• HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • Site Index
  • NHL Salary Caps
  • Hockey 101: A Beginner’s Guide
  • Join Our Team
  • Free Newsletter
  • Store
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
Home
Colorado Avalanche

NHL Rumors: Maple Leafs, Penguins, Rantanen, More

By Jim Parsons November 15th, 2018

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

In today’s rumor rundown, many NHL insiders think the Pittsburgh Penguins are still contemplating moves, the Colorado Avalanche are realizing they have an important decision coming with their top-scoring forward and the Maple Leafs have set the asking price for William Nylander.

Penguins Just Getting Started With Moves?

Via Pens Inside Scoop, it was reported that Pittsburgh Penguins GM Jim Rutherford said after he made the trade to acquire Tanner Pearson, “We felt that we needed to make some changes. This could be the start of more changes or we’ll see how this goes for a little bit. Way things have gone for first part of the season it’s obvious we had to change something up.” This has led people to believe that Rutherford has his eyes on more moves and might not think Pearson solves all of their current issues.

Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford

Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford (Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports)

So too, Elliotte Friedman on Sportsnet’s Tim and Sid said that he doesn’t believe the Pittsburgh Penguins are done and that Rutherford has a couple other potential deals on the go. Friedman believes the Penguins have something cooking with Anaheim and it didn’t include Carl Hagelin so whatever deal that is, it might still be on the table. He also hinted that it could be a bigger trade because the names rumored to be coming back from Anaheim would require Pittsburgh give up a more significant piece off their roster.

Related: NHL Rumors: Nylander, Carter, Howard, More

Bridge Deal for Mikko Rantanen

Adrian Dater of bsndenver.com tweeted that he believes that Mikko Rantanen will only sign a bridge deal with the Colorado Avalanche after the season. Rantanen has been on fire this season and is playing his way towards a very expensive extension.

Avalanche right wing Mikko Rantanen

Avalanche right wing Mikko Rantanen (Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports)

Dater thinks the Avs have every intention of keeping him long-term but that a short-term deal is the most likely thing to come before an eight-year extension at big money. So far, Rantanen has 29 points in 18 games for the Avs and if he continues to roll along, he’ll have two strong seasons, one with 84 points and one with potentially over 100 points. But, is he a 100 point player? That’s the question the Avs don’t know how to answer yet.

Related: NHL Rumors: Kings, Senators, Rangers, Oilers, More

Trade Scenarios for William Nylander

Recently, Damien Cox suggested the Maple Leafs might want to consider actually signing Nylander and Mitch Marner and trading Auston Matthews. While that sounds completely ridiculous, if looking at the cap situation in Toronto, there could be something to it, even if only in the smallest of ways. He wrote, “John Tavares is playing so well it does make you think; why not sign Marner and Nylander, and trade Matthews for a whole pile of goodies? Not saying they would, but it’s not such a crazy idea anymore.”

Some compared the statement to saying, well hey, Draisaitl is an 80-point player so trade McDavid or that Evgeni Malkin makes Sidney Crosby expendable and those comments are fair. It’s unlikely the Maple Leafs would ever consider moving Matthews unless he initiated that process. The more likely situation is that Nylander is traded before December 1, 2018.

* Authors Note: Something would have to go very wrong in Toronto before the Maple Leafs would ever consider keeping Nylander over Matthews and Cox is barking up the wrong tree here. It’s important to remember, this is the first season where Tavares is projected to score 50 goals in an NHL season over his career. He’s never scored 40 before. 

Auston Matthews, William Nylander, Toronto Maple Leafs

Nylander and Matthews both reached the 100-point plateau this past week. (Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports)

John Hoven tweeted that Maple Leaf games have been a busy place for scouts of late and that representatives from teams like the San Jose Sharks, Minnesota Wild, Edmonton Oilers (Craig MacTavish), Buffalo Sabres, St. Louis Blues, and the Columbus Blue Jackets have all been to recent games.

