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Deadline Primer 2020

Trade Deadline Primer: Detroit Red Wings

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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 Detroit Red Wings.

If one didn’t know any better (and one doesn’t), it might look like Steve Yzerman and the Detroit Red Wings are actually trying to lose as many games as possible this season. The club is on pace to record the third worst season in franchise history, only ahead of the 1985-86 and 1976-77 teams that both finished with fewer than 20 wins. Even amid that chaos and defeat, the team has acquired a few young pieces that could be used as building blocks or perhaps trade bait in the coming months.

Record

12-38-4, 8th in the Atlantic Division

Deadline Status

Seller

Deadline Cap Space

$9.49MM in a full-season cap hit (using LTIR), 0/3 used salary cap retention slots, 47/50 contracts per CapFriendly

Upcoming Draft Picks

2020: DET 1st, DET 2nd, WSH 2nd, DET 3rd, SJS 3rd, DET 5th, DET 6th, DET 7th
2021: DET 1st, DET 2nd, DET 3rd, VGK 3rd, DET 4th, DET 5th, DET 6th, DET 7th

Trade Chips

When you’re having this kind of disastrous season, it’s hard to find a lot of trade bait on the roster. Even players who may otherwise have held some like Mike Green, Luke Glendening and Patrik Nemeth have had brutal years, making it hard to argue they would be an upgrade for a contender even as depth options.

The Red Wings do have some interesting names to keep an eye on though, and they may not be who you expect. Because the team is at the very beginning of a rebuild and will need several years of growth before they are considered playoff contenders, players entering their mid-twenties with expiring contracts may become trade bait. Adam Erne, Taro Hirose, Robby Fabbri, Brendan Perlini and Madison Bowey are all scheduled to become restricted free agents this summer and have held relatively high levels of potential in the past. Perhaps Yzerman can cash in one of these names for a draft pick or two, given it seems unlikely that they’re all back in similar roles next season.

There are a trio of other names that obviously draw the eye when looking at the Detroit roster however. Anthony Mantha, Tyler Bertuzzi and Andreas Athanasiou have all shown they can perform at a very high level in the NHL and will all need new deals this summer. For the first two, extensions (long-term or short) seem in order. Mantha and Bertuzzi have both played well enough this season to continue on the path with Detroit, unless something really catches Yzerman’s fancy while he’s talking to other front offices.

That leaves Athanasiou however, who has still scored just five goals this season after recording 30 in 2018-19. The blazing fast winger has dealt with injuries but is now back playing for the Red Wings and could be seen as a legitimate buy-low candidate for some other teams. His speed can be game changing, but it hasn’t been used enough this year.

One other position to mention is goaltender, where the Red Wings have two veterans that could be of use. Jimmy Howard is approaching his 36th birthday and has struggled this year, but has plenty of postseason experience. Jonathan Bernier on the other hand is younger and has played well enough, but is still signed for another season at $3MM.

Five Players To Watch For: F Andreas Athanasiou, D Trevor Daley, F Luke Glendening, F Robby Fabbri, G Jonathan Bernier

Team Needs

1) Draft Picks: You can bet that Yzerman doesn’t want to remain at the bottom of the standings for very long, but if his tenure in Tampa Bay taught us anything it is that he wants a fully-stocked system. The Lightning constantly drafted and developed young talent from within, routinely calling up players that had dominated the minor leagues only to see them make an impact in the NHL right away. The Red Wings need to amass as many picks as possible for Yzerman to create that kind of pipeline, and this deadline should help get him a few more.

2) Young Defense: There are defensemen coming, but it’s hard to say which ones will be able to handle the NHL load at this point and which ones will be complementary pieces. Adding prospects or minor league players on the back end is a must at this point—even if Mortiz Seider does look like he might be Yzerman’s new version of Victor Hedman.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Trade Deadline Primer: Vegas Golden Knights

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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 Vegas Golden Knights.

The Golden Knights have already made one of the biggest decisions they could have, firing Gerard Gallant and bringing in Pete DeBoer to coach the team. They’re 3-1-1 since making the move, but still not a perfect hockey team. Perhaps the deadline will bring more fireworks just as it has in each of first two years of the franchise.

