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Deadline Primer 2024

Trade Deadline Primer: Columbus Blue Jackets

at CDT | by 8 Comments

With the All-Star break in the rearview, the trade deadline looms large and is about 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 Columbus Blue Jackets.

The Columbus Blue Jackets are in the midst of a disastrous season. The walls started crumbling before the first puck drop of the season when Columbus parted ways with veteran coach Mike Babcock, who the team was looking to bring back from an unceremonious end to his career in the 2019-20 season.

But the problems have persisted in Columbus, with star winger Patrik Laine facing healthy scratches and personal absences, starting goaltender Elvis Merzlikins requesting a trade, top defense prospect David Jiricek expressing frustration with his NHL role, and star rookie Adam Fantilli now out for two months with a lower-body injury. When it rains, it storms – and it is storming heavily in Ohio. And while the upcoming trade deadline won’t remedy the challenges they’re facing, it could give Columbus a chance to kickstart a much-needed reset.

Record

16-24-10, 8th in the Metropolitan

Deadline Status

Seller

Deadline Cap Space

$18.525MM on deadline day, 0/3 retention slots used, 44/50 contracts used, per CapFriendly.

Upcoming Draft Picks

2024: CBJ 1st, CBJ 3rd, LAK 3rd, CBJ 4th, CBJ 5th, CBJ 6th
2025: CBJ 1st, CBJ 2nd, CBJ 3rd, CBJ 4th, CBJ 5th, CBJ 6th, CBJ 7th, VGK 7th

Trade Chips

Top goaltender Elvis Merzlikins is Columbus’ most likely option to be moved this Spring. The 29-year-old netminder requested a trade from the team, following a near total decline in his role. Merzlikins has only been iced in five of the team’s last 13 games, despite leading the team with nine wins and a .903 save percentage in 28 games this season. The Blue Jackets have instead leaned on Daniil Tarasov and Jet Greaves, a pair of goalies that are both much younger than Merzlikins. Columbus may be looking to find their goaltender for the next generation, something that the aging and expensive Merzlikins might not be around for.

But a Merzlikins deal may need a sweetener to go through. The 178-game veteran of the league is currently the 11th-most expensive goaltender in the NHL, with a $5.4MM cap hit until the end of the 2026-27 season – his age-32 season. That contract would be a significant commitment, even for a team desperate for goaltending help.

There’s no doubt that teams around the league will be eyeing top young players like Kent Johnson or David Jiricek as said “sweeteners”, though they’d certainly require a hefty return. Both options have yet to find their ideal role with the Blue Jackets. Johnson has just 15 points through 34 games this season, on pace for just 14 goals and 36 points, a step down from the 16 goals and 40 points he managed in 79 games last season. He’s also gone without a power-play point through 75 minutes this season – despite scoring 12 points on the man advantage last year. And while Johnson is being confined to the bottom-six, Jiricek is being confined to the minor leagues. The 20-year-old defenseman, who the team took sixth-overall in the 2022 NHL Draft, has averaged the lowest ice time of any Blue Jackets defenseman, playing under 15 minutes a night through 36 games this season and not yet touching special teams at all. He’s managed nine points and 20 penalty minutes in spite of the role, and is vocally at odds with the team’s brass about what ice time he should be receiving.

It seems Columbus is at their length’s end, forced to decide which players to lean into on a roster where 13 different players are averaging between 13 and 15 minutes of ice time. While it doesn’t make sense for one of the league’s lowest-ranked teams to sell the future, their pedigree as being strong in the draft could make any necessary deals easier to stomach.

Luckily, the Blue Jackets won’t be out of the trade market if they choose not to part with their top prospects, or if they can’t find a suitor for Merzlikins’ pricey deal. The team still has centerman Jack Roslovic receiving plenty of trade interest, with teams eager to add the consistent, all-situations role that Roslovic provides. The 27-year-old has just 10 points through 27 games this season, but managed 45 and 44 points across the last two seasons respectively. He’s become a reliable option down the middle and could be the perfect fit for any playoff team looking to play into the Summer. Columbus could also part with Justin Danforth or Sean Kuraly – two aging depth forwards that play a strong role with the Blue Jackets. Danforth could be a particularly interesting option, as the 30-year-old carries just a $975K cap hit over the next two seasons and has a strong 36 points through 101 career NHL games. He could be a cheap and lucrative add for teams looking for a boost in their bottom-six. It’s likely that the return for any veteran forward would be heavily based around draft picks, especially after Sean Monahan fetched a first-round pick in his move from the Montreal Canadiens to the Winnipeg Jets.

Team Needs

1) Build Around Fantilli: In a season of struggles, Columbus is able to rest their hat on one supreme bright spot – Adam Fantilli. The third-overall selection in last year’s draft, Fantilli has burst onto the scene, managing 12 goals and 27 points through 49 games despite a role that’s held him to an average under 16 minutes of ice time each game. What’s worse, Fantilli has spent at least 30 minutes of ice time with 10 different linemates over the first half of his rookie season. That is far from the ideal setting for a top young player. For perspective, #1-overall pick Connor Bedard has only had six linemates on a Blackhawks team devastated by injuries, while #2-overall pick Leo Carlsson has had just four linemates in Anaheim. Columbus is not giving Fantilli a chance to build consistent chemistry with his linemates, likely significantly holding him back from even more success in his rookie season. No matter if it’s because they don’t have the right players in the room, or just don’t know what configuration works best – the Blue Jackets need to use this trade deadline to get the player they’re hoping can lead the franchise into a more comfortable role.

