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Deadline Primer 2019

Deadline Primer: New Jersey Devils

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With the trade deadline now just hours away, we wrap up our team-by-team breakdown with an assessment of the New Jersey Devils.

After a surprise run to the playoffs last season, expectations were reasonably high for the Devils coming into the season.  However, things have not gone well.  Taylor Hall has missed considerable time due to injury while their goaltending has been a major concern.  As a result, they will find themselves on the outside looking in at the postseason and will be looking to add some future assets over the coming hours.

Record

24-30-8, eighth in the Metropolitan Division

Deadline Status

Seller

Deadline Cap Space

$66.264MM in a full-season cap hit, 0/3 used salary cap retention slots, 46/50 contracts per CapFriendly

Upcoming Draft Picks

2019: NJ 1st, NJ 2nd, NSH 2nd, ANA 3rd, DAL 3rd, NJ 4th, NJ 5th, NJ 6th, NJ 7th
2020: NJ 1st, NJ 2nd, NJ 3rd, NJ 4th, NJ 5th, NJ 6th, NJ 7th

Trade Chips

Winger Marcus Johansson is another player that has dealt with injury troubles this season but he has been healthy (and quite productive) as of late.  Over the past month, he has six goals and six assists in 13 games and accordingly, reports have indicated that there is considerable interest in the 28-year-old.  Johansson, a pending unrestricted free agent, carries a cap hit of just under $4.6MM so it wouldn’t be surprising to see the Devils have to retain on his contract in order to maximize their return.  He isn’t among the top names available today but as a secondary scorer, he could make an important impact on a contender.  TSN’s Darren Dreger reports (Twitter link) that the asking price is a second-round pick.

Pavel Zacha is still just 21 but has yet to live up to his draft billing and even spent some time in the AHL earlier in the year before his waiver exemption ran out.  Accordingly, the pending RFA is a potential candidate to move in a swap of players that could benefit from a change of scenery.  Veteran winger Drew Stafford is a pending free agent and if there’s any interest in him, he’ll likely be on the move.  Winger Stefan Noesen has struggled to stay healthy this season and looks like a potential non-tender candidate with a $1.725MM qualifying offer due in June so it could be a case of moving him for something over potentially losing him for nothing in June.

Five Players To Watch For: F Marcus Johansson, F Stefan Noesen, F Drew Stafford, D Egor Yakovlev, F Pavel Zacha

Team Needs

1) Defense: While the Devils have made moves to upgrade their back end in recent years (such as adding Sami Vatanen and Will Butcher), it’s an area that still needs improvement both in terms of their current roster as well as their future depth.  If New Jersey looks to add already-drafted prospects instead of draft picks in their dealings today, expect them to prioritize adding blueline help.

2) Winger Depth: Beyond Hall, Kyle Palmieri, and to a lesser extent Jesper Bratt, there isn’t much firepower on the wing.  This is an area that could typically be addressed via free agency but New Jersey hasn’t had a lot of luck in that regard as of late.  Accordingly, it wouldn’t be entirely surprising to see them try to address that via the trade route.  That may be more of an offseason move but if a buy-low candidate presents itself, it wouldn’t be surprising to see GM Ray Shero look to add here.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Deadline Primer: New York Rangers

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With the trade deadline almost here, we continue our 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?  As we continue previewing the Metropolitan Division, here is a look at the New York Rangers.

2018-19 hasn’t been the best of seasons for the Rangers but they were certainly ready for it after announcing their long-term rebuilding plans last year.  While they haven’t had a ton of success in the standings, several young players have had strong campaigns so it has been a decent season from a development perspective.  Even so, their situation is well-defined as they’ll be continuing to sell off assets.

Record

27-26-9, seventh in the Metropolitan Division

Deadline Status

Seller

Deadline Cap Space

$11.971MM in a full-season cap hit, 2/3 used salary cap retention slots, 43/50 contracts per CapFriendly

Upcoming Draft Picks

2019: NYR 1st, DAL 2nd*, NYR 2nd, TB 2nd^, NYR 3rd, NYR 5th, NYR 6th
2020: NYR 1st, NYR 2nd, DAL 3rd*, NYR 3rd, NYR 4th, NYR 5th, NYR 6th, NYR 7th, NSH 7th, VAN 7th

* – If Dallas wins two playoff rounds this year, the 2019 conditional pick becomes a first rounder.  If Mats Zuccarello re-signs with Dallas, the 2020 conditional pick becomes a first rounder.

^ – If Tampa Bay wins the Stanley Cup this season, this pick becomes a first rounder.

Trade Chips

Kevin Hayes is known to be on the market and has sat the last two games in advance of a move.  The pending unrestricted free agent is in the midst of a career year and has already collected 14 goals and 28 assists in just 51 games while averaging nearly 20 minutes of ice time per game.  He is believed to be the best rental center available for trade after failing to come to terms on a long-term contract extension.  He has a $5.175MM cap hit and salary this season and was seeking a notable raise on a long-term deal to stay with the Rangers.  That might make it tricky for an acquiring team to sign an extension right away so similar to the Zuccarello deal, it’s likely there will be a 2020 draft pick that’s contingent on whether or not Hayes signs with the acquiring team.

The rental market isn’t very deep for defense which makes Adam McQuaid a little more appealing.  The Rangers acquired the veteran back in September for fourth and seventh rounders (along with depth blueliner Steven Kampfer) and given the lack of options, there’s a decent chance that New York will be able to match or even beat that return.