Record

27-20-7, 3rd in the Pacific Division.

Deadline Status

Buyer

Deadline Cap Space

$753K in a full-season cap hit, 1/3 used salary cap retention slots, 46/50 contracts per CapFriendly

Upcoming Draft Picks

2020: VGK 1st, VGK 2nd, PIT 2nd, VGK 3rd, NJD 3rd, VGK 5th, VGK 6th, VGK 7th
2021: VGK 1st, VGK 2nd, NJD 2nd, STL 2nd, VGK 4th, VGK 6th, VGK 7th

Trade Chips

George McPhee and Kelly McCrimmon haven’t been shy in making big trades at the deadline over the early part of the Golden Knights’ history, acquiring Tomas Tatar in 2018 and Mark Stone last year. Those top forwards cost a lot of future assets, and yet Vegas still has some more bullets to fire.

With five second-round picks over the next two drafts there will be opportunities for the Golden Knights to improve without removing much from their roster; the question will be whether or not they can fit any upgrades in financially.

After moving out Nick Suzuki and Erik Brannstrom it might be harder to swallow a trade that involves a top prospect, but there are some second-tier players in the system that could be had.

There are also a handful of expiring contracts that could be swapped out, depending on what was coming back. Cody Eakin, Ryan Reaves and Nick Holden were all listed in Jesse Granger’s “Most likely to be dealt” category for The Athletic (subscription required), but Tomas Nosek and Jon Merrill will also become unrestricted free agents in the summer.

Five Players To Watch For: F Cody Eakin, D Nick Holden, D Jimmy Schuldt, F Ryan Reaves, D Jon Merrill, F Lucas Elvenes

Team Needs

1) Puck-Moving Defenseman: Granger wrote weeks ago that the Golden Knights were looking for a defenseman that could move the puck, but how they’re going to fit one in is still a mystery. The team already has too many bodies on the back end and would need to move at least one out to fit in any sort of money. That said, Nate Schmidt and Shea Theodore are being asked to do too much right now as the only two players who can effectively get the puck up the ice.

2) Goaltending Help: No one wants to admit it, but Marc-Andre Fleury might be nearing the end. The veteran goaltender has just a .908 save percentage this season, his worst performance in a decade. Malcolm Subban hasn’t shown enough to rely on him as a better option, meaning the Golden Knights simply have to consider an upgrade at the position–even if it is only through the end of the season. Any goaltender with term is a tough ask given Fleury’s contract (which has two years remaining on it at a $7MM cap hit), but he at least has a history of success while sharing the net during the playoffs.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Trade Deadline Primer: Vancouver Canucks

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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 Vancouver Canucks.

There were many who felt that the Vancouver Canucks still needed another year or two to complete their rebuild, but general manager Jim Benning has moved the team ahead in the last couple of offseasons, adding several significant player additions to go with their nucleus of youth and it has worked out quite well. Benning took a big chance this offseason, trading away their first-round pick to Tampa Bay to acquire winger J.T. Miller, who has helped lead Vancouver to the top of the Pacific Division and the team so far, despite plenty of action right behind them, don’t look like they are fading any time soon. That could make this team an interesting one to watch at the trade deadline.

Record

27-20-7, third in the Pacific Division.

Deadline Status

Buyer

Deadline Cap Space

$1.10MM in a full-season cap hit (using LTIR), 0/3 used salary cap retention slots, 47/50 contracts per CapFriendly

Upcoming Draft Picks

2020: VAN 2nd, VAN 3rd, VAN 4th, VAN 5th, VAN 6th, ANH 7th
2021: VAN 1st*, VAN 2nd, VAN 3rd, VAN 4th, VAN 5th, VAN 6th, VAN 7th

* Vancouver traded their 2020 first-round pick to Tampa Bay, conditional if they make the playoffs. If the Canucks don’t make the playoffs in 2019-20, then the team’s 2019-20 first-round pick transfers to the 2020-21 draft.

