NHL trade rumors: One player each team should trade

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.

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.