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Deadline Primer 2018

Deadline Primer: Nashville Predators

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With the trade deadline fast approaching, we will be taking a closer look at the situation for each team.  Where do they stand, what do they need to do, and what assets do they have to fill those needs?  Next up is a look at the Nashville Predators.

Nashville Predators GM David Poile isn’t scared of making a big move. He’s done it time and time again over his career, with recent examples like P.K. Subban, Ryan Johansen and Kyle Turris. He was rewarded last year with a trip to the Stanley Cup Finals, though the Predators would ultimately come up short in their quest for a championship. This season, there is no doubt that Nashville is one of the best teams in the Western Conference and could take a shot at the trade deadline to try and secure another long playoff run.

Record

35-14-9, first in Central Division

Deadline Status

Buyer

Deadline Cap Space

$14.9MM full-season cap hit, 0/3 retained salary transactions, 43/50 contracts per CapFriendly

Draft Picks

2018: NSH 1st, NSH 3rd, NSH 4th, NSH 5th, NSH 6th, NSH 7th
2019: NSH 1st, NSH 2nd, NSH 4th, COL 4th, NSH 5th, NSH 6th, NSH 7th

Trade Chips

Eeli TolvanenBecause the Predators have used their own home grown players in many of those big trades, the team has still managed to keep many of their draft picks and continue developing prospects. Many of the speculative trades begin with Eeli Tolvanen, but he should be about as close to untouchable as you can get for the Predators. The Finnish forward is breaking records for his age in the KHL, and excelling in the Olympics for his country. He’ll be a big part of the Predators future, and could even make an impact in the playoffs this year.

Beyond Tolvanen, the Nashville prospect pipeline is still healthy. Dante Fabbro is one of the league’s top defensive prospects, Victor Ejdsell was pursued by several teams and is proving why in Sweden this year, and Emil Pettersson looks like a late-round steal after finding early success in the AHL. There’s no doubt that some of their top prospects will be in discussions if Nashville really gets into the market.

From the NHL roster, one has to wonder if someone like Colton Sissons could be sacrificed given that Mike Fisher is coming back very soon. Sissons has shown that he could develop into a solid third-line center for any team in the NHL, and is under contract for another season at the league minimum. He’d be an interesting option for a team like the New York Rangers who’ve made it clear they are seeking roster-ready bodies. Obviously the Predators aren’t looking to deal Sissons, but if there is a big move in the works they may need to sell at least one NHL-level player.

Five Players To Watch For: F Frederick Gaudreau, D Alexandre Carrier, F Pontus Aberg, F Colton Sissons, F Emil Pettersson

Team Needs

1) Scoring Winger: If we’re being honest, the Predators don’t desperately need anything.

What they could use more than anything though is another top-6 option on the wing, and they’ve been linked to just about every available option. Today, Darren Dreger of TSN tweeted that Nashville has interest in Tomas Tatar of the Detroit Red Wings. Tatar is under contract through 2020-21, which might make it a bit tricky for the Predators. Though Poile has signed team-friendly deals with many of his stars, Ryan Ellis (UFA) and Kevin Fiala (RFA) are both free agents after next season and will require substantial raises.

The team has also been linked to Rick Nash as a potential rental option, which could make more sense given their vast available cap room at the deadline. The Predators could add any of the players on expiring deals without worry, making them one of the most interesting teams to follow over the next few days.

Deadline Primer: San Jose Sharks

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With the trade deadline now less than a week away, we continue our closer look at the situation for each team.  Where do they stand, what do they need to do, and what assets do they have to fill those needs?  Next up is a look at the San Jose Sharks.

After losing Patrick Marleau to Toronto in free agency, many have been waiting for the Sharks to make some kind of move to replace him.  It didn’t happen on the open market nor has it happened during the season as they have opted to try some of their younger players in Marleau’s old spot instead.  With San Jose in a tight battle for a playoff spot, will this be the time that they make a splash?

