NHL Trade Speculation: 5 Hypothetical Deals That Make Sense For Both Sides
NHL Trade Speculation: Jan 16, 2016; St. Louis, MO, USA; Montreal Canadiens defenseman Nathan Beaulieu (28) skates with the puck against the St. Louis Blues during the third period at Scottrade Center. The St. Louis Blues defeat the Montreal Canadiens 4-3 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
NHL Trade Speculation: 5 Hypothetical Deals That Would Make Sense for Both Sides Based on Team Needs Heading Into 2016-17 Season
NHL trade rumors are beginning to heat up once again now that training camp is just around the corner. World Cup of Hockey is underway and the regular season is set to begin on October 12th, leaving GMs with little time to make those final tweaks/changes to their roster.
Among recent rumors, the Bruins are still looking to add a defenseman, Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin is fielding offers on D Nathan Beaulieu, and Ottawa might not be done making additions (although they’re looking at the PTO route first).
2016-17 should be an interesting year on the NHL trade market due to next year’s expansion draft. It leaves several teams in uncomfortable positions where they may be forced to inevitably move players. There’s also those who have been deemed expendable based on emerging young prospects.
Needless to say, there’s a long list of potential trade candidates heading into the new season and we could be in for a flurry of activity.
In today’s piece, we’ve targeted some of those players who might be on the move and put on our GM hat to hammer out a deal that makes sense for both teams. These are five hypothetical NHL trades with an explanation as to why each player is expendable and why it makes sense for each side.
Let’s start by making room for Shea Theodore on the Anaheim Ducks blue line. Yes, we’re looking at you, Cam Fowler.
Feb 8, 2016; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Anaheim Ducks defenseman Cam Fowler (4) skates with the puck against the Pittsburgh Penguins during the first period at the CONSOL Energy Center. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Anaheim Ducks trade Cam Fowler to Detroit Red Wings in exchange for Tomas Tatar
Obviously, some juggling would be necessary (perhaps adding a couple pieces) since Detroit is currently over the projected salary cap. They should get some relief moving Johan Franzen’s nearly $4 million dollar cap hit to the long-term IR though.
Expendable Options
Even if Shea Theodore wasn’t in the mix for the Ducks, GM Bob Murray would still be facing a dilemma in protecting his top four defensemen (Kevin Bieksa – no movement clause, Hampus Lindholm, Sami Vatanen, and Cam Fowler). The emergence of the left-handed shooting Theodore has essentially made one of Lindholm or Fowler expendable, with the latter being the logical choice to be dealt.
Since the Detroit Red Wings have an immense amount of depth up front, GM Ken Holland can afford to trade a winger (while at the same time making extra room for Anthony Mantha) to upgrade the blue line – something they could desperately use after the way this team played en route to their early exit in the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Between Henrik Zetterberg, Justin Abdelkader, Thomas Vanek, and Teemu Pulkkinen, the Red Wings have enough LW depth in 2015-16. They’ve also got LWers Evgeny Svechnikov and Dylan Sadowy ready to replace aging veterans in coming years.
Why Tatar Makes Sense
Mar 24, 2016; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Red Wings left wing Tomas Tatar (21) skates with the puck in the first period against the Montreal Canadiens at Joe Louis Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
The 25-year-old Slovakian winger Tomas Tatar currently carries a $2.75 million dollar cap hit and becomes a restricted free agent next summer. His production dipped slightly in 2015-16 dropping to 21 goals (45 points) after posting 29 goals (56) points in 2014-15.
For the second year in a row, Anaheim walks into a new season with questions marks at left wing. The hope is that Nick Ritchie will step up after a decent rookie season, but the next best bet to fill that void is Max Jones (likely 2-3 years away from NHL action). Instead of placing hopes on uncertainties, wouldn’t it make sense to add an established young winger?