Trade Chips

This isn’t a team that has much to offer with a team full of recently brought-in veterans and plenty of youth. Throw in the fact that one of their first-round picks in the next two years is heading to Tampa Bay, the team lacks the assets to acquire a big-name player. Benning might also be unwilling to part with any more draft picks after moving that first-rounder for Miller.

However, one player Benning will likely attempt to move would be the contract of Loui Eriksson and his $6MM contract. While no one would be particularly interested in a player of that caliber, it could be a coup if Benning could unload that contract, which still has two more years remaining on it. That could clear some much-needed cap room.

There aren’t many obvious options for Vancouver. The team could also consider moving defenseman Chris Tanev or Troy Stecher, both who will be hitting unrestricted free agency next season, but again, why trade them when the team is trying to make the playoffs now. The team also have a number of young players who are close to being able to join Vancouver in the next year or two, including Nils Hoglander, Jett Woo, Olli Juolevi, or Tyler Madden to name a few, but again, why would Benning move those young players just for a rental player?

Five Players To Watch For: F Loui Eriksson, D Olli Juolevi, F Tim Schaller, D Troy Stecher, D Chris Tanev

Team Needs

1) Top-Six Forward: The Canucks recently got back Brandon Sutter and hope to get Micheal Ferland back soon too, but the team’s second line right now consists of Bo Horvat, Tanner Pearson and Eriksson. That line isn’t likely to get much done for a playoff team, although it’s very likely the Canucks are doing everything they can to showcase Eriksson and the team still has Brock Boeser, the team could use one more goal scorer. Regardless, one more scorer such as a Pavel Buchnevich, Kyle Palmieri or a player of that magnitude would give Vancouver quite a bit of strength on their top two lines.

2) Cap Space: Again, with just $1.1MM in deadline cap space, the Canucks don’t have much room to maneuver, so even if the team can acquire a piece to their team that fits with their team chemistry, they will have to send back a contract of equal value to get it down. So any way the team can free up some cap space is crucial.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Trade Deadline Primer: San Jose Sharks

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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 San Jose Sharks.

It couldn’t have been a worse season for the Sharks, who were expecting to be near the top of the Pacific Division, only to find themselves looking old and depthless and sitting near the bottom. The team tried to fix things by firing coach Peter DeBoer, who one month later took a job with the rival Vegas Golden Knights. To make matters worse, the team has lost two of its best forwards to injury, including captain Logan Couture and all-star Tomas Hertl. If that wasn’t bad enough, the Sharks also don’t have their first-round pick, which they sent to Ottawa to acquire Erik Karlsson. Tough year.

Record

22-26-4, sixth in the Pacific Division.

Deadline Status

Seller

Deadline Cap Space

$2.97MM in a full-season cap hit (using LTIR), 0/3 used salary cap retention slots, 49/50 contracts per CapFriendly

Upcoming Draft Picks

2020: SJ 2nd, PHI 3rd, OTT 5th, SJ 5th, PIT 7th, WAS 7th
2021: SJ 1st, SJ 3rd, SJ 4th, SJ 5th, SJ 6th, SJ 7th

Trade Chips

Perhaps the biggest trade chip for San Jose will be defenseman Brenden Dillon. The 6-foot-4, 225-pound blueliner is in the final year of his contract and is expected to hit unrestricted free agency and could demand a significant raise to his $3.27MM cap hit he currently has and is in high demand of teams needing defensive help. Dillon may not provide significant offense, but his physical nature is a plus for teams looking for a top-four d-man. While he has 13 points this season, Dillon also has 58 blocks and more importantly, has 159 hits, which could develop into a career high. Quite a few teams are likely to express interest from them including rival Vegas, where DeBoer might want Dillon to come back and play for him.

The team also has a couple of veteran leaders who could possibly be dealt. Both Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau could be the perfect trade candidates for playoff teams, looking to bring in bottom-six talent at a low price. The 40-year-old Thornton ($2MM AAV) has just two goals this season and is showing his age, but his leadership could be invaluable for the right team. While he does have a no-movement clause, he didn’t reject the idea when asked if he’d be willing to waive that, suggesting he might if the right team comes calling. Marleau might even be the better bargain at the league minimum ($700K) without a no-trade clause. He has 10 goals in 48 games so far.