Winger Chris Kreider and defenseman Brady Skjei have also garnered a lot of interest but the odds of dealing them are lower.  Kreider has another year left on his deal and may make more sense as an offseason move while Skjei is in the first season of a six-year, $31.5MM contract and hasn’t had the best of seasons.  It would take a substantial offer for either to move.  Wingers Vladislav Namestnikov and Jimmy Vesey have also been in speculation and may have a better chance to move.

Five Players To Watch For: F Kevin Hayes, D Adam McQuaid, F Vladislav Namestnikov, D Rob O’Gara, F Jimmy Vesey

Team Needs

1) Top Defense Prospects: The Rangers have added quite a few young defenders already in trades (plus two more with first-round picks in June) but none of them really project to be top-pairing players.  While the sheer quantity of their additions will give them some NHL assets, they could really stand to dangle some of those along with a veteran or two in the hopes of adding someone that should be able to lock down a top-four spot in the near future.

2) Young Wingers: With Mika Zibanejad and rookies Brett Howden, Filip Chytil, and Lias Andersson, the center position in New York is in solid shape for the future.  The depth on the wing isn’t as strong.  While there are some young players in that group already, again, none really project as top-end players aside from 2018 first-rounder Vitali Kravtsov, who is still a little while away from being NHL-ready.  Whether it’s with their upcoming draft picks or their pending trades, that’s something they’re likely going to address in the near future.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Deadline Primer: Philadelphia Flyers

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With the trade deadline now just days away, we continue our look at the deadline situation for each team.  Where do they stand, what do they need to do, and what assets do they have to fill those needs?  As we continue previewing the Metropolitan Division, here is a look at the Philadelphia Flyers.

It has been a weird season in Philadelphia.  They’ve changed the GM, changed the coach, and while they haven’t made a bunch of significant roster changes, they were on quite the run to get themselves within striking distance of a playoff spot.  That is, until this week where they lost badly in two straight games.  As a result, their fortune doesn’t appear to be fully set with the deadline now less than 72 hours away.

Record

28-26-7, sixth in the Metropolitan Division

Deadline Status

Seller

Deadline Cap Space

$37.608MM in a full-season cap hit, 1/3 used salary cap retention slots, 46/50 contracts per CapFriendly

Upcoming Draft Picks

2019: PHI 1st, PHI 2nd, NJ 3rd, PHI 3rd, PHI 4th, PHI 5th, ARI 6th, PHI 6th, MTL 7th, PHI 7th
2020: PHI 1st, PHI 2nd, PHI 3rd, PHI 4th, PHI 5th, PHI 6th, PHI 7th

Trade Chips

Winger Wayne Simmonds has been a very productive member of the Flyers since the 2011-12 season.  In that span, he has become one of the more prominent power forwards in the league while showing a pretty consistent scoring touch.  However, it appears that his days in Philadelphia are pretty much numbered.  It doesn’t appear as if progress on a contract extension have been made (with either of their GMs this season) as there is some concern over the term of the deal that the 30-year-old is seeking.  While that matters in terms of free agency, it doesn’t matter as much for his short-term future as there will be no shortage of suitors for his services.  He will be one of the more prominent players to move by February 25th.

Goaltending has been an area of concern for Philadelphia for most of the season although Carter Hart’s play is certainly cause for optimism.  However, with the acquisition of Cam Talbot, there doesn’t appear to be a spot for Brian Elliott for the rest of the season.  Now healthy, he’s a candidate to be moved for teams in need of goalie depth.  If Michal Neuvirth was healthy, he’d be here too.  If they have plans on extending Talbot, that could make Alex Lyon available as well.

In terms of other skaters, winger Michael Raffl could be interesting as a buy-low candidate.  He can play both wings and while his production is down this season, he’s only a year removed from scoring 13 goals.  Teams looking for a bit more pop from their fourth line could turn to him.

Five Players To Watch For: G Brian Elliott, G Alex Lyon F Michael Raffl, F Wayne Simmonds, F Mike Vecchione

Team Needs

1) Scoring Wingers: With Simmonds likely to be on the move, they’re going to have a vacancy that needs to be filled long-term.  Finding someone that can help 2017 number two pick Nolan Patrick take his game to another level is also going to be a priority.  It’s unlikely that the Flyers will look to address this now given that they’re going to be sellers but they may look to bring in a young winger or two to experiment with in the short-term before looking to the trade market or free agency this summer.

2) Make Room For The Youth: Phillipe Myers was recently recalled but he has seen minimal playing time since then.  Samuel Morin is on his conditioning stint and should be back soon.  These blueliners are key parts of the Flyers future but right now, there isn’t a regular top-six spot for them.  There has been some speculation regarding the likes of Shayne Gostisbehere and Radko Gudas in recent weeks but a move involving them may be easier to make over the summer which doesn’t do anything to solve the looming logjam.  If it isn’t addressed now, watch for it to happen closer to the draft.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Deadline Primer: Carolina Hurricanes

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With the trade deadline just days away, we continue our look at the situation for each team over the coming weeks.  Where do they stand, what do they need to do, and what assets do they have to fill those needs?  As we continue with the Metropolitan Division, here is a look at the Carolina Hurricanes.

In less than 100 hours, the 2019 NHL Trade Deadline will come and go. While there are many deals still to be made, most teams have at least decided if they are buying, selling, or sitting out at the deadline. Perhaps the one team still waiting to make that call are the Carolina Hurricanes, and for good reason.

Tuesday night was a rough result for the Hurricanes. The team fell to the non-playoff New York Rangers, while the Pittsburgh Penguins and Montreal Canadiens both picked up wins. Carolina now trails both of those teams by three points, while the Columbus Blue Jackets occupy the final wild card spot with a one-point lead and a game in hand on the Hurricanes. Despite their strong play of late, Carolina looks like the first team out in the Eastern Conference right now. Of course, that can change before the deadline. The ‘Canes have a winnable match-up tonight against the Florida Panthers, followed by a tougher test against the Dallas Stars on Saturday. How they perform, as well as the results for the Blue Jackets, Penguins, and Canadiens, before Monday will inform their deadline decision.

Carolina holds the NHL’s longest playoff drought of nine years and desperately would like to make the playoffs. At the same time, they are a young team who could really use the return on any trade assets if the postseason doesn’t look realistic. It’s a difficult choice to make, but where they sit in the playoff race after the next few days could cause them to lean one way or another or, perhaps the most likely outcome, no way at all.

Record

31-23-6, fifth in the Metropolitan Division

Deadline Status

TBD

Deadline Cap Space

$76.26MM in full-season cap hit, 1/3 used salary cap retention slots, 43/50 contracts per CapFriendly

Upcoming Draft Picks

2019: CAR 1st, BUF 2nd, CAR 2nd, CAR 3rd, CAR 4th, CAR 5th, CAR 6th, CGY 6th, BOS 7th
2020: CAR 1st, CAR 2nd, BUF 3rd, CAR 3rd, CAR 4th, CAR 5th, BUF 6th, CAR 6th, CAR 7th

Trade Chips

With their status at the deadline still so uncertain, chances are the Hurricanes will be involved in both the buyers’ and sellers’ markets, but could very well choose to do nothing at all. For discussion’s sake though, let’s say the Hurricanes decide to sell. Of the two options, selling is more probable as there are no pieces that Carolina could move that would automatically end their push for the postseason. The one player who would certainly be on the move is impending UFA power forward Micheal Ferland. Ferland, acquired from the Calgary Flames in the off-season, has been excellent in Carolina and is in fact on pace for a career high in points. However, Ferland seems destined to test the free agent market and the recent acquisition of Nino Niederreiter has made his departure manageable. Carolina would miss Ferland’s contributions down the stretch this season, but are prepared for life without him and would likely land a nice return if they chose to trade him. Several contenders are in search of grit and offense at this time of the year and Ferland checks both boxes.

Ferland is the only impending UFA skater thought to have any value on the trade market. Captain Justin Williams is not available and Greg McKegg has been a serviceable player that is more valuable to the ’Canes as a depth option than any low-end return might be. However, goaltenders are a different story. Both Curtis McElhinney and Petr Mrazek are impending free agents and both have performed well this season, especially McElhinney. With Scott Darling still under contract next year, young Alex Nedeljkovic in consideration, and a strong goalie free agent class, it’s unclear if McElhinney or Mrazek will be back in Raleigh next season. With that in mind, the Hurricanes may be willing to part with one or the other at the deadline if the right offer presents itself. It goes without saying that if the team could move Darling, they would.

Elsewhere in the lineup, there continues to be speculation that the Hurricanes would like to deal from a position of strength on defense. With Dougie Hamilton, Justin Faulk, Brett Pesce, and Trevor van Riemsdyk on the roster, Carolina is flush with talented right-shot defenders. Chances are one will be dealt at some point soon. However, it will be in a hockey trade, with the ‘Canes getting a top-nine forward back in return. Such trades are uncommon at the deadline, so don’t hold out hope that the team will be make such a move before the off-season.

What if the Hurricanes are buyers? Then the list of trade chips is a slightly more extensive. Charlotte Checkers defensemen Haydn Fleury and Roland McKeown continue to wait patiently for roles in Carolina that may never come and the time may have arrived for the Hurricanes to move them in the right deal. The same could be said for another pair of impending RFA’s, forwards Andrew Poturalski and Saku Maenalanen, both of whom have been productive in the minors but underutilized at the top level. This is just the tip of the iceberg of what is an impressive pipeline for the Hurricanes, but as they’re not expected to be major buyers, top names like Martin Necas, Janne Kuokkanen, Jake Bean, and Adam Fox are likely untouchable. Carolina has plenty of draft picks to peddle as well, rather than moving their top prospects

Five Players To Watch For: F Micheal Ferland, G Curtis McElhinney, D Haydn Fleury, D Roland McKeown, F Saku Maenalanen

Team Needs

1) Top-Six Forward: It’s no secret that the Hurricanes desire a top-six forward. The team was in on William Nylander for months before he re-signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs (they could revisit that option this summer) and eventually swung a deal with the Minnesota Wild for Nino Niederreiter. However, scoring is still an issue. This season, only the Dallas Stars and New York Islanders have scored fewer goals per game than Carolina among teams in playoff position. The offense is stagnant at times and has been carried by Sebastian Aho and Teuvo Teravainen all year. Looking ahead, the likely loss of Micheal Ferland could further diminish scoring next season. Although the pipeline is loaded with capable forward in Carolina, the team needs a long-term top-six addition. It remains to be seen if such a player is available at the deadline this year. Expect the ’Canes to kick the tires on Jonathan Huberdeau and Mike Hoffman, as well as the likes of Jason Zucker or Adam Henrique.

2) Value Forwards: If Carolina decides to buy in to playoff run this year, but the prices are too high on a long-term forward acquisition, the team would be better off trying to wait out the market to add some bargains than give up considerable future pieces for top rentals. For example, the idea of an Eric Staal return is great, but not an affordable option for Carolina. Instead, players like Richard Panik, Sven Andrighetto, or Alex Chiasson would come at a much lesser cost and would be less risky acquisitions in light of Carolina’s current playoff position, but would help fill some gaps in the lineup and create some more offense. The Hurricanes may very well stand pat at the deadline, but making even just a minor addition up front could go a long way.

Deadline Primer: Pittsburgh Penguins

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With the trade deadline now just days away, we continue our look at the situation for each team over the coming weeks.  Where do they stand, what do they need to do, and what assets do they have to fill those needs?  As we continue previewing the Metropolitan Division, here is a look at the Pittsburgh Penguins.

The Penguins came into the season as a perceived contender in the Metropolitan.  However, the team has scuffled their way through the first three quarters of the year and are only three points up on a playoff spot.  GM Jim Rutherford has already pulled the trigger on a significant trade already but many expect them to do something else in the coming days but without many trade chips of note, their options could be limited.

Record

32-21-7, third in the Metropolitan Division

Deadline Status

Buyer

Deadline Cap Space

$2.295MM in a full-season cap hit, 1/3 used salary cap retention slots, 45/50 contracts per CapFriendly

Upcoming Draft Picks

2019: PIT 1st, BUF 4th*, PIT 5th
2020: PIT 1st, PIT 3rd, PIT 4th, PIT 5th, PIT 6th, PIT 7th

* –  If Conor Sheary scores 20 goals or 40 points this season or Buffalo trades Matt Hunwick, this pick upgrades to a 2019 third-round pick.  Sheary currently has nine goals and 24 points on the year.

Trade Chips

It’s unlikely that the Penguins will look to subtract too much from their current roster but one player they’d likely be willing to move is winger Tanner Pearson.  While he has performed better with Pittsburgh than he did with Los Angeles earlier this season, the 26-year-old still hasn’t had much of an impact and has just 15 points in 59 games between the two teams.  That’s not great value for someone who is signed through 2020-21 with a $3.75MM AAV.  Finding a way to clear out that contract could open up a lot more flexibility for GM Jim Rutherford to work with but that will be a difficult move to make without either taking a similar contract back or retaining some salary.

One player that isn’t on their roster that is sure to generate some interest is goalie Tristan Jarry.  The three-year extension that Casey DeSmith signed last month all but cemented Jarry’s fate that there isn’t a spot for him long-term in the organization.  He held his own in 26 games with Pittsburgh last season and while his numbers with AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton aren’t among the top goalies in the league, that performance last year will ensure that there is interest in him.  Quite a few teams are on the lookout for young goalies and even more are seeking a cheap backup to allow them to spend more elsewhere.  At 23 with an AAV of $675K through next season, Jarry checks both boxes.

With only three draft picks in the fold for this season, it’s unlikely that they will want to deal any more of those which limits their trade options that much more.

Five Players To Watch For: F Joseph Blandisi, F Teddy Blueger, F Jean-Sebastien Dea, G Tristan Jarry, F Tanner Pearson

Team Needs

1) Defensive Depth: With Olli Maatta out long-term, the Penguins could stand to add some more depth on their back end to hedge against further injury.  Speaking with reporters today (including Jonathan Bombulie of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review), Rutherford indicated that while he’s pleased with the current state of their back end, they could look to add someone.  Worth noting, any addition to their blueline would likely be someone on an expiring contract.

2) Top-Line Winger Consistency: While it’s a positive that Sidney Crosby can play with so many different wingers, it’s an issue that he’s had to deal with a rotation of them on a regular basis.  The team wants to spread out its offense but in doing so, they’ve had their franchise player skating with some players who are better served in middle-six roles along the way.  In a perfect world, adding a right winger that could be a more permanent solution alongside Crosby and Jake Guentzel would be ideal.  They’d need to free up some cap room before trying to do this, however.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Deadline Primer: Columbus Blue Jackets

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With the trade deadline now less than a week away, we continue our look at the situation for each team over the coming weeks.  Where do they stand, what do they need to do, and what assets do they have to fill those needs?  As we continue with the Metropolitan Division, here is a look at the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Next to the Ottawa Senators, no team is under more pressure at the 2019 NHL Trade Deadline than the Columbus Blue Jackets. The team has decisions to make on two priority free agents, both of whom appear primed to test the off-season market, in Artemi Panarin and Sergei Bobrovsky. Despite two major players who they may opt to sell, the Blue Jackets also plan to be net buyers at the deadline, giving them a massive presence on both sides of the trade market.

Believe it or not, Columbus is still in search of their first playoff round win in franchise history. The 2000 expansion team has had bad luck in the postseason, so their moves at the deadline will be made with some consideration for the future, but mostly in taking advantage of the present. While the Blue Jackets are within striking distance of the Washington Capitals for second-place in the Metropolitan Division and home ice advantage in the first round, they also are not a lock for a playoff spot. Columbus is currently tied with the Pittsburgh Penguins and Montreal Canadiens in the divisional and wild card races with just one game in hand and are at risk of falling behind the surging Carolina Hurricanes, who are two points back. The team cannot afford to come out of the trade deadline with the same or worse caliber of roster, even if they do trade Panarin or Bobrovsky. Expect some fireworks from the Blue Jackets this week.

Record

33-22-3, third in the Metropolitan Division

Deadline Status

Buyer

Deadline Cap Space

$28.77MM in full-season cap hit, 0/3 used salary cap retention slots, 47/50 contracts per CapFriendly

Upcoming Draft Picks

2019: CLB 1st, CLB 3rd, CLB 4th, CLB 7th
2020: CLB 1st, CLB 2nd, CLB 4th, CLB 5th, CLB 6th, CLB 7th

Trade Chips

There is no trade chip on the block right now that is more valuable than superstar winger Artemi Panarin. Panarin, 27, leads the Blue Jackets in scoring by a wide margin with 67 points through 56 games, which is also good enough for a top-20 mark in the NHL. He is currently on pace for a career-high 96 points, which would be his second straight season of scoring at better than a point-per-game pace and would mark four straight years with 70+ points. Panarin is simply one of the most dangerous offensive players in hockey and his addition would be a complete game-changer for any contender. The question is whether or not Columbus chooses to use him as their “own rental” rather than trade him. It has been reported that Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen will not trade Panarin if the cost to replace him by adding another forward or two will leave the team with little to show for the initial trade. If Columbus can get through the deadline with replacement forward production and significant future building blocks, Panarin will be traded. If not, he stays put.

The odds of Sergei Bobrovsky moving are less likely than the near 50/50 status of Panarin. Although the all-word goaltender seems more likely to depart Columbus as a free agent than Panarin, he is also near impossible to replace at the deadline. Bobrovsky is one three top rentals in net and the other two – Jimmy Howard and Semyon Varlamov – are not guaranteed to be available. The Blue Jackets are not prepared to move an established starter right before the stretch run and postseason without bringing in a suitable replacement. As such, unless a more long-term target emerges, Bobrovsky is unlikely to be traded despite the hype.

Beyond potentially Panarin and Bobrovsky – ironically the only notable UFA’s in the Blue Jackets organization – Columbus is a buyer, not a seller. However, that doesn’t mean that their current roster is untouchable. If Panarin is moved and the Blue Jackets are pursuing top forwards to replace him, talented but ice-cold forward Alexander Wennberg will surely be dangled. Wennberg, 24, is in the second season of a six-year, $29.4MM contract that he has failed to live up to so far. This season has been worse than last, as he has yet to score an even strength goal all season. Even at a cap hit that has not been reflective of his production, some sellers will certainly be intrigued by the 2013 first-rounder’s ceiling. Another young Blue Jackets forward who could be offered up is Sonny Milano, who continues to see limited NHL action despite good AHL production. Young defenseman Gabriel Carlsson, another under-utilized first-round pick, is also a candidate to be traded.

Among their prospect pool, the Blue Jackets may have a tough time avoiding seller demands for first-year pro forward Vitaly Abramov, who has played well in the AHL this season. Arguably the top prospect in the organization, the slick winger has NHL potential and sellers have surely taken notice. Deeper in the pipeline, Columbus will likely hear calls on Swedes Emil Bemstrom and Jonathan Davidsson as well.

Five Players To Watch For: F Artemi Panarin, F Alexander Wennberg, F Sonny Milano, D Gabriel Carlsson, F Vitaly Abramov

Team Needs

1) Top-Six Forwards: The only difference a potential Panarin trade makes is the caliber and number of the forwards that the Blue Jackets will target. There is a clear need for offensive depth beyond the Blue Jackets’ top line of Panarin, Pierre-Luc Dubois, and Cam Atkinson, as no other forward has surpassed 30 points on the year. The power play also needs serious help. If Panarin leaves, the team will need to do their best to replace his production on the top line, likely targeting the top wingers on the market like Mark Stone, Gustav Nyquist, or Mike Hoffman. They will probably look for more affordable top-six options after that. If Panarin stays, the team will still look at top forward options like Matt Duchene, Ryan Dzingel, Mats Zuccarello, and Kevin Hayes. Columbus will be in on nearly every big forward name in the coming days and should add one or two before all is said and done.

2) Defensive Depth: Behind a strong top-four in Columbus are several questions. Can the likes of Scott Harrington, Dean Kukan, and Adam Clendening really hold up down the stretch in a tight playoff race? Or go up against elite competition in the playoffs? The shot side doesn’t really matter so much as the ability, as the Blue Jackets simply need to add a capable veteran defender before the deadline.

3) Draft Picks: When Kekalainen says that he won’t trade Panarin unless the cost of acquiring a replacement would still leave him with a major future piece, that isn’t for nothing. A quick look at the team’s cupboard of draft picks shows how desperate they are in quantity alone. The Blue Jackets currently have just four picks in 2019, likely just one of which will be in the top-75, and are already missing a third-rounder next year. A closer look at the team’s pipeline shows that they lack some game-breaking talent in the system as is, particularly on the blue line. In order to be a buyer, Columbus will further deplete this trade capital. If they do trade Panarin – or Bobrovsky – Kekalainen and company need to make sure that they are going to net some valuable draft picks or prospects in the process.

Deadline Primer: Washington Capitals

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With the trade deadline now less than a week away, we continue our look at the situation for each team over the coming weeks.  Where do they stand, what do they need to do, and what assets do they have to fill those needs?  As we continue previewing the Metropolitan Division, here is a look at the Washington Capitals.

