NHL trade rumors: One player each team should trade
As the NHL trade deadline approaches, you’re sure to hear a lot of NHL trade rumors. Here’s a look at one player on each team who could be moved.
This season, the NHL trade deadline falls on February 24. With the deadline roughly a month away, you’re going to start hearing a ton of NHL trade rumors. Teams are going to be looking to add potential missing pieces to their Stanley Cup puzzles. There are also going to be teams who might provide that missing piece.
Usually, the trade deadline is fairly predictable. The best teams will give up a prospect and maybe a pick to other teams for the best rental players on the market. However, it’s going to be way more complicated for teams to improve at the trade deadline this season.
This stems from the salary cap situation. Just about every contender is pretty tight against the salary cap. Ergo, they’ll probably have to trade a roster player to create some cap space.
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This should make for some interesting discussions at the trade deadline approaches, and it might even mean we’ll get to see some three-way trades, with a third party retaining salary on a player or even taking on a contract.
The NHL is famous for its parity, and this season is no different. Just take a look at the Pacific Division, where, entering January 20, first and fourth place are separated by just one point.
Furthermore, the Atlantic Division is the only division in which first and third place are separated by more than 10 points. So I don’t believe a lack of cap space among contenders will affect business that much. It’ll probably just make things a bit more interesting.
As the deadline approaches, teams are going to have to potentially make some tough decisions and players are going to have to get used to new homes. Here’s a look at the one player on each team who should be moved, whether it’s to improve their present or their future.
Atlantic Division
Boston Bruins – David Backes
The Boston Bruins recently placed David Backes on waivers. This could be the beginning of the end of his tenure in Boston. It wouldn’t be surprising to see the Bruins attempt to trade Backes to create some cap space. While he has an eight-team no-trade list, it’s worth noting he’s only due $4 million of salary despite having a $6 million cap hit for next season. That might be appealing to certain teams.
Buffalo Sabres – Zach Bogosian
Trading Zach Bogosian would make a lot of sense for the Buffalo Sabres. While trading Evan Rodrigues would too, trading Bogosian would provide a larger impact for the Sabres. It would help clear up their current logjam on the blueline and it would let them get at least something for a player they probably don’t want to bring back. But more importantly, it would give Lawrence Pilut a spot in the NHL. However, his $5.42 million cap hit will be hard to get rid of.
Detroit Red Wings – Luke Glendening
The Detroit Red Wings have been trying to trade Luke Glendening for a while. While he hasn’t done much to help his trade value with just nine points, the Red Wings might be able to create some interest in him if they’re willing to retain half of his $1.8 million cap hit. Glendening is far more reasonable with a $900,000 cap hit.
Florida Panthers – Mark Pysyk
It will be interesting to see how the Florida Panthers approach the trade deadline. If they’re contenders, they’ll likely try to add something to their blueline. But if the Panthers start slumping, they might be open to moving players like Mike Hoffman and Evgeni Dadonov. Regardless of what they want to do, parting ways with Mark Pysyk would make sense.
Montreal Canadiens – Tomas Tatar
The Montreal Canadiens are likely going to be sellers at the trade deadline unless things improve. I’m not saying they should trade Tomas Tatar, but there’s no reason they shouldn’t listen to offers. The Canadiens would be wise to set the price tag sky high on him and see if they get the kind of offer it would take to move Tatar, who has 43 points in 50 games. His $4.8 million cap hit is quite reasonable too.
Ottawa Senators – Jean-Gabriel Pageau
Jean-Gabriel Pageau is a fan favorite. It will be very tough for the Ottawa Senators to let him go. However, extension talks haven’t progressed much with him and he becomes a free agent on July 1. This means Pageau will likely be traded. He could fetch the Senators a very nice haul, one that might even net them a third first-round pick in 2020.
Tampa Bay Lightning – Cedric Paquette
The Tampa Bay Lightning are finally looking like the juggernaut everyone thought they would be, so they’re in pretty good shape. However, they should be open to clearing some cap space because they need to re-sign Anthony Cirelli, Mikhail Sergachev, and Erik Cernak, who are all restricted free agents this offseason. Cedric Paquette would make sense, though I wouldn’t be surprised if they listen to offers for players like Tyler Johnson and Ondrej Palat.
Toronto Maple Leafs – Andreas Johnsson
The Toronto Maple Leafs will have to move someone to help them get what they need. Andreas Johnsson makes the most sense. Don’t get me wrong, he’s a mighty fine player. However, Johnsson’s skill set, while valuable, is a bit redundant on the Maple Leafs. He would make more sense to trade than, say, Kasperi Kapanen or Alex Kerfoot.