Darren Dreger has reported on Insider Trading that the Toronto Maple Leafs asking price is high. He said with the amount of interest, “the ask is going to likely include two pieces off the roster. My sources indicate it could be a top-four defenceman along with a top-nine forward.” Dreger added the Maple Leafs believe they will contend for the Stanley Cup and that they need pieces to help them do so.

A Player to Watch: Nikita Zadorov

Elliotte Friedman also noted the recent decline in the ice time of Colorado Avalanche defenseman Nikita Zadorov might mean keeping an eye on him as the season moves along. Zadorov’s name hasn’t come up in trade rumors yet but if his ice time stays an issue, it might.

  • Tags
  • Mikko Rantanen
  • Top Story
  • William Nylander
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

Get theScore App Now!
Recent Posts
Jan 21st 10:15 AM
Anaheim Ducks

3 Takeaways From the Ducks Series Against the Wild

Jan 21st 10:05 AM
Column

Prospects News & Rumors: Safonov, Coronato & Sebrango

Jan 21st 9:55 AM
San Jose Sharks

5 Sharks’ Takeaways From Blues Series: Faceoffs, Penalty Kills & More

Jan 21st 9:45 AM
Commentary

2020-21 NHL Season Will Require More Depth Than Usual

Jan 21st 9:35 AM
New Jersey Devils

Devils Get Goaltending Depth With Aaron Dell Waiver Claim

Jan 21st 9:15 AM
Anaheim Ducks

Ducks Trying to Avoid Making Same Mistake by Starting Zegras in AHL

Jan 21st 9:05 AM
Boston Bruins

Bruins Fans Should Not Overreact to Slow Start

Jan 21st 8:55 AM
Montreal Canadiens

Canadiens’ Jake Evans Has Been a Pleasant Surprise on the Penalty Kill

Jan 21st 8:45 AM
Toronto Maple Leafs

Highly Anticipated Maple Leafs & Oilers Game Ends Up Underwhelming

Jan 21st 8:35 AM
Fantasy

5 Fantasy Hockey Free Agent Targets

Editor’s Picks
NHL TV Blackouts & Why They Happen?

NHL TV Blackouts & Why They Happen?

Masthead

Newsletters

RSS Feeds

Privacy Statement

Contact Us

About THW…

Founded in 2009, The Hockey Writers is a premier destination for news and information on everything hockey. Updated daily with news and features from over 130 writers worldwide. Over 2 million monthly readers now come to THW for their hockey fix.

© The Hockey Writers 2020. All rights reserved.
logo
  • HOME
  • Hockey Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • North Division
    • Calgary Flames
    • Edmonton Oilers
    • Montreal Canadiens
    • Ottawa Senators
    • Toronto Maple Leafs
    • Vancouver Canucks
    • Winnipeg Jets
  • East Division
    • Boston Bruins
    • Buffalo Sabres
    • New Jersey Devils
    • New York Islanders
    • New York Rangers
    • Philadelphia Flyers
    • Pittsburgh Penguins
    • Washington Capitals
  • Central Division
    • Carolina Hurricanes
    • Chicago Blackhawks
    • Columbus Blue Jackets
    • Dallas Stars
    • Detroit Red Wings
    • Florida Panthers
    • Nashville Predators
    • Tampa Bay Lightning
  • West Division
    • Anaheim Ducks
    • Arizona Coyotes
    • Colorado Avalanche
    • Los Angeles Kings
    • Minnesota Wild
    • San Jose Sharks
    • Seattle Kraken
    • St Louis Blues
    • Vegas Golden Knights
  • World Juniors
  • CHL
    • Ontario Hockey League
    • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
    • Western Hockey League
  • THW Podcast Network
  • Store
  • FREE Newsletter
  • Search THW
  • More…
    • Join Our Team
    • The THW Archives
    • Prospects
    • The Goalie Page
    • NHL Salary Cap Information