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Trade Deadline Primer: Montreal Canadiens

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Although we’re now a little over two months into the season, the trade deadline is less than 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 Montreal Canadiens.

The Canadiens were one of the busier teams over the offseason in terms of adding to their roster following a decent showing in the bubble that saw them upset Pittsburgh in the Qualifying Round.  They came out of the gate flying but have struggled since then with a coaching change not really affecting their on-ice success and now they face a condensed schedule down the stretch due to their COVID-related postponements.  GM Marc Bergevin told reporters today that he doesn’t expect to do much but Montreal does have a few chips to move if they want to try to add between now and the deadline.

Record

14-8-9, 4th in North Division

Deadline Status

Light Buyer

Deadline Cap Space

$2.06MM in full-season space ($3.57MM at the trade deadline), 0/3 retention slots used, 48/50 contracts used per CapFriendly.

(These amounts are factoring in Paul Byron on the taxi squad but the veteran has been in the lineup for all but one game this season.  Knowing he’ll be recalled several more times, their cap space is currently overstated.)

Upcoming Draft Picks

2021: MTL 1st, MTL 2nd, TB 2nd, CHI 3rd, MTL 3rd, WSH 3rd, MTL 4th, STL 4th, VGK 4th, MTL 5th, OTT 5th, PHI 5th, MTL 6th, MTL 7th
2022: MTL 1st, MTL 2nd, MTL 3rd, MTL 4th, MTL 5th, MTL 6th, MTL 7th, STL 7th

Trade Chips

Few players have had their usage significantly altered since the coaching change but one that has is winger Artturi Lehkonen and not for the better.  A fixture under Claude Julien, the 25-year-old has been a frequent healthy scratch under Dominique Ducharme.  Lekhonen hasn’t been able to repeat his goal production from his rookie year but before this season, he had settled in as a third-line winger that could produce around 25 to 30 points while being a quality defensive player.  With a $2.4MM cap hit (and only a $2.2MM qualifying offer this summer), Lehkonen could be someone that teams could justify taking back to match money with a low enough qualifier to be part of the plans beyond this season.

Jake Evans made the team out of training camp and while he has been in the lineup most nights, his role has also decreased under Ducharme and if Montreal only opts to try to make a small upgrade, his spot is the one that could be filled.  He’s signed for one more year at $750K and at 24, he may be of interest to a rebuilding team.  Joel Armia ($2.6MM) gives Montreal some size and defensive prowess on the wing but if they need to match money for a rental, he would be the likeliest of their pending unrestricted free agents to move.

Victor Mete’s trade request has been lingering for a while now and with the injury to Ben Chiarot, the Canadiens may be less inclined to move him now.  However, if they are able to add a defenseman between now and April 12, the 22-year-old would become more expendable and with a $735K price tag, he’s certainly affordable for pretty much every team.

In terms of future assets, the announcement that Jordan Harris will return to Northeastern for his senior season (where he was named team captain yesterday) could have teams inquiring about his availability.  He has outperformed his draft stock but with the temptation to get to free agency being stronger next year, he’s someone that Montreal could part with if they’re concerned about his willingness to sign although they’ve given no indication of concern so far.  With a league-leading 14 draft picks, they could certainly deal from that surplus as well.

Others to Watch For: D Cale Fleury ($772K, RFA), Ryan Poehling, ($925K, RFA)

Team Needs

1) Impact Defenseman – Chiarot’s hand injury – one he is expected to return from by the end of the regular season – has left the left side of Montreal’s back end quite thin with only Joel Edmundson and Brett Kulak being somewhat proven options.  Someone that would fit alongside Shea Weber would be ideal although unless they’re willing to pay up for Nashville’s Mattias Ekholm, they may not be able to address this one in the coming weeks.

2) Center Depth – While Montreal’s first three centers are pretty well set in Nick Suzuki, Jesperi Kotkaniemi, and Phillip Danault, an upgrade on the fourth line would be beneficial.  It would give them a bit more security if their younger middlemen falter and given their struggles as a team at the faceoff dot, one that can take some key draws would also be desirable.  With their cap room and Bergevin’s suggestion that they’ll largely be quiet, this may be the type of move he’s looking to make.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Trade Candidate: Eric Staal

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With the trade deadline quickly approaching, we continue our closer look at some of the players who have a good chance of being on the move between now and April 12th.

It has been an interesting six months or so for Eric Staal.  First, he was surprisingly traded to Buffalo in the middle of the offseason for what seemed like a downgrade from Minnesota’s standpoint in Marcus Johansson based on their respective 2019-20 performances.  Second, he has been involved in what has been nothing short of a disastrous season for the Sabres.

At this stage of his career, it’s certainly not what he signed up for and from Buffalo’s perspective, carrying a 36-year-old when the team is clearly going to be extending their rebuilding plans doesn’t make a lot of sense either.  Accordingly, it looks like he’ll be on the move before next month’s trade deadline.

Contract

Staal is in the final season of a two-year, $6.5MM contract ($3.25MM AAV) with a $3MM salary.  Per CapFriendly, his deal contains a ten-team no-trade clause.  He will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season.

2020-21

It has been an ugly year for Staal, to put it nicely.  When he was acquired, he seemed like a logical fit to provide some secondary scoring behind Jack Eichel while providing some veteran insurance for someone like Dylan Cozens to start out on the wing.  He has been in that role for most of the year but has done next to nothing offensively with just three goals.

To be fair, it has been an ugly year for just about everyone on Buffalo offensively as not a single player overachieving offensively with few living up to even modest expectations.  His power play time is down unsurprisingly and even his faceoff percentage is at the lowest rate in a decade.

Some players find themselves trade candidates based on an impressive performance that catches the eye of another team.  In Staal’s case, he’s on the list because there’s basically nowhere to go but up.  That’s a steep drop from someone who last season was a capable second-line center.

