NHL Trade Deadline: 3 Bold Predictions Ahead of Monday

NHL Trade Deadline: 3 Bold Predictions for Monday

NHL Trade Deadline: Three Bold Predictions

1. Arizona Coyotes Trade for a Starting Goaltender

They’ve got a shot at the playoffs, and although rookie Louis Domingue is showing promise – he’s not the short-term answer. The Coyotes have options. There are slim rental options if they believe Domingue is their guy in 2016-17. There are a few veterans that are available, and even more NHL ready prospects.

Rentals:

Anton Khudobin ANA, Chad Johnson BUF, Cam Ward CAR

Veterans:

Frederik Andersen ANA, Jimmy Howard DET, Andrew Hammond OTT, Jonathan Bernier TOR, Ondrej Pavelec WPG

Younger Goalies/(near) NHL Ready Prospects:

Malcolm Subban BOS, Linus Ullmark BUF, Calvin Pickard COL, Joonas Korpisalo CLB, Zachary Fucale MON, Matt Murray PIT, Andrei Vasilevskiy TB

2. Tampa Bay Trades Jonathan Drouin

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GM Steve Yzerman is going to feel pressured to move Drouin in hopes of making an addition that can have an impact down the stretch. He’ll be looking to add a depth piece up front, and something fairly significant on the back-end.

A few factors may help propel a trade:

a) if the other team retains 50 percent of the incoming defenseman’s salary for 2015-16
b) if Steve Yzerman can find a way to include Matt Carle in the deal. He carries an annual cap hit of $5.5 million dollars, signed through 2017-18. Carle also has a modified no-trade clause in his contract.
c) include Andrei Vasilevskiy as part of a much larger deal

Perhaps Toronto is willing to part with D Jake Gardiner along with other pieces in a deal to acquire Drouin and Vasilevskiy. If Colorado isn’t confident they can come to terms with RFA D Tyson Barrie, perhaps Drouin and Carle as part of a much larger deal heading to Colorado would suffice?

3. Anaheim is Monday’s Biggest Buyer

As Western Conference counterparts Chicago and San Jose handled their business early in the days leading up to Monday’s deadline, other teams will be re-adjusting their plans in a game of catch-up to make last-minute additions.

GM Bob Murray has been quiet so far, but reports this weekend are suggesting he’s on the market for a winger (something he should have addressed leading into the 2015-16 season). They need an impact left winger that can play in their top six. They should also be on the market to add a few depth pieces.

The Ducks have a pair of luxuries:

Frederik Andersen – It was only a matter of time before John Gibson would get his opportunity and run away with the starter role. Andersen, 26, becomes an RFA in the summer. He’s more of a 1A type goalie, borderline starter. To force both Andersen and Gibson to co-exist is unfair to whichever one sees less time in the crease. If you split their time in-goal, you’re doing both a disservice.

Offensive Defensemen – The Ducks have a wealth of blueliners that can generate offense from the back-end – ironic considering they were the lowest scoring team for much of the 2015-16 season. Prospect Shea Theodore is NHL ready, and there’s simply not enough ice-time to be had. Rumors earlier in the season suggested Sami Vatanen was being shopped rather aggressively (with an astronomical price tag).

Next: NHL Trade Deadline: Depth Options

Give us your bold predictions for Monday’s NHL Trade Deadline. Also don’t forget to follow us tomorrow with our NHL Trade Deadline Tracker.

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