2) Take What You Can Get: The Blue Jackets won’t be making the playoffs this year. And, pending a 2020 run, likely won’t make it next season either. But fans shouldn’t lose hope. Fantilli offers great promise for the future and he’s backed by really exciting prospects like Gavin Brindley – Fantilli’s old teammate – as well as top defense prospect Denton Mateychuk and high-scoring forward Jordan Dumais. That’s only scratching the surface of what is a really deep Blue Jackets prospect pool. Columbus doesn’t need to focus on their depth in the same way as the Anaheim Ducks or Minnesota Wild – and thus don’t have a need to try and stretch any trades. In a year of turmoil, general manager Jarmo Kekäläinen needs to be more focused on building a cohesive roster than saving face. If there’s a chance for him to relieve some of the tension in the Blue Jackets lineup, or find a way to lighten the load on rookie head coach Pascal Vincent, it may be best to act first and worry about long-term upside second.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports.

Trade Deadline Primer: Colorado Avalanche

at CDT | by 10 Comments

With the All-Star break in the rearview, the trade deadline looms large and is about 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 Colorado Avalanche.

The Avalanche are near the top of most people’s lists of Stanley Cup favorites in 2024. It’s understandable – Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar playing like the best players in the world at their respective positions heading out of the All-Star break. This core is also less than two years removed from one of the most dominant championship runs in recent memory.

However, they also boast one of the most flawed rosters on paper in this year’s contending class. They lack a true second-line center behind MacKinnon, no active forward outside the top line has cracked 30 points, and their goaltending has been only slightly above average. Alexandar Georgiev ranks 14th out of 32 starters in goals saved above expected, per MoneyPuck. Their forward depth could be buoyed by the returns of captain Gabriel Landeskog from a knee cartilage replacement that was previously thought to be season-ending and Valeri Nichushkin, who is receiving treatment in the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program, but both players still have a muddy path to a return with no clear timeline. Assuming at least one of Landeskog or Nichushkin returns in time for postseason play, does GM Chris MacFarland believe this team is a top-six center and a backup goaltender away from winning their second championship in three years?

Record

32-14-13, 1st in the Central

Deadline Status

Buyer

Deadline Cap Space

$1.24MM on deadline day, 0/3 retention slots used, 47/50 contracts used, per CapFriendly.

Upcoming Draft Picks

2024: COL 1st, COL 4th, SEA 5th, COL 6th, COL 7th
2025: COL 1st, COL 3rd, COL 4th, COL 5th, COL 6th, COL 7th

Trade Chips

Colorado’s cap space and draft pick cupboard are typical of a team that’s been in contention for a half-decade. However, their cap situation is likely to improve dramatically by March 8. The team isn’t accumulating any space with Landeskog and backup netminder Pavel Francouz on LTIR for a combined $9MM in relief, but Nichushkin’s $6.125MM cap hit still counts while he’s in the PAP and is taking a significant chunk out of their LTIR pool. Nichushkin is eligible for LTIR if he’s expected to meet the minimum absence requirements of 10 games and 24 days, which he will satisfy if he doesn’t return by Feb. 8 against the Hurricanes. If the Avalanche expect him to remain in treatment through the deadline, they could add him to LTIR and have nearly $7.4MM in space on deadline day, enough to execute any move they’d like.

That could be a tricky dance, though, as Nichushkin could return before the end of the regular season. The Avalanche would still need space to activate him from LTIR when he’s ready to go. Landeskog being ready to play before the postseason is much less likely, but as he’s begun on-ice work in his return from knee surgeries that have kept him out of the lineup for almost 20 months, it’s not impossible.

Colorado’s bottom six is fine for what it is. It’s the top nine that needs some fiddling, so they could stand to make a money-in, money-out move with some draft picks attached to necessitate an upgrade. That puts Ryan Johansen and his half-off cap hit of $4MM at the top of the Avs’ trade bait list. The 31-year-old’s stint in Denver hasn’t worked out, recording 11 goals and seven assists for 18 points in 49 games. He has below-team-average possession metrics and is now averaging less than 14 minutes per game. Nothing about his stat line this season is representative of a second-line center on a contending team, although he would carry value in a trade to a rebuilding team as a nearly 900-game veteran with years of top-six experience in his past. His deal expires at the end of the 2024-25 season, so he wouldn’t saddle a rebuilder with a long-term cap commitment if they anticipate spending big soon.

It’s a seller’s market on centers this year, as evidenced by the Canadiens recouping a first-round pick for the services of Sean Monahan as a rental from the Jets. That will require Colorado to attach one of their upcoming first-round picks in a deal, especially given they’ve traded away their upcoming second-round picks in back-to-back deadline deals for Artturi Lehkonen (2022) and Lars Eller (2023).

Team Needs

1) Second-Line Center: The gaping void down the middle behind MacKinnon’s electric performance (84 points in 49 games at the All-Star break) is perhaps the most glaring need for any contender in the league. If Johansen’s contract is going the other way to facilitate a swap, and the team has first-round picks (and some other lesser assets) to spare, is there a fit with the Ducks as a trade partner for Adam Henrique? The 33-year-old veteran is third on the Ducks on scoring with 15 goals and 33 points in 49 games and is one of the best options left on the market with Monahan and Elias Lindholm already off to new teams.