Following their Stanley Cup victory, expectations were high for Washington heading into the season.  However, while they’ve hovered near the top of the Metropolitan Division for most of the year, they’ve yet to really establish themselves as true contenders either.  They’re within striking distance for the division lead but are also only three points up on a playoff spot.  It’s not likely that GM Brian MacLellan will be satisfied with that so expect him to try to shake up the roster over the next week.

Record

32-20-7, second in the Metropolitan Division

Deadline Status

Buyer

Deadline Cap Space

$1.1MM in a full-season cap hit, 0/3 used salary cap retention slots, 48/50 contracts per CapFriendly

Upcoming Draft Picks

2019: WSH 1st, WSH 2nd, WSH 3rd, WSH 4th, WSH 7th
2020: WSH 1st, WSH 2nd, WSH 3rd, WSH 4th, WSH 5th, WSH 6th, WSH 7th

Trade Chips

Winger Andre Burakovsky’s name has been in trade speculation for months and remains their likeliest trade chip.  While he’s only a couple of years removed from picking up a respectable 35 points in 64 games, he has steadily worked his way down the depth chart since then to the point where he’s averaging a career low in ice time and is logging just over 11 minutes a night.  He’s still rather young having turned 24 earlier this month so between that and his previous success, there should be teams that have some interest.  However, the fact that he’s owed a $3.25MM qualifying offer this summer may limit that interest.  If MacLellan has eyes on adding anyone of significance over the next week though, Burakovsky will need to be moved.

As for others that could be in play, there has been a rotation on Washington’s fourth line all season long and winger Dmitrij Jaskin has often been the odd one out.  He was a regular in St. Louis last year and plays with a physical edge which could interest teams looking to add some grit for the stretch run.  With a $1.1MM cap hit, swapping him out for someone a bit cheaper would give the Capitals some much-needed wiggle room on the cap as well.  Winger Riley Barber cleared waivers at the start of the season but has been quite productive with AHL Hershey.  He’s eligible for Group Six unrestricted free agency in the summer so there may be a team that decides they’d like to take a look at him and assess his NHL upside over the final few weeks of the season.

Five Players To Watch For: F Riley Barber, F Andre Burakovsky, F Shane Gersich, F Dmitrij Jaskin, D Tyler Lewington

Team Needs

1) Cap Space: Before even considering their needs, Washington needs to have some cap space to fill them.  Right now, they can add a cheap depth player and nothing more.  While that might be enough to add to their back end, that’s not going to be enough to push them forward and help secure a top-three spot in the division.  That’s what makes Burakovsky likely to move as simply shedding his contract should free up enough cap room to add someone of significance.  Looking ahead to next year, with nearly $69MM tied up in 14 players already, finding a way to add a bit more flexibility for 2019-20 wouldn’t be a bad idea either.

2) Offensive Winger: Washington is in good shape down the middle with Nicklas Backstrom, Evgeny Kuznetsov, and Lars Eller as their top three centers.  However, their depth on the wing isn’t as strong.  Brett Connolly is having a career year but he’s better off in a tertiary scoring role rather than being utilized in the top six.  Finding someone to fill that right wing spot and push Connolly down the lineup would certainly help improve an already strong attack.  This was the role they envisioned for Burakovsky but he hasn’t been able to fill it consistently.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Deadline Primer: New York Islanders

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With the trade deadline fast approaching, we continue our look at the situation for each team over the coming weeks. Where do they stand, what do they need to do, and what assets do they have to fill those needs? As we continue with the Metropolitan Division, here is a look at the New York Islanders.

The New York Islanders are under new management and new general manager Lou Lamoriello has made a name for himself over the years with numerous big deals at the trade deadline during his time with New Jersey and Toronto. The question is whether Lamoriello intends to making a big move with his team being atop the Metropolitan Division.

The team has a core of pending unrestricted free agents who Lamoriello may or may not bring back next season and a number of impressive prospects that are either on the team or sitting with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers of the AHL and has plenty of cap space to work with. Besides Mathew Barzal, the team still lacks a defining core to work and could use another big-name player or two to give the team several faces to the franchise, which is where the deadline could come in. The real question is do the Islanders want to take the chance of possibly damaging the chemistry the team has created so far this year under head coach Barry Trotz.

Record

35-17-6, first in the Metropolitan Division

Deadline Status

Serious to moderate buyer

Deadline Cap Space

$46.12MM in full-season cap hit, 0/3 used salary cap retention slots, 45/50 contracts per CapFriendly

Upcoming Draft Picks

2019: NYI 1st, CAL 2nd, NYI 5th, NYI 6th, NYI 7th
2020: NYI 1st, NYI 2nd, NYI 3rd, NYI 4th, NYI 5th, NYI 6th, NYI 7th

Trade Chips

The team has a number of players it could package to a team for a big-name player as the team has five significant players who are approaching unrestricted free agency in the summer, including Jordan Eberle, Brock Nelson, Anders Lee, Valtteri Filppula and goaltender Robin Lehner. That doesn’t mean the team has any intention of trading even one of those players. That also doesn’t mean the team won’t let them walk away in free agency either. In fact, there is little known about what the team intends to do before next season and knowing what we know about Lamoriello, the team will make significant changes to their team before the start of next season. However, if Lamoriello intends to make a deal, those five could potentially be part of any package. One interesting storyline is Lehner, who is having a comeback season after struggling greatly in Buffalo and dealing with alcoholism. However, does the franchise feel that he is worthy of a long-term deal or could Lehner be used to work out a deal for a Sergei Bobrovsky?

The team also has a number of young players who could be sent out as well, including Michael Dal Colle, Kieffer Bellows, Joshua Ho-Sang, Otto Koivula, and Sebastian Aho to name a few and that doesn’t even include the talent they still have sitting in the junior ranks. Bellows could be a significant trade chip as the team’s 2016 first-rounder has had significant success on his way up, but has also had some struggles. He currently has 11 goals as a rookie in the AHL. Ho-Sang, who has showed some offensive flair over the years, hasn’t put it all together and has struggled with his attitude. One other significant asset the team has is a significant amount of cap space and the team could be willing to take on a bad contract or two if that can net them another talent.

Five Players To Watch For: F Keiffer Bellows, F Jordan Eberle, F Joshua Ho-Sang, G Robin Lehner, F Brock Nelson

Team Needs

1) Franchise Player: Other than Barzal, the team lacks that face-of-the-franchise player at the forward position who can take over games for the next eight years. The team does have Josh Bailey under contract for a few more years, but the rest of the top-six will have to be written, whether that includes re-signing some of their own unrestricted free agents or whether they attempt to trade for a player like Artemi Panarin, Matt Duchene, Mark Stone or even someone like Bobrovsky in net.

2) Upgrade on defense: The interesting thing about the Islanders’ defense is that it went from being one of the worst defenses in the league in the 2017-18 season as they allowed 3.57 goals per game (31st in the league) and suddenly the team has totally turned that around in 2018-19 as they have allowed just 2.29 goals per game (first in the league). And that’s with almost no changes on defensive personnel. The team lost defenseman Calvin De Haan, but basically returned the same group from the previous year. Obviously, much of the credit should be given to Trotz, but at the same time, the team needs to consider adding to that defense and improving its blueline like acquiring a Alec Martinez from Los Angeles or Cody Ceci from Ottawa.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Deadline Primer: Ottawa Senators

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With the trade deadline fast approaching, we continue our look at the situation for each team over the coming weeks. Where do they stand, what do they need to do, and what assets do they have to fill those needs? As we continue with the Atlantic Division, here is a look at the Ottawa Senators.

This will be a franchise-changing time for the Ottawa Senators who are in a tough situation with three significant players ready to hit unrestricted free agency in Matt Duchene, Mark Stone and Ryan Dzingel. The team has made it clear it’s trying to get them signed to long-term extensions, but will the team offer appropriate deals to them and do any of the three really want to stay with a franchise that seems intent on being one of the cheapest franchises in the NHL.

If the team can’t get them to sign on the dotted line before the trading deadline, then the team will move them with the real possibility that all three will be moved before the trade deadline and with every passing day, it looks more and more likely that Ottawa and general manager Pierre Dorion will be shipping them off. The team has made it clear they are rebuilding their team, which might be just fine if they hadn’t paid a fortune last season to acquire Duchene from Colorado. In that mega-package for Duchene, the Senators also traded away their first-round pick, which right now (pending a draft lottery) is likely to be the No. 1 overall pick.

Considering that none of the three will agree to a sign-and-trade, Ottawa will be lucky to get a quality return for their three forwards, especially for Duchene and Stone who are two of the most coveted assets on the trade deadline.

Record

21-31-5, eighth in the Atlantic Division

Deadline Status

Major seller

Deadline Cap Space

$30.79MM in full-season cap hit, 1/3 used salary cap retention slots, 48/50 contracts per CapFriendly

Upcoming Draft Picks

2019: OTT 2nd, SJS 2nd*, PIT 3rd, OTT 4th, OTT 5th, OTT 7th, CAL 7th
2020: OTT 1st, SJS 1st, OTT 2nd, OTT 3rd, CBJ 3rd, OTT 4th, OTT 6th, SJS 6th, STL 6th, OTT 7th

* Sharks will give Ottawa the higher of two different picks, their own and the Florida Panthers’ second-rounder.

Trade Chips

As said earlier, the team will attempt to lock up one or two of Duchene, Stone and Dzingel, but if not, the team is ready to move on from them. Stone has received quite a bit of attention as the Winnipeg Jets are rumored to be aggressively pursuing the 26-year-old winger. Fortunately for Stone and the Senators, he’s having a career year as he’s already scored 26 goals and 57 points and looks to be developing into a consistent 30-point scorer for whatever team can eventually sign him.

Duchene himself, should bring a hefty return, although not as much as Ottawa paid for him a season ago. Duchene is also posting big numbers and looks to be heading for a career-year himself as he already has 26 goals and 54 points and should provide many playoff teams with a solid No. 2 center for the stretch run. Dzingel shouldn’t be forgotten either as the 26-year-old is also putting up nice numbers and again, is headed for a career year. Dzingel already has 21 goals and 41 points, and is just two goals of equaling his career-high. While not of the same magnitude as either Stone or Duchene, Dzingel could also bring back a significant return.

The Senators have a number of other players who could find themselves moved as well, including defenseman Cody Ceci. The 25-year-old will be hitting restricted free agency and with a number of young defensemen coming up through the system, the Senators may prefer to trade Ceci and avoid having to pay big money for him. Now that the team has gotten Jean-Gabriel Pageau back from injury, he too could find himself traded as a depth option for a playoff team.

