Rue De Rumeur: Beauvillier on Trade Block, Looking Back at Horvat Trade

After a sluggish start to his season, rumors are swirling that the Vancouver Canucks are looking to move former New York Islanders forward Anthony Beauvillier. This and more in the latest Rue De Rumeur.

After a sluggish start to his season, rumors are swirling that the Vancouver Canucks are looking to move former New York Islanders forward Anthony Beauvillier. This and more in the latest Rue De Rumeur.

The 26-year-old French Canadian has struggled mightily in his first season with the Canucks after being acquired in the deal that sent Bo Horvat to Long Island,

In 12 games this season, Beauvillier has just two goals and three assists, with both goals coming against the embarrassing San Jose Sharks. All of his points have come in a three-game span. 

What's alarming is that the Canucks have been dynamite out of the gate, boasting a 9-2-1 record. Beauvillier just hasn't been, as he's gone from playing top-line minutes last season to anchoring the fourth line. 

The Canucks were actively trying to move forward Conor Garland after the 27-year-old requested a trade. Given his lack of production, with just one goal and two assists on the season and a cap hit of $4.95 million annually over the next three seasons, he's an immovable contract at this moment in time.

Beauvillier is a pending unrestricted free agent with a salary cap hit of $4 million.

Per Rick Dhaliwal, the Canucks are looking to add a defenseman, and Beauvillier's name came up on the trade market this past weekend. 

Although Horvat hasn't been the elite goal scorer the Islanders envisioned just yet, with plenty of time (eight more years) to prove his worth, it's becoming clear who won that trade last winter. 

On top of Beauvivillier struggling, so is the other piece the Islanders sent to Vancouver, in top prospect Aatu Raty. The 20-year-old is currently playing in the AHL, a bottom-six role with the Abbotsford Canucks, with two goals and five assists in seven games. 

The Canucks also acquired a top-12 protected first-round pick in 2023, which they flipped in a package to the Detroit Red Wings for defenseman Filip Hronek, who has been exceptional for Vancouver. 

Speaking of Detroit, The Maven has a statement to make. 

The Detroit Red Wings visited Madison Square Garden Tuesday, and although they fell 5-3 in a game that was 5-0 at one point, they have become the talk of Rue De Rumeur because, for the first time in recent memory, they look like a playoff team.

Not only does The Maven BELIEVE that Detroit will make it, I predict that they WILL. make it. 

To reinforce my argument, I checked with Red Wings Executive Vice President Jim Devellano for his view. (Mind you, Jim is traditionally conservative in his views. Nothing rah-rah, just the facts. Take it away, Jim:)

"Left-wing Alex DeBrincat has given us a very much-needed goal-scorer, and that improves our power play," says Jim. "Plus, Justin Holl, who Steve Yzerman obtained from Toronto, has upgraded our defense with size, a big stick, and smarts.

"On top of that, young guys like defenseman Moritz Seider and right-wing Lucas Raymond are in their third season and appear to have taken another step up. Those are a few reasons why we are hoping to compete at least for a playoff spot!"

P.S. At this writing, coach Derek Lalonde's sextet sits second in the Atlantic (7-4-1) after a dozen games played. That places them ahead of Tampa Bay, Toronto, Montreal, Buffalo, Florida, and Ottawa.

Rapid's Response: The Detroit Red Wings have scored the fourth-most goals in the NHL this season, in large part to DeBrincat's 14 points (nine goals, five assists) in 13 games. The problem is that they've allowed the sixth-most goals in the NHL, as Ville Husso owns a 3.50 GAA with a .890 SV%. That's not going to cut it going forward if Detroit does want to get into the postseason. James Reimer has been stellar in his four starts, with a 1.52 GAA and a .944 SV%.

Few franchises in NHL history ever have had a brand new owner hit with a one-two punch as Michael Andlauer. First came a lengthy league report that led to the resignation of GM Pierre Dorion. This, in turn, has set off a chain reaction of moves; and more to come.

