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NHL Trade Deadline: Hypothetical Deals for Top Players Available

By Matt Duscharme

Oct 13, 2016; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury (29) makes a save against the Washington Capitals during the third period at the PPG Paints Arena. The Penguins won 3-2 in a shootout. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 13, 2016; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury (29) makes a save against the Washington Capitals during the third period at the PPG Paints Arena. The Penguins won 3-2 in a shootout. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 4, 2017; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Colorado Avalanche left wing Gabriel Landeskog (92) and Calgary Flames defenseman Deryk Engelland (29) battle for the puck during the second period at Scotiabank Saddledome. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports
NHL Trade Deadline: Colorado Avalanche left wing Gabriel Landeskog (92) and Calgary Flames defenseman Deryk Engelland (29) battle for the puck during the second period at Scotiabank Saddledome. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports /

to ANA – Gabriel Landeskog
to COL – Cam Fowler, 1st Round Pick, Stefan Noesen

NHL Trade Deadline: Anaheim Ducks defenseman Cam Fowler (4) during a game between the Anaheim Ducks and Minnesota Wild at Xcel Energy Center. The Wild defeated the Ducks 5-3. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
NHL Trade Deadline: Anaheim Ducks defenseman Cam Fowler (4) during a game between the Anaheim Ducks and Minnesota Wild at Xcel Energy Center. The Wild defeated the Ducks 5-3. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports /

Another cornerstone player Colorado may be saying goodbye to is Gabriel Landeskog. He’s had a terrible year as well as the rest of the team. Now his play could just be a yearly situation to where he rebounds next season or he’s just lost confidence in his game overall and thus effecting his play now and in the future. So who should take a shot on this skilled, young winger? Anaheim has needed another top winger on their left side cause you cannot rely on Jakob Silfverberg and Andrew Cogliano all season, so with Landeskog on the top line with Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry that makes for a very deadly line they could use very well in the playoffs. However, the Ducks would have to move someone out in order to do so.

to EDM – 2nd Round Pick, Valentin Zykov, Roland McKeown
to CAR – Jordan Eberle

Jordan Eberle has been in trade talks and rumors for the last couple seasons and has yet to be moved, so it’s very unlikely that he will be this March, but then again if Wayne Gretzky can go, anyone can. Eberle has often been tied to the Maple Leafs believe it or not, but that was before their right side got extremely skilled. So where does he fit now and what would it take? The best suitor for him would be either Boston or Carolina, two teams who only have one skilled right winger and a lot of prospects they can use as pieces to the deal, and with two top prospects in that deal Carolina or Boston wouldn’t have to worry about a first round pick, making a second rounder more likely.

to MIN – Thomas Vanek
to DET – 2nd Round Pick

NHL Trade Deadline: Detroit Red Wings left wing Thomas Vanek (62) shoots as Toronto Maple Leafs right wing Nikita Soshnikov (26) gives chase during the Centennial Classic ice hockey game at BMO Field. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports
NHL Trade Deadline: Detroit Red Wings left wing Thomas Vanek (62) shoots as Toronto Maple Leafs right wing Nikita Soshnikov (26) gives chase during the Centennial Classic ice hockey game at BMO Field. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports /

A lot of teams opted to not take a chance on the aging Thomas Vanek, but this year he’s been dynamite leading the Wings in scoring as well. And with Detroit on the outside looking in, they could potentially move him. Now, where should he go? The best fit would be a team like Minnesota, he’s familiar with the system, he can boost their scoring to a level beyond what it is already and help give the Wild a serious run in the playoffs. The bonus as well, it won’t take much to acquire him either since he’s a bit on the older side, and is most likely not going to be re-signed by the Wild next year.

to EDM – Anthony Duclair, 2nd Round Pick (2017), 3rd Round Pick (2018)
to ARZ – Jordan Eberle

After the year Anthony Duclair had last season, it’s quite surprising that he’s on the block this year. But in all reality, it may not be due to the fact he’s only put up nine points in 41 games. This output had him eventually being sent down to Tucson of the AHL. And the fact that he only has a cap hit of $773 thousand, he won’t be hard to squeeze into an NHL team. However, acquiring him is the difficult part, he’s still very young and still, has tremendous upside (despite this terrible season). So the cost to move him is high, he can be used as a cornerstone piece though of a major deal that would bring in someone like Matt Duchene, Gabriel Landeskog or Kevin Shattenkirk. Which means on the opposite side of things it would cost a lot to pick him up. The best fit for Duclair, if he was to move, would be a team like Calgary or Edmonton where they can use another young winger to play with the likes of Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Sean Monahan or Mikael Backlund.

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