Atlantic Notes: Schenn, Senators, Roest
In last week’s rendition of 32 Thoughts, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman alluded to the idea that St. Louis Blues captain Brayden Schenn was willing to waive his no-trade clause to join the Toronto Maple Leafs under one condition: that the team also acquire his brother, Luke Schenn.
Specifically, Friedman said, “I heard…Brayden Schenn wasn’t going to waive to Toronto unless the Leafs also got Luke; when all that was going on about teams uniting the Schenn brothers, that’s what I think Toronto was trying to do.” Since he used the past tense and suggested that the team was trying to unite the brothers, it seems likely that this was something the Maple Leafs attempted last year rather than at the present moment.
However, it’s certainly something Toronto could revisit this season. Brayden has less trade protection than he did last year, seeing his full no-trade clause drop to a 15-team no-trade list this season, while Luke is a pending unrestricted free agent playing on a disappointing Winnipeg Jets team. The Maple Leafs have decent depth on the right side of their defensive core, but could use additional insurance should Brandon Carlo go down with injury again.
Additional notes from the Atlantic Division:
- Recently, there has been significant discussion surrounding the Ottawa Senators, particularly regarding the team’s strong statement refuting rumors that circulated online about goaltender Linus Ullmark and the reasons for his personal leave. In a recent interview with Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic, General Manager Steve Staios said he wouldn’t change his timing, saying, “So I felt strongly that we had to be there for him, (that) I had to make a statement. And whatever comes with that, I can live with. I’m not going to apologize for standing up for my players when they need it.”
- Jarmo Kekäläinen has made another significant addition to the Buffalo Sabres front office. Earlier today, the Sabres announced that they’ve hired Stacy Roest as a professional scout. It’s technically a step backward for Roest in his professional career, as he was the longtime Director of Player Development and Assistant General Manager for the Tampa Bay Lightning from 2013-14 to 2024-25.
Luke Schenn Reportedly Open To Trade
The Winnipeg Jets have been arguably the NHL’s most disappointing team this season, as last year’s Presidents’ Trophy winners have fallen to last place in the league standings.
Owners of a 10-game losing streak, the Jets look increasingly unlikely to return to the postseason this Spring, and as a result, increased focus is being paid to whether or not the Jets might look to trade away some veteran assets to help re-tool their roster.
While it appears highly unlikely that Winnipeg would pursue major roster surgery — much of the lineup that got 56 wins and 116 points last season remains intact — it could be that the club looks to replenish some of its lineup by trading away a few pending free agents that it may not have interest in re-signing. One name that looks poised to be a trade candidate is that of 1,100 game veteran Luke Schenn.
Schenn, 36, is playing out the final year of the $2.75MM AAV free agent contract he signed in 2023 with the Nashville Predators. David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period reported that while Schenn hasn’t requested a trade, “there is some word” that he “wouldn’t mind a change of scenery.”
Schenn is Winnipeg’s most sparingly-used defenseman, averaging just 13:32 time on ice per game. While he’s still playing a role on the penalty kill (1:44 per game) his usage is well below where it was in Winnipeg (17:28 per game) last season. Schenn has also been a healthy scratch at times this season, including four times in the team’s last eight games.
The Athletic’s Chris Johnston listed Schenn No. 8 on his third trade board of the season today, writing that the veteran will “carry value as a right-shot defenseman ideally suited for third-pairing duty.”
The Jets surrendered two draft picks (second and fourth-round choices) to acquire Schenn, and it’s unlikely, as Johnston noted that they’d be able to get that kind of value back in any Schenn deal.
But even if they won’t end up getting a huge amount back in a trade, a Schenn deal could accomplish two key, useful objectives for the club.
Firstly, if Schenn indeed would prefer a deal away from Winnipeg, trading him would be doing right by a well-respected veteran player. Clubs are always striving to build a reputation as a place that treats its players well, and the Jets would be able to enhance their reputation in that area by giving Schenn the chance to compete for another Stanley Cup ring elsewhere.
Secondly, trading Schenn would not only clear the pro-rated portion of his $2.75MM cap hit off their books, it would also open up a roster spot, and some ice time, for some of the other Jets blueliners. 21-year-old Elias Salmonsson, for example, could benefit from the additional ice time.
In addition, the Jets have a few other defensemen playing at the AHL level that could stand an increased chance at getting an NHL look if Schenn is traded. 6’4″ right-shot blueliner Tyrel Bauer, for example, plays a similar style to Schenn on the Moose and plays a regular role on their penalty kill. The Jets have yet to test him at the NHL level, though he has nearly 200 games on record for the Moose.