Why Fowler Makes Sense
Fowler, 24, carries a $4 million dollar cap hit and as mentioned is a left-handed shot. Now, ideally the Red Wings could use a RH defender since Niklas Kronwall and Danny Dekeyser each shoot left, but both Kronwall and Fowler are capable of playing the right side.
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As it stands, Dailyfaceoff.com projects Detroit’s opening night pairings to be Dekeyser-Green and Ericsson-Kronwall. Surely, the offensive-minded Cam Fowler is an upgrade on Jonathan Ericsson.
The thing that has made Detroit so dangerous over their quarter-century playoff streak is their ability to create offense from the back end. It’s not just simply that though, it’s their ability to turn pucks over in the neutral zone and transition those turnovers into odd-man rushes and scoring chances like no other team.
If you want to spend less time playing defense in your own zone and take the pressure off your goaltender, all you have to do is create a little extra offense and spend more time in the offensive zone. Cam Fowler plays an offensive style that can help make that happen.
Jan 2, 2016; Tampa, FL, USA; Minnesota Wild defenseman Jonas Brodin (25) skates against the Tampa Bay Lightning during the first period at Amalie Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Minnesota Wild trade Jonas Brodin to Boston Bruins in exchange for Ryan Spooner and Seth Griffith
Both of these teams are in similar scenarios in the sense the front-office may be at risk if either team falters in 2016-17. GM Chuck Fletcher and Don Sweeney are both in a position where the right impact move might be enough to save their jobs.
Expendable Options
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Now, it’s completely possible that the Wild have already come to terms with the fact that Las Vegas is taking one of Jonas Brodin or Marco Scandella at next year’s expansion draft. However, if that is in fact the attitude, Minnesota ownership mid as well hand Fletcher his pink slip right now. The best thing they can do is trade one of those extra left-handed shots, and attempt to protect the other via conditional draft pick (or by some other means).
For Boston, there’s no real need to move center Ryan Spooner. He’s coming off a breakout 49-point season in 2015-16 and served as a solid number three behind Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci. The option does however exist to slide newly signed David Backes into Spooner’s spot on the third line. Even if Backes remains at RW, prospects such as Frank Vatrano, Danton Heinen, and Austin Czarnik will join PTO invite Peter Mueller to challenge Ryan Spooner in training camp.
Why Spooner and Griffith Make Sense
Admittedly, there’s a ton of talent going out the door for Boston in this deal. Spooner is coming off a 49-point campaign with the Bruins, while Griffith racked up 77 points in 57 games down in Providence. Both of these guys are undersized (Spooner 5’10 184lbs, Griffith 5’9 192lbs), so there’s an inherent risk being taken on Minnesota’s part.
Sep 28, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Bruins center Ryan Spooner (51) gets set for a face-off during the first period against the Detroit Red Wings at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
Spooner relies more on his speed, creativity, and elusiveness to create space and loves to dish the puck to teammates. Griffith can also be deemed a bit of a playmaker, although he has a knack for finding the back of the net a little more frequently than Ryan Spooner. Seth is a fierce competitor not afraid to get into corners or fight for pucks and relies much more on his hockey sense.
No, Ryan Spooner won’t solve the Minnesota Wild’s woes up the middle because that’s something that might only be addressed through the draft/prospect pool. He could however help mask the holes on this roster by giving the third line a 50-point producer. It could allow for both Mikael Granlund/Charlie Coyle to permanently play the wing, or even push Eric Staal to the wing (if necessary).
Seth Griffith could be NHL ready this Fall. In fact, he looked ready to make an impact in 2015-16 after posting 10 points in 30 games for the Bruins in the previous season. Unfortunately, Seth sustained an injury during training camp/preseason and wound up missing the first month or so.
Why Brodin Makes Sense
As it stands today, the B’s are placing future hopes on a lot of prospects that will need to develop in a hurry with Zdeno Chara starting to reach his expiration date. Why not take a little pressure off guys like Jakub Zboril and Charlie McAvoy (who might be forced into the lineup early) by acquiring another defender?