2) Experienced Backup: The Avalanche are no stranger to injuries between the pipes. Their 2022 Stanley Cup win wouldn’t have happened without the services of Francouz, who stepped in admirably when then-starter Darcy Kuemper was out for stretches of the First Round and Conference Final. After waiving Ivan Prosvetov last weekend, 23-year-old Justus Annunen and his five games of NHL experience are now firmly ensconced as Georgiev’s backup for the stretch run. His numbers aren’t great – a .871 SV% and 3.94 GAA over the past three seasons – but he has a respectable .908 SV% and 2.65 GAA in 23 minor-league showings with AHL Colorado this year. Still, MacFarland and head coach Jared Bednar would surely prefer a lower-risk option at the most important time of the year should Georgiev exit the lineup.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports.

Trade Deadline Primer: Chicago Blackhawks

at CDT | by 10 Comments

With the All-Star break approaching, the trade deadline looms large and is about a month and a half away. Where does each team stand, and what moves should they be looking to make? We continue our look around the league with the Chicago Blackhawks.

After completely tearing down the team over the last several years, there was no question that the Blackhawks would be one of the lower-tier teams entering this season. After drafting Connor Bedard with the first overall selection last summer, the team attempted to put veteran players such as Taylor Hall, Nick Foligno, and Corey Perry around the young phenom to help his transition into the NHL; but even that plan has not entirely gone to plan. Outside of injury, Bedard has been exactly as advertised for Chicago, but a slew of injuries has prohibited the organization from taking any noticeable steps forward this season.

Record

14-34-2, 8th in the Central

Deadline Status

Seller

Deadline Cap Space

$41.8MM on deadline day, 1/3 retention slots used, 45/50 contracts used, per CapFriendly.

Upcoming Draft Picks

2024: CHI 1st, TB 1st*, CHI 2nd, VAN 2nd, LA 2nd, CHI 3rd, OTT 3rd, CHI 6th
2025: CHI 1st, TOR 1st**, CHI 2nd, DAL 2nd, CHI 3rd***, CHI 4th, NYR 4th, CHI 5th***, CHI 6th, CHI 7th

* If the Tampa Bay Lightning’s 2024 first-round pick falls within the top 10, they will not need to move the draft pick to the Blackhawks. 
** If the Toronto Maple Leafs’ 2025 first-round pick falls within the top 10, they will not need to move the draft pick to the Blackhawks. 
*** If Jake McCabe plays in less than 50% of Toronto’s 2023 Playoff games OR less than 25% of Toronto’s 2023-24 regular season games, Chicago will transfer their 2025 3rd round pick instead of their 2025 5th round pick.

Trade Chips

Chicago has already taken several trade chips off the board, signing Jason Dickinson, Petr Mrazek, and Foligno each to two-year extensions. The team may look to peddle veteran forwards such as Tyler Johnson and Anthony Beauvillier; but with both currently on the team’s injured reserve, the Blackhawks could be very limited in what they can move this trade deadline season.

If the team does end up trading any of their pending unrestricted or restricted free agents, they will most certainly need to retain salary in any move considering the team is currently only $5.3MM above the salary cap floor. With $29MM currently on the team’s injured reserve, one of the biggest trade chips Chicago has to offer is their available cap space and roster space.

Outside of Beauvillier and Johnson, the Blackhawks simply do not have that much to offer teams outside of cap space at this year’s deadline. With one sizeable trade already out of the way with Elias Lindholm heading to the Vancouver Canucks, look for Chicago to be a salary broker in any future trade involving a cash-strapped buyer in the future.

Team Needs

1) Star Next To Bedard: With Bedard already penciled into the Blackhawks’ long-term plans, it is now time to find another player that he can rely on for much of his career. Nearly a month ago, Chicago missed out on budding star Cutter Gauthier, whom the Philadelphia Flyers moved to the Anaheim Ducks. While no other players similar to Gauthier have been brought up in any trade conversation; he is the right kind of player that Chicago should be targeting if any become available at the deadline. Nevertheless, with having the projected number one overall selection for the second year in a row, the Blackhawks could certainly fill this void with Macklin Celebrini in the upcoming draft.

2) Thin Out The Herd: By design, Chicago has 11 players set to hit unrestricted free agency this summer, while a whopping 14 players will become restricted free agents. Appearing to be somewhat of a crossroads for the franchise, the organization will have to determine which players are worth investing in for the future of the franchise. As things currently stand, Chicago has a roster full of bubble players, and more ice time will have to be allocated to players that the team is convinced should be around for the future. Without any chance of competing for this year’s playoffs, the Blackhawks simply have nothing to lose by giving unofficial tryouts to several of these bubble players throughout the last stretch of the season.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports.

Trade Deadline Primer: Carolina Hurricanes

at CDT | by 4 Comments

With the All-Star break approaching, the trade deadline looms large and is about a month and a half away. Where does each team stand, and what moves should they be looking to make? We continue our look around the league with the Carolina Hurricanes.

The Carolina Hurricanes have made their top status in the NHL undeniable this season. They’ve yet to have a losing record, despite facing injuries to top scorer Andrei Svechnikov and multiple goaltenders, including starter Frederik Andersen who is out indefinitely with a blood clotting issue. The Hurricanes have already iced five different goalies through the first half of the season, including waiver claim Spencer Martin and rookie Yaniv Perets. They even had veteran Jaroslav Halak on a professional try-out contract earlier in the season, though the 38-year-old wasn’t able to earn an NHL deal. But Carolina has persevered, fighting their way to ninth in the NHL and ranking in the league’s top 10 in goals for and against. They’ll be gearing up for another long playoff push when the Trade Deadline rolls around.

Record

28-15-5, 2nd in the Metropolitan

Deadline Status

Buyer

Deadline Cap Space

$8.73MM on deadline day, 0/3 retention slots used, 41/50 contracts used, per CapFriendly.

