Stoking the Fires of the Rumor Mill: Jordan Nolan
A lot of rumors have been flying around about Los Angeles Kings forward Jordan Nolan. Many, including NHL insider Bob McKenzie, believe that Nolan is on the Kings trading block and could soon be moved.
Nolan started the season on the Kings fourth line, playing alongside Andy Andreoff and Kyle Clifford.
After 10 straight games in uniform Nolan was taken out of the lineup by the NHL’s Division of Player Safety. Nolan was suspended for two games after hitting Detroit Red Wings forward Darren Helm from behind.
That was October 31st. Nolan served his two game suspension and returned to action on November 6th, when the Kings faced the New York Islanders.
Nolan returned for two games, only to be removed from the lineup for two games. Nolan returned for one game, against the Anaheim Ducks on November 15th, before being a healthy-scratch again.
After 5 games out of the lineup, Nolan was back against the Chicago Blackhawks on November 29th. Nolan got his first goal and point of the season against Chicago, scoring the lone goal for the Kings in a 4-1 loss.
Nolan returned for 5 straight games, playing his most recent game in Buffalo, against the Sabres and his father, Ted Nolan – Buffalo’s head coach.
During this five game return, and leading up to L.A.’s game in Buffalo, rumors have increased that the Kings may be looking to move the grinding forward.
A couple of weeks ago TSN’s Bob McKenzie commented on the subject:
On Insider Trading tonite just after 6:30 pm ET, why there's considerable interest from teams, especially in the East, in LA's Jordan Nolan.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) November 25, 2014
A week after Bob McKenzie’s tweet RinkRoyalty’s sister site, TooManyMenOnTheSite speculated on a possible trade move involving Nolan and the Buffalo Sabres.
Since then, Nolan has appeared in five games: against the Chicago Blackhawks, Boston Bruins, Arizona Coyotes, Philadelphia Flyers and Buffalo Sabres.
The Kings were just in Buffalo’s backyard. Sabres executives and front office personnel got an up close and personal look at Nolan on Tuesday. Yet, Jordan Nolan remains with the Kings.
Perhaps that’s a statement by the Kings that he’s not going anywhere. Maybe the Kings just needed to fill a roster spot, and still have Nolan on the trading block. Only Kings President and General Manager Dean Lombardi knows.
Lombari is known to be an extremely smart and savvy manager.
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Flame for Thought
A lot of speculation involves the fact that Nolan’s father is the Sabres head coach, and Jordan plays the passionate, hard, physical style that his father appreciates in his players. Buffalo has had trouble scoring and showing a consistent effort this season. Speculators seem to think the two-time Stanley Cup winner with the Kings could be of some assistance to Buffalo in these departments.
Word around the NHL has involved potential trade talks with the Sabres trying to get a return for defensemen Tyler Myers. Myers won the Calder Trophy after his performance in the 2009-2010 season. In the years since Myers has taken a step or two backwards, but he’s still a large, young, defensemen with a ton of potential.
The question becomes, is a trade plausible? A deal with Buffalo seems unlikely because Sabres GM Tim Murray is what some around the league would consider, a tad unreasonable.
If the Kings were looking to add a defensemen like Myers to their roster, which due to complications with Slava Voynov’s suspension, cap-space, and the limited availability of a player with Myers potential and talent; the Kings very well could be, the price tag, more likely than not, would be too much.
For a player like Myers, Murray would likely want, at least, a first and second round pick, a player like Nolan, and another prospect.
Dean Lombardi doesn’t typically agree to such terms. Unless Lombardi has a vision for the player in discussion. Lombardi also has a reputation for using his first round picks wisely. Selecting players that are underrated, and passed over.
Could a deal send Nolan to the Sabres? It’s possible, but not likely. If it were to happen, it would more than likely occur before the Kings return home from this five-game road trip of the Northeast.
Nolan could quietly be on the trading block around the NHL. No one can be certain. No one other than Dean Lombardi.
In 18 games this season Jordan Nolan has 1 goal, 1 point, 16 penalty minutes and a -3 rating.
Nolan has been a King his entire career. He plays the Kings style of hockey: hard-hitting, fast forechecking, solid defense, and opportunistic offense. With the injuries that have sporadically popped up in the Kings lineup, and restricted cap-space available, it’s doubtful that Nolan gets moved before the trade deadline.
The Kings sent forward Andy Andreoff down to their American Hockey League affiliate, the Manchester Monarchs, on December 5th. Leaving Nolan as the only extra forward on the Kings active roster. That’s just a further indication Nolan’s place is cemented with the Kings.
The rumblings around the rumor mill have quieted down about trade talks that feature Jordan Nolan. We’ll continue to keep an eye out on the matter as it evolves.
For now, and for the foreseeable future, Nolan is a King.
Sep 22, 2014; Glendale, AZ, USA; Los Angeles Kings center Jordan Nolan (71) reacts during the third period against the Arizona Coyotes at Gila River Arena. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports