Headlines

Go To MLB Trade Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

Deadline Primer 2020

Trade Deadline Primer: New York Rangers

at CDT | by 5 Comments

With the trade deadline now less than two weeks away, we will be taking a closer 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?  Next up is a look at the New York Rangers.

After landing the biggest fish in free agency and adding the second-overall pick, the New York Rangers were a team to watch this season. While things have gone relatively well, the murderer’s row that is the Metropolitan Division has the team well back of a playoff spot. Even with a winning record and positive goal differential the Rangers sit in seventh place in the packed Metro, meaning selling off expiring assets is the likely goal at the upcoming deadline.

Record

30-24-4, seventh in the Metropolitan Division

Deadline Status

Seller

Deadline Cap Space

$13.68MM in a full-season cap hit, 1/3 used salary cap retention slots, 46/50 contracts per CapFriendly

Upcoming Draft Picks

2020: NYR 1st, NYR 3rd, DAL 3rd, NYR 4th, NYR 5th, NYR 6th, NYR 7th, NSH 7th, VAN 7th
2021: NYR 1st, NYR 2nd, NYR 3rd, BUF 3rd, NYR 4th, OTT 4th, NYR 5th, NYR 6th, NYR 7th

Trade Chips

The name you have to mention first when discussing the Rangers is Chris Kreider, the top rental available this season and the subject of endless speculation. The speedy winger is having another excellent season with 23 goals and 42 points in 57 games while in the final year of his current contract. An unrestricted free agent at season’s end, Kreider still could potentially re-sign with the Rangers to act as a veteran option while the young kids develop, but is easily their best trade chip.

There are a few other interesting forwards on the team however, including heart-and-soul winger Jesper Fast. The 28-year old is also an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season but comes with a more reasonable cap hit of just $1.85MM and would likely draw a much lower price in trade. Fast has just eight goals and 24 points in 57 games, but is still versatile enough that he could be a nice addition to a contender down the stretch.

Pavel Buchnevich and Ryan Strome also may be available for the right price, even if they’re not headed toward UFA status. The former is signed for another season at a $3.25MM cap hit, while the latter will be a restricted free agent with arbitration rights.

The defensive group also holds some interest. The team would likely love to get rid of Marc Staal and Brendan Smith’s contracts, but both would be difficult to move even if they didn’t have trade protection. Anthony DeAngelo could be a different story.

The 24-year old DeAngelo is having an outstanding offensive season with 13 goals and 43 points in 56 games, but had a tough negotiation last summer as an RFA that ended in him agreeing to a one-year contract in late September and will have arbitration rights this year. If the Rangers don’t believe they can sign him to a reasonable long-term deal, perhaps it is best to move on given the presence of Jacob Trouba and Adam Fox on the right side. With such a low cap hit $925K and huge upside, DeAngelo could be expensive in trade.

It would be wrong not to mention the team’s goaltending situation, which still consists of three netminders for the time being. Alexandar Georgiev has been in trade rumors all season long, but it appears as though the Rangers may be content to keep them all through the end of the season and deal with it after the fact.

Five Players To Watch For: F Chris Kreider, F Jesper Fast, F Ryan Strome, D Brady Skjei, D Anthony DeAngelo

Team Needs

1) Close-To-NHL Forwards: The Rangers are past the point of collecting a million draft picks and restocking their system. In fact, some of those young prospects could actually be traded out of the organization in the coming months and years to secure more big league talent. That’s likely what the team is looking for now as they enter a window of playoff contention, spearheaded by the signing of Artemi Panarin last summer. If names like Kreider, Fast and Strome are all moved out, the team will need some more legitimate NHL talent to replace them–though it will have to be young enough to grow with the group.

2) Long-term Cap Space: As referenced above, getting out from under Staal or Smith would be ideal but extremely difficult. That’s why a move of someone like Brady Skjei could instead be the option, freeing up room for some younger prospects and some cap space for the organization. The Rangers are okay right now, but will quickly be looking at a cap crunch as players age out of their entry-level deals. Panarin and Trouba combining for nearly $20MM per season will always put pressure on the front office to avoid bad contracts and find value in the margins.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Trade Deadline Primer: New York Islanders

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

With the trade deadline now less than two weeks away, we will be taking a closer 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?  Next up is a look at the New York Islanders.

The New York Islanders have posted almost exactly the same numbers that they had at this point a year ago. However, the difference this year that the competition in the Eastern Conference is quite a bit more challenging and leaves the Islanders barely holding onto a playoff spot at the moment. However, perhaps the most challenging issue facing the Islanders was the injury to defenseman Adam Pelech. The blueliner never got much attention when healthy, but the top-pairing defenseman is being sorely missed and with Barry Trotz’ lack of faith in rookie Noah Dobson, the other five defenseman have been assuming extra minutes to fill in for Pelech, suggesting the team needs to add some help at that position in the next few days.

