
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