LeBrun rumblings: Latest on Guentzel, Toffoli, Hanifin and other top targets as NHL trade market heats up

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It’s always funny posting updates this close to the trade deadline because the information changes so rapidly. So quick: Give this a read before most of it changes in five minutes!

Having said that, after making a bunch of calls Tuesday, here’s the latest I’m hearing ahead of Friday’s 3 p.m. Eastern trade deadline:

Rental forwards

Jake Guentzel

Vegas certainly seemed like a logical destination for Guentzel, and no question the Golden Knights had talks with the Pittsburgh Penguins, but they don’t appear to be in the mix as much anymore — and not just because they acquired Anthony Mantha from the Washington Capitals on Tuesday. The Knights could still try to add another forward before Friday’s deadline.

Colleague Chris Johnston tweeted Tuesday that he’s heard the Vancouver Canucks are considering flipping Elias Lindholm to the Boston Bruins as a way to get to Guentzel both cap-wise and asset-wise. The Bruins were one of the teams that tried with the Calgary Flames on Lindholm before he got shipped to Vancouver on Jan. 31. And well, it hasn’t gone swimmingly for Lindholm in Vancouver.

But that doesn’t change the fact that the Canucks may still find Pittsburgh’s price too high. The Edmonton Oilers have kept tabs on Guentzel, too, as have other teams.

The package sought by the Penguins depends on the suitor but past trades involving Bo Horvat last year and Claude Giroux two years ago are comparables to look at. And even Lindholm this season.

A clutch playoff performer, the Penguins should get what they want or close to in this transaction, regardless of where Guentzel lands. The market is overloaded with forwards, and it feels like a buyers’ market. But in this particular case, you’re talking about the top of the rental food chain.

Adam Henrique

Henrique appears to have emerged as the Oilers’ primary target, although Edmonton has certainly stayed on top of several options on the forward market. The New York Rangers, Bruins and, to some degree, Golden Knights, have also checked in on him, among others.

Henrique’s $5.825 million average annual value is the tricky part for an Oilers team for which every cap dollar counts, but the Anaheim Ducks still have two salary retention spots they can use and no doubt would use to help facilitate a deal. Perhaps it requires a third-party broker, as well. Henrique can play both center and left wing and is having a decent season in Anaheim. He makes perfect sense for any contender and would give Edmonton some lineup flexibility, to be sure.

Vladimir Tarasenko

Tarasenko has a full no-trade clause, so he has a say in where he lands, but it’s pretty paramount for him to play playoff hockey and reset July 1 free agency for himself. So the expectation is that he will be pretty open-minded as we get closer to Friday, as far as not minimizing his list of teams.

The Ottawa Senators have been looking for a first-round pick plus another asset, but I think that price may have to drop because there are only a handful of teams looking at forwards (and a much longer list of forwards on the market). It certainly seems like a buyers’ market right now.

The Carolina Hurricanes tried on Tarasenko last summer, and I believe there’s still interest there, but there’s no way the Canes spend a first-round pick on a rental. If the price drops, they could be in play for him. Vegas is among the other potential options. The Capitals retaining 50 percent on Mantha is significant, allowing the Golden Knights to take another swing at Tarasenko or another forward.

Tyler Toffoli

New Jersey Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald said at a news conference Tuesday that he’s still talking about a potential extension with Toffoli’s camp, led by agent Pat Brisson, but that “term” was an issue in those talks.

Fitzgerald doesn’t really want to move Toffoli, but given the interest of teams calling, he might have to. This one should go right to the wire. I expect the Devils to wait until Friday and decide what to do. They’re not just going to give him away for a middling return. There’s a certain threshold price-wise — otherwise, he’s an own-rental. He would be a nice fit in Edmonton on the second line.

Max Pacioretty

Pacioretty has a full no-movement clause, so the Capitals are working with agent Allan Walsh to figure out where this goes. It’s not guaranteed he moves. Pacioretty would prefer staying East if possible. He has five kids and has bounced around a lot over the past few years. But that doesn’t mean he’s closed the door on going West. Joining a Cup contender is appealing as he resets himself for July 1. I wonder if the first-place Florida Panthers could be a fit if the price makes sense.