Record

33-18-6, third in the Metropolitan Division

Deadline Status

Buyer

Deadline Cap Space

$23.849MM in a full-season cap hit, 0/3 used salary cap retention slots, 48/50 contracts per CapFriendly

Upcoming Draft Picks

2020: NYI 1st, NYI 2nd, NYI 3rd, NYI 4th, NYI 5th, NYI 6th, NYI 7th
2021: NYI 1st, NYI 2nd, NYI 3rd, NYI 4th, NYI 5th, NYI 6th, NYI 7th

Trade Chips

With the team looking to make an impact in the playoffs, it’s unlikely that general manager Lou Lamoriello would consider moving any of his pending unrestricted free agents, which include forwards Matt Martin, Derick Brassard, Tom Kuhnhackl and goaltender Thomas Greiss. That doesn’t leave too many trade chips for the veteran GM to play with.

The team does have all of its draft picks for the next two years and might be willing to move a first or second-rounder to get a deal done and bring over some needed depth. Another key asset is the team’s cap space. They have more than $28MM in cap space, if they need it, and could use that to take on a significant contract from a cap-starved team for a price.

The team also has a large number of prospects coming up the system with many of them already in the AHL. While it’s unlikely that the team moves a top prospect, Trotz as well as Lamoriello, are well known for preferring veterans, which means they might not mind moving a prospect for a significant piece now and with the challenges of recruiting free agents to Long Island, they may have to include a young piece to acquire a player with term. A player like Kieffer Bellows, who was brought up recently likely to showcase his talents, could be an option if the price is right.

Another option would be finding a partner for embattled forward Joshua Ho-Sang. After demanding a trade and sitting out for two and a half months, the 24-year-old forward has played well since returning to the AHL Bridgeport Sound Tigers, scoring two goals and eight points in 12 games. Teams weren’t interested in H0-Sang when the team placed him on waivers, due to his well-known attitude issues, but a team might be willing to take a chance on him now just to see what he has left.

Five Players To Watch For: F Kieffer Bellows, F Michael Dal Colle, F Joshua Ho-Sang, F Tom Kuhnhackl, F Andrew Ladd

Team Needs

1) Veteran defense: With Pelech out and Dobson struggling in his rookie campaign, the Islanders are in desperate need of some veteran depth on their blueline and are extremely likely to add to that position before the trade deadline. While there are quite a few options available to Lamoriello, there are some obvious options, including a player that he is familiar with in Ottawa defenseman Ron Hainsey. With a group of young blueliners ready to step into their NHL lineup, Ottawa may be ready to move Hainsey.

2) Upgrade To Top-Six: While the team is well known for its defense, the Islanders could use an upgrade to their offense. New York has six solid players there, but adding some offense could allow the team to move some of those players to the third line, which hasn’t been that effective this season with the exception of Brassard. Again Lamoriello is quite familiar with Ilya Kovalchuk, who Montreal is considering moving, which might be a perfect fit with the Islanders. The team may also want to bring in a quality top-six player with term left who can be a significant long-term upgrade as well.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Trade Deadline Primer: New Jersey Devils

at CDT | by 2 Comments

With the trade deadline now less than two weeks away, we will be taking a closer 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?  Next up is a look at the New Jersey Devils.

It’s been quite a disappointing season for the New Jersey Devils who looked to be a contender before the season started. The team was planning to do everything it could to prove to soon-to-be free-agent Taylor Hall that they would be contenders. They struck the jackpot at the draft, netting top pick Jack Hughes and then traded for defenseman P.K. Subban and KHL star Nikita Gusev, while signing Wayne Simmonds as a free-agent. However, it all backfired as all of their offseason acquisitions have struggled and Hall, in the meantime, has been traded to Arizona, while general manager Ray Shero has been fired as well. With the team looking to undergo a rebuild, the team are extremely likely to move on from a number of players at the trade deadline.

Record

21-26-10, eighth in the Metropolitan Division

Deadline Status

Seller

Deadline Cap Space

$28.697MM in a full-season cap hit, 1/3 used salary cap retention slots, 45/50 contracts per CapFriendly

Upcoming Draft Picks

2020: NJ 1st, ARZ 1st*, NJ 4th, BOS 4th, NJ 5th, NJ 6th, NJ 7th
2021: NJ 1st, NJ 3rd, ARZ 3rd**, NJ 4th, NJ 5th, NJ 6th

* If Arizona’s pick falls in the top three, then the Devils will get Arizona’s 2021 first-round pick.
** The 2021 third-round pick is conditional and can upgrade into a second-round pick if Arizona wins a playoff round this year or if Taylor Hall re-signs with the Coyotes.

