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Poll: Which Defenseman Is Most Likely Traded This Season?

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The NHL holiday transaction freeze is just a few days away, and while there is an increased level of chatter among league front offices in comparison to recent years, there’s no guarantee any blockbuster trades are made. Those could very well wait for after the freeze is lifted at the end of December, and in the following two months before the 2019 trade deadline.

Like every year, contenders are looking for defense. Teams like Toronto and Edmonton led by superstar forwards, could use an upgrade in their own end. Unlike most years though, there may be several high-end defensemen available. What is usually an extreme shortage may actually be in ripe supply this year, and Colton Parayko could be the crown jewel. Parayko leads Frank Seravalli’s latest Trade Bait board for TSN, despite much of the speculation around St. Louis focusing on Alex Pietrangelo instead.

Parayko is an obvious target if he is truly available, given his age and immense upside. Everyone who watches the 6’6″ defenseman play can see what a monster he could become if he puts everything together, and at just 25 years of age there is plenty of time for that to happen. The right-handed Parayko has 111 points through 271 games in his career, but likely has even more offensive ability to show in the right situation. That also means he would cost a boatload from any acquiring team, especially given that he’s under contract through 2021-22 at a reasonable $5.5MM per season.

It’s the depth of potentially available defensemen that is so striking though, as Los Angeles Kings duo Alec Martinez and Jake Muzzin both find themselves on Seravalli’s list along with Brett Pesce and Justin Faulk, two right-handed options from Carolina. Those three teams—St. Louis, Los Angeles and Carolina—could create quite a market for desperate buyers, but also could drive each other’s prices down because of heavy supply.

There’s obviously going to be some moves before the trade deadline later in the season, but which high-end defenseman is most likely to be traded? Who will be first? Cast your vote and leave a comment down below detailing who you think will step up and pay the price.

Which defenseman is most likely to be traded in 2018-19?
Alex Pietrangelo 23.72% (274 votes)
Jake Muzzin 22.08% (255 votes)
Justin Faulk 18.44% (213 votes)
Colton Parayko 11.34% (131 votes)
Alec Martinez 10.48% (121 votes)
None of the above 10.04% (116 votes)
Brett Pesce 3.90% (45 votes)
Total Votes: 1,155

[Mobile users click here to vote]

Carolina Hurricanes Had Trade Fall Through At Last Minute

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The Carolina Hurricanes have been rumored to be very interested in adding a scoring forward this season, and they may have almost gotten their wish last week. On the latest edition of Insider Trading for TSN, Pierre LeBrun reports that a deal fell through at the last minute with a Western Conference team. LeBrun restates the Hurricanes’ interest in a top-six forward and while it sounds like William Nylander is off the table after signing his long deal, apparently they have interest in Kasperi Kapanen of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Speculation can run wild on who the Hurricanes were dealing with in the West, but the simple fact is that Carolina is urgently looking to get some more firepower up front. With another goal tonight for the Maple Leafs, Kapanen continues to impress in an elevated position next to Auston Matthews and is setting himself up for a nice contract negotiation of his own in the offseason. The 22-year old forward had struggled to find any real consistency at the NHL level for the first few years of his career, but had 21 points in 31 games coming into tonight’s action and is finally fulfilling the potential that made him a first-round pick. The Maple Leafs of course have other concerns in the summer months, given that Matthews and Mitch Marner are also restricted free agents.

Even if Kapanen is not available—which LeBrun makes no real assertion on one way or the other—there will be plenty of offense to go around as the trade deadline nears later this season. Another name mentioned in the segment by insider Bob McKenzie, though not in specific reference to Carolina is Jeff Carter, who still has three years left on his contract after 2018-19 but isn’t actually owed much salary. That makes him a pretty attractive trade target if teams are willing to sacrifice some young assets for the rebuild in Los Angeles, though nothing seems imminent there either.

One has to wonder whether Carolina will find what they’re looking for soon, given the urgency the front office is likely feeling. The team entered play tonight at 13-12-4 but had scored just 72 goals in those 29 games. That put them ahead of only the Kings, a place you don’t want to be if you’re trying to compete for a playoff spot in the Metropolitan Division.

