NHL Trade Rumors: Players With an Expiration Date
By Ryan Ritchie
NHL Trade Rumors: Players With an Expiration Date, Likely to be Moved in Near Future
NHL trade rumors tend to die down around this time of year. Managers and front office personnel use this traditional slow period to vacation or spend time with family. Players also use the time to re-charge their batteries in anticipation for a new season, mixed with a little offseason training of course.
Fact is, in Late August, there are few GM’s in their office working the phones (if any). Of course this summer has a bit of a different feel with September’s World Cup of Hockey around the corner – numerous coaches/front office shifting their focus there. Let’s not forget that teams also need to prepare for expansion (which some have already started doing).
As GM’s shift focus to training camp and the upcoming season, we can expect a few last-minute moves. It could just be a handful of free agent signings, a trade or two, and a whack load of professional tryout offers (PTOs) (who knows?).
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Glancing over current rosters (as of Aug.20), it seems there are still several players yet to be traded with a near guaranteed expiration date.
Some could be traded before opening night, while others may need to perform early (and in certain cases hope another team struggles at a specific position).
Some contracts may prove difficult to move, and could wait until the deadline when the cost is cheaper. Worst case scenario, teams can wait until the designated trade period prior to the expansion draft.
As you can probably tell, today’s focus will be those individuals who are least likely to be with their current organization when the 2016-17 season concludes. We won’t proclaim 100 percent certainty that these players are traded, but the following are the closest to a sure thing.
NHL Trade Rumors: Likely Dealt Before End of 2016-17
Cam Fowler, Anaheim Ducks
Expiration Date: Very Near Future
GM Bob Murray continues to make questionable moves that should leave fans scratching their heads. It makes little sense to start the year with both Cam Fowler and Shea Theodore beneath Hampus Lindholm (who curiously joins Rickard Rakell as RFAs still looking for a contract).
At this point, re-signing both Lindholm and Rakell pushes Anaheim right up against the cap. Only problem, the Ducks don’t spend to the cap since they’re known as a budget team. Don’t be surprised if Murray finds a way to shed Fowler’s $4 million dollar cap hit before opening night.
Good Fits: Boston Bruins, Colorado Avalanche, Detroit Red Wings, New Jersey Devils, Tampa Bay Lightning
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Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Edmonton Oilers
Expiration Date: Sometime Before 2017
If the 2015-16 season had played out differently, this trade may have already occurred. RNH missed some time due to injury, and lost his spot on the depth chart to Leon Draisaitl.
He underwhelmed with 12 goals (34 points) in 55 games. If Nugent-Hopkins can get off to a hot start, it may be the value boost Edmonton needs to obtain that second right-handed defender.
Good Fits: Carolina Hurricanes, Columbus Blue Jackets, Nashville Predators, New York Rangers
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Jonas Brodin/or Marco Scandella, Minnesota Wild
Expiration Date: Very Near Future
Minnesota would be making a monumental mistake entering the 2016-17 campaign with the same defense core intact. On the right side is Jared Spurgeon and Matt Dumba; on the left is Ryan Suter, Marco Scandella, and Jonas Brodin. The Wild also have Mike Reilly, Gustav Olofsson, and Victor Bartley on the depth chart as left-handed blue liners.
It makes little sense to continue carrying both Brodin and Scandella’s $4+ million dollar/year contract when offensive scoring depth could still be addressed.
Good Fits: Boston Bruins, Colorado Avalanche, Detroit Red Wings, New Jersey Devils, Tampa Bay Lightning
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Thomas Hickey/or Calvin de Haan, New York Islanders
Expiration Date: Before Expansion Draft
Teams are allowed to protect three defensemen in expansion unless they choose to save far fewer forwards. The Islanders don’t have that option, which leaves a pair of decent blue liners available. Logic would dictate that Johnny Boychuk, Nick Leddy, and Travis Hamonic would be protected; leaving Thomas Hickey and Calvin de Haan exposed.
In a perfect scenario, GM Garth Snow could trade one, and offer Las Vegas a conditional pick not to select the other.
Good Fits: Boston Bruins, Colorado Avalanche, Detroit Red Wings, New Jersey Devils, Tampa Bay Lightning
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Marc-Andre Fleury, Pittsburgh Penguins
Expiration Date: Before Expansion Draft
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There’s approximately zero chance that Marc-Andre Fleury is still with Pittsburgh at the end of the new season. Worst case scenario, Jim Rutherford can wait until the last moment during that final trade period – but difficult to imagine waiting that long as other GMs would smell the stink of desperation.
The reason Fleury is as good as gone is because of that no-movement clause in his contract. It prevents the Penguins from protecting Matt Murray, and there’s just no way Pittsburgh allows Las Vegas to get their hands on Murray.
Sure, Fleury could always waive the NMC and risk being selected by an expansion team, but wouldn’t you rather have control of your destiny? Expect Pittsburgh to attempt to accommodate Marc-Andre Fleury as best they can.
Potential Future Fits: Arizona Coyotes, Carolina Hurricanes, Dallas Stars
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Kevin Shattenkirk, St.Louis Blues
Expiration Date: Before Trade Deadline
Two factors will continue to push Kevin Shattenkirk out the door. Between an expiring contract which makes him an unrestricted free agent next summer, coupled with emerging young blue liners for the Blues, it seems less likely St.Louis would even offer Kevin a new deal.
Shattenkirk sits second on the depth chart for RHD behind Alex Pietrangelo with 2015-16 rookie sensation Colton Parayko nipping at his heels. Not far behind Parayko is another top prospect that fans will soon be familiar with in Jordan Schmaltz.
Good Fits: Detroit Red Wings, Edmonton Oilers, Los Angeles Kings, Pittsburgh Penguins, Toronto Maple Leafs
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Ben Bishop, Tampa Bay Lightning
Expiration Date: Before Expansion Draft
Similar scenario to Pittsburgh in the sense there’s no immediate rush to find a deal, but it’s inevitable that a trade will occur at some point. For both Tampa Bay and Pittsburgh, it could be a matter of a team struggling between the pipes early that helps get a deal done.
The future for the Lightning is clearly Russian netminder Andrei Vasilevskiy.
The only difference in this scenario is that Ben Bishop will become a UFA next summer and currently carries a no-movement clause.
He could technically stay in TB all year, and force Las Vegas to select him with no assurance that he will sign.
Potential Future Fits: Arizona Coyotes, Carolina Hurricanes, Dallas Stars, Philadelphia Flyers
Ondrej Pavelec, Winnipeg Jets
Expiration Date: Before Trade Deadline
Perhaps the most overdue trade in the entire NHL, for some reason Winnipeg continues to insist carrying far too many goalies. Connor Hellebuyck stole the starter role while filling in for the injured Ondrej Pavelec in 2015-16, but was eventually demoted back to AHL Manitoba as the team had no other options.
The Jets re-signed backup Michael Hutchinson earlier in the offseason to an affordable contract, which suggests that Ondrej Pavelec is now the odd-man out in Winnipeg.
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GM Kevin Cheveldayoff could technically hold on to the Czech netminder and let him walk into free agency next summer when his $3.9 million dollar cap hit expires – but why lose a longtime franchise player for absolutely nothing? Winnipeg needs to keep in close conversation with teams such as Arizona or Dallas or any team that could use some support between the pipes.
Potential Future Fits: Arizona Coyotes, Dallas Stars, Philadelphia Flyers