In today’s NHL rumour rundown, we start off with the Seattle Kraken and how they are going to be aggressive in trying to bring in an impactful offensive player. Next, we head to the Minnesota Wild and the growing link between them and New York Rangers centre Vincent Trocheck. Finally, the Florida Panthers have three season-defining games before the trade deadline, and could end up as sellers.
Kraken Swinging Big on Forward, Wright Available
The Kraken have been a middling team since joining the league, and while they have seen good individual seasons from players like Vince Dunn, Matty Beniers, and Joey Daccord, they haven’t had a true game-breaker, especially offensively.
They were reportedly very aggressive in trying to bring in Artemi Panarin before the Rangers moved him to the Los Angeles Kings. While it wasn’t confirmed, Elliotte Friedman suggested that Shane Wright was a part of the package the Kraken offered, but because of Panarin’s trade protection, he was able to nix the deal.
Friedman continued by stating that he confirmed the Kraken had tabled a three-year deal with an annual salary of $14.25 million.
It is clear that the Kraken are ready to add. They are in the second wild card position in the Western Conference, and while there are talented teams chasing them, they are in a good position to pull ahead from the rest of the pack.
The positive from the team is that they have very balanced scoring. The downside is that Jordan Eberle is the top point-getter for them, and he has 38 points through 56 games. A high-end offensive player could transform this whole team.
Wright will push to hit the 40-point mark for the second season in a row, though he is on pace to fall just short this season. He is a very talented player who has struggled to fit into the Kraken lineup in a meaningful role. With another year left on his entry-level contract after being selected fourth overall in 2022, he would be a very attractive piece for a seller to bring in.
Wild Leading Trocheck Sweepstakes
Once the Rangers committed to selling off their assets and Trocheck was made available, the Wild have always made the most sense.
The Wild have had an excellent season despite their weak centre depth. On defense, they were already strong and still added Quinn Hughes. In net, Filip Gustavsson and Jesper Wallstedt are arguably the best tandem in the league, and on the wings, Kirill Kaprizov and Matt Boldy headline the group, and behind them, they have some very strong depth. Another top-six winger would help, but centre is without a doubt their biggest need.
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While all of the centres the Wild have are effective, their ideal position would be in the bottom six, or, in the case of Joel Eriksson-Ek, a second-line role would be fitting.
Trocheck has reportedly made it clear that his wish is to stay in the Eastern Conference. On the latest episode of 32 Thoughts, Friedman stated, “Everybody’s tied Minnesota to him — I think that one’s obvious.”, followed up with, “He’s stated that his preference is the Eastern Conference.”
The Wild have a few attractive pieces that the Rangers would like. Wallstedt is reportedly available for the right deal, and while Igor Shesterkin is likely sticking around for a long time, any team would be happy to bring in a goalie like him.
Another option is Charlie Stramel. Amidst a dominant season with Minnesota State in the NCAA, Stramel has been garnering lots of interest and could be a trade chip for the club.
Panthers Could Enter Market as Sellers
Yet again, on the 32 Thoughts podcast, Friedman stated that the seller’s market is very diluted, and that the Panthers could be a team that sneaks in and ends up as buyers if the prices are low.
Looking at the Panthers in the bigger picture, they have had a season to forget so far. Without Aleksander Barkov, Matthew Tkachuk missing lots of time, and others out with injuries, the Panthers sit second-last in the Atlantic Division and are eight points out of a playoff spot. While that is still a possible gap to close, it is unlikely. With three games before the trade deadline, they could all be very indicative of which direction the team should go in.
Sergei Bobrovsky has gotten a lot of interest. He is a pending unrestricted free agent, and the Panthers haven’t made any progress on a contract.
Craig Button stated that the Montreal Canadiens would make a lot of sense as a destination, though Emily Kaplan said she would be shocked if he is moved.
The Panthers don’t have much in terms of an internal replacement for Bobrovsky. After winning back-to-back Stanley Cups with him at the helm, there are large boots to fill. Kirill Gerasimyuk is their top goalie prospect, who is in his first season in North America, where he has played well in the American Hockey League through 13 games.
Daniil Tarasov, their current backup goaltender, is a pending unrestricted free agent, along with forwards A.J. Greer, Cole Schwindt, Tomas Nosek, and Luke Kunin. On defense, Jeff Petry could be a depth add for a contender, but they don’t have any big-name skaters without a deal for next season.
The Panthers are still in excellent shape moving forward. With seven top-six forwards signed long-term, and their top-four locked in as well, depth and goaltending will be their biggest concerns this offseason, but before then, they may look to restock the cupboards with mid-round picks.
