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PHR Mailbag: Blackhawks, Sharks, Maple Leafs, Hamilton, Red Wings, Predictions, Bruins, Rutherford, Blue Jackets

at CDT | by 4 Comments

Topics in this edition of the PHR Mailbag include Chicago’s surprising first half, San Jose’s trade deadline plans, an emerging line for Toronto, Carolina’s top pending UFA, trade options for Detroit, goaltending forecasts, Boston’s potential for a big addition, what’s next for Jim Rutherford, and Columbus’ never-ending quest for help down the middle.  If your question doesn’t appear here, check back in last weekend’s mailbag.

parx: What is to be made of the Blackhawks? I honestly thought they would be awful but I’m enjoying this season more than past few, are they good or decent? Is this a mirage? What the hell is going on?

I think decent is the right word here.  They’ve had a few things go their way including Patrick Kane stepping up his game to another level, Kevin Lankinen at least temporarily solving the goaltending question, and some unheralded newcomers (Pius Suter, Philipp Kurashev, and even Mattias Janmark) all probably exceeding expectations.  Give GM Stan Bowman some credit, these under-the-radar moves have all worked out.

But at the same time, I have trouble thinking that Chicago is a top-ten team offensively over a full season (they currently sit seventh).  Lankinen has tailed off a bit lately and Malcolm Subban isn’t the solution in that number one role.  They’re also benefiting from Columbus underachieving, Nashville falling off the proverbial cliff, and Dallas scuffling with their injuries plus the starts and stops to their season.  A lot has gone better than expected.

The good news is that they’re somewhat comfortably in a playoff spot without a lot of pressure at the moment.  Kirby Dach is skating and should be back before the season is out which would be a nice addition up front.  It’s definitely a positive season for them but I’d caution against elevating expectations too much or thinking that their plans have been accelerated.  They’re on the rise but I wouldn’t call them good just yet.

mz90gu: The Sharks almost always make trades at the deadline. They do have some cap space; do you see them as buyer/seller maybe take on a contract for an additional pick?

It’s hard to see them being a buyer in the traditional sense given that they are nine points out of a playoff spot with three teams to leapfrog in the West Division.  But it wouldn’t surprise me to see them add a veteran player.

Cap space is at a premium this season and as you rightly note, that’s something they have a lot of.  As things stand, they could add nearly $9MM on deadline day, per CapFriendly.  While they probably shouldn’t be adding to try to make a failed run, how valuable is that space to other teams?  Taking on a contract to pick up an extra draft pick or prospect makes a lot of sense for San Jose whose system isn’t exactly the strongest.  Even acting as a third-party retainer in a trade while adding another asset (much like Toronto did in the Robin Lehner trade at the deadline last year) would be useful as long as it’s an expiring contract.

Of course, in a year like this, there are budgetary considerations at play and majority owner Hasso Plattner may not be thrilled about the idea of spending more money in a year where they’re probably not making the playoffs.  But if he’s okay with it, I think San Jose would be wise to add a player or two but more importantly, pick up the younger assets that would go along with facilitating the opportunity to help another team make a move.  Having said that, I wouldn’t be shocked if they look to move out a pending UFA or two as well.

MoneyBallJustWorks: Thoughts on the Maple Leafs’ new MEH line. Mikheyev, Engvall and Hyman?

I’ll resist the temptation to say the obvious but that line has been quite strong since it has been put together though it’s not one that is always together from shift to shift.  Zach Hyman, in particular, is having another strong season to the point where he may very well be playing his way off the team in that he’ll be too expensive to keep around.

This is what Toronto needed with their collection of lower-salaried players.  They need a few of them to develop some chemistry to create a reliable unit that’s greater than the sum of its individual parts.  This line does that.

I’d caution to enjoy it while it lasts, however.  At some point, Hyman will spend more time on the top line than with these two (yesterday’s game had him back with Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner) and when Wayne Simmonds returns, I’m not sure they’ll be able to afford to carry Pierre Engvall on the roster anymore.  Simmonds is on LTIR and right now, Toronto isn’t in cap compliance to be able to activate him.  They have no regulars that are waiver exempt so someone is getting exposed and with most of Engvall’s $1.25MM price tag being able to come off the books if he was to clear, he may wind up being the casualty.

mikedickinson: Dougie Hamilton. What do the Canes pay their third-best defenseman, especially with how well Jake Bean is playing?

This is going to be an interesting case.  Hamilton has been great for Carolina and even with his offensive numbers taking a dip relative to last year, he’s still playing at a 63-point pace over a full 82-game season (compared to a 70-point pace last year).  His minutes are still that of a top-pairing player which is how his agent J.P. Barry will undoubtedly try to market him.  That Carolina plays others ahead of him and has Bean having a good season is largely irrelevant to Hamilton’s case.  His numbers show he’s a top-pairing defenseman which are hard to come by, he’s in the prime of his career at 27, and is a right-shot player (the harder to get side).  If the Hurricanes want to pay him relative to his role on the depth chart, a deal probably doesn’t get done.

Last week when word came out that talks between the two sides had stalled, Alex Pietrangelo ($8.8MM) and Torey Krug ($6.5MM) were suggested as the potential targets for each side.  I think the likeliest outcome is a bit lower than the midpoint, something around $7.4MM to $7.5MM.  We saw in October’s free agent market that top blueliners still got paid so even with a flattened salary cap, Hamilton will get a big raise from his $5.75MM price tag.  Can GM Don Waddell justify that price tag with nearly $20MM in commitments to defense already for next season and several other key pieces needing new contracts?  I think it should be.  Their success comes from having an elite back end and Hamilton is a big part of it.  Re-signing him may force them to part with Brady Skjei or try to entice a taker for Jake Gardiner’s deal but it’d be awfully tough to let a top-quality blueliner walk for free in a few months.

tigers22: Which Red Wings player would bring back the biggest return at the trade deadline and what kind of package would they get Mantha or Bertuzzi?

Anthony Mantha’s value this year has taken a tumble.  Last season, a reasonable asking price would have been a first-round pick, a high-quality prospect, and probably some sort of cap filler.  But this season has been a struggle and that’s putting it lightly.  His point per game production is at the lowest rate of his career (beyond his rookie year where he played in just 10 games) and his trade value is probably at its lowest point.  With three years left after this at a $5.7MM cap hit, the teams that would be calling GM Steve Yzerman at this point would be ones looking to swap similarly underachieving $5MM-plus forwards.  That wouldn’t make any sense for Detroit.

