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Deadline Primer 2024

Trade Deadline Primer: Vancouver Canucks

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The calendar has now flipped to March which means the trade deadline is now just days away. Where does each team stand, and what moves should they be looking to make? We continue our look around the league with the Vancouver Canucks.

The Vancouver Canucks have been the surprise of the season, battling for first in the league all year long on the back of fantastic performances from Quinn Hughes, Elias Pettersson, J.T. Miller, and Brock Boeser. Everything is clicking for the Canucks and they’re leaning into it, already making two major trades – both with the Calgary Flames. Vancouver acquired Nikita Zadorov for a pair of draft picks in late November and then sent Andrei Kuzmenko, Hunter Brzustewicz, a first-round pick, and more to the Flames for Elias Lindholm on January 31st. And their front office isn’t slowing down one bit, signing Elias Pettersson to a jaw-dropping, eight-year extension and emerging as candidates for some of the trade market’s biggest names. Vancouver will continue their exciting season at the Trade Deadline, entering with the wind behind their sails, success in the standings, and an eagerness for trades.

Record 

38-17-7, 1st in the Pacific Division

Deadline Status

Eager Buyers

Deadline Cap Space

$2.6MM of cap space on deadline day, 0/3 retention slots used, 46/50 contracts used, per CapFriendly.

Upcoming Draft Picks

2024: VAN 3rd, VAN 4th, VAN 6th, SJS 6th, VAN 7th
2025: VAN 1st, VAN 2nd, VAN 4th, VAN 5th, VAN 6th, VAN 7th

Trade Chips

Conor Garland once again headlines Vancouver’s assets, with the team granting him permission to find a trade in October – though ESPN’s Kevin Weekes reported at the time that Vancouver would likely need to retain some of Garland’s $4.95MM cap hit in a deal. But Garland still had a trade market, with the Washington Capitals interested in acquiring him if they ever found a trade Anthony Mantha. The two are, in fact, quite comparable, with Mantha offering slightly more goal-scoring than Garland, but also sitting two years older and carrying a slightly pricier $5.7MM cap hit. Both players provide reasonable depth scoring, though their consistency can come into question. The Canucks will hope Garland can fetch Mantha’s level of return, or that they can reignite Washington’s interest, though Garland’s hefty salary through the 2025-26 season could prove to be tough to move out.

They could also add to the long list of highly-touted, but unproven, 22-year-olds with Vasily Podkolzin, who hasn’t played in the NHL this season but has managed 28 points in 44 AHL games. Podkolzin would likely come at a cheaper price than his trade-market peers – including Philip Broberg, Arthur Kaliyev, and Kaapo Kakko – but he was previously highly regarded, getting selected 10th-overall in the 2019 NHL Draft and scoring a modest 14 goals and 26 points in 79 games as a rookie in 2021-22. But he hasn’t found much of a groove since then, spending most of the last two seasons in the AHL. He’s still young, and may be victim to a mismatch with Vancouver’s system. Those facts, as well as his previous draft selection, could be enough to earn him high regard. At least, that’s what the Canucks will be hoping for, though it seems unlikely that Podkolzin serves as much more than an additional piece to a bigger offer.

Ultimately, there aren’t many areas of excess in the Canucks lineup – with their wealth of depth forwards being an important safety measure for the playoffs and their defensive depth being tested by injuries all season long. That makes it difficult for any lineup pieces to be moved out and, because of that, draft capital will have to be what Vancouver leans on. They managed to acquire Lindholm without sending away too many picks, still boasting their first and second round picks in the 2025 and 2026 drafts. A first-round pick has been the focus of much of the market this season, and Vancouver will need to be ready to sacrifice future capital if they want to get involved in more big-name acquisitions.

Team Needs

1) Add Depth On Defense – Injuries have plagued the Vancouver Canucks defense all season long, with both Tyler Myers and Carson Soucy currently out week-to-week. And they haven’t had a great answer for it, leaning on options like Noah Juulsen or Mark Friedman to slot into top-four roles. While it’s worked well enough through the season, Vancouver will certainly want more security in the postseason. Luckily, the Philadelphia Flyers are selling off maybe their best defensive pairing this season – Nick Seeler and Sean Walker. Walker signed with the Philadelphia Flyers this summer, moving to a new organization for the first time in his career after six seasons in Los Angeles. And he’s come into his own quickly, offering strong value in all three zones and recording 22 points in 62 games, just two shy of the career-high he set in 2019-20. He’s played over 600 minutes with Seeler this season, and the pair carry a combined $3.425MM cap hit. Better yet, they’re both set to become free agents this summer, giving Vancouver plenty of flexibility. Walker would provide a serious boost to the Canucks’ everyday lineup, while Seeler would be a great injury fill-in – and they offer the unique chance to buy already-established chemistry. A deal likely wouldn’t be cheap, with the Flyers reportedly hoping for a first-round pick for Walker, but reeling in one or both Flyers defenders could go a long way towards solidifying the Canucks lineup.

2) Take A Chance On Top-Line Wingers – Things are working plenty well for the Canucks offense, which boasts both the top-end scoring and bottom-end depth needed to win a lot of games. But enough is never enough, and if the Canucks can bring in top market names like Jake Guentzel or Pavel Buchnevich, they absolutely should. Both players will come at a hefty price – likely requiring multiple first-round picks or top prospects – but they each bring point-per-game scoring potential on the wing. The Canucks still have room for competition in their top-six, with Ilya Mikheyev and Nils Hoglander each falling a bit short of their linemates. Both Guentzel and Buchnevich would offer a major upgrade, likely bringing even more of a boost to Pettersson, Lindholm, and Miller – while giving Vancouver more options for their bottom-six. While the Canucks have been red-hot this season, it’s still not clear if they have enough to overcome titans like the Vegas Golden Knights or Boston Bruins. This could be the Trade Deadline, and the trade targets, to fix that – if Vancouver can stomach the inevitably high costs.

Trade Deadline Primer: Toronto Maple Leafs

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With the All-Star break in the rearview, the trade deadline looms large and is now less than two weeks away. Where does each team stand, and what moves should they be looking to make? We continue our look around the league with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

The more things change, the more they stay the same for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Despite parting ways with Kyle Dubas and Jason Spezza this summer, bringing in multiple new faces including Tyler Bertuzzi, Max Domi, and John Klingberg, and receiving modest efforts from multiple goalies – the Leafs once again find themselves in a familiar spot, poised to add at the Trade Deadline to try and bring an oomph behind their star power. But unlike previous years, Toronto is getting hot at the right time, winning 13 of their last 16 games and outscoring opponents 66-to-43. Every piece of the lineup seems to be clicking, with Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner paving history, Ilya Samsonov and Joseph Woll one-upping each other in net, and depth options like Calle Jarnkrok making big impacts coming off injured reserve. The Leafs could have enough chemistry to forgo any Deadline action, but they’ll be a favorite for top names if they do get involved.