Jordan Staal Placed On IR, Janne Kuokkanen Recalled

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The Carolina Hurricanes were given a sharp wake-up call last night when they fell to the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-1, and have made a move to try to spark their offense. The team has recalled minor league forward Janne Kuokkanen from the Charlotte Checkers, while moving Jordan Staal to injured reserve. Staal’s stint on IR will be retroactive to December 5th, the last time he played before suffering a concussion.

Micheal Ferland was also removed from last night’s game in the first period after he experienced some minor symptoms, though Darren Dreger of TSN notes that they may not have necessarily been linked to the concussion that has held him out of the lineup recently. Ferland was in his first game back since the injury.

Despite having some of the strongest possession metrics in the league, the Hurricanes can’t seem to finish many of their scoring opportunities this season and now sit second last in the league in goals for. 72 tallies through 29 games is just not enough to compete for a playoff spot, something Kuokkanen will try to help with. The young forward has 11 goals and 27 points in 26 AHL games this season and has looked dominant at times for the Checkers. He played four games for the Hurricanes last season but is still looking for his first NHL point.

Carolina Hurricanes “Very Confident” They Can Sign Adam Fox

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One of the perhaps underrated parts of this summer’s blockbuster trade between the Calgary Flames and Carolina Hurricanes was unsigned prospect Adam Fox. The young defenseman had been selected in the third round of the 2016 draft out of the US National Development Program, but shot up prospect rankings after incredible freshman and sophomore seasons at Harvard. The Flames had tried to get him under contract before the 2018 draft but failed, with Fox committing to return to Harvard for his junior year. That commitment put a ton of risk on Carolina for the acquisition, as there was no guarantee he would ever suit up as a Hurricane.

Now, in a piece that details Fox’ outstanding junior season for Harvard, Sara Civian of The Athletic (subscription required) reports that Carolina is “very confident” they can sign the young defenseman. In fact, Fox himself addresses the rumors that he wants to wait until he’s an unrestricted free agent in order to sign somewhere else:

I know people think I have some plan to sign with the [New York] Rangers because of where I grew up. But my dream, my goal, is to play in the NHL. As soon as possible.

That is huge news for Carolina fans hoping to get a look at Fox before long, and also puts even more intrigue on how the team will navigate the upcoming trade deadline. The Hurricanes already have a glut of young defensemen and have been interested in acquiring a top-end forward for some time. Players like Trevor van Riemsdyk are being underutilized because of the team’s depth, and prospects like Jake Bean can’t crack the lineup. It’s tough to imagine that is a strong negotiating position when sitting down with Fox, who is obviously ready to take the next step to the NHL right away.

If the Hurricanes feel so confident that they can sign Fox after his college season ends, perhaps they’ll be even more motivated to move one of their right-handed defensemen this trade season. That group is made up of van Riemsdyk, Justin Faulk, Dougie Hamilton and Brett Pesce, an incredibly deep unit that would be appealing to just about every team in the league.

Fox meanwhile could always go back to Harvard for his senior season, and potentially become an unrestricted free agent in August of 2020. That threat may have the Hurricanes scrambling to make room for him over the next few months, in order to avoid any last-minute decisions on his part. With the Hurricanes pushing for a playoff spot this season, there’s even the opportunity that Fox could get under contract and make his debut before the end of the NHL year.

Snapshots: Nielsen, Ferland, Senators

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With Seattle being officially announced as the upcoming 32nd franchise in the NHL, teams are already starting to prepare for an upcoming expansion draft. While the Vegas Golden Knights will be exempt from the draft, June 2021 will be a focus for all other 30 teams. One of the most notable rules as we move towards the process is the one surrounding no-movement clauses and their automation protection. Teams’ ability to protect their young skaters will hamstrung by these clauses, and could force them into a trade with Seattle.