Central Division
Chicago Blackhawks – Robin Lehner
Robin Lehner has performed quite well for the Chicago Blackhawks. They might even be interested in giving him a long-term deal. However, even if this is the case, the Hawks would be wise to see what teams would give up for Lehner. Just because they trade him doesn’t mean they can’t circle back once teams are allowed to start talking to free agents. Goalies are usually hard to trade, especially as rentals, but I think contenders could be interested in adding Lehner.
Colorado Avalanche – Nikita Zadorov
This one is tough. The Colorado Avalanche have a great cap situation, as they have a ton of cap space. On top of that, most of their best players are locked up long-term. To top it all off, they have enough picks and prospects to get just about anyone they want. All of that said, I think it would be wise for the Colorado Avalanche to see if anyone’s interested in defenseman Nikita Zadorov, who’s due for a raise this summer.
Dallas Stars – Blake Comeau
The Dallas Stars, much like the Colorado Avalanche, are in relatively good shape. However, Blake Comeau is someone they should look to move. He’s a bit pricey for his role and his production (11 points in 34 games).
Minnesota Wild – Jonas Brodin
It appears the Minnesota Wild are going to be sellers at the trade deadline. There are a number of players they could trade, but with Dougie Hamilton’s recent injury, the Wild should call the Carolina Hurricanes and offer Jonas Brodin. According to Michael Russo of The Athletic, Brodin is someone the Canes have been interested in even before Hamilton’s injury.
Nashville Predators – Mikael Granlund
Mikael Granlund has been a square peg and the Nashville Predators are a round hole. He just hasn’t been a good fit there since they traded for him last year. According to sources, the Predators are trying to trade him.
St. Louis Blues – Zach Sanford
This one was really tough. The St. Louis Blues have a very well-balanced roster that is capable of repeating as Stanley Cup champions. Though Alex Pietrangelo is a UFA after this season and the Justin Faulk extension all but guarantees he won’t be around, keeping him around is the right move. Same with backup goaltender Jake Allen, who has a year left on his deal after this one.
Sadly, young forward Zach Sanford might be the guy who has to go if the Blues want to make a significant upgrade at forward. Keep in mind they’ll have Vladimir Tarasenko, who is the most consistent goal scorer in the NHL not named Alex Ovechkin, coming back for the postseason.
Winnipeg Jets – Adam Lowry
The Winnipeg Jets need a shakeup. This could come in the form of getting rid of Paul Maurice, but the Jets have been incredibly patient with him to this point. Why would they change now? Anyway, that’s likely a move that will happen in the offseason.
If the Jets want to shake up their roster, Adam Lowry might be the guy to trade. It would make sense for them to clear some cap space. They have just 11 players under contract for next season and before accounting for the inevitable rise in the salary cap, they have a shade under $8 million of cap space available. Clearing Lowry’s nearly $3 million cap hit would give them some breathing room.
Metropolitan Division
Carolina Hurricanes – Trevor van Riemsdyk
The Carolina Hurricanes have some interesting decisions to make as the trade deadline draws near. Will they give Jake Bean an extended look in Dougie Hamilton’s role and see if he can at least replenish some of that production? And what about Jake Gardiner, who still hasn’t fully recovered from his back injury last season with the Toronto Maple Leafs?
Ultimately, I think if the Hurricanes trade someone on their roster, it will be Trevor van Riemsdyk. He’s a perfectly capable defenseman, but Haydn Fleury has passed him on the depth chart. And then there’s Bean, who is tearing it up in the AHL. He has value and I think he’s a solid defenseman. It’s just that the Hurricanes have too many solid defensemen.
Columbus Blue Jackets – Ryan Murray
Who’s the most interesting team in the NHL as the trade deadline comes close? How about the Columbus Blue Jackets, who are also the hottest team in the league? They probably don’t have the resources to go all-in again like they did last year, but I bet they’re going to look at some scoring forwards.
Ryan Murray is a very good defenseman when he’s healthy, but the issue is, as Blue Jackets fans know, his injury history sounds like the guy from Operation! The Blue Jackets have impressive defensive depth, so trading Murray isn’t completely out of the question. And it might help them get what they need.
New Jersey Devils – Sami Vatanen
The New Jersey Devils have already traded Taylor Hall, but they need to continue their roster makeover. Defenseman Sami Vatanen could be next. He’s arguably the best rental defenseman available, which means the Devils could get a first-round pick for him. Having three first-round picks in one of the best drafts in recent memory would be a great way for the Devils to continue to add to their prospect pool.