Five Players To Watch For: G Aaron Dell, D Brenden Dillon, F Melker Karlsson, F Patrick Marleau, F Joe Thornton

Team Needs

1) A First-Round Pick: It’s bad enough that the Sharks could end up giving a top lottery pick (in a good draft) to the Ottawa Senators. However, the team has moved quite a few of their draft picks and are rumored to be on the lookout for a first-round pick to replace the one they traded away. Whether that type of return is possible for what the team is looking to move seems unlikely, however.

2) Young talent: The Sharks hope is to retool quickly with a potential return to the playoffs as quickly as next year, considering the team has six players locked up to expensive long-term contracts for the next four years after this year and that doesn’t include Timo Meier or a new contract for Kevin Labanc. The team seems to lack young players in their prospect pool and even fewer who are ready to step into the lineup, so bringing in some talent that might be able to contribute immediately might be exactly what the team is looking for.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Trade Deadline Primer: Los Angeles Kings

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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 Los Angeles Kings.

It hasn’t been a good season for the Kings. In fact, the team currently has their worst winning percentage since 1997, a year in which Dmitri Khristich led the club in scoring with 56 points. They could use that kind of production right now, as only two players have more than 30 points and they sit dead last in the Western Conference. The deadline is all about the future for the Kings, who will be selling everything not tied down (or too expensive).

Record

19-28-5, eighth in the Pacific Division.

Deadline Status

Seller

Deadline Cap Space

$23.87MM in a full-season cap hit (using LTIR), 0/3 used salary cap retention slots, 47/50 contracts per CapFriendly

Upcoming Draft Picks

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

Trade Chips

The first thing you’ll notice when it comes to the Kings, is how much cap space they have. The team has worked hard to rid themselves of some bad contracts over the last few years, including agreeing to a mutual termination with Ilya Kovalchuk. Not only will that allow them some flexibility in free agency this summer, but they can also use that space to take on bad money at the deadline.

That’s likely what they’ll have to do in order to move any of the best trade chips they have. Tyler Toffoli is the biggest name up front, but his $4.6MM cap hit is hard to fit in for many contenders. The same can be said about Alec Martinez’ $4MM hit, especially because it comes with another year on it.

Those two are definitely the biggest names you’ll hear, but there are several other expiring contracts the team could shed. Trevor Lewis, Kyle Clifford, Derek Forbort and Joakim Ryan all have various levels value at the deadline, along with some of the older pending RFAs like Nikolai Prokhorkin and Kurtis MacDermid.

Five Players To Watch For: F Tyler Toffoli, D Alec Martinez, F Trevor Lewis, F Kyle Clifford, D Derek Forbort

Team Needs

1) Young Scoring: Anze Kopitar will be 33 by the time next season begins, and yet is still leading the Kings by 15 points this season. With Jeff Carter and Dustin Brown really showing their age, the Kings need some new players up front to lead them into this decade. Yes, they have some interesting prospects coming but it isn’t enough just yet.

2) Draft Picks: There’s no doubt that the Kings will still be looking at draft talent at the deadline. While they obviously don’t want to stay at the bottom of the league for very long, they realistically know that to compete in the NHL their system needs to start providing impact talent. Even the lottery ticket mid- and late-round picks are worthwhile for the Kings right now, and that’s exactly what they might have to settle for in some of the upcoming trades.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Trade Deadline Primer: Boston Bruins

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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 Boston Bruins.

Another year, another postseason appearance for the Boston Bruins. The highly decorated franchise has finished with an Atlantic Division spot for each of the last three seasons and out of  the playoffs entirely just seven times since 1967. This year the team has a great chance of finishing in first place in their division and could load up with deadline talent to help push them over the top.

Record

29-10-12, first in the Atlantic Division

Deadline Status

Buyer

Deadline Cap Space

$4.62MM in a full-season cap hit (using LTIR), 1/3 used salary cap retention slots, 47/50 contracts per CapFriendly

Upcoming Draft Picks

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

Trade Chips

When the 2019 trade deadline rolled around, Bruins’ GM Don Sweeney decided to add two players to his forward group in Charlie Coyle and Marcus Johansson, while removing a younger option in Ryan Donato. That’s the same kind of move the team could make this season given their group of talented-but-unpolished youngsters that haven’t been able to consistently provide a secondary scoring punch.