So by default, the answer here would be Tyler Bertuzzi even though he hasn’t played a game since the end of January due to an upper-body injury.  He’s a bit cheaper and the injury is going to limit his earning ceiling through arbitration this summer so that’s at least somewhat palatable to some teams.  But no one is giving up any sort of top-end value for someone who hasn’t played in six weeks and doesn’t appear to be anywhere near close to returning so Yzerman has no reason to even consider a Bertuzzi trade at this time.  If he was inclined to move him for whatever reason, the offseason would be the time.

In terms of who actually fetches the best return for Detroit between now and next month’s trade deadline, I think it’s Luke Glendening.  He has been in deadline speculation for a few years now but with his contract expiring, this is the time to make a move.  He’s still elite at the faceoff dot and there will be contenders willing to pay for that while his $1.8MM AAV will be easier to work in to a cap-strapped roster than someone like Mantha.  It won’t be a package of high picks and prospects (a second-rounder is about the top end of what they could try to ask for) but they can still add more assets.

The Duke: Any Crystal Ball visions for Jamie Drysdale, Rasmus Sandin and Arizona’s, Winnipeg’s and Nashville’s goaltending into the next few seasons?

Drysdale: Let me first say that I like that Anaheim is holding him in the minors and not bringing him up.  Could he help the Ducks now?  Sure, but I don’t want to burn an entry-level year in a season where they’re not going anywhere.  The AHL is still a good level to develop at and if they hold him down there long enough, they could conceivably recall him to the NHL roster if and when the OHL starts without being on the roster (active or healthy scratch) for enough games to accrue a season of service time.  He will be a top-pairing defender in the near future but while he may get there quicker if he was up now, he’ll be well worth the wait.

Sandin: This season is quickly turning into a write-off after he suffered a foot injury in his first AHL contest of the year.  This will slow his development but it shouldn’t hurt too much in the long run.  Toronto’s cap situation could force Sandin onto their roster next season anyway but he’s someone that will need to be developed a bit slower than Drysdale as Sandin doesn’t have the all-around game that the Anaheim blueliner does.  I don’t think he has top-pairing upside but if he became a 20-minute per game player with some offensive punch, the Maple Leafs would be quite pleased with that outcome.

Coyotes: The goaltending is a bit concerning beyond next season.  It’s hard to imagine Antti Raanta (UFA this summer) returns next season while Adin Hill (pending RFA) could be a backup but isn’t going to push for the number one role.  That leaves Darcy Kuemper as the only other and he’s just signed through 2021-22 and given his injury trouble, it’s hard to see him being the long-term starter though they’d probably like to have him as a 1B option.  I expect they will be shopping on the 2021-22 market for their longer-term option.

Jets: Connor Hellebuyck has three years left on his deal at a more than fair $6.167MM AAV and at this point, I see no reason to think why they wouldn’t offer an extension.  Of the three goalies they have on NHL deals in the system, I don’t see an NHL option out of any of them so they’ll be playing the UFA roulette market for backups.  Laurent Brossoit is doing well enough to earn another contract but given his inconsistency year-to-year, I wouldn’t go more than a year at a time with him.

Predators: Long term, Yaroslav Askarov is their guy, at least they hope he is but he’s a few years away.  Juuse Saros’ season has not been one to inspire confidence that he can be the full-fledged starter next year so I believe they’ll inquire if Pekka Rinne wants to retire or perhaps push that back a year.  Failing that, a short-term veteran platoon goalie (Raanta, Jonathan Bernier, or even David Rittich if they want a bit of upside) would be a likely target in July.

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Trade Deadline Primer: Columbus Blue Jackets

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Although we’re just two months into the season, the trade deadline is already 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 franchise is nothing if not hopeful. After 17 years of remaining faithful, the team finally won a playoff series in 2019 and then won another in 2020. Even though their play this season has been disappointing at times, they are still in the running for the fourth and final playoff spot in the Central Division and have a non-zero chance of catching the upstart Chicago Blackhawks and holding off the Dallas Stars.

With that said, this Blue Jackets team is in the bottom third of the league in goals for per game, goals against per game, power play, and penalty kill. Even if they sneak into the playoffs, even if they again wondrously upset the Tampa Bay Lightning, this is not a team with title hopes this year. This is not a team buying at the deadline.

Besides, the Blue Jackets already made their big move this season: the acquisition of two new core pieces in Patrik Laine and Jack Roslovic. Columbus may not be playing up to their expectations this season, but it has been an odd year – and for this team in particular – and the Blue Jackets are probably best served to just take it easy at the trade deadline. Just as this is not a contending roster, it is equally not a roster in need of a rebuild. Columbus should stay the course. If they receive outstanding offers for their impending free agents or term depth players, they should consider. If they are faced with the opportunity to add a term depth player of their own, they should consider. By and large though, the Blue Jackets should focus on the group they currently have and see if they can sneak into the postseason. This is not a year for Columbus to do anything drastic.

Record

11-12-6, .483, 5th in Central Division

Deadline Status

Opportunistic Seller

Deadline Cap Space

$1.571MM in full-season space ($7.01MM at the trade deadline), 0/3 retention slots used, 43/50 contracts used per CapFriendly.

Upcoming Draft Picks

2021: CLB 1st, CLB 3rd, CLB 4th, CLB 5th, NJD 5th, CLB 6th, CLB 7th
2022: CLB 1st, CLB 2nd, CLB 4th, CLB 6th, ANA 7th

Trade Chips

The Blue Jackets are sitting on a pair of prime time impending free agents, but unlike 2019, when Columbus couldn’t bear to let Artemi Panarin and Sergei Bobrovsky go without loading up and going for a run, the team has a different reason this time around to think twice about parting ways with their most valuable pieces. Nick Foligno and David Savard bleed Jackets blue. The former is the captain and the latter is a career Blue Jacket and the longest tenured player on the team. There is certainly some discussion in the front office about whether it is really worth it to part with either player. Of course, much of that also revolves around extension talks. If this is the end of Foligno and/or Savard in Columbus anyway, then the team should trade them. However, if either one wants to remain with the club in the future, likely re-signing after expansion, it could be better for all parties if they held on to them. Foligno especially, as the locker room leader for a team that is still within reach of a playoff spot, has value on the team this season, perhaps more than he would to any other team in the league. Foligno is also having a down year offensively and may not command a great return. Savard, on the other hand, is extremely valuable to a great many teams as an experienced shutdown defender on the right side. Yet, he also fits perfectly as a complement to the Blue Jackets’ more offensive-minded, puck-moving top pair and the team surely hopes that he wishes to remain in that role moving forward.