Trade Chips

The team isn’t overloaded with pending UFAs, but one name that is likely to garner significant attention is defenseman Sami Vatanen. The blueliner is in the final year of his contract and with the rate that defensemen are getting injured, Vatanen’s price could be rising. The 28-year-old may not post big offensive numbers, but he is a solid second-pairing defenseman, who is averaging 21:45 of ice time with the Devils and should be able to offer a significant upgrade to many playoff teams. Vatanen has five goals and 23 points, which is pretty good for the blueliner, but also adds some physicality with 80 hits already this year to go with 50 blocked shots. Unfortunately for the Devils, bad timing hits as well, as Vatanen was placed on injured reserve with an undisclosed injury on Thursday. However, he is eligible to come off whenever he is ready, so the team hopes he may be back on the ice on Sunday or soon thereafter, which shouldn’t limit his trade value.

The team also is likely to consider moving Simmonds, who signed just a one-year deal with the Devils, and could provide a team with some bottom-six depth. While his skills have declined significantly over the last few years, the 31-year-old still can give a playoff team some much-needed physicality, although his $5MM price tag could be a challenge for many playoff teams to take on, although New Jersey does have the cap space to retain half of Simmonds salary, making a $2.5MM contract more palatable. His leadership skills in the locker room shouldn’t be dismissed either. Simmonds has just seven goals and 23 points this season, but does have 120 hits this season.

Andy Greene’s $5MM expiring contract is another option for playoff teams looking for a veteran blueliner who could make a difference in the playoffs. Once again, the Devils could retain half his salary if needed, but even at $2.5MM, several teams may balk at that. However, despite already being 37 years old, Greene could give a team a top penalty killing blueliner and play between 20-22 minutes a game, making him a valuable commodity.

Five Players To Watch For: F Blake Coleman, D Andy Greene, F Kyle Palmieri, F Wayne Simmonds, D Sami Vatanen

Team Needs

1) Draft Picks: While the Hall trade brought back a first and a conditional third-round pick (which could become a second in 2021), the Devils moved several picks, including two second-rounders for Subban and a second and a third-rounder for Gusev, leaving the team that is looking to rebuild with a shortage of draft picks. That likely will be their top focus.

2) Young Players: The team is building around their two star centers in Nico Hischier and Hughes, so they need to find as many young players and prospects who can step in as soon as possible to hasten the team’s rebuild. Especially if the Devils trade off a number of their players, New Jersey will have to replace them as quickly as possible.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Trade Deadline Primer: Columbus Blue Jackets

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

With the trade deadline now less than two weeks away, we will be taking a closer 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?  Next up is a look at the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Columbus paid a steep price to ultimately pick up their first playoff series victory last season and that price tag stung even more as Sergei Bobrovsky, Matt Duchene, and Artemi Panarin were among those to leave in free agency.  The reset was in full effect.  Or so it seemed.  To the surprise of many, the Blue Jackets are presently in a playoff spot despite a lengthy list of injuries to several key players that have them carrying an active roster with a combined cap hit of just under $50MM.  For reference, that’s more than $10MM below the Lower Limit of the salary cap.  All of a sudden, they’re going to be a team to keep an eye on at the deadline.

Record

30-18-11, fourth in the Metropolitan Division

Deadline Status

Light Buyer

Deadline Cap Space

$26.168MM in a full-season cap hit, 0/3 used salary cap retention slots, 47/50 contracts per CapFriendly

Upcoming Draft Picks

2020: CBJ 1st, CBJ 4th, CBJ 5th, CBJ 6th, CBJ 7th
2021: CBJ 1st, CBJ 3rd, CBJ 4th, CBJ 5th, CBJ 6th, CBJ 7th

Trade Chips

With a team that’s on the bubble, sometimes they can buy and sell so this would be normally a spot to discuss their pending unrestricted free agents.  However, they don’t have any on the active roster.

So let’s shift the focus elsewhere.  Winger Josh Anderson is slated to become a restricted free agent with salary arbitration eligibility this summer.  He has already had one lengthy contract standoff with the team as his current deal was signed in early October in 2017 just before the season got underway.  The 25-year-old is only a year removed from a 27-goal season that made it look like he was one of the rising power forwards in the NHL.  However, he has struggled to stay healthy this season and hasn’t played well when he has been in the lineup, collecting just a single goal with four assists in 26 games this season.  With his previous track record, there would certainly be interest in him now but a likelier move may be in the summer.

When speaking about injured players, Ryan Murray’s name has to come up as well.  Before he suffered his latest lower-body injury, he had been made available around the league.  But since he’s out of the lineup, the odds of him moving now are lower even if he is still available.

Most of their realistic trade chips are either going to be mid-round draft picks or prospects.  Rookie winger Trey Fix-Wolansky isn’t the biggest but he had a track record of production in the WHL and is off to a good start in his first AHL campaign. Center Ryan MacInnis made his NHL debut this season and is having his best year in the minors which could attract some interest from a team looking for a closer to NHL-ready player.  Winger Paul Bittner, once viewed as a quality prospect, has struggled this season and could benefit from a change of scenery.  Winger Carson Meyer is wrapping up his college career and could be a player to watch for on the August 15th free agent market if not signed by the Blue Jackets.  If someone thinks he’s worth a contract, his rights could be included in a trade.

Goaltender Matiss Kivlenieks is also one to keep an eye on.  He has looked decent in three appearances with Columbus this season and his AHL numbers are reasonable.  With Elvis Merzlikins and Joonas Korpisalo looking like their goalie tandem for the foreseeable future (plus Veini Vehvilainen in the pipeline) he could be expendable to a team looking to add a near-term goalie prospect to the system.

Five Players To Watch For: F Josh Anderson, F Paul Bittner, W Trey Fix-Wolansky, G Matiss Kivlenieks, F Ryan MacInnis

Team Needs

1) Scoring Help: Despite being in a Wild Card spot, the Blue Jackets sit 26th in the league in goals scored, the lowest of any team currently holding down a playoff position.  A top-six forward upgrade would be a big improvement but if GM Jarmo Kekalainen wants to hold on to his top picks and prospects this time around, even picking up a third liner that can help their secondary scoring would be a step in the right direction.

2) Defensive Depth: With Murray and Seth Jones on IR, what was a relatively deep defense corps has now been thinned out somewhat.  With both players expected to return this season, they don’t necessarily have to target a top-four player but adding someone that can step onto their third pairing would give them a small boost and some important injury insurance at the same time.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Trade Deadline Primer: Carolina Hurricanes

at CDT | by 1 Comment

With the trade deadline now less than two weeks away, we will be taking a closer 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?  Next up is a look at the Carolina Hurricanes.

There was a time not too long ago when the Hurricanes were annually in a state of limbo at the deadline; close enough to the playoffs to consider buying, but far enough away that they never ended up making it. That’s the exact situation they find themselves in this year as well, sitting just outside the playoff picture in the Eastern Conference. Sure, Carolina has obvious talent and could potentially catch the several of the five Metropolitan teams ahead of them, but a bad week or two could also push them even further down the standings. Still, it appears as though they have at least one thing on their shopping list as the deadline approaches.

Record

32-19-3, sixth in the Atlantic Division

Deadline Status

Hesitant buyer

Deadline Cap Space

$5.56MM in a full-season cap hit, 1/3 used salary cap retention slots, 44/50 contracts per CapFriendly

Upcoming Draft Picks

2020: CAR 1st, TOR 1st*, CAR 2nd, NYR 2nd, CAR 3rd, BUF 3rd, CAR 4th, CAR 7th, TOR 7th
2021: CAR 1st, CAR 2nd, CAR 3rd, CAR 4th, CAR 5th^, CAR 6th, CAR 7th, STL 7th

* – If Toronto’s first-round pick in 2020 is in the top-ten, the Maple Leafs will keep this selection and transfer their first-round choice (unprotected) in 2021 to Carolina as part of the Patrick Marleau trade.

^ –Vegas receives the 2021 5th round draft pick if Erik Haula is on the is on the Hurricanes’ roster past the 2019-20 season, and/or if Carolina trades Haula for one of the following: a player, multiple draft picks, or a draft pick in rounds 1 to 5. If no condition is met, no pick will be transferred.

Trade Chips

The first thing to note about the Hurricanes when assessing their trade deadline ammunition, is how many draft picks they have this year. The team has amassed six selections in the first three rounds that can be used to add to their roster, limiting the amount of talent they would need to move. That’s not to say there aren’t some players potentially on the block however.

Things start with Jake Gardiner, who hasn’t been a very good fit since coming over from Toronto through free agency. The high-risk, high-reward defender has looked better of late, but rumors emerged early on that the team may decide to move on and find a better fit. Trading a defenseman less than a calendar year after signing him wouldn’t be out of the question for the Hurricanes, who parted with Calvin de Haan after just one season in Carolina.

There is also the aforementioned Haula, who is on an expiring contract and has been a healthy scratch this season. The 28-year old missed most of the 2018-19 campaign due to injury but did have a 29-goal season in his first year with the Golden Knights just prior. There would be interest in Haula if was made available.

If they get involved in something big, there are also plenty of interesting prospects in the minor leagues for the Hurricanes to deal from. Ryan Suzuki, Eetu Luostarinen, Dominik Bokk, Julien Gauthier, Janne Kuokkanen and others are all interesting, but it is Jake Bean that perhaps would bring about the most intrigue. The 21-year old defenseman was picked 13th overall in 2016, has dominated in the minor leagues but has still yet to really get an opportunity at the NHL level. You can bet that teams will be asking about him in any trade talks.

Five Players To Watch For: F Erik Haula, D Jake Gardiner, D Jake Bean, F Julien Gauthier, F Janne Kuokkanen

Team Needs

1) Dougie’s Replacement: No, you’re likely not going to find a direct replacement for Dougie Hamilton, who was performing at a Norris Trophy level before he went down to injury. But his absence has only increased the chatter about a defensive change in Carolina. The team has been looking all season, though their needs may have changed a bit from a depth addition to an impact player.

2) Scoring Touch: Somehow, even though Carolina has been working to add to their offense for years, they still lack some real firepower up front. The team scores enough goals as a whole with 181 through the first 56 games—not including the five they currently have tonight—but only Sebastian Aho and Andrei Svechnikov have more than 15 on the year. Nino Niederreiter’s touch around the net has vanished, and Ryan Dzingel is on pace for just 12 goals after scoring 26 last year. Adding a true finisher up front would only make their attack more lethal.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Trade Deadline Primer: Toronto Maple Leafs

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

With the trade deadline now less than two weeks away, we will be taking a closer 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?  Next up is a look at the Toronto Maple Leafs.

As things stand, the Maple Leafs find themselves in the top three in the Atlantic Division, a spot many figured they’d be in at this point of the year.  However, the road they’ve taken to get there has been an interesting one.  Mike Babcock was let go as head coach early in the season while Toronto had been battling a backup goalie crisis between the pipes until recently when they picked up Jack Campbell.  While they filled an important spot with that swap, they will likely be looking to do more before the deadline strikes.

Record

30-20-8, third in the Atlantic Division

Deadline Status

Buyer

Deadline Cap Space

$5.834MM in a full-season cap hit (using LTIR), 1/3 used salary cap retention slots, 49/50 contracts per CapFriendly

Upcoming Draft Picks

2020: TOR 2nd, TOR 4th, CAR 6th, COL 6th, TOR 6th, SJ 7th, STL 7th, WPG 7th
2021: TOR 1st*, TOR 2nd^, TOR 4th, TOR 5th, TOR 6th, TOR 7th

* – If Toronto’s first-round pick in 2020 is in the top-ten, the Maple Leafs will keep this selection and transfer their first-round choice (unprotected) in 2021 to Carolina as part of the Patrick Marleau trade.

^ – Toronto will be required to give up their second-round pick in 2021 to Los Angeles if they re-sign Kyle Clifford or Jack Campbell is credited with six regular season victories with the Maple Leafs.  If one of those happens, they will get back their third-round selection from the Kings.

Trade Chips

Considering their top-paid players are almost certainly off the table plus the fact they’re down three picks in the top five rounds in the draft, Toronto’s options in terms of trade bait are a bit limited.

In terms of NHL assets, winger Kasperi Kapanen plus center Alexander Kerfoot have been speculated as potential trade chips.  It’s not that the Maple Leafs are particularly displeased with them – they’re not – but with their salary scale being what it is, one of the few ways that they can free up cap space is to move one of their medium-salaried players.  Kapanen in particular has come up as he hasn’t fared all that well since the coaching change and at 23 with two years left on his deal at a reasonable $3.2MM AAV, he’s someone that a lot of teams can afford.  The fact that he’ll still be a restricted free agent at the end of his contract certainly helps as well.  Kerfoot, 25, is signed through 2022-23 and will be an unrestricted free agent at that time.  He has shown in recent weeks that he can also play on the wing which could be of interest to some teams as well.  Winger Andreas Johnsson also could have been in the mix here but an injury sustained against Dallas on Thursday, one that head coach Sheldon Keefe indicated wasn’t a short-term one, likely takes him out of the equation.

One prospect to keep tabs on is Jeremy Bracco.  The winger was second in the AHL in points last season but that wasn’t enough to garner him any consideration for a recall with Toronto nor has he received a chance this year.  Accordingly, it was reported last month that he had asked the team to see if there was a better opportunity for him elsewhere.  This is the time of year where organizations will be willing to take a look at someone like this so it wouldn’t be surprising to see him be on the move at some point.  Winger Yegor Korshkov showed well in the preseason and could garner some interest as well.

Beyond that, there are some players on the fringes who could find themselves dealt.  Defenseman Ben Harpur and winger Dmytro Timashov are believed to also have asked to see if there is a better chance to play elsewhere while winger Nic Petan, who has been quite productive in the minors, was made available earlier in the season.  As contenders look to shore up their depth, one of them could be moved if GM Kyle Dubas feels they have enough depth as things stand.

Five Players To Watch For: F Jeremy Bracco, D Ben Harpur, F Alexander Kerfoot, W Yegor Korshkov, W Nic Petan

Team Needs

1) Top-Four Defender: This was something that they likely would have been looking for before the injuries to Morgan Rielly and Cody Ceci but their departures have only made that void that much bigger.  Their ability (or lack thereof) to pursue such an upgrade will ultimately lie with Reilly and Ceci’s health.  If one of them is ruled out for the rest of the regular season, Dubas will be able to really dip into that LTIR reserve.  If not, they’ll be basically forced to try to match money which puts the mid-tier forwards into play.

