NHL Rumors: Colorado Avalanche, Vancouver Canucks, New York Islanders

Welcome to a new featured series of NHL rumors on StadiumRant.com! We will cover the latest rumors around the league, according to sources. With just 44 days until the NHL trade deadline, teams are evaluating their trade options to improve their success. Let’s take a look at the latest NHL rumors.

NHL rumors in this edition include:

What might be the six trade destinations for unrestricted free agent Mikko Rantanen? Two teams who may pursue Brock Boeser. Who could be looking to add Brock Nelson to their roster?

Colorado Avalanche – Mikko Rantanen

Rumor Per – Joe Yerdon – bleacherreport.com. Rantanen is an elite scorer and a premier power play threat, but can the Avs keep him?

Yerdon lists six possibilities for Rantanen’s services.

• Chicago Blackhawks – Adding Rantanen to Conor Bedard’s wing would give the Hawks the offensive weapons they need to advance. Bedard can’t do it himself, and Rantanen can undoubtedly help. The Chicago club can handle Rantanen’s salary demands, even if they total $14 million. They will need to consider Bedard’s future salary requirements, which are not immediate.
• Anaheim Ducks—The Ducks haven’t progressed to the level general manager (GM) Pat Vermeek may have expected. With all the young talent, a guy like Rantanen can dominate offensively and boost the Anaheim power play. The team has a lot of cap space to tempt Rantanen to the West Coast.
• New York Islanders – The Isles could use Rantanen’s scoring prowess. They are getting older and slower. They are ranked 27th in goals scored per game. With Rantanen, that would change significantly.
• Buffalo Sabres—The Sabres are dead last in the wild-card race but have won five of their last ten. They have numerous needs, especially on the power play, ranking 26th. Rantanen has eight power-play goals and 11 assists.
• San Jose Sharks—Wouldn’t Macklin Celebrini love to have a top winger like Rantanen to help him excel in his game? The Sharks have the prospects to assist in making a deal.
• Boston Bruins—Can you imagine having David Pastrnak, Brad Marchand, and Rantanen on the offensive attack? Boston is fighting it out with Ottawa, Montreal, and Tampa Bay. Rantanen could help them in the postseason.

Vancouver Canucks – Brock Boeser

Rumor Per – Rachel Doerrie – espn.com. Two one-for-one deals for Boeser are intriguing if he doesn’t re-sign with Vancouver.

1. Boeser to NY Rangers for defenseman K’Andre Miller – Miller has size at 6′-5″ and can move the puck well. He even kills penalties and blocks shots. Head coach Rick Tocchet’s kind of player.
2. Boeser to Buffalo Sabres for defenseman Bowen Byram – Per Doerrie, the Canucks have had interest in Byram for a while now. He’s improved his appeal this season with some strong play, increasing his average ice time to 23:20 per night—an increase of three full minutes a game from last year.

Boeser’s salary demands are in the $8 million range, and the Canucks may renege on paying him that much. He did tally 40 goals and 73 points last season but is way off this year, with only 15 goals in 38 games. With all the trade NHL rumors surrounding J.T. Miller and Elias Pettersson, the Canucks have some issues to resolve before thinking of what to do with Boeser.

It’s in the Canucks’ interests to either sign or trade Boeser before he becomes a free agent this summer. It’s a tough decision for the president of hockey operations, Jim Rutherford, and GM Patrik Allvin. It could decide the fate of the team.

New York Islanders – Brock Nelson

Rumor: Per – Frank Seravalli – dailyfaceoff.com. Five teams who could acquire Brock Nelson.

Boston Bruins

They are 26th in the NHL in goals per game. They definitely need a boost at the center spot, but their tight-cap situation makes it unlikely they can pull it off. We’ll see.

Carolina Hurricanes

The Canes certainly won’t shy away from trying to land the most prominent names they can at the trade deadline. They did it last year by acquiring Jake Guentzel, and they’re already in talks for J.T. Miller from the Vancouver Canucks. If that doesn’t come through, Nelson could be part of a Plan B.

Minnesota Wild

The Wild have been said to be in the market for another scorer and, as Seravalli notes, a “higher-end center that they could confidently re-sign.” And Nelson is from Minnesota to boot. They always want to go back home.

New Jersey Devils

They’re looking for a center at the trade deadline, though Seravalli wonders if Nelson and his $6 million cap hit might be above their price point.

Winnipeg Jets

By acquiring Sean Monahan, the Jets improved at the center position at last year’s deadline. But after his defection in free agency, they’re left with the same need again. 

That concludes this edition of Stadium Rant’s NHL rumors. Be sure to check again, as this will be a series published every Wednesday and Sunday.