Fortunately for Columbus, they aren’t without other valuable rentals if Foligno and Savard stay put, albeit to a lesser extent. First-time Blue Jackets Michael Del Zotto and Mikhail Grigorenko could be nice depth additions for contenders, as could bottom-six center Riley Nash. None of them have had especially noteworthy seasons, but are useful additions nonetheless. Del Zotto especially is affordable and experienced – a nice acquisition for a cap-strapped team in need of skill on the blue line.

Among term players, there are certainly already some calling for the trade of Max Domi. The off-season acquisition, who signed a two-year extension with the team, has been nothing short of underwhelming this season. However, is there any upside to trading him now? Domi, who already has a reputation for not lasting long with teams, may be at the lowest point in trade value in his career. Especially in a cap-strapped climate, the Blue Jackets would almost certainly not get back fair value. The optics would also be bad, as counterpart Josh Anderson has found immediate success with the Montreal Canadiens. Columbus would be much better off to hold on to Domi and see if he can improve next season before making a decision on his future. Unless, of course, someone blows them away with an offer. Domi was expected to fill a hole down the middle for Columbus, so any deal to move him out right now should aim to bring another talented center in.

Despite a recent extension in February, there is a more logical reason to potentially move defenseman Dean Kukan. Kukan has missed some time this season, but has played well when healthy. As one of the top candidates to be selected by the Seattle Kraken in the 2021 NHL Expansion Draft, the Blue Jackets may choose instead to get value back for the blue liner if there is interest. Of course, they may also just hold out hope that Seattle goes in a different direction.

Of course, the big move that Columbus could make is to break up their young goalie tandem. With both Joonas Korpisalo and Elvis Merzlikins set to hit free agency after next season, there is some question as to the viability of retaining both beyond that point. Either one would certainly draw interest on the trade market, though a deal is more likely in the off-season. Specifically, when it comes to Korpisalo, there may be limited demand around the league for adding an eligible goalie prior to the expansion draft rather than after. His market would likely be improved in the summer. If the Blue Jackets decide to make a big change in net at the deadline rather than waiting for the summer, it is more likely to be Merzlikins on the move.

Others to Watch For: D Scott Harrington ($1.633M, UFA 2022), D Gabriel Carlsson ($725K, RFA 2022), D Adam Clendening ($700K, UFA), F Ryan MacInnis ($700K, Group 6 UFA)

Team Needs

1) Draft Picks and Prospects – Unfortunately, the Blue Jackets are still feeling the effects of their all-out approach at the 2019 trade deadline, as well as some other moves they have made. They have not had many high-value picks over the past two years and are still without some key selections moving forward, including a second-rounder this year and a third-rounder in 2022. With many of their top prospects having graduated to the pros as well, Columbus has a young NHL roster, but a lacking pipeline. In fact, The Athletic’s Scott Wheeler ranked it 27th overall in the league, which would be easier to swallow if the team was performing better. Whether by picks or by prospects, the Blue Jackets need to try to replenish the system.

2) A Term Forward – The shrewd GM that he is, don’t be surprised to see Jarmo Kekalainen try to address the Expansion Draft ahead of the deadline. Assuming their most likely protection scheme and choices, the Blue Jackets are currently short one forward to meet the exposure quota that the draft demands, unless they re-sign Nash or Grigorenko, UFA’s they could instead trade, or Kevin Stenlund, who would also need to play regularly down the stretch to meet the games played criteria. Those options aren’t ideal and the Blue Jackets could just as easily find a player to trade for at a low price who covers them for expansion, but could also play a role next season if not selected. Although Columbus shouldn’t be a typical buyer at the deadline, an additional forward could also help in their continued pursuit of a playoff spot, especially if they move one or more of their impending free agents up front. Again, center is the team’s biggest positional need, but not necessarily the priority here in adding a player they plan to expose in expansion.

Trade Candidate: Brandon Montour

at CDT | by 2 Comments

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

Just two years ago, it looked like Buffalo had brought in a core piece to their back end.  Even though they were out of playoff contention, they shipped a late first-round pick and prospect Brendan Guhle to Anaheim to bring in Brandon Montour.  Montour, then 24, was in the midst of a career season and while he was a bit of a late-bloomer, it looked as if the Sabres had a top-four defender in place for the foreseeable future.

Since then, things have spiralled in the wrong direction.  Montour has gone from a potential core player to a non-tender candidate last offseason to one that doesn’t appear to have a future with Buffalo.  He fit with the Ducks and clearly, under multiple coaches now since joining them, he doesn’t fit with the Sabres and as a result, is quite likely to be dealt having been made available for a couple of weeks already.

Contract

Montour is on a one-year, $3.85MM contract and will be an unrestricted free agent this summer.  His deal does not contain any trade protection.

2020-21

On the one hand, Montour – an offensive defenseman in Anaheim – has just one goal and four assists in 23 games this season.  That’s not exactly high-level offensive production (or even average).  He’s below the team average in possession stats and while this could be said about just about everyone in Buffalo’s back end this season, his play in his own zone has been spotty at times.

On the other hand, Montour is still a right-shot defender that averages more than 20 minutes a game and takes a regular turn on the penalty kill.  This is not a commodity that is easy to get around the trade deadline.  His offensive downturn can also in part be explained by the fact he does not see any regular time on the man advantage.

Is Montour a true top-four defender on a contender?  Probably not but there will be teams viewing him as a third-pairing upgrade with the ability to move up in certain matchups or when injuries arise.  Despite the negativity surrounding him – and there has been plenty of it – this is still a profile of a fairly useful player and he should be viewed as such around the league.

Season Stats

23 GP, 1 goal, 4 assists, 5 points, -11 rating, 14 PIMS, 41 shots, 20:54 TOI, 47.3 CF%

Potential Suitors

The majority of the league can’t afford to take on Montour’s salary outright and would require some sort of offset either by retention or taking another contract back (or even both).  He’s hardly the only player who will be in this situation though.

Chicago is one of the teams that can afford him due to their huge LTIR pool and considering they’re seven points up on a playoff spot, adding to their group would certainly help.  They’ve used several young defensemen this season with varying degrees of success but there’s a difference between finding playing time for someone in the regular season versus being in that spot in the playoffs.  Montour would slide in onto their third pairing and give them some insurance while still being young enough where a good showing could put him in the mix to stick around as well.

