As part of their Saturday Headlines segment (video link), Sportsnet’s Nick Kypreos and Elliotte Friedman provided some information regarding a couple of players believed to be on the trade block:
Ryan Spooner (Bruins)
Kypreos suggested that the Vancouver Canucks could be a possible fit for the Boston center. GM Jim Benning is familiar with the 24 year old from his time as an Assistant GM with the Bruins while Spooner has also had some success with Loui Eriksson, who left Boston to sign with the Canucks back in July.
After a 49 point season last year, Spooner has had a quieter start to this season with just eight points (3-5-8) in 24 games. However, with a cap hit of just $950K, he’s an affordable player for any team and with the Canucks likely looking to transition towards being more of a younger team, the fit makes sense.
Friedman noted last month that teams had been expressing an interest in Spooner but it’s far from a guarantee that he gets dealt. It’s certainly possible that the Bruins view him as part of their long-term core and that this slow start isn’t a sign of things to come.
CSN New England’s Joe Haggerty reports that talks regarding Spooner have increased in recent weeks and that the team is now seeking a top six forward in return, a departure from their previous asking price of a top four blueliner. He also gets the sense that Boston’s management is motivated to move him as he may not be the right fit for head coach Claude Julien’s system.
Matt Hendricks (Oilers)
Hendricks was a healthy scratch in Saturday’s 3-2 overtime win against the Ducks and Friedman believes that Edmonton is making him available to other teams. He has missed over a month with a lower body injury and as a result, Hendricks has played in just five games so far this season.
With a cap hit of $1.85MM this season, teams may be hard pressed to fit Hendricks into their salary structure, especially since the 35 year old is limited to a fourth line role. Friedman suggests that his hometown Minnesota could be a potential fit. However, the Wild are currently into LTIR meaning that their cap space to work with is extremely limited. For any deal to work, Minnesota would likely have to send equal salary the other way or the Oilers would have to retain some of his salary.
Both Kypreos and Friedman also touched on Montreal’s Max Pacioretty. While they were quick to emphasize that the Canadiens are not shopping their captain, Kypreos suggested that there may be a bit of friction between Pacioretty and head coach Michel Therrien. He has heard that several teams around the league are watching the situation closely and suggests that if Montreal decides to commit to playing more of a defensive game in front of Carey Price, that they could consider moving the 28 year old for a top four defenseman. However, with a cap hit of $4.5MM, quite low for a four time 30-goal scorer, it would be challenging for GM Marc Bergevin to get top value back at a similar price tag.
I love Pacioretty but he just hasn’t played to his capabilities this year. The numbers are solid(18 points in 25 games, a 59 point pace) but it’s the other aspects of his game which are lacking. He’s been getting knocked off the puck rather easily most nights while he’s barely unloaded his great wrist shot and when he does, it rarely hits the net. He’s also been missing the net a ton, only 45% of his shots have actually hit the net while before this year, 57% of his shots found the net.
Working against a Pacioretty trade is the fact the Canadiens are incredibly weak on the left side beyond Max. Nikita Scherbak has been great for a depleted St. John’s team but is a natural RW. Hudon has shown a ton of promise but he’s not only a rookie but he’s also out long term with a broken sternum.
Now, having said all of that, if the right trade came along that somehow got the Habs a big, top 6 Center(ie. Jeff Carter), I’d seriously consider pulling the trigger.
Don’t see a fit for a B’s-‘nucks deal. Van does not have a top 6 type fwd that makes sense for Boston. The Sedins and Louie are staying put, Horvat would be nice but they aren’t doing that. Sutter maybe but that’s a big contract for Boston to take on. Burrows….meh. Granlund, might as well just hold onto Spooner. Spooner and Hayes for Sutter? Doubt that will entice them.
Spooner to Ariz for Duclair makes more sense. Zona wants a center for him. Both need a change of scenery.
I wouldn’t mind packaging Spooner and a high pick or two for a Shattenkirk type.
Draft picks are to valuable in a league with a salary cap. They are already without their own 2nd, 3rd, and 5th next year. You want to give up the first now too? Those picks were lost by trading for rentals which is what Shatty would be as he is a free agent at years end. Plus they’d likely have to dump some more salary to get him under the cap. They’d be pretty cap tight going into next year and with Pasta becoming an RFA next year it would be hard to get both under contract and stay under the cap. Not impossible but there would a lot of strings to pull. Defense hasn’t been the problem. Yes they could use a puck moving PP pointman on D. Not many teams lining up to move one of those. What they really need is some 3rd line production. Vatrano coming back will help some. St. L. asked for Pasternak and a first before the season started for Shatty and they rightfully said no. Spooner and picks probably won’t cut it. Not with a dozen other teams wanting in on the action that are better positioned to make a deal. Spooner, McQuaid, Hayes, Subban some combo of those for an offensive minded D man and hold onto the picks would be better.
I’d dump Jimmy Hayes for anyone who breathes.