Dan’s Daily: Price Leads Big Names Unprotected, Penguins Dump McCann

Our weekly Off the Record column was spot on. All hell did break loose on Saturday. The dizzying activity on the NHL trade market was equaled only by the shock of the big names available to the Seattle Kraken on Wednesday, including Montreal Canadiens goalie Carey Price. The Philadelphia Flyers finally pulled off their big trade, and it was a good one. The New York Islanders unloaded salary for nothing in return, and the Pittsburgh Penguins traded Jared McCann for a former prospect, which was just one of 10 trades among 15 teams.

It was a lot of fun. I wish I could share some of the intense things we heard, including the Penguins discussions, but there was a lot of chatter on the periphery and secondary sources which clouded what was real and what was chaff. Saturday was an outright gabfest, except by GMs who were talking to each other. Believe me, if we get wind that anything we heard is more than chatter or conjecture, it will be printed immediately.

A reliable source indicated to PHN the Pittsburgh Penguins protected Jeff Carter, and the McCann trade narrowed GM Ron Hextall’s decision to Brandon Tanev or Teddy Blueger. Our gut feeling is Tanev is the more likely player to be exposed (four years remaining, $3.5 million AAV).

We’ll find out later Sunday morning.

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: The Penguins trade sent Jared McCann to the Toronto Maple Leafs for former Penguins second-round pick Fillip Hallander. Full analysis and “Why,” including some links to our Filip Hallander scouting in the 2019 training camp. 

And–here’s an exclusive SCOOP by Adrian Dater for the Hockey Now network — The Penguins schedule will keep those baseball-style series next season. A high-level source gave us the goods. Read on. 

NHL Trade, News & National Hockey Now network…

Vegas: The Golden Knights were the third team in the 3-way Flyers trade. The Vegas receipt from the NHL trade market was Rangers’ fourth-line center Brett Howden (who I liked a lot), and they traded Cody Glass for failing Flyers center, Nolan Patrick. 

Philly: The Flyers have been big game hunting for a while. They finally landed a big fish, who is also a strong defenseman, too. Nashville’s Ryan Ellis is on his way to Philadelphia. 

Also–James van Riemsdyk is expected to be protected now that Patrick was traded. 

Florida: The Seattle Kraken have at least one goalie lined up–Florida goalie Chris Dredger. Here’s the report.

NYI: The New York Islanders cleared a truckload of salary cap space, and we’re not sure why it was legal. The Islanders sent Andrew Ladd, and THREE high draft picks to the Arizona Coyotes for…wait for it…NOTHING.

Live look at what the New York Islanders received in the Andrew Ladd trade. Perfectly normal transaction. https://t.co/AsQQBO31pA pic.twitter.com/bqxzWo5JRo

— Joe Haggerty (@HackswithHaggs) July 17, 2021

Detroit: The Detroit Red Wings did well to get Nick Leddy from the Islanders on Friday and unload Richard Panik on the Islanders. The Red Wings have plenty of options with Leddy, writes Bob Duff. 

San Jose: The San Jose Sharks have been unhappy with goalie Martin Jones. They left him unprotected on Saturday–just after they beat the NHL trade deadline to acquire goalie Adin Hill from the Arizona Coyotes.

Big Names Exposed

Sportsnet: Carey Price, 34, is owed $10.5 for the next five seasons. Friday, it was Ben Bishop who allowed himself to be unprotected. On Saturday came the big shocker–the Montreal Canadiens rolled the dice that Seattle GM Ron Francis won’t bite on Carey Price’s price tag. Montreal left Price unprotected. 

I’d take Price on a five-year deal in a heartbeat. Has anyone seen Montreal in the last two playoffs? You get three good years—one rough year. Maybe buy out the last year. Maybe. WORTH IT!

Colorado: Without a contract, the Colorado Avalanche did not protect captain Gabriel Landeskog. 

Daily Faceoff: The St. Louis Blues didn’t trade Vladimir Tarasenko last week. Those efforts might resume on Thursday at 1 p.m. However, the Blues left Tarasenko and his $9.5 million salary unprotected, so Seattle can have him and his salary for free.

TSN: The Columbus Blue Jackets traded Josh Anderson to Montreal for Max Domi, but Columbus left Domi unprotected on Saturday. 

Sportsnet: The LA Kings offered up yet another big name goalie to the Kraken–LA exposed Jonathan Quick.

Boston: The Boston Bruins and goalie Jaroslav Halak are parting ways. Boston is going to let Halak walk via free agency. 

And I know your next question. The answer is NO. Halak and the Penguins don’t fit. Read the story, and you’ll know why!