NHL trade rumors: Top 4 teams who should trade for Johnny Gaudreau

According to the latest NHL trade rumors, Johnny Gaudreau’s probably getting traded. Here are 4 teams who should be very interested in him.

After yet another early exit from the postseason, it’s likely the Calgary Flames are going to be making a move to shake up their core. Their core has won a whopping two series in five years. That’s not acceptable. According to the latest NHL trade rumors, star forward Johnny Gaudreau could be the odd man out.

This report comes from Eric Francis of Sportsnet.

GM Brad Treliving will have no choice but to put in motion significant personnel changes. And that starts with Johnny Gaudreau. He’s likely played his last game as a Calgary Flame.

Gaudreau is no stranger to the trade market, as the Flames pondered a shakeup after last season’s disappointing ending, a first-round loss to the Colorado Avalanche. After this season, it’s not likely the Flames are going to stand pat. They’re going to try to make a big move, and all signs point to it being Gaudreau.

Most of the blame for the Flames lack of postseason success has fallen on Gaudreau, who has 19 postseason points in 30 games. He was virtually invisible against the Avalanche (though to be fair, so were many of the Flames players). Though Gaudreau had seven points in 10 postseason games this year, that wasn’t enough.

Also, the best time for the Flames to trade Johnny Gaudreau is right now because after next season, his no-trade clause kicks in. This would allow him to submit a list of five teams he’d accept a trade to. That would significantly kill the Flames leverage and likely hurt their return.

Gaudreau is hardly the only one at fault for the Flames postseason failures, but he’s likely the easiest one to blame and his modified NTC makes trading him now a tempting thought. Should Johnny Hockey get traded this offseason, and it sure seems like he will be traded this offseason, here are four teams who should be very interested in him.

4. Columbus Blue Jackets

The Columbus Blue Jackets need difference makers. That’s a cold hard fact. Yes, they’ve got some darn good players and John Tortorella gets the most out of his guys. But the Blue Jackets never really replaced Artemi Panarin after he signed with the New York Rangers. Gaudreau isn’t quite as good as Panarin, but he’s about as close as the Blue Jackets are going to get.

According to Aaron Portzline of The Athletic (subscription required), the Blue Jackets want to make a big splash this offseason. And who can blame them? They saw how much they miss Panarin and Matt Duchene when the Tampa Bay Lightning beat them in five games.

Gaudreau would slot in next to Pierre-Luc Dubois on the Blue Jackets top forward line. If Columbus can improve their second line by getting a legit top-six center, Gaudreau could also play there. But right now, I see him as more of a fit on the top line.

I believe the Blue Jackets’ top priority is getting that second-line center they need. But after that, Gaudreau should be next on their list. He’s exactly what they need to become true Stanley Cup contenders. The only question is, do the Blue Jackets have enough assets to get both a second-line center and Gaudreau?

3. Buffalo Sabres

Much like the Flames, the Buffalo Sabres are likely going to make some significant changes this summer. They’ve gone nearly an entire decade without making the postseason. Any time that happens, big changes should be expected.

Though I’m sure the Sabres would prefer to add a center (maybe Sean Monahan?) this offseason, Johnny Gaudreau would be a very nice consolation prize. He would immediately slot in on either the top line or their second line. Most likely the latter because the top line, led by Jack Eichel, is one of the very few things right with the Sabres.

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Unless the Sabres make a trade, Dylan Cozens is likely going to be the second-line center heading into the 2020-21 season. If it’s not him, it’ll be Marcus Johansson. Regardless of who the second-line center is in Buffalo next season, Gaudreau would make them a lot better.

Gaudreau’s coming off a down year, but he’s one year removed from nearly hitting triple digits in points with 99 during the 2018-19 season. His career-low is 58 points. The Sabres need elite talent like Gaudreau’s.

Yes, Johnny Hockey can be a tad bit frustrating if he’s cold. But when he’s hot, he’s one of the most dynamic players in the NHL. The big question is do the Sabres have what it takes to tempt the Flames? They’d probably have to include the 8th overall pick in the 2020 draft to get Calgary to listen. But it never hurts to ask and chances are, they’re not getting someone as good as Gaudreau with that pick anyway.

1. Philadelphia Flyers

Sure, Philly isn’t Gaudreau’s home. But it’s close enough, right? Anyway, the Philadelphia Flyers are a perfect fit for Johnny Gaudreau for several reasons.

First of all, they have a hole in their top-six. Sean Couturier, Claude Giroux, Jakub Voracek, and Travis Konecny are locked in their roles. Between Joel Farabee and Scott Laughton, they’ve got another spot locked down. What about the sixth spot? That’s where Gaudreau slides in. He’d play right alongside Konecny and Hayes on the second line in a more offensive role.

Secondly, Gaudreau could help the Flyers revive their power play. He has been very good on the power play in Calgary. With his vision, quickness, stick-handling, and playmaking, Gaudreau is someone who makes stuff happen on power plays. He’s also not afraid to shoot it.

Thirdly, the Flyers have exactly what the Flames are likely looking for in a return. They’ve got Shayne Gostisbehere, who is immensely talented but needs a change of scenery. Also, the Flyers could dangle Laughton in a Gaudreau trade. Laughton’s a very solid top-nine forward, but let’s face it, he’s not Gaudreau.

If the Flyers offer Calgary a first-round pick, Laughton, and Gostisbehere for Gaudreau, I don’t think that’s an offer they’ll be able to turn down.