Record

35-17-8, 3rd in the Atlantic Division

Deadline Status

Buyers on a budget

Deadline Cap Space

$144,166 of cap space on deadline day, 0/3 retention slots used, 48/50 contracts used, per CapFriendly.

Upcoming Draft Picks

2024: TOR 1st, NYI 3rd, TOR 4th, TOR 5th, CGY 5th, VAN 5th, TOR 7th, OTT 7th
2025: TOR 5th, CHI 5th, TOR 6th, TOR 7th

Trade Chips

The Leafs are undeniably positioned as buyers ahead of the Deadline, and their trade chips match that. Leading the list is young winger Nicholas Robertson, who Toronto recently sent to the AHL to make room for Jarnkrok’s return. This season has marked Robertson’s first year in a full-time NHL role but he doesn’t have too much to show for it – managing a modest eight goals and 19 points in 41 games. Much of his ice time has come on the team’s third line, playing alongside either Jarnkrok or John Tavares at center. Robertson has yet to find his groove, despite strong linemates, but Toronto will need him to carry value – as the team has very little draft capital to work with. He joins a long list of promising, but so far unsuccessful, 22-year-olds on the trade market – including Philip Broberg, Arthur Kaliyev, and Kaapo Kakko – and like them, Robertson likely doesn’t yield a major return outright. But he’ll be a focal piece of any package the Leafs put together – with the team hoping his remaining potential is enough to swing a big trade.

If Robertson isn’t enough, it’s likely that Toronto turns towards their strong AHL pipeline before they sell off more draft capital. The Toronto Marlies are having a slow season overall – with a 23-18-11 record ranking them fifth in the AHL’s North Division – but they boast a long list of young talents that could draw interest from around the league. Headlining the list is 6’7” goaltender Dennis Hildeby, who’s managed 13 wins and a .912 save percentage in 28 games this season. It’s Hildeby’s first season in North American pros, though he played his first full pro season last year, when he recorded 11 wins and a .918 in 21 games with the SHL’s Färjestad BK. Hildeby has been a routine call-up this season, but has yet to make his NHL debut. He has loads of untapped potential and, with Woll returning strong from injury and Matt Murray progressing after double hip surgery, teams may be able to convince Toronto to, “sell high”, on the 22-year-old netminder.

The Marlies also boasts swiss-army-knife Alex Steeves, hard-nosed centerman Nicholas Abruzzese, or former seventh-round pick Ryan Tverberg. Steeves leads the bunch in scoring, with 43 points in 46 games, though Tverberg is the youngest of the trio at 22, while Steeves and Abruzzese are 24. The Leafs could even sell off top defensive prospect Topi Niemelä, who leads all Marlies defenders in scoring but hasn’t yet made his NHL debut.

While it’s never ideal to sell off talents before they get a shot at the NHL, it could be all Toronto can part with – with their NHL lineup looking fairly consistent. Backup goaltenders Ilya Samsonov and Martin Jones may end up expendable for the right price, though the Leafs would need to make sure they’ve found a confident starter before dealing away any goalies, including Hildeby. They similarly can’t spare much depth at forward, though the recent hot flashes of Bobby McMann or Pontus Holmberg could entice teams that need a little more certainty headed into the postseason.

Team Needs

1) An Answer On Defense – The Maple Leafs’ questions on defense are just getting tougher as time goes on, with veteran T.J. Brodie beginning to slow down and injuries catching the likes of Ilya Lyubushkin, Jake McCabe, and Timothy Liljegren at one point or another. While the Leafs have managed well through the challenges, they’ve had to rely on the likes of Maxime Lajoie and Marshall Rifai to get there. It’s clear that they’re missing key pieces on the blue line, and rumors have confirmed that they’re looking into the market’s top defenders. This includes top Calgary Flames defenseman Noah Hanifin, who seems near certain to move this Deadline. Hanifin has scored 11 goals – a career-high – and 35 points through 60 games this season. He’s on pace to narrowly fall short of his career-high in points as well, currently scoring at a 47-point pace through 82 games. Toronto is one of many teams involved in Hanifin trade talks – alongside the Arizona Coyotes, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Florida Panthers. But the Leafs may be in the best position to acquire the pending free agent, boasting a first-round pick unlike Florida, and a better short-term outlook than Arizona and Tampa. If the Leafs miss out on Hanifin, their best alternatives will likely be Philadelphia’s Sean Walker or Ottawa’s Jakob Chychrun. Chychrun was notably in trade talks at last year’s Deadline, moving from the Arizona Coyotes to the Ottawa Senators. He’s since managed 11 goals and 38 points in 71 games with the Senators, though their current situation makes him expendable to playoff teams looking for a defensive boost. Chychrun brings strong puck-moving skills, but may not have the defensive punch Toronto could use. That could be the factor that shifts them towards Walker, who’s offered a much more well-rounded skillset this season, while still scoring 22 points in 62 games.

2) Depth For The Playoffs – The Leafs have kicked off their Deadline early, sending a third-and-sixth-round draft pick away in exchange for Ilya Lyubushkin. While that acquisition has been debated, it leans into exactly what Toronto needs – more depth for the playoffs. They’ve boasted a strong minor-league system for many years but continue to fall flat in the postseason, thanks to an overreliance on star names or poorly timed injuries. While acquiring a big-name goaltender like Juuse Saros or Jacob Markstrom – or reeling in a star forward like Pavel Buchnevich or Jake Guentzel – would be certainly exciting, it’d undercut the fantastic talents that already lead Toronto’s lineup. They’d be better off focusing on less discussed Deadline names, like Jordan Eberle or Jack Roslovic – two players that could still manage big impacts in quaint roles. Nick Seeler and Andrew Peeke offer similar value on defense. These options would come at a significantly cheaper price, while still helping the Leafs build a lineup that can reliably drive them deep into the postseason. Toronto is having plenty of success with their current lineup, but any additions should be focused on patching the defense or solidifying their supporting cast – acquisitions that their limited assets will likely limit them to.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Trade Deadline Primer: Tampa Bay Lightning

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The calendar has now flipped to March which means the trade deadline is now just days away. Where does each team stand, and what moves should they be looking to make? We continue our look around the league with the Tampa Bay Lightning.