Record

32-19-8, second in Pacific Division

Deadline Status

Buyer

Deadline Cap Space

$24.4MM full-season cap hit, 0/3 retained salary transactions, 46/50 contracts per CapFriendly

Draft Picks

2018: SJ 1st, SJ 4th, SJ 5th, SJ 6th, SJ 7th
2019: SJ 1st, SJ 2nd, SJ 3rd, SJ 4th, SJ 5th, SJ 6th, SJ 7th

Trade Chips

Aaron DellGoaltender Aaron Dell has long been suggested as San Jose’s best card to play in a trade.  He’s having a strong season (2.51 GAA, .917 SV% in 24 appearances) and with unrestricted free agency on the horizon, the belief is that they won’t want to pay him the type of money he should be able to get on the open market.  However, San Jose’s depth between the pipes behind Dell isn’t the strongest so moving him would be quite a risk if Martin Jones was to get injured down the stretch.  Accordingly, any deal involving Dell would have to have a goalie coming back (or they would at least have to have a follow-up swap in place to replace him).

While most buying teams would be shopping draft picks and prospects, GM Doug Wilson has already stated that he has no intention of moving those top assets for rentals.  As a result, they may be more inclined to deal from the outskirts of their roster to try to tweak things, especially since they’re already down two of their top three picks for this season.  Defenseman Paul Martin had been in the AHL until earlier today and is an option to be moved depending on San Jose’s willingness to take a similarly high-priced contract in return or how much of his deal they’re willing to retain on.

Five Players To Watch For: G Aaron Dell, D Dylan DeMelo, RW Jannik Hansen, D Paul Martin, RW Joel Ward

Team Needs

1) Center Depth: The injury to Joe Thornton has forced them to shift Logan Couture back to the middle and he is better served as a winger.  While the Sharks are optimistic that Thornton will be back in time for the postseason, that doesn’t appear to be a guarantee at this point.  The challenge here will be the lack of trade bait to land a top-six replacement so Wilson may be forced to look for a third-line option instead to at least shore up the depth.  They were linked to Montreal’s Tomas Plekanec earlier this month and while he is more of a checker than a scorer at this point in his career, he can still log a heavier workload than most bottom-six players.

2) Top-Six Winger: The fact that Marleau was never really replaced comes into play here, as does the fact that Couture has had to be shifted down the middle.  The Sharks have given youngsters Timo Meier and Kevin Labanc chances in the top six and, as expected, the results have been mixed.  Mikkel Boedker and Joonas Donskoi are better suited as third liners which means there still is a hole to be filled on one of their top two lines.  If they’re willing to take on contracts beyond this season, they could be a team to watch for in the non-rental market as there are several wingers available that could fill this void.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Deadline Primer: Chicago Blackhawks

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With the trade deadline fast approaching, we will be taking a closer look at the situation for each team.  Where do they stand, what do they need to do, and what assets do they have to fill those needs?  Next up is a look at the Chicago Blackhawks.

2018 looks like it will bring the end of a decade of playoff appearances for the Chicago Blackhawks, who came as close to a dynasty as you can in today’s NHL by winning three Stanley Cups in six seasons. The team sits last in the Central Division and started selling today by moving Michal Kempny for a third-round pick. That should be followed by several other moves, but more substantial changes may have to wait for the summer.

Record

25-26-8, seventh in Central Division

Deadline Status

Seller

Deadline Cap Space

$3.9MM full-season cap hit, 0/3 retained salary transactions, 46/50 contracts per CapFriendly

Draft Picks

2018: CHI 1st, CHI 3rd, WSH/TOR 3rd*, CHI 5th, CBJ 5th, CHI 6th, CHI 7th
2019: CHI 1st, CHI 2nd, CHI 3rd, CHI 4th, CHI 5th, CHI 6th, CHI 7th, ANA 7th

*Chicago will receive the earlier of the two picks

Trade Chips

Ryan HartmanDespite some interest from Blackhawks fans in a rebuild, Chicago isn’t in a position to tear it all down. With Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane, Brent Seabrook and Duncan Keith all still signed through at least the 2022-23 season it will be some time before a new leadership group comes to town.

That said, there have been interesting rumors surrounding several of the other top names on the club. Brandon Saad’s name has surfaced after he hasn’t made the immediate impact expected, and Artem Anisimov has drawn interest despite his full no-movement clause (which drops to a 10-team no-trade list after this season). Both could bring back nice packages, but are tough trades to make in-season.

