Trade Deadline Recap: Eastern Conference
After a month of lead up, a sprinkling of trades over the last week or so, and a wild deadline day today, NHL teams are done with transactions for the 2017-18 NHL season. Here are the deals that improved contenders in the Eastern Conference:
Deadline Day
Tampa Bay Lightning receive:
D Ryan McDonagh
F J.T. Miller
New York Rangers receive:
F Vladislav Namestnikov
F Brett Howden
D Libor Hajek
2018 first-round pick
Conditional 2019 second-round pick
Columbus Blue Jackets receive:
F Thomas Vanek
Vancouver Canucks receive:
F Tyler Motte
F Jussi Jokinen
Columbus Blue Jackets receive:
D Ian Cole
Ottawa Senators receive:
F Nick Moutrey
2020 third-round pick
New Jersey Devils receive:
F Patrick Maroon
Edmonton Oilers receive:
F J.D. Dudek
2019 third-round pick
New York Islanders receive:
F Chris Wagner
Anaheim Ducks receive:
F Jason Chimera
Boston Bruins receive:
F Tommy Wingels
Chicago Blackhawks receive:
Conditional 2019 fifth-round pick
Pittsburgh Penguins receive:
F Josh Jooris
Carolina Hurricanes receive:
F Greg McKegg
Capitals Not Expected To Be Active Today
- Another team likely to be inactive before the deadline is the Capitals, reports Isabelle Khurshudyan of the Washington Post. The Caps have already made a pair of depth moves to shore up the depth on their back end with the acquisitions of Michal Kempny and Jakub Jerabek last week and while they have some flexibility when it comes to waiver-exempt players that could be sent down to free up cap space, they do not appear interested in moving anyone off their current roster which will limit what they’re able to do.
Mike Green Waives Trade Protection For Washington, Tampa Bay
Though it is still not clear if Mike Green will even be traded today, Craig Custance of The Athletic (subscription required) reports that the veteran defenseman has already given his approval to the Detroit Red Wings to send him to Washington or Tampa Bay. The Lightning have long been rumored to be the front runners for Green, though that is a bit more complicated now that players like Erik Karlsson and Ryan McDonagh appear to be on the market.
Green looked like the top defenseman on the market until the other two became available, and could still fetch a reasonable price for the Red Wings. The 32-year old has 29 points on the season and is more effective in his own end than many give him credit for. As a depth addition for a playoff-bound club, Green can immediately become a powerplay quarterback and puck-mover.
For Washington, the deal would be quite complicated as they have very little cap space even at this late stage. It’s unlikely that Detroit would want to take much back as they try to get their finances in order going forward, making a match seem like a long shot at this point.
Tampa remains the wildcard, as they appear poised to make a defensive addition at some point. For a team that is so loaded up front, they rely heavily on Victor Hedman and Anton Stralman to play nearly half the game and could use an experienced defenseman to help take some of the burden off their shoulders.
Ottawa Senators Trade Derick Brassard To Pittsburgh Penguins
8:35pm: The Pittsburgh Penguins’ release fills in the remaining blanks as to the Vegas Golden Knights’ role in the deal. The Pens confirmed that they acquired Brassard, Dunn, and Ottawa’s 2018 third-rounder, but have also added forward prospect Tobias Lindberg from the Golden Knights. In exchange, Vegas received Reaves and the Penguins’ 2018 fourth-round pick, as previously confirmed, and the Knights retained 40% of Brassard’s salary, or $2MM against the cap this season and next . So, in exchange for the added cap space this year and Lindberg, a 22-year-old winger being traded for the third time in his pro career, the Penguins gave Vegas an NHL-caliber checking forward and a draft pick. It is highly speculated that Ottawa, who retained no salary in the deal, will quickly flip Cole to a contender, while it remains possible that Vegas could flip Reaves. The Knights could also hold on to the veteran energy-liner with Pierre-Edouard Bellemare and William Carrier currently sidelined .