Five Players To Watch For: D Cody Ceci, F Matt Duchene, F Ryan Dzingel, F Jean-Gabriel Pageau, F Mark Stone

Team Needs

1) First-rounders: Without a first-round pick for the upcoming draft, the Ottawa Senators might feel a little better if it could pick up a couple of first-rounders if they end up trading both Duchene and Stone. There is nothing the team can do to get back their own first and they will have to deal with that, especially if the Colorado Avalanche win the draft lottery with Ottawa’s pick. However, even if they can add a couple late first-rounders, that still would look better than having no first-round pick at all. The team does have a couple of second-rounders, but anything they can do to stockpile picks, especially in the first round would only help them.

2) Young NHL-established Players: It already seems like the Senators have a large number of prospects either already on the team, trying to earn more playing time or waiting with the Belleville Senators, waiting for their chance to get called up. While the jury is still out on many of those prospects, the team could easily use some young players who have already broken through to the NHL and might provide even more offense with a new chance and plenty of opportunities in Ottawa. The Senators are rumored to be asking for Jack Roslovic from Winnipeg in any deal involving Stone, but Roslovic is exactly what the team needs — a player who is closing in on 100 NHL games already and is starting to come into his own now. The Senators need more of those types of players to fill the gap that will exist if the lose Stone, Duchene, Dzingel or anyone else they can.

Deadline Primer: Detroit Red Wings

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With the trade deadline fast approaching, we continue our look at the situation for each team over the coming weeks. Where do they stand, what do they need to do, and what assets do they have to fill those needs? As we continue with the Atlantic Division, here is a look at the Detroit Red Wings.

By every metric, the Detroit Red Wings should be total sellers at the deadline and they have a laundry list of notable UFA’s to move. Yet, the team claims they would prefer to re-sign starting goaltender Jimmy Howard, top-six forward Gustav Nyquist, and dependable defenseman Nick Jensen. There is also word that veterans Thomas Vanek and Niklas Kronwall are happy in Detroit and unwilling to waive their No-Trade Clauses. That doesn’t leave much on the table.

In most cases, these rumors could be dismissed as the team simply trying to up the offers on their available rentals. But not in Detroit. The fatal flaw of the current Red Wings franchise and GM Ken Holland is total, unapologetic loyalty to long-time players. If a team says they won’t move someone or will only do so for a first-round pick, this is the one team worth believing. It could be a quiet deadline in Detroit.

Record

23-28-7, seventh in the Atlantic Division

Deadline Status

Moderate Seller

Deadline Cap Space

$5.06MM in full-season cap hit, 0/3 used salary cap retention slots, 48/50 contracts per CapFriendly

Upcoming Draft Picks

2019: DET 1st, DET 2nd, NYI 2nd, DET 3rd, DET 4th, DET 5th, BUF 5th, CLB 5th, DET 6th, DET 7th
2020: DET 1st, DET 2nd, DET 3rd, DET 4th, DET 5th, DET 6th, DET 7th

Trade Chips

Of course, the aforementioned players are the top trade chips that the team has. Howard and Nyquist are having great years and are surely drawing plenty of attention. Will Detroit get the first-round pick they desire to move either? That remains to be seen. Jensen and Kronwall could both step in as a solid bottom-pair addition for a contender, while Vanek would fill his frequent role as a capable depth addition to any forward corps. The fact remains that if any of these players want to stay in Detroit beyond this season, the Red Wings are unlikely to move them, extension in place or not.

So looking elsewhere, Luke Witkowski is a UFA that the Red Wings don’t seem as attached to. The market may be limited for the versatile skater, but if a team wants to take a shot, Detroit will be willing to move on. Recently waived and demoted, Martin Frk is in need of a change of scenery. Frk is a restricted free agent this summer and any number of teams might like to get a look at how he fits in their system down the stretch. The one-dimensional forward is more valuable now that he has cleared waivers and can be sent back and forth. Wade Megan, Dylan McIlrath, Brian Lashoff, and Harri Sateri are all free agents as well who could be targeted as deep depth additions.

The Jonathan Bernier signing looks like a mistake so far and the Red Wings seem eager to re-sign Howard rather than give Bernier the starting job. If another team is willing to take on the remaining two years of Bernier’s contract, Detroit would move him. Luke Glendening is another term player who could be on the move. He is still well-liked by the organization, but if the market is there they could move him. As always, if there was any way to move Justin Abdelkader or Danny DeKeyser, you would think Detroit would pull the trigger. Then again there’s that whole loyalty thing…

Five Players To Watch For: F Gustav Nyquist, D Nick Jensen, F Martin Frk, F Luke Glendening, G Harri Sateri

Team Needs

1) Cap Space: For several years now, the Red Wings have had one of the highest payrolls in the NHL, yet have been one of the league’s worst teams. That’s not a good mix. The flip side of wanting to re-sign top free agents, like Howard and Nyquist, is that you’re not opening up any more cap space. If Detroit wants to be players on the free agent market this summer, they need to try to move out some of their more cumbersome cap hits if possible.

2) Picks and Prospects: The Red Wings have a lot of good talent in the AHL and some others still at the junior and collegiate level. Adding picks, especially 2019 picks in a deep, talented draft class, is always helpful, though. However, there should room for some camp battles next season, particularly up front, so some pro-ready forward prospects would also be helpful.

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