NHL Central

The rebuilding Chicago Blackhawks are still sitting on a number of tradable assets this season, including team captain Jonathan Toews and star winger Patrick Kane, though both need to waive their no-movement clauses in order to be dealt.

However, Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson told ESPN's Emily Kaplan that the team has had "zero" conversations with other teams on a deal for Kane, adding that he doesn't "foresee anything" happening soon.

Davidson didn't provide any clarity on where things stand with Toews, but Kaplan reports she's "heard that some teams are looking at" the veteran center given his respectable start to the 2022-23 campaign.

The Athletic's Mark Lazerus reported in July that the Blackhawks hadn't had any trade discussions involving Kane, so things appear to be status quo on that front.

Kane is in his 16th season in the NHL, all spent with the Blackhawks, and is in the final season of an eight-year, $84 million deal worth $10.5 million.

The 33-year-old has helped Chicago win three Stanley Cups, been named an All-Star four times and has won the Art Ross, Hart, Calder and Conn Smythe Trophies. He has tallied 432 goals and 758 assists in 1,119 regular-season games.

Through 12 games this season, the 2007 first overall pick has tallied two goals and eight assists.

Toews has also spent his entire 15-year career in Chicago and was a member of the team's three Stanley Cup victories from 2010-15. The 2013 second-team All-Star has won the Smythe and Selke Trophies as well as the Mark Messier Leadership Award.

The 34-year-old has notched 364 goals and 497 assists in 1,026 games. He has tallied seven goals and two assists in 12 games this season.

In an interview with Lazerus in July, Toews said that remaining with the team through a rebuild "doesn't sound appealing to me at all." However, he added that he wasn't sure what his future would look like:

"I can't speak for Kaner, but I definitely feel that the amount of turnover our team has gone through every single year these last three or four years, that's where it gets really, really draining. And exhausting. You have a guy like who was under Kaner's wing. And I like to think that Kirby [Dach] and I had that bond in some ways too. And out they go, out the door. Over and over, we've seen that turnover.

"I'm learning to be more patient, but there's no doubt that timeline is pretty daunting, and pretty exhausting to think about. So, I'm not going to sit here and say what I'm going to do or what the future holds for me, because I really don't know."

Like Kane, Toews is also in the last year of his contract, which is worth $10.5 million in 2022-23. It's unclear which teams might be interested in acquiring him.

Trade rumors surrounding Kane and Toews began around the 2022 NHL draft when the Blackhawks made a number of moves to signal they were entering a rebuild, including trading Alex DeBrincat to the Ottawa Senators and Dach to the Montreal Canadiens.

If Chicago (5-5-2) trades Kane or Toews ahead of the deadline in March, it will mark the end of an era.

The Colorado Avalanche's 2022 Stanley Cup Championship rings have been revealed, and Front Office Sports provided the details:

The Colorado Avalanche have unveiled their 2022 Stanley Cup Championship rings 💍

▪️ 14-karat white gold
▪️ 669 diamonds
▪️ 72 diamonds representing each win
▪️ 6 rubies for winning in Game 6

The rings feature .22 karat diamonds honoring 22 years of Stan Kroenke ownership. pic.twitter.com/aAJA1UoHLW

— Front Office Sports (@FOS) October 11, 2022

The Avs enjoyed a dominant season from start to finish. Their 56-19-7 record was good enough for 119 points, which was No. 1 in the Western Conference.

Colorado also went 16-4 in the Stanley Cup playoffs, which included sweeps over the Nashville Predators and Edmonton Oilers.

The Avalanche then defeated the back-to-back Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning in six games to win their second-ever title.

Colorado's quest for another Stanley Cup ring begins on Wednesday when it hosts the Chicago Blackhawks. Before the game, the team will raise its championship banner into the rafters at Ball Arena.

The Arizona Coyotes start the 2022-23 NHL season with low expectations and one of the top trade targets on their roster.

A good amount of talk surrounding Arizona in the early stages of the 2022-23 campaign will be about the status of defenseman Jakob Chychrun.

Arizona is reportedly taking the patient approach with Chychrun, who is working his way back from a wrist operation that he underwent in the offseason.

Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman outlined the current situation with Chychrun and the Coyotes on the 32 Thoughts podcast.

"I think the plan is he'll resume skating with Arizona in the next week," Friedman said. "He hasn't skated with them yet. Arizona is on a trip. I think when they get back the hope is he will start skating with them."