Season Stats

31 GP, 3 goals, 7 assists, 10 points, -20 rating, 8 PIMS, 55 shots, 15:26 TOI, 47.8 faceoff win percentage, 50.3 CF%

Potential Suitors

While he was a top-six player just a year ago, teams won’t be viewing Staal as one now.  As a result, his best role is with a team that has an offensively-oriented third line.

In terms of best fits within the East Division, there aren’t a lot of good ones.  The Islanders have cap space for a rental but have decent depth down the middle.  So does Boston although Charlie Coyle, their third-line center, has plenty of experience on the wing and could easily be shifted over.  Of course, improved depth down the middle is hardly their biggest need so Staal would only make sense if other options fall through.  Evgeni Malkin’s injury could create an opening in Pittsburgh but most of their cap room is derived from Jason Zucker’s LTIR and he’s expected back before much longer so making the money work would be a challenge.

In the Central, Florida is a team that doesn’t have the strongest center depth and would certainly benefit from adding a veteran to the mix.  They have the cap room to absorb Staal’s deal without an offset although as a team that has typically been more of a budget one than a cap spender, they may still want Buffalo to either take a player back or retain on the contract.  His old team in Carolina would be a feel-good story and they have the cap space to make it happen although with Vincent Trocheck nearing a return, there isn’t a pressing need for Staal either.

As for the North Division, Edmonton is known to be seeking some help down the middle – Frank Seravalli indicated as much in the latest Insider Trading for TSN (video link) – although Staal isn’t a right-shot player like the Oilers are believed to be seeking.  They’re a team that also would need to match money or require some retention to get a deal done.  With Vancouver’s recent injuries, they could stand to add a center if they hang around the playoff battle over the next few weeks although with basically no cap room at all, making a move could be tricky.

In the West, a reunion with Minnesota makes some sense.  The Wild never really addressed their center depth after moving Staal and as someone familiar with the team and system, there’s some added value you don’t see with most rentals.  At the same time, he’s not a huge upgrade based on his current performance and the salary cap element would be a bit challenging.

Likelihood Of A Trade

Considering Buffalo’s situation, both sides would likely want a move to happen although there aren’t a lot of good fits and even fewer that can afford him without matching some money.  Ultimately, Buffalo’s willingness to absorb a contract or retain up to half of the contract will ultimately determine the outcome.  Right now, it’s reasonable to think they’d be willing to do so which means Staal should be in another uniform by April 12th.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Trade Deadline Primer: Minnesota Wild

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Although we’re less than three months into the season, the trade deadline is already just three 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 Minnesota Wild.

The Minnesota Wild have been one of the more pleasant surprises of the 2020-21 season. Initially believed to be no more than a bubble team in the West Division, not only are the Wild safely within the playoff picture but they are actually well ahead of the rival St. Louis Blues for third place and nipping at the heels of the Colorado Avalanche in second. Minnesota’s season is not just a fluke, either. The long-awaited debut of Kirill Kaprizov has been as advertised, as the young Russian scorer has been one of the league’s most exciting players and has added a legitimate weapon to a team that has long lacked one. With other young players taking a step forward this season, off-season veteran additions solidifying the forward corps, the trade acquisition of Ian Cole rounding out a solid blue line, and a new tandem excelling in net, the Wild are the real deal. In fact, they don’t have many holes.

Well, except one massive, gaping hole. The Minnesota power play is an assault on the eyes. Unorganized and ineffective, it seems almost impossible that such a capable, composed even-strength team can be so bad on the man advantage. At 10%, the Wild’s power play is the worst in the league and no other team currently in playoff position is within nine spots – or 8.9% – of being as bad. While their No. 15-ranked offense is nothing to complain about, it can certainly be improved. With no issues defensively or in goal, as evidenced by strong goals against and penalty kill numbers, and no lack of veteran experience, an offensive weapon with power play ability is really the only focus. With just enough cap space to make one notable addition, it seems a top-six forward who excels man-up will be the Wild’s target and may just be enough to put them over the top.

Record

20-10-1, .661, 3rd in West Division

Deadline Status

Buyer

Deadline Cap Space

$232.2K in full-season space ($1.04MM at the trade deadline), 1/3 retention slots used, 45/50 contracts used per CapFriendly

Upcoming Draft Picks

2021: MIN 1st, PIT 1st, MIN 2nd, MIN, 3rd, PIT 3rd, MIN 4th, MIN 5th, MIN 6th, MIN 7th
2022: MIN 1st, MIN 2nd, MIN 3rd, MIN 4th, SJS 5th, MIN 5th, MIN 6th

Trade Chips

While the Wild are enjoying a great season, GM Bill Guerin is not going to get ahead of himself. Sure, his team could make a run this year, but with some long-term questions still to be answered, such as the team’s future down the middle and the potential impact of the Expansion Draft on his deep lineup, Guerin isn’t going to mortgage the future – and possible years of sustained success – to hope for a Stanley Cup this year. As a result, don’t expect any of Minnesota’s young roster players to be on the market, nor top prospects like Marco Rossi, Matt Boldy, or Calen Addison. 

Instead, Minnesota will deal from a nice stockpile of draft picks and try to peddle their top young AHLers and their second tier of prospects. Especially if the goal at the deadline is to add a top-six player with term, a center in particular being the biggest need, young forward prospects such as Alex Khovanov, Marat Khusnutdinov, Adam Beckman, and Damien Giroux could be appealing targets for sellers. Collegiate property Vladislav Firstov, Jack McBain, Nikita Nesterenko and Sam Hentges will also draw interest, especially with the latter three still playing in the NCAA Tournament.