We already know GM Don Sweeney is actively seeking another blue liner, and there’s perhaps no better fit than Jonas Brodin. He’s a top four left-handed defenseman capable of logging north of 20 minutes/game. Brodin won’t help much on the man advantage, but could give the Bruins penalty kill a major boost. There’s nothing offensively flashy about his game (single season career-high of eight goals – 19 points in 2013-14), but he makes up for it with stellar defensive play.
Feb 14, 2016; Tampa, FL, USA; St. Louis Blues defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk (22) during the second period at Amalie Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
St.Louis Blues trade D Kevin Shattenkirk to Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for F Leo Komorov, F Byron Froese, and D Rinat Valiev
Here’s a deal that could work for both sides. The Maple Leafs add an established top four right-handed defenseman; St.Louis adds a quality winger capable of playing any role asked of him, bottom six depth, and a near ready NHL defender. Of course, Toronto would need to feel comfortable they could sign the 27-year-old to a new contract for this to work.
Expendable Options
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There are two important things to remember here. First, the St.Louis Blues will inevitably be forced to trade Kevin Shattenkirk at some point this season. Kevin is set to become a UFA next summer and has been deemed expendable following the emergence of Colton Parayko in 2015-16.
For the Maple Leafs, a time will soon come when difficult decisions must be made. They’ve got numerous prospects vying for the same spot (at several positions) and there’s just not enough room for the plethora of young players in their system. If Toronto is ready to trade anyone, it’ll be guys they’re familiar with so they know exactly what’s going out the door. The last thing Leafs management wants is to repeat old habits of giving up on players only to watch them blossom elsewhere.
Why Komorov, Froese, and Valiev Makes Sense
“Uncle Leo” is a fan favorite in Leafs nation. He’s a solid mix of skill and grit in rare company with the likes of Alex Ovechkin and Jamie Benn for power forwards who can score a healthy amount of goals and be among the league leaders in hits. Imagine the chaos Leo Komarov would cause in a seven-game playoff series for St.Louis.
Nov 20, 2015; Raleigh, NC, USA; Toronto Maple Leafs forward Byron Froese (56) watches the play against the Carolina Hurricanes at PNC Arena. The Toronto Maple Leafs defeated the Carolina Hurricanes 2-1 in the shoot out. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports
Byron Froese was a surprise emergence in 2015-16 for the Maple Leafs. He spent the majority of the year with the big club serving in a limited bottom six role racking up five points in 56 games. Byron will never light up the score sheet, but he’s a very responsible two-way forward that plays a sound all-around game.
Valiev is the only player that still has question marks regarding what type of player they project to be in the NHL. The reason Toronto can afford to lose Valiev is because they’ve already got Morgan Rielly and Jake Gardiner serving a 1-2 on the depth chart (on the left side). Hunwick sits at third, although he could see time on the right side; then there’s Martin Marincin, Travis Dermott, and Viktor Loov. It doesn’t leave a lot of room for Rinat Valiev. Chances are that Valiev is a bottom pair defender anyways, something you can easily fill if a hole opens.
Why Shattenkirk Makes Sense
Everyone knows how important it is to Mike Babcock to have proper defensive pairings (left-handed vs. right-handed shot). There wasn’t much he could do in 2015-16 about that, but he does at least have a few more options this season.
As it stands, they’re top RH shots include Roman Polak, Nikita Zaitsev, Frank Corrado, and Connor Carrick. Even if KHL transfer Zaitsev emerges into a top four defender, the Leafs are still missing a quality blue liner that can log big minutes.
At just 27-years-old, Shattenkirk is still young enough to blend with other Leafs rebuild pieces such as James van Riemsdyk (27), Jake Gardiner (26), and Nazem Kadri (25). He can assume those top four minutes and would also give Toronto a massive boost on special teams (both PP and SH).