"I always worry in this business because things change with one phone call. Everything I'm hearing right now is it's a little premature to say anything is happening right away. He's going to start skating. There's been a lot of rumors around Chychrun. I understand the player would like this to be over. I really do. I can understand that. The Coyotes are willing to be a bit more patient. I think teams want to see him healthy. It can always change with one phone call. I've heard it's a bit quiet right now."

TSN's Darren Dreger broke down what could go into any deal with Arizona for Chychrun:

"Some say that the Coyotes have softened to some degree at least in their expected return and are more willing now to take on a contract or contracts. Granted, you've got to have a first-round draft pick, you've got to have a prospect involved in all of this, so the ask is still high."

Dreger mentioned the Ottawa Senators, Toronto Maple Leafs, Edmonton Oilers, Los Angeles Kings, St. Louis Blues and Columbus Blue Jackets as some of the teams interested in acquiring Chychrun.

The 24-year-old defenseman does not become an unrestricted free agent until 2025, so Arizona is well within its rights of setting a price for one of its most prized assets.

Chychrun can provide offensive help on the blue line to any team he lands with. He scored 37 goals and chipped in 51 assists over the last three seasons.

Chychrun and the Coyotes should try to accelerate the trade process once he gets back on the ice so that both sides can move on from the situation and not let trade rumors linger for the next few months.

Arizona is not expected to be competitive in the Western Conference, and it should allow some of its younger and more inexperienced players to take the ice in Chychrun's spot after a trade goes down.

The last thing a struggling franchise wants to do is put a ton of resources into a player who is on the way out. Chychrun could use a move early on in the season so the speculation does not weigh on him and affect his production from the blue line, which, in turn, could hurt his trade value.

The Coyotes could demand a first-round pick and prospects in return for Chychrun. They should try to get the most out of a deal for a 24-year-old defenseman who is under contract for the next two seasons.

The needs of teams across the league could also change in the coming weeks. All it takes is one injury or a sluggish start to the season and a general manager may be more willing to make a deal than he was a week ago.

Arizona should not take the first offer and run with it, but it needs to work in the best interest of all parties when finding a trade partner. Letting the situation linger into January or February does no good for anyone.

Arizona wants to get on with developing its young core around Clayton Keller, and Chychrun wants to play plenty of meaningful minutes for a Stanley Cup contender. An early trade would also allow Chychrun to develop chemistry with his new teammates and allow him to succeed for a longer portion of the season.

Trade negotiations do not always work out perfectly for team and player, but Chychrun is not needed for Arizona's rebuild, and the Coyotes could use the trade to set the market for other trades they may make over the next few months.

Once Chychrun is healthy, the Coyotes should try to accelerate their trade talks, that way everyone can move on from the situation and focus on the other goals set by the team and player for the 2022-23 campaign.

Minnesota Wild defenseman Matt Dumba called on the NHL to do a better job of combating racism within the sport, calling the current system an "old boys' club."

“It just goes back to everything that's been done for a long, long time in the same fashion," Dumba said, per John Wawrow of The Associated Press. "You know, the old boys' club and them dictating who is and who isn’t welcome. Yeah, I'm sick of it.”

Dumba, who has a Filipino mother and a white father, has been among the most vocal NHL stars calling for increased awareness of racism within hockey. He was the first NHL player to take a knee during the U.S. national anthem in protest of George Floyd's murder by police officer Derek Chauvin in 2020 and helped create the Hockey Diversity Alliance.

"You can kind of get a little bit of a glimpse into the impact we're actually making. That's what makes it worth it," Dumba said. "I do believe that's why we're all doing this. It's for that next generation, so they feel that they do have a voice and feel like they're not alone."

Dumba also called out the NHL for continuing to honor Conn Smythe by having his name on the trophy for playoff MVP. Smythe famously refused to sign Hockey Hall of Famer Herb Carnegie in the 1940s because Carnegie was Black.

The former Toronto Maple Leafs owner went as far as to say he'd give someone $10,000 if they could "turn Carnegie white." Recognized as one of the greatest players of his generation, Carnegie would never get a chance to play in the NHL.

There have been several calls on the NHL to change the name of the trophy in recent years, but the league has chosen silence on the issue.

Dumba said it's "not right" that the league continues to honor Smythe given his history of racism.

The Chicago Blackhawks signaled that they would be entering a rebuild after trading rising stars Alex DeBrincat and Kirby Dach during the 2022 NHL draft in July, and the selling of star players could continue this winter with Patrick Kane.

The 33-year-old is entering the final year of an eight-year, $84 million contract with the Blackhawks and is set to earn $10.5 million in 2022-23. He had been included in numerous rumors throughout the summer due to the assets Chicago could get in a trade including the veteran, in addition to his possible unwillingness to stick around for a rebuild.