On the back end, there are some questions moving forward in terms of the potential impact of expansion, so the team could be more hesitant to deal top blue line prospects. However, for the right player the Wild may part with Ryan O’Rourke or Filip Johansson. 

With the emergence of Kaapo Kahkonen as the apparent starter of the future, Minnesota may also be open to moving their goalie prospects and they own two desirable names in first-year pro Hunter Jones and NCAA star Filip Lindberg. 

Others to Watch For: F Mitchell Chaffee ($925K, 2022 RFA), F Will Bitten ($805K, 2022 RFA), F Mason Shaw ($792.5K, 2022 RFA), F Ivan Lodnia ($747.5K, 2023 RFA), D Daemon Hunt (Draft Rights)

Team Needs

1) Top-Six Forward/Power Play Specialist – The Wild’s cap situation looks a little bleak right now, but CapFriendly’s numbers currently reflect a full 23-man roster and with Zach Parise counting against the cap despite not being on the active roster. With Parise back and everyone else staying healthy, paired with some cap space-saving roster maneuvers, CapFriendly predicts that Minnesota could have closer to $3MM in flexibility by the deadline. That could be enough to add a weapon up front. Again, the sole focus is on adding a forward with a history of power play success; a play-maker who understands how to use space and create scoring chances.

With a lot of salary about to come off the payroll next season, the Wild are not limited to rentals in addressing this need. They can certainly add an impending UFA to keep the price down, but with plenty of draft picks and prospects to draw from, they can go bigger with an impending RFA or a player with term.

Trade Deadline Primer: Los Angeles Kings

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Although we’re now just two months into the season, the trade deadline is less than 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 Los Angeles Kings.

It has been an interesting season for the Kings.  While they’re still in the midst of their extended rebuild, they’ve done well enough to hang around the playoff picture.  Accordingly, there is a case to be made for GM Rob Blake to try to add a piece or two but on the other hand, staying the course would certainly be prudent as well.  As a result, that makes them a team of some intrigue heading into the April 12th trade deadline.

Record

13-12-6, 5th in West Division

Deadline Status

Light Seller

Deadline Cap Space

$22.72MM in full-season space ($41.09MM at the trade deadline), 0/3 retention slots used, 48/50 contracts used per CapFriendly.

Upcoming Draft Picks

2021: LA 1st, LA 2nd, STL 2nd, LA 3rd, TOR 3rd, CGY 4th, LA 4th, LA 5th, LA 6th
2022: LA 1st, LA 2nd, LA 3rd, LA 4th, LA 5th, LA 6th, LA 7th

Trade Chips

Up front, the Kings only have one pending unrestricted free agent in winger Alex Iafallo who is certainly an under-the-radar player.  After finishing second on the team in scoring last season, he has upped his point per game average to a career best 0.67 with 20 points (7-13-20) in just 30 games.  The 27-year-old is also very quietly averaging nearly 20 minutes per game while taking turns on the power play and penalty kill.  With a $2.425MM cap hit and an ability to play pretty well anywhere in the lineup, Iafallo is someone that could certainly fit on quite a few contending teams.  On the other hand, he is someone that they want to retain and whether or not he gets moved will likely depend on the status of how extension talks go over the next few weeks.

Andreas Athanasiou is no stranger to trade speculation having been in it for several years before finally getting moved to Edmonton at last year’s deadline, a deal the Oilers undoubtedly would love a mulligan on.  His trip through unrestricted free agency last fall after being non-tendered wasn’t what he was hoping for as he eventually settled for a one-year, $1.2MM deal.  Athanasiou isn’t having the best of seasons but the low price tag and potential for another year of control as he remains RFA-eligible makes him a possible candidate to be moved, albeit for much less than the two second-rounders that he yielded a year ago.

With Calvin Petersen looking like the starter of the future, Jonathan Quick’s name has come up in some trade speculation.  However, he still has two more years left on his deal after this one with a $5.8MM cap hit although his salary is considerably lower at this stage of his 10-year contract.  Given the salary cap constraints that so many teams face right now, it’s hard to see there being much demand for his services although an injury elsewhere could certainly change things.  Lias Andersson has had a limited role this season and has made numerous appearances in our daily Taxi Squad Shuffle pieces.  With the centre depth they have in the system, the 22-year-old could make some sense as a change of scenery candidate.

Others to Watch For:

F Michael Amadio ($700K, RFA), F Matt Luff ($700K, RFA), D Austin Strand ($735K, RFA)

Team Needs

1) Long-Term Defensive Help – While Los Angeles has to be pleased with the performances of Michael Anderson and Tobias Bjornfot, their long-term prospects on the back end aren’t the greatest.  Recent deals to Matt Roy and Sean Walker (last offseason) give them some depth at somewhat high prices but both are better suited for limited roles as is Olli Maatta.  Adding to their prospect pool would certainly help but bringing in a current top-four NHL defenseman with a few years of team control would give them a boost.  That may be a move for the offseason instead as it’s more of a buyer trade but the fact that they have as much cap space as they do could put them in a better spot to act now rather than later.

2) Top-Six Forwards – Similar to above, the Kings have decent forward depth in terms of their bottom-six options but they are lacking a bit in the impact forward department.  Obviously, the hope is that their top prospects (including Quinton Byfield, Alex Turcotte, and Rasmus Kupari) will eventually fill the void but adding a slightly older established player to the core would fill a big need.  Again, it may not quite be time for that just yet but the reality is that the players that they could move now aren’t going to really fill any of their needs and instead just add to their draft pick capital.  When the time comes to add, Blake will need to be thinking big.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Trade Candidate: Alex Goligoski

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With the trade deadline quickly approaching, we continue our closer look at some of the players who have a good chance of being on the move between now and April 12th.

