NHL Trade Rumors: 5 Hypothetical Deadline Deals That Could Happen

Colorado Avalanche trade F Matt Duchene, D Matt Barberio, and 2017 4th Round Pick to Montreal Canadiens in exchange for F David Desharnais, D Mikhail Sergachev, G Zachary Fucale, F Michael McCarron, and 2017 2nd Round Pick (WSH’s pick)

Before getting into my explanation, it’s worth noting this could very well be a situation that carries over into the summer. We know teams are calling about Matt Duchene, so at this point, it’s a matter of who is willing to compromise. Will Joe Sakic realize his astronomical asking price needs to come down? or, will another team offer one more piece than they’d maybe be comfortable with in order to get a deal done?

Desharnais, Sergachev, Fucale, McCarron, and a 2nd almost sounds like too much for Duchene, Barberio, and a 4th rounder, but let’s break it down. Desharnais isn’t really an acquisition for Colorado, it’s merely a piece to help make the dollars work. He’s a pending UFA and will struggle to make even half of his current $3.5 million dollars/year on his next deal. Sure, the Avs could re-sign him, but he’s more likely headed to free agency anyways – heck maybe even Europe.

The key pieces are top prospects Sergachev, Fucale, and McCarron. Sergachev is that big defensive piece Colorado is seeking in return; Fucale is a top goaltending prospect; McCarron is a big-bodied forward who could fit into a 2nd/3rd line role long-term.

Given the plethora of prospects the Habs would be giving up, it’s only fair that Mark Barberio head back to Montreal. He was signed to a two-year extension at the start of the year, only to be claimed off waivers by Colorado. The Habs would love to have the Montreal-native back in his depth role with the club.

Detroit Red Wings trade F Thomas Vanek to Edmonton Oilers in exchange for F Anton Lander and 2017 3rd Round Pick (STL’s Pick)

Not a lot to explain here. On one hand, we’ve got the Edmonton Oilers, who finally look destined to be playing some hockey in mid-April (possibly beyond). On the other, we’ve got a Red Wings team that has come to terms with the fact their quarter-century playoff streak is in jeopardy.

It’s not like the Oilers necessarily need any more help up front. In fact, they’d love to get their hands on another RH defenseman. Unfortunately, it’s a process and Edmonton will get there, so 2017 is more about a learning experience for these younger guys. If you can bring in a savvy veteran with some playoff experience, it may help extend how long the Oilers stick around. Any extra game of experience in the postseason will be extremely valuable moving forward.

Some folks may believe that Vanek is worth a first-round pick. And hey, maybe there’s a GM desperate enough to do it. But that would be a mistake. All we have to do is look at past history with those types of trades. Chicago gave up a 1st rounder and Marko Dano to acquire Andrew Ladd this time last year – that sure worked out well, didn’t it?

In my opinion, Vanek should fetch something similar to the above proposal. They acquire 25-year-old Anton Lander, a player the Oilers had high hopes for. Unfortunately, he continues to struggle to stay in the lineup and may just need a change of scenery. Include a third-rounder, it’s a deal that actually works pretty well for both sides.