Once again the Bruins find themselves with just a handful of forwards providing regular offense, with Coyle’s versatility perhaps still doing enough to be added to that top group. Danton Heinen and Anders Bjork have been extremely inconsistent, and now total just 36 points combined in 73 games. The former is signed for another season, while the latter will become an arbitration eligible restricted free agent in the offseason. If there was a big upgrade to be made, perhaps an acquiring team would be asking about them.

It is the minor leagues that may hold more interesting options however. Trent Frederic and Jack Studnicka are both high draft picks that have had success for AHL Providence, and even suited up a couple of times in the NHL. Both still have enough upside to be extremely enticing to a rebuilding squad, though Boston would seem to be loath to give them away.

There likely aren’t many rentals available that would deserve a return of that magnitude anyway, meaning unless the Bruins go after a player with term like Coyle, they could be dealing out of their draft pick cupboard instead. That’s what they did last season to land Johansson, who played very well for them on their path to the Stanley Cup Final.

Five Players To Watch For: F Danton Heinen, D John Moore, F Anders Bjork, F Oskar Steen, F Jeremy Lauzon

Team Needs

1) Second Line RW/C: Given the flexibility of Coyle, who can play both right wing and center, the Bruins can cast a little wider net on the trade market. Still, the perfect fit would be another right-handed option, given David Pastrnak is the only true right winger in the top-nine. Chris Kreider, the top rental on the market is a lefty, but Tyler Toffoli—a name often speculated about with regards to the Bruins—plays on the right.

2) Secondary Scoring: Really though, the team just needs to add some more punch up front. If it’s on the left side, there are enough good players on the Boston roster that the team could make it work. Defensive depth has also been bandied about as a potential spot to add, but the team already has several players waiting in the minor leagues for their next chance.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Trade Deadline Primer: Buffalo Sabres

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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 Buffalo Sabres.

After another incredible start, the Sabres have struggled to score goals and are slipping further and further away from an Atlantic Division playoff spot. They’ve already completed one deal to bring in some help at forward by acquiring Michael Frolik, but may well need another boost if they want to compete in the postseason tournament.

Record

22-20-7, tied for fifth in the Atlantic Division

Deadline Status

Buyer

Deadline Cap Space

$2.57MM in a full-season cap hit (using LTIR), 0/3 used salary cap retention slots, 45/50 contracts per CapFriendly

Upcoming Draft Picks

2020: BUF 1st, BUF 2nd, BUF 4th, BUF 5th, BUF 7th, DAL 7th
2021: BUF 1st, BUF 2nd, BUF 4th, BUF 5th, BUF 6th, BUF 7th

Trade Chips

The Sabres have a glut of NHL defensemen on the roster even after selling off Marco Scandella for a fourth-round pick and would like to move out some of that surplus to add more speed and offense up front. The problem is that many of the options on the blue line don’t come with a ton of trade value, unless you’re looking at one of the team’s young core pieces.

Zach Bogosian has already requested a trade when he was healthy scratched by head coach Ralph Krueger, but with his $5.14MM cap hit it is hard to see him actually bringing back anything for the Sabres. Colin Miller and Jake McCabe each hold a little more value than that, but Rasmus Ristolainen likely remains the biggest piece the team could potentially move.

Ristolainen has many detractors, but is still logging close to 23 minutes for the Sabres and has 23 points in 49 games. The 25-year old is also carrying a positive +/- rating for the first time in his career, and is a right-handed option that teams may see as an upgrade in the top four. Unfortunately, he comes with a $5.4MM cap hit and two more years on his contract, making him a tough player to add midseason.

Beyond the defensive group, the Sabres also received a trade request from Evan Rodrigues and they do have plenty of other expiring forward contracts that could be moved. It seems unlikely that the team would give up someone like Casey Mittelstadt even though he has struggled at the NHL level.