For more than a decade, Alex Goligoski had been one of the more consistent secondary offensive blueliners.  From 2009-10 through 2019-20, the 35-year-old had just one year below 30 points while averaging more than 20 minutes of ice time per game.  It was reasonable to expect the same from him coming into this season.

However, that hasn’t been the case at all which hasn’t helped an Arizona attack that wasn’t the strongest to begin with.  Now, the Coyotes find themselves out of a playoff spot with several veterans set to become unrestricted free agents.  If they wind up selling, he will be a name to keep an eye on.

Contract

Goligoski is in the final season of a five-year, $27.375MM contract ($5.475MM AAV) with a $4MM salary.  Per CapFriendly, his deal contains an eight-team no-trade clause.  He will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season.

2020-21

Goligoski had an assist in Arizona’s season opener and since then, he has just one assist in a 30-game stretch.  This type of offensive drought is simply unprecedented for him and has certainly come at an inopportune time both in terms of trying to help his market value for free agency and his trade value for the Coyotes.

It’s not all negative, however.  He has been an anchor on Arizona’s top penalty killing unit, one that is well above the league average; it’s that element that may be the most appealing to teams looking to upgrade on the back end.  He also has been more disciplined than usual with just four minor penalties despite logging more than 22 minutes per night so far.

Is that a great return on such a high price tag?  Certainly not but the fact remains that Goligoski is still a capable defender but this season, he has been more of a shutdown option than the two-way player he had been for so long.  Who knows, perhaps a change of scenery would help revive his offensive game as well?

Season Stats

31 GP, 0 goals, 2 assists, 2 points, -1 rating, 8 PIMS, 36 shots, 22:24 TOI, 46.6 CF%

Potential Suitors

Quite a few teams will be on the lookout for defensive upgrades although Goligoski’s season and contract will have him a little lower on the wish list at this time.  However, as other options are either dealt or pulled off the market, they could pivot to him closer to the April 12th trade deadline.

In the Central, Chicago is a possible fit.  They have the cap space with Brent Seabrook (and others) on LTIR which makes them one of the few potential playoff teams that can make a move without requiring Arizona to retain money.  They’ve had varying degrees of success from their youngsters but if they are serious about trying to make the postseason, adding someone like Goligoski would upgrade their third pairing and penalty kill without costing much in terms of future assets.

Among East Division teams, Boston has been hit hard by the injury bug and has been going with a by-committee approach for most of the season.  Goligoski would give them a stable option on the third pairing at a minimum with the potential to move up if needed.  At this point, they’re probably setting their sights higher in terms of a rental to pursue but if those don’t pan out, they could pivot to Goligoski and depending on who returns between now and then, they may not need an offset as well.  A similar case can be made for Philadelphia who is believed to have interest in him if other moves don’t pan out.

In the North, Winnipeg has a definite need to add to their back end, particularly on the left side.  However, they’re already into LTIR and don’t have enough room in there to absorb his full cap hit.  Unlike regular cap room, it doesn’t accrue on a daily basis either so some sort of offset would be needed.  Montreal has a void to fill with Ben Chiarot out for six-to-eight weeks but with minimal cap space, making such a move work would be difficult.

As for the West, there isn’t a great fit unless Los Angeles was to go on a bit of a run over the next few weeks to pull themselves into the race.  If that happened, they could benefit from a veteran like Goligoski on the back end and have more than enough cap space to bring him in.  If that doesn’t happen though, Arizona will have to look outside the division for a trade partner.

Likelihood Of A Trade

Simply because of his contract, a Goligoski trade can’t be pegged as a certainty.  There will be cheaper options to choose from (the Coyotes have several other veteran rentals with lower cap hits) and there is a possibility that by the time the dust settles, contenders opt for those lower-priced players and there isn’t a fit for him.  However, Goligoski is better than quite a few of the other rentals out there even with the season he’s having which is important.  A lot will depend on their willingness to retain salary and/or take a contract back to offset some of the money and if that happens, there’s a better chance than not that he moves.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Trade Deadline Primer: Florida Panthers

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Although we’re just two months into the season, the trade deadline is already less than 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 Florida Panthers.

The Florida Panthers are in an unusual position. Usually a team that is either standing pat or selling, the team has taken a whole new level under head coach Joel Quenneville, becoming a dominant team in the East as they sit just two points behind first-place Tampa Bay with the Carolina Hurricanes just one point behind them. However, no other team is particularly close behind those three teams, practically guaranteeing them a playoff spot. The question is, however, can they get out of the East?

Record

20-6-4, 44 points, 2nd in Central Division

Deadline Status

Buyer

Deadline Cap Space

$8.48MM in full-season space ($15.98MM at the trade deadline), 1/3 retention slots used, 45/50 contracts used per CapFriendly

Upcoming Draft Picks

2021: FLR 1st, FLR 2nd, FLR 3rd, FLR 4th, FLR 5th, FLR 6th, FLR 7th, WIN 7th
2022: FLR 1st, FLR 2nd, FLR 3rd, FLR 4th, FLR 5th, FLR 6th, FLR 7th

Trade Chips

The Panthers best asset is someone who isn’t even signed to a contract. The team let forward Henrik Borgstrom leave for the Liiga this offseason, but still retain the restricted free agent’s rights. The once-highly touted prospect has struggled in the Panthers organization despite his incredible success in two years at the University of Denver. Borgstrom played in 50 games for Florida during the 2018-19 season, playing mostly a third-line role, scoring eight goals and 18 points. The belief last year was that Borgstrom would move up into the lineup and improve on those numbers. Instead, he spent most of the season with the Springfield Thunderbirds of the AHL, where he struggled and was rumored to be unhappy with his role. Regardless, he is still a player that has value and could be a valuable chip for a rebuilding team that could use a player that could immediately step into an NHL lineup. With HIFK Helsinki in the Liiga, the 23-year-old Borgstrom has 11 goals and 19 points in 27 games.