Kane's NHL career is entering its final stages, and if he wants a chance to add another Stanley Cup to his resume, remaining with the Blackhawks might not be the best option.

It's difficult to imagine the team improving on its finish to the 2021-22 campaign in which it finished seventh in the Central Division with 68 points and missed the playoffs.

The Athletic's 2022-23 season projection for the Blackhawks also has the team finishing toward the bottom of the NHL standings and lists the franchise's best-case scenario as finishing last in the league and winning the draft lottery:

"The Blackhawks are going to be bad. Very bad. Among one of the worst in the league. Whether they sink to the very bottom depends on how much player movement there is during the year to send NHL-caliber players out. The expectation should be that quite a few are on the move by the time the deadline rolls around."

All that said, it remains to be seen whether Kane wants a move away from the team he has spent his entire 15-year NHL career and won three Stanley Cups with.

The Buffalo, New York native told reporters on Sept. 22 that he had been blocking out the trade rumors over the summer. He added that while he realizes he could be moved this season, it's "not really anything" he has been thinking about just yet.

By the time the trade deadline approaches, seeking a move could well be on his mind, especially if the Blackhawks are near the foot of the Western Conference standings.

So, lets take a look at some hypothetical trade packages if Kane does hit the market.

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New York Rangers 

The New York Rangers have been linked to Kane since the 2021-22 season's trade deadline.

The Blueshirts were one of the most exciting teams in the NHL last season, finishing second in the Metropolitan Division with 110 points. It was their best end to a regular season since 2014-15.

However, they were unable to get over the hump in the postseason, falling to the Tampa Bay Lightning in the Eastern Conference Finals in six games.

Could Kane be the player to get them back into the Stanley Cup Final for the first time since they fell to the Los Angeles Kings in 2014? It's possible, but what sort of package would general manager Chris Drury need to offer the Blackhawks to land him?

Well, one idea would be to offer winger Alexis Lafrenière and New York's 2023 first-round pick to Chicago in exchange for Kane.

The Rangers selected Lafrenière first overall in the 2020 NHL draft, and there was plenty of hype surrounding him at the time, with some even comparing him to Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby.

However, the 20-year-old has failed to live up to those expectations in two seasons with the Rangers.

During his rookie year, he notched 12 goals and nine assists for 21 points in 56 games. Last season, he tallied 19 goals and 12 assists for 31 points in 79 games. That's not much of an improvement.

Lafrenière has also been buried on New York's depth chart, and he is playing on the third line, sitting behind first-liner Chris Kreider and second-liner Artemi Panarin. He's not going to surpass either of those names any time soon.

If he was traded to the Blackhawks, he would be getting top-six minutes, which would likely be better for his development and career.

Some Rangers fans might not like this proposed trade, but it's what it takes to bring in an elite scorer like Kane. In addition, The Fourth Period's David Pagnotta reported in March that New York would be open to trading Lafrenière if the return was significant, so the winger isn't untouchable.

That said, it's unclear if adding Kane would be significant enough for the team to part with Lafrenière.

However, the thought of reuniting Kane and Panarin on the same line in the Big Apple should be enticing enough for the Rangers to consider it.

---

Edmonton Oilers

Like the Rangers, the Edmonton Oilers would be an intriguing destination for Kane.

They finished second in the Pacific Division last season with 104 points and reached the Western Conference Finals before being eliminated by eventual Stanley Cup champion, the Colorado Avalanche.

Edmonton is on the cusp of contending for a title, and adding Kane could help put the team over the edge in 2022-23.

However, it's important to note the Oilers would have to get creative in order to fit him under the salary cap. The franchise is nearly $7.6 million over the limit, per CapFriendly, so something would need to be done to create enough space to fit Kane on the roster.

Provided the Oilers free up some cap space, one trade option for general manager Ken Holland would be to package Jesse Puljujarvi, a couple of solid prospects and a 2023 first-round pick in exchange for Kane.

Puljujarvi, the fourth overall pick in the 2016 NHL draft, has never lived up to the hype. In 65 games last season, he tallied 14 goals and 22 assists 36 points. Moving him to Chicago would allow him to see consistent top-six minutes.

Trading a first-round pick speaks for itself, and the rebuilding Blackhawks would most likely want a first-rounder in any deal for Kane.

As for prospects, moving a player such as Raphaël Lavoie and/or Philip Broberg could be intriguing to the Blackhawks.

