NHL Rumors: Philadelphia Flyers, Los Angeles Kings, Colorado Avalanche

Welcome to the Sunday edition of Full Press Hockey‘s NHL Rumors. With over a month to the trade deadline instead of the usual two days a week for NHL Rumors, we will be upping our coverage to four days a week. This time we will cover the Philadelphia Flyers, Los Angeles Kings, and Colorado Avalanche.

Philadelphia Flyers – Claude Giroux

Rumor: Per: Giana Han, Olivia Reiner and Gus Elvin – inquirer.com. What will happen with Claude Giroux?

FPH Analysis: Seeing that the star forward has a full no-movement clause in his contract which expires at season’s end, will he be traded? He has stated that he wishes to end his career in Philadelphia. But, what if a Stanley Cup contending team wants to add him to their roster?

It is apparently up to Giroux if he stays or goes according to general manager Chuck Fletcher. If he decides to waive his no-movement clause, he could get the fledgling Flyers a first-round pick, plus a top prospect. Are you interested Calgary Flames? He’d make a great second or third-line centre. Staying with the Flyers won’t allow him to hoist the Cup anytime soon. Tough choice for the Flyers captain who has played his entire 15-year career in Philly.

His 15 goals, 20 assists in 42 games this season could certainly help a Cup contending team. But, it is up to him to decide.

Los Angeles Kings – Left Shot Defenseman

Rumor: Per – Elliotte Friedman – sportsnet.ca. When Friedman sat down with general manager Rob Blake, the topic of needing a left-shot defenseman came up. Who could the Los Angeles Kings go after? Jakob Chychrun and Ben Chiarot are out there.

FPH Analysis: While the Los Angeles Kings have some young talent attempting to fill that slot, it seems that they need the likes of a Chychrun or Chiarot to fulfill their needs. Both are big defenders with Chychrun at 6′-2″, 211 pounds and Chiarot coming in at 6′-3″, 226.

Add in the fact that the Kings are not particularly pleased with Olli Maatta‘s play (three points in 32 games) and their needs surface brilliantly. Comparing Chychrun to Chiarot will give Blake the choice of a mobile effective offensive D-man and a more physical net-front presence blueliner. Then there’s the fact that Chychrun will cost more in a return than Chiarot.

The Kings are somewhat of a surprise this season with a decent 24-16-7 record for 55 points, just two behind the Pacific leading Vegas Golden Knights. Of course, the other surprising team is the Anaheim Ducks who are tied with the Kings but have one more game played. The time for the Kings to keep the winning as a formula for postseason success is now.

Colorado Avalanche – Nazem Kadri

Rumor: Per – James O’Brien – nhl.nbcsports.com. O’Brien dissects the pros and cons of re-signing Nazem Kadri. He speculates that Kadri will seek free agency due to his extraordinary season results thus far.

FPH Analysis: Kadri is tied for third in NHL scoring with none other than Connor McDavid. He is on an incredible pace of 35 goals and 112 points. Now if you are negotiating a new contract, that is certainly a feather in your cap. After all, he like Nathan MacKinnon ($6.3 million) are both grossly underpaid when one examines the statistics of both players.

The other factor is Kadri is 31 years old. Not old for an NHL player, but if you were a GM would you spend a wad of money on a player who may be losing a step or two in a few years? Then, he has that history of going off and getting suspended for some on ice questionable behavior. He has changed agents so you know he will be asking for, and very well deserves a raise.

The Avs will have some money to spend with about $26.5 million in cap space next season if the cap rises to the expected $82.5 million ceiling. Will the Avs keep him seeing that MacKinnon may get somewhere in the $12 million range? That is why O’Brien thinks he will test free agency this summer. May the highest bidder prevail.

That concludes this edition of Full Press Hockey’s NHL rumors. Be sure to look for our next article soon!