Apr 13, 2016; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Lightning goalie Ben Bishop (30) against the Detroit Red Wings during the second period in game one of the first round of the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Amalie Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Tampa Bay Lightning trade G Ben Bishop to Dallas Stars in exchange for G Antti Niemi, F Valeri Nichushkin, and D Stephen Johns
These two teams have been linked ever since Andrei Vasilevskiy emerged while Kari Lehtonen handed the Blues game seven in round two. It makes sense for both sides and provides each with the tools necessary to finally get over that elusive hump, perhaps even meet up in a Stanley Cup Final.
Expendable Options
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Rumors have suggested that Calgary was close to acquiring Ben Bishop, but were unable to reach an extension. That will be a key factor for any team doing business with Steve Yzerman since Bishop is in the last year of his deal ($5.95 million dollar cap hit).
The 29-year-old American has blossomed into one of the elite tier goalies over the past two seasons, but he was never intended to be the long-term answer. 22-year-old Andrei Vasilevskiy was drafted to be that guy before Bishop was ever acquired from Ottawa.
Long-term, Tampa Bay can only protect one goalie. Bishop owns a no-movement clause but the Lightning aren’t forced to use a save since he’s set to become a UFA.
Yzerman will obviously protect the younger, recently emerging Vasilevskiy. That leaves only one option, trade Ben while his value NHL trade value is peaked.
The only tricky part about making a goaltending upgrade in Texas is that one of Kari Lehtonen or Antti Niemi would need to be involved in order to make the money work. There’s no way they could carry upwards of $15 million dollars with three netminders. If teams had to pick from the pair, the obvious choice would have to be the man with a Stanley Cup ring (Antti Niemi).
Mar 4, 2016; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Stars right wing Valeri Nichushkin (43) skates against the New Jersey Devils during the second period at the American Airlines Center. Nichushkin scores a goal in the first. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Valeri Nichushkin is one of the few remaining restricted free agents without a contract heading into training camp. In all honesty, I’m not surprised the two sides are having difficulty coming to an agreement.
Nichushkin’s representatives see their client as the player he is during his consistent moments (a top-six forward – looked impressive alongside Benn and Seguin). It’s those inconsistencies the Stars are having problems coming to terms with. He disappears for stretches at a time.
This may be a case of a talented player who simply needs a change of scenery to truly get his NHL career started.
It’s not so much that Stephen Johns in particular is expandable, but Dallas is surprisingly loaded on the blue line and could afford to lose a quality blue liner if it means addressing a much greater need.
Why Niemi, Nichushkin, and Johns Makes Sense
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TB could use a backup for Andrei Vasilevskiy. It’s unlikely that Las Vegas would be interested in Niemi, but if the improbable should happen, it would save the Lightning from losing a key player.
Niemi is also capable of carrying a large workload (if necessary), which is exactly what Tampa needs since Vasilevskiy has dealt with some early health issues.
Nichushkin, 21, is a left-handed shooting RWer which would help give TB a little more depth on the right side. Even if the Russian power forward doesn’t reach his full potential as an everyday top six winger, at worst, he can slide up-and-down the lineup.
Valeri just needs a change of scenery, and who knows, maybe playing alongside fellow countrymen Vladislav Namestnikov would help?
Need we even explain why Stephen Johns makes sense? He was rock-solid for the Stars after his late call-up and into the postseason. A responsible, physical, two-way defender, Johns could eat up big minutes for Tampa Bay on the blue line.
Why Bishop Makes Sense
Only 29-years-old, Bishop is still young enough to fit in Dallas’ Stanley Cup window. It’s a steep price to pay in a pair of promising prospects, but that’s the cost of doing business for an elite NHL goalie.
It doesn’t matter how many goals you score if you can’t keep the puck out of your own net. After back-to-back Vezina quality seasons, there’s no doubt that Ben Bishop would help solve that issue which continues to plague the Stars.
