The Trades Have Arrived!

Finally, the trades have started to roll on in as we’re just approaching the last hours till the cut off.  Some of the biggest dominos have already fallen with many more still to go!  The Blue Jackets seem to be all in this year, with have a roster of upcoming UFA’s.  Dallas is making a push in incredibly weak (and confusing) Western Conference playoff race.  And my lovely Detroit Red Wings got a phenomenal return for a depth defenseman as he was sent to help the Capitals make the attempt at the repeat.  So, let start with Columbus as they have made the biggest splash so far.

Columbus Blue Jackets:

Columbus landed two of the biggest fish in the pond this year…and they didn’t really have to give up much of anything!  First, they went out to Ottawa (literally, they had a game there) and before the game started acquired Matt Duchene.  He played in the game that night, all he had to do was switch locker rooms.  This is the second time he has been in that scenario as well since that is how the trade that sent him to Ottawa from Colorado went down too.  Then just 24-hours later they snatched up Duchene’s former teammate from Ottawa, Ryan Dzingel. 

What’s great about the players they acquired is that they didn’t really give up much of anything to get them.  In total they lost one player who has been in and out of the line up all year in Anthony Duclair.  Two prospects, one a former 3^rd round pick (Abramov), the other a former 6^th rounder (Davidsson), I can’t really say much personally about the prospects.  I know Abramov is in his first season in the AHL and performing admirably thus far and Davidsson is still playing in Sweden.  The Jackets also gave up, potentially, four draft picks.  Ottawa gets two 2^nd rounders, in separate years, and at least one 1^st rounder, they will get a second one if Duchene resigns with the Blue Jackets.

So, all in all, I would imagine Columbus is done make moves for now unless they make a move for a defenseman.  They grabbed up two of the top players available on all the trade bait lists, who are both having career years.  They have been a hard team to play against for the last few years but have not been able to get over the hump but now they’re going for it 100%.  Last year they had the eventual Stanley Cup Champions on the ropes in the 1^st round but faltered.  With these moves there should be no excuse or reason for failure in the playoffs.  The Blue Jackets are going for it.

Dallas Stars:

The Dallas star are one of those teams who when you see them on paper look like they should be damn near unstoppable.  But when you see them on the ice, they just never play a complete game.  They have two of the best forwards in the league with Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin.  They also have some very good defensemen with Miro Heiskanen (though he is only a 19-year-old rookie) and John Klingberg, and don’t forget about big Ben Bishop in goal.  But they just can’t get it together.  Now they have gone out and added some depth by picking up Ben Lovejoy, who is a former Stanley Cup Champion with the Penguins.  And they have also added Mats Zuccarello from the Rangers.

Ben Lovejoy is your typical stay at home defensemen in todays day and age.  He is a big guy who can play the hard minutes in his own zone.  He plays physical and takes care of the front of the net well, plus he can make that ever crucial first pass out of the defense zone that will lead to many offensive chances for a dynamic team like Dallas.

The addition of Zuccarello is a good one.  Though he is an undersized player he plays the game like he is 6’5” 250lbs giant.  He goes to the hard areas and usually wins those battles, something the Stars seem to be having trouble with.  He is also an excellent skater and very creative with the puck making scoring chances out of seemingly harmless plays.  He’ll be a good all-around addition to the team, likely playing on the 2^nd line and getting some time on the PP that is currently 16^th in the league.  At this point he has fit in very well.  As I write this, he already has 2 Pts in his 1^st game with Dallas, a goal and an assist.

Most importantly though, they didn’t give up much.  A few picks that shouldn’t compromise the future of the team at all. Dallas currently sits 4^th in the Central Division and in the 1^st Wild Card spot in the west.  These moves should help secure them a spot in the playoffs, though they are still in a tight race.  It will come down to the wire, but I feel safe in saying that they’ll lock it up at this point.

Washington Capitals / Detroit Red Wings:

Washington has added two pieces so far, so we’ll start with Carl Hagelin, who they picked up first.  Hagelin has been somewhat known as a Capital killer.  He has played for two division rivals in the New York Rangers and then the Pittsburgh Penguins.  For both teams he was a big piece in knocking the Caps out of the playoffs.  But now he is finally on their side.  He plays a fast, grinding style game and has been known to score clutch goals from time to time, though he isn’t counted on to score regularly.   But as I have said many times before, it is the depth players like him that tend to make a difference the most when it comes time for a deep playoff run.