Philadelphia hasn’t really replaced Matt Niskanen with their offseason signing of Erik Gustafsson not really covering that role.  A cap offset would be needed but Montour would definitely boost their third pairing and he could conceivably fit in the top four given their shallower depth on the right side.

Winnipeg has a bit more right-side depth than Philadelphia but still has a void to fill defensively.  They’re in a spot where their LTIR-created cap room is fixed (it doesn’t bank like regular cap space) so unlike teams that may want to wait until closer to the deadline for additional flexibility, the Jets could pull a deal quicker but would also need an offset of some sort.  Calgary also has a need for a bottom-pairing upgrade but the offset would need to be significant given their lack of cap space; someone like Derek Ryan ($3.125MM, UFA) would likely need to be involved.

In the West, the Coyotes already have five pending UFAs on the roster but Montour would at least slide in ahead of a couple of them.  They’re on the outside looking in at a playoff spot but only by a handful of points so if they hang around the race over the next few weeks, they could be an option and have the cap space.  If they falter though, they’d be off the table.

Likelihood Of A Trade

In this financial environment, it’s hard to say anyone costing nearly $4MM has a high chance to be dealt due to cap and budgetary restrictions.  But the odds of Montour being moved are still high.  There are always teams looking for help on the back end and the Sabres have enough LTIR flexibility with Jake McCabe and Zemgus Girgensons out for the year to be creative in terms of retaining money and/or taking back expiring contracts.  They’re not going to get back what they gave up but there should be enough of a market to net GM Kevyn Adams a decent pick or prospect as the rebuilding continues in Buffalo.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Trade Deadline Primer: Colorado Avalanche

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Although we’re now just two months into the season, the trade deadline is only 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.

It has been a trying year for Colorado so far, one that saw them head into the season as a perceived Stanley Cup contender.  They’ve been hit hard by injuries as well as a COVID-19 outbreak and the end result has them in fourth in the West Division although they’re still within striking distance of first-place Vegas.  With some big-ticket raises on the horizon and several pending free agents of note, this could be their best shot to truly contend.  Accordingly, expect GM Joe Sakic to be active in terms of trying to add to the roster over the coming weeks.

Record

14-8-2, 4th in West Division

Deadline Status

Buyer

Deadline Cap Space

$582Kin full-season space ($1.299MM at the trade deadline), $7.4175MM in LTIR room*, 1/3 retention slots used, 43/50 contracts used per CapFriendly.

* – The majority of this space comes from Erik Johnson ($6MM).  He was transferred to LTIR this week but if Colorado believes that he will return this season, they won’t be able to use this room at the trade deadline.

Upcoming Draft Picks

2021: COL 1st, COL 3rd, COL 5th, COL 6th, COL 7th
2022: COL 1st, COL 3rd, COL 4th, COL 5th, COL 6th, COL 7th

Trade Chips

Last offseason, Tyson Jost wound up accepting his qualifying offer worth just over $874K, a deal that basically took advantage of him having minimal leverage coming off of a tough season without arbitration eligibility.  It felt like a make-or-break year as a result.  Unfortunately for both him and the Avs, this season has leaned towards the latter for the 2016 tenth-overall selection.  Jost has just a goal and two assists in 22 games despite averaging nearly 14 minutes per night.  It’s just not working for him right now.  As a result, this feels like a prime change of scenery situation.  He’s still just 22 which should be appealing to a selling team as adding him would give them a look to see if a new situation can help unlock some potential.  If it doesn’t happen, he’s still a cost-effective player for the rest of the year.

In 2019, Colorado signed Joonas Donskoi to a four-year deal with a $3.9MM AAV, a contract that raised eyebrows given his limited track record.  He isn’t a top-six player and that price tag is high for a third liner.  By no means is Donskoi necessarily playing poorly but staring down new contracts for Gabriel Landeskog (UFA) and Cale Makar (RFA) among others, this is an above-market deal that will hinder them this summer.  Of course, the two years remaining will make it challenging to move but knowing what’s coming, Sakic should be sufficiently motivated to find a way to move him.  J.T. Compher (two years remaining, $3.5MM AAV) could fall in this particular cap-clearing category.

Greg Pateryn has already cleared waivers and been traded this season while spending more time in the AHL than the AHL.  He also has a $2.25MM AAV.  Normally, this wouldn’t be someone to list as a trade chip but the 30-year-old would appear to be a strong candidate to move if Colorado needs to offset some money in an acquisition.  Pateryn is an unrestricted free agent so there wouldn’t be any long-term ramifications for whoever was to take him on.

Others to Watch For: Pierre-Edouard Bellemare ($1.8MM, UFA)

Team Needs

1) Backup goaltender – Pavel Francouz has yet to play this season due to a lower-body injury and there is no timeframe for his return; he’s the other player joining Johnson on LTIR.  That has forced Philipp Grubauer to take on the bulk of the workload with the relatively untested Hunter Miska serving as the backup.  Grubauer isn’t accustomed to playing this much and as last postseason showed, injuries can happen.  A more proven NHL netminder would go a long way but even if they don’t aim that high, a player to fill the role Michael Hutchinson did last season could also be useful with their current minor league options not yet NHL ready.

2) Defensive depth – The state of Colorado’s back end isn’t the greatest right now but to be fair, they’re missing four players right now.  Not many teams can comfortably withstand that but as a result, the Avalanche have been icing several minor leaguers.  Considering they’re only in fourth in the division, it’s a group that can’t afford to take another hit and could stand to be bolstered.

3) Scoring help – Part of this is due to all of the injuries but the Avs somewhat surprisingly have had trouble scoring this season, sitting 21st in the league heading into play on Friday night.  Mikko Rantanen is their only double-digit goal scorer and only five players have more than five.  A middle-six winger with some offensive ability would help lengthen the lineup and give the top unit some extra support which would go a long way in the postseason.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Poll: Who Is The Top Rental This Season?

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The trade deadline is coming quickly, with just a month left before teams are locked for their postseason run. Clubs like the Nashville Predators, Buffalo Sabres, and Detroit Red Wings seem to already have for sale signs up outside the front office, with speculation pouring out all over the hockey world. Like every year, there is a group of players on expiring contracts that will be front and center in the next few weeks, as contenders can acquire them without committing to anything past this season.