2) Penalty Killing Forward: Special teams can be critical in the playoffs and as things stand, Toronto would face off with one of Boston or Tampa Bay, teams that are well above average on the power play.  Meanwhile, the penalty kill for the Maple Leafs is below the NHL average this season.  Those teams are tough to shut down entirely but adding a fourth line piece that is particularly adept shorthanded could give them an important upgrade which could come in handy in one of those matchups.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Trade Deadline Primer: Tampa Bay Lightning

at CDT | by 3 Comments

With the trade deadline now less than a month away, we will be taking a closer 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?  Next up is a look at the Tampa Bay Lightning

After a crushing loss in the first round last spring, the Tampa Bay Lightning came back with plenty of question marks. Could they repeat the same outstanding regular season? Would Andrei Vasilevskiy maintain his Vezina performance? Could Nikita Kucherov remain in contention for the Hart Trophy? Early on each of those things did not seem possible, but after really turning up the heat over the last two months they’re challenging for the Atlantic Division crown once again.

Record

37-15-5, second in the Atlantic Division

Deadline Status

Buyer

Deadline Cap Space

$8.63 in a full-season cap hit, 0/3 used salary cap retention slots, 48/50 contracts per CapFriendly

Upcoming Draft Picks

2020: TBL 1st, VAN 1st*, TBL 2nd, TBL 3rd, TBL 4th, DET 4th, TBL 6th, OTT 6th, TBL 7th
2021: TBL 1st, TBL 2nd, TBL 3rd, TBL 4th, TBL 5th, TBL 6th, TBL 7th, NSH 7th, NJD 7th

Trade Chips

You might think that a team which has amassed so much talent may have a bare prospect cupboard or nothing to deal, but that’s not the case in Tampa Bay. The team has continued to produce assets through their draft and development system, while also holding onto as many high picks as possible. Just this year the team has two first-round selections they could dangle, after moving J.T. Miller to the Vancouver Canucks.

If they wanted to dangle some young roster talent, they have plenty of that as well. While the team isn’t going to part with future Selke Trophy candidate Anthony Cirelli, other players that have come through the system in recent years like Mitchell Stephens, Carter Verhaeghe and Mathieu Joseph could be of value. All three are restricted free agents at the end of the season, and with a cap crunch coming could be expendable.

In the minor leagues they have talent too, with the likes of Alexander Volkov, Taylor Raddysh, Boris Katchouk and Alex Barre-Boulet all having various degrees of success. Cal Foote and Nolan Foote are likely off limits at this point unless the Lightning get into a big trade—something you can never rule out with this organization—but it would take a lot to pry the brothers out of their system.

Like every year, the names Ondrej Palat, Tyler Johnson and Alex Killorn will also surely come up in trade speculation at some point. The trio of role players are all having fine seasons, but there is enough there to replace them if the team feels they’re upgrading elsewhere.

Five Players To Watch For: F Mathieu Joseph, F Alexander Volkov, F Taylor Raddysh, F Boris Katchouk, F Tyler Johnson

Team Needs

1) Bottom-Six Size: No, the Lightning won’t be going out to get an enforcer for the fourth line, but the team does seem interested in adding some size to the bottom-six in some fashion. Joe Smith of The Athletic (subscription required) recently suggested that Joe Thornton could be a fit as a player that brings size and plenty of playoff experience. It’s not so much that the future Hall of Fame center is going to throw his weight around, but he could give the team a little different look after rolling out those first few units of speed.

2) Defensive Depth: To be honest, this would even be a real need for the Lightning had Jan Rutta and Ryan McDonagh both not suffered injuries recently. The Lightning don’t even really need to add anything at the deadline after going 23-4-2 over the last two months. But if they want to go deep in the playoffs this year they might do well to add an expiring contract on the back end just to give them a security blanket in case of future injuries. You can bet the team is keeping an eye on a player like Sami Vatanen and waiting to see how the market shakes out at the deadline.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Trade Deadline Primer: Ottawa Senators

at CDT | by 6 Comments

With the trade deadline now less than a month away, we will be taking a closer 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?  Next up is a look at the Ottawa Senators.

It’s been a improved season for the Ottawa Senators. New head coach D.J. Smith seems to be having some success and the franchise finally seems to be heading in an upwards trajectory. That doesn’t mean the team is winning that much, however, as they have the 29th best record, but no longer are they the worst in the NHL. However, the rebuild continues and while many of their prospects are developing nicely, the team still has plenty of assets they could move to continue their full rebuild.