The biggest piece that Washington added is Nick Jensen, but maybe I’m a little biased here.  Washington is getting a solid, but undersized, defenseman in Jensen.  He is 28 years old, competes like his life is on the line every shift and is has some offensive prowess to boot.   Personally, I loved the guy being here and would have been excited if we could have resigned him this summer.  But Washington isn’t playing any games and it shows as they signed him to a 4-year extension worth $10 Million almost immediately. He will solidify their defense for quite some time.  He is a strong penalty killer and great puck mover.   He’ll be missed here in Detroit and I have no doubt loved in Washington.

The other piece to the Jensen trade though is a young player named Madison Bowey.  Bowey is a 23-year-old, right hand shot defenseman, and formerly a 2^nd round pick of the Capitals.  Now I loved Jensen, but the fact that we got Bowey and a 2^nd round pick for him is an absolute steal on our part.  I’ve seen talk from people thinking that Bowey will be a 3^rd pairing defenseman at best and it just makes me shake my head.  Bowey is 6’2” and 200lbs, a smooth skater and has an offensive mind for the game though he just hasn’t been able to show it at the NHL level, yet.  Not to mention he is the former Captain of his WHL Junior team.  He brings a lot of good attributes and top end potential. 

Being the young player that he is, he should be able to grow here with our young core and end up having a very successful career in the long run.  Its so important to remember that not all players become studs at 20-years old.  Many people seem to forget this and label a guy a bust at 23.  Just think back about what people were saying about Athanasiou last season and how they’re talking about him now.  Being a defenseman means even more development and time may be needed before a player becomes who a team or fan base expects.  Patience is a virtue with these players, and I love this addition to the Wings.  Given the right support and put in proper positions to succeed I expect we’ll have walked away from this trade with the far superior player. 

And with that we wrap up some of the major trades that have taken place before the deadline itself.  There are so many more players yet to be moved its going to be a hell of a day tomorrow I can hardly contain myself.  

The Goalie Conundrum - Part 3 - Trade Deadline Edition

So after about a week or so of mostly dead air and just waiting for the ball to drop on the trade deadline front, a goalie deal has been struck, though just not one many expected.  The goalie that many are expecting to be moved is Bobrovsky (who seems to be getting kicked off the force).  I personally don’t think he will be moved until the offseason as he will be a UFA this summer.  Since all the contending teams seem the have starting goalies, I can only see him being move in the offseason for conditional picks at most so a team can try to negotiate with him before free agency begins.  But it seems that he and Panarin are going to be a packaged deal, so even then it is unlikely.  But the goalies who were moved were by teams I previously talked about in my original Goalie Conundrum posts (You can see Part One here and Part Two here).

Stolarz from Philly, Talbot from Edmonton

The two teams I am talking about here are the Philadelphia Flyers and the Edmonton Oilers.  Both teams have had up and down seasons in their own ways as well as controversy off the ice and just pure craziness in goal.  But late (or early depending on how you want to look at it) the other night the Oilers sent Cam Talbot packing to the Flyers for Anthony Stolarz.  Both players and teams seem to have their own different reasons for making this move so let’s start by looking at Cam Talbot.

Cam Talbot Career Stats via HockeyReference.com

Talbot is a 31-year-old goalie he is set to be a UFA after this season.  He was originally a back up with the Rangers for two season and he was an absolute stud there where he totaled a .931 SV% and a 2.00 GAA.  Those are amazing numbers.  But ever since then he has been on a steady decline and this year in 31 games, he has a .893 SV% and a 3.36 GAA.  Playing on a team that is supposed to make the playoffs (which let’s not kid ourselves, that isn’t happening), that is truly back breaking.  But I won’t put it all on him.  The problems in Edmonton go far beyond just what’s happening in net.

Back just three weeks ago all hell started to break loose in Edmonton.  In a 24-hour period they signed Mikko Koskinen to a 3-year extension, basically sealing the fate of Cam Talbot that he was going to be a goner one way or another.  Then the very next night, in the middle of a game they were losing, they fired their General Manager.  So, it is safe to say that Talbot is happy to be out of that situation.  We have further proof of that by way of his contract.  Talbot has a modified No-Trade Clause in his contract were he only has 10 teams he would willing accept a trade too, generally player submit these lists prior to the start of the season.  Well Pierre LeBrun of TSN has reported that the Flyers were originally not one of those 10 teams meaning he waived the clause allowing the trade to be consummated.