Last season Taylor Hall was one of those rentals. The 2018 Hart Trophy winner was on a struggling New Jersey Devils team and seemed destined to hit the free agent market regardless of where he ended up. The Arizona Coyotes, with their eyes set on the postseason, decided to strike well before the deadline and shipped out a big package for Hall in mid-December. The hope was that with the added time they would be able to convince him to stay, but stay he did not. Instead, Hall is now on the rental shelf again after signing a one-year deal with the Buffalo Sabres.

But this year if he is sold, it won’t be for nearly as much as the Coyotes paid. Not only has Hall struggled to provide any offense for the Sabres this season—he has just two goals, one at even-strength—but he also carries a higher cap hit ($8MM to last year’s $6MM) and has a full no-movement clause, meaning he has to be involved in whatever trade is presented. All of that will limit Buffalo’s market, meaning Hall may not be the easy choice as this year’s top rental.

In fact, the Sabres might even have a more attractive option further down the lineup. Eric Staal comes with a championship pedigree and, perhaps more importantly, a cap hit of just $3.25MM. He can play center or the wing and has provided nearly as much offense as Hall (in fact, Staal has three goals this season). Already, one of his former teams has discussed a reunion.

But the names found in Buffalo aren’t the only rentals that will be drawing interest.

In Detroit, Bobby Ryan has scored six goals and 13 points in 27 games and comes with just a $1MM cap hit. One of the most well-liked teammates in the league, Ryan went to Detroit to try and rebuild his career after some trying years in Ottawa. He could likely be had for nothing more than a mid-round pick if the fit is right. Another Staal, this time Marc, is also a potential rental in Detroit, though his $5.7MM cap hit would have to be sorted out for any real contender. The veteran defenseman could provide some depth on the back end for one playoff run, without a commitment that extends down the line.

Mikael Granlund is the name that many come back to, though he’s not alone in Nashville. Erik Haula is another rental that could be easily flipped, given his versatility and relatively low cap hit. The Devils have more rentals again this year, with names like Sami Vatanen and Kyle Palmieri both leading the way. The latter is a candidate to be retained in New Jersey, but if he were to be put on the market, likely more than a handful of teams would show interest.

So who is the best rental? We’ve included some of the top names on the teams already out of the playoff race, but be sure to give your thoughts in the comments if you think it will be someone else!

Who is the most interesting rental?
Taylor Hall (BUF) 30.36% (299 votes)
Bobby Ryan (DET) 14.21% (140 votes)
Eric Staal (BUF) 13.50% (133 votes)
Kyle Palmieri (NJD) 13.40% (132 votes)
Mikael Granlund (NSH) 7.51% (74 votes)
David Savard (CBJ) 4.97% (49 votes)
Patrick Marleau (SJS) 2.23% (22 votes)
Ryan Miller (ANA) 2.13% (21 votes)
Ryan Dzingel (OTT) 1.83% (18 votes)
Other (leave in comments) 1.73% (17 votes)
Sami Vatanen (NJD) 1.52% (15 votes)
Erik Gudbranson (OTT) 1.32% (13 votes)
Erik Haula (NSH) 1.22% (12 votes)
Travis Zajac (NJD) 1.12% (11 votes)
Nikita Gusev (NJD) 1.12% (11 votes)
Ryan Murray (NJD) 1.02% (10 votes)
Brandon Montour (BUF) 0.81% (8 votes)
Total Votes: 985

[Mobile users click here to vote]

Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

Trade Deadline Primer: Chicago Blackhawks

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Although we’re just two months into the season, the trade deadline is just over 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 Chicago Blackhawks.

No one expected anything for the Blackhawks this season. They were going into the year with an unproven goaltending tandem and their two most dynamic centers have been unavailable the whole year. But with an outstanding rookie in net and a Hart Trophy-level performance from Patrick Kane, they’re right in the thick of the playoff race in the Central Division.

Record

13-9-5, 4th in Central Division

Deadline Status

Opportunistic buyer

Deadline Cap Space

No base cap room, $22.09MM in full-season space using LTIR, 2/3 retention slots used, 48/50 contracts used per CapFriendly.

(The LTIR room that Chicago is using this season includes Jonathan Toews’ $10.5MM cap hit. If Toews is going to come back this season, it would drastically reduce the amount of cap they have to work with at the deadline.)

Upcoming Draft Picks

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

Trade Chips

If the Blackhawks lose any ground in the next couple of weeks, their feel-good start won’t matter much in the eyes of GM Stan Bowman. The team was starting a mini rebuild and that shouldn’t be abandoned because of a strong two dozen games. Still, what the team has done this season without Toews or top prospect Kirby Dach is encouraging and will make them have to consider any names that hit the market with some term attached.

One Chicago player that has been in the rumor mill is Dylan Strome, who has just one more year on his contract before restricted free agency. When Toews and Dach are healthy, Strome isn’t a great fit for the third line and he has been passed over by lesser-known names this season. With just eight points in 19 games and a recent concussion on his medical chart, Strome certainly wouldn’t be at peak value. Still, if there is a deal to be had, he is a piece they could part with.

Carl Soderberg also sticks out as a player that has been a nice surprise this year but won’t be involved the next time Chicago is really contending. The 35-year-old forward has 11 points in 22 appearances and could be a nice depth addition for a relatively low cost. Soderberg carries just a $1MM cap hit and is an easy sell if someone like Dach (who has resumed skating recently) comes back into the lineup.

Mattias Janmark could basically have the same thing written about him, though the 28-year-old has been good enough to perhaps deserve another go-round with Chicago next year. He’ll be an unrestricted free agent this summer and carries a $2.25MM cap hit but has nine goals and 15 points in 27 games.

Others to Watch For: D Calvin de Haan ($4.55MM UFA 2022)

Team Needs

1) Depth on the wing – It doesn’t seem like it even needs to be a prospect that the Blackhawks would have to target this year, given the little boost they have had in performance. Adding a reclamation project or middle-six option with some team control could be a useful piece for the end of this season and next—as long as it comes cheap (both in salary and assets).

2) NHL-ready prospects – With Kane still providing MVP-level play, there’s no way Chicago will strip it down to the bolts. A draft pick is nice, but a player ready to make an impact next season would be even nicer. If they do something like move Strome, it won’t likely be for just picks.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

Trade Deadline Primer: Carolina Hurricanes

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Although we’re not even two months into the season, the trade deadline is just over 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 Carolina Hurricanes.