Beyond the top names, expiring contracts like Lance Bouma, Tommy Wingels and Cody Franson (who is currently in the minor leagues) could all be swapped for a draft pick before the deadline. Restricted free agents like Ryan Hartman and Tomas Jurco could also draw interest, as could Connor Murphy if a team is willing to take on his long-term deal.

Five Players To Watch For: F Ryan Hartman, F Tommy Wingels, D Cody Franson, D Connor Murphy, F Artem Anisimov

Team Needs

1) Draft Picks & Prospects: Despite it not being a full tear down in Chicago, the team still needs to keep restocking their system with young players. That’s the only way to compete when so much of your cap is committed to an aging quartet, and they’ve dealt away much of their future in previous seasons. If GM Stan Bowman believes the Blackhawks can still compete next season, prospects close to NHL-ready could be more valuable than draft picks, though tough to acquire with certainty.

2) Defensive Help: After watching players like Trevor van Riemsdyk and Niklas Hjalmarsson forced out of town over the past few seasons, the team hoped that Murphy could handle a large role and grow with the team. Instead, they’ve had to lean on a rapidly declining Seabrook and install Jordan Oesterle as one of their top options. While Oesterle has performed better than anyone could expect, the Blackhawks need to find the next group of defenders to take some of the strain off Keith as he heads into his mid-thirties.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

Deadline Primer: Florida Panthers

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With the trade deadline fast approaching, we will be taking a closer look at the situation for each team.  Where do they stand, what do they need to do, and what assets do they have to fill those needs?  Next up is a look at the Florida Panthers.

The Florida Panthers are in a difficult situation with the NHL Trade Deadline fast approaching. Few truly consider the team to be a playoff contender, but the fact of the matter is they are not that far out from a postseason spot. Florida currently sits in 12th in the Eastern Conference and nowhere close to an Atlantic Division berth, which admittedly is an uninspiring scenario. However, trailing the New York Islanders by eight points with a whopping six games in hand, the Panthers don’t need an unrealistic stretch to catch up. Yet, what is problematic is their upcoming slate of games leading up to the trade deadline, in which they play four games, all of which are against bona fide playoff teams. An 0-4 result this week would not be much of a surprise, but could deter GM Dale Tallon from continuing to pursue a playoff berth. At the same time, a positive result against strong competition could instill hope in the team and urge them to make a deal to improve the roster. The Panthers’ deadline role is still very much up in the air.

Record

25-23-6, 4th in the Atlantic Division

Deadline Status

To be determined

Deadline Cap Space

$33,124,940 in deadline cap space
41/50 contracts per CapFriendly

Draft Picks

2018: FLA 1st, ARI 2nd, FLA 3rd, VGK 4th, FLA 5th, FLA 6th, FLA 7th
2019: FLA 1st, FLA 2nd, FLA 3rd, FLA 4th, FLA 5th, FLA 6th, FLA 7th

Trade Chips

The Panthers may not be buyers at the 2018 deadline, depending on their next few games, but can they really be “sellers” in the traditional sense? Florida has just two impending unrestricted free agents with any value: veteran forward Radim Vrbata and AHL import goalie Harri Sateri. Neither player will net Florida much at the deadline, as neither is more than a luxury depth addition, rather than a difference-making acquisition. The team decided to move forward with an extension for Colton Sceviour, who otherwise might have drawn ample deadline attention. What remains is a roster that offers little to contenders. However, where the Panthers could make a move is trading away players with term for other players with term, rather than participating in the rental market. While they may be happy to move the likes of Jamie McGinn or Derek MacKenzie, the Panthers will have to deal value for value if pursuing some of the bigger available targets. Defenseman Alex Petrovic, a restricted free agent this summer, appears destined to leave Florida sooner rather than later, while young forwards Denis Malgin, Maxim Mamin, and Dryden Hunt and rookie defenseman Ian McCoshen will surely be in demand.

The Panthers don’t have much in the way of prospect depth, especially on defense, so may be hesitant to deal away too many draft picks or their high-value picks, including a potential lottery pick this season. Henrik Borgstrom is a near untouchable, and could even make his NHL debut this season if the Panthers are in the hunt, whereas 2017 first-rounder Owen Tippett is definitely a non-starter. Adam Mascherin or Aleksi Heponiemi won’t enjoy the same protections and could be moved in the right deal.