For the past several years, the Lightning have been legitimate Stanley Cup contenders but all teams eventually reach the point where they can no longer get to that level.  With Tampa Bay currently holding down the final Wild Card spot in the East, that point may very well have arrived.  However, don’t expect that to dissuade GM Julien BriseBois as he’ll almost certainly be looking to add to his roster in the coming days.

Record

32-24-6, 5th in the Atlantic

Deadline Status

Buyer

Deadline Cap Space

$7.383MM of LTIR space on deadline day, 1/3 retention slots used, 45/50 contracts used, per CapFriendly.

Upcoming Draft Picks

2024: TB 3rd, TB 5th, TB 6th, CHI 7th, MIN 7th, TB 7th
2025: TB 2nd, TB 3rd, TB 4th, TB 5th, TB 6th, TB 7th

Tampa Bay previously traded their 2024 and 2025 first-round picks in the Brandon Hagel and Tanner Jeannot trades respectively.  Both of those selections are top-ten protected.

Trade Chips

The Lightning aren’t in a spot where they can realistically move away any of their core players from their roster so instead, their non-draft-pick chips are going to come from their prospect pool.  More specifically, players that might be on the cusp of an NHL opportunity might be their best options to deal from.

Up front, Waltteri Merela comes to mind as someone who fits that profile.  He was up with the Lightning for a good chunk of time at the start of the season – getting into 19 games – but eventually was sent to the minors where he has fared relatively well since then with 20 points in 34 games.  Signed last spring after some strong years in Finland, the 25-year-old fits as a potential low-cost player who could hold his own on the fourth line for a couple of years.  A restricted free agent this summer, Merela should land somewhere close to the league minimum with a one-way offer.  This type of profile isn’t the most exciting for trade purposes but teams may value that over one of their later-round selections.

Defensively, Emil Martinsen Lilleberg is in a similar situation.  He has played 21 games with the Lightning this season after signing with them in the spring, days after Arizona opted not to sign the 23-year-old.  Martinsen Lilleberg has played a sheltered role thus far but has put up positive possession numbers while logging a little under 16 minutes a night.  He has another year left on his entry-level deal and would likely be viewed as near NHL-ready depth, something sellers are often interested in.  Maxwell Crozier is in his first professional campaign and has suited up 11 times with the Lightning.  He’s also 23 and has another year left on his deal and falls into a similar category as Martinsen Lilleberg.

Their best trade chip, if they’re willing to move him, might be goaltender Hugo Alnefelt.  The 22-year-old has shown steady improvement in his first three years in North America and as things stand, he profiles as the eventual partner for Andrei Vasilevskiy who is signed through the 2027-28 season and likely isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.  Accordingly, the smarter play might be to move Alnefelt and with the year he’s having with AHL Syracuse (2.31 GAA, .910 SV% in 22 games), his value should be up.  If a selling team has a near-term opening coming in the crease, someone like Alnefelt would be appealing.

Of their unsigned prospects, Isaac Howard is the headliner.  The 19-year-old forward was a first-round pick in 2022 (31st overall) and after struggling in his freshman year at Minnesota-Duluth, he has been a point-a-game player at Michigan State.  With their next two first-round picks being spoken for, Howard is the one piece they have in their prospect pool that carries similar value.  If BriseBois is inquiring about anyone of significance, it won’t take long for the other team to ask about Howard.

Other Potential Trade Chips: F Alex Barre-Boulet, F Gage Goncalves, D Philippe Myers, F Eamon Powell

Team Needs

1) Defensive Upgrades – Injuries on the back end have been an issue for the Lightning this season, resulting in some of their youngsters getting early NHL opportunities.  But while most of those players have eventually come back, that isn’t the case for Mikhail Sergachev who is believed to be out for the rest of the regular season and a good chunk of the playoffs after undergoing surgery last month to stabilize fractures to his left tibia and fibula.  Their entire cap space is based on his presence on LTIR.  They need a top-four player at a minimum and potentially two to take some pressure off some of the players they have toward the bottom of their depth chart.

2) Backup Goalie Upgrade – Tampa Bay needs to have a low-cost backup goaltender with how their salary cap spending is structured, resulting in long-time third-string netminder Jonas Johansson getting the nod.  While he held his own early on when Vasilevskiy was injured, he has hardly played since then, playing just seven times since December.  When he has got the nod in that stretch, he hasn’t fared well, posting a save percentage of just .862.  While it’s quite possible that Johansson is the backup again next season, Tampa Bay could use some of their rest-of-year cap flexibility to get a more proven second-stringer on an expiring contract to give Vasilevskiy an extra night off here and there.  That might be beneficial from a rest perspective as they’ll need him at his best for the postseason if they can get in.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Trade Deadline Primer: St. Louis Blues

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With the All-Star break in the rearview, the trade deadline looms large and is now less than two weeks away. Where does each team stand, and what moves should they be looking to make? We continue our look around the league with the St. Louis Blues.

Last year, the Blues were one of the more active teams at the trade deadline, moving out Vladimir Tarasenko, Ryan O’Reilly, and Ivan Barbashev in separate deals. Outside of selling off pending unrestricted free agents, St. Louis did prepare to compete for this season, acquiring Jakub Vrana from the Detroit Red Wings and claiming Kasperi Kapanen off waivers, both of whom are still with the organization. With a lack of expiring contracts for star players, the Blues will not likely sell as much as they did last year, but could still trim their roster along the edges.

Record

30-26-2, 5th in the Central Division

Deadline Status

Conservative Sellers

Deadline Cap Space

$2.21MM of cap space on deadline day, 0/3 retention slots used, 47/50 contracts used, per CapFriendly.

Upcoming Draft Picks

2024: STL 1st, STL 2nd, TOR 2nd, STL 3rd, NYR 3rd, STL 4th, STL 5th, STL 7th, NYI 7th
2025: STL 1st, STL 2nd, STL 3rd, STL 4th, STL 5th, STL 6th

Trade Chips

Last week, there were reports that St. Louis was not necessarily shopping forward Pavel Buchnevich, but was listening to offers, easily making him their top trade chip heading into the deadline. Given that Elias Lindholm and Sean Monahan have each commanded a first-round pick to acquire, Buchnevich could easily fetch a similar return given that he is still signed for one more season at $5.8MM. Now in his third season with the Blues organization, Buchnevich is once again performing at a first-line level, scoring 23 goals and 47 points in 56 games so far this year.