Florida also has a full complement of draft picks over the next two years, another way to pry a veteran player loose from selling teams. The team has drafted in the late lottery in the past few years, but now will be drafting much later. That makes those picks much more tradeable with many teams eager to get their hands on any first-rounder.

Others to Watch For: F Brett Connolly ($2.43MM, 2023 UFA); F Aleksi Heponiemi ($925K, 2022 RFA); D Keith Yandle ($6.35MM, 2023 UFA)

Team Needs

1) Top-Six Forward – The Panthers have been quite successful this season and have done it with a number of players who normally wouldn’t have been considered top-six players a year ago, including Patric Hornqvist and Alexander Wennberg. The team could use a big boost if they could add a significant piece to their top-six, which would allow either Hornqvist or Wennberg to move a line back and fortify the team’s depth. The team could definitely use more experience up front, pushing one of those two down to the third line. Of course, Hornqvist has been thriving this year with 11 goals and 24 points in 30 games, suggesting the team might be better off looking to add a center instead, but the team could certainly look to add more offense, no matter what it adds.

2) Top-Four Defenseman – The Panthers might want to make a play for a top-four defenseman who can play next to Aaron Ekblad. There are rumors that the team is looking at young players like Vince Dunn and Dante Fabbro as potential long-term pieces to the franchise. Florida does have a significant number of prospects, if they are willing to move them, to acquire a core piece and give the team extra defensive depth, even if they are 11th in the NHL in goals allowed.

Trade Deadline Primer: Edmonton Oilers

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Although we’re just two months into the season, the trade deadline is already less than 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 Edmonton Oilers.

Perhaps the biggest obstacle standing between the Edmonton Oilers and their longest playoff run in the Connor McDavid/Leon Draisaitl era is not their North Division competition, but their lack of cap space. The Oilers are ready to be all-out buyers and compete for a Stanley Cup, but they lack the cap space to do much at all. They are already using Long Term Injured Reserve space and even most of that is already chewed up. Any trade will either have to see salary go the other way or be paired with another transaction to shed salary.

The Oilers have been bold in their waivers decisions this year, placing the likes of James Neal, Alex Chiasson, and Jujhar Khaira among others on the wire. Neal will require waivers again after two more games played, but is not a realistic waiver claim candidate anyhow. Plus, Neal’s off-roster status is currently reflected in their still-lacking cap space. Chiasson and Khaira though would require waivers again to be moved off the roster and there is reason to be believe that the Oilers may not risk it a second time. Could Zack Kassian be the next name they take a chance with? Signed to a long-term contract with a significant amount of salary, Kassian is probably unlikely to be claimed and could open up some space. He appears to have lost his top-six role and may be worth the risk.

The fact that a contender must consider risking their starting players on waivers to open up enough space to add different starting players just shows the dire cap situation in Edmonton. Add in the team’s lack of 2021 draft picks and an organizational philosophy that has been opposed to trading top prospects and it may be difficult for the Oilers to make a big move. With that said, they will find a way to make some sort of addition or two.

Record

20-13-0, .606, 3rd in North Division

Deadline Status

Buyer

Deadline Cap Space

$0MM in full-season space (LTIR), 1/3 retention slots used, 48/50 contracts used per CapFriendly

Upcoming Draft Picks

2021: EDM 1st, EDM 4th, EDM 6th, PIT 6th, EDM 7th
2022: EDM 1st, EDM 2nd, EDM 3rd, EDM 4th, EDM 5th, EDM 6th, EDM 7th

Trade Chips

The Oilers’ best chance at adding an impact forward to their roster is by moving out salary to offset the addition. Although the Edmonton blue line may not seem like a top unit in the NHL, they are very deep which could make a roster defenseman expendable. Especially considering the impending Expansion Draft, which could cost the Oilers a young roster defenseman anyhow, there is some added incentive to deal from the blue line. 23-year-old Ethan Bear, who was trending upward heading into this season, has hit a wall in his development instead, recording just three points thus far, seeing a career low in ice time, and even sitting a few games as a healthy scratch. Bear still undoubtedly has value and could be the Oilers’ top trade chip, if they’re willing to move him. Competing for the No. 6 defenseman role for Edmonton this year has been William Lagesson, 25, and Caleb Jones, 23, who like Bear will each be restricted free agents after the 2021-22 season and are eligible for selection in the Expansion Draft. While Jones may have more upside, Lagesson has been the preferred player of the coaching staff due to his superior defense, even recently playing a top-four role. Jones’ contract is also slightly more expensive, which could be considered. Assuming the Oilers use the 7-3 protection scheme in the Expansion Draft and Darnell Nurse and Oscar Klefbom (though not a lock) are protected, only one of these three young defensemen can join them. However, only one can be selected as well. That works out to one of the trio being expendable in a deadline move, especially with top prospects like Evan Bouchard and Philip Broberg pushing up the pipeline as well.

The Oilers don’t have the same depth up front, but as previously mentioned have been willing to take risks on waivers this season to gain cap flexibility. If they feel Chiasson or Kassian are unlikely to clear waivers, they could shop either one to open up space or potentially in a swap. They could also look at moving some of their fringe forward to teams with a greater need for depth beyond their starting group.

Either as a sweetener to move another contract or as part of a return if they’re able to open up cap space, the Oilers will also have to consider moving some of their prospects. Tyler Benson, who has been more talk than walk as a pro prospect for Edmonton, may need a change of scenery after years of being unable to earn a full-time role with the NHL club. Cooper Marody, tearing up the AHL this year and having earned some NHL experience last year, could also be an attractive name. While Bouchard, Broberg, and Dylan Holloway are likely untouchable, would Edmonton consider moving other top prospects like Raphael Lavoie, Ryan McLeod, or Matej Blumel? Would they dip into their deep group of young goaltenders, such as Stuart Skinner, Dylan Wells, Olivier Rodrigue, or Ilya Konovalov?