Players To Watch: F Radim Vrbata, G Harri Sateri, D Alex Petrovic, F Connor Brickley, F Denis Malgin

Team Needs

1) Top-six winger with term

The only reason the Panthers would move any of the aforementioned young players is to bring in a long-term asset. Tallon and company have made it known they are looking for a top-six winger to round out a really strong top-six group. With names like Mike Hoffman, Max Pacioretty, Mats Zuccarello and more reportedly available, Florida is one team willing to make a major deal in-season to acquire such a name. A young roster player, prospect, and draft pick could be enough to land one of these experienced scorers, which will serve the Panthers this season and beyond.

2) Starting defenseman with term

Interestingly, the Panthers’ main focus appears to be at forward when the team actually scores at a decent clip, but struggles to prevent goals against. Florida is very attached to Aaron Ekblad, Keith Yandle, and the recently-extended Michael Matheson, and for good reason; the trio have been excellent this season. The other half of the defense corps has been less impressive and both Petrovic and Mackenzie Weegar don’t seem to be long-term fits. The Cats could surely benefit from adding another body on the blue line that has a some years remaining on their contract. Such a deal could easily be made in free agency or on the summer trade market, but if the right player at the right price becomes available – such as an Oscar Klefbom for example – the Panthers will be interested.

3) Draft picks

At the end of the day, with their playoff chances caught in limbo and no desperation to make major deals, the most likely deadline strategy for Florida will be to simply trade away impending free agents or other expendable pieces for the best draft picks they can get. The cupboard is basically bare when it comes to defensive depth in the pipeline. A great quantity of picks in the next draft or two should help to rebuild the system on the back end as well as at other positions.

Deadline Primer: Winnipeg Jets

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With the trade deadline fast approaching, we will be taking a closer look at the situation for each team.  Where do they stand, what do they need to do, and what assets do they have to fill those needs?  Next up is a look at the Winnipeg Jets.

A lot has gone wrong in Winnipeg this season, especially on the injury front.  Their key offseason addition between the pipes has had multiple concussions, the back end has been banged up, and they’ve had enough injuries up front to the point where Blake Wheeler had to go from right wing to play down the middle.  However, in spite of all of that, the Jets have flourished.  They are one of the top scoring teams in the league and are getting solid goaltending which makes them a team to watch for down the stretch and into the postseason.

Record

34-15-9, first in Central Division

Deadline Status

Buyer

Deadline Cap Space

$26.2MM full-season cap hit, 0/3 retained salary transactions, 43/50 contracts per CapFriendly

Draft Picks

2018: WPG 1st, WPG 2nd, WPG 3rd, WPG 4th, BOS 5th, WPG 5th, WPG 6th, WPG 7th
2019: WPG 1st, WPG 2nd, WPG 4th, WPG 5th, WPG 6th, WPG 7th

Trade Chips

While many have been critical of GM Kevin Cheveldayoff’s reticence to be active on the trade market with an eye on stockpiling quality prospects instead, it’s hard to argue with the current results and it’s that prospect pool that should come in handy in the days to come.  Winnipeg has several players that are on the cusp of making an NHL impact and quite a few sellers around the league will be coveting those types of prospects over picks which should have the Jets in good shape.

In terms of the active roster, veteran Shawn Matthias was made available back in December but he has been out for more than a month now with an upper-body issue.  Winger Brandon Tanev is also on the outside looking in when everyone is healthy but he too is injured at the moment.  Forward Marko Dano has spent much of the season as a healthy scratch and is someone that could benefit from a change of scenery.

Five Players To Watch For: C/W Marko Dano, LW Brendan Lemieux, RW J.C. Lipon, LW Nic Petan, LW/RW Brandon Tanev

Team Needs

1) Middle-Six Forward: With Mark Scheifele back, they don’t necessarily need to look for a center but if they want to hedge against having to use Wheeler there again, they could look there.  Failing that, a winger that can play on the second or third line would help lengthen their attack and give them some depth in case more injuries strike.  Considering Winnipeg is one of the younger teams in the league and the fact they haven’t had a lot of playoff experience lately, it would make some sense for them to look at someone with some postseason experience.  They’ve been linked to Patrick Maroon out of Edmonton and he would fit this role nicely.