8:20pm: The Ottawa Senators have now officially announced the trade, with even more twists. The Senators have indeed acquired Cole, Gustavsson, and the Penguins 2018 first-round pick in the trade. They will also receive a 2019 third-round pick from Pittsburgh. Additionally, Brassard is joined by young forward Vincent Dunn and a 2018 third-round pick on their way to the Penguins. Essentially, the teams added a swap of third-rounders into the mix, as well as Dunn, a 22-year-old ECHL veteran.
8:00pm: The trade has been re-worked and approved by the league, with some interesting twists. TSN’s Bob McKenzie was the first to report that the deal had been completed, with Brassard headed to Pittsburgh. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman then added that Cole would still be going to Ottawa, rather than Vegas, as some had speculated. However, Vegas will be getting a return in the form of Penguins enforcer Ryan Reaves, TSN’s Pierre LeBrun announced. The Penguins acquired Reaves from the St. Louis Blues for a first-round pick and Oskar Sundqvist in last June’s draft, but have moved on from the energy line forward less than a year later. McKenzie adds that Pittsburgh also sent a fourth-round pick to the Golden Knights. More details about the three-team deal are still to come.
4:58pm: Hold everything, as Nick Kypreos of Sportsnet is now reporting that the deal has been rejected by the NHL unless it is restructured. The league would not allow Brassard to pass through Vegas simply for the purpose of retaining salary. This decision is understandable, as it would set a dangerous precedent for further cap space exploitation if allowed. Dreger and Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet both report that the three teams are working to come up with something that will be approved.
4:05pm: Derick Brassard appears to be on his way to Pittsburgh, as Bruce Garrioch of Postmedia reports that the Ottawa Senators are closing in on a deal that would send the veteran center to the Penguins. Darren Dreger of TSN reports that the Senators will receive a 2018 first-round pick, goaltender Filip Gustavsson, and defenseman Ian Cole. There also is expected to be some level of salary retention of Brassard’s contract, and could be another part of the move still to come. Bob McKenzie of TSN tweets that the deal is very complicated, and likely includes the Vegas Golden Knights.
Brassard was arguably the top center option available on the trade market this weekend, and had as many as seven teams interested in acquiring his services. Pittsburgh finally won the bidding, and will part with a solid package of assets.
The Senators were insisting on a first-round pick in any Brassard deal, but they’ll get one that falls near the end of the round. The Penguins are pushing the Washington Capitals for first place in the Metropolitan Division, and are doing everything in their power to try and three-peat as Stanley Cup Champions.
Gustavsson may be the jewel of the package, as he has shown really high-end potential since being selected 55th-overall in 2016. Playing in the SHL, the 19-year old goaltender has a .917 save percentage and excelled at the World Juniors winning a silver medal and being named the tournament’s best goaltender. Still, Gustavsson is very young and could still be years away from making a real impact at the NHL level.
Cole will likely be flipped in the next few days, as he’s scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent in the summer. The 28-year old defenseman was included to even out salaries, but probably won’t have a very long Senators career unless the team approaches him with an extension offer. Cole was rumored to be on the block for almost the entire season, and could net the Senators another draft pick or prospect for their rebuild.
In adding Brassard, the Penguins once again become a favorite in the Eastern Conference. Though he isn’t expected to carry the load offensively, he now gives them their familiar three-line attack with Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Phil Kessel all able to drive a group. Almost no one in the NHL can match that kind of depth down the middle, especially if Brassard can find another gear playing against weaker competition. Already with 18 goals and 38 points through 58 games, he’ll give them another option on the powerplay as well.
Brassard actually has 78 games of playoff experience, mostly going back to his days with the New York Rangers. In those appearances he’s recorded 22 goals and 55 points, an impressive total that Penguins GM Jim Rutherford no doubt took into account. He’s also been extremely durable the last few seasons, playing in at least 80 games for four straight years coming into 2017-18.
In all, the trade seems like a good fit for both clubs, even if it is a bit surprising. Ottawa was playing Pittsburgh in the seventh game of the Conference Finals less than a year ago, and is now selling off assets in order to reload on talent. This could be just the first of several moves this weekend.