Others to Watch For: D Dmitri Samorukov ($825K, 2022 RFA), D Markus Niemelainen ($817.5K, 2022 RFA), F Gaetan Haas ($915K, UFA), F Patrick Russell ($700K, UFA)

Team Needs

1) Affordable Top-Six Forward – It may seem strange for the Oilers’ biggest need to be at forward. Edmonton is a top-ten team in goals per game, shots per game, and power play efficiency – arguably a top-five offense in hockey. Yet, that offensive production is heavily skewed towards just two players: McDavid and Draisaitl. A quick look at the depth chart also clearly shows that the team lacks quality top-six wingers, with players who should be above-average bottom-six players instead slotted as below-average top-six forwards. McDavid and Draisaitl deserve to have more talent around them, a need that has plagued the Oilers for years. Additionally, Edmonton faces a path to the NHL’s final four this season that goes through Winnipeg, a team with defensive issues, and Toronto, a team with goaltending issues. In a battle of three elite offenses, the North Division is likely to go to the team that can simply outscore the others. Right now, that isn’t Edmonton, but it wouldn’t take much to shift the scales.

The caveat of course is that without some cap gymnastics, the Oilers cannot be players for any of the high-priced forwards on the rental market (or any market for that matter). The focus must be on bargain buys, adding players who can produce at a high level while being paid at a low level. Among rentals, Bobby Ryan, Erik Haula, Carl Soderberg, or old friend Sam Gagner (yet again) could all fit the bill. Among players with an additional year of term, possibly more attractive anyway, Vladislav Namestnikov, Calle Jarnkrok, Rocco Grimaldi, Curtis Lazar, and Colin Blackwell are all intriguing options. If available, L.A.’s Alex Iafallo is likely the very best value addition.

2) Depth Forward – On the off chance that Edmonton has the cap space and a contract slot left, they could make another move and it should again be up front. Depth is key in the postseason and the Oilers simply don’t have it at forward. They could stand to add some playoff experience, defensive ability, and if possible top-six upside in an established veteran forward. While goaltending continues to be a major long-term need of the Oilers, solving that problem in-season given all of the factors working against such deal make it extremely unlikely.

Trade Candidate: Erik Haula

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With the trade deadline quickly approaching, we continue our closer look at some of the players who have a good chance of being on the move between now and April 12th.

The last 13 months have been a bit of a roller coaster for Erik Haula.  Last season, he was doing a nice job with Carolina on their third line before he was somewhat surprisingly traded at the deadline a year ago in the Vincent Trocheck deal.  He played out the stretch with Florida and then entered free agency as one of the top options on the market in what was a weak center free agent class.

However, it took quite a while for him to find a place to play, eventually signing in late December with Nashville on what looked a well below-market contract.  Things haven’t gone particularly well for him this season – something that can be said for a lot of the Predators’ players – and as a result, it looks like Haula will be on the move before the trade deadline once again.

Contract

Haula is on a one-year, $1.75MM contract and will be an unrestricted free agent this summer.  His deal does not contain any trade protection.

2020-21

Haula came into the season looking like he’d be a fixture on Nashville’s third line behind Ryan Johansen and Matt Duchene.  That’s mostly been the case but it’s also not a good thing.  Johansen and Duchene have both missed time due to injury and have struggled mightily and yet Haula hasn’t been able to take advantage of it with Mikael Granlund instead being moved down the middle.

It’s not as if Haula’s ice time has been limited by the lack of top-six opportunities at five-on-five either; he’s a regular on both the penalty kill and power play and actually sits sixth in ATOI among forwards but with three goals, the production simply hasn’t been there.  One thing working in his favor is that he’s still winning faceoffs at an above-average clip but that in itself won’t be enough to garner a more favorable market this summer.

Right now, he may be viewed around the league as a fourth-line upgrade over someone that can be on a third line.  A change of scenery would give him a chance to potentially rebuild some value by working his way up the lineup and with Nashville on the outside looking in at a playoff spot, it’s an opportunity he likely wouldn’t mind getting.

Season Stats

26 GP, 3 goals, 6 assists, 9 points, -5 rating, 8 PIMS, 34 shots, 56.3% faceoff wins, 15:35 TOI, 48.4 CF%

Potential Suitors

Searching for affordable bottom-six upgrades is an annual tradition heading into the trade deadline and with so many teams being cap-strapped, there could be even more emphasis than usual on making low-cost incremental upgrades.

In the Central, Florida is a logical landing spot for the second straight year.  Their third and fourth-line centers are still quite unproven at the NHL level and Haula would have the benefit of some familiarity with Joel Quenneville’s system from his brief time there a year ago.  The Panthers also have the cap space to absorb the contract without any sort of salary offset which is something that can’t be said for some other potentially interested teams.  If Columbus hangs in the playoff race and opts not to sell, Haula would make sense there as well with a fairly weak center group in general.

In the East, the continually-long list of injuries in Pittsburgh makes them a team likely to look for some depth upgrades that can play a bigger role in the short-term and Haula could conceivably slide onto their third line with Evgeni Malkin out week-to-week.  The finances would be a bit tricky, however, with most of their cap room derived from Jason Zucker’s LTIR placement but he is expected back before the end of the regular season.  Nashville would need to retain or Pittsburgh would have to send a player back to make the money work.

As for the North Division, Montreal has already been linked to one similarly-priced rental center as they could stand to upgrade on the fourth line while their top two young centers have had some ups and downs this season.  As is the case with Pittsburgh, however, they can’t afford him straight up and would need retention to facilitate a move. Unlike others on this list, there’s also the two-week quarantine period to contend with.