The team has its first-round pick for this year and next, but with the playoffs a clear uncertainty any deal would likely have to have lottery protection in it.

Five Players To Watch For: D Zach Bogosian, D Jake McCabe, D Colin Miller, D Rasmus Ristolainen, F Evan Rodrigues

Team Needs

1) Scoring Punch: The team will get Jeff Skinner back in the lineup tonight for the first time since December, but if he can’t reach the same level that he showed last season the Sabres will desperately need to add some finish before the deadline. Skinner has just 11 goals in 39 games after scoring 40 last season. Victor Olofsson, the team’s goal-scoring rookie, is still a few weeks away from a return. Players like Marcus Johansson, Jimmy Vesey, Conor Sheary and Kyle Okposo just aren’t putting the puck in the net enough at this point for the team to reliably create an offensive push behind Jack Eichel.

2) Speed Up Front: GM Jason Botterill was very clear when he spoke with reporters on Tuesday; he needs to find some help at forward. Botterill explained that he needed not just offensive scoring touch, but an upgrade to the overall speed at forward. A name like Chris Kreider obviously brings that kind of impact, but it’s not clear if Botterill wants to head down the rental road.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Trade Deadline Primer: Edmonton Oilers

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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 Edmonton Oilers.

After two disastrous seasons, there was little hope that the Oilers might be able to compete for a playoff spot, especially considering the fact that new general manager Ken Holland didn’t make major changes to the team. They added James Neal and brought in a few overseas players in hopes of filling in the holes in their middle six, but instead, the Oilers have risen to the challenge under new head coach Dave Tippetts, holding the top spot in the division at several points in the season and still remain near the top of a competitive Pacific Division.

Record

26-18-5, tied (with three other teams) for second in the Pacific Division

Deadline Status

Buyer

Deadline Cap Space

$5.851MM in a full-season cap hit (using LTIR), 1/3 used salary cap retention slots, 48/50 contracts per CapFriendly

Upcoming Draft Picks

2020: EDM 1st, EDM 2nd, EDM 3rd*, EDM 4th, EDM 5th, EDM 6th, EDM 7th
2021: EDM 1st, EDM 2nd, EDM 3rd, EDM 4th, EDM 5th, EDM 6th, PIT 6th, EDM 7th

*- Calgary will receive Edmonton’s third-round pick as part of the Neal/Lucic swap if Neal scores 21 or more goals and Lucic has at least ten goals less than him at the end of the season.  Neal is currently at 19 so he will likely get to 21 while Lucic is at four goals.

Trade Chips

With a number of young defensemen already in Edmonton and several others not far off, the Oilers would love to unload a defenseman, preferably someone who has a big contract such as Adam Larsson or Kris Russell. Whether they can convince anyone to take either of those is a whole different question. The team does have a few other third-pairing options it could move, including William Lagesson and Keegan Lowe, but the team has made it clear that top prospects Evan Bouchard and Philip Broberg are off the table in trade talks. Perhaps a team could pry away Dmitri Samorukov.

While the team many NHL options, Holland still has a full complement of draft picks, minus the team’s third-rounder, which is likely to change hands to Calgary. The team’s first-round pick could easily be in play for the right piece.

Five Players To Watch For: F Sam Gagner, D William Lagesson, D Adam Larsson, D Kris Russell, D William Lagesson, D Dmitri Samorukov

Team Needs

1) Scoring Help: The team still has holes in its top-nine. While the Oilers seem to have recently found some success on their second line with Leon Draisaitl, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Kailer Yamamoto, Edmonton still has holes on its first line and third line and could, without a doubt, use one more significant scoring piece at the trade deadline. While there was plenty of talk about acquiring Taylor Hall back in December, that was quite unrealistic considering their cap situation. However, there are a number of options that could interest them, including a third-line center on the market — Ottawa’s Jean-Gabriel Pageau. He would fill a significant need on the third line or, if needed, could step into a top-six role on the wing. Another option would be adding Los Angeles’ Tyler Toffoli, whose name has been thrown around trade rumors quite a bit the last month or two. Toffoli might be a cheaper option, who could fill a top-nine role for the team and prove to be a better player than Alex Chiasson or Joakim Nygard.