Outside of Buchnevich, there are a few players in St. Louis currently on expiring contracts that would allow the Blues to add to their draft capital over the next two seasons. For a contending team looking to beef up their bottom-six forward group, Oskar Sundqvist, and Sammy Blais are both physical players that could add some grit to any lineup. Throughout this year, the two have combined for 223 hits in 102 games, and are sixth and first on the team in that category, respectively.

On the back end, Marco Scandella is the only pending unrestricted free agent in St. Louis, and could seamlessly transition into any team’s bottom-pairing. Although dealing with some injury concerns over the last two seasons, Scandella is still one of the better defensive defensemen in the league as evidenced by his 92.2 on-ice save percentage in all situations this season. Given that Scandella is no longer a top-four option on the blue line, he should only command a mid-round pick at this year’s deadline.

Team Needs

1) [Continue To Get Younger] – After last year’s selloff, the Blues got considerably younger, especially by adding two more first-round pick at last year’s draft. With Zachary Bolduc, Zach Dean, Jimmy Snuggerud, and Dalibor Dvorsky ready for full-time roles in the next few years, St. Louis needs to trim around the edges to open up roster spots for these young prospects. With only nine points separating 6th and 12th place in the Western Conference, the Blues could take advantage of a very competitive conference as soon as next season. Suppose the organization is amenable to moving out all of Kapanen, Blais, and Sundqvist within the next week. In that case, this should open up the necessary roster spots to start moving their prospects in.

2) [Look Into Capitalizing On Goaltending Market] – If the Blues are willing to become very aggressive at this year’s deadline, they could look into moving Jordan Binnington to one of the several goalie-desperate contending teams. Binnington has been solid this year for St. Louis, producing a 20-16-2 record in 41 games played, coupled with a .909 SV% and a 2.93 GAA. However, the team seemingly has an heir apparent ready to take over the starting role in 23-year-old Joel Hofer, whom the team drafted 107th overall in the 2018 NHL Draft. In his first full season with the Blues, Hofer has earned a 10-10-0 record in 22 games while producing a .910 SV% which places him at 14th in the league for goaltenders who have played in 20 or more games.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Trade Deadline Primer: Seattle Kraken

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With the All-Star break in the rearview, the trade deadline looms large and is now less than two weeks away. Where does each team stand, and what moves should they be looking to make? We continue our look around the league with the Seattle Kraken.

The Seattle Kraken’s ship is leveling out after an inaugural season that saw them fail to reach 30 wins, and a 2022-23 season that saw them outscore most of the league en route to the second round of the playoffs. Unfortunately, the middle ground between one dismal season and one electric season hasn’t produced much. The Kraken are in the midst of a fairly boring season, ranked as the fifth-lowest-scoring team in the league and one of six teams caught up in the Western Conference Wild Card race. It hasn’t been a necessarily bad year for the Kraken, but they’ll need to find a spark if they want to push for the playoffs once again. Luckily, the 2024 Trade Deadline should offer plenty of opportunity for Seattle to bring in high-impact players and build a lineup that can compete into the Spring.

Record

25-22-11, 6th in the Pacific Division

Deadline Status

Reluctant Buyers

Deadline Cap Space

$4.93MM of cap space on deadline day, 0/3 retention slots used, 46/50 contracts used, per CapFriendly.

Upcoming Draft Picks

2024: SEA 1st, SEA 2nd, SEA 3rd, TOR 3rd, SEA 4th, SEA 6th, SEA 7th, CGY 7th
2025: SEA 1st, SEA 2nd, SEA 3rd, SEA 4th, SEA 5th, SEA 6th, SEA 7th

Trade Chips

The Kraken has managed to draft phenomenally well in their few years of existence, already promoting two top picks into routine NHL roles in Matthew Beniers and Ryker Evans. The team also boasts the acclaimed Shane Wright, Jagger Firkus, and Jani Nyman in their pool – among a long list of talented names. Their strength at the draft helps Seattle in a menagerie of ways – but most notably, it makes their future draft picks a bit more expendable. While the next three drafts each carry talented top-ends, the Kraken shouldn’t pass up the chance to make a splash just because it’d cost them high draft picks. A first-round pick has been the starting point of many rumors this winter and the pricier players on the market could cost upwards of two first-round picks. That’s a lot of capital to send off, but the Kraken has already built a robust prospect pool that should survive a couple of years without top picks.

If Seattle isn’t ready to move draft capital, their best trade value will come from marketing veterans like Jordan Eberle. Eberle has provided value in all three zones this season, boasting 14 goals and 35 points through 54 games this season. He’s been a focal piece of Seattle’s power play, scoring nine points on the man advantage this season, and ranks atop the team with a 54.44 CF% (Corsi-For Percentage). What’s best – Eberle carries a quant $5.5MM cap hit this season, and is set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer. He’s a short-term rental that could fill a lot of different roles for contending teams. If teams aren’t interested in Eberle, Seattle also offers similar value in the likes of Brandon Tanev and Tomas Tatar. The team could also see interest in Alexander Wennberg, who has taken on a prominent utility role in Seattle – playing on both special teams and operating as a go-to option on the faceoff. Seattle will have to ask themselves which veterans are expendable, with the team still wanting to keep enough together to push for a successful Spring, but their long list of options gives Seattle plenty to entertain this Deadline.

Other trade candidates: Justin Schultz (D, $3MM cap hit until 2024), Brian Dumoulin (D, $3.15MM cap hit until 2025), Chris Driedger (G, $2.35MM cap hit until 2024)

Team Needs

1) Swing For The Fences – The Seattle Kraken offense has not been good this season. They rank 27th in the league in goals and have only seen three players – Jared McCann, Vince Dunn, and Oliver Bjorkstrand – even top 40 points through their first 58 games this season. It’s clear that the Kraken need a spark to breathe life below their first line. Luckily, St. Louis has made star winger Pavel Buchnevich available. Buchnevich is a fantastic option for teams looking for a difference-maker, with the 28-year-old winger boasting 22 goals and 46 points in 55 games this season, and 189 points in 191 career games with the Blues. He’s scored at least 20 goals in five of his eight years in the NHL, including each of the last four seasons. And what’s best – Buchnevich carries a manageable $5.8MM cap hit through the end of next season. That means any trade will provide benefits through the end of next year, which could be a saving grace for a Kraken team at the tail end of the playoff race. Unfortunately, St. Louis could be asking for as much as two first-round draft picks in exchange for Buchnevich. That’s a tall ask, especially considering Seattle currently only has two first-round picks in the next two years. A strong prospect pool, and luck in the later rounds of the draft, could be enough to convince Seattle to pay the price. Though, if the Kraken are willing to spend big this Deadline, they could also pursue Trevor Zegras, likely the most expensive asset on the open market this year but maybe the most fruitful as well. Zegras, 22, has broken the 60-point mark in each of the last two seasons, though he has just seven points in 20 games this year. Still, the former top-10 draft pick offers amazing potential and would provide an instant boost to Seattle’s future lineup. A deal for Zegras will likely need top prospects attached to draft picks but could offer a blockbuster deal for Seattle to pursue.

