{"id":702546,"date":"2026-06-13T23:23:09","date_gmt":"2026-06-13T23:23:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/702546\/"},"modified":"2026-06-13T23:23:09","modified_gmt":"2026-06-13T23:23:09","slug":"phr-mailbag-blues-canadiens-bourque-tuch-trade-proposals-pro-hockey-rumors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/702546\/","title":{"rendered":"PHR Mailbag: Blues, Canadiens, Bourque, Tuch, Trade Proposals \u2013 Pro Hockey Rumors"},"content":{"rendered":"

Topics in this edition of the PHR Mailbag include veteran players who St. Louis could move this summer, a viable offer sheet candidate, and more.\u00a0 If your question doesn\u2019t appear here, check back in last weekend\u2019s column<\/a> while we\u2019ll have one more mailbag from our latest callout for questions next weekend.<\/p>\n

Blues_Choices: Do the Blues make any moves this summer? Binnington and Kyrou are talked about a lot, but what kind of package would they get back?<\/p>\n

Second, why would the Blues trade Parayko as they have no defensemen ready to take his place?<\/p>\n

I\u2019m not sure a package deal for Jordan Binnington<\/a> and Jordan Kyrou<\/a> would make a lot of sense.\u00a0 More teams would want Kyrou than Binnington so putting them together might actually reduce the number of overall suitors.<\/p>\n

Ultimately, a lot of this answer depends on what incoming GM Alex Steen wants to do.\u00a0 Are they rebuilding, retooling, or trying to make the playoffs next year?\u00a0 The answer to that dictates the type of return, at least in part.<\/p>\n

With Binnington, I suspect they\u2019d want a goalie back (someone signed for a year or two to be Joel Hofer<\/a>\u2019s backup, or even push for more of a platoon role) plus something else.\u00a0 I\u2019m thinking a second-round prospect or draft pick as that something, with the Blues retaining on Binnington\u2019s $6MM price tag to help generate that return.\u00a0 I don\u2019t think they want to retain on multi-year deals but one-year rentals would be another story.<\/p>\n

Since this isn\u2019t a deep UFA class, I think the Blues would be able to benefit from a stronger trade return if they moved Kyrou.\u00a0 He\u2019s not in the same level as Robert Thomas<\/a> (when the ask was believed to be three top-15 equivalent pieces) but it might not be much lower given the limited options that might be available.\u00a0 A core forward, a quality prospect, and a first-round pick (that one likely being more toward the back of the first round) could be doable, especially if there are teams looking at his $8.125MM AAV for the next half-decade and forecasting it as becoming team-friendly in a higher cap environment.\u00a0 The prospect would likely be the make-or-break piece.\u00a0 I could see something like this happening this summer if we wind up with a lot of trade activity.<\/p>\n

As for Colton Parayko<\/a>, it\u2019s important to note the mindset at the time that this was a team likely heading for at least a short-term rebuild considering how active GM Doug Armstrong was in trade discussions.\u00a0 In that case, do they need a 33-year-old whose best days will be behind him by the time they emerge from that rebuild?\u00a0 If the answer is no, then the question shifts to asset maximization.<\/p>\n

When is the optimal time to move Parayko to generate the best possible return?\u00a0 That becomes the priority over ensuring there\u2019s ample depth to backfill.\u00a0 If you\u2019re not worried about winning too much in the short term, having a ready replacement doesn\u2019t matter as much.\u00a0 In the short term, they\u2019d have given Logan Mailloux<\/a> and Matthew Kessel<\/a> bigger roles and see how they fared, then looked at a short-term free agent stopgap in the summer.\u00a0 In the reported Buffalo trade, they were getting someone who could plausibly have replaced Parayko down the road in Radim Mrtka<\/a>, but he was just going to be a few years away from being ready to be an impact defender.\u00a0 With that being the likely timeline to return to the playoffs had they wound up dealing away a bunch of their core pieces, they\u2019d have been just fine with that timeline.<\/p>\n

Jaysen: The Habs need more size in their bottom six, 2nd line C, upgrade on the right-side D. What would be some realistic targets via trade or offer sheet, and what would the cost be for each need? Thanks!<\/p>\n