Upcoming Draft Picks

2024: CAR 1st, CAR 2nd, PHI 2nd, CAR 3rd, CAR 4th, CAR 5th, CAR 6th, CAR 7th
2025: CAR 1st, CAR 2nd, CAR 3rd, CAR 4th, CAR 6th, CAR 7th

Trade Chips

The Carolina Hurricanes have kept their roster fairly tight over the last few seasons and thus, don’t have much in the way of bargaining chips entering trade season. They are once again rumored to be shopping around Tony DeAngelo, who is in his second stint with the team after they traded him to the Philadelphia Flyers for a second, third, and fourth round pick in the 2022 summer. DeAngelo likely hasn’t done much to raise his value since that deal, seeing a decline in his production with 42 points in 70 games last season and just nine in 21 games this year. It’s been coupled with a decreased role, with the 28-year-old averaging just 14 minutes of ice time this season, significantly down from the 22 minutes he averaged with Philadelphia last season. Still, the hope of a revamped role leading to revamped scoring could be enough to convince a deadline seller.

The Hurricanes will otherwise likely be moving on from future assets. They’ve managed to hang on to almost all of their draft picks over the next three drafts and could be poised to cash them in with the wind behind them this season. They’ve also drafted well enough to manage parting with a few top prospects, like winger Noel Gunler who appeared in 42 AHL games and scored 23 points between 2021 and 2023, but is now on loan to the Liiga’s Karpat. Or they could move on from one of their two leading NCAA scorers in Bradly Nadeau – who ranks second on the University of Maine in scoring with 31 points in 22 games – or Cruz Lucius – who leads the University of Wisconsin with 22 points in 24 games.

With Carolina having reportedly taken Brett Pesce off the trade deadline, it’s hard to imagine many other names they’d be excited to move. They’ll be limited to a strict buyer status on deadline day, doomed to part with future capital if they want to build on this season. But they may have a silver lining financially, with CapFriendly estimating the Hurricanes will have roughly $8.7MM in deadline cap space. That could be enough to make bringing on cap feasible, likely cheapening any deal, or helping them contend for the more expensive players on the market.

Team Needs

1) Consistency In Net: The Carolina Hurricanes don’t necessarily need a goaltender. Pyotr Kochetkov has manned the team’s net serviceably, when healthy, tallying 11 wins and a .900 save percentage through 23 games. The 24-year-old is currently in the AHL, looking to make his return from a concussion suffered on January 11th that earned him a stint on injured reserve. Kochetkov’s de facto backup, Antti Raanta, has also managed 12 games this season, though he’s tallied a much lower .870 save percentage. But neither goalie has been able to evade the minors, with Kochetkov not making the Hurricanes out of camp and playing in three AHL games this season, and Raanta getting placed on waivers earlier in the year and appearing  in two AHL games.

Consistency in net has been Carolina’s missing piece this year. And while they could continue wishing for better health, this could be the best year to bring in a new name. There’s a long list of quality goaltenders on the trade block, including  backups Jake Allen and Marc-Andre Fleury. Both options could come at a cheaper price than top names like Jacob Markstrom or Kaapo Kahkonen, while still providing Carolina with an upgrade over Raanta. With Kochetkov hoping to return from injury soon, the Hurricanes don’t need to sell the lot for a new name. But anyone capable of staying active would provide massive value, especially as the team aims its sights on a deep playoff run.

2) A Big Splash: Carolina hasn’t had much to complain about this season. They’re getting plenty of scoring, with 11 players boasting 20 or more points, including three defensemen. They’re even poised to add a major scoring talent back into the lineup when Andrei Svechnikov returns from an upper-body injury that’s held him out of Carolina’s last three games. But there are plenty of big names on the open market that could put an already-strong Hurricanes team over the top. They could pull off a blockbuster deal to bring in Ottawa’s Jakob Chychrun or Vladimir Tarasenko, Philadelphia’s Sean Walker, or Pittsburgh’s Jake Guentzel. All four players would provide formidable depth to Carolina, without locking the team into lengthy contracts. It’d be a surefire boost to a Hurricanes lineup that’s pitted up against a strong divisional opponent in the New York Rangers. Carolina doesn’t typically jump for big-name Spring trades, but a rich market could sway them to upgrade while they still can.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports.

Trade Deadline Primer: Calgary Flames

at CDT | by 14 Comments

With the All-Star break approaching, the trade deadline looms large and is about a month and a half away. Where does each team stand, and what moves should they be looking to make? We continue our look around the league with the Calgary Flames.

The Flames came into this season with some major decisions to make on several key pending free agents. Now with the season over halfway done Calgary has only signed Mikael Backlund to an extension and has made the bold move of trading center Elias Lindholm to the Vancouver Canucks for several future pieces. The Flames will likely move any pending free agents that they can’t sign to an extension over the next few weeks but probably aren’t looking to go into a full-scale rebuild as they have multiple veterans signed to long-term deals. General manager Craig Conroy is likely looking to retool his group and leave his mark on the club he took over last summer, and given their position in the standings and the players that can be made available, Calgary is sure to be a team to keep your eye on as we head into the deadline season.

Record

22-22-5, 6th in the Pacific

Deadline Status

Conservative Seller

Deadline Cap Space

$6.85MM on deadline day, 0/3 retention slots used, 43/50 contracts used, per CapFriendly.

