Evan’s NHL Daily: The Byram/Gauthier Speculation, Hughes Bombshell

Just when I thought it would be a quiet Friday, Elliotte Friedman goes and makes sure that is not the case. A few days after the blockbuster (in NHL terms) trade of Cutter Gauthier to Anaheim, Friedman talked about a potential trade that the Avalanche turned down from the Philadelphia Flyers. Judging from the DM’s I received on Friday after the 32 Thougths podcast was released, people have some different opinions on what should have happened.

Meanwhile, on the NHL Network, Bruce Boudreau dropped a bomb that makes you stop and think about some of the people employed by NHL teams.

All that and more in this Saturday edition of Evan’s Daily.

Colorado Hockey Now

We probably could have assumed, but should we lock it in that the Avalanche are going to acquire a goaltender before the NHL Trade Deadline? Because Chris MacFarland has concerns about Georgiev’s workload.

Another year, and yet again, the Avalanche are being linked to Sean Monahan.

You can get a subscription to CHN+ for $29.99 a year with the code “evan10” and get access to the + content on every site in the network. In addition to the + content, everything will be ad-free, which is the biggest perk.

The Byram/Gauthier Speculation

I thought about doing a separate article for this on Friday, but I held off. You can’t NOT talk about it, though, and judging by the amount of people who sent this to me, you all really want to talk about it.

On the 32 Thoughts Podcast, Elliotte Friedman was talking about the Cutter Gauthier trade, and mentioned other NHL teams he believes might have been in the hunt. One of those teams was Colorado.

The ask from Philadelphia? Well, not a real surprise.

“I think Philly did ask about Bowen Byram and I just think Colorado wasn’t going there,” Friedman said. “As a matter of fact, I suspect, but I don’t know because nobody would talk to me about this, I suspect Colorado’s answer was ‘We are not doing this 1-for-1, it’s got to be more than Gauthier for Byram.’ I don’t know that from the Avalanche. They shut me down and would not talk about it, but just someone else said to me that they really believe something like that occurred.”

Since the Avalanche don’t leak this kind of stuff, I have to imagine this info is coming from the Philadelphia side.

As for the supposed offer? It makes sense why Philadelphia would want that. It also makes sense why the Avalanche would say no. As a summer deal, something like this would have made a lot of sense. You move Byram, who might be your top asset in a trade (if he was made available), and acquire a really good young forward who you will have on an ELC for a few years.

But a move like that mid-season? Ultra risky. Even if you believe in Gauthier, he hasn’t played a single NHL game. How do you explain to the likes of Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar that you traded one of your top four defensemen for a complete unknown? That’s hard to do. I certainly think a deal like this, on paper, makes sense, but if you’re the Avalanche, you probably want more of a known quantity at the NHL level.

It’s not even the middle of January and we’re already deep into trade speculation. And of course, the Avalanche just so happen to be in Toronto and Montreal the next few days. Speculation may just continue.

Around The League

The Vancouver Canucks are at the top of the West right now in the standings, but for years, they haven’t not exactly been well run.

When you hear what Bruce Boudreau has to say below, you can see why.

“Somebody in that Vancouver organization tried to make me make Quinn Hughes a center last year.”

Bruce Boudreau dropped a BOMB on @NHLNetwork 🤯 pic.twitter.com/ygetRhLw2J

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) January 13, 2024

These are the exact type of stories you hear that make you think you could work for an NHL team. Hopefully whoever that is sees how ridiculous an idea that was with the season Quinn Hughes is having.

Kevin Weekes, who is in the video above, also seemed to hint that a Jacob Markstrom trade might not be far away. If he’s going anywhere, New Jersey makes the most sense. In addition, Elvis Merzlikins held a press conference and declared that he’s not a backup goaltender. He hasn’t demanded a trade, but I don’t think he’s long for Columbus. Seems like there are quite a few NHL goalies available.

👁️ .#HockeyX pic.twitter.com/93BZkj8Sw7

— Kevin Weekes (@KevinWeekes) January 12, 2024

Foudy Returns

Jean-Luc Foudy made his season debut on Saturday, recovering from a lower-body injury that has kept him out all season. He picked up a shot on net, but couldn’t help the Colorado Eagles score a goal, and they’re really struggling with that right now. They were shutout for the third consecutive game, and have gone over 189 minutes without scoring. Tough times for the Eagles, but great to see Foudy back and playing.

National Hockey Now

Why might the Devils be interested in a goalie? Because Vitek Vanecek has been the worst goalie in the NHL this season.