As we head into the middle of January, trade winds around the league are starting to blow. Teams are beginning to understand where exactly they fit into the league power structure and making decision on who to keep and who to sell. With that, Craig Custance of The Athletic (subscription required) broke down 27 players he believes could be on the market, including Chris Kreider who tops the list as the “top rental forward available.”
Custance suggests that Kreider could bring back a similar package to the one Kevin Hayes was traded for last season, which brought a first-round pick, Brendan Lemieux and a conditional fourth. The second name on his board, Tyler Toffoli, comes with a much more reasonable price tag. In all, the list includes several obvious names and many more that may come as a surprise.
- Ryan Lindgren had to face the music after laying a huge hit on Colorado Avalanche forward Joonas Donskoi last night, as Nazem Kadri confronted him and decided to punch him in the face a few times. The New York Rangers defenseman left the game and will get some insult added to that injury, as he has a hearing with the Department of Player Safety today and is likely looking at a suspension.
- Michael Frolik has joined the Buffalo Sabres after dealing with his immigration issues, and is expected to practice with the group today. The newly acquired forward will likely be asked to step into an important role right away given the team’s scoring struggles this season and Victor Olofsson’s recent injury. Jeff Skinner, who was signed to an eight-year, $72MM contract in June has just 11 goals and 19 points in 39 games.
It has been 10 years since Frolik last had 20 goals in a season. He isn’t improving anyone’s scoring.
Leafs have been missing THAT Kadri.
Give it a rest and move on. The game is changing, dinosaur!
So a legal hit and he’s getting suspended? Kadri better being getting hit with double suspension then for the cheap sucker punches! Coward!
Lol @ cheap sucker punches…
Yep that’s what they were. He’s known for it so don’t pretend otherwise. Clean hit maybe little rough since open ice but the rules are what they are, maybe they should change them and disallow open ice hits which I’m fine with but then the retaliation by the coward so Kadri should be the only one who gets suspended.
But…it was a hit to the head, which will likely result in a suspension. How is that clean?
Kadri is not a tough guy. He is a cowardly cheap shot player. In other words a loser.