2) Goaltending Depth: Yes, the team has Mikko Koskinen and Mike Smith, but the 37-year-old Smith hasn’t been that consistent this season and often sees his second-half numbers decline. The team has already used Smith quite a bit this year (26 appearances) and could use a more impactful player that can be used in tandem with Koskinen. Smith currently has a 2.96 GAA and a .901 save percentage, numbers that could be replaced if they wanted to go out and acquire an Alexandar Georgiev or swap Smith for a more consistent option.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Trade Deadline Primer: Calgary Flames

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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 Calgary Flames.

It has been an interesting first half of the season in Calgary.  Their big offseason trade (James Neal for Milan Lucic) hasn’t really worked out, their top line has sputtered offensively, and there was plenty of off-ice controversy surrounding head coach Bill Peters which eventually led to him leaving the team.  Despite that, they sit one point out of first place and after freeing up some cap space with the recent trade of Michael Frolik to Buffalo, they’re likely to be heard from between now and next month’s trade deadline.

Record

26-19-5, tied for second in the Pacific Division

Deadline Status

Buyer

Deadline Cap Space

$4.791MM in a full-season cap hit (using LTIR), 0/3 used salary cap retention slots, 44/50 contracts per CapFriendly

Upcoming Draft Picks

2020: CGY 1st, CGY 2nd, CGY 3rd, EDM 3rd*, SJ 4th, CGY 5th, CGY 6th, CGY 7th
2021: CGY 1st, CGY 2nd, CGY 3rd, CGY 4th, CGY 5th, CGY 6th, CGY 7th

*- Calgary will receive Edmonton’s third-round pick as part of the Neal/Lucic swap if Neal scores 21 or more goals and Lucic has at least ten goals less than him at the end of the season.  Neal is currently at 19 so he will likely get to 21 while Lucic is at four goals.

Trade Chips

While teams looking to contend don’t typically subtract an impact player from their roster, it certainly seems like that could be the case with defenseman T.J. Brodie who is believed to be available going back to the summer.  The pending UFA doesn’t appear to have a place with Calgary beyond this season and while he’d certainly give their playoff hopes a push, he’d also garner a strong return in a trade as well.  This wouldn’t be a typical ‘sell a rental for a pick or prospect’ situation but rather dealing from one hole to fill another.  They’re known to be looking for another forward in the hopes of replacing Frolik with someone that’s more productive offensively and Brodie could be the player that yields that type of return.

Center Mark Jankowski has had an abysmal season with just a single goal and assist in 39 games.  Instead of looking like a future core player, he could be a non-tender candidate in July with a $1.75MM qualifying offer.  If they’re leaning in that direction, they’d be wise to try to get something for him now and there may be a rebuilding team that’s willing to take a cheap flier on him.  Austin Czarnik, a pending UFA, has been productive with AHL Stockton and if he’s unlikely to get another look with the Flames after he cleared waivers earlier in the year, he’s someone that another team may want to give a chance to down the stretch.  Sam Bennett has been in trade speculation for years but unless they’re getting someone that’s signed for a few more years, he isn’t a strong candidate to be moved at this time.

In terms of prospects, center Ilya Nikolayev has seen his stock rise this season and teams are always looking for depth down the middle.  Winger Dmitri Zavgorodny has been dominant when healthy in the QMJHL this season and is already signed.  Blueliner Alexander Yelesin drew interest from several teams last year as a free agent and with him not getting any NHL action yet, those teams may circle back.  With four minor league goalies all eligible for restricted free agency next season, they may be willing to part with one of those to clear the logjam.  Jon Gillies and his one-way deal may be the one they want to move but Russian rookie Artyom Zagidulin will likely draw more interest.

Five Players To Watch For: D T.J. Brodie, F Austin Czarnik, F Mark Jankowski, F Ilya Nikolayev, W Dmitri Zavgorodny

Team Needs

1) Scoring Help: Of the top-55 forwards in the league in terms of points this year, Calgary doesn’t have any of them.  Their big four up front all range from 36-38 points and while that’s not terrible, they’re getting paid to produce more.  Obviously, Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan getting back to last year’s form would be ideal but they may need a new running mate to help them get there.  GM Brad Treliving is known to prefer someone with term over a rental player but the price tag to acquire such a player is going to be high.

