We at the moment are precisely 10 weeks away from the NHL’s March 7 commerce deadline.
That leaves sufficient runway for the wants of patrons and sellers to shift earlier than the largest choices are made — or for patrons and sellers to modify locations. However in a season the place there’s already been loads of commerce motion, it’s not too quickly to attempt to discover some suits between groups and gamers obtainable on our newest NHL commerce large board.
With that in thoughts, right here’s half two of trade-board matchmaker.
GO DEEPER
NHL commerce matchmaker: LeBrun and Johnston predict the place high targets go by the deadline, half 1
Crew: San Jose Sharks
Place: F
Shoots: L
Age: 32
Contract time period: 2025 UFA
AAV: $5 million
LeBrun: Vegas Golden Knights
The 32-year-old Granlund leads the Sharks in scoring and is on tempo for a profession excessive in factors. He’s meant loads to San Jose off the ice, too, so far as his management and affect across the children. He additionally likes it there. All of which is to say, it’s not a slam dunk he will get dealt earlier than the deadline simply because he’s a pending unrestricted free agent. The expectation is that Granlund’s brokers, Todd Diamond and Mark Gandler, could have a dialogue within the new 12 months with Sharks common supervisor Mike Grier. However the crew might want to steadiness any potential extension with the sort of presents it’ll get on the commerce market, and there will definitely be some. Granlund’s versatility of having the ability to play all three ahead positions with consolation will enchantment to contenders. He can also increase his commerce worth relying on his efficiency below the highlight taking part in for Finland within the 4 Nations Face-Off in February. Trying into my matchmaker crystal ball, let’s make him a Vegas Golden Knight. The Sharks and Knights obtained collectively on a commerce deadline deal a 12 months in the past involving Tomas Hertl. Preserving in thoughts Granlund’s versatility and the unlucky actuality of at all times worrying about Mark Stone’s well being, I like the concept for Vegas of including this sort of depth.
Johnston: Minnesota Wild
Plenty of water has handed below the bridge since Granlund was a first-round decide by the Wild who spent seven seasons taking part in for the group. Nonetheless, wouldn’t or not it’s a pleasant homecoming story? Minnesota might actually use a ahead who can toggle between heart and wing whereas chipping in with some offense. Granlund ticks all of these containers and will include an added degree of consolation given his familiarity with the group. The cap side will have to be labored out since San Jose doesn’t have any retention spots nonetheless open and Minnesota has some added challenges whereas working in long-term injured reserve, however these aren’t sufficiently big hurdles to maintain this from taking place.
Crew: Philadelphia Flyers
Place: D
Shoots: R
Age: 30
Contract time period: 2027 UFA
AAV: $5.1 million
LeBrun: Winnipeg Jets
It wasn’t too way back that Ristolainen’s contract scared groups, but it surely’s humorous what occurs with a 20-minute-a-night, top-four defenseman finds his sport extra constantly, as he has this season. Instantly, with the wage cap going up, a $5.1 million cap hit for the subsequent two and a half years isn’t so dangerous in any respect. That’s why league sources say the Flyers have certainly acquired calls this season asking if they’d be prepared to maneuver Ristolainen. The reply from the Flyers is sure — if there’s a sure value met. They might desire a good prospect or younger participant in return or a mixture of a prospect and a decide. And whereas buying and selling for a participant with time period on his contract isn’t your typical deadline deal since most contenders desire leases, I can see it interesting to some groups. For instance, the Jets. I’d wish to see the Jets add the sort of measurement on the fitting facet of their protection that Ristolainen would convey. And after giving up a first-round decide final season for rental Sean Monahan solely to see him depart July 1, and conserving in thoughts how tough it’s for the Jets to draw free brokers to Winnipeg, I like the concept of buying a participant below contract. So there you’ve gotten it, I’ve obtained the Cup-contending Jets taking up Ristolainen.
Might Rasmus Ristolainen find yourself within the Central Division? (Emilee Chinn / Getty Pictures)
Johnston: Dallas Stars
The Stars made a giant splash by buying Chris Tanev forward of final 12 months’s deadline however had been unable to retain him in free company over the summer season. They haven’t but stuffed that gap on the fitting facet of their blue line. The time period remaining on Ristolainen’s contract suits in with the Stars’ win-now window, and the enhancements in his sport ought to maintain enchantment given how few defensive stoppers are anticipated to be obtainable within the market. Depth is crucial for any crew gearing up for a protracted spring, and Dallas is all in on attempting to win the Stanley Cup.