2) Choose A Side – The Kraken are presently in a strange limbo, not far enough away from the playoffs to start thinking about next year but still too close to sell off a list of veterans. They will need to decide what direction they want to take the team in ahead of the Deadline – and their choice will help them decide how expendable players like Wennberg, Yanni Gourde, or even Jaden Schwartz are. The Kraken are slowly building a strong lineup, though they’re still missing a few key pieces and have a few years before high-impact prospects like Shane Wright will establish everyday roles. The opportunity to add future capital, either through young lineup pieces or draft picks, could be tempting for a Kraken team that’s seen their youth perform well. But too much selling this year could doom Seattle to a few more years of monotony. The Kraken are in the midst of an in-between year after their first two seasons sat on each extreme, and now face the challenging question of what they want their team’s direction to be. The 2024 Trade Deadline should give fans a full look at how Seattle’s top brass answers that question.

Trade Deadline Primer: San Jose Sharks

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With the All-Star break in the rearview, the trade deadline looms large and is now less than two weeks away. Where does each team stand, and what moves should they be looking to make? We continue our look around the league with the San Jose Sharks.

The San Jose Sharks are in the midst of a monstrously bad season. The year kicked off with an 11-game losing streak, which the Sharks have since topped with a 12-game losing streak in December. They’ve wrestled with the Chicago Blackhawks for dead-last in the league for most of the season, currently tied with 35 points, though San Jose has played in three fewer games. The franchise has trained their focus entirely on the future, eagerly anticipating their chance to draft local talent Macklin Celebrini in the 2024 NHL Draft. But the Trade Deadline offers an exciting appetizer before the draft, with San Jose offering some of the best value on the open market and likely in a position to take on any assets they’re offered. With the right aggression and a lucky market, San Jose could be poised to make foundational moves over the next few weeks.

Record

15-36-5, 8th in the Pacific Division

Deadline Status

Major Sellers

Deadline Cap Space

$11.38MM of cap space on deadline day, 2/3 retention slots used, 48/50 contracts used, per CapFriendly.

Upcoming Draft Picks

2024: SJS 1st, PIT 1st*, SJS 2nd, NJD 2nd**, VGK 4th, PIT 5th, SJS 7th, NJD 7th
2025: SJS 1st, SJS 2nd, SJS 3rd, SJS 4th, WPG 4th, SJS 6th, SJS 7th, WSH 7th

* 2024 pick is top-10 protected. Penguins will have the option to send their 2025 first-round pick if the pick ends up in the top-10.
** If the Devils make the 2024 Eastern Conference Final, they will send their 2024 first-round pick.

Trade Chips

San Jose has a nearly endless list of assets available at this deadline, offering value at every position and at every scale. They likely won’t find a blockbuster deal at forward, with both Logan Couture and Tomas Hertl carrying hefty cap hits and again dealing with injury, but the Sharks could make a splash by trading starting goaltender Kaapo Kahkonen, who carries a .905 save percentage despite San Jose’s losing season. Kahkonen has a modest $2.75MM cap hit and is set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer, making any trade a short-term commitment for contending teams.

But really, there are likely not many names San Jose wouldn’t hear out offers on. Anthony Duclair and Mikael Granlund headline a long list of Sharks forwards that could be moved. Granlund has a pricey $5MM cap hit through the end of next season, but he’s proven to be a dynamic playmaker in San Jose, recording 25 assists and 32 points through 43 games this season. Duclair is a budget option, coming in at $2MM cheaper than Granlund, and is set to become an unrestricted free agent this off-season. He has a measly 19 points in 51 games this season, but he scored 31 goals and 58 points in 74 games with the Florida Panthers two seasons ago, and could benefit from a livelier offense than San Jose’s. San Jose also offers admirable depth in Nico Sturm, Mike Hoffman, and Justin Bailey – all likely cheap options for teams that find a lineup fit.

There is also the matter of Mario Ferraro, who’s appeared in trade rumors every time they flare up, and for good reason. The 25-year-old defenseman has a great contract, boasting a $3.25MM cap hit through the end of the 2025-26 season, and has established himself as a strong defensive presence through San Jose’s woes. It’s always hard to place the right value on defensive stalwarts, but any trade for Ferraro comes with the added benefit of opening room for Shakir Mukhamadullin in the Sharks lineup, making any potential return easier to pallet.

Team Needs

1) Take What You Can Get – The Sharks have a great framework forming. Fabian Zetterlund and Filip Zadina are each finding their own groove, supporting William Eklund’s push of youth into San Jose’s forward group, and the team boasts strong prospects in Quentin Musty, William Smith, and Daniil Gushchin. That should be enough to let San Jose seek out as much value for their veteran forwards as they can find, confident that they find proper replacements. The Sharks only have six picks in the top two rounds of the 2024 and 2025 NHL Drafts, while the Arizona Coyotes and Chicago Blackhawks each have nine. San Jose is a step behind of their counterparts in the race for future capital but they have a chance to catch up this March. An ideal deadline will see Mike Grier’s phone constantly ringing, and players like Duclair, Granlund, Kahkonen, and Ferraro all moved out for modest draft capital at the least. Future capital is more valuable to the Sharks than veteran talents – and it will be better for the team to leave the Deadline with any semblance of the former, rather than too much of the latter.