2) Defensive Depth: With Juuso Valimaki on LTIR, there’s already a need to have another blueliner that’s at least capable of playing some minutes on the third pairing.  If Brodie does wind up being dealt, that opens up another vacancy.  Yelesin is the top recall option in the minors and he’s a question mark having had no NHL experience.  Adding another player with some NHL experience for Stockton would be ideal on top of adding another depth defender like they did with Oscar Fantenberg at the deadline last season.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Trade Deadline Primer: Arizona Coyotes

at CDT | by 2 Comments

With the trade deadline just a little more 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 Arizona Coyotes.

Coyotes GM John Chayka has made a pair of big swings at upgrading his offense with the acquisition of Phil Kessel over the summer and the addition of Taylor Hall last month.  The moves haven’t paid significant dividends in that regard but at the same time, Arizona is still right in the thick of things in the very tight Pacific Division despite both of their goaltenders dealing with injuries this season.  However, they moved several prospects and draft picks in those moves which will limit the chips that Chayka has to use to try to add more to his roster over the next month.

Record

26-20-5, tied for second in the Pacific Division

Deadline Status

Buyer

Deadline Cap Space

$2.875MM in a full-season cap hit (using LTIR), 0/3 used salary cap retention slots, 45/50 contracts per CapFriendly.

Upcoming Draft Picks

2020: ARI 2nd, ARI 4th, ARI 5th, ARI 6th, ARI 7th
2021: ARI 1st*, ARI 2nd*, ARI 3rd*, ANA 4th, PIT 4th, ARI 5th, ARI 6th, ARI 7th

*- Arizona is guaranteed to lose at least their third-round pick to New Jersey as part of the Hall deal.  The pick becomes a second-round selection if Arizona winds a round in this postseason or Hall re-signs with the Coyotes.  It would upgrade to a first-round pick if they win a round and Hall re-signs.

Trade Chips

With basically their top three picks encumbered for next season pending the completion of the Hall trade and missing two of their top three selections this season, Arizona may be limited in terms of shopping at the higher end of the market, especially since they’re not likely going to be willing to part with top prospects like Barrett Hayton or Victor Soderstrom.

One veteran player to keep an eye on though may be goaltender Antti Raanta.  Over his time with the Coyotes, he has played relatively well for the most part (though his last outing was a rough one) but staying healthy has been a concern.  That eventually led to the acquisition of Darcy Kuemper who earned himself a contract extension this season as he played his way into the number one role.  All of a sudden, that leaves Raanta and his $4.25MM AAV as an expensive insurance policy.  With several teams looking for a short-term upgrade at the backup position, the 30-year-old could be of interest.  Moving Raanta would also open up a bit more salary cap flexibility which could be notable with them being open to a bonus overage penalty next year as a result of being in LTIR.

Beyond him, expect their trade chips to be late-round picks or younger players that are on the fringes of being worth an NHL look that other teams will be able to take a longer look at down the stretch.

Five Players To Watch For: F Michael Bunting, F Brayden Burke, D Kyle Capobianco, F Lane Pederson, G Antti Raanta

Team Needs

1) Defensive Depth – Right now, Arizona’s depth options are Jordan Oesterle, Ilya Lyubushkin, and Kyle Capobianco.  With the three can hold their own on the third pairing if need be, it’s an area that can certainly be upgraded on.  Landing a capable third pairing defender would be ideal but even if they don’t do that, some extra depth to hedge in case of injuries would be worth looking into.

2) Scoring Help – Despite adding Hall and Kessel, their offense has only gone up by a quarter goal per game from last season.  Nick Schmaltz is sitting at just seven goals this season while Derek Stepan is at eight; those are their top-paid forwards after Kessel.  Another impact scorer would be ideal although, with their limited cap space, they may have to settle for targeting a complementary piece that fits in better with some of their scuffling forwards.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

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