Dorion's replacement, Steve Staios, is a mere S.O.S. move. Based on Stanley Cup experience alone ex-Blackhawks Cup-builder Stan Bowman would be a natural. But for that to happen, Commissioner Bowman would have to lift Bowman's ban, and so far, there've been no indications that that could or would happen.

Were The Maven making the selection, my choice would be one of two ex-goalies -- Garth Snow or Ron Hextall.

Rapid's Response: Life in Ottawa can't be going much worse. On top of the punishment handed down by the league for the Evgenii Dadonov debacle, as The Maven noted, Shane Pinto was suspended for 41 games due to illegal sports gambling, and they are without Thomas Chabot, who is on Long-Term IR due to a fractured hand. They've lost five of their last seven games, and captain Brady Tkachuk has called out the fans. Not good in Canada's capital. 

Heavy media hitters -- from the Toronto Sun's Steve Simmons to Paul Bisonette to Heavy Hockey are furious with the Leafs. 

When Toronto defenseman Tim Liljegren was tripped -- accidentally or otherwise -- by Boston's Brad Marchand, the D-man was significantly hurt and could not get to his skates.

Heavy Hockey's comment went right to the point: "The Leafs have failed the Ryan Reaves Project,". 

Reaves, who's minus the radical 50 as a hockey player, is getting crazy money for little ice time.

His time had come to at least do something to get even with Marchand. "DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT," Heavy Hockey shouted. 

Simmons echoed the theme with different words, as did TV analyst Nick Kypreos.

All Reaves did was a bit of harmless bench-chirping; ergo, RR is NG as a waste of money, time, and space!

Rapid's Response: It's a complete shock that Ryan Reaves isn't getting the job done in Toronto...not. Listen, you have to give credit to the Maple Leafs, who knew they had to get tougher, but Reaves at $1.35 million annually over the next four years wasn't the move to make. He's not a strong player, and, at this point, he is failing to do the one thing he was paid for. The project should be terminated. 

The Craziest Rumeur since opening day is a grabber -- and a phony -- as well. So let's put it immediately to rest.

No, the National Hockey League is NOT planning to expand by four teams -- Atlanta, San Diego, Salt Lake City, and Quebec City. 

But of the four mentioned, Salt Lake City is the most likely and Quebec -- as always -- the least likely

The immediate question surrounds Arizona, and the Coyotes need to find a site for a new arena -- soon.

Rapid's Response: You know what they say? If it didn't work twice, it may work a third time. The NHL going back to Atlanta is a ridiculous thought, and if it comes true, there's no reason to think it will work. I think Quebec and that area deserve another team, and for Salt Late, that would be cool. Whatever happened to a team going back to Kansas City, or was that just a threat so that the Islanders would get cooking on a new arena?

Usually, major league teams in any sport prefer less competition than more teams to battle for the sports buck. However, the Carolina Hurricanes are an exception to the rule. 

Canes owner Tom Dundon has informally suggested that Major League Baseball ought to consider Raleigh for an expansion team. "We have franchises in the NFL, NBA, Major League Soccer, not to mention NASCAR and pro golf events," says Dundon. "All we're missing is Major League Baseball."

Rapid's Response: Let's make this really simple. Rather than stock up in Vegas, just move the Athletics there and call them the Raleigh Rally Towels. 

* When a team such as the Sharks allows ten goals in two straight games, you have to wonder how much more patience is left with ownership. Another ten-game disaster could prove to be the end of the Mike Grier-David Quinn general staff.

* Anthony Duclair hit the bullseye when he said, "Our battle level does not exist at times."

* Mark Spector, who covers the Oilers for Sportsnet, strongly hints that Jay Woodcroft could get the hook if McDavid, Inc. doesn't start winning very soon.

* Darnell Nurse is one of the big losers of puck battles by a dispirited, soft defense.

* Talk of the Maple Leaf press box is how badly Sheldon Keefe's club lacks depth.

* Mike Grier chose Mackenzie Blackwood as his top banana in goal for San Jose.

* The Maven would have taken Keith Kinkaid, who was available.

* BosHockeyNow wonders, "Could Steve Stamkos someday become a Bruin?"

* I'll help them with the answer: YES!