The NHL trade deadline is fast approaching. Let’s take a look at some potential strategies in the Eastern Conference as time winds down.
Buyers: New York Islanders.
The Isles are one of the teams that are in the mix for Matt Duchene. Adding a top-tier forward is a must for a team that relies on its offense to win games. Brooklyn is ninth in the league in goals-for per game at 2.93. They are also seventh-worst in the league, allowing 2.93 goals-against per game.
Kudos for being even-steven, I guess.
Several names have been floated for a potential deal. Brock Nelson and Michael Dal Colle appear to be the most commonly predicted names, though that does not seem to be enough to seal the deal. Word is that Colorado is also looking for an NHL-ready defenseman with a high ceiling.
That means potentially Travis Hamonic. And that should be where the Islanders draw the line.
New York should be looking to deal, but Joe Sakic may be asking for too much. The Isles cannot mortgage everything on the defensive side to maximize their offensive output. As nice as it would be to finally have a proper top line player to play alongside John Tavares, the price tag may be beyond what the Isles are willing to pay. The Islanders are bad enough in their own zone, losing one of their only good defensemen would be too much.
Ryan Pulock could also be traded, but that would remove a young talent from their system.
They could also look to Tampa Bay if things don’t pan out with Colorado, or even Ottawa if they wanted to try and bring in Curtis Lazar. Braden Schenn might even be an option if they got truly desperate, though watching Garth Snow and Ron Hextall negotiate would be interesting considering they were teammates just 20 years ago.
Aiding them in their ability to buy could be their inevitable trade of Jaroslav Halak. Their return for their goaltender currently buried in the minors could be flipped in a trade for a forward.
Sellers: Tampa Bay Lightning.
The Bolts are going to be fielding a lot of interesting calls in these next few hours. Ondrej Palat and Tyler Johnson are both restricted free agents at the end of this season, and they have been actively trying to shop Valtteri Filppula.
They have already sold Ben Bishop to the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for a pick, a prospect and Peter Budaj. Brian Boyle was also shipped off to the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Bolts are trimming the fat of their team salary-wise, already looking ahead to what is going to be a tough offseason.
If they choose to retain what they have, they will need to hand new contracts to Johnson, Palat, Jonathan Drouin, Jake Dotchin and Andrej Sustr. Victor Hedman’s extension kicks in next season and there are still other holes to fill around the depth chart.
It’s going to be an active summer for Steve Yzerman once again.
Filppula is the biggest target, which is tricky. Filppula has a limited no-trade clause, and has reportedly submitted his list of 13 teams that he would accept a trade to. As a 32-year-old with another year still left on his contract, one can assume that list is comprised mostly of competitors.
Ottawa should be looking to add another top-six forward, though I would not be surprised to see the Edmonton Oilers in the mix. The Oilers could use some help down the middle. If they can work out their business searching for a goaltender, they could make a push.
Do-Nothings: New York Rangers.
The Rangers are probably done dealing. They should do something about their crowded blueline, but there probably is not going to be a lot of action on deadline day for them.
Best-case scenario is that they are able to get a second- or third-round pick for Kevin Klein or a pick for someone like Matt Puempel. Beyond that? Don’t expect much.
The Blueshirts already made their move in acquiring Brendan Smith from the Detroit Red Wings. Smith will help out their right side of their defensive core, especially while it is currently depleted from injury. Klein is still day-to-day with a groin injury while Dan Girardi will miss two weeks nursing a busted ankle.
The battle plan is likely sell Klein, wait for the offseason and re-sign Smith and pursue Kevin Shattenkirk. If Shattenkirk re-ups with Washington, or goes to Boston or even a surprise tri-state team like New Jersey or Brooklyn, the Rangers are in a bit of trouble.
But patience is the best strategy. There’s no need to buy big this particular season. Barring a miraculous run through the Atlantic Division bracket, a trip to the Cup just doesn’t look to be in the cards. For once, New York is wise to stay out of it.
Buyers: Montreal Canadiens.
Deadline season has not gone particularly well for the Habs so far. They have been trying to make deals, actively pursuing Martin Hanzal, Brian Boyle and Jannik Hansen. Nothing has worked yet, with Hanzal heading to Minnesota, Boyle to Toronto and Hansen to San Jose.
Apparently, the Arizona Coyotes are dangling Anthony Duclair in trade talks.
Coyotes are testing the market on Anthony Duclair. Playing in the AHL right now. #tvasports
— Renaud Lavoie (@renlavoietva) February 27, 2017
Montreal should be taking a good, hard look at bringing Duclair home to his home province. The young forward, who was a star in Montreal during the World Juniors just a short time ago, was the centerpiece of the trade that sent Keith Yandle to New York. Since then, Duclair’s offense has disappeared, as he tallied just three goals and six assists in 41 games getting pretty significant minutes on a nightly basis.
It would be pricey and it may not be exactly what the Habs are looking for, but it would be a great get for a team looking to ramp up their offense.
Radim Vrbata and Vatteri Filppula could be options as well. If they are looking for a cheaper option, there is always Perpetual Trade Option Lee Stempniak in Carolina.
Unknown: Carolina Hurricanes.
What a peculiar place the Carolina Hurricanes are in right now.
https://twitter.com/ryanbiech/status/836644965115547648?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
By god, look at all those picks! By selling off virtually everyone under the sun these past couple of seasons, namely Eric Staal, John-Michael Liles, and most recently Ron Hainsey and Viktor Stalberg, the Canes have hoarded quite a stash of picks here.
This puts their rebuild in a very intriguing spot. They could easily take the picks and amass a bounty of prospects. Then again, they could sell off some picks and get some NHL-level talent.
Curtis Lazar? Perhaps. Anthony Duclair? It’s possible. Matt Duchene? Now we’re talking.
Carolina does not have much else to sell (besides the team ba-dum-bum). Lee Stempniak may be on the move as mentioned before, but other than that? Expect the Canes to be fairly active in swapping picks tomorrow.
Sellers: New Jersey Devils.
It probably won’t happen, but Ray Shero should be on the phone with every contending NHL general manager asking them to take Mike Cammalleri. This is very clearly a seller’s market. Picks are flying around like crazy. It would be silly for them not to capitalize on that fact.
But no, they’ll probably talk themselves into thinking they can still compete with this offense since they are only seven points out. They will probably settle for getting a middle-round pick for Kyle Quincey and that will be that.
If and when Cammalleri is still a Devil when the deadline passes, it will not be the end of the world. But it will be disappointing.