Upcoming Draft Picks

2024: CAL 1st*, VAN 1st, CAL 2nd, CAL 3rd, CAL 4th, VAN 4th*, CHI 5th*, CAL 6th,
2025: FLA 1st*, CAL 2nd, CAL 3rd*, CAL 5th, CAL 6th, CAL 7th,

*Conditions on 2024 1st round pick, 2025 1st round pick, 2025 3rd round pick: (CapFriendly)

If CGY’s 2024 1st round pick is between 20 and 32, MTL can take that pick instead.
In the event CGY receives FLA’s 2025 1st-round pick:

If both CGY AND FLA’s picks are NOT top 10, MTL will receive the better of the CGY and FLA 2025 1st-round picks. Result: TBD.

If CGY’s pick is top 10, AND FLA’s pick is NOT top 10, MTL receives FLA’s pick. Result: TBD

*Conditions 2024 4th round pick:

1.) The 4th round pick becomes a 3rd round pick (VAN) if Vancouver makes it to the conference finals. 
2. If the pick remains a 4th, Calgary will receive the better of the two picks that Vancouver currently owns (VAN & NJD).

* Conditions 2024 5th round pick:

Calgary will receive the best of the 5th-round picks that Chicago owns.

Trade Chips

As mentioned earlier, the Flames have some big decisions to make in the next few weeks on the futures of pending free agents Noah Hanifin and Christopher Tanev. There have been whispers of trade rumors regarding Hanifin dating back to last summer when he was lukewarm to the idea of signing a long-term extension with the Flames. Fast forward to today and no traction has been made on a deal which increases the likelihood that the 27-year-old gets dealt. Hanifin will be looking at a lucrative max-term deal with any suitor and could fetch a sizable haul for Calgary which would give them a lot of assets to use in a retool or a rebuild.

Tanev is in the same spot as Hanifin, albeit he is seven years older and has a few more miles on his body. Tanev won’t be seeking the same term as Hanifin but comes with a lot more risk given that he is on the back nine of his career. Tanev has been connected to several teams through trade rumors and will be looking to cash in on what could be the last lucrative extension of his career. He will also fetch a good haul for the Flames should they choose to move on and trade him.  Of course, any players they deal will need to be replaced in the summer if the Flames have any plans to retool and go for it again next year.

The Flames look to be a seller this trade deadline and have already made a bold move trading Lindholm. If they can get full value for Hanifin and Tanev, they could position themselves nicely for the future and whichever direction they choose to take the franchise.

Team Needs

The Flames have some sizable long-term commitments on the books and could find it difficult to replace their departing players via free agency this summer. They are currently slated to have $25.5MM in cap space heading into the summer which will go quickly given the holes in the lineup they would be looking to fill. If they are looking to win with the group they have, which has been the stated goal of management, they may look to acquire roster players in exchange for pending free agents at the deadline.

1) A Top Center: The Flames had a top center until yesterday, although Lindholm was probably better suited as a second-line center. This leaves Calgary with Nazim Kadri and Backlund as their one and two centers which probably has both men playing above their skillset. Top-line centers are one of the hardest players to acquire, which means Craig Conroy will have to get creative if he wants to retool. Conroy has expressed belief that the team can win with their current group, but in order to do so he will have to find a way to fill a big hole with minimal cap space and other pressing lineup issues that will need to be addressed. Conroy probably won’t find a top-line center before the deadline, but if he is looking for one this summer he could acquire pieces at the trade deadline that he could flip later in the year for immediate help.

2) Two Top-Four Defensemen: Last summer, the Flames tried to re-sign Hanifin and then re-engaged the defenseman this past November and nearly agreed to an eight-year extension. However, since that time not much information has come out about where the negotiations stand leading pundits to believe that Calgary will trade the Boston, Massachusetts native. The same talks have swirled around Tanev which would open up two massive holes on Calgary’s defense should they both be moved. Calgary could explore upgrades this offseason in free agency but would find it difficult to replace Hanifin and Tanev. The other option could come via trade, which would be possible if they continue adding to the futures cupboard heading into the trade deadline. Calgary could also explore a player like Jakob Chychrun, who has a year left on his deal with the Ottawa Senators. However, it would leave Calgary in the same position this summer that they were in with Hanifin and Tanev.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports.

Trade Deadline Primer: Buffalo Sabres

at CDT | by 4 Comments

With the All-Star break approaching, the trade deadline looms large and is about a month and a half away. Where does each team stand, and what moves should they be looking to make? We continue our look around the league with the Buffalo Sabres.

On the tail of a 91-point finish in the 2022-23 regular season, the Sabres looked ready to break their 13-year postseason drought this year. Even after some offseason acquisitions to improve areas of weakness in the organization, Buffalo has appeared to have taken a step back. As things currently stand, the Sabres are on pace for a 37-38-7 record on the season, which would once again put them in a strong lottery position in the 2024 NHL Draft. With the hope of competing this year and plenty of talent to do so, Buffalo is one of the more interesting teams leading into the deadline season.

Record

22-23-4, 6th in the Atlantic

Deadline Status

Conservative Seller

Deadline Cap Space

$36.8MM on deadline day, 0/3 retention slots used, 44/50 contracts used, per CapFriendly.

Upcoming Draft Picks

2024: BUF 1st, BUF 2nd, BUF 3rd, BUF 4th, BUF 6th, BUF 7th
2025: BUF 1st, BUF 2nd, BUF 3rd, BUF 4th, MIN 4th, BUF 5th, BUF 6th, BUF 7th, NSH 7th*

*If Eric Robinson plays 45 games for the Sabres over the regular season, Buffalo will send Nashville’s seventh-round draft pick in the 2025 NHL Draft to the Columbus Blue Jackets. 