The Detroit Red Wings were one of these teams, as it appeared that Frans Nielsen had a no-movement clause that would force protection despite him nearing the end of his playing career by the time the draft rolls around. CapFriendly today reported that they had been mistaken previously when listing Nielsen with that clause, as it actually expired at the end of last season. Nielsen now only holds a modified no-trade clause, which does not have the same restrictions in the draft process.

  • Micheal Ferland has been activated by the Carolina Hurricanes, as he has fully recovered from his recent concussion. The forward still leads the Hurricanes in goals this season despite his four-game absence, and will try to step right back into the top-six role he’d shown the aptitude for. The physical, skilled forward is the only player on Carolina with double digit goals this season, something they’ve sorely lacked all year. Ferland is also a pending unrestricted free agent that carries just a $1.75MM cap hit this season, and will be very appealing to many teams at the deadline if Carolina drops out of the race.
  • Ian Mendes of TSN recently looked at the history of eight-year extensions and when they were usually signed, noting that the Ottawa Senators are approaching “uncharted territory” if they still intend on signing long-term deals with Matt Duchene and Mark Stone. Both players are pending unrestricted free agents and could very well be among the highest-paid players on July 1st. The Senators meanwhile will have to consider long and hard on whether they want to hand out huge extensions during the very early stages of their current rebuild.

Carolina Hurricanes Recall Scott Darling From Charlotte

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The Carolina Hurricanes on again, off again relationship with goaltender Scott Darling continues as the Hurricanes have recalled him with current starter Curtis McElhinney dealing with a lower-body injury. The team hopes that the 29-year-old, who was placed on waivers on Nov. 29, can regain his form this time around.

Darling has hardly been a success since the Hurricanes picked up Darling in an offseason trade in 2017. Carolina immediately signed the heralded backup in Chicago to a four-year, $16.6MM contract, but he struggled when he took over as a full-time starter with a 3.18 GAA and a .888 save percentage in 43 games. The team had high hopes that Darling would bounce back this season as there was constant talk during the offseason that Darling had been working out incredibly hard. However, the results weren’t impressive early in training camp and the team claimed McElhinney off waivers from Toronto to help out in net, giving the team three goaltenders with backup Petr Mrazek in tow as well. However, his numbers were just as bad during the regular season in seven appearances as he posted a 3.14 GAA and a .892 save percentage.

No team claimed Darling as his poor numbers and high-priced contract was too much for any team. However, he has fared much better with the Charlotte Checkers in the AHL over the last couple of weeks as he has made five appearances and has a 2.35 GAA and a .911 save percentage. He was pulled in last night’s game against the Springfield Thunderbirds, but it was likely because the team learned of the call-up then.

Los Angeles Looking To Make Another Move

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When the Los Angeles Kings fired head coach John Stevens on November 4th, the team was 4-8-1 with a points percentage of .346. Since then, L.A. is 7-10-0 with a points percentage of .412. Despite the change behind the bench to Willie Desjardins and also the swap of Tanner Pearson for Carl Hagelin, not much has really changed for the Kings. As such, it’s no surprise that GM Rob Blake is still searching for another trade partner to shake up his roster.

The Ottawa Sun’s Bruce Garrioch reports that the Kings are actively working the phones and are hoping to make another move ahead of the NHL’s holiday roster freeze, beginning on December 19th. That gives Blake ten days to put together another trade. A rumor emerged yesterday that the offensive struggles and hefty contract of Jeff Carter, who lacks any trade protection, could lead the Kings to move the former scoring star this season. However, Garrioch feels that Tyler Toffoli is the more likely name to move next, stating that L.A. is receiving plenty of interest in the young winger. Toffoli’s $4.6MM cap hit is only about $700K less than Carter’s, but expires at the end of next season, whereas the 33-year-old Carter has three years remaining after this season. On top of that, the 26-year-old Toffoli has only two less points than Carter thus far and has the relative youth to change his game on a new team and return to his previous 50-point pace of play. Carter may simply be slowing down and may not be able to make a similar post-trade adjustment. Blake is likely impartial when it comes to moving his disappointing forwards and is likely to get a better return for Toffoli, despite Carter’s name value.