I don\u2019t see the Canadiens being a viable offer-sheet threat.\u00a0 Yes, they have all of their picks available to make them but they don\u2019t have enough salary cap space as things stand to re-sign their pending RFAs and then try to bring in someone of consequence via an offer sheet.\u00a0 Never say never, but I would be surprised if they went this route.\u00a0 Now, onto the three areas you mentioned.<\/p>\n

Size in the bottom six is the easiest of the three to get in free agency if they\u2019re willing to pay what\u2019s going to be a high price for that role, given the six-years and $20MM Michael McCarron<\/a> just got.\u00a0 A.J. Greer<\/a> and Beck Malenstyn<\/a> fit the bill while Brandon Duhaime<\/a> is coming off a down year but profiles as the type of physical player I think you\u2019re looking for.\u00a0 Mason Marchment<\/a> fits the bill as well but might land on the second line instead of the third and frankly would cost more than what Montreal could afford at the moment.<\/p>\n

As for the second-line center, that one\u2019s probably not coming from free agency.\u00a0 There\u2019s a case to make that there isn\u2019t one left in free agency although I could see someone like Claude Giroux<\/a> fitting the bill on a one-year deal with the hope that Michael Hage<\/a> would be ready by the spring.\u00a0 That said, I see Ottawa re-signing Giroux at some point.\u00a0 On the trade front, I believe the speculation that if Nico Hischier<\/a> were to be made available, GM Kent Hughes would make a big offer.\u00a0 But I\u2019m not convinced it\u2019s coming to that point, especially early enough in the summer.\u00a0 Vincent Trocheck<\/a> could fit the bill but with the speculation that Montreal\u2019s front office isn\u2019t exactly talking much to New York\u2019s could make that complicated.\u00a0 Dylan Strome<\/a> has been tossed out as a possibility but I don\u2019t see Washington moving him.\u00a0 Mason McTavish<\/a> would probably fit the bill but are the Canadiens prepared to pay a top-end return with him coming off a down year?\u00a0 (Anaheim has no reason to move him otherwise.)<\/p>\n

When it comes to the right-side defenseman, it depends on what they\u2019re trying to upgrade.\u00a0 Are they trying to upgrade on Alexandre Carrier<\/a>, or the combo of Arber Xhekaj<\/a> and Jayden Struble<\/a> on their off-side?\u00a0 If it\u2019s the former, UFA Jacob Trouba<\/a> would fit the bill if he wanted to play north of the border while someone like Brent Burns<\/a> would be a one-year stopgap or bridge to David Reinbacher<\/a>.\u00a0 Connor Murphy<\/a> warrants a mention too.\u00a0 On the trade front, Zach Whitecloud<\/a> (who could fit the short-term second-pairing upgrade as well) would be an option if Calgary wanted to trade him while they at least kicked the tires on Rasmus Ristolainen<\/a> at the trade deadline.\u00a0 If it\u2019s just a depth addition for the third pairing though, UFAs like Radko Gudas<\/a> or Vincent Desharnais<\/a> come to mind.\u00a0 Trade-wise, I wonder if they could look at bringing back Johnathan Kovacevic<\/a>.\u00a0 He held his own in a top-four role with the Devils and with the amount they\u2019re spending on defense, he could be expendable this summer.<\/p>\n

baseballpun: Do you think Mavrik Bourque<\/a> would sign an offer sheet in the $4MM range requiring a second-round pick as compensation? And if not, would he be worth making a $7MM offer (assuming you have the cap space)?<\/p>\n