Broberg, the No. 8 overall pick in the 2019 draft, had a solid 2021-22 season with the AHL's Bakersfield Condors. The 21-year-old blueliner tallied four goals and 19 assists for 23 points in 31 games. He also appeared in 23 games for the Oilers, notching one goal and two assists.

Winger Lavoie, 22, also spent last season with the Condors, tallying 13 goals and 26 points in 56 games.

Broberg is more of a high-end prospect, while his teammate would be considered a mid-level prospect.

If the Oilers landed Kane, it's reasonable to believe he would play on the first line alongside Evander Kane and Connor McDavid. Adding him to the Edmonton offense would make it even more potent.

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Los Angeles Kings

The Los Angeles Kings took a big leap forward in 2021-22 with a combination of veterans and fresh faces who helped them make the playoffs for the first time since the 2017-18 campaign, and that success could continue in 2022-23.

The Kings finished third in the Pacific Division with 99 points before being eliminated by the Oilers in seven games in the first round of the playoffs. Adding a player like Kane could help the team get out of the first round for the first time since 2014, when they won the Stanley Cup.

Chicago would likely need to retain some of Kane's salary to make a deal work, but L.A. could offer a trade package that would make doing so worthwhile.

Kings general manager Rob Blake could look to package Alex Turcotte, a 2023 first-round pick and a mid-round pick in a deal for Kane.

The draft selections will surely be enticing for the Blackhawks as the 2023 class is expected to be loaded with talent. In addition, Turcotte could be inserted into the team's lineup this season and see a good amount of playing time that would help his development.

The 21-year-old was selected fifth overall in the 2019 NHL draft but didn't make his debut until the 2021-22 season in which he tallied zero points in eight games. He spent most of last season with Ontario Reign in the AHL, recording six goals and 12 assists in 27 games.

The Kings have plenty of young talent, so Turcotte is expendable. Adding Kane to a lineup that already includes Anze Kopitar and Kevin Fiala could really change the outlook of the entire 2022-23 season for the franchise.

The Czech Republic has informed the NHL that Russian players will not be granted entry into the country for scheduled games between the Nashville Predators and San Jose Sharks at Prague's O2 Arena.

Deputy Foreign Minister Martin Smolek released a statement Thursday saying the country made the decision based on Russia's continued invasion of Ukraine.

"We can confirm that the Czech Foreign Ministry has sent a letter to the NHL to point out that, at this moment, the Czech Republic or any other state in the (visa free) Schengen zone should not issue visas to the Russian players to enter our territory," Smolek said.

The Predators and Sharks are slated for games Oct. 7 and 8 in Prague. It's unclear if the NHL will move forward with the games, and Smolek would not disclose any reaction from the league.

Nashville forward Yakov Trenin and San Jose forward Evgeny Svechnikov would be barred from the games if they are held as scheduled.

Finland, which is also slated to host NHL games this season, is also in the process of banning all Russian citizens from entering the country. It is yet to be made clear whether that will apply to NHL players.

The Colorado Avalanche and Columbus Blue Jackets are set for two games in Tampere, Finland, on Nov. 4-5.

Foreign governments and sports associations have been increasingly hostile toward Russian immigrants as the country continues to wage war in Ukraine. Russian players were barred from playing in Wimbledon this summer, and several international sports organizations have banned Russians from competition.

There have been more than 14,000 confirmed civilian casualties since February, but the number is believed to be higher.

Nathan MacKinnon had himself an excellent 2021-22 season and a postseason for the ages. No surprises, then, that he's getting paid in a major way.

The superstar forward has signed an eight-year extension with the Colorado Avalanche that reportedly has an average annual value of $12.6 million, tops in the NHL.

EIGHT MORE FOR NATE THE GREAT!#GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/BzQmrdIk6w

— x - Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) September 20, 2022

My quick thoughts: If the salary cap continues going up like expected, this will be a bargain for the #Avs.

— Peter Baugh (@Peter_Baugh) September 20, 2022

Nathan MacKinnon contract structure:

23-24: $15.725M signing bonus, $775k salary
24-25: $15.725M SB, $775k salary
25-26: $15.25M SB, $800k salary
26-27: $3M SB, $9.15M salary
27-28 through 30-31: $8.91M SB, $990k salary each year

AAV $12.6 M

— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) September 20, 2022

Nathan MacKinnon's deal includes $85.34 million in signing bonus money

— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) September 20, 2022

By AAV, MacKinnon, 27, is now just edging out Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid, arguably the league's best player who has led the league in scoring in four of the past six seasons.