He’s a pending restricted free agent, and trading Schenn could allow the Jets to give Bauer a look at the NHL level, which could go a long way in informing what kind of deal they’re prepared to offer him in his upcoming restricted free agency.
Ultimately, while the Jets certainly aren’t in the on-ice position they hoped, or expected, to be in 2025-26, there are still steps they can take to make the most of what has thus far been a miserable NHL season. Trading Schenn, who would be open to a deal per Pagnotta, could be the start of a set of moves in Winnipeg designed to reboot the roster.
Photos courtesy of James Carey Lauder-Imagn Images
Winnipeg Jets Notes: Connor, Morrissey, Schenn, Fleury
Although the Winnipeg Jets extended a few of their pending unrestricted free agents shortly before the end of the regular season, they still have a few to iron out. One of which is winger Kyle Connor, who’s eligible for an extension on July 1st.
According to Murat Ates of The Athletic, he’s fully expecting the Jets to make Connor’s extension a priority this summer. It would be the second contract extension that the University of Michigan alum has signed in Winnipeg, following the seven-year, $50 million deal that was signed in 2019.
Connor’s next deal is sure to include a substantial raise, considering his impressive average of over a point per game for the last seven years, along with multiple 30- and 40-goal seasons, and two campaigns with over 90 points. With the salary cap continually increasing, the Jets should face no financial issues. The only hiccup could be Connor’s desire to stay in Manitoba.
Other Jets notes:
- In a report from TSN’s John Lu, defenseman Josh Morrissey won’t require surgery on his injured knee from Game 6 of Winnipeg’s Round Two series against the Dallas Stars. Still, it wouldn’t have mattered to the Jets’ Stanley Cup aspirations, as Morrissey shared he would have been done for the postseason regardless. He’ll be ready in time for training camp in September, at any rate.
- Morrissey wasn’t the only injured player on Winnipeg’s blue line. According to Ken Wiebe of the Winnipeg Free Press, trade deadline acquisition Luke Schenn had been playing through the playoffs with a fractured rib. Schenn didn’t let the injury affect his physicality, as the veteran blue liner collected 47 hits in nine games after purportedly suffering the fracture.
- Staying on the Jets’ blue line, team color analyst Mitchell Clinton shared that depth defender Haydn Fleury would love to stay in Winnipeg for the foreseeable future. Fleury, the pending unrestricted free agent, appeared in 37 games for Winnipeg this year, tallying seven assists while averaging 15:56 of ice time per game.
Central Notes: Manson, Kiviranta, Sissons, Schenn, Määttä
The Colorado Avalanche will have one injured member back for their road trip through the Midwest, but no more. Forward Joel Kiviranta has fully recovered from his lower-body injury and will return for the road trip, but defenseman Josh Manson will stay in Denver due to an upper-body injury, according to Evan Rawal of The Denver Gazette.
Kiviranta has missed Colorado’s last three games, with the team managing a 1-1-1 record in his absence. Despite being in his second year with the organization, he’s offered extraordinary flexibility to the Avalanche’s forward core this season. Kiviranta has demonstrated the ability to play up and down the lineup, putting up a career-high 16 goals in 72 games this season while averaging 12:30 of ice time per game.
Meanwhile, Manson has been continuously plagued by a lower-body injury for much of the 2024-25 campaign. Given that Colorado only has seven games remaining on their schedule, there’s a decent chance Manson may not play another regular season contest for them this season. If that’s the case, he’ll finish the year with one goal and 15 points in 48 games, averaging 18:02 of ice time per game.
Other notes from the Central Division:
- After sustaining a leg injury a few days ago against the Vegas Golden Knights, Nashville Predators’ forward Colton Sissons‘ season may have already ended. According to general manager Barry Trotz (and publicized by Nick Kieser of 102.5 The Game), the second-year front office leader said a decision regarding Sissons’ status is coming relatively soon. Kieser quoted Trotz saying, “I would probably say he’s close to not being back for the rest of the season.“
- Winnipeg Jets’ analyst Mitchell Clinton reported earlier that defenseman Luke Schenn is a game-time decision against the Los Angeles Kings. Clinton didn’t allude to the specifics regarding Schenn, but he did mention that Schenn left early from the team’s morning skate. Should he miss tonight’s contest, the Jets will likely contextualize Schenn’s absence after the game.
- Joining Schenn as a game-time decision will be Utah Hockey Club’s Olli Määttä (Tweet Link). Määttä had been dealing with a lower-body injury, which kept him out of the team’s recent matchup against the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday. However, even if he doesn’t feature in tonight’s game, it shouldn’t keep him out of the lineup much longer. The Finnish blueliner has scored two goals and 15 points in 63 games for Utah since being acquired from the Detroit Red Wings in late October.