Trade Chips

Even with sizeable long-term extensions kicking in next season for defensemen Rasmus Dahlin and Owen Power, the Sabres still have quite a bit of cap flexibility to use, currently projecting around $26.14MM next summer if the cap does rise to the reported $87.7MM. With only Casey Mittelstadt and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen set to receive notable raises over their current deals, Buffalo may look to acquire a player with term this March, even through a sign-and-trade.

With where their record currently stands, the Sabres certainly have the makings of a seller at this year’s trade deadline. However, even if they were to involve themselves in the rental market this spring, the return value on players such as Zemgus Girgensons, Kyle Okposo, Victor Olofsson, and Erik Johnson may not make it worthwhile.

Assuming that Buffalo already has their sights set on next season, they could dangle their 2025 first-round selection to acquire a long-term piece, as it would take a surprise star player to enter the market for the Sabres to part with their lottery-projected 2024 first-round pick. Without much to sell, and in a position to only acquire long-term pieces, it would not be a surprise to see Buffalo be one of the more quiet teams at this year’s deadline.

Team Needs

1) Right-Shot Defenseman: Last summer, the Sabres brought in Johnson and Connor Clifton to help improve the right side of their defensive core. As things played out, neither addition has worked out as Buffalo may have hoped, as out of 29 total players, Clifton ranks 21st on the team in Corsi-For %, and Johnson ranks 24th. Desperately needing to find a serviceable option next to Power on their second defensive line, the Sabres could get aggressive and try to pry David Jiricek from the Blue Jackets, who has reportedly expressed frustration over his situation in Columbus.

2) A Definitive Solution In The Crease: An answer in the net has been one of the primary questions following Buffalo around for the last several years. Without a lot of game-changing answers on the market, it appears this question will take another year to figure out. Now, Buffalo’s goaltender prayers may be answered by either Luukkonen or Devon Levi, but neither has suggested they can fully assume that mantle. Of the two, Luukkonen has been the better option by far this season but has been extremely streaky which leads to concern. In his first eight games of the year, Luukonen produced a serviceable 3-3-1 record with a .910 SV% but followed it up with a 3-5-1 record and .876 SV% in his next nine games. Once again on a hot streak, Luukonen looks nearly unbeatable with a 6-3-0 in his last nine games coupled with a .940 SV%.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports.

Trade Deadline Primer: Boston Bruins

at CDT | by 15 Comments

With the All-Star break approaching, the trade deadline looms large and is about a month and a half away. Where does each team stand, and what moves should they be looking to make? We continue our look around the league with the Boston Bruins.

Not quite as dominant as last season, the Bruins are still looking like one of the best regular season teams in the NHL, currently knocking on the door of back-to-back President’s Trophy victories, an accomplishment that has not been done since the 2016-17 Washington Capitals. Unfortunately, even though Boston has been one of the best regular season teams over the last several years, they have failed to move past the semi-finals in the postseason since their 2018-19 Stanley Cup Final loss to the St.Louis Blues. Nevertheless, with some long-term cap flexibility created this past summer, the Bruins could look to acquire players with term; something they have been unable to do for the last several years.

Record

31-9-9, 1st in the Atlantic

Deadline Status

Buyer

Deadline Cap Space

$862.5K on deadline day, 0/3 retention slots used, 47/50 contracts used, per CapFriendly.

Upcoming Draft Picks

2024: BOS 1st*, BOS 4th, BOS 5th, BOS 6th
2025: BOS 1st*, BOS 3rd, BOS 5th, BOS 6th, BOS 7th

*On March 2, 2023, Boston traded their 2024 first-round pick to the Detroit Red Wings with a top-10 protection placed on it. If the pick falls within the top 10 of the 2024 NHL Draft, the Bruins would then send the Red Wings an unprotected 2025 first-round pick instead. On July 9, 2023, Detroit conditionally traded the draft pick to the Ottawa Senators, with the Red Wings having the option of trading Ottawa their own 2024 first-round pick, or the Bruins’ 2024 first-round pick, with the original top-10 protections still in place.

Trade Chips

Having only eight draft picks over the next two years, it is unlikely that the Bruins will use their draft capital to make any major additions to their roster come the trade deadline. With Boston more than likely not picking until the fourth round of the 2024 NHL Draft, it would not be a surprise to see the Bruins acquire an obscure fourth- or fifth-round pick in any trade over the next few weeks, even as a buyer.

Furthermore, with a need for young and cheap talent, it would be unlikely to see the Bruins part with any of Matthew Poitras, Mason Lohrei, Georgii Merkulov, or John Beecher, given their long-term importance to the continuing success of the organization. The one asset that Boston does have, however, is long-term cap space beyond this season. If they were to pursue a player with term on their contract, the Bruins may be able to dangle pieces off of their active roster, without sacrificing too much of their future.

With many teams in desperate need of goaltending, Boston is in the envious position of having two All-Star goalies able to start for them every game, and the Bruins could certainly dangle one of them to improve other weak spots on their roster. Signed for this season and next at $5MM a year, Linus Ullmark has put together another quality season, securing a 15-6-2 record in 24 games, holding a .913 save percentage and 2.78 GAA. On the flip side, Jeremy Swayman will once again be arbitration-eligible next summer and has been one of the best goaltenders in the league with a 16-3-7 record in 27 games played on the year, also achieving a .924 SV% and 2.30 GAA.

Outside of their excess between the pipes, the Bruins may also be willing to listen to offers on Jake DeBrusk, who becomes an unrestricted free agent at season’s end. Once again being an effective goal-scorer for Boston, DeBrusk has scored 12 goals and 25 points in 47 games this season. It would not be a major surprise to work out a deal to improve their roster with DeBrusk as the centerpiece going the other way, especially if DeBrusk is willing to sign an extension with the acquiring team.