2) Be Active Sellers – The market is too rich for San Jose to get bogged down with just negotiating their own pieces. Players like Kaapo Kakko, Arthur Kaliyev, and Philip Broberg have all been made available and could help the Sharks kickstart their lineup of the future. The Sharks could also try to go all-out by acquiring Trevor Zegras, who has reportedly been shopped around by the Anaheim Ducks. Zegras has everything a team would want in a young player. He’s in the first year of a bridge contract that carries a $5.75MM cap hit until the end of the 2025-26 season, giving any new team plenty of time to fit him into their lineup before they commit big dollars. And Zegras will certainly demand it at some point. The 22-year-old forward has scored 23 goals in each of the last two seasons, rounding them out with 61 points and 65 points respectively. He’s quickly proven effective in the NHL, capable of playing top-line minutes and serving as his team’s leading scorer. Zegras also entered the league as a winger but worked with the Ducks development staff to take on a center role, giving him flexibility that few young players have. There may not be a pricier player this Trade Deadline – but there also may not be a team more poised to pay big than the Sharks. San Jose doesn’t have the draft capital of some of their peers, but they have a deep prospect pool, strong lineup pieces, and plenty of cap space, giving them a chance to take something on in addition to offering a big return. Zegras is undoubtedly a longshot for any team this Deadline, but he headlines a long list of young players available this year – a list the Sharks should be eagerly engaged in.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Trade Deadline Primer: Pittsburgh Penguins

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With the All-Star break in the rearview, the trade deadline looms large and is now less than two weeks away. Where does each team stand, and what moves should they be looking to make? We continue our look around the league with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

When new Penguins GM Kyle Dubas traded for Erik Karlsson over the summer, it looked as if Pittsburgh was aiming to take another crack at a long playoff run.  However, things haven’t gone according to plan as they find themselves outside the playoff picture at the moment although they do have enough games in hand to get right back into the mix.  Accordingly, they’re a team whose decision on buying or selling could come right down to the last minute.

Record

26-21-8, 6th in the Metropolitan

Deadline Status

Light Buyer or Reluctant Seller

Deadline Cap Space

$4.5MM of LTIR space on deadline day, 1/3 retention slots used, 48/50 contracts used, per CapFriendly.

Upcoming Draft Picks

2024: PIT 2nd, PIT 4th, PIT 6th, NYR 7th, PIT 7th
2025: PIT 1st*, PIT 3rd, PIT 4th, PIT 5th, PIT 6th, PIT 7th

*-If Pittsburgh’s first-round pick this season lands in the top ten, the Penguins have the option to keep it and send San Jose an unprotected 2025 first-round selection as part of the Karlsson trade.

Trade Chips

If the Penguins become sellers, the top chip they have to play is winger Jake Guentzel who could very well be the top forward that moves in the next week and a half.  What doesn’t help their cause, however, is that he’s currently on LTIR with an upper-body injury although he’s at least expected back soon after the minimum required absence of 10 games and 24 days.  Guentzel sits second on the team in scoring with 52 points in 50 games so far and is the type of top-line addition that doesn’t become available too often at the deadline.  On an expiring $6MM contract, the 29-year-old will be eyeing a significant raise on a long-term (or even max-term) agreement; wherever he is after the deadline passes will be the only team that can give him an eighth year directly without needing a sign-and-trade.  Worth noting, it’s his LTIR placement that covers all of their current cap space at the moment; Pittsburgh will be quite tight to the Upper Limit when he’s activated.

[Related: Poll: Which Team Will Trade For Jake Guentzel?]

Whether they buy or sell, goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic could attract some interest.  The 28-year-old has had a nice bounce-back year after spending a lot of last season in the minors and a 2.67 GAA and a .915 SV% along with a $1.5MM price tag could be appealing for teams looking to upgrade their second-string netminder.  If the Penguins are comfortable with veteran Magnus Hellberg as their backup, that would give them a bit of extra spending room ($615K pro-rated).

Buyers are always looking for depth down the middle and while Pittsburgh doesn’t have any viable rental options (Jeff Carter likely isn’t moving with a full no-move clause and a $3.125MM price tag), Lars Eller and Noel Acciari are non-rental veterans who would attract some interest.  Both moved at last year’s deadline and had some success with their new teams so they’ve demonstrated they can come in late and still contribute.  Eller has one year left after this at $2.45MM while Acciari has two more at $2MM per, price tags that shouldn’t be overly prohibitive for some buyers.

If they wind up being light buyers, prospect Samuel Poulin is someone who stands out as a prospect teams might inquire about.  The 23-year-old is wrapping up his entry-level deal this season and is having a good year although he’s currently out with an injury.  Waiver-eligible next year, there should be some teams that want to take a look at him at the NHL level that might move someone who could help Pittsburgh’s playoff push.

Other Potential Trade Chips: F Joona Koppanen, D Chad Ruhwedel, D Dmitri Samorukov, D Ty Smith

Team Needs

1) Youth – This one comes directly from Dubas who noted earlier this week that he’d like to see this team get younger.  Considering they have the oldest average age in the NHL at 31.3, he’s not wrong about that.  With a core group that’s considerably older than the average, getting younger won’t be an easy task or a short-term one but they can start it here by moving out a couple of veterans if they sell and either give the likes of Poulin a chance or acquire a youngster in a trade and get them on the NHL roster.  It won’t move the needle much but they need to start somewhere if they’re going to sell.

2) Secondary Scoring – Let’s flip the strategy and look at them as a buyer now in case they go on a bit of a run in the next few games and decide to try to add to their core.  Going into today’s action, the Penguins ranked 27th in the league in goals scored.  That has largely negated the value of being one of the stingiest defenses in the NHL; even with their scoring struggles, they have the third-best goal differential in the division.  Getting Guentzel back would help but if they could find a way to add a top-six winger (or, failing that, a good third-line piece), that might be worth an extra win or two which might be the difference between making and missing the postseason.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Trade Deadline Primer: Philadelphia Flyers

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With the All-Star break in the rearview, the trade deadline looms large and is now just two weeks away. Where does each team stand, and what moves should they be looking to make? We continue our look around the league with the Philadelphia Flyers.

With an eye on rebuilding, the Flyers have had a surprisingly productive season. Currently sitting in third-place in the Metropolitan Division, Philadelphia has a solid five-point lead for their position, and are headed for the 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs. However, General Manager Daniel Briere has been adamant that the Flyers are not looking to mortgage their future, and may even end up selling a few pieces off by the deadline.

Record

30-21-7, 3rd in the Metropolitan

Deadline Status

Standing Pat/Conservative Seller

Deadline Cap Space

$8.99MM on deadline day, 1/3 retention slots used, 48/50 contracts used, per CapFriendly.

