In a competitive Central Division, the rivalry between the Winnipeg Jets and the Nashville Predators may head directly into the trade deadline as TSN’s Pierre LeBrun reports that the two teams may go into an “arms race” over acquiring deadline rentals. Not only are both teams expected to be active at the trade deadline, both teams could find themselves competing for similar targets.
Both teams battled each other right through the playoffs last season as Winnipeg came out the victor, knocking off Nashville in the Central Division Finals before being eliminated by Vegas. However, that rivalry has continued as they both are the top two teams in the Central, deadlocked with 64 points at the All-Star break. Winnipeg sits with a 31-15-2 record, while Nashville has a 30-18-4 record. Both teams struggled with injuries in the first half, but both teams are looking more and more healthy and both teams should continue to battle for the top spot in the division for the remainder of the season. However, LeBrun reports both are ready to give up prime assets to acquire quality rental players.
One of the players that is often mentioned that both teams have shown interest in is center Derick Brassard, who Winnipeg tried to acquire last season at the trade deadline from Ottawa before the Penguins stepped in and acquired the veteran forward. However, other names that have come up recently suggest that both teams may also be interested in Wayne Simmonds, Kevin Hayes, Gustav Nyquist and Marcus Johansson.
Eeli Tolvanen will be high on teams list for sure. I also think Kevin Fiala will get a lot of interest, he’s quietly becoming a very solid player
The article before this cited Fiala as having a down year and causing a lot of TO… His corsi is OK but he starts in offensive zone 65% of the time
Please start a bidding war for Brassard.
Fiala is not becoming a solid player. In fact quite the opposite. He’s playing less and less, his scoring is incredibly inconsistent (8 goals in 50 games is not good enough), and he’s terrible defensively.
If there is any chance on Earth to pry Eeli Tolvanen away from the Preds, I’d give up Brassard, a first and one of the expendable D men.
Tolvanen has the best release since Brett Hull. Future star.