Five Potential Trade Candidates in the NHL

Feb 25, 2015; Washington, DC, USA; NHL commissioner Gary Bettman speaks to the media prior to the game between the Washington Capitals and the Pittsburgh Penguins at Verizon Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

The off-season gives each general manager a chance to sit back and assess his club and make a reasonable determination on how to improve it now and in the future.  With the draft long completed and free agency essentially finished for most clubs, now is the time to look at potential trade candidates before the start of training camp in a few weeks.

Will any of the following potential trade candidates actually be moved before the season beings?  Probably not. No one is suggesting that these guys will be easy to move for a number of reasons, but that is why general managers get paid what they do and are tasked with making these difficult decisions.  Trading any of these guys won’t be popular, but this isn’t a contest to see who can be liked more; it’s a chance to better position the team for success.

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So on the subsequent pages I’ve compiled a number of potential trade candidates that on first glance may lead you to think I’m crazy (or stupid, that works too.)  But, after the initial “WTF is he thinking” wears off, may actually make some sense. As always, feel free to yell at me below in the comments section.

(Note: all salary information is from generalfanager.com)

Next: A Lifelong Hurricane

Mar 17, 2015; Raleigh, NC, USA; Carolina Hurricanes forward

(12) skates with puck against the Ottawa Senators at PNC Arena. The Ottawa Senators defeated the Carolina Hurricanes 2-1 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports

Potential Trade Candidates: Eric Staal

We may as well start with one of the bigger names that will be rumored to be on the move throughout the season.  Staal put up the worst numbers of his career last season (23 goals, 31 assists) since his rookie year.  It seems that the perennial all-star and 70-point center is long gone, and for someone who will turn 31 in October, it’s likely he’ll settle in the next phase of his career as a quality number two centerman.

Staal is in the last year of a contract that comes with a $8,250,000 cap hit.  Staal is at or near the top of every major statistical category for the Carolina Hurricanes/Hartford Whalers’ franchise.  He helped the organization win its only Stanley Cup back in 2006 and has been the team’s captain since 2010.  Despite the decline in play, Staal is a Hurricanes’ icon, so it isn’t as simple as moving a player in the walk-year of his contract here.

It’s also worth noting that Staal carries a full no-trade clause, so he isn’t going anywhere unless he obliges.  But that doesn’t mean general manager Ron Francis should just throw his hands up and do nothing with Staal either.  The organization has been one of the most non-descript teams the past few seasons and has failed to make the playoffs the past six seasons.  They have some young pieces in the organizational pipeline (Haydn Fleury and Noah Hanifin jump to mind), but the team could use more young pieces to revitalize the franchise.  Even with those players the team is still likely several years away from competing in a difficult Metropolitan Division.

Does Staal want to continue playing for a team that has little chance of making noise in the near future?  Sure, brother Jordan Staal is still around, but is all that losing worth it?  For the Hurricanes, there is no way they should just let the face of the franchise walk away for nothing at the end of the season.  Call up some teams out West with cap space (Nashville, Anaheim) and see if they can build a package involving some young prospects and draft picks.

It’s been a good run for Eric Staal in Carolina, but all good things must come to an end.

Next: A Blueshirt Blue-Liner

May 20, 2015; Tampa, FL, USA; New York Rangers defenseman

(5) skates with the puck against the Tampa Bay Lightning during the first period of game three of the Eastern Conference Final of the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Amalie Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Potential Trade Candidates: Dan Girardi

While Staal’s contract situation should hasten his depature, it’s the contract situation of the Rangers’ team overall that should hasten Girardi’s move out of town.  Girardi is locked up through 2019/20 at a $5,500,000 cap hit, complete with a no-trade clause.  The Rangers have been the only NHL organization he’s ever known, which makes the fan-favorite an unpopular, yet wise, player to be moved.

As it stands today, the Rangers have just a shade over $400,000 in available cap space heading into the season.  Barring any moving of salary, it’s going to be extremely tight to add talent at the deadline.  And even if the Rangers manage to get through the season without the need to make any impact moves or add salary, they are scheduled to have 11 players count for $53,500,000 against the cap in 2016/17.  That 11 doesn’t include players like Keith Yandle, Chris Kreider, Kevin Hayes, or J.T. Miller.