New York Islanders – Kieffer Bellows
The New York Islanders are in a bit of a pickle. They’d love to make a trade to upgrade their roster, but there’s just one problem. The Islanders don’t really have that many tradable assets on their roster. This means they’ll likely have to deal a prospect to get a significant upgrade.
Kieffer Bellows is likely going to be the guy teams want. And if he helps them net a scoring wing who can help their starving offense, it would be worth losing a prospect as talented as Bellows.
New York Rangers – Chris Kreider
It’s time for the New York Rangers to trade Chris Kreider. Losing him for nothing would be unacceptable. And unless something changes, it doesn’t appear likely Kreider will sign an extension with the Rangers.
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Philadelphia Flyers – Shayne Gostisbehere
The Flyers are a top-six forward away from being a legitimate Stanley Cup contender. However, top-six forwards don’t grow on trees. The Flyers will likely have to trade defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere to get one. And a change in scenery could do the Ghost Bear well too.
Pittsburgh Penguins – Alex Galchenyuk
Jake Guentzel’s injury ensures the Pittsburgh Penguins will be able to add a significant player without having to worry too much about cap space. However, they could still trade Alex Galchenyuk. According to Elliotte Friedman, the Penguins have been shopping him around the league.
Washington Capitals – Nick Jensen
Though soon to be free agent goaltender Braden Holtby is struggling and it appears less likely each day that he’ll re-sign in Washington, keeping him around makes sense. After all, the Capitals have high hopes to win the Stanley Cup and though rookie goaltender Ilya Samsonov has been sensational, it would be wise to keep Holtby around as a backup plan.
If the Capitals trade anyone from their roster, it will probably be defenseman Nick Jensen. He hasn’t worked out in Washington and the Caps might want to move him, especially if they like what Radko Gudas brings to the table. Gudas has been very good for the Caps, so Jensen might get shopped around, whether it’s at the deadline or in the offseason.
Pacific Division
Anaheim Ducks – Ondrej Kase
The Anaheim Ducks were hoping Ondrej Kase would have a breakout season after posting very promising numbers in a limited role. However, Kase hasn’t had a very good season under Dallas Eakins. He has 18 points in 42 games, which is a decline from his 20 points in 30 games last season. It would take quite a bit for the Ducks to move on from Kase, but I think teams might be willing to give up a good haul for him.
Arizona Coyotes – Taylor Hall
This is the hot take of this article. If things don’t improve for the Arizona Coyotes, they should at least consider trading Taylor Hall. The Coyotes didn’t give up that much for Hall, so if they trade him at the deadline, it wouldn’t be shocking if they got a better return than the Devils did.
Calgary Flames – Sam Bennett
The Calgary Flames are looking to add a top-six forward. However, their farm system is among the weakest in the NHL. This means the Flames will likely have to give up a young forward on their NHL roster to get an upgrade. Sam Bennett seems like the logical candidate.
Edmonton Oilers – Darnell Nurse
Much like the Islanders, the Edmonton Oilers have very few tradeable assets. Of course, teams would leap at the honor of trading for McDavid and Draisaitl, but why would the Oilers trade them? Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is an option too. But I think swapping Darnell Nurse for a scoring forward (maybe Jason Zucker or Ondrej Kase?) would be a smart move for them.
Los Angeles Kings – Tyler Toffoli
The Los Angeles Kings would love to be active at the trade deadline. They desperately need to rebuild, but there’s an issue – they don’t have too many tradeable assets. Most of the players the Kings would get the most for have long-term deals. That means the Kings’ deadline will be defined by how much they get for pending UFA forward Tyler Toffoli.
San Jose Sharks – Brenden Dillon
According to Bruce Garrioch of The Ottawa Sun, the San Jose Sharks would love to add a first-round pick. Remember, they gave their 2020 first-round pick to the Ottawa Senators when they signed Erik Karlsson to an extension. That’s not ideal for a team like the Sharks. Their best chance of getting a first-round pick is trading defenseman Brenden Dillon.
Vancouver Canucks – Christopher Tanev
I don’t think the Vancouver Canucks will trade anyone on their roster. However, Christopher Tanev has had his name tossed around in trade rumors for years. If the Canucks want to be buyers, they’re going to have to create some cap space. Tanev is a pending UFA, so he could make the most sense. Keep an eye on Troy Stecher as well.
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Vegas Golden Knights – Ryan Reaves
If the Vegas Golden Knights want to be buyers at the trade deadline, they’re going to have to create some cap space. Ryan Reaves is making $2.75 million in a fourth-line role and is a pending UFA. That would make sense. Of course, if the Knights wind up as sellers, trading guys like Reaves and Cody Eakin could make sense too.