Jan 9, 2018; Buffalo, NY, USA; Winnipeg Jets goaltender Steve Mason (35) against the Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Center. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports2) Goalie Depth: A month ago, it looked like Michael Hutchinson was a trade candidate for teams looking for goaltending depth.  Fast forward to today and he’s on IR with a concussion as is Steve Mason who is dealing with his second of the year already.  Although Mason has started skating, there still is no timetable for his return.  Currently, prospect Eric Comrie is the backup goaltender which isn’t an ideal situation for a young goalie to be in; they’d rather have him getting the bulk of the starts at the AHL level.  Finding a veteran who can serve as the backup and start a game or two if need be would allow them to send Comrie back down.  Fortunately for the Jets, there are several netminders like this available.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Deadline Primer: Pittsburgh Penguins

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With the trade deadline fast approaching, we will be taking a closer look at the situation for each team. Where do they stand, what do they need to do, and what assets do they have to fill those needs? Next up is a look at the Pittsburgh Penguins

Two years, two Stanley Cups for the Pittsburgh Penguins, who are looking to take home a third consecutive championship in 2018. The Sidney Crosby-led team has a group of superstars in their prime who have turned around some early season struggles to push themselves into contention once again. Now, with just over a week before the deadline, GM Jim Rutherford is expected to make one of his customary acquisitions to help give the Penguins an extra playoff push.

Record

33-22-4, second in Atlantic Division

Deadline Status

Buyer

Deadline Cap Space

$927K full-season cap hit, 0/3 retained salary transactions, 45/50 contracts per CapFriendly

Draft Picks

2018: PIT 1st, PIT 2nd, VAN 4th, PIT 5th, DET 5th, PIT 6th, PIT 7th
2019: PIT 1st, PIT 2nd, PIT 3rd, PIT/MIN 4th*, PIT 5th, PIT 7th

*Dallas will receive the earlier of the two picks

Trade Chips

Daniel SprongTo use a baseball term, the Penguins for the last few years have been an example of a stars and scrubs roster, except have quickly turned those scrubs into useful players. Undrafted forward Conor Sheary, third-round picks like Jake Guentzel and Bryan Rust, and late-round castoffs like Nick Bonino and Carl Hagelin have all played important roles in the Stanley Cup victories.

Now they’re trying to make it happen once again with players like Dominik Simon and Zach Aston-Reese. That continuous development and promotion has left the prospect cupboard fairly bare for the Penguins in terms of potential impact players, save for one name: Daniel Sprong.

Sprong has been involved in nearly every speculative trade scenario for some time, as the first-round pick continues to bide his time in the AHL. An impressive offensive talent, he could still be used as a legitimate piece to acquire an impact player at the deadline.

Beyond Sprong, the Penguins are left with a good pipeline of goaltending options but the team has already come out to say they’d rather not move any of them. Despite Matt Murray’s early career success, Rutherford knows that his team is just a quick injury away from relying on Tristan Jarry throughout the playoffs.

On the NHL roster, Ian Cole has garnered his fair share of trade speculation after reportedly clashing with head coach Mike Sullivan, but looks unlikely to move now that he’s reclaimed his role. Matt Hunwick on the other hand could be the piece used to create some cap flexibility, as his three-year, $7.75MM contract doesn’t look good less than a year in.

Team Needs

1) Fourth-Line Center: For much of the season, talk surrounding the Penguins involved their search for a third-line center to push Riley Sheahan down and strengthen their group in the middle. Instead, now it seems as though the team is confident in Sheahan to fill that role and is looking for an even less impactful player. Mark Letestu has been linked to the team, and would certainly be a relatively cheap option for them at the deadline.

2) Scoring Help: Even though the Penguins have three players who can each drive a line in Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Phil Kessel, the team has been circling around some scoring help all season long. Whether that appears in the form of a big acquisition like Evander Kane or Rick Nash, or is limited to a bottom-six addition like Benoit Pouliot or Thomas Vanek is still unclear. To do anything at the deadline, Rutherford will have to move some salary out, and the bigger the prize, the tougher it becomes to fit them in.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

Deadline Primer: Tampa Bay Lightning

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With the trade deadline fast approaching, we will be taking a closer look at the situation for each team. Where do they stand, what do they need to do, and what assets do they have to fill those needs? Next up is a look at the Tampa Bay Lightning.