Jordan Eberle

Eberle’s camp is still in talks with the Seattle Kraken about a possible extension, but I don’t believe formal offers had been exchanged as of Tuesday morning. And given what’s happened with Alex Wennberg (pulled from the lineup Monday for trade-related reasons, with talks on an extension halted), who knows where this ends up for Eberle? He’s staying in the Kraken lineup for their game Tuesday, so there’s that.

Alex Wennberg

Speaking of Wennberg, who awaits a trade after being pulled out of the lineup Monday, the Rangers and Colorado Avalanche have shown interest. Makes perfect sense for either club given their needs.

Jason Zucker

Zucker was held out of the lineup Tuesday night because well, ’tis the season, and the Coyotes are obviously looking to move the pending unrestricted free agent. It’s not been a banner year for the veteran winger, with nine goals in 51 games, but he had 27 goals just last season in Pittsburgh. The Coyotes would have to retain salary on his $5.3 million AAV. He’s lower on the list for most contenders, and some teams believe the price remains too high. As I like to say, it’s Tuesday, not Friday yet.

Non-rental forward

Evgeny Kuznetsov

Obviously, Kuznetsov is a totally different kettle of fish — not a rental and in a very unique situation after coming out of NHL-NHLPA player assistance program, clearing waivers earlier this week and reporting to AHL Hershey. I was told Tuesday that Kuznetsov is motivated to show people around the game he’s on the way back and can still be an elite player. So he’s approaching his AHL assignment with the right attitude. Could he move before Friday’s deadline? It would require a team wanting to take a chance and the Capitals wanting to take a bad contract back, given that Kuznetsov is signed through next season at $7.8 million AAV. As of Tuesday, there was still at least some hope that could happen. But it feels like a long shot before Friday.

Rental defensemen

Noah Hanifin

It has been a grind fleshing out the trade market for Hanifin, which may speak mostly to the larger demand for right-shot defensemen right now considering how talented the left-shot Hanifin is and what a great season he’s having. His modified no-trade and ability to have some measure of control over destinations also has made it more complicated. Agent Pat Brisson is working on it with the Flames front office. The Tampa Bay Lightning remain the most logical destination, but can they entice the Flames with a good enough package given their depleted assets? Can Boston?

Sean Walker

Finally on Tuesday I’m told action started to pick up with teams circling back and getting more serious on Walker. That doesn’t mean he will for sure get dealt as the Philadelphia Flyers aren’t moving him for what they deem to be a lackluster return. But I think it’s more likely than not he does get moved. It’s been quiet for a few days between the Flyers and Walker’s camp on extension talks. I think the Flyers will circle back one last time there. So all the balls are up in the air, but the word on Tuesday is that calls with teams were gaining traction. The Flyers still want a first-round pick. Can they get it? The Toronto Maple Leafs and the Oilers have kept tabs with Philly, including over the last few days.

Matt Dumba

The Arizona Coyotes came into the trade market looking to get a first-round pick for Dumba, but it sounds like that isn’t realistic. Never say never, but it didn’t sound Tuesday like the market was willing to go that high on him. I don’t know that the Leafs were ever that high on him. He was certainly behind Chris Tanev — their top choice, who went to Dallas — and Ilya Lyubushkin, who they got last week. But if the price is cheap enough …?

Alexandre Carrier

While Nashville Predators GM Barry Trotz has mentioned the possibility of keeping Carrier as an own-rental because the team is in a playoff spot, the reality is that as of Tuesday, all options are still open: sign him to an extension (talks continue, but it doesn’t sound close), trade him if a team really make it hard to say no, or keep him as an own-rental as discussed.

Erik Johnson

I’m told that interest ramped up on Johnson once Anaheim moved Lyubushkin to Toronto. Obviously in Johnson, you get leadership, Stanley Cup experience and a solid penalty killer. Agent Pat Brisson is working with Buffalo Sabres GM Kevyn Adams on it. Adams wants to put Johnson in a good spot. I don’t see a reunion with the Avalanche among the realistic options.

Joel Edmundson

More calls have been coming in over the past few days on the 2019 Stanley Cup champion. He’s not right-handed, but he’s a 6-foot-5 warrior type who has played well of late in Washington. The Caps are willing to retain on his $1.75-million AAV, so he’d be a cheap cap hit. I wonder if Tampa Bay would make him Plan B or C if it can’t get the Hanifin trade across the finish line.

(Top photo: Bruce Bennett / Getty Images)

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