This was something I noted in Dallas\u2019 Offseason Checklist<\/a> last month as something they\u2019re going to have to guard against.\u00a0 Do I necessarily think Bourque is looking to sign one?\u00a0 No, in an ideal world, the Stars find a way to open up money to re-sign both him and Jason Robertson<\/a>, though Bourque would likely need another short-term contract to make it work.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>But if he were to sign an offer sheet, it would presumably be for a short-term deal anyway.\u00a0 Based on this year\u2019s thresholds<\/a>, he could sign for up to $4.775MM and the signing team would only owe a second-round pick as compensation.\u00a0 That\u2019s a number that would make life difficult for the Stars but it\u2019s also probably not a number that Bourque wants to lock in at long term; he\u2019d potentially be foregoing a bigger payday down the road by doing so.\u00a0 Just to cover it, an offer at $7.15MM would cost a first-round pick and a third-round selection.\u00a0 From an asset cost standpoint, that seems like reasonable value for a 24-year-old middle-six winger with three years of team control.\u00a0 But he\u2019s not worth that money on a short-term deal.\u00a0 Would a team go five years at that to get two extra years of control?\u00a0 (The divisor on offer sheets is a maximum of five so a six-year offer at $7.15MM would trigger a higher level of compensation which a team wouldn\u2019t likely do.)\u00a0 I don\u2019t think that price tag and term is realistic.<\/p>\n

But the $4.775MM on a short-term deal (one or two years) is.\u00a0 In all likelihood, that\u2019s more than what he would receive in arbitration which is why I can\u2019t quite rule out the possibility of him signing one, as rare as they are.\u00a0 A team could also get creative and front-load it with a signing bonus to put the next qualifying offer below the AAV, giving them a bit more security.<\/p>\n

A lot would depend on how talks are going early in July.\u00a0 It\u2019s only a few days after free agency starts that the decision about filing for salary arbitration needs to be made so that becomes the pressure point.\u00a0 If things are looking up in talks with the Stars, it seems doubtful that Bourque would entertain an offer sheet.\u00a0 But if they\u2019re not going so well or he\u2019s being asked to be flexible again to make the money for the rest of the team worked, then I think there\u2019s a legitimate chance an offer sheet gets considered.<\/p>\n

bottlesup: The Kraken were willing to give 34-year-old Panarin $14MM a year for four years before they lost out to LA. Do you think they\u2019re an overwhelming favorite to go after Tuch, and what percentage would you give them that he\u2019s in Seattle?<\/p>\n

To be fair, I think there\u2019s a big difference between Artemi Panarin<\/a> and Alex Tuch<\/a>.\u00a0 Panarin is a brand-name player, a premier point producer who has averaged more than a point per game in now nine straight seasons.\u00a0 While he\u2019s likely on the downswing of his career now at 34, he\u2019s still someone a team can structure an offense around, at least for a couple of years.\u00a0 In that sense, an overpayment in terms of money to try to entice him to choose Seattle over another organization is defensible.<\/p>\n

But I also wouldn\u2019t interpret that as a sign that this is their strategy moving forward.\u00a0 Tuch is a quality player but he\u2019s not in the same tier as Panarin.\u00a0 Over the last three seasons, he has been around a 30-goal, 65-point player, a total that Panarin has beaten in all of his 11 years.\u00a0 He is a contributor to an attack, not its focal point.\u00a0 Don\u2019t get me wrong, Tuch is a solid player and is worthy of the interest he\u2019s going to receive if he gets to the open market.\u00a0 But I don\u2019t think the Kraken (or any other team) is planning to offer a similar type of overpayment that is so far above market value as they did with Panarin.\u00a0 I suspect what they tried there was more of a one-off.<\/p>\n

Seattle has enough expiring contracts (Jaden Schwartz<\/a>, Jamie Oleksiak<\/a>, Eeli Tolvanen<\/a>, and Bobby McMann<\/a> among them) that they have ample cap space to take a run at Tuch.\u00a0 Do I think they\u2019ll make a serious pitch?\u00a0 Yes.\u00a0 But would I call them a favorite to land him?\u00a0 Not at all.\u00a0 Seattle could offer top dollar but other teams will offer similar money and a better chance at winning in the short term.<\/p>\n

lgr34561: What would your opinion be on a Sharks\/Rangers trade where the Sharks would receive the 5th overall pick, the 26th overall pick, and Braden Schneider<\/a> while the Rangers would receive the 2nd overall pick? <\/p>\n

