Who’s the leading candidate to get Claude Giroux? • What the latest news on Jakob Chychrun‘s injury means • Why one executive doesn’t envy the Jets or Canucks
Here’s where we are after a wonderfully wild Wednesday on the NHL trade front:
Calgary outmuscled the likes of Los Angeles and Washington for Calle Järnkrok, a versatile forward option. The trade was modelled after previous Viktor Arvidsson (Nashville to the Kings) and Mattias Janmark (Chicago to Vegas) trades, for second- and third-round picks. (The seventh-rounder going to Seattle is for the salary retention.)
Järnkrok isn’t fast, but he’s smart and won’t have trouble fitting in on a chemistry-strong Calgary team.
• Why it’s an interesting time around Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment
• Martin Brodeur and the Devils’ third jersey
The aftermath of Vancouver’s 4-1 loss to Pittsburgh was so awkward, so cringeworthy, it was impossible to believe something wouldn’t change on Thanksgiving Thursday. One longtime executive said “it’s almost a mercy killing after a night like that.”
There was JT Miller rolling his eyes at a “Do you think everyone is buying in?” question, responding with “I don’t know,” because he didn’t want to say what he really thought.
There was captain Bo Horvat sighing, “It’s exhausting. We talk about the same things all the time.”
Everyone in the organization knows changes are coming. Whether in the front office, on the bench or on the ice, they are coming. The question is the timetable. There’s some push for a quick move, but also a realization you can’t rush yourself into something insane. One executive told me years ago you worry in times like these about making a “tombstone trade,” a deal so bad that it is remembered forever. I think that’s the biggest current internal wrestling match: How fast do we do this and what is the first move?
There were a few hours on Thursday I thought something was going to happen. I really thought those who believe “we have to do something right now…anything!” were going to win the day. That obviously didn’t occur, whether in Vancouver or Columbus, where the team practised in advance of Friday’s game against the impressive Blue Jackets. (The Athletic’s Thomas Drance reported Miller snapped at a poorly-organized drill.)
Some confusion setting up a drill at #Canucks practice, as Travis Green discussed it at length with Boeser.
Appears to be a straightforward 2-on-0 drill, but the wrong mix of players was in various ends.
J.T. Miller could be heard yelling, “We don’t know what we’re doing!”
We will see what Friday brings. There are so many rumours right now, it’s difficult to separate fact from fiction.
Some of that is because the organization is doing external research on potential candidates, both in the front office and behind the bench. Obviously, you try to keep that as quiet as possible, but there’s always the risk of leakage. Team Canada is expected to name Claude Julien as its head coach at the upcoming Channel One and Spengler Cups, with the added possibility of coaching the Olympic Team if NHLers don’t go. (Bruce Boudreau and Scott Walker are the expected assistants.)
It is believed that if the Canucks wished to speak to Julien, for example, Montreal would not block permission.
It’s stressful, and everyone internally — from the offices to the dressing room — is on-edge waiting for something to happen. Best way out is for everyone to row in the same direction, but that clearly isn’t happening.