On the Philly front, Talbot will be the 8^th goalie to play for them this season, that is an NHL record.  The most important factor may be that he has become a mentor to rookie goaltender Carter Hart, who took over starting duties in Philly about two months ago.  The two have bonded in offseason training sessions together, which is likely one big part of why he accepted to waive his No-Trade clause to go to Philly.  Another is both Brian Elliot and Michal Neuvirth are both on IR and unlikely to be resigned this summer, both are set to be UFA’s. With both gone and Hart taking the starting role, Talbot will likely be able to secure a nice contract extension with the Flyers to be their back up and possibly split time with the young prodigy.  Being 32 when next season starts, I could see him signing a 3-year deal at a little under his current salary, maybe in the $3.5-4 Million range.

Anthony Stolarz Career Stats via HockeyReference.com

In Edmonton they’re getting a younger goalie (25-years-old) with a lot of size and some pretty good upside.  Stolarz comes in at 6’6’’ which means he is just taking up a lot of net, but he is set to become a potential UFA as well this season.  Due to his age and amount he has played in his career, the Oilers must play him in at least 10 games this season for 30 minutes or more, if they do that then he will become a RFA instead.  That is beneficial for Edmonton because they’ll hold his rights and likely be able to sign him to an extension and have a secure back up goalie for the next few years. 

At least that will be one stable position in Edmonton as they will likely being going back into some sort of a rebuild mode after this season.  But both goalies they will have are truly unproven at the NHL level, as of now they both have only played a combined 55 games in their NHL Careers.  So, while they’ll have to “solid” goalies signed, it may not be enough to help them through this rough patch they’re going through, no matter how hard McDavid skates. 

Now that we're only a week away from the trade deadline we are expecting things to pick up like crazy.  Teams are trying to make a push and show their managers they can contend and make the playoffs which is going to determine who is going to be buying and selling.  I know for sure that these two teams are not done moving players and reshaping their rosters.  Edmonton even made a second move the same day as this trade acquiring Sam Gagner for Ryan Spooner.  And we've already seen players I have mentioned in trade scenarios be moved (Boyle, Muzzin, and Brassard), and with the competition ramping up we're going to be in for an exciting week!

The Trade Deadline Looms: Western Conference Edition

Well, how about that for kicking off some trade deadline predictions.  Within one day of releasing my thoughts on what could happen in the Eastern Conference, the Toronto Maple Leafs went out and made a splash in the market by acquiring Jake Muzzin from the L.A. Kings, one of the top defensemen I mentioned they could and should target. And just a few days later the Penguins had also moved Brassard, just not in the manner I mentioned, so that’s a partial win.  Now with the trades beginning to become more frequent and even more important there is no time to waste in breaking down a few of the top teams in the Western Conference.

Winnipeg Jets:

The Jets are one of the most complete teams in the NHL this season and at this moment they’re leading the toughest division in the entire league, the Central.  How could a team like this get much better?  They have a killer PP which has a 26.1% of success, tops in the West.  They’re tied for 3^rd in GF/G at 3.4 and their GA/G is 3^rd best as well at 2.8.  The PK is even top-5 at 81.5%...this is a team that seemingly has no weakness. But even the best teams still look to make improvements and for them it looks like getting another center could be their main objective.

When looking to grabbing up another center, two come to mind for me.  Brian Boyle and Brayden Schenn could both be good fits in the 3^rd line role. Schenn who I previously mentioned in the Eastern Conference write up I had originally as a fit in Pittsburgh in exchange for Brassard. I originally had an idea for the three-team trade here that would send Brassard to the Jets since it is known that they have been targeting him since last season.   But now that the Pens have moved him to Florida instead, Schenn would be an equally good fit for the Jets. He is a big body who plays with a physical edge and is usually good for 50+ pts a year as well.  And as we know the playoffs are all about playing a tight, physical game, and depth scoring.

Brayden  Schenn stat line

When it comes to size, not many players bring more than Brian Boyle.  At 6’7” in height and almost 250lbs, Boyle brings size, speed, physicality, and defensive responsibility.  Though he has been playing on the wing most of this season, he has been very successful at center in the past and is a player many would love to have to upgrade their PK.  In his last 4 seasons he has a combined FO% winning 51.1% of his draws.  He also has been a key shot blocker with 146 blocks, including 31 this season.  While his isn’t known for his offense, he brings leadership and experience to teams which has proven just as important in the past. 

Brian Boyle stat line

Colorado Avalanche:

Colorado has been one of the hot picks this season to make a deep playoff run after their hot start to the season.  They also have one of the top lines in the league with Rantanen, MacKinnon, and Landeskog who have all been at the top in league scoring from the beginning of the year.  But beyond those three players, the Av’s don’t get many pucks in the net. Between the players on this line, the lowest scorer of the bunch is Landeskog at 54pts.  From there it is a steep drop to the next highest scoring forward all the way down at 31pts.  It is without question the Av’s will be looking to add some scoring punch.