The Tampa Bay Lightning have been one of the league’s best teams right from the start of the season. Many predicted this would happen if they could avoid the same injury bug that ruined their 2016-17 season, but few may have thought they would be as incredibly deep and well-rounded as they’ve shown. Their goaltending has taken a step forward and their forward group has seen impressive performances from unheralded youngsters. At the deadline, they’ll look to add to that group and take a legitimate shot at the Stanley Cup.

Record

38-16-3, first in Atlantic Division

Deadline Status

Buyer

Deadline Cap Space

$8.95MM full-season cap hit due to LTIR, 0/3 retained salary transactions, 44/50 contracts per CapFriendly

Draft Picks

2018: TBL 1st, TBL 2nd, TBL 3rd, TBL 4th, TBL 5th, TBL 6th, TBL 7th, LAK 7th
2019: TBL 1st, TBL 2nd, TBL 3rd, TBL 4th, TBL 5th, TBL 6th, TBL 7th

Trade Chips

Taylor RaddyshSomehow, GM Steve Yzerman and the Tampa Bay front office has managed to bring three superstars together while maintaining some level of cap flexibility. Steven Stamkos, Nikita Kucherov and Victor Hedman are all under contract for another season at a combined $21.1MM, while the rest of the roster is littered with palatable contracts.

That salary work and some deft trading has allowed the team to retain their entire cupboard of draft picks while also having one of the best prospect systems in the entire league. Make no mistake, Tampa Bay has even more talent on the way with players like Boris Katchouk, Taylor Raddysh, Brett Howden, Anthony Cirelli, Libor Hajek and Cal Foote. The list goes on and on, giving the Lightning plenty of opportunity to move some prospects for present-day help.

The team also has some NHL-ready options on defense that could be moved, as Slater Koekkoek has drawn interest from around the league recently. Jake Dotchin hasn’t been able to secure as big of a role in the lineup as the team had hoped, while Andrej Sustr is on an expiring contract and could be moved to free up room.

Five Players To Watch For: D Slater Koekkoek, F Cedric Paquette, F Brett Howden, F Mathieu Joseph, F Mitchell Stephens

Team Needs

1) Top-4 Defenseman: If there is one criticism of the Lightning this season, it is that too much pressure has been put on Victor Hedman and Anton Stralman to carry the load on defense. Though rookie Mikhail Sergachev is improving and has been a force on the powerplay, Dan Girardi—fresh off a buyout—has had to log the third most minutes on the team among defensemen. The Lightning have been linked to Detroit Red Wings’ defenseman Mike Green over the last few weeks, and could easily ante up enough to land him or one of the other names potentially on the market like Jack Johnson or even Chris Tanev. If they decide to get into the bidding, it’s hard to imagine they won’t win.

2) Top-9 Winger: Even though their forward group has been incredible this season, with rookie Yanni Gourde jumping from NHL afterthought to 22-goal scorer and Brayden Point proving last season was no fluke, the team has been rumored to be looking for another upgrade. With Ondrej Palat still out for the time being, the team could go out and acquire one of the mid-tier rentals to jump right into their lineup. One that could penalty kill would be preferable, but with Matthew Peca’s emergence may not be necessary.

Deadline Primer: Toronto Maple Leafs

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With the trade deadline fast approaching, we will be taking a closer look at the situation for each team. Where do they stand, what do they need to do, and what assets do they have to fill those needs? Next up is a look at the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Two years ago the Toronto Maple Leafs were at the very bottom of the NHL. After winning a lottery for the right to select Auston Matthews, and seeing a half-dozen other rookies make big impacts last season, the team is now locked into a playoff spot in the Atlantic Division and looking to compete for the Stanley Cup.

Record

34-19-5, third in Atlantic Division

Deadline Status

Moderate Buyer

Deadline Cap Space

$4.71MM full-season cap hit due to LTIR, 1/3 retained salary transactions, 50/50 contracts per CapFriendly

Draft Picks

2018: TOR 1st, TOR 2nd, SJS 2nd, SJS 3rd, TOR 4th, TOR 5th, TOR 7th, ANA 7th
2019: TOR 1st, TOR 2nd, TOR 3rd, TOR 4th, TOR 5th, TOR 6th, TOR 7th

Trade Chips

"<strongThe Maple Leafs have seen an incredible amount of young players make an impact in the last 18 months, and because of it there is a log jam of talent on the wing. The team has recently resorted to sticking Matt Martin in the press box as a healthy scratch, while Josh Leivo and Nikita Soshnikov can’t work their way into the lineup for various reasons. All three players are likely available for the right price, though Toronto has been known to demand high prices from inquiring teams in the past.