– Zach Leach contributed to this post.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
Capitals Hesitant To Move Philipp Grubauer Before Trade Deadline
- Although the Capitals could generate some interest in goalie Philipp Grubauer, Isabelle Khurshudyan of the Washington Post reports that the team is hesitant to move him now as they don’t have a reliable option behind him if Braden Holtby was to get injured. Prospect Ilya Samsonov is believed to be willing to join the Caps next season so while a Grubauer trade is unlikely now, that should change in the offseason.
Montreal Canadiens Trade Jakub Jerabek To Washington Capitals
Jakub Jerabek hasn’t found a fit in Montreal, and with his unrestricted free agency pending the team has decided to move on. The defenseman has been traded to the Washington Capitals for a 2019 fifth-round draft pick.
Jerabek, 26, was signed last offseason to a one-year entry-level contract out of the KHL. After starting off with the Laval Rocket of the AHL, and finding early success, the Czech defenseman was recalled and has played 25 games for the Canadiens. Unfortunately, that run came to an end recently as Jerabek has been held out of the lineup since the beginning of the month. It still didn’t seem like he was going anywhere, even telling reporters that he would be interested in re-signing with Montreal.
Speaking to Arpon Basu of The Athletic recently about the potential to get moved at the deadline, Jerabek reiterated his focus on just getting back into the lineup:
My agent spoke with guys here, but I don’t want to talk about it right now and just focus on my job here and my chance. I hope if I get it, I take it, I show what I can bring to this team to the end of the season, and hopefully for next year.
He’ll likely get that chance to prove himself in Washington, who are headed to the playoffs once again with an unsettled defense group. The team just recently acquired Michal Kempny from the Chicago Blackhawks, and lost Taylor Chorney on waivers today. Jerabek will immediately jump into the mix for a potential bottom pairing spot, and will almost certainly be used at some point down the stretch.
Like any team expecting a long playoff run, the Capitals are trying to add depth on defense in case of injury. Jerabek carries just a $925K cap hit, and has shown some good versatility in his short time in Montreal. Though he likely won’t be asked to log big minutes, he can do a little bit of everything including penalty killing in a pinch.
For Montreal, if they weren’t going to re-sign Jerabek (or even if they still plan on trying), they turned a lost season into another asset for the future. They actually didn’t have a fifth-round pick for 2019, which has now been replaced and gives the team a chance, depending on conditions, to select 15 times in the next two years. Expect the Canadiens to add at least a couple more selections over the next few days.
Gabriel Dumont, Taylor Chorney On Waivers
According to Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic, the Ottawa Senators have placed forward Gabriel Dumont on waivers. The 27-year old forward was claimed earlier this season from the Tampa Bay Lightning. Joining him is Washington Capitals defenseman Taylor Chorney, who was absent from the team’s morning skate after they acquired Michal Kempny yesterday.
Dumont is in the first season of a two-year deal signed last summer, that interestingly turns into a two-way contract in 2018-19. His entire $650K cap hit can be buried by the Senators if he clears and is assigned to the minor leagues, but he could potentially be claimed by a team looking for a player with experience at center. He offers little offensive upside, as he has scored just two points this season and nine in 87 career games.
Chorney on the other hand is a veteran defenseman with ten seasons of professional hockey under his belt. The 30-year old has played 24 games for the Capitals this season, but was made expendable by the Kempny addition. The Capitals can bury his entire $800K cap hit in the minor leagues if he clears, giving them a little more flexibility at the deadline.
Michal Kempny Traded To Washington Capitals
The trade market is heating up once again, with Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Michal Kempny on his way to Washington to join the Capitals. The Blackhawks will receive a conditional 2018 third-round pick in return, the higher of the two Washington currently has (their own, and Toronto’s).
Kempny makes sense as a target for the Capitals, who don’t have much cap room for additions at the deadline. The 27-year old defenseman is earning just $900K this season, and is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent in the summer.
For a team like the Capitals that is heading to the playoffs, defensive depth is a huge issue. Everyone around the league is trying to add pieces that could step into an NHL role should injuries arise, and Kempny fills that for Washington. Though he’s not really a top-4 option, he can provide a team with a stable option for a third pair that won’t be noticed much at either end. With 15 points in 81 games since coming over from the KHL in 2016, he won’t be asked to run a powerplay or contribute much offensively.