Predators Activate Michael Bunting From IR
The Predators are slated to get one of their top returns from the trade deadline in the lineup, as winger Michael Bunting has been removed from IR and is a game-time decision for tonight’s game in Anaheim, according to reporter Nick Kieser of 102.5 The Game.
The Preds acquired Bunting and a fourth-round pick from the Penguins in exchange for forward Tommy Novak and defenseman Luke Schenn. After the deal, Nashville GM Barry Trotz stated Bunting was an “impact player” the Preds were interested in acquiring, and noted the team’s desire to keep the 29-year-old Bunting in the fold moving forward.
Bunting has fought through injuries this season – as well as a short stint as a healthy scratch – in Pittsburgh prior to the trade. However, after a slow start, he started to turn things around to the tune of 14 goals and 29 points through 58 games. He also led the Penguins in power play goals (9) at the time of the trade. Through 326 career games, Bunting has scored 90 times, including two 20-plus goal seasons under his belt.
Although he’s only in his ninth NHL season, the Predators will mark the fifth NHL team Bunting will suit up for after stints with Arizona, Toronto, Carolina, and Pittsburgh. But Bunting should provide a veteran presence, solid top nine play, and power play production to the rebuilding Preds.
Bunting has one year remaining on his current contract with a 2025-26 cap hit of $4.5MM.
Winnipeg Jets Acquire Luke Schenn
12:02 p.m.: Both teams have confirmed the trade.
11:40 a.m.: TSN’s Darren Dreger reports that the Winnipeg Jets are acquiring defenseman Luke Schenn from the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Penguins recently acquired Schenn in a trade with the Nashville Predators.
Dreger quickly followed up, reporting that Pittsburgh is receiving a second- and fourth-round pick in return. Frank Seravalli of Daily Faceoff added that the second-round pick will be in 2026 and the fourth-round pick in 2027.
Now that Schenn has been moved to Winnipeg, the Penguins have essentially acquired Thomas Novak, a 2026 second-round pick, and a one-year punt on a fourth-round pick for Michael Bunting. The added draft capital gives Pittsburgh 30 total picks in the next three drafts.
The 17-year defenseman complements the already solid Jets’ defensive core. Schenn is far removed from scoring 20+ points a year as he did in 2022-23, but he’s zeroing in on totaling more than 250 hits for the seventh time of his career.
He’s a quality shutdown option Winnipeg can safely play in their bottom pairing. He’s averaged a 91.5% on-ice save percentage throughout his career, and that number should continue to grow in front of the league’s top netminder.
Thanks to Connor Hellebuyck’s stellar play, the Jets are already at the top of the league for GA/G. However, Winnipeg could use some help on the penalty kill. They rank 15th in the category with a 79.25% kill rate, ranking below their Central Division peers such as the Dallas Stars and Colorado Avalanche. Schenn should help improve this area of Winnipeg’s game and make them more difficult to play against in the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Predators Acquire Michael Bunting
The Predators and Penguins have made a multi-player swap. Nashville has acquired winger Michael Bunting along with a 2026 fourth-round pick from Pittsburgh in exchange for center Thomas Novak and defenseman Luke Schenn.
Pittsburgh acquired Bunting last season as the most prominent part of the package from the Jake Guentzel trade with Carolina. However, the 29-year-old has struggled in his first full season with the Pens. Through 58 games this season, Bunting has just 14 goals and 15 assists. By comparison, he had 19 points in 21 games down the stretch last year and hasn’t recorded fewer than 49 points over the last three seasons, a streak that seems likely to come to an end.
Nashville will undoubtedly be hoping that the change of scenery will get him back to the level of production he had. They’re taking on the final year and a bit of a contract that carries a $4.5MM cap charge. When Bunting is at his best, he’s worth that type of money as a top-six winger who plays with an edge but he’ll be joining a team that has had several veterans underachieve this season.
The move is an interesting one from their standpoint. While the expectation was that they’d be looking for younger pieces who are longer-term fits, they actually get a little older up front with the swap while losing some club control with Novak still having two years left on his contract after this one. It suggests that GM Barry Trotz feels his team isn’t that far away from being a playoff contender once again and that a tweak or two to the forward group could propel them back in the right direction next season. Bunting won’t be able to help in the short term, however, as he is currently on IR after undergoing an appendectomy.
As for Pittsburgh’s return, Novak is the headliner. He’s a bit of a reclamation project himself as he’s in the midst of a down year as well. The 27-year-old had two straight seasons of more than 40 points heading into this one, a performance that earned him a three-year, $10.5MM contract a little before the trade deadline last March.