Two premiere wingers they could target are Mark Stone and Artemi Panarin.  Both players would likely come and very high price though. Both players bring speed and scoring as both players have toped 50pts already this season.  Both will also be UFA’s when the season is up, so the Av’s will have to weigh paying a very high price against the possibility of losing these players in just a few months. This cost will likely be a high-end prospect and a 1^st round pick at the bare minimum.  I would bet money that a 3^rd round pick would be included as well, and you’re likely looking at having a guy like Tyson Jost or Cal Makar included in the deal.  And resigning either player is going to cost you a high salary as well, probably in the range of $9 million.

Artemi Panarin stat line

Mark Stone stat line

I don’t think that is a realistic route that they will take but it is a possibility to think about.  They could likely go a cheaper route though and grab a player like Kevin Hayes, Wayne Simmonds, Mats Zuccarello, or Gustav Nyquist (I discussed a few teams where he could have end up right here).  Hayes and Simmonds are both big and physical yet bring offense to their teams.   Both players take advantage of the powerplay as well, Simmonds has made a career out of playing in front of the net. Simmonds is the older and more physical player of the two as well which brings added value.  But Hayes is younger, bigger, and a better skater.  Both players will be UFA’s after this season.

Wayne Simmonds stat line 

Kevin Hayes stat line

And then there was Mats Zuccarello, the smallest of the bunch standing only 5’8” and weighing in at 185lbs.  But what he lacks in size he makes up for in skill.  He is a smaller forward who is an excellent skater with great vision.  In his last three full seasons he has scored over 50pts each year and has 27pts in only 36 games played this year. For all these players the cost should remain about the same. 1^st or 2^nd round pick and a mid-late round pick with a prospect mixed in.  But if the Av’s are serious about contending, look for them to make a move for a defensive defenseman as well.  Someone like Andy Greene or Alex Edler.

Mats Zuccarello stat line

San Jose Sharks:

The San Jose Sharks will be the final team we look at in the Western Conference.  They have been one of the top teams in the league all season long and are currently in 2^nd place in the Pacific Division.  And they’re near the top of the league in most categories, including PP%, PK%, SF/G, and SA/G.  The have balanced scoring up and down the line up, including on defense.  As far as defense goes, they have what is one of the top-5 defense cores in the league.  So, what is there to add for a team that seems to have everything?

Let’s start on defense.  The players that they have all skate well, defend well, and move the puck up the ice very well.  If adding a player on defense they’ll be looking for someone similar as to not disrupt the chemistry, but perhaps a player who is a bit more of a shut down defenseman who can play a physical game in front of the net and block some shots.  Two veterans come to mind Andy Greene and Brent Seabrook. 

Brent Seabrook stat line

Andy Green stat line

Seabrook is a longshot to be moved due to his price tag, long contract, and No-Trade Clause, though it is rumored that Chicago has asked him to waive it.  But he has a championship pedigree that has been missing in San Jose for years.  He plays well in front of the net and is a very good shot blocker.  He also moves the puck very well and has a cannon of a shot.  Andy Green is a similar player though he doesn’t put up the points like Seabrook has, but that could be because of the teams he has played on.  And at 36 years old, Greene has 1 more year on his contract at $5 Million.

Offensively the Sharks seem to have it all.  But adding another consistent point producer who can skate never hurts.  A good fit could be Chris Kreider of the New York Rangers.  He is a big guy who can skate like the wind, has an excellent shot and drives the net hard.  He is currently 1^st in goals and 2^nd in points and hits on the Rangers including 11pts on the PP. He is only 27 years old and has 1 more year on his contract at a very reasonable $4.625 Million.  He is a player that could be worth the Sharks taking a shot at and may be just the piece to put them over the top.

Chris Kreider stat line

And with that we’ll be looking forward to a lot of potential action from the teams not only in the West but the entire league.  I will say the Western Conference is extremely hard to predict since all the teams are roughly within 10pts of a playoff spot currently.  All it would take is a small winning streak for a team at the bottom to jump into a wild card spot and focusing at the teams in the top of the standings like I have brings its own difficulties too.  These top teams are so good already it is hard to find a way to improve them without upsetting what the teams already do so well. 

But these are fun scenarios to think about and with all the moves that have happened already we’re going to be in for a very busy month.  Will any of these trades take place or these players move somewhere, that I can’t say for sure.  But if I were a GM for a any of these teams, these are the areas I would look to improve, and these are a few of the players who could help do so.  Seeing a few moves that have already happened tells me I’m not to far off either seeing that Muzzin and Brassard have already been moved.  But we’ll all find out together, as the trade deadline looms.