He’ll slide into the group on the left side for Washington, that also includes Brooks Orpik, Dmitry Orlov and Christian Djoos. Though he may not play every game for them down the stretch, it’s a much needed addition to a defense corps that has seen several pieces leave over the last year.
For the Blackhawks, a third-round pick is an excellent return for a player who was headed for free agency. Kempny had played just 31 games this season, and with Chicago sitting in last place in the Central Division, selling off expiring contracts is the only thing left to do. The third-rounder will help replace the two selections—second and fourth—that the Blackhawks are already missing for the upcoming draft.
Scott Powers of The Athletic was first to report the deal, after being told by Kempny himself. Bob McKenzie of TSN added the third-round pick return,
Trade Candidates: Nick Holden
With the trade deadline approaching, we will be profiling several players in the weeks ahead that have a good chance to be dealt by February 26th.
The New York Rangers are selling. That much is well-established. While the main focus of the media is on big names like Ryan McDonagh and Mats Zuccarello, the reality is the only deals that are more likely than not include the team’s impending unrestricted free agents. One such player, and the only Rangers defenseman that fits that description, is Nick Holden. While Holden is not the swift, puck-moving defenseman emphasized by today’s NHL, he still holds value in many facets of the game. In fact, it’s fair to say that Holden has been routinely under-rated throughout his career (at least Patrick Roy thought so). New York knows this too, after acquiring him from Colorado for just a fourth-round pick back in the 2016 off-season only to watch him play a key role on the blue line the past two seasons. Now that they’re on the other side of the table looking to trade him away, they’ll try not to make the same mistake. However, with a “fire sale” potentially about to begin for the Rangers, Holden seems destined to be shipped out for the best offer.
Contract
Holden is in the final season of a three-year, 4.95MM contract extension signed with the Colorado Avalanche in 2014. His cap hit in 2017-18 is $1.65MM, but will count for under $500K at the deadline.
2017-18
Nothing that Holden does on the ice jumps out, though for a defenseman, that can be a good thing. In no way does Holden play a flashy, offensive possession game and his numbers this season prove that. He has just a few goals and a handful of assists on the year, below average Corsi numbers, and almost no role on the power play. Perhaps the most telling detail of his playing style is that the casual hockey fan likely has never heard of him, as his play rarely garners attention. Why then is he playing top-four minutes for the Rangers this year and playing top-pair minutes last year? Holden simply has a solid, no-nonsense game. He plays a safe, dependable style in his own end and can thus be relied on for major minutes without risking a breakdown on defense. Holden is also a physical, but clean player. He has led the Rangers in hits in back-to-back seasons, but does so while taking few detrimental penalties. When given the chance, Holden also has quite the shot and led all Blueshirt blue liners in goal-scoring in 2016-17. It’s easy to say that Holden has taken a step back this season. His offensive totals are way off his pace set last year and his plus/minus and ice time are down as a result. However, as for the hallmarks of his game, Holden is playing just as physical, is blocking more shots, and has improved greatly in turnovers, with fewer giveaways and more takeaways. Holden’s 2017-18 season would give no team any reason to think that he is a game-changer or the answer to all of their problems, but could he be a reliable asset to a contender? Absolutely.
Season Stats
51 GP, 3 goals, 7 assists, 10 points, +4 rating, 12 PIM, 48 shots, 19:00 ATOI, 45.0 CF%
Potential Suitors
Holden fits the bill of a player who gets traded every deadline season – a responsible depth defenseman who can play reliable hockey when called upon. Every season contenders seems to add a player like this simply out of convenience rather than necessity. Holden is not the type of player who will radically change the fortunes of a contender, but – especially at that cap hit – he is one worth the asset investment as he can provide reliable defense if necessary. Look for the top teams in the league to take a look at Holden in the next two weeks. The Atlantic trio of the Tampa Bay Lightning, Boston Bruins, and Toronto Maple Leafs could all use depth on the blue line and while at times they have all been connected to bigger targets, surely one or more will decide to settle for a lesser addition. In the Metro, the Washington Capitals could really use some defensive depth and experience and the New Jersey Devils could particularly use a more safe, reliable defender given their current goal-tending crisis. In the Pacific, the Los Angeles Kings would make a nice fit, so long as their playoff position is a little firmer by the deadline.