I think this trade would make sense for both teams. From the Sharks\u2019 perspective, they are getting an NHL-ready defensive prospect (true that he has regressed but he still has that potential if developed correctly) plus moving back three spaces which might still give them the defenseman that they want. Plus, they get the 26th overall pick. For the Rangers it makes sense because they need a franchise type of player and I\u2019m not sure if they\u2019re finding that at number five and would want to move up to two to draft Stenberg. This is my opinion and I would like to know yours. Thank you!<\/p>\n

I think the Rangers say yes but not the Sharks.<\/p>\n

For New York, Braden Schneider is a player who has been seemingly on the fringes for a couple of years now; he has been in trade speculation for a while.\u00a0 Is he really a core piece for the Rangers?\u00a0 Not really, and the 26th pick statistically isn\u2019t likely to yield one.\u00a0 (Good player, yes, but not necessarily a core one.)\u00a0 Is it worth moving two non-core assets to turn a fifth pick into the second pick with the shot at getting a legitimate top-line winger like Ivar Stenberg<\/a>?\u00a0 Of course it is.<\/p>\n

But for the Sharks, they have a boatload of picks and prospects in their system already so there isn\u2019t necessarily as much appeal in adding a late first and Schneider.\u00a0 For a team that\u2019s as asset-rich as San Jose is, quality matters more than quantity of assets.\u00a0 Schneider fills a need for them for sure but I suspect they can trade (or sign) a right-shot defender without moving the number two pick so they don\u2019t need to use that pick to get one.\u00a0 (Or if they do, they\u2019re getting a much more impactful player back.)<\/p>\n

If San Jose was a team that had traded a bunch of picks away in recent years and had a depleted cupboard, I think this would be something they\u2019d at least entertain.\u00a0 They\u2019d probably still say no but they might consider it.\u00a0 But because of the stockpile they already have, this isn\u2019t the type of move they\u2019d be looking to do.<\/p>\n

Big M: For Toronto\u2019s Matthew Knies<\/a> and their #1 \u201926 pick, Kyle Davidson should offer Chicago\u2019s two \u201927 #1 picks, Frank Nazar<\/a>, Sacha Boisvert<\/a>, Artyom Levshunov<\/a>, and Kevin Korchinski<\/a>\u2019s signing rights. I also believe Ilya Mikheyev<\/a> should get a three-year contract.<\/p>\n

If the Maple Leafs were looking to embark on a rebuild, this isn\u2019t a half-bad offer.\u00a0 Yes, it\u2019s quantity for quality but if they were to hit on those two first-rounders, they could get five or six (depending on what happens with Korchinski) strong pieces, including some core ones.\u00a0 That\u2019s a good enough stockpile that they\u2019d probably at least have to think about it.<\/p>\n

But Toronto isn\u2019t looking to rebuild under new GM John Chayka.\u00a0 While it\u2019s believed they\u2019re willing to listen on just about anyone, all signs point to them trying to get back to the playoffs next season.\u00a0 This move would make those efforts more difficult.\u00a0 Accordingly, I think they say no, keep Knies, and draft Gavin McKenna<\/a> to give themselves the best possible chance of getting back to the playoffs next season.<\/p>\n

As for Mikheyev, I think the Blackhawks agree with you.\u00a0 That\u2019s why they kept him at the trade deadline, with the hope that they could re-sign him.\u00a0 They have tried to re-sign him since the season ended but they\u2019re too far apart on money right now.\u00a0 They tried to allow his camp to talk to other teams to get a better feel for his market but the NHL shut that down<\/a> rather quickly.\u00a0 So, unless the asking price drops or GM Kyle Davidson ups his offer (or both), it doesn\u2019t look like Mikheyev will be signing before free agency opens up next month.<\/p>\n

Photo courtesy of Jerome Miron-Imagn Images.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Topics in this edition of the PHR Mailbag include veteran players who St. Louis could move this summer,…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":702547,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[66],"tags":[385,5626,5627,99],"class_list":["post-702546","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-nhl","tag-nhl","tag-phr-mailbag","tag-pro-hockey-rumors-originals","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/702546","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=702546"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/702546\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/702547"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=702546"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=702546"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=702546"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}