We are actually 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 out there 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, can have a dialogue within the new 12 months with Sharks normal supervisor Mike Grier. However the staff might want to steadiness any potential extension with the sort of affords 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 may additionally 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 bought collectively on a commerce deadline deal a 12 months in the past involving Tomas Hertl. Holding in thoughts Granlund’s versatility and the unlucky actuality of all the time caring about Mark Stone’s well being, I like the thought for Vegas of including this sort of depth.
Johnston: Minnesota Wild
Quite a lot of water has handed below the bridge since Granlund was a first-round choose by the Wild who spent seven seasons taking part in for the group. Nonetheless, wouldn’t it’s a pleasant homecoming story? Minnesota may actually use a ahead who can toggle between heart and wing whereas chipping in with some offense. Granlund ticks all of these bins and will include an added degree of consolation given his familiarity with the group. The cap facet will must 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 occurring.
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 recreation extra constantly, as he has this season. All of a sudden, with the wage cap going up, a $5.1 million cap hit for the following 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 keen to maneuver Ristolainen. The reply from the Flyers is sure — if there’s a sure worth met. They’d need a good prospect or younger participant in return or a mixture of a prospect and a choose. And whereas buying and selling for a participant with time period on his contract isn’t your typical deadline deal since most contenders choose leases, I can see it interesting to some groups. For instance, the Jets. I’d prefer to see the Jets add the sort of measurement on the suitable facet of their protection that Ristolainen would carry. And after giving up a first-round choose final season for rental Sean Monahan solely to see him go away July 1, and maintaining in thoughts how tough it’s for the Jets to draw free brokers to Winnipeg, I like the thought of buying a participant below contract. So there you have got it, I’ve bought the Cup-contending Jets taking over Ristolainen.
Might Rasmus Ristolainen find yourself within the Central Division? (Emilee Chinn / Getty Photographs)
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 time. They haven’t but crammed that gap on the suitable 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 recreation ought to maintain enchantment given how few defensive stoppers are anticipated to be out there within the market. Depth is important for any staff gearing up for an extended spring, and Dallas is all in on making an attempt 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 really haven’t dedicated but to buying and selling Corridor, though given the place they’re within the standings, one would think about that’s probably the most logical plan of action for the veteran pending unrestricted free agent. It hasn’t been the perfect 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 all the time 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 keen to eat a few of Corridor’s $6 million cap hit, there’s no query in my thoughts there shall be a marketplace for him. Corridor has a modified no-trade clause, so his agent, Darren Ferris, may have a task in serving to the Hawks discover a suitor. So hear me out right here: Utah HC as a purchaser! That is solely reasonable in a world during which Utah stays within the race within the second half. They may use a bit of extra offense. Corridor has some brand-name cache that might be enjoyable to carry into the NHL’s latest market, and Utah has loads of cap room, plus a robust need to remain within the playoff chase.
Johnston: Colorado Avalanche
The Avs are one of many few high groups who may make room for Corridor of their high six, which is probably going the place a participant together with his talent set must play to be able 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 one more left winger extra pronounced. Corridor might not skate on the identical degree as earlier in his profession, however he’s nonetheless sooner than common and will maintain his personal alongside Nathan MacKinnon in top-line obligation if wanted. At minimal, he would give the Avalanche extra lineup flexibility than they get pleasure from now. The acquisition price additionally shouldn’t be too vital for a veteran participant unlikely to be a part of the long-term answer for the rebuilding Blackhawks.
Will Borgen
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 someway cease the bleeding and switch round its season, the Blueshirts shall 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 normal supervisor Invoice Zito, and it wouldn’t shock me if Florida tried for Savard if it’s searching for a rental, right-shot D with some physicality who gained’t break the financial institution. However Borgen can be the extra under-the-radar transfer if certainly the Rangers determine to make him out there.
Will Borgen, proper, has solely performed three video games for the Rangers, however he could possibly be on the transfer once more. (Wendell Cruz / Imagn Photographs)
Johnston: Vancouver Canucks
The Canucks have struggled since dropping Filip Hronek to a major lower-body harm earlier this month, they usually’re not anticipating him to play once more earlier than February. That’s uncovered a gaping want on the suitable facet of the blue line that administration has aggressively been making an attempt to deal with. Enter Borgen, who excels within the less-celebrated elements of the sport like penalty killing, which Vancouver can actually use. The stay-at-home defender is an effective skater who ought to be capable of step right into a second pairing on a staff and brings the sort of measurement groups view as an added plus come playoff time. Borgen can have loads of suitors forward of the deadline, however there is probably not 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 fairly probably as of now. My understanding is there are a number of contenders ready to see if/when Tanev is in the marketplace as a result of they need a crack at him. He brings the sort of grindy recreation most playoff groups are searching for. He’s a wonderful 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 searching for a bottom-six increase, and I can image Tanev discovering a pleasant spot in that Cup-contending lineup that has no scarcity of offensive expertise however may use a bit of extra sandpaper.
Johnston: Vegas Golden Knights
Vegas went into the NHL’s vacation break with the league’s finest factors share, and there’s a robust 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 means, and a bottom-sixer to spherical out different parts of the staff. Tanev falls into the latter class and will find yourself being the strongest participant with that talent set out there. A high-end skater who performs the sport arduous, it’s not tough to think about him becoming in with a staff accustomed to utilizing all 4 strains to win.
(Photograph of Mikael Granlund and Brandon Tanev: Eric Hartline / USA At present and Alika Jenner / Getty Photographs)
