The Carolina Hurricanes were seeking a top-nine forward when they traded away long-time defenseman Justin Faulk this summer. However, the best return they could find was a prospect forward, Dominik Bokk, and another established defenseman in Joel Edmundson from the St. Louis Blues. Now, the Hurricanes are more or less back in the same situation, trying to deal from their blue line depth for help up front. Even after moving Faulk and Calvin de Haan in the off-season, the additions of Edmundson, Jake Gardiner, and Gustav Forsling has created yet another logjam on defense. TSN’s Pierre LeBrun reports that Carolina is calling around to other teams and shopping veteran Trevor van Riemsdyk, as well as 23-year-old Haydn Fleury, who is no longer waiver-exempt, in hopes of landing a scoring forward in return.
However, they aren’t alone. LeBrun’s colleague Darren Dreger reports that the Buffalo Sabres are also making calls to dangle defenders in anticipation of their team getting healthy. Dreger states that Zach Bogosian and Marco Scandella will make their returns “right around the corner”, but first Buffalo will need to clear space. The red-hot Sabres likely want to avoid a major shake-up, such as moving the now-content Rasmus Ristolainen, but also likely aren’t keen to move recent additions like Brandon Montour and Colin Miller. The team can demote Lawrence Pilut and even Henri Jokiharju, but will still need to make room on the blue line. Dreger states that Buffalo is hoping to land both a top-six and bottom-six forward, so trading away a John Gilmour won’t get the job done. Bogosian, Scandella, and Jake McCabe seem like the most likely to be dealt at this point.
So who could take advantage of a market flush with capable defenders? Top contenders like the Toronto Maple Leafs, Tampa Bay Lightning, and San Jose Sharks are all struggling defensively this season and have the depth of forwards to swing a deal. The Minnesota Wild are known to be open to moving several forward and could pursue a defenseman that they see as a long-term fit. The same could be said for other struggling teams, especially those with intriguing impending free agents, such as the Los Angeles Kings (Tyler Toffoli) and New York Rangers (Chris Kreider). The Hurricanes’ and Sabres’ competition to make a deal may even lower the acquisition costs for any interested teams. The trade market appears to be heating up early this season and the odds of a deal – or several – before the holiday trade freeze are high.
Interesting seeing Carolina trying buy a couple of consonants & vowels with their new-found Monopoly $$$ in the form of blueliner hockey cards. Seems like someone in these parts noted their moves a couple of months ago…
Detroit, answer your phone.
Eichel and Ristolainen for Mathews and ceci.
How does that make the Sabres better? Eichel has 7 years left on his deal & is a #1 Center where as Marner has 4 years remaining & his more of a Winger. Handing the Leafs Risto is definitely helping out a division rival.
Umm other then he’s clearly joking Marner has 5 years remaining after this year, and yes Marner is 100% more of a winger as he is in-fact not an NHL centre and never has been outside of junior. Also said Matthews not Marner
That is a terrible deal for the Leafs. I would trade either Matthews or Ceci but not for those two guys. Matthews is far better than Eichel. Not to mention you’re trading within your division.
Bryan Little to Buffalo
Leafs should do a trade with the Carolina for TVR trade them Bracco who’s a legit top six winger on Carolina and a power play specialist would solve their problems. Then move ceci for cap relief
Of all the teams needing defense, the only team the Sabres would benefit the most trading with is Detroit. AA from Detroit solves our 2nd line issue (Sobotka). Packaging Scandella with a pick, or McCabe and “lower” pick, or heck Pilut should be enough to land him. By doing this too, moving Sobotka down makes it like acquiring a bottom 6 player. Kills 2 birds with 1 stone.
Detroit’s problem isn’t a lack of mediocre defenseman, it’s all of our defensemen is mediocre or worse. Neither of these guys does anything for my rebuild either. I wouldn’t take just a pick and McCabe/Scandella and a 1st for AA. I’d probably want a top prospect or an additional 1st.
Then you’d better trade Larkin plus if you want 2 1sts plus top prospects lol. Only players landing that type of haul are your Crosby’s and McDavid’s!
The problem that Buffalo has is that, other than Eichel / Dahlin, they have mostly “slightly above average” players who would only move another team from bad to mediocre – and that won’t get you a top six forward. The only thing that would (that the Sabres can afford) is to move top picks or prospects for that top six guy. Or maybe trading with someone like Toronto, who could benefit from moving their mostly horrible defensemen from bad to mediocre – and Buffalo might get a potential top six forward who can’t crack the Leaf’s loaded forward lineup. Yes, my Wings are horrible right now, but I am not interested in any of the fair to middling guys mentioned, and certainly not lower draft picks. Anyone who thinks that any team is going to trade you a potential top six forward for the players you have mentioned is dreaming. Either pony up someone or a pick of real value, or give up on getting the scoring forward you think you need.
You can add Boston to the list of teams with a surplus of young defensemen also looking for solid scoring help.