As the trade deadline nears, the player on the Columbus Blue Jackets perhaps drawing the most attention is forward Max Domi. In a conversation with Nick Kypreos and Justin Bourne of Sportsnet, Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen addressed the situation with Domi, a pending unrestricted free agent. He spoke on the fact that although Columbus internally expected to be in the mix for a playoff spot, that did not mean that they would be focused on being a “buyer” at the deadline. He referred to his approach to the trade deadline as one with “the big picture in mind,” and when asked about Domi specifically Kekalainen said that Domi had an “inconsistent” season and that the team would “see where [they’re] at in two weeks.”
Given Kekalainen’s firm stance on the team taking a “big picture” approach to the trade deadline, it would be fair to characterize Domi as a likely trade candidate given his contract situation. It is unclear whether Domi fits into the Blue Jackets’ long-term plans, and Kekalainen’s non-committal answer when asked about Domi’s future in Columbus can be viewed as an indication that the player’s days with the organization are numbered. Domi has always been a talented offensive player, his 72 point season for Montreal in 2018-19 is an indication of that, but he has not fit in Columbus. He has 18 goals and 50 points in his 100 games as a Blue Jacket. That’s a 41 point pace, decent enough, but a far cry from the 72-point form he flashed with the Canadiens and likely not enough to warrant receiving a similarly-priced extension on the $5.3MM against the cap he currently costs. Those factors combined with Kekalainen’s recent comments reinforce the idea that we are fast approaching the end of Domi’s time as a Blue Jacket.
- Like the Blue Jackets, the Chicago Blackhawks also have to consider the long-term fits of certain players on their roster. As the deadline approaches, one name being discussed is Dominik Kubalik. In a piece detailing the Blackhawks’ overall trade deadline situation, Mark Lazerus and Scott Powers of The Athletic add some more detail to the team’s situation with Kubalik. (subscription required) They assign Kubalik an “80%” likelihood of being traded, and report that a source indicated the Blackhawks’ asking price for the Czech Winger to be a second-round pick. Kubalik is an interesting trade candidate because of his scoring pedigree and relative youth. He scored 30 goals as a rookie and 17 goals and 38 points in 56 games last season, which is a 25-goal, 55-point pace. That’s strong production for a player who had not played North American professional hockey before arriving in Chicago. But Kubalik has been a bit less productive this season, with only 11 goals and 21 points in 57 games, and he is due a qualifying offer of around $4MM if a team wants to retain his rights as a restricted free agent. The Blackhawks’ new GM Kyle Davidson indicated that he would be embarking on a long-term rebuild of the team, so perhaps Kubalik becomes one of his first major moves to add draft capital to support that endeavor.
- Despite their recent run of success, the Montreal Canadiens are going to be sellers at this year’s trade deadline. Their team has been ravaged by injuries this season, and it has impacted the team’s approach to making trades at that deadline. Veteran players such as Jonathan Drouin, Christian Dvorak, Joel Edmundson, or Jake Allen could very well be in the wider deadline conversation as trade season heats up, but each has been dealing with their own injuries that have kept them out of the lineup and out of that spotlight. But that could change soon. The team announced that a host of players, including the names listed above, were able to practice under a non-contact designation. The list of players is as follows: Jake Evans, Jeff Petry, Paul Byron, Edmundson, Drouin, Dvorak, and Allen. If this group of players manages to find their way back into coach Martin St. Louis’ lineup before the trade deadline, that could change the team’s approach to the deadline drastically. GM Kent Hughes would have more healthy players to be able to potentially shop, and teams eyeing the Canadiens’ roster for potential upgrades would have a set of additional options whose health situations would be far less murky. So, regardless of the team’s appetite to trade any of these players, this progression in their health situations puts the team closer to having more options as the March 21st deadline approaches.
Jake Allen to the Oilers makes a ton of sense…low contract and can carry the load as a number 1
@habs93 – Are we banking on Carey getting back to full health (and staying that way)? And, with Montembeault guest starring as the Ace in the Hole? Or, is the thinking that Montembeault gets the boot, in favor of The Hammond Organ Grinder? If they don’t start doing a better job at development in Laval, Primeau’s going to get ruined. That rebuild could last and last…
And even IF Price comes back to full health … except for three playoff series last season, Price hasn’t been much good for several years now. Expecting him to come back and be the answer in net is as much of a mirage as that playoff run.
With all that, I think Montreal’s going to look an awful lot like Buffalo post-Hasek. They’re going to spend the next several years chewing up goalies and spitting them out, cursing them for daring not to be Peak Price.
No I think most Habs fan recognize they witnessed a generational goalie talent. No sense comparing other goalies to Carey.
@SuperSinker – I think it was not so much comparing any of the others to Carey, but rather the fear that the Habs would put all of their eggs in the #31 basket and hope it holds for about 45-55 games. Jake’s comparable+ to a dinged-up CP, but it falls off of the cliff from there.
You’re presuming that Buffalo hockey fans were so much stupider (and less demanding) than Montreal hockey fans are, and Hasek wasn’t just a generational goalie talent: he put together the best six-season stretch any goaltender has in hockey history.
Wouldn’t mind seeing the B’s trade DeBrusk for Domi he’d give them some toughness and protection for their stars they are clearly lacking
Huh? You think the Bruins, of all teams, are being *bullied*?
@Nha Trang – There may have been some forgetfulness about Trent Frederic, or the LBoH #2.
*nods to Mac* Yeah. Ain’t a squad of cream puffs.
So, you are thinking the B’s should offer DeBrusk for Tie Domi, then…?
@forwhomjoshbelltolled – As Tie says to The Demon Barber – “You have a Ryan Reaves AND a Tom Wilson problem. I’m your answer!”
Nah, forwhomjoshbelltolled. Louie DeBrusk was nowhere near the player Tie Domi was.
(ducks)
Domi to the Rangers
I wonder if Kapanen (plus) for Kubalik could be worked out.
Kapanen needs to go to a rebuilding team to find his game.
Why would the Hawks trade Kubalik? He’s a good young player and if they’re really going to rebuild that’s kinda what you’re looking for right? They have like 25 million in cap space next year so far and a 4 million QO is no big deal. I know he’s having an off year but so is the whole organization. Fleury, deHaan, Carpenter and a host of others are FA’s. Whoever wrote this article is delusional. They’d have to get a better offer than a 2nd rd pick I would hope to lose a good young winger. The Hawks might not have a first rd. pick but they have a lot of picks.
I mean the Hawks don’t even have a Goalie signed for next year except Soderbloom. The play for Davidson would be to sign Lankinen to a longer deal and talk Commesso into turning pro. They can sign a veteran G in FA but they should be able to get one fairly cheap. Reichel, Galvas, Slavin, Teply, Beuadin, Kalynuk should all get chances to stay. The guy they probably want to keep would be Murphy, He’s only 28 and they like him. Anybody else on an expiring deal can go at the deadline for whatever they can get. If they keep Fleury to keep whatever promise they made to him fine, Davidson has to prove he’s a man of his word if he wants another FA to ever come here. Fleury won’t stay anyway, He wants no part of a rebuild and making him mad would do more harm than good.