In the West, Tyson Jost and J.T. Compher’s struggles this season should have Colorado looking for a short-term upgrade.  Knowing the contracts that are coming due for next season, any addition would need to be a rental which Haula is and while he hasn’t been much better than those two, it stands to reason that a change of scenery to an expected contender may help elevate his game.  In terms of cap affordability, a lot depends on the status of Erik Johnson and Pavel Francouz, both of whom are on LTIR with no certainty for when or if they’ll be able to return during the regular season.

Likelihood Of A Trade

With Nashville technically only six points out of the final spot in the Central Division, it can’t entirely be ruled out that they opt not to sell in which case Haula will probably stick around.  However, if they continue to be on the outside looking in over the next few weeks, he’s a strong candidate to be moved considering his struggles so far while still having a good enough recent track record to make him fit on several playoff-contending teams.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Trade Deadline Primer: Detroit Red Wings

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Although we’re now just two months into the season, the trade deadline is less than 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 Detroit Red Wings.

A new division hasn’t yielded new results for the Red Wings as a year after finishing last in the Atlantic Division, they sit last in the Central with no real hope at a playoff spot.  It has been a tough rebuild for Detroit over the past few years and coming into next month’s deadline, GM Steve Yzerman’s focus will undoubtedly be on adding more future assets to the organization.  Their time to return to postseason contention will come but it won’t be this season.

Record

9-17-4, 8th in Central Division

Deadline Status

Seller

Deadline Cap Space

$19.59MM in full-season space ($39.19MM at the trade deadline), 0/3 retention slots used, 46/50 contracts used per CapFriendly.

Upcoming Draft Picks

2021: DET 1st, DET 2nd, EDM 2nd, NYR 2nd, DET 3rd, VGK 3rd, DET 4th, DET 5th, DET 6th
2022: DET 1st, DET 2nd, DET 3rd, DET 4th, VGK 4th, DET 5th, DET 6th, DET 7th

Trade Chips

Jonathan Bernier has been a decent goaltender for Detroit over the past few seasons.  While the overall defensive numbers haven’t been pretty, the 32-year-old has more than held his own between the pipes and actually had a save percentage above the league average heading into play on Thursday.  Goaltenders don’t typically move at this time of year but there are a handful of teams that could certainly benefit from an upgraded second option and Bernier may very well be at the top of the wish list.  His $3MM cap hit may be a bit tricky to navigate for some of those teams but with no retention slots used yet, Yzerman could pay the contract down to facilitate a move.  This is, of course, assuming his lower-body injury sustained in tonight’s game against Dallas isn’t too serious.

While goalies aren’t often in demand, one position that teams always look to upgrade on is the fourth line center.  The goal is to get someone who can help the penalty kill and win faceoffs.  That’s the basic description of Luke Glendening right there; he doesn’t bring much more than those two elements but is good enough at what he does (including leading the league in faceoff percentage) to carve out a lineup spot.  He’s a bit pricey for that role at $1.8MM but again, Detroit can pay up to half of that and there should be several teams interested in his services.

Marc Staal had been viewed as a contract that would be tough to get out of; the Rangers had to part with their second-rounder this year to get the Red Wings to take him on.  But he is still a decent defender in his own end and is someone that would fit much better on a contender on the third pairing than he does with Detroit.  At $5.7MM, no one will bite but if they retain and/or take a sizable expiring contract back, there should be some interest.  Patrik Nemeth ($3MM) also falls into this category for teams that don’t have as much financial wiggle room to work with.

It hasn’t quite been the offensive resurgence that he was hoping for but Bobby Ryan has showed some good moments this season while playing in Detroit’s top six.  With 13 points in 27 games, he’d represent an upgrade for some teams in their bottom six and at a $1MM price tag, he’s certainly affordable as well; this isn’t a contract that they should need to provide some sort of salary offset for.

Others to Watch For: F Adam Erne (997K, RFA), F Sam Gagner ($850K, UFA), F Vladislav Namestnikov ($2MM through 2021-22)

Team Needs

1) Picks and Prospects – Yzerman doesn’t necessarily need to overthink things here.  The Red Wings have several veteran players who can fill small roles on contenders but none of the players mentioned above are going to bring back significant assets.  Instead, they can simply stockpile draft picks and prospects.  With this year’s draft not being moved and being such a wild card in terms of some prospects hardly playing, 2021 selections represent intriguing lottery chips; later selections (which is what most of the veterans would bring back) might be a bit more valuable as a result.

2) Core Players – There are some building blocks in place (though some of those have struggled considerably this season) but for a team that isn’t going anywhere, it’s a bit of an older group.  Some of those veterans will be replaced by prospects but with the cap room that Detroit has, there’s room to try to add a couple of core players that can be around long enough to help shepherd them through the tough times and into the playoffs.  The time for those types of moves may very well be the offseason but given the financial pressures some teams have now, Yzerman would be wise to see if there’s an opportunity to pounce before then.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Trade Deadline Primer: Dallas Stars

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Although we’re just two months into the season, the trade deadline is already less than 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 Dallas Stars.

The simple truth is that the Dallas Stars cannot be true buyers at the deadline. Yes, the team currently has $4MM in unused LTIR space, but that will disappear when starting goalie Ben Bishop returns to action. Without any cap space, any trade that the team makes will have to be a hockey deal with a salary going out in order to bring a salary in. With those types of deals more unlikely this season than in most years, the Stars might not have much choice at the deadline.

True, they are within reach of a playoff spot and could certainly stand to improve their roster. However, this is a team that just won the Western Conference last season and hopes to have Tyler Seguin and Bishop back this year. Those internal additions may be enough to get them to the postseason and make them a potential threat. Even then, the Stars likely face a Stanley Cup rematch with the Tampa Bay Lightning right away. There simply isn’t enough upside to be buyers, even if there was flexibility.