Upcoming Draft Picks

2024: PHI 1st, FLA 1st*, PHI 2nd, CBJ 2nd**, PHI 3rd, PHI 4th, LA 5th, PHI 6th, STL, 6th, PHI 7th
2025: PHI 1st, PHI 2nd, ANA 2nd, PHI 3rd, PHI 4th, PHI 5th, CAR 5th, PHI 6th, PHI 7th

*-If Florida’s first-round pick falls within the top 10 of the 2024 NHL Draft, Philadelphia will receive Florida’s first-round pick in 2025 as apart of the Claude Giroux trade. 

**-Columbus will have until the end of the first-round of the 2024 NHL Draft to decide if they will send Philadelphia their 2024 second-round pick or their 2025 second-round pick as apart of the Ivan Provorov trade. 

Trade Chips

As highlighted today, Philadelphia’s most likely trade chips will be coming out of their defensive core. Defensemen Sean Walker and Nick Seeler are generating the most attention on the market, with the team reportedly listening to offers on veteran center Scott Laughton as well.

Having already engaged with Seeler’s camp about a potential contract extension, it certainly appears that Walker will end up being the odd-man out for the Flyers. Acquired this past offseason in the deal that sent Provorov to the Columbus Blue Jackets, Walker has handled over 19 minutes a night on average over 57 games, scoring three goals and 20 points in the process. Given that they could retain 50% of Walker’s salary in any deal, Philadelphia could look to add even more draft capital for the next two seasons.

The market for Laughton will be a little bit more difficult to ascertain, as he is still signed for two years and $6MM beyond this season. Any team acquiring Laughton will certainly be looking to get more physical ahead of the playoffs with that being the part of his game. Producing a relatively average faceoff rate and defensive metrics, Laughton is good to score between 30-40 points a year, depending on how he would be utilized by the acquiring team.

Team Needs

1) Acquire More Lottery Tickets – Unlike many teams across the league, the Flyers have the opportunity to take their roster in a lot of different directions. Already having a cemented core of Sean Couturier, Travis Konecny, Owen Tippett, Joel Farabee, and Travis Sanheim, the team has the opportunity to add supplementary players in a lot of different ways. Already making a major move along these lines with the acquisition of Jamie Drysdale earlier in the season; a deal such as this should be the strategy for Philadelphia move forward as their deadline approach. While desiring to hold on to their draft capital, the Flyers could look to grab Philip Broberg from the Edmonton Oilers or Arthur Kaliyev from the Los Angeles Kings in return for Walker or Laughton by March 8th.

2) Map-Out Goaltending – Since Carter Hart was granted an indefinite leave of absence on January 23rd due to his inclusion in the 2018 Team Canada sexual assault investigation, the Flyers goaltending has taken a different trajectory alltogether. In the first 47 games of the year, Philadelphia managed a 2.83 GAA and a .901 SV% as a team, helping them stockpile points and make their rise in the standings. Since Hart’s leave, the team has struggled considerably, producing a 3.30 GAA and a .866 SV%. Felix Sandstrom has not inspired much hope this season in Lehigh Valley as he’s only managed an .882 SV% through 20 games, and Ivan Fedotov’s age will likely cut him out as the future of the franchise in net. While many contending teams are looking to improve their situations in the crease, Philadelphia may have to wait until the summer to figure out their plan in goal. Nevertheless, with Hart’s status up in the air moving forward, their long-term vision in net should certainly be on their radar.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Trade Deadline Primer: Ottawa Senators

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With the All-Star break in the rearview, the trade deadline looms large and is now just two weeks away. Where does each team stand, and what moves should they be looking to make? We continue our look around the league with the Ottawa Senators.

This season has not gone according to plan for the Sens.  A popular pick to push for a playoff spot, they have instead languished for most of the year and find themselves at the basement of the Atlantic Division even after a coaching and GM change.  Despite that, there is still a capable young core to try to build around so GM Steve Staios might not necessarily operate as a true seller in his first trade deadline at the helm.

Record

24-27-3, 8th in the Atlantic

Deadline Status

Seller and Light Buyer

Deadline Cap Space

$109.9K on deadline day, 1/3 retention slots used, 47/50 contracts used, per CapFriendly.

Upcoming Draft Picks

2024: BOS/DET 1st* OTT 1st^, OTT 2nd, DET 4th, OTT 4th, TB 4th, OTT 5th, OTT 6th
2025: OTT 1st^, OTT 2nd, OTT 3rd, OTT 4th, OTT 5th, OTT 6th, OTT 7th

*-Ottawa will receive the lowest of Boston and Detroit’s first-round picks as part of the Alex DeBrincat trade.

^-Ottawa must forfeit its own first-round pick in either 2024, 2025, or 2026 as punishment for failure to disclose Evgenii Dadonov’s no-trade list in a voided 2022 trade.

Trade Chips

From the moment that they signed Vladimir Tarasenko to a one-year, $5MM contract, speculation began regarding a possible trade if Ottawa found itself out of the playoff race as it clearly is.  After being one of the prizes of the deadline a year ago, he could be a key pickup again for someone this time around as he has 37 points in 52 games so far.  However, he does have a full no-move clause so he can control where he goes and he has recently changed agents.  The Sens are believed to value his off-ice contributions with their young core group so it’s not a guarantee that he moves.  If he does, Ottawa will likely need to retain the maximum 50% of his contract to maximize their return, one that should get them a fairly high draft pick.

The Senators added Dominik Kubalik from Detroit as part of the DeBrincat trade but he has struggled.  After putting up 20 goals and 45 points last season, he has been limited to just nine tallies and a dozen points overall.  At a $2.5MM price tag, the Sens likely won’t be able to get much for him but he could be a buy-low candidate with a bit of upside for a team looking for depth.

On the non-rental side, Jakob Chychrun’s name has come up in plenty of speculation as well.  The Senators have made it clear that they’re not shopping him but with the 25-year-old having another year of team control at an affordable $4.6MM, they’re going to get plenty of calls.  Chychrun has 30 points so far, the second-most of his career while he’s averaging nearly 23 minutes a night.  If a team strikes out on landing Calgary’s Noah Hanifin, Chychrun could very well be a fallback plan although the price to get him should be high; it’s not out of the realm of possibility that they match the return they gave up for him a year ago (a first-round pick and two second-rounders).

