NHL Rumors: Vegas Golden Knights, Montreal Canadiens, Calgary Flames

Welcome back to another edition of Full Press Hockey NHL Rumors. This NHL rumors article will feature the latest from the Vegas Golden Knights, Montreal Canadiens, and Calgary Flames.

Vegas Golden Knights – Salary Cap Issues After Jack Eichel Returns

Rumor: Per – Owen Krepps – vegashockeynow.com. The Vegas Golden Knights expect Jack Eichel to be ready to return to action in February after his neck surgery. The only problem is – the team will be $4.6 million OVER the cap limit unless some moves are made. So, what could some of those moves entail?

Analysis: Krepps points out that the very timely surgery of Max Pacioretty and placing him on long-term-injury reserve, may buy the team some time. Even so, Pacioretty’s $7 million salary still won’t get the Golden Knights out of salary cap purgatory. Then, trades must be considered to lower their salary cap issues.

Some likely candidates to be traded could include Evgenii Dadonov ($5M), Reilly Smith ($5M), Brayden McNabb ($2.5M), and Mattias Janmark ($2M). All are unrestricted free agents after this season expect for Dadonov whose deal is good through next season. Much could depend on how long Alec Martinez remains on LTIR. If he is out for the remainder of the season, that may help balance the salary cap books.

It seems that Smith would be a more likely trade candidate than Dadonov who has a 10 team no-trade list and an extra year on his deal. It goes without saying that the Golden Knights NHL rumours will be hot and heavy soon.

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Montreal Canadiens – Bold Predictions for 2022

Rumor: Per – Eric Engels – sportsnet-ca. Engels makes three predictions for the Montreal Canadiens for 2022. They involve Brendan Gallagher, Tyler Toffoli, and the team’s fortunes in the 2022 NHL draft.

Analysis: Gallagher is a 10-year veteran winger in the first year of a six-year, $39-million contract. He has a no-movement clause and partial no-trade. That will make him hard to move without retaining some money. Besides, he wants to stay, and he loves the city. Just don’t force him to be part of a rebuild. Yet, the way the Habs have been playing who knows what may go down.

Engels feels the team will trade Toffoli before the trade deadline. While that could happen, he is a go-to player who performs when it’s needed. His affordable $4.25 million contract good through the 2023-24 season makes him an attractive trade candidate. As does the fact that he has no trade protection detailed in his contract.

The wildest prediction by Engels states that he thinks the Canadiens will win the first overall pick in the 2022 NHL draft. He may have something there as the hapless Habs are only three points ahead of the rebuilding Arizona Coyotes in the Shane Wright sweepstakes race. The fact that the draft will be held in Montreal adds more drama to the concept.

Calgary Flames – Mark Giordano

Rumor: Per – Eric Francis – sportsnet.ca. The Calgary Flames will trade for a top defenseman like Mark Giordano or someone else.

Analysis: While the Flames may covet Giordano back on their blueline, it will cost them. He has a $6.75 million contract that ends after this season. You can be assured that other playoff-bound teams will investigate adding the veteran to their rosters.

TSN’s Salim Valji feels that Giordano’s skills with moving the puck are needed. He also thinks the Flames could go after Toffoli to add to their forward group.

Valji also thinks that the Flames will find a way to move on from Sean Monahan. He could be bought out from his expensive $6.375 cap hit to enable the team to sign other players. The Flames GM Brad Treliving has some intense decisions to make going forward.

That does it for this edition of FPH’s NHL rumours. Be sure to watch for our Wednesday edition as we head into the new 2022 year.