1. MacKinnon: $12.6 million AAV
2. McDavid: $12.5 million AAV
3. Artemi Panarin, LW, New York Rangers: $11.6 million AAV
   
4. Auston Matthews, C, Toronto Maple Leafs: $11.6 million AAV
5. Erik Karlsson, D, San Jose Sharks: $11.5 million AAV

In terms of total value among current contracts, Las Vegas Knights defenseman Shea Weber still tops the charts on his 14-year, $110 million deal, which runs through the 2025-26 season, though he didn't play last season and may be unofficially retired at this point.

In NHL history, Alex Ovechkin's previous 13-year, $124 million deal with the Washington Capitals is the most total money on a contract in league history.

Nathan MacKinnon's $100.8M extension is the 4th most valuable contract in NHL history

1. Alex Ovechkin $124M
2. Shea Weber $110M
3. Sidney Crosby $104.4M
4. MacKinnon $100.8M
5. McDavid & Kovalchuk $100Mhttps://t.co/HEoxeYfbuQ

— CapFriendly (@CapFriendly) September 20, 2022

MacKinnon's massive AAV will move the needle for superstar contracts to follow, however. He was fantastic in the 2021-22 season, scoring 32 goals and adding 56 assists in 65 games.

But he was downright special in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, posting a league-leading 13 goals to go along with 11 points as the Avs won the title. So a massive deal was always going to follow, and there is an argument to be made that it's even a team-friendly deal, given the duration.

Nathan MacKinnon, the new highest paid player in the league, is still underpaid. pic.twitter.com/YvdXkycqDG

— dom 📈 (@domluszczyszyn) September 20, 2022

I think it can still accurately be said that Nathan MacKinnon, while getting wish of being NHL's highest-paid player, also gave something of a team discount to Avs. I think his agent wanted more, but in the end the player is the boss

— Adrian Dater (@adater) September 20, 2022

Asked MacKinnon if he was ready to cede "most underpaid player in the NHL" title to Makar.

“He has it now. I chirp him about who makes more than him. I’m not gonna say any names, but like, damn. ‘What’d you sign that for?’ We won though, so it’s all good. I’m sure he’ll be fine”

— Sean Gentille (@seangentille) September 20, 2022

However the deal is viewed, MacKinnon got paid, and handsomely. It's a strong deal for both the team and player as they look to repeat as champions in the 2022-23 campaign.

After leading the Colorado Avalanche to a Stanley Cup title, Nathan MacKinnon is now the NHL's highest-paid player.

The Avs announced an eight-year contract extension with their superstar center on Tuesday.

EIGHT MORE FOR NATE THE GREAT!#GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/BzQmrdIk6w

— x - Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) September 20, 2022

Per TSN Sports, MacKinnon's $12.6 million average annual salary surpasses Connor McDavid's $12.5 million per season deal as the richest in the NHL.

Chris Johnston of North Star Sports noted the extension kicks in at the start of the 2023-24 season.

TSN's Pierre LeBrun provided full details of the contract structure, with most of the money being paid out as a signing bonus.

Nathan MacKinnon contract structure:

23-24: $15.725M signing bonus, $775k salary
24-25: $15.725M SB, $775k salary
25-26: $15.25M SB, $800k salary
26-27: $3M SB, $9.15M salary
27-28 through 30-31: $8.91M SB, $990k salary each year

AAV $12.6 M

— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) September 20, 2022

A new deal has been expected for some time, with MacKinnon saying last week on the NHL/NHLPA media tour in Las Vegas the two sides were "pretty close" on an agreement.

"I'd prefer it to be done," he added. "… It gets emotional. You feel like it's personal sometimes. I'd like to get it done just so it's not a distraction at all.

The five-time All-Star will earn $6.85 million in 2022-23, the final season of his seven-year, $44.1 million contract that was signed in July 2016.

MacKinnon has been everything the Avs could have hoped for since making him the No. 1 overall pick in the 2013 NHL draft. The Canadian star became the youngest player in NHL history to win the Calder Memorial Trophy as an 18-year-old during the 2013-14 season.

Colorado ended its three-year playoff drought in MacKinnon's rookie campaign. After another three-year absence from 2014-17, the Avs have made the postseason in each of the past five seasons.

The 2021-22 season was arguably the best in Avalanche history. They set franchise records for regular-season wins (56) and points (119) to earn the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference. They went 12-2 in the first three rounds of the playoffs, including two sweeps to reach the Stanley Cup Final.

MacKinnon had six points in six games against the Tampa Bay Lightning to lead the Avs to their first championship in 21 years. He has scored 648 points in 638 career regular-season games.