Crew: Chicago Blackhawks
Place: F
Shoots: L
Age: 33
Contract time period: 2025 UFA
AAV: $6 million
LeBrun: Utah HC
The Blackhawks truly haven’t dedicated but to buying and selling Corridor, though given the place they’re within the standings, one would think about that’s essentially the most logical plan of action for the veteran pending unrestricted free agent. It hasn’t been the most effective of seasons for the 33-year-old winger, however one thing tells me {that a} transfer to a Cup contender may ignite a bit of flash from the previous Hart Trophy winner. He’s at all times been one of many smartest gamers within the league. The hockey IQ hasn’t dulled even when the skating has slowed down a bit of. If the Hawks are prepared to eat a few of Corridor’s $6 million cap hit, there’s no query in my thoughts there can be a marketplace for him. Corridor has a modified no-trade clause, so his agent, Darren Ferris, might have a job in serving to the Hawks discover a suitor. So hear me out right here: Utah HC as a purchaser! That is solely lifelike in a world wherein Utah stays within the race within the second half. They may use a bit of extra offense. Corridor has some brand-name cache that may be enjoyable to convey into the NHL’s latest market, and Utah has loads of cap room, plus a powerful want to remain within the playoff chase.
Johnston: Colorado Avalanche
The Avs are one of many few high groups who might make room for Corridor of their high six, which is probably going the place a participant together with his talent set must play in an effort to be simplest. The continued uncertainty round Colorado captain Gabriel Landeskog, who has gone greater than two and a half years with out taking part in whereas recovering from a cartilage transplant in his proper knee, makes the necessity for an additional left winger extra pronounced. Corridor might not skate on the similar degree as earlier in his profession, however he’s nonetheless sooner than common and will maintain his personal alongside Nathan MacKinnon in top-line responsibility if wanted. At minimal, he would give the Avalanche extra lineup flexibility than they take pleasure in now. The acquisition value additionally shouldn’t be too vital for a veteran participant unlikely to be a part of the long-term answer for the rebuilding Blackhawks.
Crew: New York Rangers
Place: D
Shoots: R
Age: 28
Contract time period: 2025 UFA
AAV: $2.7 million
LeBrun: Florida Panthers
The Rangers simply acquired Borgen, however he’s a pending unrestricted free agent and until New York can by some means cease the bleeding and switch round its season, the Blueshirts can be sellers and open to flipping him. The 6-foot-3, 204-pound Borgen would match properly in South Florida. I feel in some ways, pending unrestricted free agent David Savard is a extra apparent match for the Panthers given his previous relationship in Columbus with Panthers common supervisor Invoice Zito, and it wouldn’t shock me if Florida tried for Savard if it’s on the lookout for a rental, right-shot D with some physicality who gained’t break the financial institution. However Borgen could be the extra under-the-radar transfer if certainly the Rangers determine to make him obtainable.
Will Borgen, proper, has solely performed three video games for the Rangers, however he might be on the transfer once more. (Wendell Cruz / Imagn Pictures)
Johnston: Vancouver Canucks
The Canucks have struggled since dropping Filip Hronek to a big lower-body harm earlier this month, and so they’re not anticipating him to play once more earlier than February. That’s uncovered a gaping want on the fitting facet of the blue line that administration has aggressively been attempting to handle. Enter Borgen, who excels within the less-celebrated elements of the sport like penalty killing, which Vancouver can definitely use. The stay-at-home defender is an effective skater who ought to be capable to step right into a second pairing on a crew and brings the sort of measurement groups view as an added plus come playoff time. Borgen could have loads of suitors forward of the deadline, however there might not be anybody extra motivated to pursue him than Vancouver.
Crew: Seattle Kraken
Place: F
Shoots: L
Age: 32
Contract time period: 2025 UFA
AAV: $3.5 million
LeBrun: New Jersey Devils
All indicators level to the pending unrestricted free agent winger getting dealt forward of the deadline if the Kraken aren’t within the playoff chase, which appears slightly doubtless as of now. My understanding is there are a number of contenders ready to see if/when Tanev is available on the market as a result of they need a crack at him. He brings the sort of grindy sport most playoff groups are on the lookout for. He’s a superb penalty killer who leads Seattle in shorthanded ice time. He gained’t again down from anybody. I just like the Devils as a match. They’re on the lookout for a bottom-six enhance, and I can image Tanev discovering a pleasant spot in that Cup-contending lineup that has no scarcity of offensive expertise however might use a bit of extra sandpaper.
Johnston: Vegas Golden Knights
Vegas went into the NHL’s vacation break with the league’s finest factors proportion, and there’s a powerful expectation it’ll be trying to beef up earlier than the deadline but once more. In truth, it wouldn’t be a shock to see the Golden Knights pursue two forwards – one with extra offensive skill, and a bottom-sixer to spherical out different components of the crew. Tanev falls into the latter class and will find yourself being the strongest participant with that talent set obtainable. A high-end skater who performs the sport onerous, it’s not tough to think about him becoming in with a crew accustomed to utilizing all 4 strains to win.
(Picture of Mikael Granlund and Brandon Tanev: Eric Hartline / USA Immediately and Alika Jenner / Getty Pictures)