Florida. Boston. Carolina. Those are the only three teams in the entire NHL who are currently in a playoff spot and also have over $2MM in projected year-end cap space – which prorates to eight-figure cap space at the deadline. In a buyer’s market, the Hurricanes are one of an elite trio who have the means to make a major splash. Additionally, sharing a division with one of the others – the Panthers – as well as the reigning Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning and Western Conference champion Dallas Stars, gives Carolina even more motivation to load up before the deadline. A top-three team in points percentage, goals for per game, and power play efficiency and a top-ten team in goals against per game and penalty kill efficiency, the Hurricanes are truly elite this season and don’t have many holes. Yet, when you’re this close to a title and are one of the few teams who can do serious damage on the trade market, you pull the trigger.

Record

18-6-1, .740, 2nd in Central Division

Deadline Status

Buyer

Deadline Cap Space

$2.608MM in full-season space ($11.635MM at the trade deadline), 0/3 retention slots used, 45/50 contracts used per CapFriendly.

Only includes 21 players. Frequent recalls Jake Bean, Morgan Geekie, Alex Nedeljkovic currently on taxi squad.

Upcoming Draft Picks

2021: CAR 1st, CAR 2nd, CAR 3rd, CAR 4th, CAR 6th, CAR 7th, LAK 7th, STL 7th
2022: CAR 1st, CAR 2nd, CAR 3rd, CAR 4th, CAR 5th, CAR 6th, CAR 7th, CLB 7th

Trade Chips

Most years, having one of the deepest blue lines in the NHL has no downside. In an Expansion Draft year, however, it’s problematic. Even with star defenseman Dougie Hamilton slated for free agency and not requiring expansion protection (unless he’s re-signed early), the Hurricanes still face a conundrum. Jaccob Slavin, Brett Pesce, Brady Skjei, Jake Gardiner, Haydn Fleury, and RFA Jake Bean are all eligible to be selected by the Seattle Kraken and, due to a number of valuable forwards as well, Carolina can only protect three. Career ’Canes Slavin and Pesce seem like a lock, while veterans Skjei and Gardiner appear unlikely to be protected. Between their two young rearguards, Bean has shown much more upside this season than Fleury and is the more likely to be protected. Yet, that’s not to say that Fleury does not still have value around the league. At full strength, the Hurricanes have seven legitimate defensemen; while depth is important in the playoffs, could they consider moving one of the aforementioned before the deadline rather than losing them in expansion? With a more affordable contract and less experience compared to a Skjei or Gardiner, Fleury could be made available in a trade, especially if the Hurricanes are able to add a veteran rental defender as part of the return package. With term and even further team control remaining, the 24-year-old Fleury could command a nice market if the Hurricanes make him available, although his complete lack of offense this season does raise some concern.

Outside of Fleury, the ’Canes seem unlikely to move anyone off their NHL roster. But does that include Morgan Geekie? Geekie has played in nine games for Carolina this season, but due in part to poor play but mostly to his contract flexibility and a lack of a concrete role at the top level, Geekie has spent time on the taxi squad and in the AHL this season. The talented 22-year-old is still young and could find a full-time spot in Raleigh in the next year or two. However, if the right deal rolls around, the team could give up a future piece for help in the present. There are other impressive young forwards pushing to take his “next man up” title anyhow.

The same logic could apply to Alex Nedeljkovic. The young goaltender, who in retrospect should not have cleared waivers earlier this season, has performed very well this season, outplaying veteran James Reimer with starter Petr Mrazek sidelined. However, the Hurricanes have previously refrained from handing Nedeljkovic an NHL job even when a spot was available. Even with Mrazek and Reimer headed for free agency and Nedeljkovic able to be protected in expansion, if the Hurricanes don’t believe that he will be part of their NHL tandem next season, they could move him to acquire a goaltender that will be.

Others to Watch For: F David Cotton ($859K, RFA 2022), D Joey Keane ($859K, RFA 2022), G Jack LaFontaine (Draft Rights)

Team Needs

1) Starting Goaltender – When he was healthy earlier this season, Mrazek was phenomenal. He posted a stunning .955 save percentage and 0.99 GAA in his first four game. Then he got hurt and he hasn’t been seen yet. If the Hurricanes had a healthy, confident Mrazek ready to go at the deadline, perhaps they would stand pat in goal. At this point, that seems unlikely to occur. With Mrazek’s health as an unknown, Reimer playing just okay, and Nedeljkovic playing well but lacking NHL experience nevertheless playoff experience, some peace of mind in goal is the top priority for the ’Canes. Carolina could target a rental, but the pickings are slim. Jonathan Bernier and Antti Raanta could provide some stability, but they might not be enough of an upgrade and Linus Ullmark carries the same injury concerns as Mrazek. The more bold move, especially with contracts expiring for their current trio of keepers, would be to add a goalie with term. John Gibson and Darcy Kuemper are the biggest names on the rumor mill, but the Hurricanes could also try to break up the Rangers’ or Blue Jackets’ young tandems or target a dark horse name like Tristan Jarry or Thatcher Demko. A long-term starter would be a major addition for Carolina and make sense before the deadline, even if such moves usually take place in the off-season

2) Top-Nine Forward – What the Hurricanes actually lack are reliable depth options up front beyond their starting 12 or 13 forwards. However, when you have cap space and no one else does, you don’t aim to add depth, you aim to add players who push your players into depth roles. Even with solid starting depth and Teuvo Teravainen coming back from injury, Carolina could still stand to add another established top-nine forward that could push the likes of Jesper Fast or Warren Foegele for their spot who would in turn bump fourth liners like Cedric Paquette and Steven Lorentz to either play better or take a seat. Battles for play time and improved depth are hallmarks of a true contender.

3) Even if the Hurricanes don’t move Fleury or another NHL defenseman at the deadline, they could still stand to add another body. As it stands now, the team is without Gardiner due to injury and are just one more blue line injury away from Joakim Ryan becoming a starter. Behind him, you have veteran AHLer David Warsofsky, newcomer Maxime Lajoie, and the untested Keane. It’s not the worst depth, but it also doesn’t scream fool-proof. With the means to load up, the Hurricanes may as well add an experienced rental No. 8 defenseman who is a more reliable option to step in the case of injury or poor play than is Ryan or anyone on the Chicago Wolves.

Trade Deadline Primer: Calgary Flames

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Although we’re not even two months into the season, the trade deadline is just over 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 Calgary Flames.

Expectations were high in Calgary heading into the season.  Goaltending was a concern last year so they went and got the best one on the market in Jacob Markstrom.  T.J. Brodie moved on to Toronto in free agency but Chris Tanev was brought in.  The offense largely remained intact and while they underachieved a bit last season, the talent is there for improvement.  But the results haven’t met the expectations.  One big change was already made behind the bench but GM Brad Treliving will have to decide over the next several weeks if more moves need to happen.