Another non-rental option is blueliner Erik Brannstrom.  While he’s on an expiring contract, he’s controllable through restricted free agency through the 2026-27 campaign.  An offensive defenseman at the lower levels, Brannstrom has failed to make a significant impact on that front, notching just 12 in 48 games so far while he’s averaging just 15:43 per game.  Owed a $2MM qualifying offer, it feels like he’s trending toward non-tender territory if he stays in Ottawa so he’d be a potential buy-low candidate if a team wants to take an early look to see if he’d fit better in another system.

Other Potential Trade Chips: F Mathieu Joseph, F Mark Kastelic, F Jiri Smejkal, D Lassi Thomson

Team Needs

1) Cap Space – If Ottawa wants to try to add a piece, they need to free up cap room.  If they need to call up a player for the stretch run, they need cap room.  Basically, the Sens need to move out someone first to give themselves some much-needed flexibility before they can attempt to do much of anything else.

2) Veteran Leadership – This has been a long-reported goal since Staios took over for former GM Pierre Dorion.  While the Senators have some veterans including Claude Giroux and Travis Hamonic, this is still a fairly young core for the most part.  They believe that bringing in the right veteran piece or two could help this team take a step forward.  They’re known to have interest in Chris Tanev as the type of veteran addition they want for the back end but that would make more sense for an offseason move than an in-season one.  But if they can find a bottom-six forward that fits the bill, it wouldn’t be shocking to see them try to add that piece now.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Trade Deadline Primer: New York Rangers

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With the All-Star break in the rearview, the trade deadline looms large and is now just a month away. Where does each team stand, and what moves should they be looking to make? We continue our look around the league with the New York Rangers.

The New York Rangers have once again found themselves in a rare position atop the standings, while still having the cap space to make a splash at the Trade Deadline. They clearly enjoyed this position last season, making seven different trades between the start of February and the March 3rd deadline. That included their acquisitions of Vladimir Tarasenko, Tyler Motte, and Patrick Kane. But their building didn’t lead to much, with New York losing in the first round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Their busy deadline last season has limited the assets they have to work with this year, though New York are still undeniable favorites to add to their roster once again.

Record

37-16-3, 1st in the Metropolitan Division.

Deadline Status

Buyers

Deadline Cap Space

$4.383MM on deadline day, 0/3 retention slots used, 45/50 contracts used, per CapFriendly.

Upcoming Draft Picks

2024: NYR 1st, NYR 2nd, NYR 4th, NYR 5th, NYR 6th
2025: NYR 1st, DAL 4th, NYR 5th, MIN 5th, NYR 6th, NYR 7th

Trade Chips

Despite the Rangers undergoing a dramatic coaching change this summer, they’re on pace to score just two fewer goals and allow 10 more goals than they did last year. And they’re achieving that scoring in a very similar manner – through dominate performances from Artemi Panarin and his top-line co-leads being offset by productive second-liners and a strong defense. Their outlook for the playoffs is largely similar to what it was this time last season, and thus the Rangers need to be prepared to leverage draft capital as their main bargaining piece once again. First-round draft picks have been the starting point in a lot of trade rumors, as well as both the Elias Lindholm and Sean Monahan deals, and that’s certainly where teams will start talks with the Rangers, who still have their top selections in each of the upcoming three draft classes. New York will need to be ready to part with at least one of those selections at the Deadline.

If they’re steadfast on keeping first-round picks, the Rangers’ trade negotiations will have to start with their prospect pool. New York has plenty of promising defensive prospects, including hard-hitting, two-way defenders in Matthew Robertson and Brandon Scanlin. Neither player has scored much this season – boasting 19 and 14 points respectively – but they’ve each earned NHL attention thanks to their long reach and ability to shut down play in their own zone. They are each awaiting their NHL debut as well, which could entice other teams looking to bank on unrealized potential. The Rangers also boast a trio of highly-discussed forward prospects in Brett Berard, Ryder Korczak, and Adam Sýkora. Berard likely offers the most value of this group, largely thanks to his 16 goals and 31 points in 47 games as an AHL rookie this season, but the less-productive rookies  Sykora and Korczak could serve as secondary options in negotiations. New York could also dangle 6’8″ forward Adam Edstrom who, unlike the aforementioned trio, has already made his NHL debut. Regardless of how they go about it, future capital will be the focus of any Rangers deal.

Team Needs

1) Prioritize Depth First – The Rangers threw off the chemistry of their top-six last season, bringing in two high-end wingers in Kane and Tarasenko that each demanded their own ice time. They should be hesitant to make that mistake again this year, with Vincent Trocheck and Alexis Lafrenière serving well as supports to the team’s stars. It’s depth scoring that will really turn the tides for the Rangers, who don’t currently have a bottom-six forward with 20 or more points. Bringing in proven talents like Scott Laughton or Adam Henrique to fill the role left open by Filip Chytil would provide New York with a much-needed punch down their lineup, while also lifting up low-scoring bottom-six pieces like Kaapo Kakko or William Cuylle. Both Henrique and Laughton also offer leadership qualities that would go a long way towards blending the lineup ahead of playoffs, rather than eating away at the ice time of top producers. Both players fit within New York’s cap space, with Henrique making $5.825MM and on an expiring contract, while Laughton makes $3MM through the end of the 2025-26 season.

2) Don’t Be Afraid To Make A Splash – A focus on adding cohesive depth shouldn’t distract the Rangers from shooting for the stars. Former-Ranger Pavel Buchnevich is reportedly available for the right return, which could be as much as two first-round picks. That’s a steep price to pay for a 28-year-old player set to become a free agent in 2025 but Buchnevich’s point-per-game scoring and familiarity with Madison Square Garden may make it worth it. There is a vacant spot on New York’s productive second-line, currently being manned by Jimmy Vesey, who has just 18 points in 54 games this season. Replacing his spot with Buchnevich would fill the Rangers’ top-six with dangerous scorers, without overcommitting to too many stars like the team did last season. It would also give the Rangers much more room to rotate different talents into their bottom-six, able to feature efficient forwards like Jonny Brodsinski or Cuylle or focus on heavy-hitting and grit through the likes of Matt Rempe and Adam Edstrom. Depth has proven to be the X-factor to countless Stanley Cup winners, and earning this degree of flexibility on top of adding a high-end scorer would add tremendous value to the Rangers lineup. Buchnevich is set to make $5.8MM through the end of next season, meaning the Rangers would likely have to part with a lineup piece in order to remain cap-compliant. Acquiring Buchnevich could also eat away at the short list of assets New York is prepared to trade. But the potential rewards of bringing in such a potent winger could be too great to ignore for a Rangers team sat on the cusp of greatness.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

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