Ah yes, Keith Yandle.  Most fans would assume he’ll be out of town next summer, if not sooner, since he’s slated to become a free agent and the Rangers can’t afford to retain him at this point.  But, with defensive stalwarts Marc Staal and Ryan McDonagh already on board for the long-term with the Rangers, is Girardi repetitive?  He doesn’t bring much offense (four goals, 16 assists last season), is already 31 years old, and plays a rough-and-tough style that doesn’t exactly scream “longevity” (he’s also finished in the top-10 in blocked shots the last six seasons.)  For all his warts, Yandle is still one of the top offensive-defenseman in the NHL and should be able to flourish in a system partnered with a more defensively responsible blue-liner.

Back to Girardi though: he isn’t the fastest or best skater on the ice.  He isn’t going to score a ton or quarterback a powerplay.  He’s a solid, dependable, minute-eating defenseman who will likely begin to show the effects of his breaking down sooner rather than later.  For the Rangers, that’s $5,500,000 of cap space that can be used to re-sign its own players next summer or utilized to bring in another piece via trade or free agency.  Plus, the Rangers can still run out the trio of Staal, McDonagh, and Kevin Klein to go in front of Henrik Lundqvist, so losing Girardi won’t be fatal to the team.

As for who would want Girardi?  Well, there are a number of teams that should value his style of play and would want his veteran presence around including Edmonton, Buffalo, and maybe even Winnipeg.  Girardi would make any of those teams’ defenses instantly better and more formidable.

As for the Rangers, it’s never popular to move a fan-favorite.  But they’ve also gotten the best play out of Girardi’s career that he’ll have, so the time to move him with his value high is now.

Next: Lou Lams First Big Move?

Mar 26, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs left wing

(21) shoots the puck against the Florida Panthers at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports

Potential Trade Candidates: James Van Riemsdyk

This one seems almost a little too easy, but nevertheless, Toronto should look to move him as soon as possible.  JVR carries a cap hit of $4,250,000 through 2017/18 and just missed out on his second consecutive 30-goal season last year, finishing with 27 goals and 29 assists.

The Leafs already started their fire sale this summer by moving Phil Kessel to the Penguins.  Money isn’t an object for Toronto, but they need to accumulate as many young assets as possible in order to build a long-term contender.  Drafting Mitch Marner to go along with William Nylander, Nazem Kadri, and Jake Gardiner is a good start for the new Leafs’ regime.  But despite having deep pockets, this looks like it will be a long rebuild process for Toronto under Lou Lamoriello.

The best way to speed up that process?  Trade their most tradeable commodity in JVR.  His friendly contract should open up a number of potential trade partners and allow the Leafs to extract a number of quality pieces for him.  Three more seasons under contract means the acquiring team would be able to control him through the first half of his prime years.

That last part is key for Toronto trading him now too.  No one doubts JVR is a solid offensive player.  But, if the Leafs are going to be bad the next 3-4 seasons as it attempts to re-stock its organizational talent-pool, what’s the point of keeping JVR around?  If the team isn’t ready to win for the remainder of his contract term, wouldn’t it be smarter to trade him now, grab some prospects and picks, and not be stuck in a spot where you debate re-signing him for the back-end of his prime years?

Listen, the Leafs are going to struggle with or without JVR the next couple of seasons.  They may as well get some value for him now while they can.  It’s a necessary move for new-general manager Lou Lamoriello to get this team back into contention sooner rather than later.

Next: A Future Hall of Famer on the Move?

Mar 23, 2015; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Colorado Avalanche right wing

(12) skates against the Calgary Flames during the first period at Scotiabank Saddledome. Calgary Flames won 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports

Potential Trade Candidates: Jarome Iginla

Let’s be honest: this was a terrible match from the start.  Colorado was fresh off a surprise playoff appearance and was built with a young, fast team.  The future Hall of Famer in Iginla was a fantastic player, but just didn’t seem to fit from day one in the Mile High City.  Unfortunately for Iginla and the Avalanche, he still has two years remaining on a contract with an annual cap hit of $5,333,333.

Don’t get me wrong, Iginla can still play.  He scored 29 goals and added 30 assists for the Avalanche last season and is still an effective player.  However, for an Avalanche team that doesn’t appear close to winning a Stanley Cup, it’d be somewhat of a shame if Iginla was forced to play out his career, languishing with a mediocre club.

The only issue right now is that there aren’t many contending teams in a position to add his salary without moving some money in return.  Perhaps the Avalanche can retain some of the cap hit to make it more palpable for a team looking for one final piece of a Stanley Cup contender.  Colorado finished in the bottom-10 in goals scored and against last season, so they can’t be picky in what position they’d look to acquire in return.

While the Avalanche would be wise to try and move him before the season starts, it’s likely that Iginla will be moved during the season as a market develops.

Next: The End of an Era in California