Record

18-26-11, seventh in the Atlantic Division

Deadline Status

Seller

Deadline Cap Space

$26.13MM in a full-season cap hit (using LTIR), 0/3 used salary cap retention slots, 48/50 contracts per CapFriendly

Upcoming Draft Picks

2020: OTT 1st, SJ 1st, OTT 2nd, CLB 2nd, DAL 2nd, OTT 3rd, OTT 4th, TB 5th, SJ 6th, STL 6th, OTT 7th
2021: OTT 1st, OTT 2nd, CLB 2nd, SJ 2nd, OTT 3rd, OTT 6th, OTT 7th

Trade Chips

The most coveted player is center Jean-Gabriel Pageau, who has had a breakout year, scoring a career-high 21 goals already and not letting up. The 27-year-old is highly coveted and while it might make sense to lock up the center as a piece of the team’s future, recent reports suggest that there has been little to no negotiations between the two sides so far, suggesting that a trade is highly likely. In total, Pageau has 21 goals, 34 points, 102 hits and a 52.8 face-off percentage. He also is quite affordable at $3.1MM, but will hit unrestricted free agency and hasn’t indicated that he would be willing to sign an extension with another team upon a trade, meaning he could just be a rental option for a playoff team.

The team also has other intriguing options as the Senators have quite a few pending unrestricted free agents. While it’s likely they will re-sign some of them, there are a number of players like Vladislav Namestnikov and Tyler Ennis that could attract some attention.

If teams are interested in defense, the Senators have a few options as well with veteran Ron Hainsey standing at the top of the list. Hainsey has been a solid top-four option on Ottawa’s defense since signing with them this summer on a one-year deal. The Senators have quite a few young defensemen looking for playing time. Therefore it would make sense for Ottawa to move out Hainsey, who averages 20:07 ATOI at $3.5MM. While he doesn’t provide a significant amount of offense (one goal, 11 points), he provides solid defense, including a plus-four rating and 75 blocks. Throw in Dylan DeMelo and Mark Borowiecki as potential trade targets as well.

Five Players To Watch For: D Mark Borowiecki, D Dylan DeMelo, D Ron Hainsey, F Vladislav Namestnikov, F Jean-Gabriel Pageau

Team Needs

1) Draft Picks: You don’t have to look farther than the draft chart above to see that the Senators are already loaded with picks, but the more you have, the more successful you will be. The team already is armed with two potential lottery picks for 2020, loaded with draft talent, and have three second-rounders after that. The team has another three second-round picks for the 2021 draft. So, adding more could be the key to this team’s long-term future.

2) NHL-Ready Youth: The team is already loaded with prospects, although many of them have struggled to make the transition from the minors to the NHL. However, especially with the Senators looking to move on from several players, the team could use some more prospects who are either already in the NHL or have started to make that transition which could give the team some buffer room so they can avoid throwing their prospects into a situation they may not be ready for yet.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Trade Deadline Primer: Montreal Canadiens

at CDT | by 4 Comments

With the trade deadline now less than a month away, we will be taking a closer 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?  Next up is a look at the Montreal Canadiens.

The Montreal Canadiens looked to be a team on the rise with many thinking that they might challenge for a playoff spot this year after finishing two points out of a playoff spot last year. Instead, the team has had an inconsistent that has shown some glimpses of the future, but has also saw the team struggled on numerous occasions. There is still time for the Canadiens to make up some ground, but down six points in a deep Eastern Conference could alter the way that general manager Marc Bergevin looks at the upcoming trade deadline.

Record

26-23-7, fifth in the Atlantic Division

Deadline Status

Seller

Deadline Cap Space

$17.45MM in a full-season cap hit (using LTIR), 0/3 used salary cap retention slots, 49/50 contracts per CapFriendly

Upcoming Draft Picks

2020: MON 1st, MON 2nd, CHI 2nd, MON 3rd, MON 4th, ANA 4th, WIN 4th, MON 5th, FLR 5th, MON 6th, CHI 7th
2021: MON 1st, MON 2nd, MON 3rd, CHI 3rd, MON 4th, MON 5th, OTT 5th, MON 6th

Trade Chips

The most publicized trade chip that the Candiens have is forward Ilya Kovalchuk. The team signed the 36-year-old to a minimum-salary deal on Jan. 3rd after Kovalchuk was released from his contract with the Los Angeles Kings after one and a half disappointing seasons. Montreal took a chance, hoping that his skills hadn’t depleted as much as many had thought. Kovalchuk, however, has had a resurgence, posting five goals and 11 points in 14 games and is a top candidate to be dealt. With a salary of just $700K, plenty of teams with salary cap troubles wouldn’t complain to add someone of Kovalchuk’s talent and leadership abilities in the locker room. The Canadiens were rumored to be interested in a second-round pick for the veteran, but rumors have surfaced that no team is willing to give more than a middle-round pick. That could change as we get closer to the deadline, however.

While Tomas Tatar has been putting up nice numbers in Montreal, the forward might also be a valuable trade chip. The 25-year-old is on the way towards a career-year in goals as he has already hit the 20-goal in just 56 games. However, teams might pay a premium if Bergevin is ready to move on from him. He has just one year remaining on his deal after this one at just $4.8MM, but would be a valued addition if the team was ready to acquire him.

