Sportsnet: Elliotte Friedman and Kyle Bukauskas on the 32 Thoughts Podcast: 882 Down. 13 to Go. episode, on the Florida Panthers, and if Matthew Tkachuk‘s injury opens up an opportunity for the Panthers to go after a defenseman like Seth Jones. They could use a right-handed defenseman.
** NHLRumors.com transcription
Friedman: “Matthew Tkachuk, I don’t know what his timeline is going to be yet. I think he was, like the one thing I’m always careful about, and I do recognize this could be a while. Remember, we were hearing lots of rumors about Patrick Laine when he got hurt this year, whole season, six months. And what did he miss two and a half because he found one doctor that said, ‘hey, there’s a different path here for you.’
So I’m always, even though I do think it’s going to be some time here for Tkachuk, I just want to wade through the process with this, with this groin injury he’s dealing with.
NHL Rumors: Vegas Golden Knights and Dallas Stars
If he misses time, I wonder if Florida does it? Florida needs another defenseman, a right shot. They’ve been looking for a right shot all year. And I admit, I haven’t looked a lot into the future of what, how all the pieces would fit. But from a pure hockey point of view, I wonder if Florida tries to do it for Seth Jones.”
Bukauskas: “Oh boy.”
Friedman: “But it would it right now, it would take Tkachuck being out for the rest of the regular season, and I just don’t know if that timeline fits yet.”
Bukauskas: “Yeah.”
Friedman: “It’s just something that jumped into my head.”
Bukauskas: “Right, because, you know, (Aaron) Ekblad is up.”
Friedman: “Yep.
Bukauskas: “So where does ….”
Friedman: “Sam Bennett‘s up.”
Bukauskas: “Sam Bennett’s up.”
NHL Rumors: Some Kicking Around the Idea of Brayden and Luke Schenn
Friedman: “Caps going up.”
Bukauskas: “Jones still has five years after this one, as we mentioned, so you got to have a plan.”
Friedman: “And I think on a team like that, with players like that, I think he’d be rejuvenated. I like Seth Jones. I like him as a player.”
Bukauskas: “He, I mean different players, but is that not in a way, what happened to Oliver Ekman-Larsson, to an extent last year with them? Different players. Different situations contractually.”
Friedman: “Yeah, he’d be making more money, but…”
Bukauskas: “Yes.”
Friedman: “I like the idea that Ekman-Larsson got refreshed by going there, yes.”
Bukauskas: “Yeah, I think to the point where his teammates were like, we almost took it for granted that we have that player on our third pairing. You know what? I mean.”
Friedman: “Yeah.”
Bukauskas: “But, boy, that would be some heavy lifting, Friedge. ”
Friedman: “You know me, I like to lift heavy.”
NHL Rumors: San Jose Sharks, and a Top 40 NHL Trade Watch List
Bukauskas: “Yes, actually, I think we get into that in the thought line later on.”
Friedman: “Yes, yes, we do. But that the audience, sometimes you just sit there and you go through fits, right? And you what makes sense? What can work?”
Have you subscribed to our YouTube channel? It’s new and we’re just getting started. Rumor roundups and hot topics from around the league.