NHL Trade Rumors: 5 bold trade deadline predictions
The first pieces of the NHL trade deadline have fallen into place. Taking a look at the recent NHL trade rumors, here are five bold predictions for what should be a crazy weekend.
The NHL trade deadline is on Monday, Feb. 25. Thus far, the action as far as NHL trade rumors has been slow. However, with Matt Duchene being traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets, things should pick up very soon. Most of the best players are still on the market. There are buyers looking to counter what their rivals have done and will do. Likewise, there are sellers looking to acquire assets.
This time of the year is when fans see general managers be bold. Whether or not that’s a good thing is up for debate. But you’ll see general managers part with valuable prospects and draft picks in an effort to improve their team. You’ll also see general managers trade a valuable player for better future assets.
With all of this in mind, here are five bold predictions for the 2019 NHL trade deadline. Most of this stuff probably won’t happen. But it sure would be fun if they did.
5. Mark Stone Goes To The Wild, Wild West
The top rental player on the market is Mark Stone of the Ottawa Senators. By trading Duchene, the Sens have pretty much confirmed they’re doing a fire sale. Yes, that includes Stone, who’s been one of the best forwards in the NHL over the past three seasons.
Even though Ottawa refuses to deal within the Atlantic Division, the market for him has built itself. The Winnipeg Jets, Nashville Predators, and Calgary Flames have all been linked to Stone. A bidding war should ensue, as each team doesn’t want their rival to get him.
The Senators got a pretty solid haul for Duchene, especially if he re-signs with the Blue Jackets. But that return should dwarf the monumental return Ottawa gets for Stone.
Prediction: Stone gets traded to Nashville and signs an extension.
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4. Jets Grab Kevin Hayes
The Winnipeg Jets have been very active heading into the NHL trade deadline. They know this year is probably going to be their best chance to win a Stanley Cup for a while. The Jets have been in on Stone, but are reportedly souring on him because they don’t believe they can sign him to an extension.
With Duchene off the market, Winnipeg will need to counter anything the Predators do. Assuming they get Stone (and it sounds likely they will get him), the Jets must add someone. The next best rental piece available is Kevin Hayes of the New York Rangers.
Hayes would be a nice fit in Winnipeg. He’s a big forward who is also an excellent skater. The Jets are definitely going to do something. You don’t walk into the deadline struggling like they are and walk out the same.
Don’t be surprised if Winnipeg kicks the tire on some defensemen as well. They need some help there. But there isn’t much help available on the blue line, so addressing their forward group will have to do.
The market for Hayes isn’t as strong as anticipated. But perhaps the Duchene trade will create some urgency, which might breed a bidding war between the Jets and perhaps the Boston Bruins.
3. Capitals Make One More Move
The Washington Capitals have had a darn good week. They acquired long-time nemesis Carl Hagelin and defenseman Nick Jensen without giving up any roster players. The only concrete asset the Capitals gave up in 2019 is a third-round pick. Credit general manager Brian MacLellan for addressing needs without mortgaging the future.
However, the Jensen trade smells a little funny because they signed him to a four-year, $10 million extension immediately after trading for him. Now, that’s a perfectly fine deal for him. Heck, it’s probably a bargain. But looking at the Capitals blue line, the extension likely means someone’s heading out.
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John Carlson isn’t going anywhere, he’s the Caps best defensemen. Nor is 2018 trade deadline acquisition Michal Kempny. Crazier things have happened, but let’s rule out Jensen being traded. This leaves Matt Niskanen, Christian Djoos, and Dmitry Orlov. The purpose of trading a defenseman would be for cap space, so we can eliminate Djoos. This leaves Niskanen and Orlov.
I’m not sure this trade gets done by Monday. This sounds like something that happens in the offseason. But the Caps are likely going to try to get something done. And MacLellan has proven he has a tendency to strike from out of nowhere.
Prediction: Niskanen gets sent to Ottawa, along with a draft pick, for a low-level prospect or draft pick.
2. Rangers Emerge As Biggest Sellers
Everyone thinks the Senators are going to be the biggest sellers at the trade deadline. If you’re talking quality, you’re likely right. Duchene and Stone are arguably the best available at their respective positions. Ryan Dzingel isn’t a slouch either. But as far as quantity, the New York Rangers should come out on top.
As discussed earlier, we think Hayes will be traded to whoever loses out on Stone between the Predators and the Jets. This should net them a first-round pick. That’s the price for a top-six center these days.
Mats Zuccarello is another big name who will be shipped out. It will be interesting to see if they can manage to squeeze a first-round pick out of him. Zuccarello would be a great fit for the Calgary Flames, who don’t have a second-round pick in 2019. They could just defer it to 2020, but maybe if the Rangers toss in a mid-round pick, they’ll part with the first rounder.
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Even defenseman Adam McQuaid is getting quite a bit of interest. The Toronto Maple Leafs, among other teams, have been linked to him. Teams love veteran depth defensemen this time of the season and McQuaid fits the bill.
But their biggest trade will be a bit of an unexpected one.
1. Bruins Trade For Kreider
Last year, the Rangers surprised everyone by trading then-captain Ryan McDonagh and J.T. Miller to the Tampa Bay Lightning. They got a significant package in return. This season, the Rangers are in a good position to pull it off again. But this time, it will be Chris Kreider who will get traded.
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The Boston Bruins really need someone like him to fix their lineup. Sure, Charlie Coyle is a nice third-line center who should help there. But the Bruins still have issues with the second line. Kreider would be a perfect fit there, transforming that second line from a merely OK one into a potentially very good one.
Much like McDonagh, he would be more than a rental. Kreider has a year left on his deal after this one, just like Coyle. The Bruins would likely have to part with someone like Jake DeBrusk to make it work, but Kreider would be worth it.
Oh, and he went to Boston College and was born in Boxford, Massachusetts. It’s Kreider’s destiny to play for the Bruins. He’s also an American, so he’d fit in perfectly in Boston with fellow countrymen David Backes, Noel Acciari, Brandon Carlo, Matt Grzelcyk, Torey Krug, Charlie McAvoy, Sean Kuraly, Kevan Miller, Chris Wagner, and John Moore.
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Kreider wouldn’t propel the Bruins past the Tampa Bay Lightning. But he’d give them a much better chance of beating the Atlantic Division juggernaut than they currently have.