However, the best fit for Holden seems to be the Central’s Dallas Stars. The Stars have little cap space to work with and have admitted that they won’t be major buyers, but the affordable contract of Holden paired with the responsible, hard-nosed game that head coach Ken Hitchcock appreciates makes for a nice match. Dallas is in good position to at least clinch a wild card spot this season and perhaps play spoiler in the postseason, but regardless of the status of Marc Methot, the team is known to be looking for a defenseman and Holden fits the bill for the type of guy they want and can afford to acquire.
Likelihood of a Trade
If the Rangers are serious about their fire sale, then a Holden trade is nearly a certainty. There has been no word on any extension talks, meaning Holden’s days in New York are numbered; no point in keeping him around just to fade away into free agency at the end of the season. The Rangers got Holden for a fourth-rounder in the off-season two years ago and now, two solid campaigns later and at deadline prices, they should be able to get at least that back. If the fire sale is on, they should take what they can get and move on.
Deadline Primer: Washington Capitals
With the trade deadline fast approaching, we will be taking a closer look at the situation for each team. Where do they stand, what do they need to do, and what assets do they have to fill those needs? Next up is a look at the Washington Capitals.
Some thought that this would be the season that Washington would take a bit of a step back after losing several key players in free agency. They’ve been tap-dancing around the salary cap for most of the year and have depth issues but they once again find themselves sitting atop the Metropolitan Division with high expectations heading into the deadline.
Record
32-17-6, first in Metropolitan Division
Deadline Status
Buyer
Deadline Cap Space
$1.9MM full-season cap hit, 0/3 retained salary transactions, 44/50 contracts per CapFriendly
Draft Picks
2018: WSH 1st, FLA 2nd, TOR 3rd, WSH 3rd, WSH 4th, WSH 6th, WSH 7th
2019: WSH 1st, WSH 2nd, WSH 3rd, WSH 4th, WSH 5th, WSH 6th, WSH 7th
Trade Chips
It’s not often that teams looking to buy could be moving players off the current roster but the Caps could wind up being an exception. Goaltender Philipp Grubauer is known to be coveting a larger workload and he appears to be a likely candidate to be on the move by the summer with Washington hoping to sign top prospect Ilya Samsonov for next season. They would have to acquire a backup in any trade (or have a follow-up move ready) but if a rebuilding team thinks Grubauer could be their starter of the future, the Capitals may be better off moving him now than waiting for the offseason.
Because Washington has limited cap room to work with, it wouldn’t be surprising to see them look to try to free up a bit of space with a couple of struggling players. Defenseman Brooks Orpik is a buyout candidate for the summer but if they’re willing to retain on his contract, perhaps there’s a move to be made now. Winger Andre Burakovsky is having a particularly tough year as well and while they’re unlikely to simply give up on the 23-year-old, he’s the type of player that selling teams may covet in the hopes that a change of scenery may turn his season around.
Five Players To Watch For: RW Riley Barber, LW/RW Andre Burakovsky, LW/RW Brett Connolly, G Philipp Grubauer, C Liam O’Brien
Team Needs
1) Middle-Six Winger: Washington’s salary cap situation has really limited their depth up front. When everyone is healthy, they’re in good shape but once injuries strike, that changes quickly. Finding someone that can slot in on the third line with a full lineup but move into the top-six should be high on the priority list for GM Brian MacLellan. Given their lack of payroll room, this will probably need to be a rental player.
2) Defensive Depth: While the Capitals would undoubtedly like to add a top-four defender, they will be hard-pressed to do so, especially if they add help up front as well. Accordingly, they will likely turn to teams shopping depth defenders to hedge against injuries and perhaps give them a different dimension for matchups for the postseason. Fortunately for them, there projects to be a lot of those types of blueliners available so this should be something that Washington can address without having to pay too high of a price.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.