Team Needs

1) Center Help: Ever since the retirements of Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci, it was a foregone conclusion that the Bruins would need to improve their center depth if there was any hope of a serious playoff run. The team has played well with the combination of Pavel Zacha and Charlie Coyle centering the top-two lines, but with a team faceoff percentage of 49.3% (19th in the NHL), Boston will need to improve down the middle to win big draws in the playoffs at the very least. All three of Elias Lindholm, Sean Monahan, and Adam Henrique would allow the Bruins to add more punch down the middle, as well as strengthen their ability in the dot.

2) Stay The Course: Losing in the first round of the 2023 Stanley Cup playoffs after breaking the record for wins in a regular season will be a blight on the Bruins’ history for years to come. However, it is important to remember that Boston was only two shots away from reaching the second round, losing in overtime in Game 5 as well as Game 7 to the Florida Panthers. Outside of the need for help down the middle, it is tough to point out any point of the game that the Bruins are truly lacking. Rather than deal out any of their remaining draft capital, or move on from young prospects ready to make an impact, Boston should trust in his team to get over the hump, as they have shown they can beat nearly any team they play against over the last several years.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports.

Trade Deadline Primer: Arizona Coyotes

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With the All-Star break approaching, the trade deadline looms large and is about a month and a half away. Where does each team stand, and what moves should they be looking to make? We continue our look around the league with the Arizona Coyotes.

The Coyotes are in a small rut, going 4-5-1 in their past 10 games. That shouldn’t take too much away from what’s been a drastic improvement in play around a developing core that seems to have most of the pieces in place. GM Bill Armstrong has made it quite clear that the team’s rebuilding days are over, and he’s hinted at being willing to start moving the needle on the trade market. Of course, a quick turnaround in play after the All-Star break could make that decision easy. Arizona is still within shouting distance of making their second playoff appearance in the last 12 years, and as such, they’ll be a bit of a wild card come March 8.

Record

23-22-3, 6th in the Central

Deadline Status

Conservative Buyer

Deadline Cap Space

$13.44MM on deadline day, 1/3 retention slots used, 48/50 contracts used, per CapFriendly.

Upcoming Draft Picks

2024: ARI 1st, ARI 2nd, FLA 2nd, WSH 2nd, ARI 3rd, COL 3rd, EDM 3rd, ARI 4th, SJS 4th, ARI 5th, ARI 6th, ARI 7th, BOS 7th
2025: ARI 1st, ARI 2nd, TOR 2nd, EDM 2nd, NYR 2nd, ARI 3rd, NYR/DAL 3rd (cond.), ARI 4th, ARI 5th, ARI 6th, ARI 7th

Trade Chips

A quick look at the list of draft picks above reveals an abundance of second-round selections over the next two years. With the Coyotes likely averting true seller status, this bag of picks will be the first thing Armstrong reaches for if he’s looking to make some small adds to help push this squad into the playoff picture.

Of course, if the Coyotes are going to make a larger swing (they’ve been connected to Flames defenseman Noah Hanifin), it’ll take more than that. It doesn’t seem likely that Armstrong would consider moving out a first-round selection before this Clayton Keller-led core has made a postseason appearance in a non-shortened season, which could open the door to some of their quickly developing prospect pool being shown the door.

Most Coyotes fans were impressed with 23-year-old Barrett Hayton’s play this season before a hand injury sustained in November shut him down long-term. He’s yet to return from the injury, which was only supposed to sideline him until Christmas, but a setback sustained last month has lengthened his recovery. He had put up decent possession numbers and passed the eye test in a first-line role between Keller and Nick Schmaltz, but the production wasn’t there, posting only two goals and two assists in 16 games. Could that stretch be enough for Armstrong to consider moving the 2018 fifth-overall pick in a deal for a more pressing need? Jack McBain, only a year older than Hayton, has recently stepped into the first-line job and has three points in his last five games. He’s had positive possession impacts in the role, but not as strong as Hayton’s, who posted a 58.9% expected goals share when on the ice with Keller and Schmaltz compared to McBain’s 51.4% (per MoneyPuck).

Short-term UFA pickups Alexander Kerfoot and Jason Zucker have been important in middle-six roles for Arizona this year, especially Kerfoot – his 0.58 points per game are the most among the Coyotes’ centers. They likely won’t be on their way out unless Armstrong receives an offer he can’t refuse.

If Armstrong does look to move out one of Arizona’s recent veteran pickups, look for it to be defenseman Mathew Dumba. While defense is likely the area the Coyotes are looking to fortify with deadline additions, Dumba has struggled in the desert and could help them swing a deal for an upgrade. The 29-year-old has five points in 44 games with a 45% Corsi share at even strength that ranks near the bottom of the team. With a retention slot open, they could absorb half of his $3.9MM cap hit on a one-year deal and make him a palatable deadline add for a contending team looking to bring in a veteran for their third pairing.

Team Needs

1) Left-Shot Defenseman: The Coyotes may lack strength at center ice, but their winger group is deep enough to quell any scoring concerns for now. There’s a far more pressing need on the back end, which has largely struggled outside of the J.J. Moser–Sean Durzi pairing. Dumba’s flamed out in the desert, Travis Dermott and Juuso Välimäki are having down seasons, and penalty-kill specialist Josh Brown isn’t suited for an everyday NHL role. Inserting a top-four threat such as Hanifin gives head coach André Tourigny much more flexibility with his pairings and would allow for more puck-moving support outside of Durzi and Moser. 24-year-old call-up Michael Kesselring has done well in his 31 games this year and is inching toward cracking the team’s second pairing on a full-time basis, but he’ll need a better partner than what they have to offer him now if that will convert into a playoff berth.