Record

11-12-3, 6th in North Division

Deadline Status

Buyer

Deadline Cap Space

$1.890MM in full-season space ($4.435MM at the trade deadline), 0/3 retention slots used, 46/50 contracts used per CapFriendly.

(This number fluctuates considerably with Derek Ryan being recalled or sent to the taxi squad on a near-daily basis.  The above amount is with Ryan on the taxi squad, not the active roster.)

Upcoming Draft Picks

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

Trade Chips

Sam Bennett’s desire to play elsewhere is well-known after his agent, Quartexx’s Darren Ferris, made that request public late in January.  Since then, he has basically been everywhere from the front line to the press box.  Accordingly, it’s hard to imagine his name not being in play over the next month.  However, the recent coaching change that brought Darryl Sutter throws a wrinkle into things.  The veteran bench boss encourages a grittier style of play, one that would seemingly benefit Bennett more than most on that roster.  Accordingly, it’s not easy to see the 24-year-old stepping up over the next few weeks, potentially taking his name out of consideration in the process.  If not, the pending restricted free agent – who carries a $2.55MM AAV and needs a qualifying offer at that rate this summer – is going to be in plenty of speculation between now and April 12th.

Oliver Kylington has been an interesting player on Calgary’s back end.  After he somewhat shockingly slipped to the end of the second round in 2015 going 60th overall, it was a slow climb to the NHL but he looked to have the inside track for a spot on the third pairing after playing 48 games last season.  However, he cleared waivers back in January, has been sent down to the taxi squad a dozen times, and has played in just three games this season.  Still just 23 and carrying a cap hit of just below $788K, Kylington is a prime candidate to be moved to a team that may be rebuilding and would have more of a willingness to live with the ups and downs of his performance.

Dominik Simon looked like a quality pickup for the league minimum back in October.  After recording 22 and 28 points over his previous two seasons with Pittsburgh, the 26-year-old seemed like a good addition to their fourth line while being someone that could move up if needed.  Instead, he has hardly played, suiting up in only nine games and clearing waivers earlier this month.  He doesn’t have the potential upside that Kylington does but the winger is the type of affordable depth that teams often try to add closer to the trade deadline on the cheap.  The fact he can now be assigned to the taxi squad actually makes him more valuable than he was just a week ago when he was on waivers.

Others to Watch For: F Josh Leivo ($875K, UFA), F Matthew Phillips ($733K, RFA), D Alexander Yelesin ($925K, RFA)

Team Needs

1) Scoring help – Calgary sits 23rd in the NHL in goals per game, a number that stands out even more considering how high-scoring the North Division is; four of the top nine teams in the league in that department are from there.  Johnny Gaudreau is their only double-digit scorer and only four players have 15 points or more on the season.  In a division where many of the teams are high-scoring, the Flames will need to outscore their way out of trouble, not just rely on Markstrom.  A top-six forward would go a long way towards accomplishing that.

2) End of roster depth – Simon and Leivo were among those that Calgary brought in to give themselves some extra depth and be able to roll four lines.  Unfortunately, it hasn’t worked to the point where they’ve rotated several players into that role with Leivo being the only one logging more than 10 minutes a night.  Recent recalls have been in the five-to-eight-minute range.  More is needed from their bottom few forwards.  On the back end, Nikita Nesterov has seemingly won the battle for the sixth spot but hasn’t provided much at either end.  Upgrading on him would also be a boost; a reunion with former Calgary defender Travis Hamonic – a pending UFA – would make some sense but an upgrade in general on the right side would be worthwhile.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Trade Deadline Primer: Buffalo Sabres

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Although we’re not even two months into the season, the trade deadline is just over 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 Buffalo Sabres.

No team has received more media scrutiny this season than the Buffalo Sabres. The team is floundering yet again despite adding the top free agent forward in Taylor Hall and acquiring veteran center Eric Staal. Not only have Hall and Staal disappointed, but very few members of the team have exceeded or even met expectations this season. With failing veterans, stalled youngsters, and a number of expiring contracts, the Sabres are stuck and appear primed for a fire sale and resumed focus on rebuilding.

According to a number of sources, almost anyone on the Sabres could be made available. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports that Buffalo is “wide open” for business and The Athletic included four Sabres on their Trade Deadline Big Board. It all sounds very exciting to the other 30 teams and their fans, doesn’t it? Well, don’t get your hopes too high for major moves by Buffalo. Given the constraints of an NHL trade market impacted by a flat salary cap as well as real-life financial struggles, not to mention the restrictions on Canadian teams due to COVID-19 border policies, making trades this year is no easy feat. Trading a player like Jack Eichel in-season seems nearly impossible, even if the Sabres wanted to move him which is unlikely. Add in that rookie GM Kevyn Adams is new to the job and trying to build connections in a quiet market while trying to avoid being taken advantage of, and the Sabres suddenly look like a team that might end up playing it safe. Does Adams really want to move the likes of Sam Reinhart and Victor Olofsson, both of whom are among the productive minority in Buffalo, when the odds of winning such a move seem slim? Does he want to potentially overreact to the frustrations of Jeff Skinner and give away major assets to move his contract? Adams has a number of contracts expiring after this year and next that he can move without much risk of it coming back to bite him. Expect that “wide open” means he’s willing to move any amount of those players, but won’t be too keen to touch anyone else who the team may still be able to build around.

Record

6-14-3, .326, 8th in East Division

Deadline Status

Seller

Deadline Cap Space

$410,962 in full-season cap space, 0/3 retention slots used, 44/50 contracts used per CapFriendly.

Upcoming Draft Picks

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

Trade Chips

Hall of course stands out as the top trade chip for the Sabres if you assume that the likes of Eichel, Reinhart, Olofsson, and Rasmus Dahlin are not going anywhere (a safe assumption despite the whispers). The former Hart Trophy winner may not be enjoying a strong season, but he is a known commodity who can play a top-six role for any team in the league. Hall has expressed some interest in re-signing with Buffalo, but without any evidence that he is a fit and with a ways to go in their rebuild, retaining the 29-year-old Hall on a heavy price tag makes little sense. The trouble with trading him though is a potential lack of suitors who can actually afford his $8MM cap hit. A lack of demand could impact what Buffalo is able to receive in a deal, but they should still end up with a nice package. Anything is better than letting him walk for free this summer.