In terms of finding a trade partner, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman hears that the market is active right now. Friedman relayed the opinion that the resolution of the William Nylander situation in Toronto has re-ignited trade interest in other players across the league. In naming a number of teams reportedly looking to make a deal, Friedman not only names the Kings, but also a pair of potential matches in the Boston Bruins and Minnesota Wild. Both teams have strong rosters capable of competing for the Stanley Cup this season, but have run into struggles lately for one reason or another. Both Boston and Minnesota share a need for secondary scoring and have the intriguing young and fast forwards that L.A. would likely look for in return. The Bruins could move on from a Danton Heinen or Anders Bjork to add Toffoli, while the Wild could part with Charlie Coyle or Joel Eriksson Ek. Other teams that would seem to be fits to add a Kings scoring forward include the Carolina Hurricanes, New York Islanders, or Philadelphia Flyers. If Garrioch’s report that Blake is eager to make a move before the Christmas break proves true, a deal involving these players and teams could be on the way soon.

Minor Transactions: 12/08/18

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With ten games on deck today spanning nine hours from first to last puck drop, there is plenty of NHL hockey to watch. The Flyers and Sabres get the action started with an early afternoon matinee, followed by the Golden Knights and Kings with their own early game on the west coast, and then eight contests later tonight, highlighted by Maple Leafs-Bruins, Lightning-Avalanche, Capitals-Blue Jackets, and Predators-Flames. In preparation, expect a flurry of moves today as teams align their rosters for Saturday’s games and beyond:

  • The Arizona Coyotes have recalled forward Michael Bunting from the AHL’s Tuscon Roadrunners, the team announced. Bunting is off to a strong start in the minors this season, currently tied for second on the Roadrunners in scoring with 18 points through 20 games. Bunting led the club in goal scoring last season and finished third in points and his continued success begs for a look at the NHL level. This is not Bunting’s first recall, yet he has not actually seen any game action with Arizona just yet. That could change this week as the ’Yotes look to fend off tough competition in the San Jose Sharks, Boston Bruins, and Buffalo Sabres.
  • As expected, the Calgary Flames have called up forward Alan Quine, per a team release, making it his first recall of the season and first with the club. Quine signed with the Flames this summer, expecting to compete for a regular role, but has instead been relegated to a full-time job with the AHL’s Stockton Heat. He’s certainly made the most of that situation, recording 19 points in 15 games, among the top per-game producers in the AHL. With Mikael Backlund joining Michael Frolik on the shelf for Calgary, Quine should slot in nicely as a capable two-way forward. A strong performance could make it difficult for the team to send him back down to the minors at first opportunity. The Calgary Flames also announced they have recalled defenseman Rinat Valiev from the Stockton Heat of the AHL. He likely was brought up as an emergency option for the team with back-to-back games approaching on Saturday vs. Nashville and Sunday in Edmonton. The 23-year-old is already on his third NHL team after the Flames picked him up right before the season from Montreal in exchange for Brett Kulak. Valiev has three assists in 20 games for Stockton this season.
  • The Winnipeg Jets have returned defenseman Cameron Schilling to Manitoba of the AHL, reports Ken Wiebe of the Winnipeg Sun.  He suited up in four games while on recall, his first NHL action since the 2014-15 season.  With Dustin Byfuglien and Dmitry Kulikov both returning on Friday, Schilling was no longer needed to serve as injury depth and will return to the Moose where he has six assists in 15 games so far this season.
  • The New York Rangers announced that they have recalled center Cole Schneider from Hartford of the AHL.  He is tied for second on the Wolf Pack in scoring with eight goals and nine assists in 25 games so far this season.  If he gets into a game with New York, it will be his first NHL action in more than two years.
  • The Carolina Hurricanes have returned winger Saku Maenalanen and goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic to AHL Charlotte, per a team release.  Maenalanen made his NHL debut last night, logging just 6:49 of ice time.  He has 11 points in 23 games so far with the Checkers.  As for Nedeljkovic, he was recalled to serve as the backup last night with Curtis McElhinney dealing with a minor injury and will now go back to Charlotte where he will likely split playing time with Scott Darling.