They also carry some of the more interesting rental names heading into the deadline, as James van Riemsdyk, Tyler Bozak, Leo Komarov, Dominic Moore and Roman Polak are all scheduled to become unrestricted free agents in the summer. While it seems like Toronto will try to hold on to most of this group to help in a playoff run this spring, there could be an opportunity to move one or two out depending on what’s available to bring in.

Their prospect pool, while weakened because of recent graduations, still has some very interesting names like Timothy Liljegren, Carl Grundstrom, Jeremy Bracco and Andreas Johnsson. If Toronto gets into any high profile bidding (which seems unlikely), you can be sure some of these names will be discussed.

There is also some NHL experience playing for them at the AHL level, with Martin Marincin and Calvin Pickard big parts of the dominant Toronto Marlies team. Marincin has had his chance with the Maple Leafs and blown it, Pickard has barely played for the team since being acquired from the Vegas Golden Knights earlier in the year. If any team feels they can turn one of them into a playoff performer, the pair of 25-year old second-round picks—or fellow AHL goaltender Garret Sparks—could be included in a potential deal.

Five Players To Watch For: F Josh Leivo, F Nikita Soshnikov, F Dominic Moore, G Calvin Pickard, D Martin Marincin

Team Needs

1) Defensive Depth: Travis Dermott has made an immediate impact on the Maple Leafs, and looks poised to stay in the lineup down the stretch and into the playoffs. While he’s locked down the left side on the third pair, the right side is still a rotating door. Connor Carrick and Roman Polak have each struggled at times, and could be supplanted if another option becomes available. The ability of Dermott, Morgan Rielly and Ron Hainsey to play their off-side makes it possible for the Maple Leafs to acquire whoever they want.

2) Fourth-Line Center: Similar to the acquisition of Brian Boyle last season, the Maple Leafs could still use an upgrade in their fourth-line center role. Though Moore has been effective the last few weeks, the team is still razor thin at the position and would likely have to move Patrick Marleau or William Nylander to the middle if faced with injury. That’s not an ideal situation, so it wouldn’t be surprising to see Toronto add another body down the middle before February 26th.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

Deadline Primer: New York Rangers

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With the trade deadline fast approaching, we will be taking a closer look at the situation for each team. Where do they stand, what do they need to do, and what assets do they have to fill those needs? Next up is a look at the New York Rangers.

The New York Rangers still sit just a few points out of a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, but have made it clear to fans that they’re ready to build towards the future. Changes are coming, and they could extremely alter the composition of the team for the remainder of the season. Everyone seems available in New York, including most of the leadership group.

Record

27-24-5, eighth in Metropolitan Division

Deadline Status

Seller

Deadline Cap Space

$3.63MM full-season cap hit, 0/3 retained salary transactions, 48/50 contracts per CapFriendly

Draft Picks

2018: NYR 1st, NYR 2nd, NYR 3rd, NYR 4th, NYR 5th, NYR 6th
2019: NYR 1st, NYR 2nd, NYR 3rd, NYR 4th, NYR 5th, NYR 6th, NYR 7th

Trade Chips

Ryan McDonaghThe Rangers are selling off everything that’s not tied down, and that starts first and foremost with Rick Nash and Michael Grabner. Both forwards are unrestricted free agents at the end of the year, and should bring back a pretty penny for New York at the deadline. Nash is reportedly being pursued by the Nashville Predators and Dallas Stars among others, while Grabner’s low cap hit could make him a target for virtually any playoff contender.

Beyond that, Mats Zuccarello, Kevin Hayes and J.T. Miller will all bring their fair number of interested parties, while Ryan McDonagh could be the best defenseman available in the next two weeks. The Rangers captain has one year left on his deal after this season, and can legitimately be pushed into a top pairing without issue.

Trading rentals is one thing, but there could be an appetite from the Rangers front office to wait on any potential McDonagh deal until the summer when almost all the teams in the league could show interest. If he isn’t traded in the next two weeks, he’ll be a player to keep an eye on in June as we head towards the draft.

