The trade deadline is just over a month away, and there will be a lot of names brought up as potentially on the move. Expiring contracts are the easiest to move, as teams go for a Stanley Cup run while others rebuild. The most talked about name all year and likely for the next month is Kevin Shattenkirk. The defensemen topped our mid-season list of 2017 UFAs and is having another excellent season.
It was recently reported by Darren Dreger that Shattenkirk would have interest in signing a long-term deal with Anaheim, Boston, Colorado, Detroit, New York (Rangers), San Jose, and Toronto this summer and many have suggested that one of these teams would be willing to be the top bidder at the deadline if they were able to work out an extension with him prior to the deal.
It doesn’t really make sense for some of these teams to make the deal, though the way the Eastern Conference is so tightly packed, everyone might think adding an elite right-handed defenseman would push them into a playoff spot.
A similar deal was made two years ago, when Keith Yandle was dealt to the Rangers. Though Yandle had one more year on his deal, he was a similarly productive offensive defensemen who logged huge minutes. The Rangers had to give up a young sniper in 19-year old Anthony Duclair, a (conditional) first-round pick and a second-round pick. The Rangers would go all the way to the Conference Finals that year, but get bounced out the next in the first round. Recouping some of their lost assets, they dealt Yandle’s rights to Florida where he signed long-term.
For Shattenkirk, imagine a slightly reduced package (unless an extension is reached) but still with substantial assets. Here are some Eastern Conference options for the Blues’ alternate captain.
New York Rangers
Would the Rangers go after another big-named defenseman at the deadline? Shattenkirk is from the area and many people believe they’re the early front-runners for his services this summer. The Rangers haven’t selected a player in the first-round since 2012, and if they go after the Blues’ defenseman they likely won’t this year either. Shattenkirk would look nice skating alongside captain Ryan McDonagh, but the team may not want to part with any young talent or high draft picks again this year.
Boston Bruins
The Bruins are slumping hard, losing again today 5-1 to the Pittsburgh Penguins. Acquiring Shattenkirk may be a fun idea, but it likely wouldn’t be enough to fix everything that’s going wrong right now. It’s unclear who they’d even waive as bait, with Brandon Carlo being their best trade chip. Moving out a young right-handed defenseman for a rental doesn’t sound like the best managing.
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Maple Leafs surprised everyone this year by being in the playoff hunt through the first half. Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner have played better than anyone expected in their rookie seasons, and their secondary scoring has been consistent. They do have a huge hole on the right side of their defense, but all signs point to Brendan Shanahan and company sticking to the rebuild and not giving up young assets. They may be a player in the summer for his services, but it would be shocking to see them move a pick or prospect for him in-season.
Philadelphia Flyers
If Philly wants to make the playoffs this year, they have to do something with their defense corps. After a scorching hot start, they’ve been one of the worst teams in the league the last month or so and can’t seem to keep the puck out of their own net. Shattenkirk would perhaps help them more than any other team, as currently Radko Gudas is their only right-handed defenseman.
Pittsburgh Penguins
Yes, the Penguins already have a stud who plays on the right side, but Kris Letang has been injured for much of the year. A team who often makes a big splash at the deadline for the playoffs, they currently have Justin Schultz, Chad Ruhwedel and Steve Oleksy playing the right side. Though Schultz is having a career season, the playoffs are a different story. The Penguins shouldn’t be considered anything more than a dark horse in the Shattenkirk sweepstakes, but it would be an interesting fit to be sure.
Bruins lost 5-1 to the Penguins not 2-0
My mind must have turned off when it was 2-0.
The Rangers & Bruins currently have the cap space to add Shattenkirk. The Leafs could add him by moving out a contract. Philadelphia & Pittsburgh both have under $1 million in cap space. They would both have to move out multiple contracts to add Shattenkirk. Reports in the off-season & early in this season stated that Shattenkirk was mainly interested in playing for only the Rangers & Bruins. As for trade chips, it would depend on what the Blues were asking for in return. The Bruins, for example, have a lot of young defensemen prospects besides Carlo. Would the Blues be interested in one of them? Or would they be interested in a player like Ryan Spooner? The Rangers have a ton of draft picks in the next few years. They could package some of those with a prospect or two. I don’t think the Blues will get anything near their asking price in the off-season when they asked for players like Dylan Larkin & David Pastrnak. The Blues have to decide if they want to get something of value in return for Shattenkirk or lose him for nothing in free agency.
Hextall has repeatedly said that he would not deviate from his rebuilding plan and yesterday said that there would be no outside help coming. Scratch the Flyers from that list. I assume they’ll be trying to dump players at the deadline anyway.
From my understanding, the Blues would be looking to move Shattenkirk to allow Parayko more playing time and to save money going forward. They are also looking to add offense. I don’t like Carlo would be the asking price from the Bruins.
Yea, the Penguins are probably a dark horse. But with the uncertainty of Letang, they likely can’t afford to not add a D.
The Pens would likely have to trade Fleury to make the money work out. It would also take care of their expansion draft issue with Murray. I doubt StL wants Fleury, but maybe with a first and Guentzel? Rutherford is wonderfully inventive and bold. He’ll need to be if Letang can’t go for the playoffs.