 

Carolina Hurricanes Recall Alex Nedeljkovic

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As if the Carolina Hurricanes haven’t had enough goaltending problems this season, the team has seemingly lost Curtis McElhinney for tonight’s matchup against the Anaheim Ducks. The team today recalled Alex Nedeljkovic from the minor leagues, while placing Micheal Ferland on injured reserve. McElhinney left yesterday’s practice early, though there was no update yet from head coach Rod Brind’Amour. With Scott Darling down in the minors already, tonight’s start will likely go to Petr Mrazek.

Nedeljkovic, 22, was a high draft pick for the Hurricanes, selected 37th overall in 2014 out of the OHL. At the time he was coming off an outstanding season with the Plymouth Whalers, but has since struggled a bit to find much consistency. He never did repeat his 2013-14 numbers as he found himself in two other OHL organizations to finish his junior career, and then had minimal success in his first year as a professional. Despite making his NHL debut during the 2016-17 season, he spent time in the ECHL trying to develop his game.

When watching Nedeljkovic, it’s easy to see why scouts still believe he can be an NHL goaltender. His agility in the crease allows him to make some highlight reel saves, and there is an innate ability to battle through traffic and find the puck. Unfortunately, his quick movements can also sometimes get the better of him and over the last season and a half he’s struggled to put up exceptional statistics in the minor leagues. Those stats may be a bit misleading though, as Nedeljkovic always seems to find a way to win for the Charlotte Checkers and may actually be better suited to the NHL in the long run. It seems unlikely that he’ll get another chance right away, but if McElhinney’s injury is anything more than a few days we could see the Hurricanes turn to their young netminder.

Carolina Hurricanes Still Pursuing Top-Six Forward

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The Carolina Hurricanes’ offense was dealt another blow today when Jordan Staal was diagnosed with a concussion, ruling him out for at least a few days if not longer. Staal hasn’t been a dominant scoring presence, but was still logging big minutes as a reliable two-way center that could play in all situations. What Carolina has been searching for all season—and likely even longer than that—has been a top-six forward that can really change the look of their group and provide some instant offense. Tonight, the panel of Insider Trading on TSN focused on the Hurricanes and Pierre LeBrun noted that the team is still desperately trying to upgrade their forward group:

Carolina, which really, really, really wanted to get in on William Nylander but never really got that shot, they want a top-six forward ASAP. They’ve got the surplus on defense to make it happen. 

The Hurricanes never really got that shot at Nylander because the Toronto Maple Leafs ended up signing their young forward at the last minute, but reports had surfaced for weeks that GM Don Waddell had made it clear to them he was interested. That comes as no surprise, given Carolina’s obvious need for a goal scoring talent to move into the group with Sebastian Aho and company if they want to really make a run at the postseason.

Carolina of course sent Jeff Skinner and Elias Lindholm packing in the offseason in two separate trades, bringing back just Micheal Ferland as a forward option. While Ferland has been as good as anyone could have hoped, he’s also missed time with a concussion and doesn’t have the top end potential like a player of Nylander’s caliber. That’s what the Hurricanes seem to be looking for, but whether they’ll get it or not is still to be seen.

A team connected to them by the TSN panel is the Anaheim Ducks, who according to Darren Dreger are looking for a left-handed shot defenseman. The Ducks recently sent away exactly that in Marcus Pettersson, but perhaps they felt there was a need for an upgrade even before trading him for Daniel Sprong. Even with Noah Hanifin now in Calgary, the Hurricanes still have an excess of left-handed options, as Jake Bean looks close to ready to compete at the NHL level. Jaccob Slavin, Calvin de Haan and Haydn Fleury are the other three lefties on the roster, though all three hold plenty of trade value.

There is little reason to think that Anaheim would be the only team interested in Carolina’s defense, especially as the trade deadline approaches. If they do decide to make one of their top names available, there should be plenty of offensive options on the table.

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