Could they be sellers? Possibly, but they don’t have much to offer. The team would likely gain more from keeping their roster together in hopes of making the playoffs and even re-signing some of their impending free agents rather than dealing them for minor returns. Again, Dallas could try to peddle some of their impending UFA’s in order to clear space for an addition, but most teams aren’t looking to add salary this year unless it is attached to a top quality player. Those are in short supply among the Stars’ expiring contracts.

They likely won’t touch their term contracts, either. This is a team that found success in the postseason last year and returned virtually the same roster this year and will be back together again next year. Injuries and a start slowed by COVID Protocol has impacted Dallas this season and, while their team isn’t perfect, they could be an off-season piece or two away from getting back to Stanley Cup Final in no time.

So for now, they should probably just stand pat.

Record

9-9-7, .500, 4th in Central Division

Deadline Status

Stand Pat

Deadline Cap Space

$0MM in full-season space (LTIR), 0/3 retention slots used, 44/50 contracts used per CapFriendly.

Upcoming Draft Picks

2021: DAL 1st, DAL 2nd, DAL 3rd, DAL 4th, DAL 5th, DAL 6th, DAL 7th
2022: DAL 1st, DAL 2nd, DAL 3rd, DAL 4th, DAL 5th, DAL 6th, DAL 7th

Trade Chips

In deciding whether or not to move players off of their current roster, the Stars have options but lack upside. With only a handful of impending free agents, most of whom are merely bottom of the lineup players at best, Dallas may be better off keeping their group together and hoping to sneak into the playoffs.

If Dallas does decide to sell, their most valuable piece will be defenseman Jamie Oleksiak. A big, physical defender – the team’s current hits leader – who skates well and can play big minutes, Oleksiak is a solid addition to any team looking to stabilize their blue line with a strong defensive presence. In a rental market that is severely lacking in defensive talent, Oleksiak could return a nice package, especially given his reasonable price tag. The caveat though is that Dallas has traded Oleksiak once before, only to bring him back and have both sides realize that he is a great fit as a reliable defensive complement to the Stars’ offensive-minded blue line. If there is mutual interest in an extension and Dallas remains close to a playoff spot, they likely hold on to Oleksiak.

Versatile defenseman Mark Pysyk makes more sense to move. In his first season in Dallas on a one-year “show me” deal, Pysyk has failed to do just that. The Stars’ No. 6 defenseman spot has been split between Pysyk and Hanley this season, with neither doing enough to seize the consistent role. Both have been unproductive on offensive and largely invisible on defense while playing minimal minutes. Pysyk at least brings more experience playing in a regular role and has also experimented with lining up at forward, which could be especially valuable to teams down the stretch and in the postseason who want to avoid depth issues caused by possible COVID-19 restrictions. At $750K, Pysyk is affordable in cap terms and should be cheap to acquire as well.

Up front, the Stars may be willing to part with veterans Andrew Cogliano and Blake Comeau, but there may not be much interest in the duo. Both have been consistent and dependable two-way players throughout their careers, but their play this season has lacked offensive upside. The pair have totaled just four goals and 13 points in 46 combined games. In a cap-strapped climate, Cogliano’s $3.25MM and even Comeau’s $2.4MM may be too rich for players that would have to fight for top-nine jobs on a contender. They are more likely to move if Dallas is just swapping contracts to bring in new blood for the stretch run.

Given that Dallas was a Stanley Cup finalist just last year, the team is unlikely to make any drastic moves this season with their core players, all of whom have term remaining on their respective comments. Names like John Klingberg and Alexander Radulov are occasionally bandied about, but trading either in-season is both unlikely and ill-advised for the Stars. If they were to make a surprise move, it could be in goal. With young Jake Oettinger holding his own in net, the Stars could decide to move current starter Anton Khudobin if actual starter Bishop is healthy before the deadline. Khudobin is set to be exposed in this summer’s Expansion Draft and should be a strong candidate for selection. With both Landon Bow and Colton Point satisfying the goalie exposure requirement, the Stars could instead trade Khudobin to a team with needs in net this season rather than potentially lose him for nothing in expansion. A healthy Bishop backed up by Oettinger should be enough for the Stars the rest of the way this season and moving forward.

Others to Watch For: D Joel Hanley ($700K, UFA), D Taylor Fedun ($737.5K, UFA), F Tanner Kero ($762.5K, UFA), F Justin Dowling ($750K, UFA)

Team Needs

1) Defenseman – If the Stars can find a way to move contracts around and open up cap space, it will likely leave room for just one acquisition. While they are only middle-of-the-road when it comes to scoring and could use a spark up front, that might come in the form of a healthy Seguin. There is no one coming to take over their No. 6 defenseman role, a spot where Dallas has received no production from this season. A reliable blue liner to improve the starting defensive corps would be a key addition. If they can find a defenseman with some offensive upside and power play experience, that would be even better.

2) Term Forward – While it would again require shuffling salaries, which may make it a more likely move in the early off-season, the Stars at some point could look to add a forward who they can expose in the upcoming Expansion Draft. Currently, with the assumed protection scheme, the Stars are short both forwards that meet the games played and term requirements that the expansion quota demands. Their options to fill those spots internally are to re-sign UFA’s Cogliano and Comeau (unlikely) or RFA Jason Dickinson. RFA Nick Caamano will also be eligible with eight more games played. However, extending Dickinson or Caamano will only make them more attractive to the Seattle Kraken. Either of the players, the arbitration-eligible Dickinson specifically, may also not want to rush into an extension before the drat. As a result, the Stars could choose instead to add another eligible forward to expose.

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