JONES CAMP HELPING TO FACILITATE TRADE

TORONTO, ON — It’s been a few days since the Tampa Bay Lightning hoisted their second Stanley Cup in 10 months, and the silly season is already well upon us.

Trade talk around the NHL has picked up significantly with the Expansion Draft 12 days away and the NHL Draft two weeks away. The chatter will intensify over these next two weeks and that noise will keep buzzing as we enter free agency on July 28.

Every season, we expect to see fireworks around this time of year, and usually we’re left disappointed. This July, however, there seems to be a different mindset. With so many big name players expected to be on the move – Jack Eichel, Vladimir Tarasenko, Seth Jones, Evgeny Kuznetsov, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, and so on – we may finally get the action-packed summer we’ve so desperately begged for.

So, let’s dive right in, starting with Jones and the Columbus Blue Jackets.

As Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen navigates the trade waters, I’m led to believe he has some assistance. According to a well-placed source close to the organization and the situation, Jones’ camp has been granted permission to speak with other teams to help expedite a trade.

This does not mean Jones will sign a contract extension with his new club, if he’s a) traded and b) dealt before July 28, the first day players entering the final year of their contracts can sign contract extensions. In fact, this does not even guarantee that an extension can be ironed out after a trade is done, at all. But it does help give interested teams a sense of where they would stand on signing Jones long-term if a trade can be worked out.

Jones made it crystal clear to the Blue Jackets he is not interested in signing a new deal with them. It makes sense for Kekalainen to move his biggest trade chip now. As for the return? Honestly, I’m not sure what the asking price truly is – I’ve got to imagine a young right-shot defenceman with plenty of upside is part of the ask – but allowing teams to speak with Jones’ agent should help move things along.

It is also possible the Blue Jackets and the clubs trying to acquire Jones wait until after the Expansion Draft to finalize a trade, should the move have any kind of impact on either team’s protection list.

The Chicago Blackhawks, Philadelphia Flyers, Colorado Avalanche, Winnipeg Jets, Los Angeles Kings and Vancouver Canucks are among the teams that have been poking around on Jones, and I suspect we’ll start to hear of some likely frontrunners in the coming week.

HENRIQUE, JOHANSEN BOTH ON THE BLOCK

The Anaheim Ducks are once again trying to trade forward Adam Henrique, and the 31-year-old centre wouldn’t mind a change of scenery, according to sources.

Henrique has three-years left on his contract, which comes with a $5.825 million salary cap hit. The Ducks tried moving him in-season, even placing him on waivers at one point, and they’re hoping to find a suitor this summer.

I believe there has been a discussion with the Seattle Kraken about a possible trade, but I’m not entirely sure if those conversations are ongoing.

Henrique has a 10-team no-trade list but was open to accepting a move to a few teams on that list during the season. I’d imagine that’s still the case.

But Henrique isn’t the only veteran centre on the block.

The Nashville Predators are trying to move centre Ryan Johansen, as well, and there’s also been a discussion with the Kraken, though it doesn’t sound like there has been much traction on that front, yet.

Johansen, who turns 29 on July 31, does not own any no-trade protection, though is $8 million AAV is a stumbling block all by itself.

Either way, both players are up for grabs if their teams can piece together the right moves this off-season.

OILERS EVALUATING GOALIE MARKET

The Edmonton Oilers had another conversation with Mike Smith’s camp on Friday about a new contract, and as the two sides try to hammer out a deal, Oilers GM Ken Holland is also exploring the trade market.

The Oilers recently tabled a multi-year offer but it sounds like the dollars were lower than what Smith was expecting. His side was expected to counter, at some point, and that could have been part of yesterday’s discussion.

As those negotiations continue, Holland is assessing the trade market for another veteran goaltender. It sounds like adding a goalie via trade may have more to do with replacing Mikko Koskinen, should the Oilers buy out the final year of his contract, than it does replacing Smith. Holland is also on record stating he wants Smith back – clearly the money hasn’t been enticing enough for a 39-year-old netminder who could be playing in the NHL until he’s at least 41.

But how might the addition of another goalie affect Smith’s mindset, especially if the other netminder may end up splitting the load with him? Something to consider as talks carry on.

With Ryan Nugent-Hopkins already locked up to a new eight-year deal, and a potential Duncan Keith acquisition on the horizon, Edmonton is hoping to get Smith and defenceman Adam Larsson figured out in the very near future.

DETROIT OPEN TO BERTUZZI CALLS

As I reported on Monday on NHL NOW! on NHL Network, the Detroit Red Wings are willing to listen to offers for left wing Tyler Bertuzzi.

I don’t believe a deal is imminent with any club at the moment, but Detroit took calls last off-season and some teams inquired about his availability during the year. Those talks appear to have resumed.

Detroit’s rebuild is clearly a patient one. Currently, they do not have any roster player signed beyond the 2022-23 season. That will certainly change this off-season – plus, I suspect some prospects on entry-level contracts will emerge – but GM Steve Yzerman is willing to wait things out. He shifted gears on Anthony Mantha and got a pretty sweet return for him. Is he hoping to do the same with Bertuzzi?

Some teams to keep an eye on include the Flyers, Kings, Canucks, St. Louis Blues, Toronto Maple Leafs and Boston Bruins.

PARTING SHOTS

Okay, hear me out: Would the Vegas Golden Knights package up Alex Tuch, Chandler Stephenson, Cody Glass and Nic Hague in a deal for Jack Eichel? Would the Buffalo Sabres say no? The Sabres have drops crumbs and the Knights are sniffing around. Curious if it gets anywhere.

Speaking of curiosity, I’m intrigued to see if the Columbus Blue Jackets step up with a big offer for Eichel and use the fifth-overall pick as a major piece in a package. They’ve had talks, and I don’t believe it’s gotten overly serious just yet, but a 24-year-old star centre is exactly what Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen would love to get his hands on, even if he has to overpay. Hmm.

It’s still early, but the Montreal Canadiens will try to re-sign forwards Phillip Danault, Joel Armia and Corey Perry. I can see one guy getting locked up before the expansion draft, while the other two will have to wait so that Montreal can protect as many assets as they can. They’d all like to stay, though Armia indicated today he’s keeping all his doors open. Danault admitted to being phased at the start of the season when word got out that he rejected a six-year, $30 million offer. I’m not sure if that’s still on the table, but a $5M AAV is the kind of neighborhood he likely stays in.