But, like many of Nashville’s players this season, Novak hasn’t been able to produce to expectations. He has just 13 goals and nine assists in 52 games while his playing time has dipped to just over 13 minutes a night. Meanwhile, his struggles at the faceoff dot continue as he’s winning just 43% of his draws which has resulted in him spending more time on the wing this year.
Clearly, Pittsburgh feels that a fresh start will be beneficial for Novak. It wouldn’t be surprising to see him moved back down the middle with a center group that’s on the older side, featuring Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kevin Hayes. If they can get Novak back to even being a capable third-line option, that would be a solid outcome for a team that clearly isn’t looking to rebuild despite being on pace to miss the playoffs for the third straight year.
Schenn, meanwhile, has been a fixture on the third pairing of several teams in recent seasons. After faring well with Vancouver and Toronto in the 2022-23 campaign, he signed a three-year, $8.25MM contract with Nashville in the 2023 offseason. But his role has been more limited with the Predators as he has barely averaged 15 minutes a night since joining them. While he brings plenty of physicality to the table – he has notched more than 200 hits in four straight years – he hasn’t been able to elevate himself to being higher than sixth on the depth chart. Meanwhile, he has just five points in 61 outings this season although offense has never been his calling card.
It will be interesting to see if Pittsburgh intends to hold onto Schenn or if they intend to flip him, just like they did earlier tonight with Vincent Desharnais. Despite Schenn’s struggles, his success at being a late-season addition before coupled with his toughness will undoubtedly have playoff-bound teams kicking the tires on the potential of him being moved once again. If it doesn’t happen, he’s likely to have the same role on the depth chart with the Penguins on their third pairing.
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman was the first to report the players involved while Pierre LeBrun of TSN and The Athletic was first with the pick inclusion.
Photo courtesy of Imagn Images.
Teams Exploring Uniting Brayden Schenn, Luke Schenn Via Trade
The Trade Deadline is right around the corner and the list of difference-makers on the open market is few and far between. Of the list of names circulating trade rumors, only two players offer the experience of being a 1,000 game veteran, former Stanley Cup champion, and wearing a letter for their team – Nashville Predators defenseman Luke Schenn, and St. Louis Blues forward Brayden Schenn. With both players seemingly expendable options on teams that aren’t headed for the playoffs, other teams are beginning to wonder what it’d take to acquire both brothers at the deadline, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman shared on the latest Saturday Headlines.
The Schenn brothers have each continued their consistent, impactful play through their mid-30s. Brayden has served as St. Louis’ captain for the last two seasons, while supporting the team’s middle lines with center and wing flexibility. He has 11 goals and 32 points in 56 games on the year, while adding 48 penalty minutes, a minus-seven, and a 50.1 faceoff percentage. St. Louis acquired Brayden ahead of the 2017-18 season, and quickly pushed him into a top-six role. He embraced the opportunity out of the gates, netting a career-high 28 goals and 70 points in his first year in St. Louis. He’s leveled out as a routine mid-50s scorer in the years since, ultimately averaging 52 points a year with the Blues – though he did reach 65 in the 2022-23 campaign.
Brayden also been a stout playoff performer in the Blue-note, with 26 points in 51 games over four postseason appearances with the Blues. He has found his groove as an impactful, two-way centerman with the versatility to fill a wide variety of roles, even at 33 years old. Those traits, and his Cup-winning precedent, will make him a desirable deadline option.
But as is natural, the older brother can boast the better numbers. Luke has played in 55 more games, and won one more Stanley Cup, than Brayden while serving as a journeyman defensive-defenseman for the last 17 seasons. Luke’s career started when Toronto drafted him fifth-overall in the 2008 NHL Draft. He joined the Leafs in the following year, and quickly jumped out as a heavy-hitting, low-scoring shutdown option – stamped by his 206 hits in 70 games as an NHL rookie, an NHL record for rookie defenders at the time. Luke tamped down his hitting and penalty minutes in the name of more scoring through the first seven years of his career, but it became apparent as he entered his prime years that his best impact came in his own end.
Through trips to Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Arizona, and more – Schenn built up his propensity for winning the title of heavy-hitter everywhere he went. He averaged 15 points, 53 penalty minutes, and a staggering 245 hits each season through his 20s – stout enough to land with the golden age of the Tampa Bay Lightning when he turned 30 in 2019. Schenn only played in 63 regular season games across two years in Tampa Bay, but his bottom-pair role was enough to earn a name on both Stanley Cups when the Bolts accomplished their back-to-back wins in 2020 and 2021. Luke has continued his wandering career in the years since, leaving Tampa for Vancouver following the second Cup win, then returning to Toronto, and now spending the last two seasons in Nashville.