Jan 15, 2016; Raleigh, NC, USA; Carolina Hurricanes defensemen Justin Faulk (27) takes a shot against the Vancouver Canucks during the second period at PNC Arena. The Vancouver Canucks defeated the Carolina Hurricanes 3-2 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports
Carolina Hurricanes trade D Justin Faulk and D Ryan Murphy to Edmonton Oilers in exchange for F Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, F Anton Slepyshev, and D Griffin Reinhart
RNH rumors have taken a backseat in recent months, but it still doesn’t change the fact that Edmonton has three top six centers. Forcing one to the wing or a third line role might work temporarily, but at some point, GM Peter Chiarelli needs to pull the trigger on another quality right-handed shot.
Sure, Ethan Bear could be that missing piece somewhere in the near future, there’s still uncertainty though surrounding prospects. So, why not acquire another quality RH shot? Then future moves can always be made once players emerge.
If any team in the NHL can afford to lose a defenseman or two, it’s the Carolina Hurricanes. Their forward group is arguably the worst in the league and they have a number of players scratching and clawing at the door for NHL service.
Expendable Options
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The future in Raleigh are defenders such as Noah Hanifin, Jaccob Slavin, and Brett Pesce. They’ve also got prospects such as Haydn Fleury, Keegan Lowe, Roland McKeown, Trevor Carrick, and Jake Chelios who may soon be ready to step up. They’ve also got guys like Jake Bean even further down the pipeline. Long story short, GM Ron Francis has the luxury of being able to move a quality defenseman without hurting the team too much, and in all likelihood make it significantly better by adding a top-six forward.
The reason Ryan Murphy is expendable is because he might be the perfect candidate for a change of scenery. After breaking into the league as a promising teenager, Murphy’s game has hit a wall over the past two seasons. Fans are fed up, and management can’t be too far behind, but there’s still a solid skill-set here. The 23-year-old just needs a second chance in a new market.
As mentioned above, Edmonton owns three top six C’s in Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. To ask any one of them to play the wing or assume third line duties would be an epic mistake. You need to have players in their proper roles to have success at the NHL level. It’s not like Peter Chiarelli wants to trade RNH, it’s just one of those odd scenarios where someone has to go.
Anton Slepyshev could be considered expendable when you consider the number of college free agents signed this summer that project to fill a similar role in the bottom six. It’s a number’s game; if you’ve got three guys vying for one spot, someone eventually has to go.
Fans had high hopes for Griffin Reinhart following his offseason acquisition last summer. The left-handed shooting defender might still blossom into a decent NHLer one day, but you’d be hard pressed to find many Oilers fans that wouldn’t be willing to let him go based on the amount of LH shots in the organization.
Why Faulk and Murphy Makes Sense
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Where do we start? Both Justin Faulk and Ryan Murphy are right-handed shots. Both could be described as offensive-minded defensemen.
Faulk had a career-high 49 points in 2014-15, and 16 goals in 2015-16 (64 games). He logs top minutes for the Canes and can provide a boost on special teams (both PP and PK) – his specialty is the man advantage.
There are defensive risks in having these types of players on your roster, but it’s difficult to deny his offensive prowess and ability to move the puck and create offense from the back end.
Murphy split time between the AHL/NHL in 2015-16, recording 10 assists in 35 games with Carolina. Immediately, he could serve as a bottom pair or number seven depth defender with hopes that the change of scenery gives them three solid defensive pairings.
Why Nugent-Hopkins, Slepyshev, and Reinhart Makes Sense
Adding RNH to the mix would help create further moves for GM Ron Francis. The Canes would have the ability to trade veterans such as Jordan Staal to inject more youth into the lineup. Then again, they could just keep Jordan and feature Staal, RNH, and Rask up the middle to help spread out the scoring on a roster that may already struggle to find the back of the net.
Slepyshev and Reinhart make sense because it’s a couple more bodies in the system that may one day emerge. Plus, playing in Charlotte would give both players a bigger role/greater opportunity to succeed opposed to Bakersfield.
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