2) Don’t Sell The Farm Early: While one splash is likely feasible for Armstrong, especially on the blue line given their current roster construction and lack of bona fide top-four prospects, multiple big swings are unwise for a team whose best years are still ahead of them. Their first-round picks are likely more valuable in their hands on draft day than used as fodder in a deadline deal, especially considering help at center ice will come soon with the growth of Logan Cooley and the incoming NHL debut of 2022 11th overall pick Conor Geekie. Things are looking up for the Coyotes (at least on the ice), but there’s still more growth to come.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports.

Trade Deadline Primer: Anaheim Ducks

at CDT | by 6 Comments

With the All-Star break approaching, the trade deadline looms large and is about a month and a half away. Where does each team stand, and what moves should they be looking to make? We start our look around the league with the Anaheim Ducks.

At this point of the season, there aren’t many teams that are going to be sure-fire sellers.  The Ducks are one of the exceptions.  GM Pat Verbeek’s squad is right in the heart of a full rebuild and after a surprisingly good start, they’ve fallen off as of late and are well out of the playoff picture.  Of course, they at least have some strong core pieces to build around and while they likely won’t be able to add any of those in the coming weeks, they should be able to add to their prospect cupboard and pick up an extra draft pick or two.

Record

16-30-2, 7th in the Pacific

Deadline Status

Seller

Deadline Cap Space

$35.446MM on deadline day, 0/3 retention slots used, 47/50 contracts used, per CapFriendly.

Upcoming Draft Picks

2024: ANA 1st, ANA 2nd, BOS 2nd, ANA 3rd, PIT 3rd, SJ 3rd, ANA 4th, ANA 5th, ANA 6th, ANA 7th
2025: ANA 1st, ANA 3rd, ANA 4th, ANA 5th, ANA 6th, ANA 7th

Trade Chips

The likeliest Duck to move is Adam Henrique.  It wouldn’t have been surprising to see him be dealt last season but an injury put an end to that fairly quickly.  The 33-year-old is believed to be drawing strong interest already, understandably so in a center market that isn’t particularly deep at the moment.  Henrique has been one of the top scorers for Anaheim this season with 15 goals and 15 assists in 45 games while being an all-situations player who also is winning over 53% of his faceoffs.  This is the type of player who ticks off a lot of boxes for what a contender is typically looking to add at this time of season.  At $5.825MM, the cap hit is going to be somewhat prohibitive, even with 50% retention so some creativity might be needed but there will be a strong market for the veteran that should net Verbeek a solid return.

When Frank Vatrano signed a three-year, $10.95MM contract with Anaheim back in 2022, it raised some eyebrows as he had only reached the 20-goal mark once.  However, it proved to be a worthwhile move as he had a career year last season and should beat those numbers in the coming weeks to set new benchmarks.  His value might not get any higher while whoever gets Vatrano would also have him for next year so if the opportunity is there to cash in, Verbeek could look to take it.  Trevor Zegras was in trade speculation before he broke his ankle and while a move could be the eventual outcome, it feels like that might be more of a summer swap over trying to move him as he’s just coming back.

One possible under-the-radar candidate to move could be Isac Lundestrom.  The center just came back from a torn Achilles tendon and has been quiet, producing at a similar level to last year, one that was a big step back.  With Anaheim’s depth down the middle and a $1.8MM qualifying offer with arbitration rights looming, it’s fair to wonder if the Ducks might consider going in a different direction.  If that happens, he could be moved for another young player in a change of scenery type of move.

On the back end, Ilya Lyubushkin might be the only one to move (with Jamie Drysdale having already been dealt).  The 29-year-old was added as a rental player two years ago by Toronto and fit in well on their third pairing and it’s fair to think teams will be looking to add some grit once more.  The return might not be the highest as he’s on an above-market deal but they should be able to pick up a draft pick and perhaps even beat the fourth-rounder they gave up to get him.

Then there’s John Gibson.  The netminder has been in trade speculation going back a few years now and frankly, until one happens, he’s going to likely continue to be in that speculation moving forward.  The 30-year-old has shaved nearly a full goal off his GAA this season while a .900 SV% on a rebuilding squad isn’t bad the way that stat is trending.  However, a $6.4MM cap hit through 2026-27 will be an issue.  Sure, the Ducks can retain 50% but in terms of real money, that’s more than $10MM in salary they’d owe to someone not playing for them.  How much is that worth in a return?  Couple that with a goalie market that has teams mostly bargain-hunting and it would be a bit of a surprise if a deal gets done although teams will certainly call.

Other Potential Trade Chips: F Sam Carrick, F Jakob Silfverberg (a $5.25MM AAV will limit his market though), G Alex Stalock

Team Needs

1) Young Wingers: With Mason McTavish, Leo Carlsson, and Zegras in the mix, Anaheim is set down the middle for a while.  They have a young core group of defensemen and while odds are all won’t pan out, they should have a good core group.  On the wing, however, it’s a bit thinner, even with the Cutter Gauthier acquisition.  If there’s an opportunity to get a young winger in any of these moves, it would certainly help to shore up that portion of the prospect pool.

2) Draft Picks: While Anaheim has ten picks so far this season, they only have six for 2025 and between the two years, they don’t have any extras in the first or second round.  Some rebuilding squads have a multi-year surplus of selections and the Ducks aren’t there yet.  They can at least take a step in that direction before March 8th.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

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