Brayden has been granted long-term stability, while Luke has moved seemingly every other year – but one more move could await the Saskatchewan brothers. Luke carries a manageable, $2.5MM cap hit through the end of next season, while Brayden’s $6.5MM cap hit through 2027-28 might be a bit tougher to bring in. St. Louis has all of their retention spots available, and could support the finances of a Schenn deal with the right sweeteners – though they’d have to carry the dead cap through the next three seasons. Logistics aside, the on-ice impact of the Schenn brothers likely wouldn’t command too rich of a return. Brayden has settled in as a capable third-line forward with second-line upside, while Luke seems more comfortable serving from the depths of his team’s blue-line. Both are important roles to fill when planning out a long playoff run – and finding a way to land both brothers could be a quick way for postseason hopefuls to shore up their front and back ends.
Snapshots: Smith, Schenn, Second Round, DiPietro
Forward Cole Smith was held out of Friday night’s Game 6 lineup due to a lower-body injury, per the team (Twitter link). Smith was replaced by Juuso Parssinen making his Stanley Cup Playoffs debut. Parssinen took on a larger role than Smith’s received, stepping into the team’s second line and bumping Mark Jankowski down the lineup. Only three Predators forwards, including Smith, have failed to record at least one point through their first five playoff games. Parssinen will need to quickly join that list, with Nashville down 3-2 in the series.
The Predators also welcomed Luke Schenn back to the lineup, after he missed Game 5 with illness, shares The Athletic’s Thomas Drance (Twitter link). Schenn’s absence made way for Tyson Barrie to return to the lineup. Barrie brought speed and tempo to the lineup, even recording an assist in Nashville’s eventual 2-1 win. But with elimination so close, the Predators opted for the more physical and defensive presence of Schenn.
Other notes from around the league:
- The NHL has announced the start times for the Second Round’s Eastern Conference matchups. The round will begin with Game 1 between the Carolina Hurricanes and New York Rangers on Sunday, while the Florida Panthers will take on the winner of Toronto versus Boston on Monday. Start times for each of these games haven’t yet been announced. This schedule marks a quick turnaround for Boston or Toronto, while each of Carolina, New York, and Florida will have at least five days off.
- The Boston Bruins have returned goaltender Michael DiPietro to the minor leagues, per NHL.com’s Mark Divver (Twitter link). DiPietro has served as Boston’s emergency third-string goalie for a handful of playoff games, though he’s yet to play his first game as a Boston Bruin. He instead spent all season with the AHL’s Providence Bruins, where he recorded 18 wins and a .918 save percentage in 30 appearances. He’ll now return to a prime role for Providence, as they prepare to take on one of Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Charlotte, or Hartford in the Atlantic Division’s Semifinals.
Predators Activate Luke Schenn
The Predators announced Sunday evening that they’ve activated defenseman Luke Schenn from injured reserve. Schenn will return to the lineup for tonight’s game against the Jets.
Today’s appearance will be Schenn’s first since sustaining a lower-body injury after the NHL season-opening game against the Lightning on October 10. Within a week of Schenn exiting the lineup, the Predators announced he was expected out of the lineup for four to six weeks. His return comes right on schedule within that recovery timeframe.
The 34-year-old has had somewhat of a career renaissance over the previous two seasons. The fifth-overall pick in the 2008 draft by the Maple Leafs, Schenn was almost out of the league entirely in the mid-to-late 2010s and earned multiple demotions to the AHL. After capturing two Stanley Cup rings with the Lightning in 2020 and 2021 while playing an extremely limited role, Schenn once again became an everyday NHLer after signing a two-year deal with the Canucks in 2021.
Over the last two seasons, Schenn remained in a somewhat limited role but was a regular appearance in the lineup, playing in 136 games with the Canucks and Maple Leafs after a 2023 deadline deal sent him back to Toronto. He’s notched 39 points, a +23 rating, and 145 penalty minutes in that time.
An especially strong finish to 2022-23, riding shotgun at times on Toronto’s top defense pairing with Morgan Rielly, earned Schenn a significant three-year, $8.25MM commitment with the Predators when free agency opened on July 1. It’s a bit of a risky gamble for a player who will be 36 at the end of the deal, but Predators GM Barry Trotz hopes Schenn will add a physical element to Nashville’s back end and provide some protection for star puck-moving defender Roman Josi.
The Predators had room on the 23-man roster to execute this move, meaning no corresponding transaction is necessary.