Every season around the All-Star break, things really start to heat up on the trade market. Teams are starting to decide whether or not they are truly contenders and have had enough time to discuss extensions with their pending free agents. Even those players on one-year deals who can’t sign until the New Year have now had time to discuss the future, meaning clubs can put some of their best offers on the table.
One thing to remember as we close in on this year’s February 24th trade deadline is that a team can only carry 50 NHL contracts at any one time. By now, those entry-level contracts that don’t count against it if they are set to slide are almost all dealt with, meaning the number remaining is usually an accurate representation of the room a team has left to add.
Take the San Jose Sharks, Montreal Canadiens and New York Islanders for instance, who all currently have just a single contract slot open. For the Islanders especially, who sit third in the Metropolitan Division, that means adding any players through trade becomes a little more complicated. They would almost certainly have to send the same number of bodies back in any deal, if not include some extras to open a spot or two. Teams try not to spend much time right at the 50-contract threshold, especially once international and college seasons start to end.
For the Sharks it may not be as big of a hindrance given their place in the standings, but there are several other contenders sitting at 48 contracts. The Dallas Stars, Pittsburgh Penguins, Edmonton Oilers and Tampa Bay Lightning are all in playoff spots but have just two slots remaining, meaning they too have to be careful what they acquire.
It can certainly be used the opposite way as well however. A team like the New Jersey Devils, who sit with just 45 contracts on the books and at the bottom of the Metro, could help a team out by taking on a deal or two, as long as an asset comes with it.
This also lends even more power to a team like the Colorado Avalanche, who not only have five empty contract slots but also have plenty of cap space. They could potentially take on a bad contract alongside the player they are actually targeting, if it’s going to help them continue their run towards the top of the Central Division.
Contract totals for all teams (via CapFriendly):
Anaheim Ducks: 47/50
Arizona Coyotes: 45/50
Boston Bruins: 47/50
Buffalo Sabres: 45/50
Calgary Flames: 44/50
Carolina Hurricanes: 44/50
Chicago Blackhawks: 45/50
Colorado Avalanche: 45/50
Columbus Blue Jackets: 47/50
Dallas Stars: 48/50
Detroit Red Wings: 47/50
Edmonton Oilers: 48/50
Florida Panthers: 45/50
Los Angeles Kings: 47/50
Minnesota Wild: 47/50
Montreal Canadiens: 49/50
Nashville Predators: 45/50
New Jersey Devils: 45/50
New York Islanders: 49/50
New York Rangers: 46/50
Ottawa Senators: 48/50
Philadelphia Flyers: 48/50
Pittsburgh Penguins: 48/50
San Jose Sharks: 49/50
St. Louis Blues: 46/50
Tampa Bay Lightning: 48/50
Toronto Maple Leafs: 47/50
Vancouver Canucks: 47/50
Vegas Golden Knights: 46/50
Washington Capitals: 45/50
Winnipeg Jets: 45/50
Well done, as usual, Gavin! This evokes a slightly altered phrase from a movie, “That throws a monkey into the wrench.” Watch the carnage, kids, as teams try to juggle running chainsaws without getting hurt! Now, the rest of youz PHR guyz just remember, it’s NOT only about available cap room, but contract slots!