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Around the NHL: Blues looking to trade Saad, Bruins’ getting offers on Frederic, Canucks trying to deal Desharnais
St. Louis Blues forward Brandon Saad.
Photo credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
Shane Seney
Dec 16, 2024, 12:00 ESTUpdated: Dec 16, 2024, 09:13 EST
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With most teams in the NHL reaching the 30-game mark, both the Eastern and Western Conference standings are starting to take shape, with the playoff contenders separating themselves from the lottery-bound teams. There continues to be a ton of movement throughout the league, as GMs are starting to pull the trigger on in-season deals to either save their season or potentially save their jobs.
The NHL’s holiday roster freeze is approaching, and trade talks have picked up in a major way. Here’s the very latest from around the NHL:

Blues acquire Cam Fowler, trying to trade Brandon Saad

After the Anaheim Ducks weren’t able to include defenceman Cam Fowler in the Jacob Trouba trade with the New York Rangers, they found a partner in the St. Louis Blues. Fowler was dealt to the Blues, along with a 2027 fourth-round pick, in exchange for defenceman Jeremie Biakabutuka and a 2027 second-round pick.
The Ducks retained $2.5 million of Fowler’s $6.5-million cap hit for the remainder of this season and next. Fowler has jumped right in with the Blues, playing almost 18 minutes in his debut, and over 20 minutes on Sunday against the Rangers.
With the Blues re-tooling on the fly this season, apparently, they aren’t done making moves. According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, Blues’ GM Doug Armstrong is looking to move veteran forward Brandon Saad. The 32-year-old winger has this season and next left on his contract, earning $4.5 million AAV. Saad holds a full no-trade clause for this season and will have to approve any deal Armstrong puts in front of him. Friedman mentioned in his report that Saad is open to considering other options.
Saad has scored four goals and 10 points in 27 games this season. He’s coming off a 26-goal season last season in St. Louis, and with a change of scenery, perhaps he can get back to finding the scoresheet on a regular basis. While the Toronto Maple Leafs could use some more secondary scoring, it’s not very likely they’d have interest in Saad, given he doesn’t play down the middle, but there is some familiarity between him and Berube.

Boston Bruins receiving calls on Trent Frederic

The Boston Bruins have had an up-and-down start to the season. The Bruins sit with a 16-13-3 record on the year and have found some life under new head coach Joe Sacco. While they’ve yet to make any significant roster moves this season, on-looking teams are certainly trying to get GM Don Sweeney to budge.
According to Friedman, numerous teams have called the Bruins about forward Trent Frederic. The 26-year-old centre is a pending unrestricted free agent, who is owed $2.3 million this season. Frederic has recorded five goals and 11 points in 32 games and has landed 94 hits. He has some versatility with the ability to play down the middle or on either wing, which makes him an interesting trade candidate for interested teams. The only issue here is the fact Frederic is a big part of the Bruins’ depth up front, and with Boston sitting third in the Atlantic Division, it would have to take a very intriguing offer to get Sweeney and company to budge.

Canucks looking to move Vincent Desharnais

The Canucks signed defenseman Vincent Desharnais to a two-year, $4-million contract this past summer, and after just 17 games, are reportedly looking to find the 6-foot-7 blueliner a new home.
Friedman has been all over the trade reports lately, dishing on Desharnais, stating that the Canucks are trying to find him a better situation. Canucks’ president Jim Rutherford is no stranger to making bold trades, even if it includes a player he’s recently acquired, that just isn’t working out as he’d hoped.
The 28-year-old Desharnais has been a healthy scratch on several occasions throughout this season. He’s averaging just over 15 minutes per game, including 1:38 on the penalty kill. Desharnais is an interesting name on the trade market for the Maple Leafs, as GM Brad Treliving had interest in acquiring the towering defenceman at the beginning of last season when he was a member of the Edmonton Oilers at the beginning of last season. With Conor Timmins and Phillipe Myers rotating through the sixth spot on the Leafs’ blueline, perhaps Treliving circles back on the Canucks’ d-man.

Quick hits from around the league:

  • Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli stated last week on Daily Faceoff LIVE that the Carolina Hurricanes aren’t in any rush to add another goaltender, but when time comes, potential candidates include Dan Vladar of the Calgary Flames, Karel Vejmelka from Utah HC, and John Gibson from the Anaheim Ducks.
  • The Rangers scratched Kaapo Kakko on Sunday against the Blues, as there’s growing speculation another trade could be coming very soon from GM Chris Drury.
  • Detroit Red Wings’ netminder and former Maple Leaf Jack Campbell was recalled by the Wings last weekend on an emergency basis. Campbell recently returned to the ice after entering the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program at the start of the 2024-25 campaign.
  • The Vegas Golden Knights signed forward Keegan Kolesar to a three-year contract extension which carries $2.5-million AAV.
  • Colorado Avalanche forward Nathan MacKinnon leads the NHL with 50 points in 32 games this season.
  • Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck continues to set the tone in the crease, leading the NHL with a 19-5-1 record, along with an impressive 2.11 goals against average, and .926 save percentage.
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