Five Players To Watch For: F Rick Nash, F Michael Grabner, D Nick Holden, F David Desharnais, D Ryan McDonagh

Team Needs

1) Draft Picks: For four straight years between 2013-2016, the Rangers table waited patiently while the first round of the NHL draft took place. In two of those years they didn’t make a pick until the third round, and it has shown in their prospect development. Last year, all that turned around when they kept their own pick and traded Derek Stepan and Antti Raanta for the seventh-overall selection. Now, they’ll look to select another few times in the first 60 picks if they can, and really kick-start the rebuild. All of the trades will likely include some kind of draft capital, as the Rangers aren’t looking for a quick flip to contention next season but a real rebuild.

2) Quickness: Second, the team has made it clear that they want to get fast. As the NHL moves further and further away from lumbering, physical players and towards smaller, skilled talents, the Rangers believe they can find success with a faster lineup. It’s not that they don’t already have some speed in their group, but mobility will be at the top of the list in any young talent acquired, both on offense and defense.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

Deadline Primer: Dallas Stars

at CDT | by 2 Comments

With the trade deadline fast approaching, we will be taking a closer look at the situation for each team. Where do they stand, what do they need to do, and what assets do they have to fill those needs? Next up is a look at the Dallas Stars.

The 2016-17 season didn’t go as planned for the Dallas Stars, finishing 30 points behind their pace from the previous year and missing the playoffs entirely. Now, with a new coach and important offseason additions, the club is back in the playoff race and looking to buy at the deadline.

Record

33-20-4, fourth in Central Division

Deadline Status

Buyer

Deadline Cap Space

$4.1MM full-season cap hit, 0/3 retained salary transactions, 41/50 contracts per CapFriendly

Draft Picks

2018: DAL 1st, DAL 2nd, DAL 3rd, DAL 4th, CHI 4th, DAL 5th, DAL 6th, DAL 7th
2019: DAL 1st, DAL 2nd, DAL 3rd, DAL 4th, PIT/MIN 4th*, DAL 5th, DAL 6th, DAL 7th

*Dallas will receive the earlier of the two picks

Jason SpezzaTrade Chips

Even after acquiring players like Ben Bishop and Marc Methot last offseason, the Stars head into the trade deadline with a full cupboard of draft picks. That, paired with a very interesting prospect group headlined by third-overall selection Miro Heiskanen, sets the Stars up well to be one of the preeminent buyers over the next few weeks and again in June.

It seems unlikely that the team would dangle Heiskanen or other top prospects like Riley Tufte, Jason Robertson or Jake Oettinger in trade for a piece at the deadline, but there could be some names off the roster that would be interesting for teams looking for NHL options. Brett Ritchie hasn’t been able to find the same level of play he showed last season when he scored 16 goals, but is still a big body on a reasonable contract. Second-round pick Remi Elie hasn’t quite found his form in professional hockey, but is still just 22 and has shown flashes of the hard-working, puck-protecting winger he was in junior.

There is also the case of Jason Spezza, who has had an extremely up-and-down season. At one point made a healthy scratch by new head coach Ken Hitchcock, Spezza is still an excellent faceoff man and has 24 points on the year. He comes with another year at $7.5MM and a ten team no-trade list, but if Dallas decided to retain some salary they could perhaps move him to open up some ice time for their younger players.

Five Players To Watch For: F Brett Ritchie, F Devin Shore, F Jason Spezza, F Jason Dickinson, F Remi Elie

Team Needs

1) Middle-Six Winger: The Stars have built a solid defensive core with their top two pairings, and Methot is expected back in the lineup soon. Instead of looking at the defense, they’re after another wing option that can contribute offensively. Linked to Rick Nash recently, they could look for a less expensive option if the rental prices get out of control.

2) Depth Center: If the team doesn’t believe Spezza can handle a matchup role in the playoffs, they could look to add another option down the middle. Martin Hanzal hasn’t been the offensive performer they’d hoped even when he’s been healthy, and despite Radek Faksa’s emergence he’s still relatively unproven. Adding a bottom-six center with playoff experience could be helpful as the Stars try to make and then contend in the Stanley Cup chase.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

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