Staal too could see his time in Buffalo come to a quick end. The veteran center is well-respected across the league and brings solid two-way play and postseason experience. While he has lost a step, that won’t stop contenders from seeing him as a worthwhile depth addition.

On defense, Brandon Montour is absolutely on the block. The puck-moving defenseman is headed for free agency and the Sabres have made it known that they are open to renting him out. Montour has not produced as they had hoped and is no longer in their long-term plans, so Buffalo has no reason not to trade the 26-year-old defenseman. Given his offensive upside, his ability to play either side of the blue line, and his palatable $3.85MM cap hit, Montour should be easy to move. Sadly, Jake McCabe also would have been easy to move and would have returned a prime package as arguably the best left-handed defenseman on a trade deadline seller. However, his season is over due to injury and the Sabres will lose out on his trade value.

Even with Montour and McCabe out of the way this off-season, the Sabres still face a potential expansion conundrum on defense. Should Buffalo choose to protect seven forwards and three defensemen, Dahlin is a lock but it leaves only two spots to split between top-four blue liners Rasmus Ristolainen and Colin Miller and young Henri Jokiharju. The Sabres could choose to move one of the three rather than lose them for nothing to the Seattle Kraken. Ristolainen had long been a fixture on the rumor mill, but those talks have cooled significantly since last season. Do the Sabres finally move the talented defenseman, especially as his stock has risen this season? Ristolainen only has one season remaining on his contract and could be tempted to pursue a more talented team in free agency after playing exclusively for Buffalo thus far in his pro career. Miller also has just one year remaining on his deal and comes with a lesser price tag than Ristolainen, albeit with a less complete game as well. Jokijarju, 21, is not necessarily safe either; the young rearguard has not met expectations thus far in his time with the Sabres but he does have impressive upside.

In net, Buffalo will see both members of their NHL tandem hit the open market this summer barring an extension. The Sabres may be well-served to extend 27-year-old Linus Ullmark, but if the feeling isn’t mutual then they should move the net minder while he can still return value. If Ullmark is healthy, he could be a major trade chip for the Sabres. Veteran Carter Hutton is less likely to move given his struggles and his $2.75MM cap hit, but Buffalo will certainly make him available.

Others to Watch For: F Curtis Lazar ($800K, one year remaining), F Tobias Rieder ($700K, UFA), F Riley Sheahan ($700K, UFA), D Matt Irwin ($700K, UFA)

Team Needs

1) Draft Picks – Sabres fans rightfully want their team to be better and they want them to be better sooner rather than later. However, that isn’t easy to do. A rookie GM with few impact players and little cap space doesn’t have the means to immediately upgrade his roster. This team is headed toward a long, arduous rebuild. What makes accepting that reality even more difficult is that the Sabres do not even have their full complement of draft picks to build upon. Missing a third and a fifth this year and a fifth next year, Buffalo is in the unfortunate position of needing to add talent to their pipeline and don’t even have the complete means to do so. The goal for Adams and company at the deadline should be not only to recoup their missing picks but to add other high-value picks as well.

2) Prospects – If the Sabres are unable to add valuable future prospects in the form of high draft picks, they need to target current top prospects instead. The Athletic’s Scott Wheeler recently ranked Buffalo’s pipeline as 15th-best in the NHL, an unacceptable position for a team that is supposed to be rebuilding. The Sabres need to move from middle-of-the-pack toward the top of the NHL’s prospect rankings if they want to speed up their rebuild. A projected top-four defenseman and center depth should be the specific targets of their aim to add youth.

Trade Deadline Primer: Boston Bruins

at CDT | by 2 Comments

Although we’re not even two months into the season, the trade deadline is just over 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 Boston Bruins.

The Boston Bruins are a team that fell just short of a Stanley Cup Championship two years ago and the franchise is eager to get back and try to win it again this year. While the team has an interesting mixture of veterans and youth, many of Boston’s top players are getting older and time is slowly running out for them to earn themselves another title. Regardless, to compete at that top level, the Bruins will have to address some holes in their lineup.

Record

13-5-3, 3rd in East Division

Deadline Status

Buyers

Deadline Cap Space

$2,893,498 in full-season cap space, 1/3 retention slots used, 46/50 contracts used per CapFriendly.

Upcoming Draft Picks

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

Trade Chips

The most likely common trade chip for the Bruins is their first-round pick. The team has picked just once in the last three years as they have moved their 2018 first-rounder to the New York Rangers in a package for Rick Nash. The team also sent their 2020 first-rounder to Anaheim along with the contract of David Backes to get forward Ondrej Kase. The team has that option again as they will likely draft late, although considering the draft is considered weaker than most, that pick may not be worth as much either.

One possibility is the status of Jake Debrusk, who has struggled this year, could find himself on the trade market as someone who could be swapped for another forward. Debrusk, who scored 27 goals in 2018-19 and 19 goals in a shortened 2019-20, has just one goal and five points in 16 games, emphasizing his struggles. However, the problem is that teams won’t be trading top value for the 24-year-old, which could be an issue for the team depending on offers. On top of that, Debrusk will be making $4.85MM in base salary next season, another thing few playoff teams may be willing to deal with. However, Debrusk could be a big piece if the team hopes to make a big trade before the deadline.

One other possibility, though the Bruins would probably prefer to avoid it, but Trent Frederic could be a potential trade chip as well. The young forward has fared well in his rookie campaign and added some grit to Boston’s lineup. Of course, the offense may take more time to develop as he has just three goals this season. However, while Boston would prefer to hang on to him, Boston could be forced to include the young center if they team is trying to pry away a big name.

Others to watch for: F John Beecher, F Ondrej Kase.

Team Needs

1) Top-four defenseman – The Bruins have been ravaged by injury to their blueline with Kevan Miller and Jeremy Lauzon on injured reserve. Brandon Carlo is out week-to-week after taking a massive hit from Washington’s Tom Wilson. Zdeno Chara is now in Washington and the team is left with some questionable options on defense. At the moment, the team is using Jarred Tinordi and Urho Vaakanainen as their third pairing, which is something they weren’t anticipating at the beginning of the year. Don’t be surprised if the team looks at some of the big defensive names on the trade market.

2) More scoring — One of the biggest trouble the Bruins have had over the years is getting production out of their middle-six as those lines have struggled and little has changed. Nick Ritchie leads that middle six with eight goals this year, followed by five for Charlie Coyle and four for Craig Smith. No one else has more than three goals. That’s something the team may want to add if the team has the cap space and the assets to pull that off.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

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