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Around the NHL: Wild acquire Jiricek, Stamkos calls out Preds’ work ethic, Canucks’ trade talk involves Hoglander
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Photo credit: © Aaron Doster-Imagn Images
Shane Seney
Dec 2, 2024, 11:00 ESTUpdated: Dec 2, 2024, 09:14 EST
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The calendar has flipped to December, American Thanksgiving is in the rearview mirror, and NHL GMs are starting to get a taste of reality of just how good their teams really are.
With the entire league hovering around the 25-game mark, the standings are starting to tell quite the story, as separation is being created between the good, bad and the ugly of the NHL. Here’s the very latest from around the league:

Blue Jackets trade former #6 overall pick

The Columbus Blue Jackets and Minnesota Wild pulled off a significant trade together last week, as the Wild received 2022 sixth-overall pick, right-handed defenceman David Jiricek. Minnesota acquired Jiricek along with a 2025 fifth-round pick, in exchange for defenceman Daemon Hunt and a 2025 first, 2027 second, 2026 third and fourth-round pick.
Jiricek, 21, has appeared in six games with the Blue Jackets this season, registering one assist. He was recently sent down to the AHL’s Cleveland Monsters and posted two goals and three points in four games. Jiricek joins Brock Faber on the right side of the Wild’s blueline and gives Minnesota GM Bill Guerin two pillars to build around on his back end.
Jiricek was reportedly not happy with the opportunity being provided to him in Columbus and was open to being moved sooner rather than later. After his recent AHL demotion, trade talks picked up in a major way and GM Don Waddell was able to move quickly to get the package he desired.
This trade wasn’t the only deal last week as the Nashville Predators and Colorado Avalanche swapped backup goaltenders. The Avs received 32-year-old veteran Scott Wedgewood in exchange for 24-year-old backup Justus Annunen. A 2025 sixth-round pick was also included in the deal from the Avalanche. Colorado ranks 30th in the league allowing 3.72 goals per game and is hopeful Wedgewood can help push Alexandar Georgiev to get back on track.

Steven Stamkos airs out frustration on Predators’ offense

Speaking of the Predators, a team that had sky-high expectations coming into this season, they’ve had quite the week after Steven Stamkos aired out some frustrations following a recent loss. Nashville is 7-12-6 on the year, bottom-feeding in the Western Conference standings, and after the Tampa Bay Lightning took down the Preds in overtime on Nov.29, Stamkos commented on his team’s work ethic.
“We’re a team that struggles to score goals. “When you’re a team that struggles to score goals, you can’t afford to take nights off. You can’t afford to not work,” Stamkos told The Tennessean’s Alex Daugherty.
“It’s OK to be frustrated because we’re not scoring. But you counter that by work ethic and getting into the game in different ways. If you’re not scoring, what else are you doing out there? What else can you do to help your team win? I’ve just felt like, for whatever reason, in these stretches, we tend to go the other way.”
Nashville ranks dead last in the NHL averaging just 2.32 goals for per game. Stamkos has seven goals in 25 games, meanwhile, Jonathan Marchessault has chipped in with four goals in 25 games, Ryan O’Reilly has five in 25, and Colton Sissons has two in 24 games.

Canucks receiving calls on Nils Hoglander

According to ESPN’s Kevin Weekes, the Vancouver Canucks have received trade calls on forward Nils Hoglander, including from the Washington Capitals, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Blue Jackets.
The 23-year-old forward posted a career-high 24 goals last season, however, has just two goals and five points in 23 games so far this year. Hoglander is an interesting trade candidate because of the fact he just signed a three-year extension this past October which kicks in next season, which includes seeing his AAV goes up to $3 million per season through 2027-28.

Quick hits from coast to coast:

  • According to Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet, the New York Rangers are considering a major shakeup and two names to watch for include Jacob Trouba and Chris Kreider.
  • Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov missed Saturday’s game against the Maple Leafs and is still considered day-to-day with an undisclosed injury.
  • TSN’s Pierre LeBrun reported that Avalanche forward Mikko Rantanen’s camp feels Rantanen could get upwards up $14 million on the open market next summer.
  • Sharks rookie Macklin Celebrini is up to 14 points in 15 games so far this season, after missing a stretch of games due to injury.
  • Capital’s Dylan Strome continues to surprise this season, as he’s up to 34 points in 24 games.
  • The 4 Nations Face-Off rosters are to be announced this Wednesday.
  • Red Wing’s goaltender Cam Talbot suffered a lower-body injury during Sunday’s game against the Canucks.
  • Despite Alex Ovechkin being out with a broken leg, the Capitals are the NHL’s hottest team, currently on a four-game win streak and atop the Metropolitan Division with a 17-6-1 record.
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