Another interesting option is also a possibility. Although there is no guarantee that the team might move him, there have been rumblings that Bergevin might consider trading defenseman Jeff Petry, who could be a valuable commodity for any team. The 32-year-old has one more year after this one on his contract at a reasonable $5.5MM. On top of that, Petry is playing some of his best hockey. He is playing 23:25 ATOI and has shown a flare for offense the past few years.

The Canadiens also have several players who will be unrestricted free agents next summer, including solid depth option in veteran Nate Thompson. The team also wouldn’t mind it if they could find a taker for Marco Scandella, who the team acquired recently from Buffalo.

Five Players To Watch For: F Ilya Kovalchuk, D Jeff Petry, D Marco Scandella, F Tomas Tatar, F Nate Thompson

Team Needs

1) Young NHL-Ready Players: Montreal can see the light at the end of the tunnel and could get to the playoffs this year with a little success in the final third of the season, but one thing it needs more of are young players, who can step in quickly and contribute immediately. They have quite a youth movement going on, but the team is just about ready to re-establish themselves as a playoff team within the next year or two, but the more talent that can come their way would be invaluable.

2) Draft Picks: If you look at the team’s draft picks above, it’s obvious that Bergevin has been stockpiling picks and is still interested in adding more of them. Not only does the team want young players to step right in, but he is looking to create a pipeline that will have the team be competitive for a long time.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Deadline Primer: Florida Panthers

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

With the trade deadline now less than a month away, we will be taking a closer 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?  Next up is a look at the Florida Panthers

In Joel Quenneville’s first season as head coach of the Florida Panthers, the team is looking to do something for just the sixth time in franchise history: make the playoffs. Yes, in their 25 years of existence the Panthers have made the playoffs just a handful of times, only once even progressing past the first round. That only deep run was more than two decades ago, meaning a good showing in this year’s postseason tournament could be historic. With that in mind, you can bet that GM Dale Tallon is working the phones making sure his club has the best chance he can give them down the stretch.

Record

29-18-6, third in the Atlantic Division

Deadline Status

Buyer*

*The Panthers also have some intriguing rentals that could be available

Deadline Cap Space

$141K in a full-season cap hit (using LTIR), 1/3 used salary cap retention slots, 45/50 contracts per CapFriendly

Upcoming Draft Picks

2020: FLA 1st, FLA 2nd, FLA 2nd, COL 3rd, FLA 4th, TOR 5th, BUF 6th, FLA 7th
2021: FLA 1st, FLA 2nd, FLA 3rd, FLA 4th, FLA 5th, FLA 6th, FLA 7th, WPG 7th

Trade Chips

Even though the Panthers are in a strong position in the standings and will likely try to add before the deadline, they also may end up being a place for other contenders to do some shopping. Most notable is Mike Hoffman, who is an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season and was asked to submit his 10-team no-trade list in December, according to Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic (subscription required).

Hoffman is exactly the kind of mercenary winger that could add immediate offense at the deadline and if the Panthers were out of the running there would likely be a bidding war for his services. Whether they will decide to move him is unclear, but given how tight their cap situation is, they would have to move something out if they want to make a substantial change.

Of course, there is also the other pending UFA Evgenii Dadonov, but there has been less chatter about his potential availability over the recent weeks. Brian Boyle and Mark Pysyk are also on expiring deals, though they hold much less value.

The Panthers do have a long list of exciting forward prospects that could be dangled, including Henrik Borgstrom who still hasn’t adjusted to professional hockey as quickly as many expected. The 23rd overall pick in 2016 had 18 points in 50 games for the Panthers last season, but has spent the vast majority of 2019-20 in the minor leagues.

Five Players To Watch For: F Mike Hoffman, F Brian Boyle, D Mark Pysyk, F Henrik Borgstrom, D Mike Matheson

Team Needs

1) Veteran Defense: Tallon was quite clear when speaking with Mike Zeisberger of NHL.com recently, explaining that he wanted a veteran defenseman to pair with Aaron Ekblad. After losing badly to the Vegas Golden Knights last night, Ekblad skated beside Keith Yandle at practice today while Matheson was dropped to the third pairing (via George Richards of The Athletic).

2) Experienced Forward: In the same interview, Tallon also said he will try to find a “steadying influence” up front, though it’s not clear exactly what that term represents. Perhaps it’s someone with a little more playoff experience that can be added to the top-six mix if Hoffman is sent packing. Aleksander Barkov (6), Jonathan Huberdeau (6), Vincent Trocheck (2), Noel Acciari (35), Frank Vatrano (6) and Dadonov (0), the six forwards averaging the most ice time (not counting Hoffman), currently have 55 games of playoff experience between them.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Pro Hockey Rumors is not affiliated with National Hockey League, NHL or NHL.com

scroll to top