Welcome back to the Tuesday edition of NHL Rumours! The quarter mark of the season has been reached as the stretch run towards the holiday freeze is on. Things are heating up off the ice as the rumour mill is picking up. In today’s edition of NHL Rumours, we take a look at the Montreal Canadiens, Boston Bruins, and Philadelphia Flyers
NHL Rumours
Montreal Canadiens
Rumour: Eric Engels of Sportsnet writes that Daniel Briere is atop the list for candidates to be the next general manager of the Montreal Canadiens.
Based on what I’ve been told, Daniel Briere is very high up on the list of candidates being considered for GM of the Canadiens.
— Eric Engels (@EricEngels) November 29, 2021
Analysis: Boy did we get a surprise heading into this week with the news out of Montreal this past weekend. The Canadiens fired general manager Marc Bergevin on Sunday along with the rest of the hockey management department. In addition, the team brought in Jeff Gorton, former New York Rangers general manager, as Vice President of Hockey Operations. According to owner Geoff Molson, the team is looking to fill the position rather quickly. And a big requirement of the job for the new general manager is to be able to speak French and English. Not only that, but they can be inexperienced as well. And one name that fits the bill is Daniel Briere.
Currently, Briere is with the Philadelphia Flyers organization running the day-to-day operations of the Maine Mariners, the Flyers ECHL club. However, Briere grew up in the province of Quebec and understands the language. Not to mention, he played for the Canadiens during the 2013-14 season before being traded to Colorado. And while he has not had any experience at the NHL level, the fact, he has been part of hockey management for four years with the Flyers has to count for something. And the issue with the language requirement limits the field, but Briere fills the category.
Boston Bruins
Rumour: According to Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet, Boston Bruins forward Jake DeBrusk has requested a trade.
Hearing that BOS and Jake DeBrusk are working on the possibility of a fresh start for the player. Told nothing is imminent at this time, but something to keep an eye on.
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) November 29, 2021
Analysis: This should not come as a shock to anyone. While nothing is imminent Rick Valette, the agent for DeBrusk confirmed to Ryan Rishaug of TSN, that DeBrusk is looking for a change of scenery. DeBrusk has been struggling for the last couple of seasons in Boston. The 2015 first-round pick has just six points in 17 games with the Bruins. The first three seasons for the Bruins were great where he recorded, 43, 42, and 35 points respectively. But, from there it has been a steady decline. And anytime the team has tried to elevate the player, he has not been equal to the task.
While this is the first official trade request from the player, DeBrusk’s name has been out there in trade rumours before. Usually, it was part of a package to get a player that was better than DeBrusk to fill a void to push the Bruins over the top. However, the Bruins were looking to trade DeBrusk over the summer, but there were no takers. This time it appears the team and player are ready to move on from each other. There is no doubt a market for DeBrusk, but his salary could play a factor to facilitate a trade. DeBrusk is an RFA at the end of this season making $3.67 million. The teams that are interested wish that cap hit was a little lower. It will be interesting to see how things develop.
Philadelphia Flyers
Rumour: According to Elliotte Friedman on the Jeff Marek Show, he wonders if Rick Tocchet is a name the Philadelphia Flyers go after to replace Alain Vigneault.
Friedman on TJMS: “Alain Vigneault has term left, I think teams are really not thrilled about eating money right now coming out of COVID, they’re definitely not interested in that…I’ve wondered about a guy like Rick Tocchet, it’s just me kind of speculating”.
— NHL Watcher (@NHL_Watcher) November 29, 2021
Analysis: While Friedman says this is just speculation, he also said something has to give as the Flyers are struggling. The problem is the Flyers do not want to eat Vigneault’s money and start paying another coach. Not while the NHL is still coming out of COVID. Plus ownership is not thrilled about paying a coach that has a lot of term left on his deal. But something is not clicking for the Flyers right now especially offensively. Change has to be coming soon considering the expectations the Flyers had.
Currently, Rick Tocchet is an analyst on TNT, however, he definitely wants to get back into coaching. Considering he played for the Flyers during his career, this would be a good fit. It is not like he was a bad coach in Arizona, he just did not have the right pieces. But under his watch, the Coyotes did make the playoffs. Again Tocchet has emphasized he wants to be a head coach in the league, not an assistant, but that mindset could change if he goes to the right organization. And Flyers might be that organization.
That does it for this edition of NHL Rumours, stay tuned for another edition this week.
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